Moma Liangshan

Chapter 233 Night Raid on the Enemy Camp, Fighting with Their Backs to the River

To guard against attacks from across the river, the Jurchen soldiers specifically chose to camp where the current was swift, which was the direct reason why Lin Chong chose to cross the river downstream where the water was shallow after surveying the terrain. The temperature difference between day and night on the grasslands was enormous, and coupled with the Jurchens' rapid advance in recent years, which had almost wiped out all enemies north of Shangjing, there were no strict sentry posts. The Five Capitals of the Hungry Wolf Legion silently infiltrated the outskirts of the Jurchen camp, ready to launch a surprise attack at any moment.

Fire was the perfect opening move for a night raid. Soldiers coated their arrows with wool, then soaked them in grease. Each squad had a lit torch in front of them. As Lin Chong cracked his whip, the explosions rippled through the silent night. Soldiers lit their arrows and fired them at the Jurchen camp. Over seven hundred fire arrows rained down like meteors, tracing graceful arcs. After three volleys, the Jurchen camp was engulfed in flames. With a second crack of the whip, the vanguard soldiers threw out their grappling hooks, prying open the enemy's palisades and barricades. The Jurchen soldiers awoke with a start, fleeing their burning tents, barely clothed, frantically searching for their weapons. But the nightmare had only just begun. Lin Chong led the charge, his troops charging in.

The firelight illuminated the black armor, making it seem as if demons from the underworld had broken free of their restraints and descended upon the mortal realm; blood-stained sabers, like the long tongues of the Black and White Impermanence, reaped the heads of Jurchen soldiers. However, the Jurchens were not a disorganized rabble. After the initial panic, they began to establish a defensive line on one side of the riverbank. The raging fire opened the prelude to the ravenous cavalry's night raid, but at this moment, the fire became the biggest obstacle to the cavalry's charge. More than two hundred surviving Jurchen soldiers gathered in a small space with their backs to the river, most of them wearing only thin rags, shivering in the night wind, yet their steel sabers remained pointed at the enemy, showing no intention of surrendering. Lin Chong then ordered, "Dismount and fight on foot!" At this moment, Yang Yong said, "A single volley of fire is enough to annihilate the remaining enemy forces. Why must you dismount and fight on foot, General?" Lin Chong replied, "How can an army be invincible if it cannot engage in close combat and hand-to-hand fighting?" Yang Yong looked anxious and reminded him, "Dismounting and fighting on foot will inevitably result in casualties!" Lin Chong nodded in agreement, but then said, "Before a powerful enemy arrives, honing your combat skills is the best guarantee of survival. Otherwise, it makes little difference whether you die today or tomorrow!"

Seeing that Yang Yong was about to argue, Zhao Tuo interrupted, saying, "Whether it was the last battle or this one, the greatest significance for us was training our troops. Therefore, this is a rare opportunity, and we shouldn't waste time. It would be best if we dismounted and fought on foot immediately!" Although stubborn, Yang Yong didn't continue arguing and followed Zhao Tuo to dismount and fight on foot. As they walked with their swords drawn, Zhao Tuo suddenly said, "A merciful commander cannot lead an army!" Yang Yong frowned, wanting to explain his confusion, but Zhao Tuo said again, "Military orders cannot be disobeyed!" The battle had reached its final stage, and Yang Yong said, "After we annihilate the enemy, I'll ask Brother Zhao for his advice!" Zhao Tuo replied, "Alright!"

Lin Chong divided his soldiers into three echelons, employing a rotational fighting style. The first echelon was led by Lin Chong and Yang Yong, the second by Zhao Tuo and Jida, and the third by Xiong Pi and Morigen. Each echelon fought for one hour, then the next echelon would rotate. In mounted combat, soldiers could easily cut through enemy flesh using the momentum of their horses' charge. In foot combat, the excessive curve of the saber significantly reduced the soldier's attack efficiency, making it difficult to even penetrate enemy armor. This explains why nomadic peoples of Arab, Central Asian, and Mongol descent historically used curved sabers, while Chinese infantry primarily used straight swords.

In Jiaozhou, there were ample reserves of standard equipment, including seven-foot-long Mo Dao (陌刀), five-foot-long Miao Dao (苗刀), three-foot-long Yanling Dao (雁翎刀), and later, four-foot-long Heng Dao (横刀) customized for Liang King Yelü Yali. Soldiers could choose freely according to the actual situation when going to war. In addition, each soldier also had a multi-purpose dagger.

The Miao sword has a long, slender blade, allowing for single-handed or double-handed use. In battle, its attacks are fierce and continuous, combining the strengths of both swords and spears. Lin Chong, as the instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards, was a master of both weapons, and the five-foot Miao sword that Wang Hao ordered the Jiaozhou Ironworks to forge was practically tailor-made for him. Wang Hao had given Lin Chong a pleasant surprise, and Lin Chong would not disappoint him. Just two months after Lin Chong received the Miao sword, a fighting manual specifically for the Miao sword was published. Today's battle, fought by the Hungry Wolf Cavalry on foot, was the first battle since the Miao sword's invention.

The remaining Jurchen soldiers huddled in the narrow space on the riverbank, the blazing firelight reflecting their resentment and confusion: "Who are the enemy? Where did they come from?" But what was most despairing was their cold, silent demeanor, seemingly driven only by a desire for pure slaughter. The enemy itself might not be frightening, but an invincible enemy was enough to strike fear into the heart! Those strong and valiant soldiers were like moving iron towers—impervious to swords and spears; rows of swords, lined up like countless fangs—devouring the sky and the earth. With Lin Chong's shout, "Kill!" the first echelon of over two hundred men charged forward, assaulting the last Jurchen positions. Seeing this, the Jurchen soldiers immediately launched a counter-charge. The two lines collided like two torrents, but unlike the colliding torrents, the clash created waves, and in close combat, blood flowed like a river.

The Miao swordsmanship was exquisite and powerful, their footwork swift and unpredictable. Coupled with the sturdy and impenetrable armor of Jiaozhou, the two hundred-plus ravenous cavalrymen held their own against an equal number of fierce Jurchen soldiers, even showing signs of growing stronger with each battle. An hour, seemingly short, felt incredibly long, as the Jurchen soldiers' counter-charge and desperate fighting had escalated the battle into a fierce melee from the very beginning. Because the battle's development was unexpected, Morigen, Jida, Xiong Pi, and others all came to Zhao Tuo to inquire about countermeasures. Looking at the endless fighting, Zhao Tuo said, "For the next hour, everyone stay put!" The others, worried about the overall situation, said, "How can a general charge into battle while his subordinates stand by and watch?"

Zhao Tuo did not answer directly, but said, "Do you think the general will be defeated?" Morigen replied, "Defeat is unlikely, but victory will certainly not be easy." Zhao Tuo nodded and said, "Victory will not be easy because we have not undergone enough training. The general must cultivate elite troops capable of fighting ten men each for the prince, not weak soldiers banding together for warmth. To achieve this goal, some things must be experienced!" Upon hearing this, Xiong Pi said, "Why be so impatient for quick results when things can be done step by step?"