Chapter 3

Chapter 637: Dang Yeqi's New Formation, Huijian (3)

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Yingzhao was frustrated that Guo Jia did not explain the reason but decided to do whatever needed to be done.

Yingzhao could not think that Guo Jia, driven by youthful blood, would attempt something reckless. Although Yingzhao was senior in age, Guo Jia was the one currently entrusted with a major military responsibility.

Perhaps he did not want to think that Guo Jia would forget his duty and engage in battle.

However, the atmosphere grew increasingly strange. When Guo Jia drew the sword on his back, suspicion turned to certainty.

'What does he plan to do with just a few dozen cavalry...'

Although Dang Yeqi's charge had broken the formation, the enemy forces were still numerous. After all, they were facing an enemy nearly ten times their number.

Yet, Guo Jia was charging towards the enemy lines with a small force. Even though Yingzhao's troops were protecting him, their number was only a few dozen.

It was a woefully small number to attack the main force of the Zhang Xiong army, which numbered over ten thousand.

But how could Guo Jia not know this? He was attempting this reckless attack because the battle could not be prolonged.

Guo Jia led the charge from the front of Yingzhao's troops, striking the rear of the enemy army.

The Zhang Xiong army had formed a formation with cavalry advancing to the east and infantry following behind in a long line. Dang Yeqi's fierce attack had broken this formation, causing the eastern infantry to scatter.

Now, they needed to transform into a defensive formation. Guo Jia could not afford to let them do so.

If the Zhang Xiong army formed a defensive formation, Dang Yeqi would no longer be able to freely charge through the enemy lines. Additionally, there was the issue of the horses' stamina.

If it hadn't rained, this might not have been a concern.

Dang Yeqi is the strongest military unit representing the forces of Lü Bu. They are highly skilled in cavalry tactics, to the point where they are more comfortable on horseback than in bed. Moreover, they are equipped with heavy armor on vital points, combining the defensive capabilities of heavy cavalry with the mobility of light cavalry.

However, the continuous rain was making the ground increasingly muddy, causing the warhorses to tire quickly.

The rain alleviated concerns about archery but raised concerns about the stamina of the warhorses. Guo Jia, who considered all possible scenarios, could not have overlooked this point.

He was taking another gamble.

His strategy was to target the enemy's rear, creating chaos around the enemy commander, thereby delaying the formation of the defensive formation.

* * *

"Several dozen enemy cavalry are approaching the rear!"

Zhang Xiong became irritable upon hearing the report from his subordinate.

"Such trivial matters should not be reported!"

Zhang Xiong was focused on forming the defensive formation. Although he had been overwhelmed by the bravery of Lü Bu and Dang Yeqi, he was not a careless commander. The Zhang Xiong army had lost a significant number of troops but not enough to warrant a retreat.

'Once we form the defensive formation, their rampaging will come to an end!'

Zhang Xiong, like Lü Bu, had spent his life on the battlefield. On a rainy day like this, even the sturdiest warhorses cannot carry a heavily armored rider and gallop at full speed for half an hour.

How much more so for the warhorses of Dang Yeqi, which had repeatedly charged through the enemy lines at full speed.

When the horses tire and slow down, the cavalry will no longer be a threat to the infantry. Zhang Xiong was aware of this.

It would be impossible for someone who couldn't think of this to use the Snake Formation, one of the most advanced formations.

Lü Bu's central force was the most exhausted.

If Lü Bu had not led from the front, the warhorses might have stopped long ago.

However, even he was reaching his limit.

Lü Bu did not need to worry about his own warhorse, Red Hare, but he was concerned about his subordinates' horses. A cavalry commander must calculate how long and how far his horses can travel.

"Shang Kai!"

Lü Bu called out, and Shang Kai immediately understood what he wanted. This was true telepathy.

Whistle!

Shang Kai whistled, and the fifteen Dang Yeqi cavalry scattered to the northwest.

Lü Bu also broke through the enemy lines with them. However, he could not give the Zhang Xiong army the luxury of forming their defensive formation.

As if they had practiced in advance, Wei Yue's allied forces emerged from the west, disrupting the Guanxi cavalry and charging towards Lü Bu.

Shang Kai, who had separated from the group, joined Wei Yue and charged back at the Zhang Xiong army.

Wei Yue rode alongside Lü Bu.

"Commander, let's use the fifteen cavalry."

"Didn't Mr. Guo say to break through and join Zhang Junyi?"

"I understand. Lead the way."

In the past, he would have insisted on joining the fifteen cavalry with Lü Bu. However, after learning that Lü Bu was concerned about his brother, Wei Su, Wei Yue had changed. He would not shirk his duties as a strategist but would not argue with Lü Bu over who should lead in such a situation.

In any case, Guo Jia's strategy was effective again.

When Lü Bu's central force saw the success of the fifteen cavalry, the Zhang Xiong army prepared to counter with spearmen.

They even set up makeshift horse barriers with spears, but Lü Bu did not use the fifteen cavalry tactic again.

* * *

Guo Jia, along with Yingzhao's troops, continued to harass the rear of the Zhang Xiong army. Although they were only a few dozen cavalry, they were causing significant disruption while the Zhang Xiong army was distracted by Wei Yue's forces.

