Tiger Guards

Chapter 538 Fierce Assault
Four or five miles north of the main camp, Zhang Liao charged ahead, with flag bearers closely following behind.

Zhang Liao raised his right hand to slow down, and with his left hand he held the reins, stopping his horse at the front of the formation.

Because of the relatively low riverbed, Zhang Liao's more than 7,000 chariots and cavalry were on higher ground, and could see the general information of the battlefield at a glance.

Zhang Liao surveyed the battlefield from his horse, while the lagging and deformed column of soldiers behind him continued to advance, spreading out along Zhang Liao's left and right flanks to reinforce their positions.

The commanders, officers, and supervisors of each battalion gradually gathered around Zhang Liao. Once everyone was mostly present, Zhang Liao pointed his whip at the main camp and said, "The Grand Marshal's banner is being raised and lowered. The Xianbei people are quite resilient, showing signs of repeated defeats and battles. They are truly tenacious."

These military officers also gazed into the distance, most of them understanding, but none of them dared to speak out.

There were also captains who came from the Tiger Guards, their brows furrowed in displeasure, but they did not express their opinions, since Zhang Liao had not spoken too directly.

Zhang Liao continued, "With the Grand Marshal's extraordinary bravery, the Xianbei, though numerous, will be unable to achieve anything. Our army should strike directly at the location of the Xianbei king's banner, disrupting their central army. Once the Xianbei army is routed, their forces will be difficult to regroup, and they will inevitably suffer repeated defeats!"

Holding his riding whip and pointing to the location of the Xianbei royal banner, Zhang Liao turned to two mid-to-high-ranking military officers who had come from the Tiger Guard: "You two lead your troops to flank to the west, while I lead the rest of the troops to charge straight at the location of their royal banner. We will attack from both sides, break through their royal army, and then our main camp will be able to pursue and kill them in one battle!"

The other officers were tempted and glanced sideways at the two officers. The two exchanged a look, then bowed to Zhang Liao in unison, saying, "We are willing to accept your orders."

Zhang Liao nodded slowly, then took out the command arrow granted by Zhao Ji from his waist pouch and showed it to the two of them, saying, "The Grand Marshal trusts me. He predicted that I would launch a surprise attack on the Xianbei royal banner, which is why he entrusted me with such great power. If you two feel that you understand me better than the Grand Marshal, it is not too late to appeal to the Chief Secretary after the battle."

"I dare not, I am willing to give my life."

One person bowed, and the other bowed as well. Only then did Zhang Liao put away the command arrow: "It's decided then. After returning to your respective teams, when you see my battle flag tilted forward, move out together."

"Here!"

The thirteen military officers bowed on their horses, grabbed the reins, and spurred their horses back to their own lines.

Zhang Liao watched them leave, and when he saw that they were about to rejoin his main force, he leaped off his horse, nimbly climbed onto a well-rested warhorse, and his more than three hundred personal cavalrymen followed suit.

After donning his mask, Zhang Liao grabbed his iron halberd and slowly descended diagonally towards the sky, shouting, "Follow me to kill the Hu!"

The flag officer held the battle flag and slowly tilted it forward, while the accompanying drum carts sounded.

With a thunderous drumbeat, more than seven thousand cavalrymen trampled through the snow, charging towards the central army of the Xianbei royal banner like a wave of mixed red and purple.

During the accelerated charge, two officers from the Tiger Warriors led their unit, approximately three thousand cavalry, westward, separating from Zhang Liao's main force.

Zhang Liao achieved stability by uniting his troops and men.

It was clearly visible that when they charged, the Xianbei king's central army began to divide its forces, and sure enough, several thousand cavalrymen were sent to intercept the other troops he had sent out, and several thousand cavalrymen were sent to intercept them as well.

In the Battle of Fushi, the Grand Marshal, despite being outnumbered, still managed to break through the Xianbei vanguard, pierce through the Xianbei king's guard cavalry, and rush to the Xianbei king's side, where he killed him in front of everyone.

Zhang Liao felt that he could do it too. As long as he wasn't afraid of death and dared to fight, he had a chance to succeed!

