Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu had now charged out from their own formation.
All three "simpletons" were assigned as "Instructor He's personal guards," not part of the regular five-hundred-man units. Therefore, Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu weren't integrated into the spear walls or firearm squads.
While the other militiamen fought in formation, Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu simply "charged into the enemy ranks." They took giant strides and slammed directly into the rebel formation.
Several spears immediately stabbed at them.
It was utterly useless. The armor plating on these two was absurdly thick, comparable to ancient, near-invincible shock troops who survived countless battles. Ordinary spears couldn't hope to pierce it; iron spearheads just produced useless clinks.
Zheng Daniu swung his spear in a wide arc, whoosh—two enemy soldiers were swept off their feet.
Gao Chuwu tried to copy him, swinging his spear. Unexpectedly, an enemy officer also swept his spear across. The two shafts collided with a loud CRACK and snapped.
The enemy officer froze for a split second, then instantly dropped the broken spear and drew his saber.
This action reminded Gao Chuwu. He also dropped his spear, reached over his shoulder, and pulled out a heavy-backed broadsword.
A gift from Xing Honglang!
The enemy officer glanced at his own standard-issue saber, then at Gao Chuwu's massive broadsword, and gulped hard. This... the gap in weaponry is just too damn big.
Gao Chuwu: "Heh!"
He took a giant step forward and swung the sword down with a terrifying whoosh.
The sheer force of the blow made the officer dare not block it. He retreated hastily.
Gao Chuwu, brandishing the big sword, chased after the man, hacking wildly. Though he didn't fell his primary target, he carved a path through any rebel unfortunate enough to be in his way.
Zheng Daniu: "Wow, Chuwu! You're on fire! I'm gonna lose to you!"
Gao Chuwu grinned widely."The blade Miss Xing gave me is really good!"
Cheng Xu,from far behind the lines, bellowed angrily, "Don't think about women on the battlefield! You'll die fast!"
Commander Wolf was starting to sense something was wrong.
Before engaging, he couldn't be sure, but now that they were locked in combat, he could tell these weren't Guyuan border troops. Their training level and ferocity fell short.
His soldiers should have won easily. So why did everything feel off the moment they clashed?
His men, usually so fierce, kept having strange mishaps—a thrust would suddenly veer off, a saber would fly from their grip mid-swing... None of their usual relentless aggression was present.
Moreover, the enemy soldiers were oddly robust. Just looking at them, you could tell they ate well, dressed warmly, and were in excellent physical condition—very much like the elite "household troops" privately maintained by hereditary generals.
His own border troops only held advantages in combat experience and fearlessness. In equipment and physical conditioning, they were at a severe disadvantage.
"Damn it all."
Most commanders would consider retreat at this point. But Commander Wolf was a hardened border commander, used to life-or-death struggles against nomadic tribes. He wasn't about to back down so easily. Cowards didn't last on the frontier.
Commander Wolf's gaze immediately locked onto Cheng Xu. This bunch of rookies relies entirely on that so-called Ghost Commander for direction.
"Kill the Ghost Commander, and the enemy collapses."
Commander Wolf slapped his horse's rump. "Hyah!" He urged his horse forward, lance leveled, charging straight for Cheng Xu.
By now, the front lines of both armies were entangled. Cheng Xu's position wasn't as far back as those of "civil officials commanding troops." He was still somewhat forward.
This gave Commander Wolf a chance to reach him.
The charge parted the chaotic battlefield, bringing the wolf commander before Cheng Xu in seconds.
Unlike flashy martial artists who shout "Take this!" before striking, Commander Wolf said nothing. He simply aimed a thrust straight at Cheng Xu's head.
Cheng Xu's attention was still on directing the formation, worrying over every rookie soldier. Hearing hoofbeats, he turned to see Commander Wolf's lance point almost at his face.
He leaped backward in fright, simultaneously drawing his command saber to parry.
Clang!
A clear ring. Cheng Xu's helmet was knocked askew, but he was unhurt. The shock, however, was immense.
That was a fast strike.
By then, Commander Wolf's horse had already shot past Cheng Xu, galloping several zhang away before wheeling around and charging back for another pass.
Cheng Xu cursed inwardly: Damn, bullying me because I'm on foot? And armed only with a command saber, no lance?
He hadn't planned to fight personally on this trip, intending only to direct the militia's tactics. So he had no horse, no lance—just acting as a command post. Being targeted by a lance-wielding cavalry commander like this put him under immense pressure.
In the blink of an eye, Commander Wolf was upon him again.
Whoosh! Another lance thrust aimed at Cheng Xu's face.
Cheng Xu scrambled backward. Normally, his speed would have saved him, but he hadn't accounted for a militiaman behind him, who was facing away, spear-thrusting at a rebel, completely unaware of Cheng Xu backing up.
Cheng Xu's back thumped into the militiaman.
This blocked Cheng Xu's escape route.
Commander Wolf's lance pointed straight at Cheng Xu's face.
"Damn! I'm done for."
Cheng Xu cursed inwardly. In that split second, he didn't even have time to picture his great-grandmother's face. He could only wait for death.
Just then, a spear shot out from the side, intercepting the thrust in front of Cheng Xu. Clang! Both weapons were deflected upward.
Cheng Xu turned to look. "Huh?"
The newcomer was Fang Wushang!
Fang Wushang had grown restless watching from the city. He'd opened the gates and charged out with his hundred soldiers. True to his style, he was far ahead of his men, riding alone deep into the fray while his troops lagged behind.
Commander Wolf's gaze shifted to Fang Wushang: A lowly ninth-rank inspector.
A commander was a fifth-rank military officer, a border officer at that. He held no fear for a mere inspector. He immediately swept his lance at Fang Wushang.
Fang Wushang blocked horizontally with his own lance. Clang! He didn't yield an inch.
Commander Wolf: "Huh?"
Their horses galloped past each other...
Each rode a good distance before reining in, turning, and charging at the other once more.
Cheng Xu: "Damn, you take two cheap shots at me, then run off to fight Fang Wushang? Where are your manners?"
His eyes swept the ground, spotting a dead rebel soldier still clutching a "Small-Tip Bow."
(Ming Context:) The "Small-Tip Bow" was a shorter, lighter composite bow used for closer-range, rapid shooting, often by cavalry or infantry officers, as opposed to the longer-range "Kaiyuan" or "Large-Tip" bows.
Cheng Xu grinned, picked up the bow, and nocked an arrow.
As Commander Wolf and Fang Wushang charged toward their next clash, Cheng Xu drew, aimed at Commander Wolf's face, and swished—let the arrow fly.