Chapter 196: Swords and Horses in Battle

Time seemed to have stopped. Three days had passed outside the Suiye Valley, yet nothing inside had changed since three days ago. The Abbasid army remained motionless, waiting for the additional thousand cavalry led by Dhumahi in Helei City. The Tang army also stayed put, but no reinforcements arrived from the direction of Suiye City, nor did the Tang army launch any attacks. It was like a perplexing chess game, making it impossible to guess the Tang army’s intentions.

To the west of Suiye lay the Kingdom of Ningyuan, which revealed the Tang army’s plan. An army of about 15,000 men from Ningyuan launched a sudden attack on the deserted city of Ashibulai with lightning speed.

Ningyuan, also known as Bahanna, was one of the vassal states in the Lingxi region that was relatively pro-Tang. Its king was granted the title of King of Fenghua by the Tang Dynasty, and its queen was the Princess Heyi of the Tang Dynasty. Under the leadership of Princess Heyi, Ningyuan had always regarded the Tang Dynasty as its suzerain. Amidst the widespread alignment of the Western Regions’ states with the Abbasids, Ningyuan managed to stay independent, under immense pressure. This time, when the Tang army sought to rebuild the military garrison in Suiye, Ningyuan showed great enthusiasm.

Last night, after Li Qing’an’s envoy arrived in Ningyuan to meet with the king, Ningyuan made the decision to send troops that very night. King Bolei appointed his eldest son, Yuma, as commander to lead 15,000 men in a surprise attack on Ashibulai, cutting off the Abbasid army’s retreat.

…

In the Tang army’s camp, several scout cavalry rushed in at full speed, arriving at the camp gate. They dismounted and rushed toward the main command tent.

Inside the main command tent, Li Qing’an was once again asking Yang Zaicheng about the details of the defeat. Although Han Zhi had lost 2,000 soldiers, they had also brought valuable first-hand information about fighting the Abbasid army. Over the past few days, almost every soldier who escaped back had described in detail the situation they encountered with the Abbasid and Shi armies. A large amount of intelligence was gathered and organized, gradually condensing into dozens of concise and useful reports.

“The warhorses of the Abbasid and Shi armies are 10% faster than those of the Tang army and can endure long-distance rides—they are all fine horses from Dayuan.”
“The Abbasid army’s bows and arrows are weak, but they have short spears that can be thrown with great force from 30 steps away.”
“The Abbasid army wears leather armor, and their crossbows can penetrate targets from 100 steps away.”

Such effective intelligence would guide Li Qing’an’s final strategies.

Li Qing’an sought Yang Zaicheng to gather more information about the commander of the Arab army. He had already obtained some scattered details from the Suiye Turkic horsemen—the Arab commander was named Judir, in his early forties, and had been fighting in the Transoxiana region for over a decade. He had achieved remarkable victories in attacking the Kingdoms of Kang and Shi, earning the title of “Eagle of Khorasan.” But what Li Qing’an wanted to know was how this eagle soared on the battlefield.

“General, we suffered a great loss in judging the enemy’s commander. Commander Han always thought that the young prince of Shi was the enemy’s leader, so we concentrated our forces on attacking him. Unexpectedly, it was an Arab officer with a square face and a thick beard who led the charge and turned out to be their true commander. He had five hundred bodyguards with him. At first, Commander Han didn’t take them seriously because of their small number, but those five hundred cavalry were extremely fierce and quickly broke through the Tang army’s defenses. Caught off guard, Commander Han was killed by a spear thrust from twenty steps away by that Arab officer. It was only later that we learned he was the actual commander of the Arab army.”

As he spoke of Commander Han’s death, Yang Zaicheng’s voice grew softer, his eyes filled with sorrow. But Li Qing’an wasn’t interested in Han’s death. It was Judir’s fierce five hundred bodyguards that piqued his interest—he wouldn’t miss any valuable information.

“How exactly were those five hundred cavalry so fierce?”

“Firstly, their spears were highly accurate; each spear thrown killed a Tang soldier. At least half of the Shatuo soldiers were killed by their spears. He was like an archer from our Tang dynasty—his charge killed most of Commander Han’s bodyguards. Additionally, their horses were unique, extremely fast. As soon as they created a gap, fifty cavalrymen rushed at Commander Han, making it impossible to defend against them.”

“Are you sure those bodyguards’ horses were unique?”

“Yes, their horses were truly magnificent and graceful, as if flying in the air, with astonishing speed.”

Li Qing’an nodded slowly. It seemed highly likely that those five hundred bodyguards’ horses were the legendary Arabian horses.

