Chapter 1525
Qin Qiong Xiaoshuai
Chapter 1525 Qin Qiong - Xiao Shuai
The tension in the air grew stronger as the distance between the two sides closed. They could clearly hear the neighing of each other's warhorses and feel the fierce aura emanating from their opponents.
Ögedei looked at Qin Qiong's formation and a faint smile appeared on his lips. He knew that Qin Qiong was a famous general of the Central Plains, and that he was calm and composed in battle and would never take risks easily.
But that's exactly the effect he wanted. As long as he could hold off Qin Qiong's reinforcements until the main force arrived, victory would be within his grasp.
"Generals in the Central Plains are always so hesitant and indecisive, looking before they act and after they act."
Ögedei sneered inwardly.
"Pass down the order: do not rush to attack. Use arrows to wear them down, maintain formation, and hold them off until the Khan's main force arrives, then annihilate them in one fell swoop!"
He reined in his horse and gave orders to the many centurions around him.
"As ordered!"
The many centurions around him responded in unison, and then conveyed Ögedei's order.
The Mongol cavalry rained down arrows like dark clouds towards the Imperial Guards' square formation, the arrows whistling through the air as densely as raindrops.
The elite Imperial Guardsmen quickly raised their shields, forming a solid shield wall. The clanging sounds were deafening as arrows struck the shields, sending sparks flying. Many arrows even pierced through the gaps in the shields, hitting the soldiers in the back ranks, and screams of agony rose and fell.
Qin Qiong felt a pang of pain and his heart sank as he watched the soldiers fall one after another around him. He knew that if they continued to defend passively like this, the casualties would only increase. If they were tied down here by these Mongol cavalry, not only would they waste their manpower, but the longer it dragged on, the greater the chance that the main Mongol force would encircle them. At that point, they would even have difficulty escaping.
Qin Qiong took a deep breath, gripping his tiger-headed golden spear even tighter. His gaze swept across the Mongol formation before him, trying to find a weakness. However, Ögedei's deployment was extremely tight, with the Kheshig army in the center and the Mongol cavalry flanking from both sides. The formation was solid and without any flaws.
"Perhaps, we have no choice but to take the risk."
Qin Qiong thought to himself that if he wanted to protect Fengzhou City and the northern gateway of Yuzhou, some sacrifices were inevitable.
"You lead five thousand soldiers to continue holding the square formation, drawing the Mongols' attention and counterattacking with a hail of arrows to buy them as much time as possible. I will lead five thousand elite Imperial Guards cavalry to outflank them from the left and try to break through their flank defenses to reach Fengzhou City!"
He turned to his adjutant and said.
"General, you mustn't!"
"The Mongols' flank defenses are extremely tight, and they are skilled at flanking maneuvers. If you lead five thousand soldiers on a rash flanking maneuver, you are likely to be surrounded by them!"
The lieutenant quickly tried to dissuade him.
“I know how dangerous it is, but there is no better way now. Fengzhou City cannot wait; we must get there as soon as possible.”
"Don't worry, I'll be careful. Once we break through the defenses, I'll send someone back to pick you up immediately!"
Qin Qiong sighed, hoping that the Night Fiend Army in Fengzhou City would be sensible enough to send some men out to meet them.
"Remember, if I fail to break through the defenses or get surrounded, don't worry about me. Immediately lead the remaining soldiers to retreat to the rear of Yuzhou and join General Yuchi Gong's main force. Then we can plan our next move!"
"Remember, under no circumstances should this elite Imperial Guard be wiped out in the attempt to save me!"
He paused, then continued.
"General!" The lieutenant's eyes were filled with reluctance and worry. He wanted to say something more, but Qin Qiong interrupted him.
"This is a military order!"
"Execute immediately!"
Qin Qiong's voice suddenly became loud and clear.
"As ordered!"
The lieutenant replied with tears in his eyes.
Qin Qiong watched as his deputy began to deploy defenses, then turned his horse around and raised his tiger-headed golden spear high in the air.
"Brothers, charge with me!"
Having said that, he spurred his horse on its flanks, and the yellow horse neighed and charged towards the left flank of the Mongol cavalry like an arrow released from a bow.
