Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

”The Chu Army’s flanks are moving first, but their center is holding.” Bai Qi frowned. ”Wu Qi wants to test the strength of our flanks. Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry, first unit of the left flank, attack! First unit of the right flank, on standby.”

A horn sounded.

On the Northern Wilderness Army’s left flank, ten thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry began their charge. A white torrent rushed out from their main formation, the sound of their hooves like rolling thunder.

As they charged, they automatically split into three columns, each over three thousand riders strong, forming an arrowhead.

Opposite them, the thirty-five thousand iron-clad cavalry of the Chu Army’s left flank saw the enemy emerge and also accelerated into a charge.

The two cavalry forces collided just left of the battlefield’s center.

The Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry’s arrowhead formation was incredibly sharp. The first column pierced the Chu Army’s cavalry formation like an awl.

The second and third columns followed close behind, tearing the gap wider.

The White Armored Cavalry brandished their Long Spears from horseback. Wherever the glint of their spears passed, Chu Army soldiers and their horses were sent flying.

But the Chu Army cavalry had superior numbers and quickly began to flank them, attempting an encirclement.

”Second unit of the left flank, attack,” Bai Qi ordered.

Another ten thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry charged out, this time in a straight line, striking directly at the Chu Army cavalry’s flank.

”The Northern Wilderness’s Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry truly live up to their reputation,” Wu Qi remarked with a sigh. ”Relay my orders: the left flank cavalry is to fight while retreating, luring the enemy deeper. The right flank cavalry is to prepare. As soon as the enemy’s left flank has fully committed, charge the enemy’s right flank.”

The order was relayed via signal flags.

The Chu Army’s left flank cavalry began an orderly withdrawal, fighting as they retreated and gradually luring the Northern Wilderness’s Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry away from their main formation.

Bai Qi saw this development and smiled. ’Trying to lure my left flank deeper?’ ”Relay my orders: Left flank cavalry, cease pursuit. Third unit, move forward to provide support. First and second units, conduct a phased withdrawal.”

”Right flank cavalry, full alert. Central heavy infantry, first and second echelons, advance fifty paces.”

The Northern Wilderness Army’s left flank cavalry suddenly stopped their pursuit and began a withdrawal under alternating cover.

At the same time, the first two echelons of the central heavy infantry phalanx moved forward, like a giant beast extending its two front claws.

’Bai Qi, is it? A little interesting.’ Wu Qi no longer dared to underestimate this young man. ”Relay my orders: Left flank cavalry, halt your retreat and regroup on the spot. Right flank cavalry, charge!”

On the Chu Army’s right flank, thirty-five thousand iron-clad cavalry began to charge. This time, it was an all-out charge, aimed directly at the Northern Wilderness Army’s right flank.

Almost simultaneously, Bai Qi gave his order: ”Right flank Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry, full-scale attack! Central heavy infantry, third echelon, shift right thirty paces.”

On the Northern Wilderness Army’s right flank, all thirty thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry charged out.

They did not split their forces, but instead formed a massive wedge formation, charging head-on to meet the Chu Army cavalry.

The two torrents of cavalry collided on the right side of the battlefield with a deafening crash.

The Chu Army’s vanguard heavy infantry phalanxes on both flanks had already advanced to within one hundred paces of the Northern Wilderness Army’s front line.

The archers in the center of the Northern Wilderness Army began to fire. A rain of arrows poured down, and the Chu Army’s shields were instantly pincushioned with shafts.

But the Chu Army’s formation held steady, and they continued to advance.

Fifty paces.

Thirty paces.

”Spears!” The command echoed from within the Chu Army’s ranks.

The first three ranks of heavy infantrymen lowered their spears in unison, their tips a forest of steel.

Ten paces.

”Kill!”

The Chu heavy infantry crashed into the Northern Wilderness Army’s first echelon.

The crash of shields, the piercing of armor by spearheads, and the shouts of battle blended into a single cacophony.

The front line instantly became a bloody meat grinder.

Bai Qi gathered Spiritual Power in his eyes, observing every change on the battlefield from behind his lines.

’The Chu heavy infantry is well-trained. The first echelon can hold for half an hour at most.’

”Relay my orders: the first echelon must fight to the death and not retreat. The second echelon is to prepare to relieve them.”

”Archers, concentrate fire on the Chu Army’s central phalanx and halt their advance.”

Bai Qi’s orders were quickly relayed to every Centurion via horns, Array Flags, Magical Artifacts, and messengers.

The Northern Wilderness Army’s archers shifted their aim, and a rain of arrows covered the stationary heavy infantry phalanx in the Chu Army’s center.

Arrows fell like a torrential downpour. The Chu Army’s central phalanx had no choice but to raise their shields to defend, slowing their advance.

But soon, eighty thousand archers and crossbowmen from the Chu Army’s center moved forward. Once in range, they began to return fire.

But on the battlefield, the outcome of the left-flank cavalry engagement was becoming clear.

On the right flank, thirty thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry and thirty-five thousand Chu iron-clad cavalry were locked in a fierce, inconclusive struggle.

The Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry’s wedge formation cut into the Chu Army’s formation like a sharp blade.

But the Chu Army cavalry continuously pressed in from the sides, attempting to encircle the wedge.

The Northern Wilderness Army’s formation began to change.

The fourth and fifth echelons of the central heavy infantry phalanx moved to the sides, thinning the center but reinforcing the flanks.

The next moment, the Chu Army’s central heavy infantry phalanx suddenly accelerated, their shield wall pressing toward the Northern Wilderness Army’s center like a moving fortress wall.

The Chu Kingdom’s cavalry on both flanks also intensified their assault, trying to break through the Northern Wilderness Army’s cavalry lines.

By noon, the battle had raged for six hours.

Both armies’ formations constantly shifted. Arrows, their fletching inscribed with Arrays, rained down, causing a series of explosions across the battlefield.

And just then, in the center of the Northern Wilderness Army, five echelons of heavy infantry suddenly advanced at once.

From a channel that had been left open, several thousand light infantry charged out. Wielding short spears and battle sabers, they poured out of the channel and struck directly at the flank of the Chu Army’s central phalanx.

The Chu Army’s central phalanx was advancing when its flank was suddenly attacked, throwing the formation into immediate disarray.

”Hold the line! Flanks, converge on the center!” Wu Qi commanded urgently.

But it was too late.

On the Northern Wilderness Army’s left flank, the remaining fifteen thousand Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry all rallied, forming a sharp charging formation and hurtling straight for the seam between the Chu Army’s left flank and its center.

That was precisely the weakest point in the Chu Army’s formation.

The Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry cut in like a white Long Spear.

The Chu Army’s left flank cavalry tried to intercept them but were shattered by the head-on charge.

After breaking through the cavalry’s defensive line, the Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry didn’t pause for a moment, continuing their charge toward the side and rear of the Chu Army’s central phalanx.

”Central phalanx, form a circle!” Wu Qi roared.

The Chu Army’s central phalanx began to change formation. The heavy infantry contracted toward the center, shields facing outward, their spears bristling like a porcupine’s quills.

But changing formation takes time.

The Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry had already arrived, crashing into the Chu Army’s central formation from the side and rear.

Chaos spread like ripples.

By early afternoon, the Chu Army’s central formation was in chaos.

The Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry charged back and forth within the formation, carving the Chu heavy infantry into several segments.

The Northern Wilderness Army’s central heavy infantry pressed forward along the entire line, engaging the Chu Army head-on.

Although Wu Qi was loath to admit it, the facts told him the battle was unwinnable.

’This head-on battle... I’ve lost.’

”Relay my orders: full retreat,” Wu Qi said slowly, letting out a sigh. ”The heavy infantry will form the rearguard. Cavalry, protect the flanks.”

”General!” a few of the Vice Generals beside Wu Qi exclaimed, unwilling to concede defeat.

”Retreat.” Wu Qi’s gaze was fixed on the man amidst the enemy formation. ”Remember his name. In the future, you will cross blades with him again.”

The sound of gongs signaling a retreat rang out.

The Chu Army began to withdraw.

The heavy infantry formed dense phalanxes, fighting as they fell back.

The cavalry covered the flanks, holding off the Northern Wilderness Army’s pursuit.

Bai Qi watched the retreating Chu Army. ”Relay my orders: Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry, pursue for twenty li and then return. Heavy infantry, clean up the battlefield and tend to the wounded.”

Li Jing and Zhao Guang both agreed.

’Wu Qi was defeated, but his retreat is orderly. Pursuing too far would incur great losses. It’s enough to drive them completely from the field.’

’The objective of this battle has been achieved.’

He spurred his horse and rode onto the battlefield.

The plains were littered with corpses. The Chu Army had left over seventy thousand dead, while the Northern Wilderness Army had suffered nearly fifty thousand losses.

However, the Chu Army’s most elite iron-clad cavalry had lost over half their number, and their heavy infantry had suffered devastating losses.

The setting sun cast a blood-red hue over the battlefield.

Bai Qi stood on a small hill, watching his soldiers clean the battlefield, carry away the wounded, collect weapons, and pile up the corpses for cremation.

Zhao Guang came to his side. ”This was a great victory. Should we return to the main army and rendezvous with the Frost King?”

Bai Qi didn’t answer.

He gazed into the distance in the direction of the Chu Army’s retreat, where the dust was gradually settling.

”It’s not enough,” Bai Qi said at last, after a long moment of thought.

”Not enough?” Zhao Guang asked, confused.

Bai Qi nodded, his tone as sharp as a blade’s edge:

”This victory alone is not enough to fulfill the promise I made to the Frost King.

I will not stop until I have driven Wu Qi and his army to desperation and broken into the Nanshan Kingdom!”

His voice was calm—so calm it sent a chill down the spines of Zhao Guang and Li Jing.

”I, Bai Qi, was once a commoner.

In the past, the Frost King did not forsake me, but treated me with the courtesy of a cup of tea.

Today! I, Bai Qi, shall repay that courtesy with the gift of a kingdom!”

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