usatvline Chapter 65 Reorganizing the Trapped Camp
Chapter 65 Reorganizing the Trapped Camp
"That's right, my brother-in-law should still be in Ping County, why don't I go and ask him for advice!" Cao Ang's eyes lit up.
He immediately ordered Zhao Yun and Guo Jia to command the troops in Wen County, while he himself crossed the Yellow River southward overnight to Ping County to meet Gu Cheng. Inside Ping County.
The house in the eastern suburbs burned down, forcing Gu Cheng to move to the county town and temporarily buy a house. Inside the courtyard.
Gu Cheng was enjoying the flowers and feeding the fish, living a leisurely and carefree life.
Light footsteps sounded as Zhang Chunhua entered the courtyard and quietly stood behind Gu Cheng. She seemed about to say something, but hesitated several times. "Since you're here, Miss Zhang, please speak your mind," Gu Cheng said without turning his head.
Zhang Chunhua was slightly startled before cautiously asking, "Since you've also killed Sima Yi and Young Master Gu, I'd like to ask, what are Young Master Gu's plans for dealing with me?"
"What to do?"
Gu Cheng glanced back at her: "My door is wide open, and no one is stopping me. Miss Zhang, feel free to go wherever you want." "You...you're going to let me go?" Zhang Chunhua's eyes lit up, her face full of surprise.
Gu Cheng smiled faintly: "You wrote that letter, luring Sima Yi to his death and helping me avenge myself. I, Gu Cheng, clearly distinguish between gratitude and resentment, so naturally I have no reason to keep you alive any longer."
Zhang Chunhua suddenly realized, thinking to herself, "Although this young master Gu is cunning and ruthless, he is still a gentleman..."
With her heart finally at ease, Zhang Chunhua wanted to take her leave. But the words caught in her throat, and a look of worry crept onto her brow.
"My letter clearly stated my intention to become this young master Gu's concubine, and now I've helped him kill Sima Yi. I'm afraid my father already deeply hates me and will not tolerate me. Even if I leave him, where can I go?"
Zhang Chunhua sighed softly, feeling a pang of melancholy. "What's wrong, Miss Zhang? Are you not leaving again?" Gu Cheng turned back to look at her.
Zhang Chunhua bit her lip lightly, a blush rising to her cheeks, her eyes filled with conflict. After a long while, she sighed, her face still flushed, "I wrote that letter, clearly stating that I wanted to be the young master's concubine, which is tantamount to breaking with my father. Where in this vast world can I go..."
"What you said seems to make some sense." Gu Cheng nodded slightly.
After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Chunhua suddenly gritted her teeth and bowed gracefully to Gu Cheng. "Miss Zhang, what is the reason for this?" Gu Cheng asked curiously.
Zhang Chunhua said softly, "Chunhua has nowhere to go. I beg Young Master Gu to take me in and give me a place to shelter from the wind and rain."
Gu Cheng was taken aback.
Strictly speaking, he forcibly abducted Zhang Chunhua, thus qualifying as a kidnapper, and Zhang Chunhua became a hostage. The current situation is that the kidnapper wants to release the hostage, but the hostage is unwilling and insists on staying with him. What kind of logic is this? Gu Cheng was momentarily at a loss for words.
"This Miss Zhang is beautiful, such a lovely girl, Brother Gu, what are you hesitating for? You should definitely keep her by your side." A sarcastic voice rang out. Lü Lingqi had entered the courtyard at some point and was glancing at him with a cold smile. "Why does she sound so sour..." Gu Cheng thought to himself, then readily agreed, "Alright, since Miss Lü has pleaded for you, I must give her face. Miss Zhang, you can stay."
Zhang Chunhua was overjoyed and quickly curtsied, saying, "Thank you for taking me in, Young Master Gu!" "You really—" Lü Lingqi glared at him, surprised that Gu Cheng had actually agreed. The words of complaint were on the tip of her tongue when she suddenly realized that she was no match for Gu Cheng and had no right to interfere with whoever was taking in this beauty.
She could only hum softly, turn around and leave. "Young Master Gu must be thirsty, Chunhua will pour you some tea." "Young Master Gu, are you hungry? Would you like some snacks?" Zhang Chunhua knew how to please him, and busied herself with attentive and considerate service.
Young Master Gu was neither pretentious nor hypocritical; she was being considerate, so he accepted it readily.
Just then.
