Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 186 Border Incursions
The grassland tribes of Xihe County.

Inside a large, thick felt tent, several members of the grassland tribe were drinking and discussing something.

“Chieftain of the small fiefdom.” A burly chieftain with a scar on his face lowered his voice.

"The brothers who came back from the north are all talking about the naturalization of grazing land and the wool purchase policy."

"Now quite a few people on our pastures are starting to raise more sheep. Shouldn't we consider this a good business opportunity?"

He meant something.

The old man known as the head of the Xifeng tribe was none other than Xifeng, the leader of the Xifeng tribe.

His hair was gray, his cheekbones were high, his eyes were deep-set, but his eyes were still as sharp as a hawk's.

He slowly sipped the spicy milk wine, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice low and deliberate: "There are more intelligent people among the Han people now."

A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"If there are too many sheep, what will be less?"

Another chieftain took a sip of his drink, stroked his beard, and said, "There's only so much fodder in the pasture. If you raise too many sheep, there will be less of the other fodder."

Xi Feng spat: "That's exactly the point!"

"What the Han people want is to increase the number of sheep and decrease the number of horses on the grasslands!"

"What used to surround our tents? Neighing horses! Sharpened scimitars!"

Our children have to endure the bumpy rides on horseback and the slumber in wind and snow from a young age, learning horsemanship and archery!

"And now?" he asked, his tone turning sharp and sorrowful.

"The tents of those people from Bingbei are surrounded by bleating sheep! Their kids spend all day chasing after the sheep with whips in hand! They learn how to shear the sheep and how to fatten them up! The Han people used salt, tea, and those shiny iron pots and needles and thread to train those people into sheep!"

"What, do you want to become sheep too?"

He glanced around, and the chieftains present seemed hesitant to meet his gaze; their shifty eyes suggested they had indeed considered this idea.

The felt tent was deathly silent.

The expressions of the chieftains changed; some looked thoughtful, while others were dismissive.

The scarred man frowned and said, "Brother Xifeng, that's true... but isn't it good to have a peaceful life, with salt to eat and tea to drink, and no one freezing to death in winter, and the kids not having to risk their lives?"

"Not going to fight to the death?" Xi Fenglie abruptly interrupted him, his eyes flashing with cold light, like an enraged old wolf.

"That's what sheep think! Sheep on the grassland are destined to be eaten!" He suddenly stood up, his fur robe overturning the wine bowl, spilling the murky milk wine onto the felt blanket.

"The Han people are giving us benefits now because they need stability!"
When our horses graze freely, our knives rust, and our youngsters can't even climb onto the horses anymore... do you think they'll still be so friendly?!

Will they still try to trade salt and tea for our wool?

He surveyed the assembled chieftains, his voice like a cold knife, each word slicing through their hearts.

"At that time, they will probably only raise their swords! Turn our grasslands into their farmland, our people into their slaves! Trample our sacred mountains and lakes under their iron hooves!"

He pointed to the grassland outside the tent and cursed angrily.

"This..." The scarred chieftain was so shocked by the blunt language that he was speechless, and the other chieftains looked at each other in bewilderment.

Xi Fenglie took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and slowly sat down, lowering his voice even further.

"Brothers, we grassland people are born on horseback and die on horseback; this is the rule ordained by the gods! The Han people are now trying to slowly poison us by wrapping poison in cheese! We cannot let them succeed!"

"Absolutely not!"

"Brother Xifeng, what do you suggest we do?"

“How to do it.”

Xi Feng slowly sat back down, looking at the tall grass swaying in the wind outside the tent.

"Jinyang has become incredibly prosperous since Zhang Xian arrived. Let's gather the boys and make our fortune!"

Zishi County Town.

It is less a city and more a huge fortress built on the foothills of the Lüliang Mountains, guarding a narrow valley.

The city walls were low and mostly dilapidated, and the houses inside the city were also mostly crumbling.

After Zhao Yun led 1,500 vanguards to the area, the area was almost entirely rebuilt from ruins.

Reinforcing the city walls, clearing the ruins, repairing the barracks... everything is underway.

The air was filled with the smell of lime mixed with sweat.

Laborers and soldiers mingled together, carrying timber and ramming earthen walls, creating a bustling scene.

Zhao Yun's white robe and silver armor stood out in the crowd. He was personally directing his soldiers to build a simple watchtower on a steep hillside in the east of the city.

As the sun sets, it paints the western sky a golden-red hue.

The sentries on the city wall vigilantly scanned the fields outside the city, which were gradually being shrouded in twilight.

In the distance, the massive Lüliang Mountains cast long shadows under the setting sun.

Following Zishi County is Pingtao County.

It settled between Wenshui and Yuangongshui.

Just like Zishi County, this place is also dilapidated.

Zhang Liao led two thousand soldiers and conscripted laborers to rush the repairs.

suddenly!

"Waaaaah—!"

