Chapter 1

Chapter 635: Dangyegi's New Formation, Hu Jian (1)

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Yue Bu, with Ying Zhao as his guide, led Guo Jia, Wei Yue, and Zhang He towards where Dangyegi was located.

The sight of the five riders galloping was incredibly lively.

Splash! Splash!

Even the sound of their horses stepping into the puddles filled with rainwater was not unpleasant to the ear.

Despite having to attack with just two thousand Dangyegi against nearly twenty thousand enemies, no one's expression was dark. Instead, they all seemed to wish for the battle to begin as soon as possible.

From the opposite direction, a few of Ying Zhao's subordinates galloped over. They paused for a moment, then turned their horses to ride alongside Ying Zhao.

Ying Zhao relayed the report he received from them to Yue Bu.

"The reinforcements from Guanxian have set up camp just ten li away from here."

"Ten li...," Yue Bu said, his expression changing as he realized that this short distance would determine the outcome of the battle in Binyang. However, there was no time to indulge in thoughts. The next battle awaited him.

"Where is Dangyegi?"

"Just a little further."

"Go ahead and prepare for the attack. Wei Yue, go with Ying Zhao."

"Leave the formation to me."

As Ying Zhao and Wei Yue charged forward, Guo Jia and Zhang He stood on either side of Yue Bu.

"General, what cavalry formation will you use in this battle?"

"Probably the fifteen-unit formation."

The fifteen-unit formation was the cavalry formation used against the Bai Pa Ji. It involved grouping fifteen units together to break through the enemy lines. Yue Bu often used this formation when facing large armies.

This time, he planned to use the fifteen-unit formation against an enemy ten times his size.

However, Guo Jia made a different suggestion.

"General, I know the strength of the fifteen-unit formation, but it will soon start raining again. We can't use archery, and there are no reinforcements to support Dangyegi, so I suggest not using the fifteen-unit formation."

"You're right. Then we'll have to use a single-point breakthrough."

Yue Bu arrived at where Dangyegi was, looking forward to the single-point breakthrough.

"General, I have a new strategy. Please gather all the Dangyegi commanders."

Guo Jia smiled confidently and requested this from Yue Bu, who immediately agreed.

"Wei Yue! Gather all the brothers!"

* * *

The commanders gathered around Yue Bu and Guo Jia. Wei Yue, Zhang He, Da Shu, Hong Wu, and other cavalry commanders squatted down, listening intently to Guo Jia.

"Since it's an open field and we have no means to suppress the enemy scouts from a distance, a surprise attack is impossible."

Guo Jia's words disappointed the cavalry commanders, who had been hiding for days to prepare for a surprise attack.

However, they couldn't blame Guo Jia. Who could have predicted that the reinforcements would be so slow?

"We can still engage in a frontal battle. What formation do you think the enemy will use?"

"Considering the situation, they underestimate our forces. They will likely try to swallow us whole rather than fear Dangyegi's appearance."

"They do have a numerical advantage."

"That's why they will probably use the Snake Formation. Initially, it looks like a straight line, but they can also use the Long Snake Formation. However, with an army of twenty thousand, there's no practical difference."

Guo Jia's prediction was the Snake Formation, which resembles a snake.

At first glance, it looks like a straight line, but it's a formation designed to draw the enemy deep and then surround them.

Like a snake coiling around its prey, the formation starts as a straight line to lure the enemy in.

"The Snake Formation is not easy to deploy."

"Indeed, deploying the Snake Formation is challenging. It requires constant changes from a straight line to a crescent and then to a square formation. But if successful, it's one of the best formations for a large force to overwhelm a smaller one."

"So, what strategy will we use to counter it? You mentioned a plan."

Guo Jia's lips curved into a smile.

"We are all cavalry. Considering this, the battle will likely start at a distance of about a li."

Guo Jia said this and then drew two circles on the ground, one representing Yue Bu's forces and the other the Guanxian forces.

"Starting the battle at a distance of a li... A li is not too far, even if we take it slowly."

"Exactly. We'll ride together for about a li, making it look like we're attempting a single-point breakthrough."

"What do we do after that? Can we just go for the single-point breakthrough?"

Yue Bu seemed to hope for a single-point breakthrough. After all, it was his strongest tactic. Guo Jia understood this well.

"We need to attempt a single-point breakthrough, but not with all of Dangyegi."

"Then what?"

"First, we'll divide our forces into three. However, the center and right wings should initially move as one."

Guo Jia drew the character '川' (river) on the ground and continued.

"The three wings will charge together, and then the center wing will attempt a single-point breakthrough towards the enemy's main force."

"What about the left and right wings?"

"They will flank the enemy to break the Snake Formation. With no reinforcements, the enemy's formation will thin out as it extends. To avoid this, they will have to divide their forces."

Guo Jia's strategy focused on breaking the enemy's formation. However, that was not all.

"If the enemy repels us or quickly changes to a square formation, that's when my main strategy begins."

"Breaking the enemy's formation is not the end?"

