freenovelworld Chapter 843 Gazing Northwards Amidst the Flames of War: Iron Cavalry and Beautiful Women Defend the
Chapter 843 Gazing Northwards Amidst the Flames of War: Iron Cavalry and Beautiful Women Defend the
The north wind swept across the land, and yellow sand filled the sky.
Wangbei City, this majestic pass standing on the northern border of the empire, is currently bathed in a somber atmosphere. Banners flutter atop the city walls, and soldiers in gleaming armor stand ready, their eyes warily fixed on the dust-laden horizon in the distance. The air is thick with the scents of sweat, leather, and a faint stench of blood, mingled with an unprecedented tension and anticipation.
Beside the crenellations of the city wall, two tall and straight women stood side by side.
The woman on the left, dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit over a silver-scaled soft armor, possessed a strikingly handsome face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. She was none other than Lin Ping, the eldest of the Lin sisters and one of the main commanders in the defense of Wangbei City. She was once the renowned "Cold Moon Sword" in the martial arts world, her swift swordsmanship unparalleled. Although she now held military power, her fierce martial spirit remained undiminished, instead gaining a touch of composure and authority honed through countless battles.
Beside her, Lin Xue appeared even more aloof and beautiful, her white robe fluttering in the wind, a slender, soft sword hanging at her waist. Unlike her sister, she wasn't overtly sharp; her demeanor was reserved, her eyes calm as still water, yet occasionally flashing with a hint of cunning and cleverness. She was meticulous and resourceful, Lin Ping's most capable assistant, and an indispensable strategist in this new force.
Behind them stood five thousand elite imperial infantry and cavalrymen, battle-hardened veterans of the campaign to quell the Ma San rebellion. Though not a large number, each was a seasoned warrior, a survivor of countless battles, their eyes gleaming with fearless ruthlessness. Even more striking were the two units beside them—one a newly formed "Night Owl Guard," a full thousand strong. No longer dressed as traditional cavalry or infantry, they were equipped with standardized rifles and ten brand-new military trucks. The truck beds were covered with canvas, revealing neatly stacked ammunition boxes and heavy equipment. The soldiers wore practical, grass-green uniforms, helmets, and gripped sleek, metallic rifles, their faces displaying curiosity and confidence in their new weapons.
The other team, the smallest in number with only fifty members, exuded a chilling sharpness. This was the "Night Shadow" female special forces team, personally trained and led by Lin Xue. Unlike the "Night Owl Guard's" trucks, their vehicles were 25 equally brand-new three-wheeled motorcycles. These motorcycles were compact, powerful, and painted a matte dark green. Each motorcycle had a light machine gun mounted on its cargo bed, and several uniquely designed, high-rate-of-fire submachine guns hung beside them. The female soldiers wore tailor-made black leather combat uniforms that accentuated their agile figures. They wore helmets and masks, revealing only their calm yet sharp eyes. They were all female martial artists at least at the Lesser Earth Realm; even without using internal energy, their physical abilities far surpassed ordinary people. Now, equipped with these specially optimized new firearms, they were like tigers with wings.
"They're here!" Lin Ping's deep and powerful voice broke the silence on the city wall.
On the distant horizon, the billowing yellow dust grew ever closer, accompanied by a faint rumble like muffled thunder. A black line appeared on the horizon, rapidly thickening and lengthening until it transformed into a surging torrent of iron—fifty thousand barbarian cavalry!
Barbarian cavalry have been a perennial threat to the empire's northern frontier. Raised on horseback from childhood, they are fierce and valiant in battle, adept at long-range raids and mass charges. Once their cavalry forces are unleashed, they are like a flood bursting its banks, unstoppable. Historically, they have repeatedly breached the northern defenses, bringing immense devastation to the empire's heartland.
"The main force of the barbarians consists of light cavalry as the vanguard, heavy cavalry as the center, and there seem to be archers and... some siege equipment behind them?" Lin Xue raised her monocular telescope, carefully observing the enemy's formation, and calmly analyzed, "Their strength is about 50,000, which matches the intelligence we received. They want to take Wangbei City in one fell swoop and open a passage to the south."
