Chapter 181: The Son Of Destiny’s Arch-nemesis, Crushed By The Jin Prefecture Army
The Drag River winds like a ribbon, carving a winding silver line across the vast grassland.
Li Xiao led the First Division’s eight thousand iron cavalry on a five-day march, finally rendezvousing successfully with Da Hu and Er Hu on this grassland.
Iron hooves thunder, shaking the four fields, the golden sun and moon battle flag flapping fiercely in the mad wind, the sun and moon totem on the flag surface seeming to break free of its bonds and rush straight to the clouds.
The eight thousand cavalry resemble a surging golden ocean, kicking up dust wherever they go.
Li Xiao wears yellow-based red-trimmed cotton armor, riding a reddish-brown tall war horse, his posture straight as a pine, his cold gaze piercing through the flying dust toward the opposite side.
On the horizon, two armies advance side by side, their momentum like a rainbow.
One is the Second Town troops with red flags and red armor, the other is the Third Town troops with white flags and white armor.
Da Hu and Er Hu spur their horses forward quickly, saluting Li Xiao with hand to chest and calling out:
“Great Governor!”
“Great Governor!”
The three armies rendezvous on this grassland, instantly bringing the Jin Prefecture Army’s troops to around thirteen thousand.
“How’s the situation?”
“Where is the Kereit Tribe’s main force?” Li Xiao’s gaze is piercing, his voice deep as he asks.
“The Kereit Tribe army is just forty li away. These days, though our army hasn’t continued direct clashes with them, skirmishes between scouts have been frequent.”
“The intelligence has been confirmed.”
“The Kereit Tribe’s troops number around fifteen thousand, commanded by Sangkun, who is Ong Khan’s most favored son and very likely to inherit the Kereit Tribe khanate.” Da Hu said.
“Sangkun? So it’s him!”
“I hear this guy is quite the fighter.” Li Xiao nodded in understanding, chuckling lightly as he spoke.
In history, it was precisely under Sangkun’s persuasion that Ong Khan decided to break ties with Temüjin.
Afterward, Sangkun personally led men to raid the Kiyan tribe, forcing Temüjin into a frantic retreat with only over two thousand men left by his side.
When the Kereit Tribe army suffered a crushing defeat and Sangkun found himself in dire straits, he resolutely led the remnants in a counter-charge, ultimately turning defeat into victory.
After the Kereit Tribe was destroyed, Sangkun continued leading the remnants in resistance against Temüjin, vowing never to surrender, making him one of Temüjin’s archenemies.
So, Li Xiao really felt a bit reluctant to take out Sangkun.
“Pass the order: the army camps and rests for one day.” Li Xiao said.
He then arranged for the army to set up camp, and to prevent night raids by the Kereit Tribe, the Jin Prefecture Army camp was heavily fortified with abatis, horse trap pits, and more.
On the other side, inside the Kereit Tribe large tent, the atmosphere was as heavy as the sky before a storm.
Sangkun’s brows furrowed tightly, his hawk-like gaze fixed on the scout as he asked: “Confirmed? All Liao army soldiers are armored?”
“That’s right, Your Highness.”
The scout knelt on one knee, a trace of fear in his voice: “The Liao army reinforcements are about eight thousand cavalry, but not the red and white armor as General Bieqi described—instead, a kind of yellow armor we’ve never seen before.”
Recalling the previous encounter, the scout felt lingering fear.
His entire scout team of over a dozen ended with only him escaping wounded.
Those Liao army soldiers were simply too terrifying—not only was their armor incredibly defensive, their archery was superb, crushing the Kereit Tribe’s elite scouts.
“Yellow armor?”
“It’s probably just a different color.” Sangkun shook his head, his face heavy.
It was truly as they had guessed before: the entire Liao army was armored, and in a type they’d never seen.
Its defensive power was not much inferior to iron armor.
This spelled big trouble for the Kereit Tribe.
Bieleg Bieqi then suggested: “Your Highness, we can use their own methods against them.”
Sangkun glanced faintly at him and said: “Night raid?”
“Exactly!” Bieleg Bieqi nodded emphatically.
Sangkun sneered coldly: “Do you think everyone is as stupid as you?”