Just then, urgent running sounds came from outside the tent. “General, urgent military news!”

A scout appeared at the tent entrance, kneeling halfway and saying, “Reporting to the general, another thousand Turkic horsemen have joined the Arab army. The total enemy force is now nearly 14,000. The enemy has set out from camp and is still seventy li away from our forces.”

Li Qing’an glanced at the map. Seventy li was about half a day’s march at a fast pace. Of course, Judir wouldn’t launch a long-distance attack. So, at the latest by tomorrow morning, the Arab army would encounter the Tang army.

“Pass on my order: the army shall set out immediately!”
……
The road wound through the valley, and the Tang army moved slowly. They were at varying distances from the Shuili River’s rocky bed. Night fell quietly; the mist had dissipated, and cold winds blew. The moon hung like a hook, casting its cold light over the entire western sky. To the right, a massive mountain range stretched westward, ending at the mirror-like Shuili River. Beyond the river lay vast forests, and further west, the gray grasslands stretched as far as the eye could see.
By the first watch of the night, the Tang army had crossed the Shuili River. Teams of sentries raced back and forth through the forests on the opposite bank. After resting for half an hour, they continued westward.
At the fourth watch, scouts reported that the main forces of the Abbasid army were 20 li away. The Tang army immediately halted and remained motionless. The night wind howled across the vast plains, and red banners fluttered in the wind, with a fierce black dragon seemingly about to break free from them.
Beneath the banners, 12,000 Tang cavalrymen stood ready, swords drawn and bows strung, letting the north wind blow across their faces. They stared coldly ahead. Half an hour later, the massive Abbasid allied forces appeared on the other side of the grasslands. They too stopped their horses, waiting for the order to attack. A great battle for Shuili was about to begin.
The Tang army formed a cavalry-style “crane wing” formation. One hundred five-shot crossbows were already strung, using thick arrows two feet long, with an effective killing range of 500 paces. Behind these crossbows were 3,000 crossbow cavalrymen wielding light crossbows that required strength to draw, with an effective range of about 150 paces. The crossbowmen and crossbows provided dual attacks from afar and up close, forming the “crane head” and “crane neck” of the formation. Behind them were another 100 large crossbows, each equipped with three five-foot-long spears already strung with ox sinew.
Behind these 100 crossbows were 6,000 spear cavalrymen, the core of the Tang army, divided into three armies and twelve battalions. They held shields in one hand and spears in the other, forming the “crane body.” On the flanks were 1,500 each of mixed spear-and-arrow cavalrymen, designed for long-range shooting and close combat, primarily to target the enemy’s flanks.
At the “crane tail” were another 1,000 crossbow cavalrymen, used for mobile reinforcement. In this great battle, the Tang army made full use of their advantage in powerful bows and crossbows. Out of 16,000 cavalrymen, half were archers and crossbowmen—a testament to the northern frontier army’s expertise in using bows.
Li Qing’an rode under the central army’s banner, holding his sword and watching the enemy forces in the distance, patiently waiting for them to charge. In this battle, there were no fixed command towers; everything was directed amidst rapid movement.

At the same time, in this battle, Li Qing’an had no intention of using gunpowder; he hoped to sharpen the combat strength of the Beiting Army through blood and steel.
The sky over Suiye was covered with dark clouds, and strong winds blew across the grassland separating the two armies, spanning about five li. On the other side of the grassland, the Abbasid army was also in battle readiness. Their commander, Judir, was extremely confident. With the addition of 3,000 Turkic cavalrymen, their numerical strength surpassed that of the Tang army. Although they were inferior in equipment, they had high morale, brave warriors, and excellent warhorses—enough to make up for their lack of weapons and gear.
The arrival of those 3,000 Turkic cavalrymen seemed to give them an extra boost. They were not a ragtag group of herdsmen hastily assembled but seasoned veterans who had fought countless battles. In the past, the Turkic cavalry had swept across both banks of the Pearl River with their fierce attacks, defeating the Zhaowu army completely and even routing the Abbasid forces several times. With this cavalry in the fight, Judir’s chances of victory increased by another third.
In a recent clash with the Tang army, Judir had also recognized their strength—their skilled archery. That’s why he planned today’s battle this way. Whether it was the Abbasids or the Turkic cavalry, they relied on their powerful charges to disrupt the enemy’s formation. To avoid being harmed by the Tang army’s long-range arrows, Judir assigned the first wave of attack to the army of the Shi State.
The warhorses kicked the ground uncontrollably, black flags fluttered in the morning wind, and the golden Saladin eagle spread its wings as if ready to take flight—everything was ready.
Judir turned to look at the Turkic commander clad in golden armor and said with a smile, “I’m assigning you the first battle. Is your army up to the task?”
The Turkic commander’s gaze was as cruel as that of a wolf, fixed fiercely on the Tang army’s standard. Beneath that standard was his enemy, Li Qing’an, the man he had sworn to kill. He had waited almost three years for this day. Though hatred boiled in his heart, he remained calm and said, “My soldiers have come from afar and are exhausted. If they engage in the first battle, they may not have the strength. Let’s launch a second attack.”
Judir was slightly dissatisfied by the Turkic commander’s cunning tactics. He had only been testing him, yet he had already uncovered the truth—that they weren’t truly committed to serving the Abbasids. Without saying more, Judir turned his gaze to Prince Yuan’en, who seemed fearful. Without any room for negotiation, he ordered firmly, “The army of the Shi State, prepare for the charge. Launch it at my signal.”

