Chapter 72: The Defeat of the Vanguard Battalion

"The company commander has fallen! The company commander has fallen!"

The soldiers of the Standard Battalion were immediately thrown into chaos. Terror-stricken, they retreated step by step, confusion mounting despite their officers' desperate attempts to restore order.

In the distance, a deep, muffled horn sounded. The armored cavalry was regrouping, readying themselves for another assault.

This brief lull became the final chance to break out. The Standard Battalion soldiers abandoned their severely wounded comrades and fled south in panic.

The bearded Tartar gazed at the panic-stricken government troops and quickly said, "Batu Taiji, the enemy is retreating. Should we attack now?"

Batu Taiji shook his head, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "No need to rush. Soldiers who lose their courage are but a flock of sheep—they cannot escape. When they can no longer maintain their formations, that is the best moment for us to hunt."

Batu’s strategy proved effective.

With no Tartars in immediate pursuit, the orderly retreat of the government troops quickly dissolved. Under the looming threat of the Tartar horde, their lines completely collapsed; helmets and armor were cast aside as each man desperately fled south for his life.

Batu Taiji drew his saber and shouted harshly, "Charge! Take the heads of every Ming dog!"

A thousand Tartar horsemen surged forward anew, a black wave crashing over the earth, sweeping toward the routed soldiers of the Standard Battalion.

Elsewhere, Li Yi and Shi Kefa had just received news that Commander Zhu had defeated three hundred Tartar cavalry. Their delight was short-lived, for soon the battered soldiers of the garrison came stumbling back.

Li Yi mounted his horse, his gaze icy as he looked upon the fleeing garrison soldiers. He issued a loud command.

"Form ranks to meet the enemy! Anyone who breaks formation will be executed without mercy!"

Years of rigorous training had forged instinctive discipline; the young men of Ganquan lined up expertly, taking their positions behind the barricades.

Shield bearers raised their shields, with wolf-fanged staves and long spears braced atop them. Swordsmen stood guard at the flanks, making the formation appear impenetrable.

Shi Kefa looked with surprise at Li Yi in the saddle. Though not a military man himself, he could see at once that this force was well-trained.

"The Tartars are coming! Run for your lives!"

"The soldiers are defeated! The army is finished!"

"Out of the way! Move, damn you!"

Terrified by the Tartar cavalry, the garrison soldiers ran desperately toward Sui Jin Town, wishing they had more legs for fear of being overtaken.

Li Yi spurred his horse to the front of the defenses and shouted in anger, "Halt! Anyone who breaches the line will be executed without mercy!"

But the garrison soldiers paid him no heed, shoving aside the barricades as they tried to flee toward Mizhi County.

"Attack—"

Li Yi gave the order with chilling resolve.

Shield bearers advanced, holding their ground against the onrushing garrison soldiers. Spearmen and wolf-staff bearers thrust their weapons, and over a dozen soldiers were struck in the chest and shoulders, collapsing to the ground with agonized screams.

Seeing that their opponents meant business, the garrison soldiers were not cowed—instead, they flew into a rage.

"We may fear the Tartars, but not you mud-legged peasants!"

Some stooped to gather stones, hurling them at the young men, while the braver ones brandished spears in retaliation.

A few garrison soldiers, seeing Li Yi clad in his iron-plated armor, raised their sabers and charged at him.

Li Yi’s face darkened. What a mess!

He did not hesitate, lifting his Tiger Fang spear and regarding the encroaching soldiers coldly.

"I am the Inspector of Sui Jin Town. Kneel down where you are, and I’ll spare your lives!"

A disheveled garrison soldier sneered, waving his rusty saber. "Kid, you look like some kind of official. Take off your armor and let us leave, or this blade won’t care about any inspector’s title."

Before he could finish, a whistling spear flashed through the air, its sharp point piercing the soldier’s throat without mercy.

The surrounding garrison soldiers blanched and rushed at him with their sabers.

Li Yi spurred his horse, swung his spear to bat away an incoming blade, then changed his grip and lashed out with the staff. The Tiger Fang spear was heavy and powerful, and with Li Yi’s prodigious strength, a few blows were enough to break bones and leave men writhing on the ground, screaming in pain.

"Kneel with your hands on your head, damn it! Are you deaf?"

Growing angrier the more he fought, Li Yi rode among the garrison soldiers, swinging his Tiger Fang spear. Any who blocked his path were struck down, howling in agony.

In moments, dozens of garrison soldiers lay sprawled on the ground; the rest grew more subdued.

After Li Yi struck down a youth with another blow, no one dared oppose him further.

All the garrison soldiers sullenly stepped back, standing obediently in place.

Li Yi, standing on horseback, pointed at the two who had just attacked him and shouted, "Seize them!"

Liu Zongmin immediately led a group to drag them to the barricades.

Without hesitation, Li Yi drew his saber and, with swift efficiency, beheaded them.

Blood sprayed across the earth, quickly pooling into a crimson puddle.

The garrison soldiers looked at Li Yi with fear etched on their faces.

"I am the Inspector of Sui Jin Town. Any who breach the defenses or disobey orders will be executed."

That single word "executed," coupled with the headless corpses at his feet, sent a chill through every garrison soldier present.

"A mere inspector—what right do you have to meddle in our garrison affairs? I am the commander of the Mizhi County Garrison—"

A greasy, rotund man squeezed out from among the soldiers, about to declare his position, when he was struck on the head by the spear and fell unconscious, eyes rolling back.

"Enough noise," Li Yi said coldly. "Bind him. He incited the garrison to storm the defenses and flee from battle—hand him over to the Minister for judgment."

With that short pronouncement, he pinned the main responsibility on the man’s shoulders.

The other garrison officers shrank back, wisely choosing silence.

Shi Kefa approached, sword in hand, his expression troubled as he looked at the kneeling garrison soldiers.

"What happened here? What of the Standard Battalion?"

One of the soldiers glanced up at him, then, seeing Li Yi’s gaze, answered truthfully, "The Tartar cavalry suddenly attacked. Someone shouted to run, and we all ran."

"And the Standard Battalion?"

"No idea. We were too busy fleeing—if only we had more legs! Who dared look back?"

Li Yi was nearly amused by their cowardice.

So, they had fled at the mere sight of the enemy.

"Second Brother, please take a few good horsemen and scout to the north," Li Yi said to Li Zicheng beside him.

Li Zicheng nodded and left at once.

Shi Kefa, worried, said, "Li Yi, the garrison is useless, and the Standard Battalion’s fate is uncertain. How can we possibly defend Sui Jin Town?"

Li Yi gazed at the hundred young men of Ganquan and replied in a deep voice, "The Standard Battalion’s elite are valiant. Though caught off guard by the Tartars, they may yet have the strength to fight. Our task is to support them in time—if their losses are not too great, we may yet have a chance."