Xu Chu entered, cupped his hands, and said, "Young Master, that Young Master Cao has come to see us again." "Why has he come again?"
Gu Cheng looked helpless and waved his hand, saying, "Please let him in." A short while later...
Cao Ang entered with a smile, but was momentarily stunned when he saw Zhang Chunhua. Then, he understood and said with a smile, "Brother Gu, you are quite dashing. It's only been a few days, and you've gained another beauty by your side." Zhang Chunhua blushed and quickly lowered her head.
Gu Cheng was too lazy to explain, but said with dissatisfaction, "Young Master, how come you still managed to find me even after moving from outside the city to inside? Are you still saying you didn't send anyone to monitor me?"
"Brother Gu is a reincarnation of a sage strategist, whose fate concerns the common people and the great cause of my father. Naturally, I must send someone to protect Brother Gu."
Cao Ang said solemnly. Gu Cheng sighed helplessly, thinking that this eldest son of the Cao family really intended to rely on him. Judging from his attitude, he would not give up until he was invited to come out of seclusion.
"Hmm, looks like I haven't hidden far enough..." Gu Cheng thought to himself. At that moment...
Cao Ang cupped his hands in greeting and said in a deep voice, "Young Master Gu, I have come here because I have encountered a great problem, and I would like to ask Young Master Gu for a solution."
Seriously? Asking for advice again.
Gu Cheng frowned slightly and quickly replied perfunctorily, "I am just a country bumpkin, where would I get so many schemes? Doesn't the young master have Guo Fengxiao by his side? You should ask him for advice."
"Fengxiao has no solution to this matter either. Only Young Master Gu's wisdom can solve it." "Please, Young Master Gu, do not be modest. Please give me some guidance!" Cao Ang said, standing up, straightening his clothes, and about to bow to him again. "No, no, no!" Gu Cheng quickly stopped him, saying helplessly, "I'm afraid of you. I can't accept it when you, the eldest son of Lord Cao, bow to me all the time."
Cao Ang was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Then Young Master Gu has agreed to give me advice?" "Young Master, tell me, what troubles you've encountered this time?" Gu Cheng lay down on the rocking chair, and Zhang Chunhua quickly offered him a cup of wine.
Cao Ang sighed and recounted his defeat at Wude City against Yuan Xi, how his White Horse Cavalry was no match for the Vanguard Camp. "Yuan Xi has the Vanguard Camp, and even Zilong's White Horse Cavalry are no match for them. I could only retreat repeatedly, all the way to Wen County!" "Wen County is the seat of Hanoi Commandery. Once it falls, the entire Hanoi will fall into the hands of the Yuan family." "I absolutely cannot retreat any further. I can only beg Brother Gu to devise a plan to help me turn defeat into victory." Cao Ang poured out his troubles. "The Vanguard Camp…?" Gu Cheng nodded thoughtfully, his fingertips touching his forehead. After a long while…
A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he said, "Men, quickly go and invite General Gao Shun over here." "Gao Shun, that's Lu Bu's old general. He's actually joined Brother Gu's side?" Cao Ang's eyes flickered with doubt.
Gu Cheng said, "This man is a loyal and righteous man. After Lü Bu died, he followed Lü Lingqi. When Lü Lingqi surrendered to me, he naturally stayed as well."
Cao Ang suddenly realized, but then asked, puzzled, "What does this Yuan Xi have to do with Gao Shun?" Gu Cheng didn't explain, simply sipping his wine. Gao Shun entered the courtyard, and Gu Cheng said, "General Gao, as far as I know, you once had an elite force called the Trapped Camp, is that right?"
The words "Trap Camp" struck Gao Shun like a thorn into his wound, causing him to shudder. After a moment of silence, Gao Shun sighed, "Indeed, the Trap Camp was once my subordinate."
really.
Gu Cheng smiled slightly, then asked, "I've heard that the Trapped Camp was invincible, its battles unmatched, and it was as famous as Lü Bu's Bingzhou Cavalry. Why did it disappear later?"
"That's because I've always been outspoken and often offered honest advice to Marquis Wen, which only annoyed him." "Once, in a fit of anger, Marquis Wen assigned my elite troops to Wei Xu for command."
"Wei Xu was a mediocre general; in the battle against Yuan Shu, he led the entire Trapped Camp to its annihilation!"
"Later, I tried many times to reorganize the Trapped Camp, but Marquis Wen never allowed it, so the Trapped Camp never had the chance to fight again." Gao Shun silently explained the reason, his tone quite aggrieved.