He raised his hand, and the thundering leather drums sounded. The army of the Stone Kingdom had an innate fear of the Tang army. For nearly a hundred years, the Tang Dynasty had been their suzerain state. Its prosperity and strength had inspired generations of people in the Stone Kingdom, yet also cast a shadow of inferiority in their hearts. They had never dared to think of fighting head-on against the mighty Tang army. But the tyranny of the Abbasid Empire forced them to swallow the bitter fruit of betraying their old master.

Yuan En waved his battle axe nervously, his trembling voice faintly audible in the wind. “Follow my orders—charge with all your might.”

Judil detected the weakness in his tone. He glared at him angrily and said, “Weak and useless wretch! Do you still want to be the king of the Stone Kingdom?”

Yuan En’s face suddenly turned red. He suddenly screamed hysterically, “Get ready to charge!”

Judil waved his hand coldly, and a deep horn sounded abruptly—this was the order to charge. “Kill!” Yuan En swung his battle axe and led the charge.

“Kill!” The Stone Kingdom’s cavalry charged loudly, forming a long human carpet across the grassland in an instant.

At that moment, Judil ordered Dumuzi, “The Turkic horsemen will follow. If the Stone Kingdom army is defeated, you must charge from the left!”

Dumuzi nodded. He drew his long sword and roared like a wolf, “Brothers, follow me!”

The Turkic horsemen also charged, along with the Abbasid army. Fourteen thousand cavalry launched a fierce assault on the Tang army.

The Tang army remained patient, as calm as Mount Tai. The violent sound of hooves almost shook the earth, but it couldn’t shake the Tang soldiers even slightly. Li Qing’an turned his head eastward. The crimson sunrise had broken through the clouds. Without a brilliant glow, it had a strange blood-red hue, as if signaling the beginning of a bloody morning.

He gave a slight wave, and the drums of the Tang army began to beat, “Dong! Dong!” Three thousand archer-cavalry soldiers lined up in three rows, drawing bows and loading arrows. They tilted their bows at a 30-degree angle, adjusting their aim.

At that moment, seven thousand elite cavalry of the Stone Kingdom launched their attack—1,000 paces, 800 paces, 700 paces… Dust filled the air like clouds, the sunrise resembled blood, and the atmosphere of slaughter made even the battle-hardened Tang soldiers sweat. Li Fei Shouyu, the commander of the archers, kept reminding them to stay steady, to stay calm…

Suddenly, the drumming stopped abruptly. “Fire!” shouted the officer in charge of the crossbows. The first volley was released—500 arrows shot forth with great force, their whistling sound filling the air as they flew against the wind and struck the cavalry group 300 steps away. The arrows pierced shields and bodies, causing screams to rise; over 200 men and horses fell instantly. Horses struck by arrows collapsed, throwing their riders hard to the ground, only to be trampled into pulp by the advancing hooves, their bones crushed into the soil and utterly destroyed.

The death of over 200 men was like a mere ripple in the ocean—utterly ineffective. The morale of the Stone Country cavalry soared as they waved their spears and swords, their screams echoing across the grassland. At 150 steps away, the second volley was fired, killing hundreds more men and horses.

At that moment, the soldiers operating the crossbows turned and ran, abandoning them on the grassland. Three thousand crossbow cavalry advanced slowly, stopping 80 steps away from the crossbows. The sound of their hooves pounding the ground was thunderous, like a distant roar before a storm. Breaths had ceased in tension; all that could be felt was the trembling earth.

The long crossbows became an obstacle, but the vanguard of the Stone Country cavalry paid them no mind. They lifted their horses, causing them to soar over the crossbows.

