Over a hundred thousand troops clashed with swords, and the sounds of battle echoed for miles. The Wei River flowed, purple lightning flickered on the horizon, and mudslides poured down the mountains like floods.
In the misty rain, an arrow flew across the sky, narrowly missing Xu Zhen's helmet. Startled, her warhorse reared in agitation.
Seeing this, the Li family army charged with renewed vigor, weapons raised.
Xu Zhen was ushered to the rear by a young officer to oversee the battle.
Li Sanlang, from the opposing side, had set his sights on Xu Zhen, charging forward with all his might!
Neither army backed down, their roars reverberating.
Xu Zhen had earlier ordered her troops to form a formation at the point of engagement. Soldiers at the four corners raised shields and swords, while cavalry and flag bearers filled the center. Archers with strong bows and crossbows took position at the back. This created a standard formation, using the flexibility of infantry on the flanks to target the Li family's vulnerable rear.
As expected, the Li family's once orderly ranks began to falter!
Li Sanlang, frowning with anger, shouted to his forces, "Target their infantry first!" He then rode his horse to the side, slashing at the Chang'an soldiers.
The Li family regained their momentum.
At that moment, Xu Zhen shouted, "Send in reinforcements!"
Reinforcements?? Li Sanlang was stunned, his hand pausing as he looked toward the mountains. There, a mass of torch-bearing figures charged down the slope, creating an impressive sight. It seemed like at least ten thousand men.
This was far beyond what Li Sanlang had been led to believe!
The drums beat loudly!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Archers in the rear continued to fire arrows, adding to the imposing atmosphere. The thunderous footsteps seemed heavier, blending with the drums, horns, and rain.
... Yet, no matter how he listened, it couldn't possibly be ten thousand!
Li Sanlang quickly realized it was a ruse to create an illusion! The intelligence from the palace couldn't be false. If they had thirty thousand troops, it was thirty thousand, not sixty thousand! Otherwise, Chang'an would be left undefended.
When the figures descended the mountain, Li Sanlang's keen eyes discerned the truth.
It was no ten thousand troops!
Merely a dispersed group of people holding scarecrows in each hand!
Li Sanlang's eyes reddened with fury! He pulled a flag from behind his horse, raised it high, and shouted, "Everyone, don't be fooled! They have only a thousand reinforcements! Now, charge with me!"
"Yes!!" the Li family soldiers responded in unison.
Yet, it was already too late!
The earlier disruption had sapped the Li family's momentum.
Initially, they had charged with fervor, but the standard formation disrupted their rhythm. Then they were deceived about the reinforcements. Although Li Sanlang dispelled the rumors, a sense of unease lingered among his men.
In a battle where the Li family seemed overwhelmingly superior, Xu Zhen's thirty thousand troops managed to hold their own against a force of a hundred thousand by constantly changing formations!
Both sides suffered casualties.
The Li family didn't fare as well, and the Chang'an army wasn't as flawed as initially thought.
