After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 958 - 943: Trying Even Harder

The soldiers were deeply moved, their morale soared, and they immediately waited in place, sweeping away the arrows shot from above. When the rolling stones and logs no longer came down, they immediately charged into the forest.

Seeing this, Ji Ping sent out signals for both help and a swift attack while leading troops to meet the enemy.

The Zhao Family Army has been winning battle after battle; before setting off this time, Zhao Hanzhang personally boosted morale, telling them that once this battle was over, they could return home because they had destroyed the Xiongnu Kingdom, ensuring a long period of peace without invasion or war.

They can farm within the army, perhaps get married, obtain land, and have a big fat son...

Therefore, even facing an enemy three times their number, their morale remained high.

Every soldier of the Zhao Family Army fiercely stared at their opponents; this battle was all that stood between them and returning home!

Knowing they were outnumbered, Ji Ping ordered the entire army to form an array, using small formations to defeat the enemy.

Zhao Hanzhang liked using military formations because she understood that Han people’s physical conditioning was inferior to that of the Xiongnu, Jie Clan, and Xianbei, due to differences in diet and living environment, changes that couldn’t be made overnight.

These minority groups are equestrian societies, even the most ordinary herder is skilled in archery and riding; can you expect a farmer from the Central Plains to have the same skills?

An ordinary farmer might never touch a horse in his lifetime, let alone ride and shoot arrows.

Carrying a hoe to fight for water is the fiercest struggle most farmers face during times of peace.

Thus on the battlefield, soldiers from the Central Plains might need two, three, or even more lives to match one soldier from the Xiongnu, Jie Clan, or Xianbei, hence Zhao Hanzhang particularly loved using military formations.

Two people can form an array, with proper coordination, one plus one is absolutely greater than two, which is also the meaning of military formations.

Since the battle at West Ping Wubao, Zhao Hanzhang realized the power gap between Han people and minority groups, and has been devoted to studying various changes in military formations ever since; those who grasp her essence are the Zhao Family Army.

This Zhao Family Army is composed of veterans, having served at least a year; they began training upon enlistment, and without boasting, they are skilled in the most basic formations.

At this time, when Ji Ping commanded them to form an array, the moment he uttered the name of the formation, a centurion with ten men immediately formed three small arrays, three men to one array, while the centurion stood in a special position, able to act as a vanguard sword when advancing, and be protected by fellow soldiers when retreating. Moreover, the three small arrays were nested within each other, able to support and change at any time.

The Zhao Family Army formed into arrays and charged out; the ambushed Xiongnu soldiers were fiercely angry and wanted to rush into the forest. The two sides met at the edge, and having trained in the mountainous forests, as well as fought bandits, the Zhao Family Army quickly adapted their formations, incorporating the ubiquitous trees into the arrays. One person retreated while another advanced, thrust a knife from the side, and upon killing an enemy, charged straight forward...

Meanwhile, with a swoosh, a shallow red firework exploded in mid-air after rising skyward like a signal rocket.

Liu Jie felt uneasy and asked, "This is the second sound; it looks like a signal rocket, but it’s not. What is it, and what does it mean?"

Those nearby didn’t know and couldn’t answer Liu Jie.

While Li Tian, who was squatting and waiting for the Xiongnu Army to approach, saw the signaling fireworks and jumped up in surprise, "A call for reinforcements? Didn’t Old Ji say to let them pass through?"

Those around guessed, "He let them, but they won’t pass?"

This was possible, after thinking briefly, Li Tian immediately said, "Cheng Da!"

"I am here!"

"Take three thousand soldiers immediately to reinforce, draw the enemy over to us!"

"Yes."

Li Tian frowned as he paced in circles, feeling it wasn’t safe enough, so he sent scouts to gather intelligence.

At the same time, Liu Kun, who was chasing ahead, saw the two fireworks in succession, paused only momentarily before his eyes lit up, and said to Linghu Sheng, "It’s the Zhao Family Army; I’ve seen this before; it’s used by the Zhao Family Army to transmit signals."

Then he ordered the whole army to accelerate.

Ji Ping and Liu Jie finally faced off, and unlike four years ago, Ji Ping wouldn’t be frightened now. Even when the blade pressed down nearly touching his skin, he stared and held firm, without a trace of fear.

Ji Ping’s entrusted aide took out a Xiongnu trusted aide immediately, then rushed to attack Liu Jie, forcing him to leap aside to avoid the strike.

After disengaging, Ji Ping didn’t retreat but pursued forward, with his aides coming up to protect him, forming an array to prevent him from being ambushed from behind.

As they fought fiercely, Cheng Da led troops that had arrived, drew his sword and charged yelling into the battlefield...

Cheng Da intended to charge recklessly at first, attract enough hatred, and then feign defeat to lure the enemy away. Unexpectedly, before he could feign defeat, Liu Kun arrived.

Of course, Cheng Da and Ji Ping both didn’t know it; caught up in the frenzy of battle, Liu Cong was still three or four miles away from them, quite far.

Liu Kun arrived at the scene, saw Xiongnu soldiers being detained here, rejoiced and drew his sword, ordering everyone to rush forward.

Linghu Sheng immediately followed orders, leading a large army to encircle and enter the battlefield.

Liu Kun also wanted to charge but was stopped by Ji Dan, who said, "Please, General, stay back and command."

The command was impossible, Ji Dan just didn’t want him to mess things up, preferring to leave the fighting to Linghu Sheng.

But Liu Kun felt as a General, he ought to lead by example, and how could he allow soldiers to fight at the front while he stayed behind?

Therefore, he didn’t listen, leading his troops to charge in, and "hua-la-la" slaughtering commenced.

Indeed, Liu Kun might not excel in commanding battles, but his personal martial prowess was respectable. His skills were solid both mounted and unmounted, aided by his aides who were all top-tier warriors, they pushed deep into the front; being too far ahead, Ji Ping noticed them.

Ji Ping saw Liu Kun and realized the Jinyang Army had arrived, so after slaying a Xiongnu soldier, he grabbed the belligerent Cheng Da saying, "Leave a gap for them to pass!"

Too many had arrived, a substantial Jinyang force was blocked at the rear, the battlefield needed widening, and the line had to be stretched to sever Xiongnu Army’s connections, preventing them from linking head to tail.

Cheng Da understood and took his section, strategizing to create a gap.

Liu Jie also saw Liu Kun; his heart sank as during previous battles with Liu Kun, the enemy hadn’t lost many men, despite having plenty troops now. Though Liu Kun was not the brightest, being surrounded here, and Zhao Family Army’s presence, if they didn’t leave now, retreat might become impossible.

Liu Jie’s subordinates also felt the same, immediately issuing orders, the Xiongnu soldiers clustered around Liu Jie, shielding him as they fought their way out, disregarding the rear’s regrouping.

Liu Kun sat on his horse, and seeing Liu Jie attempting to flee again, he spurred his horse in pursuit, shouting loudly as he chased, "Stop them, don’t let them break through, quick!"

Liu Kun’s aides pressed forward earnestly, aiming to intercept the escaping Liu Jie.

Ji Ping and Cheng Da: ... It’s not necessary to try so hard.