“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 94 – Spear Heads and Hooks
The pressure from competition was indeed astonishing, especially when the cavalry was trying to prove their national pride.
With morale high, the rest would be easier.
Even though military orders were as solid as a mountain, Qiao Yan prohibited her soldiers from mentioning Bao Hong’s visit today, but that didn’t stop everyone from momentarily forgetting —
Our dear Marquis Qiao wasn’t exactly part of the competition for the Generalship position; instead, she was determined to prove that they had to win in the upcoming battle in ten days!
And she needed to achieve better results than her peers!
Of course, this didn’t mean Qiao Yan could take it easy.
Even with just five hundred soldiers, communication on the battlefield is a tricky business. The very basics of training still required her troops to understand signals, recognize banners, and discern the sound of drums.
If given more time, she could have molded these soldiers into her way of doing things.
But with only ten days on the clock, her own combat methods still needed to mesh with the guards, and the army’s offensive and defensive teams needed to be organized. It wouldn’t be wise to forcibly change the habits of these Northern Army troops.
So she dug up the command patterns of the Northern Army, adapting herself to the existing system.
Luckily, she wasn’t alone in this endeavor; as Qiao Yan said, her unique advantage was that there were two minds at work in their formation.
With weapons that wouldn’t cause harm, ensuring a safe environment, she could, when necessary, leave her command post to engage actively, temporarily handing over command to Guo Jia.
This was an invaluable training opportunity for Guo Jia, who hadn’t formally experienced many battles yet.
He didn’t lack the ability to think under pressure, just the accumulation of experience.
Guo Jia was increasingly convinced that working under Qiao Yan was a solid decision.
He thought of adding another advantage to their list —
This structured, efficient use of their ten-day prep time, with the underlying currents of competition that weren’t visible to other independent teams, was a significant edge.
So when the first battle drew near and Wang Kuang saw the cavalry and archers from across lined up, he almost thought Qiao Yan’s troops weren’t from the same camp as his.
Even though she rewarded her soldiers with food and drink yesterday, such morale-boosting deeds weren’t unique to Qiao Yan!
Wang Kuang had made inquiries when he sent someone to buy provisions and found that nearly every camp had similar actions—
After all, it was common knowledge at this point that fed soldiers are willing to fight.
But what Wang Kuang saw as he stood before the high platform was that the five hundred soldiers standing opposite him had an undeniable wild beast aura about them.
During the allocation of troops, to prevent any unjust treatment, they had clearly observed their opponents.
What kind of shape were Qiao Yan’s five hundred soldiers in?
Thanks to the busy training over the last ten days, Wang Kuang momentarily struggled to remember, but they were probably similar to when he first received his troops, or maybe even a bit more lackluster.
Because of that, after the results of the draw determining their opponents came out and he found out he would face Qiao Yan, he actually breathed a sigh of relief.
This didn’t mean Wang Kuang underestimated Qiao Yan.
Having been famous for his heroism and generosity since his youth and knowing Qiao Yan from the same Yanzhou region, he was well aware of the challenges she faced in the Yellow Turban Rebellion phase to reach this point.
He just underestimated her soldiers.
But now, that perception was evidently flawed.
As the Marquis of Leping urged forward, the soldiers lined up like spearheads in front of him, exemplifying the fierce cavalry unit Huqi from the Changshui camp, poised and ready on the flanks, as if wielding not wooden sticks but iron spears!
From Liu Hong’s vantage point above, this fierce aura of battle-hardened soldiers was clear before his eyes.
Though the two armies hadn’t formally clashed yet, in just ten days, the noticeable difference in the abilities of equally skilled troops was enough to draw his admiration.
His gaze subtly shifted towards a small platform constructed on the other side.
To show the importance of this martial spectacle, the Son of Heaven personally attended, elevating the platform with a grand canopy of twelve layers and five colors, while Grand General He Jin launched a smaller platform with nine layers for ceremonial display.
Yet Liu Hong’s gaze towards He Jin was not one of fondness; instead, it was a warning.
At this moment, as Qiao Yan appeared to have overwhelming advantages over Wang Kuang, his expression lightened.
It should be like this!
He Jin had been wielding power with foreign relatives and was still trying to place officials and promote military talents into key positions; his ambition was rampant, disregarding the imperial authority.
Sickly for years, Liu Hong didn’t dare to cling to high hopes for his fate; if he were to pass away within two years, could any of the troops consolidated under He Jin really be kept in check by any of his princes?
