In the vast desert of yellow sands, five hundred cavalry faced another five hundred cavalry.
Both sides fielded light-armored elite riders, but they bore no bows or crossbows. Each rider wielded only a wooden pole.
One side was the elite cavalry selected from General Yuan Zuozong’s Jibei Camp, while the other was the elite Iron Tablet Camp under He Zhonghu’s direct command. The reason for this martial display was not, as some high-ranking Beiliang officials far away might have wished, to simply witness Beiliang’s combat strength, but for a far more unusual reason—over horses!
Beiliang placed the utmost importance on horse breeding. Numerous ranches dotted the land, with the largest being the Yan Zhi Ranch, which produced over 1,600 horses annually, of which approximately 300 were suitable for cavalry use. This number was staggering by the standards of the Liyang court, where even the Nanjing capital region, with three provinces and seven horse ranches combined, barely matched it. Naturally, the southern capital region’s inferior pastures and declining horse breeding programs were significant contributing factors. The best horses in Beiliang came from the Qianli Ranch.
Each cavalry unit in Beiliang had a fixed quota for receiving horses, but the quality of those horses was determined through fierce competition. Even when General Huaihua, Zhong Hongwu, commanded the cavalry, he could not control the distribution of the best horses. The rule was simple: each cavalry unit had to fight another unit of comparable strength. The victors took the superior horses, while the defeated were left with whatever remained.
Each of these cavalry units numbered over ten thousand riders. When selecting riders for these contests, each unit would pick 800 cavalrymen to face an opposing unit of roughly equal strength. The major camps would field 500 riders, while smaller camps would send between 200 and 300.
Though Beiliang was often said to possess 300,000 iron riders, this figure represented total military strength, not the actual number of cavalry. In truth, Beiliang’s cavalry force had always hovered between 100,000 and 150,000 riders. For Beiliang to truly field such a force, the Liyang court would have to supply nearly all the warhorses in the entire empire. Historical records show that even the mighty Feng Dynasty, renowned as the greatest horse-breeding power since the Qin Dynasty, had only 80,000 horses nationwide during its thirty-year reign from Zhenyuan to Lindé. Moreover, Beiliang’s most elite cavalry were always equipped with two or even three horses per rider, an extravagance that even the relatively horse-rich Liaodong region could scarcely match.
Horses are the foundation of armor and weapons, the nation’s most vital asset.
The current cavalry commanders of Beiliang were Yuan Zuozong, veteran deputy commander He Zhonghu, and the newly promoted “Zhou Zhegu,” Zhou Kang. Among the 140,000 Beiliang cavalry, Yuan Zuozong commanded no personal guard units, aside from the three old camps that existed before Xu Xiao became the Beiliang King. Excluding the Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Longxiang Cavalry, He Zhonghu commanded 40,000 left-wing cavalry, while Zhou Kang led 30,000 right-wing riders. The Jibei Camp was one of Beiliang’s original elite units, directly under Yuan Zuozong’s command.
The Jibei Camp’s name had deep origins. After Xu Xiao was enfeoffed as the Beiliang King, the Han family, rulers of Jizhou, had been Beiliang’s largest external source of warhorses. Xu Xiao had formed strong ties with the Han family during the Spring and Autumn Wars. Later, the Han family was executed en masse—not merely for offending the previous dynasty’s senior chancellor, but more importantly because the Liyang court had long coveted Jizhou’s vast pastures to supply superior warhorses to the northern frontier. However, the Han family, wielding immense influence in Jizhou, never manipulated the numbers but deliberately funneled quality horses to Beiliang. Though the Han family later fell out with the Xu clan, they had already become a thorn in the Liyang Zhao court’s side. It was said that Zhang Julu’s position as prime minister was only secured thanks to the Han family’s downfall.
The two cavalry units charged, raising clouds of dust into the sky.