Lin Ping nodded, took a deep breath, drew her sword from her waist, and pointed it north: "Pass on the order! Proceed according to plan! The first, second, and third companies of the 'Night Owl Guard' will construct defensive positions on both flanks of the city wall, with a focus on setting up machine gun positions and ammunition supply points. They must hold the open areas on both sides of the city wall! The fourth and fifth companies will serve as mobile reserves, traveling by truck to provide support at any time!"
"Yes, sir!" The captain of the "Night Owl Guard," a man named Zhao Gang, was a former cavalry centurion under Lin Ping. He had distinguished himself in suppressing Ma San's rebellion and was chosen to command this new unit. He loudly acknowledged the order and turned to give commands. Ten trucks immediately started up, their engines churning, and sped along the inner ramparts of the city wall towards their designated positions. A thousand "Night Owl Guard" soldiers, divided into small teams, carrying rifles, machine guns, and ammunition boxes, followed on foot, their movements swift and orderly.
“Lin Xue,” Lin Ping turned to her younger sister, her eyes filled with concern, “‘Night Shadow’ squad’s mission is the most dangerous. You are responsible for harassing and raiding the enemy’s flanks and rear, disrupting their formation, and attacking their command system. Remember, you are shadows, you are assassins. You must use your speed and firepower to your advantage, hit and run, don’t linger in battle, preserving yourselves is the first priority.”
Lin Xue smiled slightly, her smile cool yet confident: "Don't worry, sister. This isn't the first time 'Night Shadow' has carried out a mission like this. Wasn't Ma San's head taken by us 'Night Shadow' sisters? This time, we'll give these barbarians a 'surprise' they'll never forget." She lightly patted the gas tank of a motorcycle beside her and called out to the fifty "Night Shadow" female soldiers behind her: "Sisters, let these barbarians who only know how to brandish sabers show you what real speed and firepower are! Check your equipment, prepare to attack!"
"Yes, Captain!" the fifty female soldiers responded in unison, their voices clear yet powerful. They quickly mounted their motorcycles, checked the ammunition belts of their light machine guns, and pulled the bolts back with a crisp "click." At the same time, their submachine guns were also drawn from their waists, checked, and then holstered.
On the city wall, the atmosphere was extremely tense. The distant roar grew closer, and the battle cries of the barbarian cavalry could be faintly heard. They came like a black tide, overwhelming the sky, the dust kicked up by their horses' hooves obscuring the sun, as if they wanted to swallow the entire Wangbei City.
"Let them in!" Lin Ping gripped her sword hilt tightly, her eyes blazing. "Wait until they are within effective rifle range, then fire on my command!"
Time ticked by, each second feeling like torture. The vanguard of the barbarian cavalry had reached within three miles of the city wall. Their warhorses were galloping, and the knights, brandishing their sabers and spears, roared and charged toward the city wall with ferocious smiles on their faces.
"Two li!"
"One mile!"
"Five hundred meters!" the soldier in charge of ranging shouted.
The soldiers of the "Night Owl Guard" had already taken up their positions on the pre-arranged flanks of the city wall. Riflemen lay prone in makeshift foxholes, rifle butts against their shoulders, the crosshairs of their scopes firmly locked onto the approaching targets. Trucks were parked a little further away, serving as mobile ammunition depots and fire support points. Several soldiers were unloading several heavier heavy machine guns from the trucks and setting them up, their dark muzzles pointed at the charging barbarian cavalry.
"Three hundred meters!"
Lin Ping suddenly pointed her sword forward and shouted sharply, "Fire!"
"Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!"
The Night Owl Guard riflemen, who had been poised for action, pulled the triggers! A thousand rifles simultaneously spat out deadly tongues of fire, the dense gunfire exploding like popping beans, merging into a deafening sonic boom. Bullets, with sharp whistles, slashed fiercely at the charging barbarian vanguard cavalry like the scythe of death.
The barbarian light cavalry at the forefront had never anticipated such a dense and precise long-range attack. In the past, the Imperial armies they faced had bows with limited range and power, often requiring them to close in to inflict effective damage. But now, at a distance of three hundred meters, high-speed bullets easily tore through their simple leather armor and pierced their bodies.