A deep, desolate, and extremely penetrating sound of a bull horn suddenly erupted from the northwest, shattering the tranquility of dusk!
Immediately afterwards, a deep and dense sound of horses' hooves, like rolling thunder, came from afar and then suddenly erupted!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Northwest!" The sentry on the city wall shouted hoarsely, banging the warning gong loudly!
clang!clang!clang!
The piercing sound of the gong instantly echoed throughout the city! The laborers, who had just finished their work and were preparing to rest, were thrown into a panic, and cries of alarm rose from all sides.

Zhang Liao's expression changed drastically. He turned around abruptly, his gaze shooting like lightning towards the direction from which the horn was coming.

On the northwest horizon, a cloud of dust rose and swept toward Pingtao City at an alarming speed!

At the forefront of the smoke and dust, countless black dots swarmed and leaped, like galloping warhorses and knights wielding scimitars!
"The wolf-head flag of the Xihe Xifeng tribe!" a sharp-eyed veteran exclaimed, pointing to a flag that was faintly visible in the smoke and dust, fluttering wildly in the wind.

"Close the city gates!! No beacon fires have been lit in Zishi County?" Zhang Liao's voice boomed like thunder, instantly silencing the chaos on the city walls.

Then look to the southwest.

However, after comparing the direction from which the grassland people came, he instantly understood that Xihe County had been out of Han control for a long time, and the grassland people had carved out a new path through the Lüliang Mountains!
"Light the beacon fires! Send a message to Jinyang at breakneck speed! The steppe people have invaded the border! Hurry!"

"quick!"

"Everyone, grab your bows and crossbows and climb onto the wall! Laborers, gather together! Don't panic! Don't panic!"

His position is in the middle section, with a ratio of twenty to one of veteran soldiers, so his commands must be clear and accurate!
The order was quickly relayed.

The newly reinforced city gate slammed shut with a screeching sound, and the heavy bolts fell.

Footsteps echoed incessantly on the city wall, and soon it was filled with people.

"Spread out! Everyone spread out!"

Each squad leader and captain disciplined their subordinates.

Clumps of flames rose, and black smoke billowed high into the air.

Several fast horses quickly left the city before the gates were sealed, taking a detour towards Jinyang.

All two thousand soldiers, regardless of their type, were equipped with bows and crossbows.

They rushed towards the battlements in a bit of a flurry, taking down the bows and crossbows from their backs.

Many people were pale-faced, and the new recruits' hands were trembling slightly as they held their weapons.

They had only just arrived, and the city's defenses were far from complete, when they were attacked on such a large scale!

The cavalry from the Xifeng tribe arrived too quickly!
One or two thousand fierce steppe cavalrymen, like a flood bursting its banks, swept away from outside Pingtao City without slowing down in the slightest! They showed no intention of stopping!
"Damn it!"

Zhang Liao slammed his fist against the wall. He wasn't afraid of the steppe people attacking them; he was afraid they would simply ignore them!

Judging from the actions of the Xifeng tribe, they clearly intend to plunder without attacking.

"Original cavalry soldiers, assemble quickly! Hurry!"

Zhang Liao roared quickly, and in less than a quarter of an hour, the two thousand steppe people had vanished without a trace, as if they had never been there at all.

"Dog, you absolutely must send troops to stop them!"

He muttered to himself, then mounted the warhorse led by his lieutenant, picked up his saber, and headed out of the city.

More than a hundred soldiers from the original cavalry battalion followed closely behind.

Another clatter of hooves sounded, and Zhang Liao quickly looked back, only to see a white horse leading the way approaching rapidly.

"Wen Yuan! What's wrong?!"

It was Zhao Yun who arrived. He had come ahead of time after seeing the beacon fires lit in the direction of Pingtao County from Zishi County.

"The barbarian cavalry have already headed towards Jinyang to raid our territory!"

Zhao Yun's expression hardened: "Let's talk on the way! Let's go!"

After saying this, he rode off on horseback, and Zhang Liao and the others quickly followed.

Direction towards Daling County.

Zhao Gou, who was in charge of the largest force, ordered the entire army to prepare for battle the moment he saw the beacon tower in Pingtao County being lit.

Fortunately, these were three counties that had just been recovered, and there were basically no villages or residents around them, which meant that the nomads could only continue to advance eastward if they wanted to raid the border.

Outside Daling County, in front of a makeshift camp, Zhao Gou gripped his waist knife tightly, his gaze sweeping across the northwest like a hawk's.

At seventeen, his face had strong features, but his eyes held a calmness and ruthlessness far beyond his years.

A year of trials and tribulations made him acutely aware of the ferocity and cunning of the grassland people.

Instead of retreating to the city walls, he deployed his main force of 3,000 infantry and 500 cavalry, relying on the terrain outside Daling County, to construct a diagonal blocking line on the flank of the only road to Jinyang.

The pits and temporary trenches formed the first line of defense.

The archers were positioned on higher ground, while the spearmen and swordsmen held key positions.

"Report!" A scout rushed up like a whirlwind, and the rider tumbled off his horse, breathing heavily.