"Lu Bu had a loyal and righteous minister like General Gao, yet he didn't give him the opportunity to serve. His death was not unjust at all," Gu Cheng said with disdain.
Changing the subject, he asked, "In General Gao's opinion, which is stronger, the Vanguard Battalion or Ju Yi's Vanguard Camp?" "Vanguard Camp?"
Gao Shun's eyes widened in surprise, seemingly not expecting Gu Cheng to suddenly ask about the Vanguard Camp.
After a moment's thought, Gao Shun said confidently, "Although the Vanguard Camp is the elite of the world, it is a pity that they are naturally countered by my Trapped Camp!" As soon as he said this...
Cao Ang was greatly encouraged and looked at Gu Cheng with delighted eyes.
He finally understood why Gu Cheng had summoned Gao Shun. "General Gao, could you tell me why the Trapped Camp was able to defeat the Vanguard Camp?" Gu Cheng asked calmly.
"The Vanguard Battalion mainly used large shields and powerful crossbows. The shields could withstand mounted archery, and the crossbows could shoot at cavalry at long range. That's why they were able to defeat the White Horse Cavalry in the Battle of Jieqiao."
"Our elite infantry and cavalry unit, on the other hand, is equipped with iron shields and long halberds, making them virtually indestructible and unbreakable—the perfect weapon to counter the vanguard!"
Mentioning the might of the Trapped Camp, Gao Shun couldn't help but beam with pride. "Excellent, excellent! Truly, heaven is on my side!"
Before Gao Shun could finish speaking, Cao Ang jumped up excitedly, clapping and cheering. Gao Shun was taken aback, staring blankly at the eldest son of the Cao family.
"Young Master, calm down, calm down."
After calming Cao Ang down, Gu Cheng turned to Gao Shun and said, "General Gao, I'd like you to help Young Master Cao train a elite vanguard unit to defeat Yuan Xi's vanguard. Would you be willing?"
Gao Shun was initially shocked, but then he realized why Gu Cheng had summoned him.
Cao Ang also bowed and said solemnly, "I request General Gao to take action and help me break through Ju Yi's vanguard camp and drive Yuan Xi out of Hanoi County!" Gao Shun pondered without speaking.
After a long while.
He stood up and bowed to Gu Cheng, saying, "Since I, Gao Shun, have followed Miss to serve under Young Master Gu, I will obey Young Master Gu's orders. If you order me to rebuild the Trapped Camp, I will obey."
"good!"
Gu Cheng slammed his hand on the table and stood up, laughing heartily, "The Vanguard Camp is the elite of the army; it shouldn't be buried in the annals of history. General Gao, let the name of the Vanguard Camp resound throughout the world once more!"
These bold words instantly ignited the pride buried deep in Gao Shun's heart, making his blood boil again.
He cupped his hands in greeting and said generously, "Please wait for my elite troops' victory report in Ping County!" That same day, Gao Shun, following Gu Cheng's orders, went with Cao Ang to Wen County to train troops.
Upon arriving in Wen County, Cao Ang ordered Gao Shun to select and equip soldiers, secretly forming and training the Trapped Battalion. Cao Ang then led his troops to hold Wen County, refusing to engage in battle.
A few days later, Yuan Xi led a large army and marched towards the east of Wen County.
After setting up camp, Yuan Xi began to hurl insults day and night, attempting to lure Cao Ang into battle.
Cao Ang remained calm and composed, refusing to send a single soldier into battle despite Yuan Xi's insults. Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. At the east gate of Wen County.
Cao Ang stood with his hands behind his back, watching the Yuan army soldiers who were provoking him outside the city.
Those Yuan soldiers, some shirtless, some lying down sleeping, some even roasting mutton in front of the city, were utterly unrestrained. The generals were indignant and urged Cao Ang to lead the attack. Cao Ang, however, remained patient and refused their requests.
"Young Master's composure is truly admirable, befitting a lord of great stature," Guo Jia exclaimed, but couldn't help asking, "But what brilliant plan for defeating the enemy did Young Master Liheng devise for you? Can't you tell us now?"
Zhao Yun also said, "Yes, young master, if Prince Liheng has a brilliant plan, we must implement it as soon as possible. If we continue to let Yuan's army insult us like this, the morale of our soldiers will plummet."
Cao Ang frowned deeply and remained silent.