Yet just as the Stone Country cavalry leaped into the air, the Tang Dynasty crossbow cavalry struck. 1,000 arrows flew through the air, forming a black rain that poured down upon the Stone Country cavalry. The first wave of cavalry fell with screams, and their collapse severely hindered the second wave from passing over the crossbows. Horses stopped in front of the crossbows, throwing their riders off, while those behind could not stop in time and collided one after another, causing chaos among the Stone Country army.

Amid the chaos, the advantage of the Tang Dynasty archers became evident. The archer cavalry charged forward in formation, drawing bows and shooting arrows without aiming. A deluge of arrows darkened the sky. Wave after wave of arrows was fired, and in an instant, 18,000 arrows struck the dense ranks of the Stone Country cavalry. Cries of agony filled the grassland; over 2,000 cavalrymen were killed or wounded. The Stone Country army was terrified and turned to flee.

At that moment, the swift cavalry and the powerful forces of the Great Tang emerged from both flanks, using the Stone Country army as a shield. Especially the Great Tang troops, with their fast horses, quickly reached 40 steps away from the Tang Dynasty archer cavalry. Over 100 short spears were thrown by the strong-armored Great Tang soldiers, tracing sharp arcs as they pierced the Tang army. The sharp tips of the spears penetrated armor, causing casualties among the Tang soldiers.

Lizhi Shouyu was shocked. He immediately ordered, “The vanguard should retreat, while the archer units on both flanks press on the enemy.” The crossbow cavalry on the sides had switched to bows that could fire quickly. Arrows rained down, causing more than a hundred soldiers from the enemy forces at the forefront to fall from their horses, dampening their fighting spirit. Seizing the moment when the horses of the enemy and the Turkic cavalry slowed down, the archer cavalry quickly retreated. The Tang army fought its way back while retreating, with the enemy forces in hot pursuit, firing spears and arrows in large numbers, resulting in casualties on both sides. By now, nearly four thousand troops from the allied forces had entered a range of a hundred paces. With cavalry charges possible within seconds at that distance, even if the archers could still inflict heavy losses on the enemy, they themselves would face severe casualties as well. Li Qing’an remained expressionless. The sudden attack by the enemy and Turkic forces was beyond his expectations. From the accounts of countless soldiers from Yiwu and the enemy’s behavior these days, he had gradually figured out the tactics of their commander, Judir. Judir was a very cautious commander who preferred to overwhelm the enemy in terms of troop numbers to gain a psychological advantage. For this reason, he liked to commit his entire army to battle, using superior forces to crush the opponent in one fell swoop, never giving them a chance to gradually erode his forces. This was exactly what he had done in battles against the Yiwu army, where he had used a larger force. Today, with the army of the Stone Kingdom leading the charge, it was surely not just a probe; their main forces must be behind them. At the moment the enemy and Turkic forces suddenly attacked, Li Qing’an also gave the order: “Archer cavalry, retreat!” As the commander’s order was given, the crossbow cavalry withdrew from the main battlefield. Three thousand of them retreated like a tide, revealing a hundred large, dark-colored bed crossbows arranged in a semicircle, with their short spears pointed coldly at the enemy. The enemy forces were now fifty paces away. They suddenly discovered another hundred bed crossbows hidden behind the Tang army and were stunned. Judir, who was farther away, was the first to react. He shouted that something was wrong and tried to order the enemy cavalry to retreat, but it was already too late. Suddenly, a hundred cavalrymen armed with hammers rushed out from the Tang army’s formation. They charged forward, swinging their hammers at the triggers of the bed crossbows. Since the semicircular formation of the crossbows created a small front line, the density of the enemy cavalry increased as they got closer. By now, they were thirty paces away. They sped up their horses, preparing to charge the Tang cavalry with their spear formations.

But a hundred bed crossbows brought them unexpected death. Three hundred short spears with tremendous initial velocity were fired from the Tang army’s bed crossbows. With sounds of “thwack, thwack, thwack!”, wherever the spears struck, people and horses tumbled, and cries of pain filled the air. It took the spears several seconds to fall after piercing four or five people, and in an instant, out of the more than a thousand men at the front, only a few dozen remained on their horses.
Duomoji’s three adopted sons were also pierced from the front to the back and fell from their horses with terrified eyes. The fear brought on by this brutal slaughter enveloped the hearts of the attacking forces of the Great Persian and Turkic tribes, causing their ranks to fall into chaos.
Just then, loud charging trumpets suddenly sounded. Six thousand Tang cavalry, like a flood breaking its dam after long buildup, surged forward with fierce killing intent, like rolling waves of white water. Armed with swords and armor, they charged at the Great Persian army.