A glint of coldness flashed in his eyes, but just then, when he looked down at the stage, he saw a scene that surprisingly pleased him.
In the cavalry versus cavalry scenario, the side daring enough to fight with spear formations must have sufficient confidence to break through the opponent’s lines, and indeed, she hadn’t misjudged.
From the high platform’s perspective, one couldn’t see the fervent expressions on the soldiers of these camps aiming to prove themselves; all that could be seen were the figures amongst the cavalry, charging forward alongside the archers, as steadfast as a rock in raging waves.
These galloping cavalry troops were undeniably her other arm.
Others wouldn’t see the “open competition” happening in the background!
Under the banner of the Northern Army’s Five Divisions, Qiao Yan’s cavalry could only advance and halt at designated positions; their only choice was to do their utmost.
How do you prove that? Simply by defeating your opponents!
This escalating atmosphere of aggressive attack, striving for victory, was indeed the best way to showcase that in the spear formation.
Liu Hong couldn’t decipher the flags’ silent signals during the battle, but he could understand Wang Kuang’s retreat ahead was no mere feigned retreat, as if to lure the enemy in for a flanking maneuver; it was a clear response to Qiao Yan’s extraordinary assault that caught him off guard.
Just Qiao Yan’s cunning and courage couldn’t change the entire troop’s strength.
But Wang Kuang also couldn’t expect that a unit from the Northern Army’s Five Divisions would fully synchronize with his plans!
So at this moment, with the battle situation reversed, losing just meant losing, not losing your life. Surrendering just to avoid falling off your horse could only happen repeatedly under his watch.
As a result, the Changshui cavalry charged deeper, almost closing in on the center army.
He came back to his senses, ordering the archers to not hold back.
This was indeed the ideal distance for the archers to launch their offensive. To prevent excessive casualties during this skirmish, the wooden arrows used were specially made and limited in quantity, drastically reducing their range.
However, as they drew their bows, the joint advance of the cavalry and reserve cavalry transitioned from a support role into front-line assault. The Huqi became the primary target for the opposite archers’ fire.
They took on the responsibility of ripping through the enemy formations further…
“The horsemen are like clouds, and the cavalry is scattered like stars.”
These words are from the famous poet Lu Ji of the Western Jin dynasty in his poem “On Military Campaigns.”
Sure, Qiao Yan mentioned the nimble horsemen in her previous rallying speech, but the cavalry, who grew up navigating steep hills and winding streams, were just as formidable.
When the incoming wooden arrows weren’t even aimed at them, they really showcased their skills of “daring and shooting on treacherous paths.”
Especially that centurion of the cavalry unit, who was just itching to prove right off the bat that they wouldn’t be outdone by either of the other two units.
They had the same special arrows assigned to the Changshui unit, but in the midst of riding, he nocked an arrow, not to defend against a counterattack but to silently aim at the commander on the opposite side, Wang Kuang!
This was the advice he received from the vice commander accompanying the Marquis of Leping during a late-night chat.
Nothing beats the glory of taking out the enemy’s commander!
In the brief lull between volleys, he held his breath and shot.
The soft-tipped arrow marked with paint struck right at Wang Kuang’s neck!
Even if it lost most of its momentum by the time it hit him, that splash of color remained on him.
And there it was—
Commander out of the game!
Though this didn’t mean they had to stop fighting immediately, facing such an advantage, why bother with a desperate last stand?
“Nice!” Liu Hong clapped in approval, “Go reward that cavalry centurion!”
The skirmishes within the Northern Army Five Divisions did nothing to tarnish his imperial dignity; after all, the victors among them were still vital protectors of the capital.
But Liu Hong was genuinely pleased to see Wang Kuang eliminated.
Great!
He could smoothly eliminate the candidate for the Grand General he had recommended without anyone thinking it was a personal attack.
Speaking of which, who was he planning to pit against Qiao Yan in the next round?
Guo Jia rubbed his nearly frozen hands and turned to find Qiao Yan looking supremely relaxed in the cold wind, and couldn’t help but admire her physical resilience.
“King Tai’s subordinates aren’t exactly top-notch, and with not many warriors in the fight, it wouldn’t be hard for Qiao Yan to win this battle. But for the next one…” Guo Jia glanced in a certain direction, “That guy may not be great, but his generals seem pretty impressive.”
Guo Jia’s use of “general” to refer to others was a big deal in itself.
When Qiao Yan turned to look, she saw her next opponent, Dong Min.
He had already achieved a state of readiness to win, so Qiao Yan having a secondary chance was off the table.
