Chapter 9: Zhu Ying Goes on a Killing Spree! All Attributes Break Through 200 Points!

Each soldier kept a distance of ten feet from the next, acting with extreme caution.

Having just crossed the border, everyone feared a sudden, rain-like volley of arrows.

The new recruits, in particular, felt their hearts trembling with anxiety.

Time slipped away as the great army pushed forward.

They were now approaching the outskirts of a Tatar tribe, perhaps only a few miles away; the closer they got, the more dangerous it became.

And it was at this very moment!

"Kill!"

"Slaughter these lowly Han people!"

From the north, waves of loud shouts erupted.

Immediately following, the ground began to shake and tremble.

A hundred paces away, countless Tatar cavalrymen clad in animal-hide armor, wielding long sabers, spears, and bows, were fanning out and charging rapidly toward the Ming army.

They held their bows, already drawn and nocked.

The way of mounted archery.

In the days of the Warring States period, perhaps only the "Hu clothing and mounted archery" of the Zhao state was truly formidable. But in this era, the "three treasures of cavalry warfare" had been perfected. With the aid of these three treasures, as long as one could control a warhorse, one could learn to shoot from horseback after training.

For these nomadic tribes living in the northern frontier, it was the same.

They closed in rapidly.

At this moment, Chen Heng, positioned in the center of the army, maintained a steady expression and immediately shouted, "Archers, form ranks! Cavalry and spearmen, guard the rear! Defend!"

As the order was given, the thousands of Ming soldiers immediately shifted formation.

Two thousand archers quickly stepped forward and fanned out, forming an arrow formation. Organized by small banners, they stood two by two, divided into five rows.

They quickly drew their bows and nocked arrows, staring intently at the approaching Tatar cavalry.

Waiting for them to enter range, conserving energy to strike the exhausted—this was the tactical doctrine of infantry formations.

"Finally here."

Zhu Ying gripped his bow tightly, his eyes devoid of fear, filled only with a resolute will to kill the enemy.

Since he was here, he would face it.

On this battlefield, fear was useless, and complaining was even more so.

The Shen family wanted his life, but Zhu Ying refused to give it to them. Furthermore, he intended to use his position as a soldier on the frontier to kill enemies, earn merit, and climb the ranks.

"Fire!"

Chen Heng let out a thunderous roar.

"Hah!"

Two thousand archers simultaneously raised their bows, aiming at a forty-five-degree angle.

Chen Heng gauged the distance of the Tatar cavalry.

When the Tatars were no more than fifty or sixty paces away—less than a hundred meters—

"Kill!"

Chen Heng roared again.

Instantly, the slaughter began.

The two thousand archers released a rain of arrows into the sky.

Under the barrage, numerous Tatar cavalrymen were instantly pierced by the volley and tumbled from their horses.

"Killed one Tatar cavalryman, obtained 20 points of Strength."

Zhu Ying fired an arrow, accurately striking down a Tatar rider.

With Zhu Ying's current arm strength, his arrows were even more lethal.

After killing one, Zhu Ying quickly grabbed another arrow.

His gaze locked onto another Tatar rider.

*Whoosh.*

Another arrow flew.

"Killed one Tatar cavalryman, obtained 20 points of Constitution," the panel prompted.

Every kill and successful attribute gain made Zhu Ying even more exhilarated.

He could feel his strength growing in a tangible way.

"Kill Tatars, gain attributes," Zhu Ying thought, his heart racing.

His rate of fire increased.

Under the current attribute bonuses, and with the Tatar cavalry not too far away, Zhu Ying had found his rhythm; almost every arrow he fired hit its mark.

"My tribesmen!"

"Kill!"

Behind the Tatar cavalry formation, Jin Guda let out a violent shout.

Suddenly, the cavalrymen charging forward one after another raised their bows, firing as they rushed.

A rain of arrows descended upon the Ming formation.

"Ah... ah..."

Cries of agony echoed through the Ming ranks.

Countless Ming soldiers were struck by the arrows; some were hit in vital spots and died instantly, while others were pierced through their bodies, wailing in pain.

"Damn it."

Beside Zhu Ying, he saw several comrades killed by the volley, falling directly into pools of blood.

Zhu Ying witnessed the cruelty of war with his own eyes.

But as a soldier, there was nothing he could do but fire frantically, killing as many enemies as possible.

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman, obtained 20 points of Strength."

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman, obtained 20 points of Speed."

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman..."

Zhu Ying fired wildly.

The number of Tatar soldiers who had died by his hand already exceeded ten.

"Total enemy kills exceed twenty, rewarded with one Common Treasure Chest," the panel prompted.

The Tatar cavalry was now less than thirty paces from the Ming formation. The Ming archers kept firing, causing significant casualties, but the enemy's charge did not falter.

They quickly crossed the thirty-pace mark.

And at this moment!

Chen Heng raised his saber and roared, "Cavalry, charge! Spearmen, charge!"

As the order fell, Chen Heng spurred his horse, saber in hand, and was the first to charge out.

"Follow the General! Kill!"

Suddenly, the five thousand Ming cavalry and three thousand spearmen who had been standing by surged forward.

*Thud, thud, thud.*

The cavalry thundered ahead, charging directly into the oncoming Tatar riders.

The true battle had begun.

For the Ming army, the key to this battle was to shock the Tatars, crush them in one go, and ensure they wouldn't dare overreach their hands in the future. For the Tatar tribe, as they were vassals to the Yuan court and had already attacked the Ming, they had to strike with all their might to crush the Ming and claim credit before the Yuan court.

This battle was the turning point.

Both armies clashed.

The two sides' cavalry collided like comets.

*Boom!*

They were locked in a chaotic melee.

Sabers and spears.

Armor was shattered, flesh and blood were pierced—this was the most cruel and bloody form of warfare.

Human life was as cheap as grass.

Zhu Ying remained with the archer formation. The archers gradually spread out, scanning the field, locking onto enemies, and firing incessantly.

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman, obtained 20 points of Spirit."

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman, obtained 30 days of Lifespan."

"Killed a Tatar cavalryman, obtained 20 points of Constitution."

"Congratulations to the host, all attributes have broken through to 200 points. Rewarded with one Common Treasure Chest."

The panel prompted.

A halo of light surged over Zhu Ying.

As his attributes increased, Zhu Ying felt a sense of refreshment throughout his body, as if he were undergoing a sublimation.

"All attributes broke through 200 points."

"Awesome."

Zhu Ying was thrilled.

With his attributes transformed, his strength was now far beyond that of an ordinary man.

"Kill the Tatars!"

Zhu Ying shouted in his heart.

He continued to grab arrows, accelerating his rate of fire.

His speed in drawing and releasing arrows was now incredibly fast.

The battlefield was chaotic; cavalry and spearmen were completely mixed in a bloody melee.

It was extremely gory.

At this moment, the Tatar commander Jin Guda saw this and sneered, "Flanking cavalry, move out! Surround the Ming army!"

At his command, the Tatar cavalry that had been held in reserve moved.

Dividing into two wings, they moved out to strike the Ming army once more.

Following this, Jin Guda spurred his horse and charged into the fray.

The true battle had arrived.

"Kill... kill..."

"Slaughter these lowly Han people!"

"Kill... slaughter the barbarians!"

"Kill..."

Across the entire battlefield, shouts of slaughter and cries of agony were endless.

...

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