Chapter 61: Backed into a Corner (1)

Compared to the Tang forces’ tactics, the tactics of the allied Hu forces in the River Region were far simpler.
Setting aside many elaborate theories, their tactics could be summarized in two words—encircle and surround.
In fact, with a clear numerical advantage, this method was the most effective and reliable. It didn’t require a commander with exceptional leadership skills or soldiers with extraordinary understanding and determination. By simply overwhelming and blocking every possible exit for the Tang forces, they could trap and kill over ten thousand Tang soldiers.
With a full hundred thousand troops, they were definitely capable of doing so.
However, after witnessing the brutal massacre of the Baisui City soldiers by the Tang forces, the remaining Hu soldiers clearly dared not underestimate the Anxi Army any longer. They finally realized that their ability to hold off the Tang forces relied on the Persian cavalry, not on themselves.
The Tang forces feared the Persians, not them! Therefore, they had to use their numerical advantage to make up for their inferior strength, carefully strangling this Anxi Army step by step.
Under the leadership of the ruler of the Shi State and the lord of Huoxun City, the originally square formation of the allied Hu forces gradually changed into a single-file snake formation, charging rapidly from both east and west.
It was a single-file snake formation! The allied Hu forces had actually adopted this formation!
Originating from the late Eastern Han Dynasty, this single-file snake formation was somehow copied by the Hu forces in the River Region. It was incredibly powerful—upon the commander’s order, the formation would move like a giant serpent, delivering devastating attacks. In this formation, the mobility of the cavalry was crucial, so Qiyad selected twenty thousand elite cavalry from the allied Hu forces to form the wings. Naturally, the leaders of these wings were the ruler of the Shi State and the lord of Huoxun City.
Gradually, the aggressive Anxi cavalry and light-armed infantry were enveloped by this “giant serpent.” Although they continued to fight, their offensive momentum clearly slowed down.
The single-file snake formation was based on the habits of snakes and had three variations. If you struck the snake’s head, its tail would coil; if you struck its tail, its head would lunge to bite; if the snake’s body struck sideways, its head and tail would converge to strangle! Now, the Anxi Tang forces were trapped inside, unable to move.
Duan Xiushi knocked a Hu centurion flying and frowned as he watched the “snake’s body” gradually tightening around them. Damn it, he had stumbled into a single-file snake formation. Although the Hu invaders might not fully understand the essence of this formation, as long as they had a numerical and speed advantage, it could maximize its power, requiring little on-the-spot command.

Duan Xiushi took a deep breath. While ordering his soldiers to launch a probing attack in an attempt to break through, he pondered his next move. The long snake formation relied on the speed advantage of its cavalry, so the best way to disrupt it was to restrict the mobility of its flanks, preventing them from coordinating with each other. However, the flanks of the long snake formation were manned by soldiers from the Shi State and the Huoxun State, both of whom were extremely strong. Engaging them head-on with cavalry might only result in being counterattacked by these forces. If cavalry wasn’t sufficient, infantry could be tried instead! A sudden idea struck Duan Xiushi, and he exclaimed in joy—infantry could be used to defeat this formation! He would simply use two infantry formations to block the movement of the enemy’s cavalry on the flanks, preventing them from utilizing their agility, then launch a fierce assault with his powerful Anxi heavy cavalry at the core of the formation, disrupting its structure and defeating it outright. At that point, the infantry formations could split the long snake formation into three parts, leaving each section fighting on its own and unable to coordinate, causing the formation to collapse on its own! “Pass my order to the commanders: divide the infantry into two formations to hold off the enemy’s cavalry on the flanks! The heavy armored cavalry, follow me to attack the core of the formation!” After saying this, Duan Xiushi swung his whip fiercely and charged at the nearby infantry formations of the various ethnic groups… It turned out that Duan Xiushi’s quick thinking proved highly effective. The two infantry formations successfully slowed down the enemy cavalry on the flanks, giving enough time for his heavy armored cavalry to launch their assault! With sufficient time, how could he give this “giant python” a chance? The core of the formation was already its weakest point, and Qiyad had placed the weakest infantry from the various ethnic groups there! The enemy’s infantry formations were no match for the Tang army’s spear formations, not even comparable to lightly armored infantry. They were nothing but a ragtag group armed with wooden sticks and kitchen knives—how could they withstand the full force of the Anxi heavy armored cavalry? After just a few rounds of charging, Duan Xiushi created a huge hole in this “core” of the formation! Before the “head” and “tail” of the formation could understand what was happening, its “body” had already been torn apart by the Tang forces, and the long snake formation was shattered! The Tang army, breaking free from their formation, vented their fury mercilessly, beheading enemy soldiers with every swing of their swords. The carefully designed formation was destroyed, which was undoubtedly a huge morale blow to the allied forces of the various ethnic groups. They were like deflated rafts, too weak to muster any resistance. In contrast, the Tang army grew more and more courageous, with their infantry and cavalry working in perfect harmony to drive some of the enemy soldiers eastward.

“General Ziyad, General Ziyad! The Tang are coming! They’re coming! Let’s flee quickly, hurry!”
Jiě’ěr Yì, the lord of Baishui City, never expected the Tang to be so powerful, capable of instantly turning the tide and crushing the previously superior coalition of barbarian forces. Now, the Tang were about to attack, and if they didn’t flee right away, they might become victims of their swords!
“Why panic?”
Ziyad glared at Jiě’ěr Yì and ordered sternly, “Under no circumstances may you move an inch. Where’s the head of the military tribunal? Order your men to draw their swords. Anyone who dares to flee in battle will be executed on the spot!”
What Ziyad hated most was the scene before him. He could accept the coalition of barbarian forces being defeated, but allowing them to charge at the main army was absolutely unacceptable to him.
After all, the defeat of the barbarians had weakened the Tang’s will and strength, creating favorable conditions for the Abbasid cavalry to annihilate them. But if hundreds of thousands of soldiers were herded like sheep toward the main army—ugh!
“But, General Ziyad, given the current situation, even the military tribunal might not be able to maintain order. The Tang are too cruel; they kill everyone they see without giving the soldiers a chance to surrender. Many soldiers tried to get off their horses and kneel to beg for mercy, only to have their heads cut off by Tang officers!”
Jiě’ěr Yì didn’t want his dwindling army to be completely wiped out, so he kept urging Ziyad to flee. Leaving a little earlier meant retaining more strength. In any case, whether they won or lost, he wouldn’t benefit from it. Why should he die fighting for the Abbasids?
But Ziyad clearly didn’t think so. He suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Jiě’ěr Yì by the collar, lifted him into the air, and said coldly, word by word, “I don’t care what others do. If your soldiers dare to take a step back, I’ll skin you alive and use your skin to make war drums!”