“Our army is only dozens of li from the Liao army camp; their commander isn’t a fool and will surely be prepared.”
“Moreover, it’s not like we haven’t night-raided the Liao army camp before.”
A few days ago, before Li Xiao’s main force arrived, the Kereit Tribe had tried to attack Da Hu and Er Hu’s camps but failed each time.
The facts had proven that when both sides’ trump cards were out in the open, tricks and conspiracies lost their effect.
So, Sangkun didn’t believe a night raid would succeed—it would only waste troops in vain.
“Then~” Bieleg Bieqi was at a loss.
When the Liao army had only five thousand, they couldn’t take them down; now with the main force arrived, hopes were even slimmer.
“Our army has no retreat now; whether the Liao army is strong or weak, we must fight.”
“Pass the order: assemble the army at dawn tomorrow and attack the Liao army.” Sangkun’s voice was cold and ruthless.
The man who had forced Temüjin into a disheveled flight was not lacking in courage to draw steel against the enemy, even knowing the foe was powerful.
The next morning at dawn, with the first light breaking, Sangkun gave the order, and the Kereit Tribe army surged forward like a tide toward the Jin Prefecture Army camp.
It was to strike while the Jin Prefecture First Division had just arrived, troops and horses weary and not fully recovered, for the decisive battle.
The north wind carried grit like blades across the battlefield by the Drag River.
The Jin Prefecture Army and Kereit Tribe army stood like two beasts in confrontation, poised to strike.
The First Division officers and soldiers of the Jin Prefecture Army wore yellow cotton armor, gleaming like a surging golden wave in the sunlight, standing in the central army.
On the left and right wings, the myriad household armies led by Da Hu and Er Hu, with white armor and red armor shining together, added a chilling aura in the cold wind.
In contrast, the opposing Kereit Tribe army loomed like dark clouds. Most soldiers wore light leather armor, agile and nimble in movement.
A few elites wore heavy iron armor.
The Kereit Tribe bordered the Jin Dynasty and was one of the wealthiest and most Sinicized tribes on the grassland.
Though the Jin Dynasty strictly forbade exporting weapons to the grassland, there were always ways to evade the rules.
Thus, the Kereit Tribe soldiers’ armor rate was even much higher than the Naiman Tribe.
In the army, Sangkun sat astride a tall black war horse, his body wrapped in armor forged from fine iron, only a pair of hawk-like eyes exposed, gleaming with ferocity and resolve.
“In this battle, we must capture some prisoners and torture out the secrets of the Liao army’s battle armor and weapons.” Sangkun ordered the generals beside him.
He was full of curiosity about the Jin Prefecture Army.
Whether that strange armor or the sharp spear blades, all stirred his heart.
He couldn’t help fantasizing: if the Kereit Tribe obtained this secret and mass-produced such armor and sharp weapons, could they break free from Jin Dynasty control over the Kereit Tribe and recreate the Turkic Khaganate’s dominance of the grassland?
Immediately, his gaze pierced the morning mist, staring dead at the Jin Prefecture Army formation, and said gravely: “Pass orders to Su Helu and Hada Gala.”
“Order them to each lead elites to strike the Liao army’s left and right wings, tearing open their formation.”
“Understood!”
The messenger called out, then turned and shot off like an arrow from the string.
Moments later, Su Helu and Hada Gala received the military order.
Su Helu gripped a long saber, its blade reflecting his rugged swarthy face, roaring at his subordinates: “Warriors, follow me into the charge.”
“Let the cowardly dogs of the Liao State witness the might of the Kereit Tribe—kill!”
Hada Gala swung his mace, bellowing loudly: “For the Kereit Tribe—kill!”
The two led their cavalry like black torrents from left and right, madly pouncing on the Jin Prefecture Army wings. Hooves drummed like dense war drums, shaking the land, shouts of kill piercing the clouds.
Li Xiao stood high in the central army, taking in the entire battlefield.
Seeing the Kereit Tribe’s fierce assault focused on the wings, a flash of realization crossed his eyes.
“This is the Mongol army’s habitual ‘black tiger digging heart’?”
First use light cavalry mobility to attack from both enemy flanks, drawing attention and forces, forcing the enemy to disperse for defense.
