My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Xiao He raised his whip and gave a soft shout:
"All troops, listen to my command! Prepare to deliver a crushing blow to the Wuhuan barbarians!"

The command flag waved, and the war drums thundered.

The spirits of the 30,000 Chu soldiers were lifted, and their eyes burned with murderous intent and fighting spirit.

In front.

The 30,000 Wuhuan cavalry slowed their pace and began to form ranks.

Tadun shaded his eyes with his hand and observed the Chu army's formation from afar.

Swordsmen and shieldmen were in front, spearmen and halberdiers were in the rear, archers and crossbowmen were in the middle, and more than four thousand cavalrymen were deployed at the rear of the formation.

This is a standard formation for countering cavalry.

The commander must be well-versed in military strategy and skilled in troop deployment to form such a formation, demonstrating exceptional command abilities.

"This Xiao He, a strategist, is actually quite skilled in military tactics and formations; he is truly remarkable..."

Tadun nodded slightly in approval, but then changed the subject and sneered:

"What a pity. No matter how well you arrange your formation, how can it withstand the pull of my cavalry?"

His cold laugh vanished, and Tadun let out a sharp shout:
"Wu Yan, Su Pu Yan, listen to my command! You two are to each lead five thousand cavalrymen to launch a feigned attack on the right flank and front of the Chu army, using mounted archery to disrupt their formation!"

Upon receiving the order, the two young kings, King Qiao and King Hanlu, each led five thousand Wuhuan cavalrymen to attack.

The bugle sounded, and the war drums soared to the sky.

Two cavalry units kicked up clouds of dust as they charged toward the Chu army's main formation.

Tadun stood in the center of the army, watching the two kings perform with a cold smile.

Beside him, Tian Yu frowned slightly, his eyes filled with growing suspicion.

First, a small cavalry unit would launch a feint attack, using its mobility to disrupt the enemy formation and force them to reveal a weakness. Then, the main cavalry force would charge into the enemy formation's weak point, ultimately breaking through the enemy lines in one fell swoop.

This is a common tactic used by the Wuhuan cavalry, and it is also a routine method for cavalry to break through infantry formations.

Tadun was an expert in mounted combat, so there was nothing wrong with him using such tactics.

The problem lies with Xiao He.

Knowing that the Wuhuan people had a clear advantage, Xiao He still dared to accept the provocation and come to fight head-on, which was already against common sense.

Looking at the formation Xiao He has set up now, it is a conventional infantry and cavalry formation, with nothing particularly special about it.

How could such a conventional formation possibly withstand the pull of the Wuhuan cavalry?

Even if Xiao He is arrogant, he couldn't be that arrogant, could he?
"Xiao He, what kind of vicious trick are you hiding...?"

Tian Yu muttered to himself, his eyes darting around as he pondered deeply.

Ahead, the two armies have begun to clash.

Faced with the approaching enemy cavalry, the Chu army immediately unleashed a hail of arrows, whistling through the air.

Kings Wuyan and Supuyan skillfully evaded the Chu army's arrow barrage by utilizing the mobility of their cavalry, while simultaneously retaliating with mounted archery.

After several back-and-forth maneuvers, a breach soon appeared on the left flank of the Chu army formation.

Having been through many battles, Tadun naturally saw the weakness in the Chu army at a glance.

"Xiao He, they all say you're a reincarnation of a military genius, but I think you're only fit to be a strategist, not a commander..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Tadun's lips as he slashed his long sword viciously.
"All troops, listen to my command! Follow me, Chanyu, and charge straight at the left flank of the Chu dogs! Break through their lines in one fell swoop!"

The loudest bugle call sounded.

With a deafening roar, 20,000 well-prepared cavalrymen surged forth like a torrent bursting its banks, rushing toward the left flank of the Chu army.

Tadun even personally took to the field, brandishing his sword and charging forward on horseback.

The Chu army had found a weakness, and Tadun was determined to seize this fleeting opportunity, commit all his cavalry, and launch a decisive attack.

Under the vast sky and across the plains, more than 20,000 Wuhuan cavalry charged at full speed, sweeping up like an overwhelming force, their momentum causing the heavens and earth to change color.

Even the elite Chu army soldiers couldn't help but change color slightly when faced with the surging force of 20,000 enemy cavalry.