Even someone of the Grand Marshal's rank and prestige would risk his life to personally charge into enemy lines... Compared to that, what is my own life worth?
Zhang Liao had some initial doubts, but after receiving the command token from Zhao Ji, he understood Zhao Ji's fighting spirit.

The opportunity has already been given to him, so what is there to hesitate about?
As Zhang Liao's entire army launched its attack from the north, the chariot troops charging across the ice from the south also came into view of Zhang Liao's forces.

Due to the difference in elevation between the north and south, the northern and southern groups in the charge spotted each other and immediately encouraged each other, their strength increasing as men and horses raced forward. Meanwhile, the Xianbei royal banner's central army dispatched a cavalry force to resist the chariot group that was breaking through the ice and snow along the smooth surface.

Without a second thought, Zhang Liao gripped his iron halberd with both hands and charged forward, staring at the dozen or so heavily armored Xianbei cavalrymen opposite him.

He could tell at a glance that the enemy's armor was captured from the battlefield twenty years ago!

However, Zhang Liao's personal guards and elite cavalry charged even faster. Within a hundred paces of the enemy, these dozen or so valiant cavalrymen rushed out from Zhang Liao's left and right sides, and several knights even tacitly protected the left and right sides in front of Zhang Liao's horse.

It can both protect Zhang Liao's flanks and limit his speed.

The two sides' cavalry clashed, knocking down a row of men from each other. Then a second row charged, and they began to vigorously swing their weapons, striking the enemy's men and horses.

"Kill the Hu!"

Zhang Liao shouted, his iron halberd piercing down a Xianbei armored knight. His personal guards continued to charge forward, and every time a Xianbei knight got close, Zhang Liao could seize the opportunity to accurately strike them down.

He kicked his horse with all his might, and his personal riders followed desperately behind him.

Meanwhile, the valiant cavalrymen protecting him were frequently thrown from their horses or entangled by Xianbei knights, and Zhang Liao encountered more and more Xianbei knights.

In dangerous situations, they would face attacks from two or three Xianbei knights at the same time.

Zhang Liao was fearless in the face of death and had a very calm mindset in battle. He always managed to knock down the most threatening Xianbei knight when he held his iron halberd with both hands.

After finally shooting down a Xianbei knight, Zhang Liao's iron halberd was stained with blood and so wet that it was difficult to hold.

Suddenly, the scene before him opened up. Of the dozen or so elite cavalrymen, only two remained. One of the knights had his left arm hanging limply, and his horse was slowing down. He turned to look at Zhang Liao, gritting his teeth and forcing a smile.

Zhang Liao nodded vigorously, kicked the horse's belly hard, wiped the sticky blood off the halberd shaft, held the halberd with both hands, the blade pointing diagonally forward, and charged straight toward the Xianbei king's banner.

All the Han cavalry and volunteer cavalry who had broken through the enemy lines behind him spurred their horses and galloped away, no longer paying attention to the Xianbei people. All they could see was the head of the new Xianbei king!
Even if the new king's head and reward are not as good as the old king's head, he can still be promoted three ranks, given a fief of a thousand households, and become a local marquis!

Almost every knight who broke through the enemy lines launched a fearless charge toward the Xianbei royal banner without hesitation.

"The Han cavalry were fierce and brave."

Qian Man sighed, picked up the helmet adorned with rubies and sapphires, put it on, stepped down from the high-wheeled carriage, climbed onto the silver-decorated double stirrups, picked up a long spear with a sky-blue ribbon wrapped around the blade, and pointed it at Zhang Liao's location: "Let's go!"

Only about two thousand noble knights and royal guards remained around him, and they all followed him.

There were no bugle calls or drumbeats; they could only follow the long spear in Qianman's hand and watch the blue ribbon fluttering in the wind.

As the cavalry clashed, Qianman and Zhang Liao sent out a separate force that circled back, while some of their cavalry broke through the Xianbei cavalry's interception, forming large and small cavalry formations to charge Qianman's flank.

Almost simultaneously, the charging chariot formation overwhelmed the enemy cavalry blocking the south, the chariots advancing bravely towards the rear of the Qianman formation, snow flying everywhere.

(End of this chapter)