Mythical Three Kingdoms

Time rewinds slightly: shortly after Gao Lan leads his troops into the battlefield, Hua Xiong has already advanced to a location fifteen miles away. The decisive battle between Liu Bei's Army and Yuan Shao's Army caused both sides' scouts to be restricted to a range of ten miles, as any greater distance would render communication meaningless.

It was there that Hua Xiong received the latest batch of weapons—a shipment disguised as bridge-building materials by Li Youu and transported by Sunx Qian. This batch consisted of saddles and stirrups, products that Chen Xi had manufactured in large quantities but reserved largely for storage, having used them only once for his own forces.

After Hua Xiong returned east to Yanzhou with the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, Li Youu deemed it the right time to deploy this batch of equipment.

Equipping these items took Hua Xiong considerable time. As for weaponry, Hua Xiong had chosen long weapons from the start. Only after outfitting his cavalry with saddles and stirrups could the long-weapon charge formation truly reach its full potential.

Without any unnecessary movements, Hua Xiong mounted his warhorse, and as his cloak billowed behind him, a fiery radiance extended from his figure. Around six thousand Iron Cavalry soldiers radiated a fiery red aura, which even enveloped their warhorses.

Hua Xiong charged at the forefront, followed by the cavalry, which naturally formed a series of small spearhead formations. As the military formation took shape, the Hua Xiong Corps' movement speed increased continuously until it surpassed a certain limit, transforming the entire corps into a black blur that surged forward like a thunderbolt.

The fifteen-mile distance, typically requiring one quarter hour to cover, was halved under Hua Xiong's lightning-fast assault.

By the time Yuan Shao's Army and Liu Bei's Army felt the earth-shattering tremor and reacted, Hua Xiong was less than one mile away from Yuan Shao's rear forces. Hua Xiong could already see the panic flashing in the eyes of Yuan Shao's Army!

Looking at Tian Feng's hastily arranged rear defensive lines, a cruel smile crossed Hua Xiong's lips. To the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, any defense was nothing but ants in their path. This was their confidence—especially now when they were armed with long weapons, armored, and equipped with saddles and stirrups. Hua Xiong knew no force could ever halt the rampage of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.

At a distance of about one hundred paces from Yuan Shao's Army, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry faced the first wave of arrow fire. Yet none of the cavalry soldiers attempted to dodge. They merely gripped their spear shafts tightly with both hands while holding the rear end of the spear firmly under their arms—skills learned through countless sacrifices of the most elite Xiliang Iron Cavalry.

In the past, this technique was meaningless for most of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry because only a few could perform long-weapon charges without saddles and stirrups.

The ultra-high-speed long spear piercing was undeniably lethal to the enemy, but equally dangerous to the cavalry themselves. Even the fearless Xiliang Iron Cavalry struggled to maintain composure and avoid being thrown from their mounts during such violent clashes!

Once equipped with saddles and stirrups, the already adept Xiliang Iron Cavalry transformed into an unstoppable force. Their most brutal combat tactic was now revived and perfected.

Lowering their heads slightly, the first wave of arrow fire failed to unseat a single soldier. The Xiliang Iron Cavalry's inherent ability to enhance their defense, combined with their new equipment, rendered Yuan Shao's unprepared army utterly ineffective.

"Splat!" Hua Xiong was the first to impale a Yuan Shao soldier with his long spear. Then, in an instant, countless Yuan Shao soldiers were skewered. The Xiliang Iron Cavalry pierced through Yuan Shao's rear forces' first line of defense and, with their speed barely diminished, shattered Tian Feng's carefully arranged second line.

Soon, before the unprepared rear defenses could recover, the largest crisis unfolded. Hua Xiong's legion talent merely enhanced strength, and strength was all cavalry needed for long-weapon charge tactics!

At this perfect moment, equipped with optimal strategies, the most fitting commander, and gear that maximized combat power, the ferocity of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry was fully unleashed!

Almost before Hua Xiong realized it, the ten defensive layers meticulously arranged by Tian Feng had been completely pierced through by the Iron Cavalry. Of course, part of this outcome resulted from Tian Feng's internal-oriented defenses and the unexpected timing of Hua Xiong's assault.

Regardless, this astonishing feat demonstrated the sheer might of the Iron Cavalry. After breaking through the last layer of the defensive lines, Hua Xiong's eyes locked onto the fierce hand-to-hand combat where the Vanguard Death Soldiers battled—a scene ripe for the Xiliang Iron Cavalry to exploit as they charged toward Juo Yi!

Following the penetration of Yuan Shao's rear forces, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry's morale soared to an unparalleled level. Their charge toward the Vanguard Death Soldiers now carried an overpowering momentum that left enemies gasping for breath. Confident and unyielding, their long spears pointed forward as they hurtled into the clash!

The collision of two forces, each claiming to be the strongest soldiers, was devastating. Hundreds of Iron Cavalry fell—a heavy toll surpassing their losses while smashing through Yuan Shao's rear army.

Simultaneously, hundreds of Vanguard Death Soldiers were trampled into pulp. Regardless of how formidable the Military Spirit that defied death might have been, lying on the ground before the Iron Cavalry's stampede was a surefire death sentence!

"No!" Juo Yi roared in anguish as he witnessed the massacre, realizing his Vanguard Soldiers were powerless against such an onslaught. In this brutal battlefield where falling meant becoming pulp, the Military Spirit's strongest trait was utterly nullified!

"Die, Juo Yi!" Hua Xiong bellowed, leading his troops forward. His blood-red eyes fixated on Juo Yi, whose own blood boiled with rage upon recognizing the commander of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry. The two adversaries, bitter enemies, met again amidst the chaos, their hatred igniting the battlefield!

"Hu Feng, Duan Wei, Hu Zhen, Li Meng—lead your respective units of a thousand soldiers each and utterly crush Yuan Shao's rear forces for me!" Hua Xiong shouted, his eyes blazing with fury. His grudge with Juo Yi demanded bloodshed!

With Hua Xiong obliterating Yuan Shao's rear, the entire tide of battle shifted dramatically. Guan Yu, Gan Ning, and Xuu Chu seized the momentum and launched their counterattacks, shattering the final shackles binding them. They advanced toward Hann Ju's division in Yuan Shao's rear forces, aiming for the massive Yuan-character banner above.

Hua Xiong and Juo Yi led their troops into direct and brutal combat on the battlefield. Unlike last time when Hua Xiong suffered a crushing defeat, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry now clearly suppressed the Vanguard Death Soldiers!

As the battle raged, Liu Bei's Army began their full-scale counteroffensive. Yuan Shao's Army retreated step by step, with some soldiers already abandoning their posts and fleeing. No one could now halt Liu Bei's troops. At this point, even Juo Yi understood he could no longer afford to delay matters! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)