Chapter 62: Chicken Soup to the Core

The Invincible Flying Army and the Wudang Flying Army were outfitted identically, each equipped with repeating crossbows, swords, and shields. Their shields were constructed with an iron base, covered by multiple layers of tanned animal hide, both raw and cured, creating a soft surface that absorbed impact and resisted sharp blades. The single-edged swords were forged with the finest metallurgy of Great Xia, made from refined steel and crafted using a folding and hammering technique suggested by Chen Mu. In this era, these swords could slice through iron as easily as clay, combining strength and flexibility.

The soldiers wore leather armor, helmets, and boots, tightly wrapped, making it difficult to inflict direct harm unless struck at a vital spot. Coupled with their exceptional physical condition, rigorous training, and the squad system designed by Chen Mu, their combat power far surpassed that of the Dongyue troops.

At first, the Great Xia army launched an overwhelming assault against Dongyue, but as time passed, Chen Mu sensed something was wrong. Though Dongyue’s forces had suffered heavy casualties, their spirit remained unbroken—they fought with reckless bravery. While Great Xia’s morale was also high, if the battle continued this way, their own losses would mount. This was only the first engagement in Dongyue; if half of the Invincible and Wudang Flying Armies were sacrificed, the expedition would effectively be over.

Gritting his teeth, Chen Mu ordered the gong to be sounded, signaling a retreat. The soldiers were momentarily stunned, unaccustomed to such a scenario—every past campaign had ended in victory. Now, before the battle was decided, they were ordered to withdraw. Yet military orders were absolute, and they complied.

As they retreated, defending themselves, the Dongyue troops erupted in excitement, shouting wildly and raising their weapons in pursuit. Fortunately, the Great Xia soldiers withdrew in an orderly manner, not in chaos. They retreated in units of a hundred, alternating between holding the line and falling back—one group covered, another withdrew, then switched roles.

The two sides fought and moved, soon reaching the vicinity of the main camp, where Zhang Chong heard the commotion and brought reinforcements. Seeing Great Xia’s numbers, Dongyue finally pulled back.

Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed the enemy commander was not truly fearless. If they had been willing to die to the last man against Great Xia, things would have grown complicated. Back in camp, Chen Mu ordered the reserve troops to dig trenches and set up barricades in case Dongyue attempted a raid.

The other officers followed Chen Mu to the central tent to discuss the next step. As they walked, they talked amongst themselves.

“These Dongyue men are mad! Wearing tattered clothes, wielding broken weapons, they fight with nothing but their lives!”

“Yes, I saw a Dongyue soldier whose right hand was severed—he simply picked up a weapon with his left and kept fighting.”

“Truly savage tribes, beyond reason!”

Once seated, Chen Mu spoke, “There is indeed something wrong with the Dongyue troops. They may have been incited—perhaps told that if Great Xia invades, we will slaughter their cities.”

Zhang Zhong asked, puzzled, “Slaughter cities? What do you mean?”

The others exchanged confused looks. Chen Mu realized that such events had not occurred in this world—they didn’t know what ‘slaughtering a city’ meant.

Chen Mu explained, “Ah, it means taking all their food and ignoring their survival.”

Zhang Zhong replied, “Oh, when we swept through Persia last time, we only took half the food from each town, leaving the rest so they wouldn’t starve.”

Chen Mu continued, “What else could be the reason? Think carefully.”

After some thought, Zhang Zhong finally suggested, “Your Highness, why not ask around? If there are merchants who have dealt with Dongyue, they might know something about them.”

Chen Mu agreed—it made sense. Back in the southern barbarians, some merchants spoke Persian. Although Dongyue didn’t seem the trading type, it was worth trying.

“Good. Issue an order: search the army for anyone familiar with Dongyue, reward any useful intelligence heavily!”

The officers received their orders and went to search. After Chen Mu finished his meal, a few men did report to the central tent.

He summoned them, questioning each in turn, until one piece of information caught his attention.

“They worship the Mountain God?”

“Yes, unlike Great Xia, where we pray to the Mountain God only during festivals for protection, Dongyue’s people are deeply devout. In every conversation, they mention the Mountain God.”

Chen Mu nodded slowly, thinking that Dongyue resembled Hanzhong during the Three Kingdoms, where religious and political authority were unified. Back then, Zhang Lu governed Hanzhong with the Five Bushels of Rice cult, earning unwavering loyalty from the populace and fearless soldiers. The rugged terrain made it easy to defend and hard to attack, allowing them to survive amidst powerful rivals for years.

If Dongyue was similar, it would be troublesome. Was there any invention that could help defeat such fanatical troops while minimizing casualties?

After rewarding the soldiers, Chen Mu remained alone in the tent, pondering. With limited materials, building large weapons like ballistae was impossible. Was there a small device to suppress such mad enemies?

Recalling the details of the battle, Chen Mu did come up with an idea and immediately ordered its manufacture.

The next day, Chen Mu kept the reserve troops guarding the camp, while he led the Invincible and Wudang Flying Armies into battle. Scouts had already reported that Dongyue’s troops remained in the valley—the only way into Dongyue—so Chen Mu marched straight for the enemy.

The tactics were the same: two rounds of crossbow fire, followed by close combat. Chen Mu noticed that some enemy soldiers now wore Great Xia leather armor and carried their swords and shields, giving them slightly stronger combat ability, but still less effective than Great Xia’s troops, relying instead on desperate struggle.

After a few minutes of fighting, Chen Mu ordered another retreat, with the Dongyue troops hot on their heels. This time, Chen Mu instructed his men to feign panic and abandon some crossbows and swords as they fled.

Seeing discarded equipment, many Dongyue soldiers stopped to pick it up, while others continued the chase.

The two armies raced, drawing near the Great Xia camp. The reserve troops waited at the front, while the Invincible and Wudang Flying Armies circled to the sides, adjusting their formation.

Perhaps sensing Great Xia’s disorder, the Dongyue commander grew careless; instead of retreating, he led his men directly against the reserve troops.

But as Dongyue drew near, the first two rows of Great Xia soldiers suddenly ran to the sides, exposing the ground behind them.

And the Dongyue soldiers kept charging forward.