Moma Liangshan

Chapter 229 Imperial Guard Instructor, Hungry Wolf General

The Jurchen centurion charged ahead, leading the charge against the wolf cavalry's formation, his soldiers fighting bravely and relentlessly. Yang Yong, leading his own troops to guard Lin Chong, surveyed the entire battle from a nearby high slope, his brow furrowed. He said, "The enemy general is fierce and unstoppable, their soldiers are fearless and valiant. Should we surround them from three sides, leaving one open?" Lin Chong, however, was no longer the refined gentleman he once was; his face held a resolute acceptance of life and death. He replied, "Surrounding them from three sides, leaving one open, would indeed reduce our casualties, but don't forget, the purpose of this expedition is to train our troops. If they cannot achieve a complete victory even with ten times the strength, then they are unworthy to be the wolf cavalry under your command, young master. As for the Jurchen soldiers, they are not even enemies, only..." "They're just prey!" Yang Yong had never expected Lin Chong to be so resolute, and couldn't help but ask, "Will we one day face an enemy of equal strength?" Lin Chong shook his head, and Yang Yong breathed a sigh of relief. However, Lin Chong's next words were etched into his mind: "You are new to the battlefield, and facing the enemy requires a gradual process. I will not force you to grow too quickly; but an invincible army can only be composed of battle-hardened soldiers who can fight ten against one. If you cannot pass the test of the battlefield, then your life or death is in the hands of fate."

The enemy general's tactics surprised everyone. The Jurchen centurion didn't directly charge the encirclement of the Hungry Wolf Cavalry, but instead peeled away enemy heads like an onion. After just two rounds, the Hungry Wolf Cavalry had already lost more than twenty men, with countless wounded. If it weren't for the superior armor of the Jiaozhou soldiers, the casualties would likely have been more than double. At this moment, the Jurchen soldiers became even more rampant, roaring to the sky like tigers descending from the mountains. The Hungry Wolf Cavalry's encirclement unconsciously stretched outwards, not only giving the enemy ample fighting space but also making their own encirclement very thin. As the battle situation worsened, Yang Yong hurriedly reminded him, "The battle is going badly, I request permission to lead reinforcements!" Lin Chong remained remarkably calm and ordered, "You lead your troops and keep a close watch on the enemy general. As long as he doesn't break through the encirclement, you can only maintain a stalemate and must not attack." Seeing Yang Yong's confused expression, Lin Chong continued, "At this moment, the enemy is like a sharp arrow, and that centurion is the arrowhead. I want you to cut him in half the moment this arrowhead pierces our encirclement. At that moment, when the arrow shaft and arrowhead separate, victory will be assured!"

Upon hearing that Lin Chong had entrusted him with such an important mission, Yang Yong felt not the slightest fear, but rather immense honor. Without the slightest hesitation, he clasped his hands and replied, "This humble general obeys!" Yang Yong, Zhao Tuo, and the others were all personal guards personally trained by Lin Chong. Though nominally his subordinates, they were in reality his disciples. Before their departure, Lin Chong had warned them, "Be careful, swords and spears have no eyes!" Yang Yong was deeply moved and replied, "I will certainly not fail the general's trust!"

The Jurchen centurion, a seasoned veteran, silently concentrated his elite troops at the front of the column, launching a sudden and devastating offensive. Although the Hungry Wolf Legion possessed overwhelming numerical superiority, their forces were largely composed of inexperienced recruits. Furthermore, the centurion's earlier maneuvering tactics had significantly thinned the Hungry Wolf cavalry's battle formation, instantly tearing open a gap wide enough for three horses to ride abreast. With the escape route in sight, the Jurchen cavalry charged forward with reckless abandon, whips leaving bloody welts on their horses, and their gleaming swords slashing down any enemies who dared approach. Just as the Hungry Wolf cavalry's formation was about to collapse completely, Yang Yong's reinforcements arrived diagonally, cutting off the Jurchen's breakout attempt. The Jurchen centurion instinctively looked behind him, only to see his men and enemy reinforcements completely intertwined, making escape impossible. The near-total annihilation of his army caused the seasoned general to nearly faint, almost falling from his horse. His three remaining men quickly surrounded him, fearing further danger. However, Lin Chong wouldn't give up so easily. After all, this battle was initially planned as a decisive victory. The messenger waved the battle flag, issuing orders to Morigen. Morigen couldn't hide his joy, for luring the enemy into a trap was already a great achievement; if he could also kill the enemy chieftain, it would be the ultimate triumph.

Morigen immediately ordered, "The enemy chieftain is trying to escape! Brothers, charge!" The Jurchen centurions, exhausted from repeated battles, had lost much of their horses. Morigen and his men, having rested for half an hour, were full of energy and quickly caught up with the enemy. They drew their bows and shouted, "Fire a volley of arrows! Kill them all!" Under the barrage of arrows, individual strength seemed insignificant. After a volley, two fell from their horses, and the remaining three were all wounded. Morigen then ordered again, "Flank and encircle them! Capture the enemy chieftain alive!" The Hungry Wolf cavalry immediately changed formation, forming a "U" shape to surround the last three Jurchen soldiers. The excruciating pain from their wounds and the loss of blood rapidly depleted the Jurchen soldiers' remaining strength. They fled less than two li before the men still had some strength left, but their horses collapsed. The Hungry Wolf cavalry surrounded the three, awaiting Morigen's final instructions. Morigen looked to his left and right and said, "Tie them up and hand them over to the general!" The soldiers on the left and right obeyed the order, threw down a rope, and the loops on the rope were just enough to fit under the prisoners' armpits, and dragged them directly towards Lin Chong. When they reached Lin Chong's back, the three prisoners were already on the verge of death.

By this time, the battle below the mountain was nearing its end. The final tally showed that the Hungry Wolf soldiers had suffered eleven dead, thirty-seven wounded, fifty-five killed, and sixteen captured. Despite their superior equipment, ten times the enemy's strength, and the ambush, this was a less than glorious result. Lin Chong ordered, "Bury the dead on the spot. Take their military tags back to the camp. Later, we will erect cenotaphs for them and offer incense!" The fallen comrades were deeply grieved. While Lin Chong's actions weren't perfect, ensuring a cenotaph for the dead to receive offerings was still a precious gift. Looking at the sixteen prisoners, Yang Yong asked, "What should we do with these prisoners?" Lin Chong, seemingly having already prepared his answer, replied, "Kill them on the spot to prevent future troubles!" Yang Yong couldn't help but dissuade him, "If the young master finds out that the general has killed prisoners without authorization, perhaps he will be held accountable?" Lin Chong remained calm and said, "Heaven cherishes life. The prisoners have already laid down their weapons and should not be killed; however, we are fighting alone deep behind enemy lines, with no rear base for the time being. What else can we do but kill them?" Yang Yong, also helpless, replied, "Yes!" War erodes humanity, and the battlefield is inhumane. The baptism of iron and blood is transforming Lin Chong from an instructor of 800,000 Imperial Guards into a resolute and ruthless general.