Chapter 103 The Prototype of the Iron-faced Army
Shen Yuexi stood on the top of the mountain at Langya Pass, looking down at the Xirong camp three miles away.
Beneath the iron-blue sky, nearly a thousand white tents stood densely packed together in the Xirong camp. Flags fluttered in the wind, and wisps of smoke rose from the camp, distorted by the morning breeze.
This was the first time she had seen a military camp of tens of thousands of people in real life, and she couldn't help but be amazed.
The Xirong 10,000-man force arrived last night. We expected the enemy to charge directly, just like the 1,000-man force had done before. Instead, they leisurely set up camp and rested for the night.
"When a large army goes out to battle, it must advance and retreat according to its rules," Xiao Zhuo stood beside her, looking towards the distant military camp. "The enemy general is not an impulsive and reckless person like Dan Muji."
Shen Yuexi reached out and grabbed Xiao Zhuo's sleeve: "Husband, I'm a little nervous..."
It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid.
Although she had crafted the repeating crossbow and the soldiers had practiced its use, they still didn't know how effective it would be in actual combat. If they couldn't withstand the Western Rong army, these four hundred-plus soldiers would surely be annihilated, and the nearly one thousand villagers of Xiaogang Village would be among them.
Xiao Zhuo turned to look at her, smiled, raised his hands and tightened the cloak that was loosened at her collar:
"It's windy on the top of the mountain, don't catch a cold."
Shen Yuexi was stunned for a moment. Even at this critical moment, Xiao Zhuo still had the mood to pay attention to her cloak.
This man's expression was as calm and composed as ever, just like when he duelled with Xiao Beiheng. Now, facing the 10,000-man army of the Western Rong, he was still like that. I wonder what kind of material he is made of, how he can be so calm.
"My Lord, look."
Song Zhen jumped down from a huge rock nearby and pointed at the Xirong camp with his feather fan.
I saw a war horse running out of the Xirong camp, with a man sitting on the horse, raising a trail of dust and galloping towards this side.
"It was the messenger we sent this morning." Xiao Zhuo said in a deep voice.
When the horses were about to reach the bottom of the pass, Shen Yuexi suddenly screamed, turned around and threw herself into Xiao Zhuo's arms, not daring to look down again.
The messenger was tied to the saddle, his head missing.
"Why?" Shen Yuexi clutched Xiao Zhuo's arm tightly, anger gradually overcoming fear. "Why would they even kill unarmed messengers?"
It was common for two armies to send envoys to each other before a formal battle, but killing the envoys was not common.
"This is the enemy's statement," Xiao Zhuo said, holding her shoulders expressionlessly, "They mean they don't agree to withdraw and will kill all of us."
"Then let them come forward," Shen Yuexi raised her head and looked angrily at the Xirong camp, "and let them taste the power of the crossbows."
As if in response to her, a low horn sounded from the Xirong camp, and then the camp gate opened. The Xirong infantry poured out of the camp like water from a floodgate, forming square formations.
"Mr. Pei!"
Panting, Yang Cong ran up to Xiao Zhuo, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said, "Madam Pei ordered the craftsmen to make... iron... iron what was it?"
"Iron face shield." Shen Yuexi reminded Yang Cong who was scratching his head in thought.
"Yes, the iron face shields have been distributed to the soldiers."
"Very good," Xiao Zhuo hugged Shen Yuexi with both arms. He turned to Song Zhen and said, "Prepare for battle."
The soldiers behind the bunker halfway up the mountain put down their crossbows, put on the iron masks they had just received, and tied them behind their heads with ropes.
This iron mask wasn't a typical helmet from ancient times. It was simply a thin sheet of iron, about the size of an adult's face, with two round holes for observation. It's more appropriate to call it an iron mask. Shen Yuexi had a sudden inspiration while watching soldiers practice with repeating crossbows, and then he ran to the Aigu Workshop and ordered the craftsmen to cast it using leftover iron ingots.
