Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 804 804 74 Deadly Ground_2

?Chapter 804: Chapter 74: Deadly Ground_2 Chapter 804: Chapter 74: Deadly Ground_2 In reality, Iron Peak County is situated at the northern foot of the Golden Summit Mountain range; it is the last ripple of the mountains with uneven terrain and limited pathways suited for large-scale cavalry movements.

Based on this, Winters had his main forces deployed in three critical “throat areas,” while he, himself, was stationed at [the Dagger’s Wall].

The second and fourth companies, along with the militia support brigade, were stationed where the cavalry could best be deployed—because the main artery of Iron Peak County ran right through here.

…

Tie Chi and the other Terdon Nayens couldn’t see what was happening on the other side of the wall.

This wall not only blocked the warhorses but also obstructed the Terdon people’s line of sight, preventing them from knowing the defenders’ deployment.

Under the banner of horsetail streamers, a few Terdon Green Plumed Feathers could only see those soldiers who climbed over the wall either crawling out bloodied and with shattered heads or not returning at all.

Tie Chi looked around; the faces of the Nayens were more unsightly than one another.

Even without speaking, Tie Chi knew what the Nayens were thinking.

In the winter and spring battles at Bianli and The Styx, the Terdon Tribe lost many of their people, with many leaders still not recovered to this day.

During the full moon when the horses were fattened, the Terdon Tribe had planned to join forces with the Suz Tribe to raid and plunder.

And the result? They barely gained any advantage.

Then there was this expedition, which was supposed to be about raiding for grain and slaughtering fat sheep—so why had it turned into a matter of life and death?

The plundering during the full moon could barely be considered break-even; while in this raid of the slaughter month, if they had to gnaw on every bone bit by bit, then no matter how much they looted, it would be a loss.

[Note: The full moon refers to the eighth lunar month; Blue moon, the tenth lunar month.]
It was like a thief suddenly realizing theft had turned into robbery, or like a robber horrified to find out that the heist was too hot to handle. Many Terdon leaders began to entertain thoughts of retreat.

To understand this mindset, one must remember the fact that in Hurd’s low-productivity society, the motives for war were more economic than political.

All in all, looting the valleys had become filling the moats, and the Terdon nobles were quite unwilling in their hearts.

Not to speak of winning, but even if they did, so what? Profit? No, loss!

Currently, the Terdon Tribe’s right-wing army could basically be divided into two factions.

One faction comprised leaders who had gained their fill and just wanted to quickly send the loot back to their tribe. Consequently, they were lazy in their labor, showing little enthusiasm for filling the moats;
The other faction included chiefs who had gained nothing and had even lost a considerable number of warhorses and sheep. Naturally, they were eager for a major raid across the river.

However, the resistance from the bipedals was too fierce, too adamant. Fighting on like this, the Nayens worried that trying to steal a chicken might lead to losing a handful of rice.

According to what Tie Chi knew, the latter group of leaders were conspiring with each other, wanting the Fire Warmer to intervene and redistribute the spoils of the former group.

Look at that, under Winters’ rule, Iron Peak County was divided between north and south, and the Terdon people inside were just as fraught with conflict.

That’s how absurd and bizarre things were; rather than saying this war was a contest of two chess players, it would be more fitting to say it was a scrawny guard dog’s desperate struggle against a lame wolf.

What the conditions of the battle were on the other side of the wall, Tie Chi didn’t know, but the sack earth siege was going quite smoothly—the slope piled up with sheepskin sacks was nearly ready for horses to run up.

“Who wants to climb it first?” Tie Chi turned around and asked the Nayens.

The first to climb would not only receive a rich reward but, according to tradition, also had the first pick of the spoils. However, given the current situation, it seemed the bones would be hard to chew, so no one paid any attention to Tie Chi.

Tie Chi’s eldest son, seeing his father disrespected, became furiously indignant, plucked up the banner of horsetail streamers, and roared, “Are you all mice or sparrows? So cowardly? Father! I’m going up!”

Some Nayens were annoyed, others laughed coldly, but all remained silent.

Tie Chi glanced at his eldest son and pointed to another Nayen who often clashed with him: “Wulanghe, go and make a charge.”

The Green Plumed Feather named Wulanghe knew Tie Chi was deliberately picking a fight, yet he said nothing, just thumped his chest in salute before returning to his own people.

Wulanghe wondered how many bipedals might be on the other side of the wall, not knowing was it not merely gambling with life to rush over so recklessly?

He thus summoned a Turu Koda subordinate he didn’t particularly like, ordering the other to lead his men over to test the waters.

Wulanghe specifically instructed him to retreat back if the situation turned dire.

For the Turu Koda, however, the prospect was exhilarating; to shoot the first arrow on the battlefield was not only a great honor for a Hurd noble, but the rewards were also extraordinarily generous.

As for the Nayen’s concerns, he dismissed them.

In his view, the bipedals’ arrows were weak and powerless, obviously wielded by mere farmers and commoners; the only thing that had allowed them to hold out this far was relying on the low walls.

Once the Terdon Iron Cavalry leaped over the low walls, trampling everything under their hooves, how could the bipedals not flee in disarray?

With this confidence, the Turu Koda readied his bow in hand, sped on his horse, and with a roar, charged up the wall.

Then he tried to pull his horse to a stop in terror, because he finally saw clearly what was in front of him.

Inertia didn’t allow the Turu Koda to do so; his warhorse neighed as it leapt down from the top of the wall.

With the wall’s height nearing two meters, the Turu Koda’s warhorse still managed to stand firm, truly a remarkable steed.

Some Terdon riders couldn’t dodge in time and also followed, leaping down and breaking their horses’ legs.

The quicker Terdon riders promptly steered their mounts away or simply abandoned their horses to jump down the slope, causing chaos among the hundred cavalrymen charging up the ramp.

Tie Chi wore an expression as unruffled as still water, as if he had anticipated such an outcome.

Having jumped over one wall, the Turu Koda despaired at seeing another—or, to be precise, three.

Wulanghe charged before Tie Chi, cursing, “Tie Chi! The bipedals have built a double wall! You knew it all along, didn’t you?!”