MMORPG: War God, You are Invincible Again-Chapter 1265 - 243: Wolf Riders Attack
Qin Hong also received a deployment order from the temporary headquarters of the Western Battle Zone, requiring that no matter where they are, they must immediately move towards Hua’an City in the west of the Rongtian Domain upon receiving the command.
Lu Kang and Qin Hong took a brief two-day rest in a suburb under Hua’an City, then hurriedly mobilized their troops, advancing towards Hua’an City.
The closer they got to the west of Rongtian Domain, the more monotonous the ecological environment became. Essentially, the west of Rongtian Domain only had one kind of weather: icy, snowy, freezing winds, and as far as the eye could see, were endless frozen plains with sporadic coniferous forests.
Lu Kang ordered a rapid march. Although the strategic importance of Hua’an City wasn’t explicitly mentioned by the command, it wasn’t hard to guess that Hua’an City might have already become a frontline position against the invasion of Tianlang Domain. Therefore, the surroundings shouldn’t be too safe, and they could be attacked by Tianlang Domain’s troops at any moment.
So for three consecutive days, they marched until Lu Kang ordered another half-day of rest to adjust their state.
Qin Hong dismounted and sat with Lu Kang in a temporarily set-up tent, where the crackling flames rose from the fire basin, driving away the slight chill on the frozen plains.
"Marshal Lu, how much do you know about Tianlang Domain?"
Hearing Qin Hong’s inquiry, Marshal Lu thought for a moment before speaking: "I don’t know much about Tianlang Domain either, given that we haven’t had much contact. However, based on intelligence collected thirty years ago, I remember there’s a famously renowned army in Tianlang Domain called the Ghostly Wolf Riders. These Wolf Riders are a specialty of Tianlang Domain, a type of special beast with high endurance and mobility. It’s said that this beast’s loyalty is decided at the moment it opens its eyes at birth. Therefore, Tianlang Domain recruits at least martial arts masters of the Mountain Opening Realm’s Fifth Realm every year to adopt one of these wolves. It takes ten years for a wolf to grow enough to be employed in battle. Tianlang Domain provides all materials and expenses needed for the wolf’s growth for ten years. After a decade, when the wolf reaches adulthood, the martial arts master who adopted it must join the military services in the major cities of Tianlang Domain until the wolf dies in battle or from old age, at which point they can retire from the Ghostly Wolf Riders or transfer to other branches of the army."
Hearing Lu Kang’s answer, Qin Hong found it difficult to understand: "Marshal Lu, is there a big difference between riding a wolf and our horses?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Kang couldn’t help but chuckle. Qin Hong was young and hadn’t experienced war, so it was naturally hard to imagine. He explained, "Of course, the speed of the wild wolf is much faster than our warhorses, and the wolf’s endurance is also better than our horses. This means if we encounter the Ghostly Wolf Riders, we’re basically like a piece of meat for the taking—we can’t fight and can’t run, no different from waiting for death."
"Then, according to the marshal’s words, are the Ghostly Wolf Riders invincible?"
"Not really. Every type of troop has its unique qualities. Take my Rongtian Domain, for example. Mr. Qin, do you know what our most powerful troop is called?"
Qin Hong, truthfully, had no insight into military affairs and shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.
Lu Kang then laughed and said, "Our special unit in Rongtian Domain is called the Heixuan Scale Armor Army, known across the Dark Continent as the unbreakable steel. Three thousand Scale Armor Soldiers can withstand a frontal attack a hundred times their number. However, the biggest weakness of our Rongtian Domain’s Scale Armor Soldiers is their almost non-existent mobility, essentially like a hunk of iron when deployed on the battlefield. If the Ghostly Wolf Riders from Tianlang Domain were to confront our Scale Armor Soldiers head-on, they’d likely be annihilated, and the Scale Armor Soldiers might not lose even under two figures. But as I said earlier, the Scale Armor Soldiers are too slow; no Ghostly Wolf Rider with any sense would clash with them directly. Simply put, if they can’t win, they run, so dealing with Tianlang Domain, the Scale Armor’s role is quite limited. Their greatest use is essentially to defend cities and major military sites."
As they were talking, suddenly they felt a slight tremor on the ground.
Lu Kang’s expression changed immediately, rushing out of the tent in a flash.