A Jibei rider twisted his head aside, narrowly avoiding a pole strike meant for his chest. He then thrust his own pole into the opponent’s chest, sending him tumbling from his mount. But before the Iron Tablet rider hit the ground, a comrade grabbed him by the shoulder and hurled him back onto his horse, continuing the charge and breaking through the enemy line.
Another Jibei and Iron Tablet rider struck each other’s chests simultaneously with their poles. The flexible wooden shafts bent into astonishing arcs under the momentum of the galloping horses. The weaker riders were knocked from their saddles instantly.
No matter how skilled a rider’s lance technique, there was no room for flashy maneuvers like “point-kills.” Victory was decided purely by the raw power of the cavalry charge—clean, decisive, and brutal.
After piercing through the opposing lines, the two units exchanged positions. Neither the Jibei nor the Iron Tablet riders slowed their pace or halted to turn around for another charge. Instead, both formations executed precise sweeping arcs, building momentum for another devastating impact. Those who fell from their horses were expected to immediately lead their steeds off the battlefield, for this was not a true battle—falling meant “death.”
Chen Yunchui, Beiliang’s deputy infantry commander, observed the battlefield with narrowed eyes and chuckled, “Old He, looks like the Iron Tablet Camp won’t be getting those 120 top-tier horses from Qianli Ranch or the 400 plus second-tier horses from Kou’er Ranch.”
He Zhonghu remained calm, replying, “It’s only one charge. If early disadvantage meant defeat, you Chen Yunchui would’ve died seven or eight times over in the Xilei Campaign.”
Chen Yunchui laughed, “Now that’s different! The Iron Tablet Camp is facing the Jibei Camp, Beiliang’s finest elite, not some reckless youths from the old Western Chu!”
He Zhonghu sneered, “Brother, how about a wager? If I win, you hand over your Yellow Scorpion scouts. What do you say?”
Chen Yunchui laughed and cursed, “You think I’d gamble my Yellow Scorpion scouts? I only have four squads of them—my most treasured men! No way, absolutely not! Besides, what happens if you lose?”
He Zhonghu replied calmly, “The men I lead never lose.”
Chen Yunchui turned to the young Beiliang King, who sat astride his horse watching the battle intently, and chuckled, “Your Highness, take a look at our Commander He. Isn’t that face of his thicker than a fortress wall?”
Xu Fengnian smiled without speaking.
He Zhonghu was known for his ancient-style command methods, personally overseeing every detail like a mother raising her child. Despite his high rank as deputy cavalry commander, he ate and slept no differently from the common soldiers. He had no family, only a few old, lame horses. This veteran of the Spring and Autumn Wars had resolved to live and die on the frontier. If military merit and seniority were the only criteria, Zhong Hongwu would never have become cavalry commander. But He Zhonghu never formed factions or cliques, maintaining only gentlemanly relations with retired generals like Wei Tieshan, and never seeking to cultivate a following of young officers.
He Zhonghu had held the position of deputy cavalry commander longer than anyone else in Beiliang’s military. His command style was unremarkable—rarely achieving decisive victories, yet never suffering a crushing defeat in over thirty years of warfare. Li Maozhen, the famed commander of the Huanghua Pass, had once served under him. But Li, known for his political ambitions, grew frustrated after years of being manipulated by Zhong Hongwu’s men and eventually left the border forces to return to Beiliang, where he requested a position as a guerrilla general from Xu Xiao.
Chen Yunchui continued to stir the pot, teasing Yuan Zuozong, “Commander Yuan, can you really just sit back and watch?”
Yuan Zuozong smiled, “It’s still uncertain who will win. Besides, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to challenge General He to a one-on-one horse duel right now. The old general is getting on in years, after all.”
He Zhonghu, with his leopard-like head and tiger-like beard, glared and roared, “Yuan Zuozong, if I were twenty years younger, I’d knock you off your horse with one hand!”
Yan Wenluan, the wiry infantry commander, laughed heartily, “Don’t make me laugh! Whether on horseback or on foot, even with three heads and six arms, you couldn’t beat Commander Yuan!”