He appeared calm and composed, but inwardly he was filled with anxiety, wondering when Gao Shun would finally master the Trapped Camp. Just then, a guard rushed forward and presented him with a scroll.
Cao Ang opened the package and the gloom on his face vanished instantly. "Didn't you all want to know what brilliant plan he has? Tomorrow will be the day to find out!" Cao Ang's fighting spirit soared, and he shouted, "Quickly send someone to deliver a challenge to Yuan Xi. Tomorrow afternoon, east of Wen County, we will fight to the death!" All the generals around him were invigorated.
Guo Jia and Zhao Yun, overjoyed, couldn't help but exchange a glance, both their faces showing the same curiosity.
"What brilliant plan does Young Master Gu have this time that makes the eldest son so confident that he can break through the vanguard camp?" The same guess was surging in their minds.
The following day, in the afternoon.
Dark clouds gathered, and the atmosphere was grim. From the east of the city, seven thousand of Yuan's troops slowly advanced. Almost simultaneously, the east gate of Wen County swung open.
Cao Ang led four thousand infantry and cavalry out of the city gates and quickly formed ranks with their backs to the city walls. The two armies stood facing each other on the open field, about three hundred paces apart. Yuan's army was in the center.
Yuan Xi stood proudly on his horse, spear in hand, head held high, his face radiating arrogance and self-importance. After hurling insults at Cao Ang for over half a month, Cao Ang finally lost his patience and declared he would leave the city to fight him. This was exactly what Yuan Xi wanted. At this moment, Yuan Xi was already imagining the glorious moment of utterly defeating Cao Cao's camp and capturing Cao Ang alive. That was Cao Cao's eldest son, after all.
If Cao Ang could be captured alive before the decisive battle between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao and handed over to Yuan Shao, what a tremendous achievement that would be! Yuan Shao would look at him with newfound respect.
"Perhaps by then, I will also have a chance to compete with my eldest brother and third brother for the position of heir apparent in the Yuan family..." Yuan Xi's lips curled into a smug smile. Immediately.
He looked down on Cao Cao's army and shouted with his whip, "Order Ju Yi to lead the vanguard and clear the way. I will crush Cao Cao's army in one fell swoop!" The order was given and the command flags waved.
A thousand elite vanguard soldiers, wielding large shields and raising powerful crossbows, advanced like a moving fortress. Six thousand Yuan army infantry and cavalry, along with dozens of other formations, followed behind, advancing in a vast and imposing procession. The movement of the Yuan army caused the Cao army soldiers in their ranks to tense up. Having witnessed the power of the vanguard at the Battle of Wude City, they were naturally wary of a formidable enemy. Only Cao Ang maintained his confidence.
"Yuan Xi, your vanguard battalion is indeed formidable, but unfortunately you don't know that I have an all-powerful brother-in-law..." A sly smile flashed in Cao Ang's eyes.
The next moment, his killing intent surged, and he pointed his spear: "Order Gao Shun to lead the Vanguard Battalion into battle and break through their defenses!"
Gao Shun! The Vanguard Camp!
Upon hearing these five words, Zhao Yun and Guo Jia beside him trembled, their gazes turning to Cao Ang.
"The Trapped Camp!"
"So this is the plan to defeat the enemy that Young Master Liheng presented to the eldest son!" "But where did Young Master Gu find this Gao Shun?" Guo Jia and Zhao Yun were both delighted and deeply puzzled. The central army banner was already waving like the wind. The gates of Wen County behind them suddenly swung open. Eight hundred iron cavalrymen rolled out, bypassing Cao Cao's army formation, and rushed towards Yuan Shao's army.
"Cavalry?" Guo Jia's expression changed, and he asked in surprise, "I heard that the Trapped Camp is all heavily armored infantry, how did they become cavalry?" Cao Ang's face also showed a look of surprise.
He never expected that Gao Shun's twenty days of training for the Vanguard Camp would actually produce a cavalry unit. If so, how was he any different from the White Horse Cavalry? The Vanguard Camp was precisely the nemesis of cavalry! "Gao Shun..." Cao Ang's brows furrowed involuntarily. On the front lines.
Gao Shun was galloping away on his horse.
For so many years, he had never felt so excited.
"Young Master Gu, thank you for giving me this opportunity to show my skills again!" "Don't worry, my elite cavalry will never let you down!" Gao Shun's mind was as firm as iron, and he urged his iron cavalry to gallop wildly.