When the enemy formation loosens or chaotic from flank attacks, deploy heavy cavalry or main force for a decisive strike on the center, breaking the line and then dividing and annihilating.
The Mongol people used this tactic to shatter Khwarazm into rout.
Now it seemed this tactic wasn’t Mongol invention but a traditional grassland cavalry one.
It was just perfected by the Mongol army.
“Sangkun is a man of intellect and valor, unfortunate to encounter Temüjin, the son of destiny.” Li Xiao thought regretfully.
Otherwise, after Sangkun inherited the Kereit Tribe, with his abilities he might unify the grassland.
“Pass the order: Luo Meng myriad household commander and Qin Chunsheng myriad household commander, lead your armies to support the left and right wings, coordinate with Li Dahu myriad household commander and Li Erhu myriad household commander to envelop the Kereit Tribe cavalry and wipe them out!”
“Understood.”
The messenger spurred his horse away.
Low horn blasts rang across heaven and earth; the Kereit Tribe’s two forces reached the Jin Prefecture Army front, loosed a volley, then quickly clashed with Da Hu and Er Hu’s myriad household armies.
At that moment, Luo Meng and Qin Chunsheng’s myriad household armies, like two sharp steel blades, charged fearlessly against the Kereit Tribe’s assault.
In short order, the Three Town Cavalry completed the envelopment of the Kereit Tribe army.
“Your Highness, Generals Su Helu and Hada Gala are surrounded by the Liao army.” In the Kereit Tribe central army, a soldier urgently reported to Sangkun.
But Sangkun’s face remained very calm, even a hint of excitement deep in his eyes.
Looking to the battlefield, the Kereit Tribe’s two forces were pincer-attacked by four Jin Prefecture Army forces.
Though Kereit Tribe soldiers lacked no bravery, the Jin Prefecture Army’s weapons were sharper, their armor stronger defensively.
In direct clashes, Kereit Tribe soldiers held no advantage.
In short time, large numbers of Kereit Tribe soldiers were cut down from their horses.
Their shouts of kill, screams, horse whinnies intertwined; blood stained the land, severed limbs scattered everywhere, the battlefield instantly a hell for Kereit Tribe soldiers.
But this situation was exactly what Sangkun needed.
“Liao army generals are nothing special.”
“They merely relied on sharp weapons and sturdy armor to defeat the Naiman people.”
“Strip those away, and the Liao army is no match for us grassland warriors.” Sangkun said with a cold laugh.
The Kereit Tribe’s two forces were feints, yet the Liao army commander fell for it.
He shifted central army troops to the wings, enveloping the two Kereit forces but fully exposing the center’s weakness to Sangkun.
“Kereit Tribe warriors!”
Sangkun rode his tall black war horse, body shrouded in fine iron-forged armor, long spear pointing straight at the Jin Prefecture Army central army, his voice like a great bell.
“The Liao army center is empty, lacking troops to defend—it cannot withstand our charge.”
“Warriors, follow me in the charge—kill!”
With Sangkun’s order, the Kereit Tribe main force soldiers roared excitedly, gripping spears, war sabers, and weapons, surging forward like a tide.
“Break through the Liao army, kill all the Liao dogs.”
“Capture them all as slaves.”
“Charge up!”
The cold wind raged, slashing like knives across every face.
Thousands of Kereit Tribe elites rolled forward, churning up dust several zhang high from the land.
Seeing the Kereit Tribe main force truly commit fully toward his center, Li Xiao slowly lowered his telescope and sneered coldly.
This tactic might be highly effective in this era, but against him, it was utterly outdated.
“Pass the order: Divine Machine Camp prepare.”
“After the cannonade, Black Armored Army charges.” Li Xiao said calmly.
On the grassland, Kereit Tribe cavalry surged like a tide, with overwhelming momentum toward the Jin Prefecture Army center.
Hooves drummed like dense war drums, shaking the earth violently, dust blotting sky and sun, as if to swallow the whole world.
But as the distance to the Jin Prefecture Army formation closed, unease gradually rose in Sangkun’s heart.
As expected, the Jin Prefecture Army soldiers should have begun panicking; if their stupid commander even hastily pulled wing troops to reinforce the center.
But none of that happened.