He Zhonghu deeply respected Yan Wenluan, a fellow soldier from their early days, and offered no rebuttal.
Chu Lushan, a man of nearly four hundred jin, stood beside Xu Fengnian’s horse and said in a measured tone, “Just received intelligence—General Zhong Shentong and the Jie-shi commissioners of Gusa and Longyao provinces have appeared in the Southern Court to see off Huang Songpu, who has resigned as Southern Court King. Surprisingly, the new appointee is neither Tuoba Pusa nor Murong Baoding, nor even General Liu Gui, whom the Northern Wei Empress considers like a half-father. It’s that crow-keeping bastard, Dong Zhuo. Huang Songpu even openly declared that the Northern Wei intends to commit its entire national strength, throwing a million troops at our Beiliang. This news, not deliberately concealed, will surely bring joy to the Zhao Emperor and Gu Jiantang.”
Zhou Kang, the cavalry deputy commander, chuckled, “Dong Zhuo? Isn’t he just a former subordinate of yours who lost to you?”
Chu Lushan, the only one standing, rubbed his hands and grinned, “Back then, I had a bit of luck.”
Yan Wenluan mused, “This move by the Northern Wei court is both a promotion and a warning.”
Chu Lushan nodded slowly, “Dong Zhuo has always been treated like a son by the Empress. Entrusting the Southern Court’s military power to a young commander with shallow roots makes her feel more secure. But Dong Zhuo commands a personal army of ten thousand elite soldiers who recognize only his name, not the Northern Wei. Even the Empress must tread carefully. Dong Zhuo is cunning by nature. If he hadn’t become the Southern Court King, once war broke out, his cautious nature would ensure he only acted when necessary. Forced into battle, he’d likely hold back, letting both sides bleed. Eventually, the Northern Wei would find Dong’s army the least depleted, and whether he wants it or not, ambition would grow.”
Xu Fengnian said, “I heard Dong Zhuo considers you his greatest enemy.”
Dong Zhuo chuckled, “That’s how he sees me, but I don’t see him that way.”
Gu Dazu, once a pillar of the Southern Tang, smiled knowingly, “If Dong Zhuo hadn’t become the Southern Court King, I might have forgotten about our Commander Chu’s past exploits.”
Chu Lushan waved his fat arm and coyly replied, “A true hero doesn’t boast about past glories.”
Xu Fengnian, unable to watch any longer, lightly kicked Chu Lushan’s shoulder and said, “The Iron Tablet Camp won, though only twenty-one riders remain mounted.”
Everyone looked, and indeed, twenty-one Iron Tablet riders raised their arms, accepting the thunderous cheers.
He Zhonghu laughed heartily, glancing at Yuan Zuozong, who nodded with clear eyes.
Then He Zhonghu rode forward and shouted to his men, “Come on! Same old rule—claim your wives!”
The superior horses from Qianli and Kou’er Ranches, led by ranchers and attendants, galloped from the battlefield’s edge.
The five hundred riders cheered and dismounted, rushing to greet their new “brides.”
Some Iron Tablet riders performed acrobatic flips along the way, while others were playfully kicked in the rear by comrades, tumbling forward like dogs. The five hundred men laughed and jostled, reveling in their victory.
Beiliang’s great horses had always been the “brides” of Beiliang’s fierce soldiers.
Who wouldn’t want more of these rare steeds, more precious than even the fairest maidens?
Xu Fengnian gazed at the Jibei Camp’s five hundred riders, each silently standing beside their horses.
He nudged his horse forward, riding alone to the Iron Tablet Camp, where the riders were busy selecting their mounts. He motioned for them to continue without formalities, waiting patiently until all had mounted. Then, he looked toward the rider who had “killed” the most enemies and tossed him his new Liangdao saber.
The young, burly rider caught the saber, stunned at first, then flushed with emotion. He raised it high, shouting in joy.
Finally, Xu Fengnian rode alone to the Jibei Camp’s formation, dismounted, and led his horse forward, handing the reins to the leading rider.
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