"Reporting to the Captain! There are about two thousand Hu cavalry, the wolf-head banner of the Xihe Xifeng tribe! They have passed Pingtao and are rapidly advancing eastward along the valley road on the eastern foothills of the Lüliang Mountains! They are less than thirty li from here! Their speed is extremely fast!"

"They've come after all!" A fierce glint flashed in Zhao Gou's eyes, and the last shred of hope in his heart was extinguished.

"Order the entire army to leave them here! Under no circumstances should a single horseman be allowed to enter Jinyang territory!"

"promise!"

A chorus of responses rang out from the ranks, and everyone gripped their weapons more tightly.

Zhao Gou felt a slight sense of lingering fear. Fortunately, his lord had given the order to recapture the three counties a few days earlier. Without that buffer period, the grassland people might have actually succeeded.

"All troops, prepare for battle! Bows and crossbows, await my command! Infantry, hold your positions and do not move without orders! Cavalry, assemble and stand by, ready to flank at any moment!"

One order after another was issued.

Zhao Gou's troops are on high alert!
The sound of horse hooves!
At first, there were dull drumbeats striking the earth, which quickly coalesced into a deafening rumble of thunder!

On the northwestern horizon, a raging tide of smoke, iron hooves, and scimitars swept in at incredible speed.

The wolf-head flag at the front of the seal fluttered wildly in the smoke and dust.

They saw the Han army array waiting in full battle formation outside Daling County ahead, but the centurion in the lead only looked at them with contempt.

The Han Chinese infantry phalanx? Before their swift and powerful mounted archery, they were nothing but lambs to the slaughter! Their goal was the wealth of Jinyang, not to gnaw on this tough nut.

"Whoo-hoo—!" A deafening whistle rang out, and the steppe cavalry began to accelerate, their formation slightly spreading out, preparing to use classic mounted archery tactics to sweep past the Han army's lines, weaken and disrupt the enemy with a dense rain of arrows, and then ride away!

"Prepare the crossbows!!!"

Standing on a high point in the formation, Zhao Gou's flag bearer waved a command flag.

One after another, powerful crossbows were strung with a creak, and longbows were also tilted upwards.

Nearly.

closer.

From his vantage point, Zhao Gou meticulously calculated the distance between the two sides.

Grassland people mostly ride bows, but their shooting range is short.

Our side has many powerful crossbows and bows with a long range.

The artisan camp improved the crossbows and bows for several generations. Zhang Xian spent a lot of effort on the weaponry, all for the purpose of gaining an absolute advantage in distance.

"Front-line shield bearers, crouch down!"

"Prepare the crossbows!!! Fire!"

"Longbow elevation thirty degrees!!! Fire!"

Once the order is given, the players, whose daily training has created muscle memory, become one.

The crossbow bolts were the first to be fired, and hundreds of powerful crossbows instantly unleashed hundreds of bolts. Although there wasn't a dense, dark mass of bolts, the whooshing sound of the arrows piercing the air was extremely pleasant.

The crossbow bolt was fired horizontally, followed closely by an arrow.

The arrows, fired by the archers, were four or five breaths slower than the crossbow bolts, but they still managed to cover the advancing vanguard of the steppe people.

A series of screams rang out, and part of the vanguard of the steppe people fell. The follow-up troops did not stop. Was it because they did not want to stop?
No, it's just that before this battle, their chieftain had promised them that all the spoils would belong to each of them!
So, driven by greed, they gambled again, betting that this Han army would be like the previous Han armies, and that as long as they suffered a little casualty, they would make way for them.

But clearly, this time, they were disappointed!
"Keep the arrows flying! Cavalry, prepare!!"

Zhao Gou issued several more orders, then quickly descended from the high place, mounted his horse, and rushed to where the cavalry were waiting.

His equipment was identical to Zhao Yun's: a lance and a suit of armor.

"The infantry units and their cavalry commanders await an opportunity to strike!"

"Cavalrymen, obey my command!"

"promise!"

The steppe people's counterattack arrived, and a rain of arrows, with countless bone arrowheads mixed with a few iron arrowheads, descended.

The shields of the swordsmen at the front were held high at an angle, with the first batch of shields blocking the frontmost area, while the shields of the following rows covered the top of their heads.

A series of clanging and thudding sounds rang out. The volley of arrows rained down by the grassland people caused no harm, and naturally, they got even closer!

Crossbow bolts flew, arrows rained down, and the guerrilla army gained some merit in battle.

Just when the steppe people had to slow down the entire army because the vanguard had slowed down.

A loud shout came from the slope on one side.

"You Yijun!"

"Kill the enemy!"

Hundreds of cavalry charged forward, all fully armored and wielding iron spears.

"kill!"

"I am Zhao Gou of Changshan, you will all die!"

"Zhao Zilong of Changshan is here!"

"Zhang Wenyuan of Yanmen! He has been waiting for the enemy for a long time!"

Almost simultaneously, three different announcements rang out in succession!

(End of this chapter)