As Guo Jia suggested, Dong Min’s skills weren’t outstanding, but he wasn’t the core of his team, leading to a disconnect that was merely a minor flaw in the grand scheme.
Right now, giving orders and leading his side to push forward with advantage was what made him the true leader of the unit.
Dong Min had borrowed a critical commander from his brother—
Xu Rong!
When Dong Zhuo was grappling with the warlords’ coalition, Xu Rong stationed troops in Xingyang and fought off Cao Cao and Bao Xin in the Battle of Bian, defeating Sun Jian in Liangdong as well, making him a real general.
As for whether bringing Xu Rong here was a bit unfair—
Qiao Yan had Dian Wei and Guo Jia with her too.
In any case, no one needed to judge each other harshly.
However, having Xu Rong in their ranks undoubtedly boosted Dong Min’s momentum.
“Feng Xiao,” Qiao Yan observed how Dong Min’s troops maintained composure while withdrawing, reflecting that Liangzhou really was a great battlefield for training formidable generals. Xu Rong’s wins over Cao Cao and Sun Jian were not just luck, “It’s your turn next.”
Though Dong Min was slightly surprised that Wang Kuang lost to Qiao Yan, he didn’t mind throwing a provocative look her way.
What a confident display he had…
Qiao Yan flexed her wrists and calmly returned the greeting.
From his perch on the high platform, Liu Hong couldn’t see the undercurrents below. He felt quite satisfied with today’s news: Qiao Yan defeating Wang Kuang, Jian Shuo moving on to the next round, and Cao Cao defeating Zhang Zhang. He even enjoyed a rare good night’s sleep afterward.
After two days of rest, when the second round of matches started, his attention quickly shifted to Qiao Yan’s battle scene.
Of the sixteen candidates, after two rounds of brutal elimination, only nine remained, essentially those he’d shortlisted for the Western Academy’s commandants and military advisors.
If Qiao Yan could defeat Dong Min, she would eliminate a major headache for him; if she failed, it would just mean He Jin snagging a position.
But just look at the situation with Dong Zhuo to understand whether Dong Min would truly listen to He Jin’s commands was still a question mark.
So including him in the match was no big deal.
Still, Liu Hong found himself unexpectedly hopeful for Qiao Yan.
Her swift acquisition of military affairs was a bit surprising.
What if…
Liu Hong was deep in thought about some peculiar scenario when he heard the gongs signaling the start of the match.
He opened his eyes just in time to see Dong Min, or rather, Xu Rong leading the charge.
Under Xu Rong’s command, the already fierce Changshui unit unleashed astonishing momentum.
No, it wasn’t just the Changshui unit.
Though Xu Rong was a subordinate of Dong Zhuo, he hailed from Liaodong, so he understood how the cavalry could have earned a fearsome reputation under Emperor Guangwu’s rule.
With both units under his command striking together, they were not a bit less intimidating than the cavalry aura Qiao Yan had summoned the previous day.
In a showdown like this, whether or not he was in the lead could be the deciding factor.
However, before the two sides clashed, Qiao Yan’s camp began shifting.
The infantry, led by Dian Wei with shields raised, advanced and fired arrows to disrupt the enemy, swiftly forming a phalanx before the center.
Even before Xu Rong could use his cavalry’s flanking advantage to encircle them, the opposing cavalry and Changshui unit had already secured the flanks of this hook-shaped formation.
The flag signals from the enemy camp moved with impressive order, clearly the result of their commander’s skill.
He and the others stood at a distance, only able to see the vague features of the commander under the helmet.
Amidst that formation, the main general, wielding a shield like a sword, boasted tremendous strength, pulling Xu Rong’s attention back.
Xu Rong hastily reined in his horse, dodging the horizontal slash aimed at his horse’s leg from Dian Wei. He swiftly swung his staff, but the guy had enough strength to hold him in check.
Xu Rong couldn’t help but feel shock.
Based on Dian Wei’s performance, he was indeed a warrior strong enough to fight a tiger!
No wonder Qiao Yan dared to place infantry in the front line during such a numerical clash.
But just then, a strange turn of events occurred!
In the midst of wrestling with Xu Rong, a gap suddenly opened up from the left-wing flank of Qiao Yan’s side.
The cavalry unit, not tasked with flanking duties, charged forward under her command.
With the biting winter wind, her steed, a bright reddish-brown stallion, galloped like a streak of flame, leading her group at breakneck speed, showing no intention of engaging Xu Rong.
Her target was none other than Dong Min!
