Chapter 40 : Black-Armored Vanguard Battalion
Chapter 40: Black-Armored Vanguard Battalion
Dust rolled over the official road as Jiang Zhaoming’s convoy sped forward like a bolt of lightning.
Hundreds of Blood Refining Realm personal guards urged their blood energy into their mounts; the thunderous pounding of hooves echoed, and the wheels ground against the road, scattering clouds of dust.
Having grown tired of the scenery, Jiang Zhaoming lowered the carriage curtain, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink gradually.
Yesterday, he had spent one strand of Blue Fortune and one strand of Green Fortune to exchange divine artifacts and life fates for Gu Landa and Chen Kang.
However, in the past few days, with his reclamation of Beiting County and the proclamation of the bandit-exterminating edict, his prestige had soared throughout the Anxi Prefecture.
Thus, compared to right after the New Year, the amount of fortune in his hands had actually increased.
【Remaining Fortune: Blue *13, Green *14, White *17】
Looking at the strands of fortune in his hand, Jiang Zhaoming pondered over the situation in Cangbei County and concluded that he still needed to reinforce his forces.
As for the direction of reinforcement—he currently lacked neither mounted archers nor light cavalry, but rather, heavy cavalry.
Although the Black-Armored Cavalry possessed both high offense and defense, after several major battles, more than two thousand of them had perished.
“Let’s make another trip to the Saint Tang Plane.”
With that thought, Jiang Zhaoming maneuvered his boat and arrived above the Saint Tang Plane region.
He activated his Qi-Observing Eye Art and peered downward, seeing many divine artifact blessings from the Saint Tang Plane drifting and floating.
Before long, his gaze locked onto a strand of Blue Fortune among them.
【Fragment of Black-Armored Vanguard Battalion】: A military barracks summoning item from the Saint Tang Plane. Once placed, the barracks would contain 3,000 Ninth Layer Tempering Bones Realm Black-Armored Cavalry and three Ninth Layer Blood Refining Realm Elite Captains.
“Their average realm is actually three layers higher than that of the Black-Armored Mo Blade Cavalry Battalion—truly worthy of being a vanguard battalion.”
After reeling in the strand of fortune, Jiang Zhaoming continued searching around the vicinity.
According to previous patterns, as long as he found three more identical fragments, these fragments would merge into a complete military barracks and grant him a Divine Power Realm general.
After spending more than half an hour and changing several locations, when his spiritual power was almost exhausted from using the Qi-Observing Eye Art, he finally found the fourth identical fragment.
As the four fragments fused, a new military barracks summoning item appeared in Jiang Zhaoming’s hand.
【Black-Armored Vanguard Battalion】: A military barracks summoning item from the Saint Tang Plane. Contains 15,000 Ninth Layer Tempering Bones Realm Black-Armored Cavalry, 100 Ninth Layer Blood Refining Realm Elite Captains, and one Divine Power Realm Black-Armored General.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Zhaoming willed his mind, and the areas of Anxi Prefecture currently under his control unfolded before him.
After careful observation, he selected a location—right at the border between Cangbei and Beiting, only 500 li away from the battlefield.
Once he placed down the barracks, Jiang Zhaoming immediately summoned the general within through mental command.
Soon, a voice echoed in his mind.
“Your subordinate Qin Qiong greets the Prince!”
Qin Qiong.
Jiang Zhaoming raised his brows—this was yet another renowned general of the Saint Tang Plane.
The arrival of this famed general made the Black-Armored Army even more formidable.
However, Jiang Zhaoming did not issue orders hastily; instead, he instructed the Black-Armored Army to quietly move into Beiting County and await further commands.
After receiving the order, Qin Qiong led his troops westward, advancing into Cangbei County and hiding there.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhaoming contacted Cheng Yaojin through mind communication, inquiring about the situation of the Black-Armored Army and the Queshe Army.
“Your Highness, our army has crossed the river, now a hundred li from the rebel main camp, but the enemy’s outer defenses are filled with chevaux-de-frise and trenches—our cavalry cannot charge through.”
“What about their cavalry? Have your scouts seen any?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, our scouts have found nothing.”
Jiang Zhaoming rubbed his chin, pondering the enemy’s strategy but unable to find a satisfactory answer.
The enemy had pushed all infantry to the front while their cavalry had completely vanished—it was as if they were using their infantry as cannon fodder.
If Jiang Zhaoming’s cavalry encircled the enemy infantry, and the allied infantry gradually tightened the front line, the rebels would fall into a death trap.