Instead, strange things appeared at the Jin Prefecture Army front.
Too far to see clearly, but like wooden stakes rooted in the ground, one every zhang.
“What are those things?”
Sangkun was baffled, but his sense of crisis grew stronger.
In fact, those things were called Tiger Zun Cannons.
Also forged by the Hexi Weaponry Shop, but compared to cannons, Tiger Zun Cannons were much lighter.
Just over a meter long, weighing under a hundred jin, functioning like later mortars to compensate for cannons’ close-range defects and immobility.
The Jin Prefecture Army’s cannons were too heavy to transport from Tannu Uriankhai to the Drag River basin in these few days.
So Li Xiao brought every Tiger Zun Cannon from the central army.
Of course, Tiger Zun Cannon power was much less than cannons.
Range under six hundred meters, shells lacking cannon destructiveness.
But sufficient against Kereit Tribe cavalry.
At that moment before the Jin Prefecture Army formation, forty Tiger Zun Cannons stood like steel mini-behemoths in neat rows, black muzzles aimed at the Kereit Tribe cavalry’s charge direction, exuding chilling deterrence.
Beside each Tiger Zun Cannon stood several yellow cotton-armored gunners.
As Kereit Tribe cavalry closed in, the Divine Machine Camp centurion waved his command flag and shouted: “Fire!”
Instantly, gunners lit the fuses, fuses hissing.
“Boom boom boom boom~”
With the first salvo, forty Tiger Zun Cannons fired their shells almost simultaneously.
Like meteors trailing hot flames and thick smoke, they whistled toward the Kereit Tribe cavalry.
“Clang clang~”
Iron shots slammed heavily into the charging cavalry ranks; front-row soldiers, caught off guard, were directly struck.
One cavalryman’s shoulder was smashed by an iron shot, collarbone snapping instantly; he flew back like a kite with cut strings several chi, crashing to the ground with agonized howls.
His comrade beside him couldn’t dodge; his war horse grazed by the iron shot reared in pain, throwing the soldier into the chaotic crowd.
Fallen soldiers and panicked horses tangled; rear chargers couldn’t avoid, hooves tripped, men and horses crashing down.
In the Kereit Tribe charge ranks, chaos erupted—men and horses tumbling, screams and whinnies intermingling.
Chaos spread rapidly through the ranks, completely disrupting the cavalry charge rhythm.
Rear Sangkun saw this, pupils contracting sharply, face incredulous.
“What?”
“How could this be?”
“Damn it, what’s going on?”
Sangkun’s expression terrified, furious roar, reins-gripping hands veins bulging.
He couldn’t believe the scene before him.
The originally unstoppable Kereit Tribe cavalry army turned chaotic in mere moments.
Sangkun’s gaze fixed dead on those stake-like things before the Jin Prefecture Army formation.
As Kereit Tribe heir, battle-hardened for years, he’d never seen such weapons, nor anticipated the Jin Prefecture Army unveiling this trump at the critical moment.
“What the hell are these things?” Sangkun roared in fury.
Unfortunately, surrounding soldiers’ shouts drowned his rage.
After brief shock, Sangkun recovered, waving his long spear, shouting hoarsely: “Hold steady, don’t panic, keep advancing.”
However, the Jin Prefecture Army’s second cannonade followed.
Deafening booms shrouded the battlefield in gunpowder smoke. Where shells landed, dust flew, Kereit Tribe cavalry tumbled, screams rising everywhere.
Normally, Tiger Zun Cannon range was just over five hundred meters.
Cavalry full-speed charge was about fifteen meters per second.
Meaning, if Kereit Tribe cavalry endured the barrage and charged recklessly, they’d reach the Divine Machine Camp in under a minute.
The Divine Machine Camp could only manage two salvos before facing slaughter.
But unfortunately, this was the Kereit Tribe soldiers’ first encounter with cannons.
The first salvo alone thoroughly stunned them.
Like many ignorant herdsmen, they instinctively thought it was Ahala’s wrath, punishing them through the Jin Prefecture Army.
In the army chaos, few heard Sangkun’s commands.
Seeing this, Sangkun’s face grew desperately anxious.
He knew clearly: if this continued, the Kereit Tribe army would collapse.