"Grand Commandant, our left flank has been breached, and Tadun will surely launch a main attack on it!"

Ma Su saw through Tadun's intentions at a glance and quickly reminded him.

Xiao He remained calm, only sneering:

"If he doesn't attack our left flank, how can Zhao Guang use our secret weapon to break through Tadun's main force?" Ma Su was shocked and looked towards the left flank.

Following the swordsmen and shieldmen were the three thousand elite soldiers commanded by Zhao Guang.

These three thousand elite soldiers carried some kind of mysterious weapon on their backs, covered with cloth, and their true appearance has never been seen to this day.

Ma Su then realized that Xiao He had intentionally created a weakness on the left flank so that Tadun could attack with his main force, and then Zhao Tong's three thousand elite troops could defeat him in one fell swoop.

"Could it be that those three thousand men were equipped with powerful bows and crossbows?"

This conjecture suddenly popped into Ma Su's mind.

Besides that, he couldn't understand what other divine weapons could defeat the Wuhuan cavalry.

But on second thought, it’s not right.

Even if it were a powerful crossbow, a mere three thousand crossbowmen could only fire two shots at most in battle. How could they possibly defeat twenty thousand Wuhuan cavalry?
Xiao He offered no further explanation, but lightly flicked his riding whip:

"Order Zhao Guang to have the crossbowmen take their positions!"

The central army’s command flag waved.

Upon receiving the order, Zhao Guang immediately commanded the swordsmen and shieldmen to step back.

The more than a thousand swordsmen and shieldmen on the left flank immediately moved aside to both sides.

Three thousand crossbowmen immediately stepped forward, unloaded the weapons they carried on their backs, and removed the hemp cloth covering them.

Three thousand crossbows were revealed.

"A crossbow? It really is a crossbow!"

Ma Su and the others finally learned that Xiao He's so-called secret weapon was three thousand crossbows.

However, these three thousand crossbows looked quite different from ordinary crossbows.

"Could this be some kind of incredibly powerful divine crossbow?"

The same guess arose in everyone's mind.

While they were speculating, Zhao Guang had already ordered the crossbowmen to form three ranks, front and back, and to aim at the oncoming Wuhuan army.

Ahead.

The Wuhuan soldiers, charging forward, noticed the Chu army's change of formation before battle and their expressions subtly shifted.

Tadun's heart tightened, and he subconsciously slowed down his horse.

He recalled the Battle of Jieqiao.

When Gongsun Zan fought a decisive battle against Yuan Shao, he released his renowned White Horse Cavalry in an attempt to crush Yuan's army in one fell swoop.

Yuan Shao used the same tactic, suddenly revealing several thousand crossbowmen, and decisively defeated the White Horse Cavalry.

Could it be that Xiao He intends to use Yuan Shao's tactics to break through his Wuhuan cavalry with powerful crossbows?

For a moment, Tadun did feel a sense of apprehension.

But a moment later, a hint of disdain appeared on his lips.

Although Gongsun Zan's White Horse Cavalry was strong, it only numbered about five thousand cavalry at the time, which is why it was able to be defeated by Yuan Shao's powerful crossbows.

Now, the Wuhuan cavalry he commands number 20,000, four times the size of the White Horse Cavalry.

With only a few thousand crossbowmen, what gave Xiao He the confidence to face his twenty thousand iron cavalry, and even dared to try to replicate Yuan Shao's victory at Jieqiao?
"This Xiao He was indeed cunning, but unfortunately, he underestimated the Wuhuan Iron Cavalry..."

Tadun snorted coldly, raised his sword, and shouted:

"Warriors of the Wuhuan, fear not, charge forward!"

The fighting spirit of the Wuhuan cavalry, which had been slightly affected, was instantly reignited.

Twenty thousand iron cavalry roared like beasts, brandishing their weapons, and continued to accelerate towards the left flank of the Chu army.

The iron cavalry moved like the wind, closing in more than seventy paces in the blink of an eye.

The entire Chu army was on tenterhooks, their nerves taut as they looked toward the left flank.

Xiao He gave a cold laugh and lightly flicked his riding whip:

"Send word to Zhao Guang, let's get started."

"Let those barbarian wolves taste the power of my repeating crossbow!" (End of Chapter)