Meanwhile, an adjutant hurriedly approached and reported solemnly, "Marshal, about ten miles directly ahead, we’ve discovered a large number of Ghostly Wolf Riders from Tianlang Domain, close to three thousand in number!"
At the same time, Qin Hong also emerged from the tent. Upon hearing the report from the adjutant, he frowned, "They’ve come just like that. It seems our luck really isn’t that great. These Wolf Riders are already within ten miles of our troops. What are the scouts even doing?!"
Hearing this, Lu Kang smiled wryly, "Mr. Qin, don’t blame the scouts for not reporting in time. The scouts were on horseback and likely already caught up with and killed by the Wolf Riders, who probably followed the direction of the fleeing scouts to find our location."
Upon hearing Lu Kang’s explanation, Qin Hong immediately asked, "So what do we do next?"
Without any hesitation, Lu Kang immediately ordered, "Tell the whole army to armor up, build a temporary defensive position, and gather all the archers immediately to await my command!"
As Lu Kang mentioned earlier, encountering the Ghostly Wolf Riders means escape is certainly futile. These Wolf Riders are faster, and the more you flee, the more certain death becomes. The only chance of survival is to fortify themselves as an impenetrable fortress that the Riders can’t break through.
And with more than thirty thousand troops, ten times the number of Wolf Riders, fortifying their defense shouldn’t be too difficult.
Qin Hong quickly moved to the forefront of the camp, looking out to the horizon. Sure enough, he saw the dense mass of Ghostly Wolf Riders swiftly charging toward them.
On each of these wild wolves sat a soldier from Tianlang Domain, wearing armor and wielding a scimitar.
The ten-mile distance seemed far, but in no more than seven or eight minutes, the Ghostly Wolf Riders were already closing in. Moreover, their advance speed suddenly accelerated, charging straight toward Qin Hong’s camp.
"Archers ready! Fire at will!"
As the general gave the order, a rain of arrows fell upon the Ghostly Wolf Riders.
Unfortunately, for the Ghostly Wolf Riders, such an attack was almost too easy to evade.
As cavalry, the only effective long-range weapon against them was the bow, so the Ghostly Wolf Riders made specific adjustments in their charging formation. Each pair of riders was about three meters apart, allowing them to easily dodge and maneuver.
Thus, as a volley of arrows showered down, the Wolf Riders split into two groups, cleverly avoiding the range of arrow attacks, then regrouped during the run, bursting into laughter, seemingly mocking the soldiers of Rongtian Domain for their foolishness.
Seeing this, Lu Kang immediately ordered, "Cease fire, all archers line up in front of the array, stand at the ready for flat shooting!"
Indeed, with a wave of probing arrow rain, Lu Kang had determined that such attacks were useless against the highly mobile Ghostly Wolf Riders. Only when they approached within a kilometer could flat shooting pose a threat. However, at this distance, even the fastest archers could only manage two rounds at most. After two rounds, the Wolf Riders would certainly be upon them, and if the archers hadn’t retreated in time, they would only become dead souls under the scimitars of the Wolf Riders.
Moreover, of the thirty thousand troops, only five thousand archers were deployed; losing them would truly be devastating.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Kang ordered once more, "Only one flat shooting is allowed, then retreat immediately. Shield soldiers must cover the front lines to withstand the Wolf Riders’ charge, while infantry lines up centrally, ready to attack."
The rumble of the approaching Wolf Riders grew louder, drawing closer to Qin Hong’s position. But just as they were about to enter the range of flat shooting, the Ghostly Wolf Riders suddenly stopped. The abrupt halt did not disrupt their charging formation in the slightest, demonstrating their high level of military discipline—a testament to their status as elite troops of Tianlang Domain.
As the Wolf Riders halted, a figure riding a wild wolf emerged from the crowd, standing at the forefront, arrogantly looking at Qin Hong and the others in the distance, and shouted, "Who is your leader? Get out here and meet me!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Kang took a deep breath and also stepped forward, conversing with the Wolf Rider Master from a distance, "I am General Lu Kang under Photon City of Rongtian Domain. Who are you?!"
"Haha, there’s no need for dead men to know my name!" As expected, the opponent’s arrogance was boundless.
Lu Kang also let out a cold laugh, "What? You think your three thousand Wolf Riders can take on my thirty thousand troops? Aren’t you overestimating the Assault capability of your Ghostly Wolf Riders from Tianlang Domain?"