Zhao Yun frowned and said in a deep voice, "If the Trapped Camp charges forward like this, it's no wonder that a volley of crossbow bolts from the Vanguard Camp will send men and horses flying!"
Cao Ang's heart skipped a beat, and a shadow fell over his face. The Yuan army's formation. A disdainful, mocking laugh rang out.
Yuan Xi sneered, "Cao Ang, you have indeed sent out the White Horse Cavalry again. Very well, today I will reenact the Battle of Jieqiao!" The mocking laughter stopped abruptly.
A fierce glint flashed across Yuan Xi's face as he roared, "Order Ju Yi to slaughter all of Cao Cao's White Horse Cavalry and prove my, Yuan Xi's, reputation!"
The war drums of the central army suddenly intensified. The vanguard was the first to charge into battle.
A hint of disdain crept onto Ju Yi's lips as well.
"Zhao Yun, you narrowly escaped death at the Battle of Jieqiao. Today, I, Ju Yi, will send you to meet Gongsun Zan!" His eyes burned with arrogance as he shouted, "First crossbowmen, raise your crossbows!" The command was given.
A thousand vanguard soldiers immediately raised their powerful crossbows and aimed them at the oncoming Cao army cavalry. Ju Yi's sword was already raised.
Before his eyes, it was as if the image of Cao Jun's troops being nailed to the ground in droves had already appeared. Suddenly.
Eight hundred Cao army cavalrymen, a hundred paces ahead of the vanguard, suddenly halted their advance. They swiftly dismounted, raised their large shields, and formed a fish-shaped shield formation. Each cavalryman held a heavy shield, protecting themselves on all sides and above their heads. The entire shield formation resembled fish scales.
From between the fish-scale formation, iron halberds, each over two men long, protruded, turning the entire formation into a hedgehog. "Trap Camp, advance!" Gao Shun roared from within the ranks. Almost simultaneously, the eight hundred trap soldiers took a step forward.
Eight hundred men marched in perfect unison, their movements shaking the earth. This was Cao Cao's army. The worry on Guo Jia and Zhao Yun's faces vanished instantly.
"If Gao Shun had appeared with his elite cavalry from the start, Yuan Xi would have been wary and would most likely have changed his formation immediately, opting for a strategy of first storming the camp and then dispersing." "Now, he appears as cavalry, and when he is within an arrow's reach, he dismounts and forms his own formation, leaving Yuan Xi no time to change his formation." "This Gao Shun is indeed a skilled general!" Guo Jia exclaimed in admiration.
Zhao Yun asked curiously, "I've heard that Gao Shun is utterly loyal to Lü Bu. How did Young Master Gu persuade him to fight for the Eldest Prince?" "My brother-in-law's recommendation was indeed correct!"
Cao Ang's doubts vanished, and he pointed his gun forward: "Gentlemen, let's just sit back and watch how Gao Shun's elite troops break through Ju Yi's vanguard!"
Yuan's army formation.
Upon seeing Cao Cao's cavalry suddenly dismount and change formation, Yuan's army was astonished. Yuan Xi, a mediocre general, looked bewildered and couldn't immediately discern the reason behind it. Inside the vanguard camp, Ju Yi's expression changed drastically.
"The Trapped Camp! This is Gao Shun's Trapped Camp! How did it end up in Cao Cao's ranks?" "This Trapped Camp is the nemesis of my Vanguard Camp! No, I must retreat!" Ju Yi was already panicking and immediately ordered the flag signaling to request permission from Yuan Xi to retreat. Yuan Xi frowned upon seeing the flag signaling and said, "What's going on? Ju Yi actually wants to withdraw the Vanguard Camp!" "Second Prince, you absolutely mustn't!" Guo Tu urgently denied, sternly saying, "The enemy has already closed in by a hundred paces. If we rashly change formation now, any slight opening will be seized upon by the enemy. If they launch a sudden attack, the entire formation could be destroyed!"
Yuan Xi shuddered and shouted urgently, "Send the order to Ju Yi: no retreat! Hold the line!" The central command flags waved. Ju Yi gritted his teeth and complained, "Second Young Master is short-sighted. He's never seen a Trapped Camp before! He's not letting me retreat! He's going to cause a disaster!"
He was anxious but could not disobey military orders, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and order the vanguard to be on high alert.
Central Military Office.
