The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 7: Shoot the man first, shoot the horse

Clang, clang!
Two sharp clangs of metal clashing rang out as the arrows struck the breastplates of the cavalrymen's back armor with a heavy thud, sending sparks flying.

He actually managed to block those two deadly arrows!
"Holy crap!" Jiang Han exclaimed upon seeing this.

Although this round of confrontation only lasted for a moment, Jiang Han, who was watching from the sidelines, was almost shocked.

Shao Yong first tested his opponent's dodging habits by firing three arrows in quick succession, and then immediately changed his tactics.

First, use the first arrow to block the high position, then the next two arrows will go straight for the vital point!

Not to mention that Shao Yong fired six arrows in succession with an eighty-pound Kaiyuan bow without changing his expression; Jiang Han knew he could never learn to predict and hit the target with the last three arrows in his entire life.

However, the cavalry on the other side were no ordinary soldiers either. Their turn and sidestepping maneuvers were clearly top-level tactical moves of the elite border cavalry.

This tactic is known in the army as "running horse to retrieve arrows." It is a combat skill that the Ming Dynasty's border army learned in long-term battles with the Mongols, and it is also a tactical maneuver of the Mongol elite archers.

It is worth mentioning that this set of movements has been passed down to modern times and has gradually evolved into an equestrian sport called "running on horseback to pick up hada," which has become a sport for many ethnic minorities to showcase their superb horsemanship and courage.

While Jiang Han was still marveling at the exchange between the two, Shao Yong, standing to the side, looked somewhat dejected:
"Lord Jiang, you made a mistake and failed to kill this fiend."

Jiang Han ignored Shao Yong's self-blame and instead carefully reviewed the thrilling game in his mind, trying to find a flaw.

Seeing Jiang Han deep in thought, Hei Zi looked extremely anxious.
"Commander, that fellow is about to charge into the enemy lines!"

Jiang Han's mind raced as he analyzed the current situation:
"Why are these cavalrymen charging so desperately into Wu Zimian's army formation?"

"Wu Zimian's army is already completely surrounded. Once the artillery is in position, it will only add another corpse to the army."

"But why did he still rush in? Just to die?"

He stared intently at the galloping warhorse, when suddenly a brilliant idea struck him, and he slapped his thigh:
"It might be useless for people to go in, but it's different for Marco!"

"That's it!" Jiang Han's eyes lit up. "This guy is giving Wu Zimian a horse to escape!"

Jiang Han turned around and grabbed Shao Yong's shoulder armor, his fingers almost digging into the metal plate:

"Shoot the horse before the rider! Shao Yong!"

Before he could finish speaking, he looked at the archers behind him and added:
"Archers, listen to my command! Aim for the horse's legs and neck, and shoot at the most unpredictable angles possible!"

"Anyone who can stop this horse will be rewarded with ten taels of silver!"

The battlefield was in complete chaos. Many infantrymen, seeing the fast horses galloping towards them, were knocked away before they could even dodge.

In this situation, it was too late to form a battle formation, and the infantry could only watch helplessly as the cavalry swept past them.

After listening to Jiang Han's request, Shao Yong silently nodded, took out a new arrow from his waist, held his breath, and aimed at the cavalry in the distance once again.

Whoosh!
As Shao Yong fired his arrow, the archers behind him were not to be outdone, lowering their aim and targeting the galloping warhorse.

Arrows rained down, their targets clear, aimed directly at the horses' vital points.

Seeing another volley of arrows coming, the cavalryman smirked, his body poised to strike, ready to unleash his signature "horse-riding arrow-catching" skill once more.

But things didn't seem to go as he expected. Shao Yong's arrow arrived in an instant and hit the horse's leg.

puff!

The dull thud of an arrow piercing flesh rang out, followed by a painful neigh from the warhorse beneath him.

The warhorse neighed and reared up, nearly throwing its rider to the ground. The rider, realizing what was happening, gripped the reins tightly, cold sweat streaming down his helmet lining.

This volley of arrows was aimed directly at his warhorse! The horse was unarmored, and if it was hit in a vital spot, it would surely die!
If the horse dies on the way, even if I return to the army, it will be of no use!

He recalled the instructions his father, Duan Rong, the head of the household guards, had given him before he went into battle:
"Little Qi, remember this: you can die, but your horse must never be harmed!"

Duan Xiaoqi felt a chill run down his spine. He and his father were Wu Zimian's most loyal confidants and were deeply trusted by Wu Zimian.

Wu Zimian was incredibly kind to his family. Back then, the father and son worked like oxen and horses in the military village and almost starved to death.

It was Wu Zimian who gave them a helping hand and took them in as his followers, thus saving them from starving to death by the roadside.

Even if Duan Xiaoqi dies today, he will definitely deliver this horse to General Wu.

Without a second thought, he yanked the reins tight, gripped the stirrups with both feet, and used the "running horse to retrieve the arrow" move again.

Unlike before, this time he fully extended his body, his arms outstretched like eagle wings, and his whole body clung to the right side of the warhorse like a gecko, becoming a human shield.

To protect his warhorse, he actually decided to use his own body as a shield!

Arrows rained down, the sound of arrowheads striking armor was deafening, and Duan Xiaoqi really blocked most of the arrows with his body!

But cloth armor is not a solid block. Although it can hold out for a while, arrows will always find a way in.

Wave after wave of arrows rained down, many of them bypassing the protection of his cloth armor and piercing his arms, hands, and thighs.

Blood instantly stained his armor, and the excruciating pain nearly made him lose consciousness.

The most fatal arrow, with its immense power, pierced Duan Xiaoqi's left palm, pinning his left hand firmly to the horse's leg, rendering him unable to move!
As waves of excruciating pain surged through him, blood gushed out like a fountain, Duan Xiaoqi's arm gradually lost its strength, and his vision began to blur.

"Am I going to die here?" he murmured, his lips trembling.

"What a waste of all that martial arts skill! I was hoping to kill a few more Eastern barbarians this time."

Duan Xiaoqi's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and her consciousness gradually became blurred.

In a daze, he seemed to see the scene of practicing archery on horseback in the training ground when he was a child. It was the day he first learned to "catch arrows while riding a horse".

At that time, he was full of vigor and rode a tall horse across the training ground, winning cheers from the crowd.

Even Lord Wu, who was passing by, was full of admiration for him, praising his father, Duan Rong, highly:

"Duan Xiaoqi, what a fine son! Like father, like son!"

"If he performs meritorious service and is rewarded in the future, I will definitely recommend him for the guerrilla general position!"

Duan Xiaoqi's breathing grew heavier and heavier. He tried to open his eyes wide and murmured:
"Lord Wu, Xiao Qi has done his best."

Just as his consciousness was about to fade away, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Wu Zimian's army formation not far away from the corner of his eye.

"No! I can't die yet!" He suddenly woke up, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Duan Xiaoqi gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain in his hand, and with all his might, pulled the arrow out of his palm.

Blood gushed from the wound, but he ignored it.

He gripped the reins tightly, remounted, and with a powerful squeeze of his legs against the horse's flanks, suddenly accelerated and charged forward!
At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind: he had to get the horse into General Wu's hands!

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(End of this chapter)