"Puh!"

An enemy soldier was struck by Guo Jia's sword, spraying blood and falling to the ground. Despite his military responsibilities, Guo Jia personally cut down several enemy soldiers, drawing their attention.

Yingzhao, protecting Guo Jia's side, was nearly exhausted from blocking the enemy's spears and swords.

In a way, Guo Jia was causing trouble for Yingzhao, but this was unavoidable. The Zhang Xiong army needed to be delayed from forming their defensive formation, and Wei Yue's forces needed to break through.

To achieve this, Guo Jia chose to create chaos.

"General Ying! Raise the banner and withdraw!"

Guo Jia ordered Yingzhao to raise the banner. Yingzhao immediately threw his short sword, piercing the chest of the banner bearer.

Yingzhao, eager to retreat with Guo Jia as quickly as possible, threw his only short sword.

"Mr. Guo!"

Yingzhao called out, and Guo Jia nodded, then fled.

Meanwhile, Yingzhao's archers repeatedly attacked the mounted enemies and retreated, following Guo Jia and Yingzhao.

The short attack by a few dozen cavalry did not result in significant casualties for the Zhang Xiong army.

Considering the Zhang Xiong army's strength, which exceeded ten thousand, the loss of a few dozen was negligible.

However, the loss of those few dozen was significant. They were the banner bearers and lower-ranking officers who signaled the formation changes to the soldiers.

One of the banner bearers in the eight directions of the defensive formation was taken down by Guo Jia and Yingzhao. Several lower-ranking officers were also felled by Yingzhao's cavalry.

As a result, the Zhang Xiong army's formation change was delayed.

Zhang Xiong was furious that the formation change was slower on the west side than the east.

"How long has it been since I ordered the formation change, and it's still not done?"

"Commander, the banner bearers on the southwest were taken down..."

"Taken down? By whom? The enemy is on our east!"

"Well... the few dozen enemy cavalry we mentioned earlier..."

"Are you telling me you couldn't handle a few dozen cavalry and lost the banner bearers? Oh! I'd rather die than suffer like this..."

Zhang Xiong, pounding his chest, ordered his subordinates to take charge.

"Go and take care of it! Hurry! We need to form the defensive formation as quickly as possible!"

Once the defensive formation was formed, they could easily crush Lü Bu's forces. The delay was driving him mad. He sent several subordinates to expedite the process.

'If we continue to delay, the Lü Bu cavalry that left the battlefield might return!'

Zhang Xiong knew that a group of Lü Bu's cavalry had left the battlefield.

They were not retreating but would likely return. The horses needed time to rest, and if they had spare horses, they could switch.

Zhang Xiong was wary of this. His fears soon became reality.

The Shang Kai forces, which had left the battlefield, reappeared.

* * *

Guo Jia and Yingzhao's forces joined Shang Kai's forces. Guo Jia rode alongside Shang Kai and shouted.

"General Shang Kai! How was the cavalry formation I devised?"

"It seemed like your specialty, Huijian."

"Huijian...?"

Huijian (揮劍).

Shang Kai, to overcome his relatively small stature, favored a sword technique that relied on quick movements and continuous strikes. This technique was known as Huijian among swordsmen.

It was not just about footwork or fast sword strikes. It required a harmonious balance of both to be called Huijian.

The cavalry tactics Dang Yeqi used against the Guanxi forces were similar. They charged and retreated three times with heavy cavalry, led by fierce commanders. This demonstrated the mobility advantage of light cavalry.

When the heavy cavalry and infantry were separated, they immediately charged the infantry with the fifteen cavalry tactic.

From above, it would have looked like ants attacking a worm.

The phrase "mysterious and unpredictable" perfectly described today's Dang Yeqi.

When Guo Jia remained silent, Shang Kai momentarily wondered if he had said something wrong. However, he was relieved when Guo Jia's face brightened.

"I couldn't name the cavalry formation, but General Shang Kai has given it a good name. Let's call this cavalry formation 'Huijian Formation.' What do you think?"

"It sounds quite fitting. But I'm still a novice, so my praise might not be helpful."

"General Shang Kai, you have a big task ahead."

Guo Jia changed the topic. He had discussed the cavalry formation to ease Shang Kai's tension before giving him an important mission.

Guo Jia had learned a lot from Cao Cao's side, and now he was applying it on the battlefield.

"Should we cut off the enemy commander's head?"

"No. We need to make it look like we are circling around and attacking from the west. Make it seem like you are targeting the rear and breaking through. Remember, you must not actually break through."

"You mean just threaten them?"

"Exactly. Just threaten them, but make it look real. Did you see the enemy commander's banner?"

Guo Jia pointed at the Zhang Xiong army, and Shang Kai replied.

"I saw it after charging through the enemy lines with the commander."

"If the banner moves west, just gallop back to the northeast."

"I came with fresh horses, so give me a chance to fight."

"Join General Wei and push the enemy hard."

At that, a smile spread across Shang Kai's face. He spurred his horse forward, drew his sword, and shouted.

"Lead the charge! Shang Kai! Prepare for a breakthrough!"