March, on the western border.
As the snow began to melt, a spring breeze swept across the wilderness, bringing a touch of warmth.
But beneath this gentleness lies a turbulent undercurrent.
"Report!" A scout galloped off on horseback. "Grand Commandant, a large cavalry force has been spotted three hundred li to the north!"
"Tell me in detail." The wicked man put down the bamboo slips in his hand.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant!" the scout panted, "It's a combined force of the Xiongnu and Yuezhi, at least 100,000 cavalry. They're divided into three groups, advancing towards the border from different directions. Even more dangerous is..."
He wiped the cold sweat from his brow: "All the cavalry have been fitted with new iron armor, and even their warhorses are now armored, just like the Black Dragon Armored Army!"
The generals in the tent had solemn expressions.
Clearly, the enemy had been preparing for this battle for a long time.
Just then, another scout burst in: "Report! The Western Regions have suddenly rebelled! Kucha, Shule, and other kingdoms have launched simultaneous attacks and massacred our garrison. They are now gathering their forces, preparing to advance eastward!"
The wicked man sneered, "Ha, finally couldn't hold back any longer."
He walked to the sand table and carefully observed the enemy's movements.
The enemy had clearly planned this battle meticulously, choosing to launch a simultaneous attack when spring was in full bloom, in order to catch the Qin army off guard.
"Someone come here!" he said in a deep voice. "Go and bring me the blueprints for the improved 'rush' design."
Soon, a bodyguard rushed over carrying the blueprints.
The wicked man pointed to a key part of the blueprint: "This time we've made a major improvement to the arrowheads. Each arrow is equipped with a high-quality steel armor-piercing tip, capable of easily penetrating iron armor. And..."
He took out a sample arrow: "Look at the design of this barb. Once it's inside an enemy, trying to pull it out will tear a larger wound. Even if it doesn't kill on the spot, it will incapacitate the enemy!"
The generals' eyes lit up.
This improvement is a perfect counter to the enemy's prized armor.
"Pass down the order," the wicked man commanded. "Order Meng Tian to lead 30,000 elite troops north to ambush them at the Blackwater River, 300 li away. Remember, make sure the entire enemy force is within firing range before you move!"
"Wang Li, take 20,000 men to reinforce the western front. These rebellious small states are yours to deal with!"
The two generals accepted their orders and set off to begin planning for this crucial battle.
Now let's talk about the northern front.
Along the Blackwater River, willows sway gently. A spring breeze brings a touch of coolness.
When Meng Tian led his army to arrive, it was still early.
He immediately began to set up an ambush, dividing the 30,000 Qin troops into six formations and placing them in ambush on the high points on both sides of the river.
"I've got it," he told his men. "Wait until the enemy is all within range, then fire all at once. This kind of terrain is perfect for a 'swarm' attack!"
At midday, billowing dust rose in the distance.
The allied forces of the Xiongnu and Yuezhi marched in with overwhelming force. Under the sunlight, their iron armor gleamed coldly, and the thunderous sound of their hooves shook the earth.
Crimson Cloud Wolf and the Yuezhi King stood side by side, gazing into the distance.
"This is a good spot," said Red Cloud Wolf. "Once the entire army crosses the Blackwater River, we'll rest here. Then, we'll press on and strike straight at the Qin army's camp!"
The Yuezhi king nodded: "With these iron armors, even their 'swarm' won't be able to harm us."
As the two were talking, the allied forces began crossing the river. The vanguard had just crossed the middle of the river, the central army was about to enter the water, and the rearguard was still waiting on the bank.
Just then, Meng Tian gave the order: "Release!"
In an instant, thousands of the improved "swarm" missiles were launched simultaneously!
Tens of thousands of specially made arrows pierced the sky, emitting a piercing whistling sound. The sound was like countless wasps swarming in front of you, sending chills down your spine.
"Raise your shields!" the Allied commander shouted.
But it was too late. The new armor-piercing arrows rained down, easily penetrating their prized iron armor. One by one, the riders on horseback were struck by arrows and fell from their horses, letting out shrill screams.
Even more deadly were the barbs. When the wounded warriors tried to pull out the arrows, they only tore open their wounds wider, writhing on the ground in agony.
"This...this is impossible!" Red Cloud Wolf exclaimed in shock, "Wasn't it said that the Qin army's arrows were no longer effective...?"
Before he could finish speaking, another volley of arrows rained down.
The Qin army was well-trained; they could change their quivers and resume their attack in the blink of an eye. The dense rain of arrows gave the enemy no chance to catch their breath.
The allied forces, halfway across the river, were thrown into chaos. Some wanted to retreat, some wanted to charge forward, and some simply jumped into the river to escape. In an instant, the river water was stained red, and there were struggling men and horses everywhere.
"Retreat! Retreat now!" the Yuezhi king roared hoarsely.
In the chaos, orders couldn't reach the vanguard. The rear guard, seeing the situation was dire, had already turned and fled. The central army was stuck in the river, unable to advance or retreat, suffering heavy casualties.
At that moment, Meng Tian seized the opportunity: "All troops, charge! Kill!"
The Qin army charged down the slopes from both sides, launching a pincer attack on the chaotic enemy forces. The new "swarm" close-range firing technique was even more devastating.
The battle lasted from noon until sunset.
When the smoke cleared, the Blackwater River was stained red with blood.
Although the cavalry of the Xiongnu and Yuezhi allied forces were brave, they were unable to maneuver effectively in this terrain and instead became easy targets.
In this battle, the combined forces of the Xiongnu and Yuezhi suffered more than half their losses, and the rest were also routed.
Despite being struck by several arrows, Chi Yunlang was escorted by his personal guards to break through the encirclement. The Yuezhi king, however, lost his warhorse in the chaos and was captured alive by the Qin army.
Meanwhile, on the western front.
A somber atmosphere permeated the air beneath the city of Kucha.
On the city walls, the rebels, relying on specially made large shields provided by the Yuezhi, presented an impregnable fortress. Those shields were forged from ten layers of cowhide and fine steel, and were said to be impenetrable even to catapults.
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