So—how could they dare do this?
Unless they possessed a means to break the encirclement, using their infantry as bait.
Following this line of thought, if the enemy wanted to break the allied encirclement, it would not be through their infantry but through their cavalry.
A cold smile crept onto Jiang Zhaoming’s lips.
“It seems the Blue Wolf Army can no longer sit still. I wonder—between your Blue Wolf Cavalry and my Black-Armored Cavalry, which is stronger?”
Jiang Zhaoming relayed his deduction to Cheng Yaojin and Aruba.
Upon hearing it, neither man was worried; instead, both grew eager for battle.
“Your Highness! Please leave this battle to me! I shall ensure that the Blue Wolf Cavalry never returns!”
“Cheng Yaojin, Aruba—hear my command!”
The two voices sounded simultaneously in his mind. “We await your orders, Your Highness!”
“I need you to lead your forces deep behind enemy lines, first cutting off the enemy infantry’s supply routes, and at the same time, monitor their cavalry’s movements in real time.”
“As you command!”
After receiving the order, Cheng Yaojin and Aruba led their armies deep into Cangbei County, sweeping along the enemy’s supply routes.
The Queshe Army scouts observed hoofprints and manure distribution, roughly deducing that the enemy cavalry had split into two groups.
The smaller group had headed north, while the larger one moved northeast.
Judging from their direction, that larger force was likely attempting to intercept the Beiting Cavalry.
Upon receiving this information, Jiang Zhaoming immediately ordered the Beiting Cavalry to halt their eastward advance and turn toward the enemy camp.
Meanwhile, over the Cangbei River, a thick fog loomed.
The sudden change in direction by the Beiting Cavalry made the rebel commander smash his desk into splinters with a single punch.
This nine-foot-tall giant of a man had a trace of malice flash across his eyes, followed by a ferocious grin.
“Send word to all cavalry—turn north! I’ll make Jiang Zhaoming’s coalition go blind!”
Across the river, Qin Wei stood on a hastily erected watchtower, clutching a communication talisman in hand.
As glowing words appeared on the talisman, he commanded, “Pass my order to all three armies—cross the river at noon today.”
The Prefectural City Army under Yan Chen was the first to move.
Three thousand heavy infantry waded into the waist-deep river, their black iron shields forming a moving wall under the morning light.
The river suddenly began to boil—on the opposite bank, one of the enemy’s Divine Power Realm generals activated water-type techniques.
“Form the array!” Yan Chen roared, lightning flashing in his hand.
Three thousand soldiers connected their blood energy, forming a massive crimson shield above their heads.
Countless water arrows crashed against the shield, exploding into shards of ice crystals.
Meanwhile, Qin Wei’s Bandit-Subduing Army crossed from the upper stream.
“I’ll go first.”
Qin Wei glanced back at his soldiers, spoke three words, and shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
The rebels on the opposite bank immediately fell into chaos.
Dozens of ballistae turned their direction, and the sound of arrows tearing through the air screeched sharply.
While midair, Qin Wei’s halberd traced a perfect arc.
“Slash!”
The blade energy extended thirty zhang long, cutting every incoming bolt clean in half.
When he landed, he knelt on one knee, thrusting the halberd three inches deep into the ground; within ten zhang around him, all rebel soldiers spat blood and collapsed simultaneously.
As enemies swarmed in from all sides, Qin Wei only fought more fiercely—the more he battled, the stronger he became, driving the rebels steadily backward.
It was clearly the effect of his Life Fate of “Lone Wolf Battle Will,” empowering him to unleash greater strength when surrounded by foes.
“Hooks and chains!”
At the command of the Bandit-Subduing Army’s Vice-General, a thousand elite soldiers simultaneously hurled their special grappling chains.
Guided by Qin Wei’s blade energy, the barbed ends spun and latched precisely onto the rocks across the river.
In an instant, hundreds of iron chains formed a floating bridge over the river’s surface.
Downstream, Ma Fei’s Luntai Army, however, met trouble.
One of the four Divine Power Realm rebel generals—a dark-faced giant—was leading fire arbalests to block the river.
Unhurried, Ma Fei pulled a crimson flag from his robe and thrust it into the riverbank.
“Fire, come!”
Fifteen thousand soldiers simultaneously ignited their blood energy, and a wall of flame erupted over the river.
The incoming fire arrows became fuel for the blaze, forcing the enemy crossbowmen to retreat in panic.