"Pfft! Pfft!"
Blood blossomed wildly in the charging ranks. The dozens of barbarian cavalrymen at the forefront were struck as if by an invisible giant hand, screaming as they fell from their horses. Some were riddled with bullets, while others were trampled into a bloody pulp by the warhorses behind them.
The sudden and heavy casualties halted the advance of the barbarian vanguard. They stared in horror at the fiery battlefield ahead, unable to comprehend what kind of sorcery weapons those imperial soldiers wielded that could inflict such horrific carnage from such a distance!
"Keep charging! Kill them!" the barbarian centurion roared, brandishing his scimitar to drive his soldiers forward.
Driven by the will to survive and the pressure from behind, the barbarian cavalrymen mustered their courage once more, spurred their horses, and continued their charge.
"Machine guns! Suppress them!" Zhao Gang immediately gave the order when he saw that the barbarian cavalry had not broken up.
On the "Night Owl Guard" position, several newly set-up heavy machine guns and the vehicle-mounted machine guns on the top of the truck cab roared simultaneously! Unlike the bursts of rifle fire, the firepower of the heavy machine guns was like a roaring torrent, with chains of blazing fire sweeping out, shattering men and horses wherever they passed!
"Da da da da da!"
A dense hail of bullets formed a deathly barrier; the charging barbarian cavalry fell in droves as if crashing into an invisible wall. Horse carcasses, human corpses, weapon fragments, and blood quickly piled up in front of the position, forming a terrifying wall of corpses.
The Night Owl Guard soldiers were highly trained, with the front ranks firing and the rear ranks quickly replenishing ammunition, maintaining a continuous output of firepower. The precise bursts of rifle fire combined with the suppressive barrage of heavy machine guns kept the barbarian vanguard pinned down more than two hundred meters away, unable to advance an inch.
However, the barbarian cavalry simply outnumbered them! Fifty thousand strong, like an endless tide, with those in front falling and those behind immediately trampling over the corpses of their comrades to continue their charge. Although they suffered heavy losses, their fearless bravery and numerical superiority allowed them to gradually approach the city walls.
"Archers! Fire!" On the city wall, Lin Ping immediately gave the order as she saw the barbarian cavalry approaching.
The archers among the five thousand infantry and cavalry had already drawn their bows and nocked their arrows. Upon hearing the command, they immediately released their bowstrings. In an instant, a rain of arrows blotted out the sky, striking the barbarian cavalry below the city and further slowing their offensive.
"Now!" Under the city wall, Lin Xue's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she suddenly started the motorcycle.
"Nightshade! Attack!"
"Buzz-buzz-buzz-"
Fifty motorcycles roared simultaneously, their engines instantly drowning out the gunfire and shouts of battle. The dark green torrent, like an arrow released from a bow, surged out from a pre-opened, concealed gate on the side of Wangbei City, and, like a phantom, circled around the flank of the attacking barbarian army along a pre-planned passage at the foot of the city wall!
"Women?!" The barbarian centurion, who was directing the siege, was taken aback when he saw this suddenly appearing female motorized unit. Then, a ferocious smile appeared on his face. "Capture them! Present them to the Great Khan!"
Several barbarian cavalrymen broke away from the siege force, brandishing their scimitars and charging towards the "Night Shadow" squad with howls.
Lin Xue's lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes flashing sharply: "Sisters, let them taste our power! Free fire, target: enemy command system and archers!"
"understand!"
Fifty motorcycles, like fifty black lightning bolts, nimbly weaved across the battlefield. Instead of engaging the charging barbarian cavalrymen, they accelerated and plunged into the relatively weak flank of the barbarian army.
"Da da da! Tu tu tu tu!"
The light machine guns on each motorcycle opened fire simultaneously! Fifty light machine guns spat out dense tongues of fire, like fifty angry venomous snakes, frantically tearing at the flanks of the barbarian army. At the same time, the female soldiers would occasionally maneuver their motorcycles with one hand while drawing their submachine guns from their waists with the other, firing short bursts at the dense crowd.