Chapter 33: The Invasion of the Barbarian Tribes

When Yang Tian arrived at the city walls, the battle had already begun.

The Desolate City was under siege, valiantly defending itself.

The barbarian tribes of the Northern Wilds were launching an attack, invading the city.

The Northern Wilds was a nomadic nation, composed of numerous tribes, large and small, herding cattle, sheep, and horses, as well as half-beast barbarians with the blood of savage beasts in their veins. Every tribesman was a warrior upon mounting a horse, fierce and skilled in battle.

In single combat, soldiers of Qin were no match for the barbarian warriors.

This was not without reason.

The barbarians were few in number, their birth rate low and their population slowly increasing. The strength of Qin against the Northern Wilds lay in its vast numbers, employing tactics of many against few.

As a nomadic state, the Northern Wilds fielded primarily cavalry—swift and highly mobile units. Thus, countries like Qin focused on defense when facing them, for unless one could muster an overwhelming number of cavalry, a direct confrontation was unwise.

“City Lord.”

Yang He greeted Yang Tian with deference upon seeing him arrive. He was atop the city wall, commanding and leading the soldiers in their defense.

Below the city, some four to five hundred barbarians had gathered.

Their appearance was markedly different from the people of Qin—darker-skinned, tall and powerfully built, each astride a warhorse, raining arrows upon the defenders with bows superior in quality to those of the Desolate City, granting them greater range and penetration.

Arrows filled the sky.

The only advantage the Desolate City held was its high walls—a shield that made defense possible.

Yet Yang Tian was not fond of defending; he preferred to attack.

But Desolate City could not afford such luxury.

Currently, there were fewer than eleven hundred soldiers—far from the three-to-one ratio needed. If they sallied forth to meet the barbarians in open battle, they would be slaughtered.

The soldiers of Desolate City were not elite; within the military ranks of Qin, they barely met the standard of ordinary troops. Training resources were scarce, and even daily sustenance was insufficient, let alone proper equipment.

Under such circumstances, they would need at least five times the number of the barbarian force to fight head-on, so that life could be traded for life with some hope of victory.

Yet the soldiers of Desolate City had one praiseworthy quality: unyielding tenacity and indomitable will.

The belief in protecting their families made them fearless in the face of death.

“Which tribe has come to invade?” Yang Tian asked.

“This time, two small tribes have joined forces—the Tuck Tribe and the Cypress Tribe…” Yang He quickly explained.

These two tribes resided fairly close to Desolate City. At the speed of barbarian cavalry, they could arrive in less than two hours at a full gallop.

Each tribe had a population of less than five hundred, making them the smallest among the dozen or so tribes in the region.

Judging by the numbers, each tribe had sent out only half their people.

Though all barbarians could be called warriors, the old, the young, and women were of little combat value. Compared to other nations’ commoners, they could take up arms if necessary, but not many warriors remained to guard their homes, simply because of their small numbers.

As he listened to the information Yang He provided, Yang Tian fell into thought.

Savage beasts were a treasure in their own right.

Barbarians themselves were of little value, but their warhorses were a different matter.

For cavalry, the most vital asset was a fine steed, and the warhorses of the Northern Wilds were the best.

Even their regular herd horses sufficed as mounts.

A gleam flashed in Yang Tian’s eyes.

He had set his sights on the barbarians’ warhorses.

Desolate City was his.

If they dared attack, they would pay the price.

Watching his own soldiers suffer wounds and death, his heart grew colder.

Last time, hundreds of savage beast corpses were left behind; this time, the barbarian tribes would not escape so easily.

But Yang Tian wanted even more.

“Yang He, how many soldiers can ride?”

Yang He was puzzled, not grasping the young lord’s intent—the battle was raging, after all. “City Lord, I don’t understand what you mean…”

“If we had horses—not to fight as cavalry, just to travel—how many soldiers could at least ride after a little practice?” Yang Tian asked carefully.

Riding required training, even for basic travel.

Desolate City had neither cavalry nor enough horses, and likely no one had ever been taught to ride. However, as soldiers, perhaps some would be different.

Yang Tian had a plan. He asked in hope of gaining something.

Yang He did not answer immediately, falling silent as he considered.

A few moments later, he replied, “City Lord, if it’s only riding, many soldiers could adapt quickly enough. We could manage about four hundred.”

Yang Tian nodded inwardly.

In other words, those who had stepped onto the warrior’s path could manage basic riding.

“Yang He, if I let you take three hundred men on horseback to the Cypress Tribe, could you seize it and bring back spoils?” Yang Tian asked solemnly.

Yang He was stunned.

What was the young master thinking?

True, the Cypress Tribe was now left vulnerable; even with two hundred men, he was confident of success.

But Desolate City was under fierce attack by two tribes, forced into a passive defense, unable even to leave the walls.

How could they possibly send troops to attack the Cypress Tribe?

The strategy was sound.

But it did not fit the reality of Desolate City.

“Young Master, do you mean to use that?” Wang Fu ventured, guessing at Yang Tian’s intention.

Yang Tian nodded.

Wang Fu wanted to dissuade him; in his view, it was not worth it. Such a priceless, life-saving item should not be used lightly, let alone for killing a few barbarians or seizing a bit of loot.

“Uncle Fu, there are things you don’t yet understand. Don’t try to dissuade me—you’ll see in time.” Yang Tian knew what Wang Fu was thinking, but he had his reasons.

Wang Fu’s thinking was not wrong.

It was simply a matter of incomplete information.

Everyone makes different choices, and Yang Tian chose to act.

“Yang He, tell all the soldiers to prepare and await my orders,” Yang Tian commanded at once.

Yang He did not know what the young master and the steward were discussing, nor what the young master intended, but he obeyed unconditionally.

A low, mournful horn sounded as Yang He ordered the messenger to blow it, passing on the command to the soldiers.

On the battlefield, orders were law.

The soldiers of Desolate City would obey without question.