Chapter 480
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Chapter 480: The Grain Transport Team in the Snow
The wind and snow howled. Recently, within Myriad World Civilization, the snow had gradually intensified.
While not yet a heavy snowfall, it was no longer light either.
This change in weather undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the grain transport team’s mission.
Including Luo Cheng and Liu Kai, the two centurions, every cavalryman had donned a coir rain cape and a bamboo hat to shield themselves from the wind and snow.
However, they were certainly not the only ones suffering in this snowy weather.
Compared to the continuously moving grain transport team, the horse bandits responsible for staking out locations were undoubtedly even more miserable.
A grain transport team consisting of 1,000 cavalrymen, how formidable was its presence?
A movement of this magnitude was impossible to conceal.
From a great distance, a group of horse bandits staking out the area had already noticed something.
However, the wind and snow were too strong, continuously howling and significantly affecting their hearing.
This was a matter of life and death. How dare the horse bandits responsible for staking out the area be careless?
Ignoring the icy cold accumulated snow on the ground, after quickly clearing away a large pile of snow with their hands, they pressed their ears directly to the ground.
The instantaneous cold shot straight to their heads, almost causing their brains to go into shock.
After quickly confirming the sounds coming from afar, he immediately leaped up from the ground.
Then, he vigorously rubbed his ears.
It was truly cold; he almost felt his ears were about to freeze off!
“Grain transport team! Given this level of commotion, I can’t think of any other possibility besides the Central Plains people’s grain transport team!”
The horse bandit who confirmed the movement quickly went back to report the situation.
Since they were staking out, the main force of the horse bandits clearly couldn’t be too far from here.
Upon hearing the news, One-Eyed Buhe, Batel, and the others all frowned.
This Central Plains grain transport team had indeed arrived at an opportune moment.
Attempting to seize grain amidst the wind and snow posed a significant risk for them.
Their proud horseback archery skills would also be difficult to utilize.
However, at this moment, they clearly had no retreat.
Calculating the grain transport team’s efficiency, if they missed this opportunity, the next one would be at least 8 or 9 days later.
And their various tribes had been short on food for a long time.
Waiting another 8 or 9 days? How many people would starve to death then? They couldn’t wait any longer!
Quickly exchanging glances, the horse bandit chiefs all saw the determination to seize the grain in each other’s eyes.
One-Eyed Buhe spoke in a deep voice.
“The plan remains unchanged. Mount up; It’s time to seize the grain!”
These grassland people were all excellent horsemen. Even in the wind and snow, their movements remained nimble.
After mounting their horses, the grain-seizing force, totaling 1,736 cavalrymen, officially set out.
By the way, 600 of these cavalrymen were from the Khanar tribe, meaning they were under Batel’s command.
Upon confirming the numbers, One-Eyed Buhe couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease.
Indeed, the old master was still the old master.
Even if the local emperor fell on hard times, they wouldn’t be worse off than these horse bandits.
Just like Luo Cheng’s grain transport team, whose movements were hard to conceal due to the large number of cavalrymen, the same was true for this group of grain-seizing horse bandits.
The commotion created by 1,700-plus cavalrymen galloping was equal to or even greater than Luo Cheng’s team.
Having frequently marched across the grasslands, Liu Kai was undoubtedly more sensitive than Luo Cheng to the sounds generated by large numbers of warhorses galloping.
“A large number of cavalrymen are galloping towards us!”
Upon hearing this, Luo Cheng’s heart immediately sank.
“Could it be General Bai Ze and his men?”
“Impossible!”
Liu Kai shook his head decisively.
“After winter set in, both generals have concentrated most of their efforts on protecting the three grassland cities from horse bandit harassment. They simply cannot spare any men!”
“In other words, it’s horse bandits?!”
Luo Cheng’s eyelids twitched rapidly.
Both men were undoubtedly intelligent and quickly pieced the entire situation together.
As the enemy cavalry units approached, the thunderous sound of hooves grew louder and louder.
Luo Cheng, being a cavalry centurion, could still roughly estimate the enemy’s troop numbers based on the sound. He then showed a wry smile.
“Judging by the sound, it’s at least 1,500 cavalrymen. Your previous worry has come true; the horse bandits of the grasslands have united!”
Liu Kai also wore a bitter smile.
He had been worried that the horse bandits had been too quiet lately, and that they might unite to seize grain out of necessity.
Now, the facts proved his premonition correct, but in such a situation, it would have been better if his prediction hadn’t come true.
Faced with such a large number of horse bandits, even if they could achieve victory with their slight equipment advantage, they would undoubtedly pay a relatively heavy price.
“We’re not far from White Horse City. General Burigude should be patrolling there right now!”
As he spoke, Liu Kai quickly dispatched a cavalryman to bypass this area and ride to White Horse City for reinforcements.
If reinforcements could arrive in time, their grain transport team’s casualties should be controllable.
“Pass the word, everyone, prepare for battle!”
While shouting, Luo Cheng quickly took down the hand crossbow hanging on his horse’s back, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
“If they want to touch our Myriad World Civilization’s grain transport team, they’d better be prepared to pay the price!”
“Prepare for Battle Tactic Two!”
The “Battle Tactic Two” Luo Cheng referred to was a phased firing tactic.
For cavalrymen in combat, a hand crossbow only had one shot.
This precious crossbow bolt naturally couldn’t be wasted meaninglessly in a single volley.
Therefore, considering different situations, Luo Cheng had already pre-arranged various tactics.
When a cavalry unit makes a long-distance, full-speed charge, the entire unit’s formation would uncontrollably stretch out.
This is because each horse’s speed, and the cavalryman’s weight and horsemanship, all differ; they cannot be perfectly identical.
Charges where everyone advances in a perfectly straight line, as seen in movies and TV shows, are merely cinematic effects.
A long-distance, full-speed charge will inevitably cause the formation to stretch. While skilled cavalrymen can control it somewhat, they cannot completely prevent it.
And facing a stretched cavalry charge formation, a full volley from hand crossbows would mostly be wasted.
Firing in phases, layer by layer, was the strategy that maximized value.
It must be said that Luo Cheng, this centurion, understood very well how to deal with charging cavalry units.
At the same time, this wind and snow also gave them a certain advantage.
The grassland people’s most proficient skill, horseback archery, simply couldn’t be effectively utilized in this wind and snow.
They could only charge in and engage in close combat.
Conversely, their own hand crossbows, being mechanically propelled, were relatively less affected!