Five thousand elite Imperial Guards followed closely behind, like a long black dragon galloping across the wasteland, their hooves kicking up dust and snow as they pounded the frozen earth.
When Ögedei saw Qin Qiong leading a portion of his troops toward the left flank, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a cold laugh.
"Trying to outflank them? They're courting death! Pass down the order: the left-wing cavalry will intercept them with all their might and annihilate them!"
Following Ögedei's order, the left flank of the Mongol cavalry quickly adjusted its formation and charged towards Qin Qiong's five thousand elite Imperial Guards.
"Ding! Qin Qiong's 'Heroic Skill' activated!"
Valiant General: Valiant General, the winds and clouds change in battle, iron cavalry tramples the sand under the sun and moon. This skill is a skill that famous generals from various dynasties in history have a chance to awaken!
Effect 1: When a valiant general personally leads his army into battle, his own leadership increases by 2, and the combat power of his cavalry also increases dramatically. Furthermore, after a successful cavalry charge that breaks through enemy lines, the enemy general's leadership is suppressed by an additional 1 point, while the morale of his entire army is greatly boosted.
Effect 2: When a Vanguard Commander serves as the vanguard commander of the entire army, his own leadership is increased by 1, and the leadership of all commanders of the entire army is increased by 1; his vanguard bravery opens up opportunities for victory for the entire army, and when he is the first to breach the city, the attack power of the entire army is temporarily increased by 1.
Effect 3: Hundred Battles Secure the Frontier. When guarding the frontier, your own leadership increases by 1, and the rebels in the frontier states dare not act rashly; and after successfully quelling three medium-to-large-scale bandit uprisings, your own leadership will permanently increase by 1 (up to 2 stacks, already activated once).
Effect 4: Ensuring morale in battle. When your own army is locked in a stalemate or its morale is low, your own leadership is temporarily increased by 1. When you stand in front of the enemy with your mace to intimidate the entire army, the army becomes immune to negative skills such as "scattering" and "cowardice".
Effect 5: Lingyan Yiming, as one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, gains +1 to both his leadership and martial prowess when fighting alongside other meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, and also gains +1 to the martial prowess of all meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion on his side.
Qin Qiong's current base leadership value is 99 (98+1). When the first effect of his skill "Valiant Commander" is activated, his leadership value increases by 2. When the second effect is activated, his leadership value increases by 1.
Qin Qiong's base leadership stat has now risen to 102!
The distance between the two sides closed rapidly, and they soon clashed. Qin Qiong, holding the Tiger Head Golden Spear, took the lead, his spear tip dancing like a tiger descending a mountain. With each swing, he pierced the chest of a Mongol soldier.
The elite Imperial Guards behind him were well-armored, armed with sharp weapons, and highly trained, making them extremely powerful. For a time, they suppressed the left flank of the Mongol cavalry and steadily advanced towards Fengzhou City.
However, Ögedei was no ordinary man. Seeing that the situation on the left flank was critical, he immediately ordered the right-wing cavalry to outflank and encircle Qin Qiong's five thousand elite Imperial Guards.
At the same time, the five hundred Kheshig soldiers also began to move, converging towards the center of the battlefield, preparing to join the battle.
"The left flank contracts, and the gun formation shifts to the front!"
Qin Qiong reined in his horse and brandished his spear. The tiger-headed golden spear drew a sharp arc in the morning light, the tip of the spear knocking away the curved sword of a Mongol centurion and then piercing his throat.
At this moment, his black armor was stained with blood, and his temples were frosted with white. He was constantly and accurately capturing every change on the battlefield amidst the thousands of troops. Although the left-wing Mongol cavalry had been initially suppressed, their formation was still intact. The encirclement from the right wing was imminent, and the arrow rain from the Kheshig army was like dense hail, constantly pounding on the shield wall of the Imperial Guards, leaving dense dents.
The five thousand elite Imperial Guardsmen remained completely calm. Upon hearing the command, the front cavalrymen simultaneously lowered their spears, the shafts pointing skyward at a 45-degree angle to the ground, forming a dense forest of spears. The rear cavalrymen quickly moved to the left, their originally expansive charging formation instantly shrinking into a sharp cone, with Qin Qiong at the very tip of this cone.
(End of this chapter)