"This battle must not drag on. We need to head to Zhongtian immediately after this. The sooner we get there, the more advantageous it will be. To achieve this, I have prepared a new cavalry formation."

Guo Jia then began to draw lines on the ground, explaining his strategy in detail.

He was worried that his plan might be too complex, but the faces of the commanders, led by Yue Bu, showed no such concern.

After all, they were already adept at using formations like the fifteen-unit formation. What could be more difficult?

* * *

"Ah! It's raining again. This is a disaster, a disaster."

Yang Xing frowned deeply as the rain started again. However, Zhang Heng's face showed no worry.

"General Yang, what are you worried about?"

"How can I not be worried with the rain? The soldiers will tire quickly if they march in the rain, and if we engage in battle immediately after arriving, we won't be able to use our bows."

"Hehe! Worry is part of life. The battle won't start until the rain stops."

Zhang Heng was not worried. He had no specific reason for this confidence. In fact, he hoped that the Zhaqinglong forces would be destroyed by Yue Bu's army.

"Attacking Yue Bu's forces from both sides doesn't sound bad..."

"That's a good idea, but if Yue Bu's forces get scared and retreat, we'll miss a good opportunity."

Yang Xing nodded, caught up in Zhang Heng's strange logic. However, a shadow of death was approaching them. Dangyegi, the strongest force in Yue Bu's army, was charging towards them.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Two thousand Dangyegi were galloping towards Zhang Heng's camp. The sound of hooves was drowned out by the rain, and no dust was raised.

However, since it was an open field, they were soon spotted by the enemy scouts.

By the time they were three li away, Zhang Heng and Yang Xing's forces were already in formation.

Yue Bu, leading the charge, raised his hand high. The Dangyegi behind him gradually slowed to a stop. After catching their breath and closing the distance to a li, Yue Bu's forces came to a complete halt.

"Hahaha! Now we can have a proper battle!"

Yue Bu, despite facing an enemy nearly ten times his size, showed great confidence.

"Commander, when will we start? The brothers are eager to fight."

"There are nearly ten thousand enemies here, and tens of thousands more in Zhongtian. We'll have plenty of battles, so don't rush."

Ying Zhao also requested to participate.

"General, please give me a chance. I feel like I'm a messenger, not a commander."

"You know that archery won't be effective in this battle, and Dangyegi's armor is not as strong. Don't lead the front."

"Still, can't you give me something to do?"

"Protect Mr. Guo. This is an open field, so there's no safe vantage point to observe the battle."

In other words, Ying Zhao was to watch the battle with Guo Jia.

Ying Zhao, understanding this, went to Guo Jia with a serious expression. Guo Jia then whispered to him.

"General Ying, don't be too impatient. Although we haven't enjoyed the wealth from Haidong for long, by this time next year, you will be leading thousands of archers on the battlefield. Mr. Jia said so, so believe it."

Ying Zhao's face brightened at Guo Jia's words.

Ying Zhao had joined Yue Bu's forces later than Wu Ji, who became the commander of Taihang and led tens of thousands of troops. However, Ying Zhao had been leading a few dozen archers and serving as a scout.

Although he had not achieved any notable victories, his presence had made many things possible.

Jia Hou, understanding Yue Bu's desire to include everyone, was preparing to assign a unit of archers to Ying Zhao.

However, the lack of supplies and funds had prevented this from happening.

Now that trade with the Yi tribes in Dongyi had started and the salt from Haidong belonged to Yue Bu, the only thing lacking was time.

* * *

"Yue Bu's forces, Yue Bu's forces! They said there were no cavalry..."

Yang Xing's face showed clear signs of panic at the appearance of Yue Bu's forces. However, Zhang Heng burst into laughter at the sight of Yue Bu's small army.

"Hahaha! Attacking with just a few thousand troops? They must be desperate to die! General Yang, we have three thousand cavalry and over fifteen thousand infantry."

"General, we should form a solid defense and focus on defense."

"Defense? Nonsense. Why should we be on the defensive? We'll draw them in and swallow them whole. Not a single one will be left alive."

Zhang Heng underestimated Yue Bu's forces. This was the perfect time for Dangyegi's bravery to shine, especially since they couldn't use ranged weapons.

However, to those who didn't know Dangyegi's true strength, the two thousand troops seemed insignificant.

"The rain and the mud make it difficult to change formations freely. If we draw them in too far and our formation breaks, the damage could be worse than expected."

"Why are you so worried, General Yang? If you're uncomfortable, you can stay back. I'll capture Yue Bu with my forces, and you can keep quiet after that..."

Zhang Heng's forces were larger than Yang Xing's. Yang Xing had no choice but to follow Zhang Heng's strategy.

"Deploy the Snake Formation!"

Zhang Heng ordered the deployment of the Snake Formation, trying to suppress his laughter. Yang Xing tilted his head and asked.

"Is it because the enemy's forces are insignificant?"

"No, no. I'm just amused to think that Yue Bu will try to break through what he thinks is a straight line formation."