She noticed that the soldiers armed with crossbows were all hiding behind shelters nearly half a man's height, allowing them to shoot as soon as they showed their heads. The only danger was their heads, which needed to be protected.
The production process was simple: flatten the red-hot iron ingot with a hammer and then punch two holes in it. She didn't use a universal manufacturing machine, but instead had the blacksmiths forge a batch, and only then were they all completed.
The only drawback was that some of the villagers' children had no organization or discipline and scribbled on the cooled iron guards with pens, making each guard covered in a colorful pattern.
Meng Yue picked up an iron faceguard and put it on, only to find that the iron was very thin, so it didn't feel heavy. This kind of faceguard was useless in close combat, its main purpose being to protect against arrows.
During a battle, anything that could save lives was a good thing. None of these generals and soldiers had armor, so now that he had this, his confidence soared.
"Brothers," Meng Yue shouted as he looked at the Xirong infantrymen marching in formation in the distance, "The enemy has arrived at our door. Hold your weapons tightly. Anyone who flees will have an arrow thrust into the back of their head. Face the enemy and never retreat!"
"Face the enemy and never retreat!" the soldiers shouted together.
Shen Yuexi, who was on the top of the mountain, was so excited that her blood boiled. She also raised her hands and shouted: "Face the enemy and never retreat!"
The clear and melodious voice echoed in Langya Pass along with the shouts of hundreds of people.
Meng Yue became excited after hearing this and stood up and shouted, "Brothers, look at me. I, Meng Yue, will stand here today and will not retreat until I die..."
Before he could finish his words, the crowd suddenly burst into suppressed laughter.
Meng Yue looked at everyone, somewhat puzzled. He was clearly speaking passionately, so why were they all laughing?
Qiu Liming, who was standing nearby, burst out laughing when he saw his face. With him taking the lead, the soldiers no longer hesitated and burst into laughter.
Meng Yue suddenly realized what was going on and quickly took off the iron mask to take a look. On it, some naughty child had expertly drawn an archery target with a red heart...
Xiao Zhuo smiled at Shen Yuexi and said, "Yuexi, this is a great idea. From now on, all my troops will wear this kind of iron face shield. The enemy won't be able to see the soldiers' expressions, which will have the effect of deterring the enemy's mentality."
"Then let's name it the Iron-faced Army." Shen Yuexi suggested.
"Very good." Xiao Zhuo put his hands behind his back and looked at the battlefield below. "The Western Rong people have begun to attack."
The first wave of enemies consisted of 500 infantrymen armed with swords and round shields. They began to advance under the pressure of 1,000 archers in a long snake formation behind them.
"Everyone, wait until the enemy is within fifty steps," Qiu Liming shouted. "We have limited arrows, so be careful to aim at the enemy's unprotected areas..."
"General, the enemy is shooting arrows!" a sergeant shouted.
A row of arrows flew up from the ground in the Western Rong army formation, drew an arc in the air, and flew towards the pass.
"Hide well!" Meng Yue roared.
A thousand feathered arrows rained down on the place where the soldiers were hiding, hitting the rocks and embedding themselves in the soil, making a clanging sound.
Meng Yue hid behind a rock, unharmed. When the rain of arrows stopped, he shouted, "Anyone hit?"
"No!"
"It's safe, General."
Seeing that none of the soldiers were hurt, Meng Yue finally felt relieved and shouted, "Get ready."
Their advantage was that they were hiding on the mountain instead of on the plain, with rocks and pits to hide in. If they were on the plain, even with their shields, they would have suffered many casualties from this hail of arrows.
The Xirong infantry had already approached under the cover of this round of arrow rain, and rushed forward with swords raised and shouting.
"Seventy steps." A soldier in the formation was responsible for counting loudly.
"Sixty steps."
"Fifty steps!"
The two hundred crossbows that had been waiting for a long time were fired.
The first round was a burst of ten arrows.
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