Chapter 20: The Battle Against the Xiongnu – The Iron Cavalry of Qin

Chapter 20: The Battle of the Xiongnu — The Iron Cavalry of Qin

On the verdant grasslands, gentle hills rose and fell in undulating waves, while clear streams murmured softly through the landscape. Carefree animals leisurely grazed on the tender shoots, unaware of the lurking wolf packs nearby, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent, ready to seize a hearty meal.

From the azure sky above, one could see two dark brown waves surging from east and west, charging toward this peaceful plain with overwhelming force.

Suddenly, the grazing animals pricked up their ears as if catching a distant sound; even the ravenous wolves ceased their feasting and stared intently toward the approaching forces.

Then, as frightened rabbits bolted in panic, the entire grassland erupted in a frantic stampede, leaving a trail of scattered hoofprints and footprints.

“Report! Chief, the Qin army is just twenty miles ahead!” A Xiongnu scout, clinging tightly to his horse’s neck atop his bare back, galloped up to Wujia Xucuo, gasping for breath as he shouted.

“The Qin army, really?” Wujia Xucuo’s spirit surged.

“Yes, truly the Qin forces, numbering about ten thousand.”

“Ha! Excellent! Warriors, prepare for battle. For each Qin soldier killed, ten sheep will be rewarded; for every Qin commander slain, a hundred horses and ten women. Remember, bring back the heads of the Qin soldiers. Their armor and weapons must be carefully preserved.” Wujia Xucuo’s command electrified the nerves of the Xiongnu.

“To battle!” Tens of thousands of Xiongnu roared in unison, rallying behind their leader as they charged forward.

Though the Xiongnu and Qin had clashed many times before with mixed outcomes, the Xiongnu losses rarely crippled their tribes, whereas every warhorse was irreplaceable to Qin, even more so than the soldiers themselves. Consequently, engagements between the two armies typically occurred near the border, never reaching deep into Xiongnu territory.

On the open steppe, aside from their weaponry, the Qin held little advantage. The Xiongnu, with their superior horsemanship and archery skills, often inflicted severe damage on Qin forces.

But the Qin of today was not the Qin of five years past. Though the number of cavalry had not grown significantly, all their warhorses were now equipped with saddles and horseshoes, greatly enhancing the riders’ control and combat effectiveness on horseback.

Moreover, under the leadership of Yang Zimo’s technological department, improvements had been made: Qin soldiers wore sturdy yet lightweight armor and wielded sharper steel blades. This campaign against the Xiongnu was propelled not only by high morale but also by superior equipment.

The two surging waves soon spotted each other amid the swirling dust. Tens of thousands of horses thundered across the earth, making the ground tremble. Even the sun hid behind clouds, unwilling to witness the impending clash.

“Xiongnu warriors, raise your curved swords and longbows! Charge with me!” Under Wujia Xucuo’s command, the Xiongnu army split into two, encircling the Qin cavalry. This tactic, formulated by Wujia Xucuo through his study of Central Plains culture and his own insights into Xiongnu strengths, capitalized on the speed of their horses and the archery skill of the steppe warriors to peel away their enemies layer by layer.

At his order, the Xiongnu surged forward from left and right, their horsemen drawing longbows, ready to loose arrows.

“Order the entire army to accelerate and form a wedge formation—pierce the enemy lines!” Seeing the Xiongnu’s attempt to flank, Wang Li decisively shouted.

With the command relayed, several banners waved as the loose formation quickly transformed. Surrounding cavalry closed inward, forming a massive triangular formation. The Qin’s elite knights shaped the spearhead, followed by rows of armored horsemen spaced five zhang apart on either side.

“Crossbows!” A captain near Wang Li shouted, waving his banner. The Qin soldiers swiftly removed their mounted crossbows, loading the bolt boxes.

The Xiongnu forces drew nearer, the ground trembling violently beneath the pounding hooves. Amid the thick, dust-choked air, cries of battle grew distinct. Soldiers with keen eyesight could even see the twitching jowls of Xiongnu riders. Those at the front were already drawing bows atop their horses.

Five hundred steps... three hundred steps...

“Lower your visors!”

“Clack!” With a captain’s sharp cry, Qin warriors lowered their fierce beast-shaped helmet masks.

Two hundred steps... one hundred fifty steps... one hundred steps...

“Release!”

Wang Li and Wujia Xucuo shouted almost simultaneously.

“Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!” The air was torn by a relentless hail of arrows, stretching across the battlefield for kilometers. The gleaming shafts swarmed forward like a plague of locusts, striking the Xiongnu vanguard.

“Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!” The sound of arrows piercing flesh echoed as Xiongnu riders on the flanks screamed and tumbled from their mounts. Numerous warhorses were struck by crossbow bolts, collapsing mid-gallop, throwing rider and mount into a chaotic heap, mud flying as they were trampled underfoot.

Meanwhile, Xiongnu arrows rained upon the Qin ranks, but the expected screams never came. Instead, only the metallic clangs of arrows striking helmets and armor rang out, leaving dents but causing little harm.

“Switch to spears!” Before the crossbow bolts were spent, the captain ordered a weapon change.

“Shh!” The army moved in unison, sheathing their crossbows and drawing long spears. Gripping the shafts with their right hands and securing them with their arms, the spears were angled forward in perfect alignment.

“Charge!”

Taking advantage of the Xiongnu’s momentary surprise, Wang Li shouted and pressed his heels into the stirrups. His warhorse surged forward with a fierce neigh. A hundred steps were but a few breaths for the steed, which had been pacing slowly, storing energy. Now, with sudden acceleration, the entire formation quickened, appearing as if kicked into motion from afar.

“Kill all Qin men!” Realizing their arrows inflicted little damage, the Xiongnu discarded bows for curved swords and charged.

“Boom!” The two forces collided violently along the long battle line. Harrowing cries echoed over the field, blood and flesh flying amid flashes of steel. Horses intertwined as soldiers were cleaved in twain or impaled and hurled aside, then mercilessly trampled by hooves.

Hundreds of elite Qin warriors formed the spearhead, charging like a meat grinder into the loosely arranged Xiongnu cavalry. Behind them lay a scattered trail of broken enemies and horses. The iron cavalry swiftly followed, exploiting the breach and smashing through the Xiongnu lines.

At the moment of impact, the outcome was clear: Xiongnu warriors were thrown aside, their bodies torn apart on the ground, hands still clutching curved swords twitching feebly.

(End of Chapter)