Guo Tu had just dismissed Ju Yi's claim when a sudden realization struck him as he discerned the true strength of Cao Cao's formation. "Not good! That's the Trapped Camp!" Guo Tu's expression changed drastically. He cried out urgently, "If the Trapped Camp closes in, the Vanguard Camp might not be a match for them! Second Prince, please order the cavalry to attack immediately and crush the Trapped Camp!"
"The Trapped Camp?" Yuan Xi looked confused. He was indeed ignorant and had never heard of the Trapped Camp.
He heeded Guo Tu's advice and immediately shouted, "Order Jiang Qi to lead the cavalry to attack and break through that so-called Trapped Camp!" The command flag waved again.
Jiang Qi, who was guarding the flank, immediately urged more than a thousand cavalrymen to rush towards the Trapped Camp.
Gao Shun's face was ashen. He brandished his sword and shouted, "Shield bearers and halberdiers, hold the enemy back! Crossbowmen, aim!" The order was given. The shield bearers around the perimeter of the fish-scale formation immediately drove their large shields deep into the ground, layer upon layer like an impenetrable wall. The halberdiers in the rear row extended their long halberds, forming a dense wall of blades. The crossbowmen at the innermost flank aimed through the gaps at the oncoming Yuan cavalry.
The iron cavalry rolled forward, closing in at seventy paces in the blink of an eye. Gao Shun brandished his sword: "Crossbowmen, fire!" "Bang bang bang!" In an instant, over a hundred sharp arrows whistled through the air. Blood splattered, and men and horses fell to the ground.
Dozens of Yuan's cavalrymen were instantly pinned to the ground.
As Jiang Qi charged forward, he exclaimed in surprise, "The enemy not only has halberdiers, but also crossbowmen?" Just as he was astonished, a second and third volley of crossbow bolts followed. Jiang Qi hastily brandished his broadsword, deflecting the incoming arrows. Behind him and to his left and right, countless cavalrymen were slaughtered in droves, pinned to the ground. The crossbowmen chosen by Gao Shun were the elite of Cao Cao's crossbowmen, each one a master of unerring accuracy. A mere hundred men, yet their hit rate was terrifyingly high, instantly plunging Yuan Shao's cavalry into chaos within Yuan Shao's central army.
Yuan Xi and Guo Tu, the ministers, were both stunned, their faces paling. They hadn't expected that Cao Cao's fish-scale formation, though small, was so well-organized, complete with shield bearers, halberdiers, and even crossbowmen. A sudden, ominous premonition rose in Yuan Xi's heart.
Ahead, after suffering over three hundred casualties, Jiang Qi finally charged to the front of the Trapped Camp, where the iron cavalry and large shields collided with a thunderous crash.
Countless cavalrymen were instantly thrown back, falling to the ground along with their horses. The shield formation of the Trapped Camp, however, remained unmoved. Gao Shun, standing in the center of the formation, sneered arrogantly.
His large shield was no ordinary shield; it was made of hardwood, covered with iron, and lined with two layers of cowhide. This shield's defensive capabilities far surpassed those of ordinary shields, and it was deeply embedded in the ground, so even a full-force charge by cavalry could not break or overturn it.
The attack was ineffective, and more than a hundred riders fell to the ground.
Spurred on, Jiang Qi roared hoarsely, "Use your spears to knock down their shields!" The Yuan army cavalrymen hurled their spears at their shields, but to no avail. At that moment, the halberds of the Trapped Camp unleashed a flurry of thrusts. Another scream erupted as countless Yuan cavalrymen were instantly impaled and turned into meat skewers. Simultaneously, crossbowmen hidden within the ranks unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows, felling swathes of Yuan cavalry to the ground. In the blink of an eye, the Yuan army had suffered over half its casualties, and morale had crumbled.
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!" Jiang Qi's spirit finally collapsed. Ignoring Yuan Xi's orders, he turned his horse to flee, but a crossbow bolt whistled from behind and struck him squarely in the back. Jiang Qi screamed in agony, fell from his horse, and died instantly. With their commander dead, the morale of Yuan's army collapsed even further, scattering like frightened lambs.
The crossbowmen of the Trapped Camp pursued with arrows, continuing to reap lives. In less than a quarter of an hour, almost the entire thousand Yuan army cavalry had been wiped out. "How could this be? My thousand cavalrymen, gone in the blink of an eye?" Yuan Xi murmured in astonishment, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.