In fact, Lu Ming had his soldiers lay triangular spikes within a 500-meter radius ahead. These spikes were actually triangular, a type of irregular spike with four points forming a triangle.
No matter how they were thrown, one spike would always point upwards. Since horses weren't horseshoeed at this time, once the spike pierced the ground, it would go deep into the flesh. The pain would inevitably cause the rider to be thrown off, along with the cavalryman.
These triangular spikes were an excellent weapon against cavalry. Moreover, because they were laid in ambush, even infantrymen would feel a sharp pain when stepping on them, potentially even developing tetanus—a truly insidious tactic.
However, on the battlefield, there's no such thing as underhanded or treacherous tactics. Any strategy can be used to defeat the enemy.
Therefore, the unsuspecting Western Qiang cavalry charged in one after another, using these "lying-down" spikes. The 500-meter distance was just right.
The result was the sacrifice of thousands of cavalrymen, forming a natural barrier of flesh and blood.
This forced the following cavalry to bypass the area before charging, but by then it was too late.
The most important quality of cavalry is mobility. With the momentum of their charge, they can easily tear apart any enemy.
They can toy with infantry like a cat playing with a mouse.
The combined strength of man and horse is enough to cleave an adult in two!
Thud!
The cavalry charged forward. Facing the spears, most of the Qiang cavalry were light cavalry, wielding only 30-centimeter-long curved swords. Urged on by the horns, they charged forward with their bare bodies, fearlessly crashing into the spear formation, using their flesh and blood to clear a path for the following cavalry!
Unfortunately, not everyone would do this. Some tried to slip past, avoiding the brunt of the attack. The result was that they were caught by longbowmen, and a single arrow ended their lives.
"Change formation! Kill!" Lu Ming raised his spear high, and instantly the spear-shield formation dispersed.
Heavy infantry wielding longswords entered the fray. These were elite soldiers, promoted from spearmen, their strength sufficient to wield the sixty-pound longswords.
*Thud!*
The elite soldiers, each five meters apart, held their longswords downwards. No movement was needed; they simply ducked, their heavy armor capable of withstanding cavalry blows. They only needed to maintain their balance and avoid being thrown off their feet.
*Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle!* A warhorse's leg struck a longsword, severed by its sharp edge, and the rider fell.
Before they could even rise, a bludgeoning swordsman rushed forward with incredible speed, decapitating them in a single stroke!
Marshal Yueji stared in disbelief at the carnage before him, occasionally managing to break through the encirclement with a resistance.
A man wielding a longsword would lead a charge, cutting down any rising soldiers and dispersing the cavalry among the infantry.
The infantry numbered only a little over three thousand.
But when dispersed, they were as numerous as stars, countless as hairs on a cow. He felt as if he were facing an army of tens of thousands—it was simply unbelievable!
He knew, he understood.
But Yueji had no idea how to counter them. Watching his cavalry, no longer at an advantage, being slaughtered, he felt immense heartache. In this battle, at least three thousand of his best cavalrymen had already perished!
Although the Xiliang cavalry were numerous, training nomadic peoples was costly; countless men died in accidents every year.
It took extensive training to become a qualified cavalryman.
Now, just this one charge had cost at least three thousand men, leaving him with no way to explain himself.
Lu Ming had no intention of letting them go. Since they were already here, he would annihilate them in one fell swoop. "Charge!"
On the Xiqiang army's side, only a flash of light appeared, and their heads rolled. A mighty warrior charged forward, followed by his most elite soldiers—the unique cavalry, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!
Thud! Thud! Ahhh!
Spears pierced flesh, and the screams of wounded soldiers echoed continuously.
The previously calm and stalemate battlefield was thrown into chaos by Lu Ming's arrival.
Large numbers of Western Qiang soldiers were terrified, their hands and feet trembling, utterly powerless.
"Kneel down! Surrender and you will not be killed!" the soldiers shouted in their recently learned Qiang language; this one sentence was enough!
Yue Ji saw Lu Ming charging towards him. He roared, forcibly using a battle cry to boost morale.
He also grabbed his spiked club and charged forward on horseback. He knew he had to fight; the soldiers' morale was low, on the verge of collapse.
If he didn't find a way, it would all fall apart!
Twenty thousand men couldn't defeat five thousand? That's utterly ridiculous!
He couldn't bear the shame!
In a narrow encounter, the brave prevail!
A clang of metal rang out, and Yue Ji was sent flying. His warhorse, unable to withstand the immense force, broke all its bones and collapsed with a pitiful whinny!
Yue Ji himself was also sent flying, landing on the ground. He wasn't dead, but his entire body ached.
A muscular man weighing over two hundred pounds was instantly killed by Lu Ming in one move!
And that was only because Lu Ming hadn't killed him; otherwise, he would have been killed instantly!
"Yue Ji is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!" Lu Ming severed Yue Ji's command flag, took a deep breath, and let out a piercing roar.
The soldiers within a ten-mile radius heard it clearly. Their own soldiers' morale soared, while the enemy soldiers were terrified, their legs trembling, almost fleeing! That very night, Cheriji was still embracing the woman of the previous king and chieftain, trying to conceive, when a piece of news nearly made him impotent!
A mixed force of 20,000 infantry and cavalry had been defeated by only 4,000 men!
And this was with 1,000 men protecting their families, yet they were still defeated!
Even his own general, Yueji, had been captured alive!
Of the 20,000 men, nearly 6,000 died, and the rest were taken prisoner!
Moreover, those beyond saving were all killed, while the lightly and heavily wounded were rescued.
The captured soldiers seemed to be considering surrendering.
This news was so shocking that Cheriji's penis shrank several centimeters; he no longer cared about his woman.
He hurriedly got up and went to his friend, Prime Minister Yadan, to discuss countermeasures. Was this Liangzhou Governor, Lu Ming, really that capable of fighting?