Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 146 The Moon Reveals Its Power

The second wave of the Hu cavalry, numbering over four thousand, charged like an enraged pack of wolves, roaring deafeningly. With an even wilder and more disorganized formation, they pounced on the "weak" and "gap-filled" sections of the Starfire Fortress's wagon formation! Dust billowed, obscuring the sky, and the earth trembled violently under the trampling of the horses' hooves, as if unable to withstand this destructive force.

The Starfire Fortress remained silent, but the killing intent contained within that silence was even more chilling than before.

On the high platform, Chen Xing stared intently at the surging tide of cavalry, calculating the distance, his breathing steady. When the vanguard of the Hu cavalry charged into the designated area about 150 paces from the chariot formation, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he swung his arm down sharply!

"Crescent Moon Formation—Activate!"

"Boom boom boom boom—boom!" The rhythm of the war drums suddenly changed, from the previous steady rhythm to a rapid and passionate one, with three fast beats and two slow beats, which was the signal to launch a full-scale counterattack with the Crescent Moon Formation!

With the sound of drums, the seemingly "teetering" vehicle formation at Xinghuo Fort underwent a dramatic transformation!

In those areas where the shield walls had previously "loosened" or "shown gaps," the thick camouflage straw curtains and adobe bricks were suddenly lifted, revealing sixty crossbows that had been poised to strike—twice the number that had been exposed before! The cold crossbow arms gleamed with a deadly light in the dust, the crossbowmen's eyes were sharp as eagles, the winches were already tightened, and the thick, armor-piercing bolts exuded the aura of death.

"Shenbi Battalion, fire all battalions at once! Target: densely packed enemy cavalry, cover the area!" Chen Wei's roar echoed across the battlefield through the messenger.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom——!!!"

Sixty crossbows roared simultaneously! The combined sound was like dozens of muffled thunderclaps exploding on flat ground, even briefly drowning out the clamor of thousands of Hu cavalry charging! Sixty black bolts of death lightning tore through the dust and smoke, carrying a shrill whistling sound that ripped through the air, like the scythe of death, slashing fiercely into the densest area of ​​the charging Hu cavalry!

This time, it was no longer the previous sporadic, probing attacks, but a full-scale, overwhelming barrage!

"Pfft! Crack! Boom!"

In an instant, a horrific tragedy unfolded over a wider area! The terrifying penetrating power and coverage of the crossbow were fully unleashed in this relatively narrow front of the charge. The charging Hu cavalry seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall of steel covered in spikes! Rows of cavalrymen, horse and rider, were pierced through and pinned to the ground! Warhorses neighed and rolled to the ground, throwing their riders off their backs and tripping their comrades who couldn't get out of the way in time. With just one volley, the Hu cavalry's fierce charge line was as if a large chunk had been wiped away by an invisible giant hand; at least a hundred riders were instantly rendered incapable of fighting, the momentum of the charge stalled, and their formation was thrown into chaos and gaps!

"Archers, triple volley! Suppress the follow-up fire!" The orders came one after another.

Hundreds of archers, already prepared, peered out from firing ports and behind earthen ramparts within the wagon formation, unleashing wave after wave of dense arrows in a practiced three-volley pattern onto the Hu cavalry's rearguard, who were thrown into disarray and their speed greatly reduced by the crossbow fire. The arrows fell like an endless swarm of locusts, reaping lives. The Hu cavalry's charge was further slowed and compressed; more and more men and horses fell on the path of the charge, their blood staining the riverbank red.

"Flanking the wagon formation, long spears and barricades, solidify the defensive line! Trapped Camp—Prepare!" Chen Xing's calm voice rang out.

At the seemingly panicked retreat at those "gaps," the spearmen and swordsmen instantly regained their footing, quickly filling in the gaps with spare shields and spears, making the wagon formation's arc-shaped defensive line even tighter and more solid. Behind the wagon formation, Dian Xiong and his three hundred heavily armored elite soldiers, who had previously feigned "filling the gaps," had quietly changed direction. Instead of charging towards the false gaps, they gathered at the core position slightly behind the crest of the wagon formation, like a heavy hammer hidden in its sheath, waiting for the right moment to strike.

After enduring unprecedented long-range fire and a continuous hail of arrows, the Hu cavalry's charge, though still propelled by inertia, reached the chariot formation. However, its impact, speed, and the integrity of its formation were greatly diminished. Many Hu cavalrymen were tripped by the corpses of their comrades and horses ahead, or their horses, out of fear and pain, became uncontrollable. Less than half of the Hu cavalry actually managed to effectively strike the chariot shield wall.

"boom--!!"

The collision occurred again, but this time it was far less powerful than the first. With reinforcements and preparations in place, the chariot formation only swayed slightly before steadily withstanding the impact. Spears fiercely thrust out from the gaps in the shield wall, piercing through the Hu cavalrymen crowding in front of the chariot formation; the rolling logs and boulders above fell again, smashing the Hu cavalrymen and causing them to bleed from their heads.

However, the Hu cavalry outnumbered them and their ferocity had been fully unleashed. Driven by Wuzhu's frenzied supervision and the encouragement of their comrades, the remaining Hu cavalry, their eyes still bloodshot, desperately climbed the chariots, hacking at shields, trying to create an opening. The battle seemed to have once again descended into a close-quarters stalemate.

This time, however, Starfire Fortress was no longer content with simply defending.

On the high platform, Chen Xing watched as the main force of the Hu cavalry was almost entirely trapped in a narrow area within a hundred meters of the chariot formation, huddled together, unable to advance or retreat, suppressed in ranged combat and unable to break through in close combat. It was the moment when their morale was declining and they were most chaotic and vulnerable!