Thus, Sangkun’s gaze turned to the distant Tiger Zun Cannons.
“That’s the thing—must destroy it.”
Otherwise, Kereit Tribe soldiers’ fear would prevent completing the charge.
“Warriors, Ahala will protect us.”
“Follow me in the charge, chop down those wooden stakes.” Sangkun roared furiously.
Though many Kereit Tribe soldiers were terrified by the cannons, many loyal confidants ignored the fire and inner fear, continuing the charge against the Jin Prefecture Army.
Cavalry speed was very fast; several hundred meters passed in moments.
Tiger Zun Cannon booms ceased abruptly, gunpowder smoke still wafting over the battlefield.
Jin Prefecture Army gunners moved swiftly, shouting in unison, pushing Tiger Zun Cannon wheels to cluster nearby, clearing wide channels before the position.
At that moment, muffled thunder rumbled from behind the Jin Prefecture Army formation, growing clearer from far to near.
That was the sound of heavy cavalry charging, hooves pounding the ground.
Zhang Xianfeng in full pockmarked armor, his sturdy black war horse accelerating.
His armor-piercing cone gleamed coldly in the sun, pointing at the distant chaotic Kereit Tribe cavalry; he bellowed: “Black Armored Army, follow me in the charge.”
“Roar roar roar!”
Heavy cavalry roared in unison, shaking the fields.
They surged like a black steel torrent through the channels cleared by the Tiger Zun Cannons.
Soldiers fully wrapped in fine iron-forged armor, helmets revealing only cold piercing eyes, like demons from the depths of hell, emotionless.
Sangkun leading several hundred elite cavalry charged; just under a hundred paces from the Jin Prefecture Army position, his pupils shrank, anger and killing intent on his face instantly replaced by shock.
From the Jin Prefecture Army formation, armored cavalry surged like an unstoppable black torrent, with unmatched aura.
“What? Armored cavalry?”
Sangkun cried out in disbelief, voice full of incredulity.
Battle-tested across the grassland for years, he’d seen countless battles, only witnessing such numerous elite armored cavalry in Jin Dynasty armies.
Spears like a forest, gleaming coldly; thick armor, indestructible; thundering war horses, menacing.
All this gave him unprecedented sense of oppression.
Armored cavalry closed in instantly; Zhang Xianfeng bellowed: “Kill!”
Voice like a great bell, thunder exploding on flat ground, instantly impaling a Kereit Tribe soldier and hurling him flying.
Trailing armored cavalry followed like an incomparably sharp long spear, stabbing straight into the Kereit Tribe cavalry ranks.
Under the overwhelming impact, Kereit Tribe cavalry scattered like leaves in a gale, powerless to resist.
Soldiers’ screams, horses’ roars, agonized howls continuous.
Seeing this, despair surged in Sangkun’s heart.
Can’t block it, utterly can’t block it!
Bieleg Bieqi rushed to his side, pale face full of terror, shouting: “Your Highness, hurry and flee, or it’s too late.”
“I’ll cover your retreat.”
No time for words on the battlefield; without waiting for Sangkun’s reply, Bieleg Bieqi gripped his long spear and charged against the Black Armored Army.
Sangkun could only faintly hear Bieleg Bieqi’s shout.
“The Kereit Tribe can lose Bieleg Bieqi, but not Your Highness Sangkun.”
“Hurry and go.”
Words done, Bieleg Bieqi charged straight at Zhang Xianfeng.
“Bieleg~” Sangkun shouted in shock and fury, eyes full of shock and despair.
Though Bieleg Bieqi had suffered losses from Jin Prefecture Army surprise attack, Sangkun only temporarily stripped his military power, keeping him close for use and chance at merit.
And Bieleg Bieqi did not betray his trust.
Stepping forward at the most dangerous moment, giving his life to cover Sangkun’s retreat.
“Your Highness, withdraw quickly.”
“Don’t let General Bieleg die in vain.”
Under his guards’ forcible pull, Sangkun turned and fled.
His last glance at the battlefield was Bieleg being pierced through the chest by that bear-like Liao heavy cavalry commander’s armor-piercing cone.
“Bieleg~”
“My brother~” Sangkun’s tears rained on the battlefield, helpless but to turn and flee.