He whirled around, looking at Dian Xiong, who was already barely able to contain himself and whose murderous aura was practically overflowing, and shouted in a deep voice, "Dian Xiong!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Dian Xiong's voice boomed like thunder, and the eighty-two-pound armor-piercing spear in his hand slammed down heavily, making the ground seem to tremble.

"The will to charge into battle!"

"Death is certain!" Three hundred heavily armored soldiers roared in unison, their voices drowning out the sounds of battle ahead!

"Target: the center of the enemy lines, towards Wuzhu's banner! Give me—break through them!" Chen Xing pointed his longsword forward, directly at the most conspicuous golden wolf-head banner in the center of the Hu cavalry!

"Understood!" Dian Xiong's eyes widened, his muscles bulging, and he abruptly pulled down his helmet and visor, revealing only a pair of fierce eyes burning with battle intent. "Trapped Camp! Follow me—kill!"

"kill--!!!"

With a deafening roar, a pre-prepared passage formed by mobile vehicles at the top of the wagon formation suddenly opened! Dian Xiong took the lead, like a steel chariot starting at full speed, charging out of the wagon formation first! Behind him, three hundred elite soldiers, clad in heavy armor weighing over a hundred pounds and wielding long-handled battle axes, heavy hammers, and spears, formed a tight triangular assault formation, like a steel torrent bursting its banks, and crashed into the chaotic and fiercely fighting Hu cavalry crowd squeezed in front of the wagon formation!

In an instant, blood and flesh flew everywhere!

The specially crafted armor-piercing spear in Dian Xiong's hand seemed to transform into the whip of death! No elaborate techniques were needed; only the simplest sweeping, thrusting, and smashing strikes! Wherever the spear struck, whether man or horse, leather armor or simple iron plates, they were all torn apart, pierced, and smashed like paper! He was like an ancient beast charging into a flock of sheep; wherever he passed, limbs, severed arms, entrails, and blood flew everywhere, plowing a bloody path through the dense ranks of Hu cavalry!

Three hundred heavily armored warriors followed closely behind, three in a group, back to back, like mobile miniature steel fortresses. Their heavy, long-handled weapons were deadly to those who touched them, and wounded those who were touched! The Hu cavalry's scimitars, when they struck their heavy armor, often only sent up a trail of sparks and left shallow white marks; while the heavy weapons of the elite troops could smash Hu cavalrymen and their horses, breaking bones and tendons! They were like a red-hot iron, branding themselves into the seemingly massive, but already melting, "butter" Hu cavalry, advancing with unstoppable force, piercing straight to the heart!

The sudden counter-charge, and by such a terrifyingly heavily armed and combat-ready heavy infantry force, completely stunned the Hu cavalry who were making every effort to attack. With a strong wagon formation and a continuous rain of arrows in front, and suddenly a group of invulnerable and incredibly strong "iron lumps" appearing from the flank, many Hu cavalrymen instantly collapsed, crying out and fleeing to the sides, which in turn disrupted the formation of their own follow-up troops.

"Stop them! Stop those tin cans!" From behind, Wuzhu roared in shock and rage. He could clearly see that the heavily armored infantry was charging straight towards his own central command banner!

However, the Hu cavalry's formation was in disarray and their command was ineffective. How could they possibly mobilize their forces to intercept this heavily armored torrent that was like a sharp dagger piercing through? Moreover, the crossbowmen on the Starfire Fortress's wagon formation did not stop firing and continued to suppress and kill the Hu cavalry who were trying to regroup.

Dian Xiong charged with incredible speed, his three hundred elite soldiers following him as one. They paid no heed to the scattered groups of barbarian cavalry on either side, their target clear: the golden wolf-head banner! Any barbarian cavalry that dared to obstruct them, whether stragglers or small squads, were mercilessly crushed!

As the terrifying torrent of steel was less than two hundred paces from the central army banner, the generals guarding Wuzhu turned pale.

"Protect the High Chief!"

"Royal Guard! Form ranks! Hold them off!"

Wuzhu's personal guard cavalry, numbering about five hundred, was the most elite force of the Golden Horde. At this moment, they hurriedly stepped forward, attempting to form a formation to block Dian Xiong's charge.

However, at this very moment—

"Waaaaah—!"

On the right flank of the Starfire Fortress, upstream on the riverbank, a rousing bugle call suddenly sounded! Immediately afterward, another dull yet swift tremor resounded through the earth!

Murong Mingyue led 1,500 Xinghuo Fortress cavalry, like cheetahs that had been lying in ambush, suddenly bursting out from the dust and smoke on the flank! Instead of charging into the main battlefield where the Hu cavalry was in chaos, they drew a beautiful arc and rushed at extremely high speed straight to the flank and rear of the Hu cavalry's central banner—the very spot where Wuzhu's personal guard had just been deployed and exposed its weak point!

"Target: Hu Chief's central flank! Charge!" Murong Mingyue, dressed in red like a burning flame, pointed her long sword forward, her clear shout echoing across the battlefield.

The Starfire Fortress cavalry, having long been resting and recuperating, struck the Hu cavalry's most vulnerable and chaotic weak point like a drawn sword!

The Crescent Moon Formation, with its back to the river, uses crossbows and chariots as shields, heavy infantry as hammers, and cavalry as the spearhead! At this moment, the shields are secure, the hammers are drawn, and the blades are revealed!

The main force of the Hu cavalry is already in dire straits!