At the command to attack, Zhao Feng was the first to spur his horse forward.
His guards followed closely behind.
The ten thousand elite Qin cavalry spread out information.
However, at this moment, they did not launch a full-speed charge but instead advanced cautiously toward the Donghu tribe.
In front of the tribal camp, the barbarians remained completely unaware.
Cart after cart of supplies was being escorted into the settlement by their soldiers grain, fodder for their warhorses, and, most importantly, copper and iron, which were considered invaluable to the northern tribes.
In this era, while the barbarians also could smelt iron, their metallurgy was far inferior to that of the states of the Central Plains, especially the mighty Qin.
Though the Chinese states did engage in trade with the northern tribes selling them horses, cattle, and sheep the export of materials used for weapon forgings, such as copper and iron, was strictly prohibited. Anyone caught doing so would face extermination.
As a result, the barbarians treasured copper and iron greatly.
But now, under the order of the Donghu King, massive amounts of supplies including food, weapons, and raw materials had been transported to this border settlement in preparation for their invasion.
"Looks like we'll be transporting supplies through the night again," one barbarian soldier grumbled.
"This is the third night in a row," another agreed.
"Our king has ordered the invasion of Qin in a month," a soldier said.
"Not just these three nights we have to transport provisions for an army of four hundred thousand in just one month!"
"This is an enormous undertaking," another soldier added.
"But this time, those damned Qin brought this upon themselves. I heard that our army of two hundred thousand was ambushed by Qin's treacherous tactics. Barely twenty or thirty thousand made it back alive. Those cursed Qin killed too many of our warriors!"
"Exactly!"
"When our forces are assembled, we'll massacre every last one of them!"
"All Qin people deserve to die!"
At the entrance of the encampment, groups of barbarian soldiers chatted, their voices filled with rage toward Qin.
Amidst their discussions, the bustling activity at the gate continued.
Yet, under the cover of night, they failed to notice the approaching Qin army, now less than 500 meters from their settlement.
"Attack!"
Zhao Feng's voice was low but resolute.
In the darkness, the elite Qin warriors roared in unison:
"Follow the General to the death! Kill!"
Their battle cries shook the heavens.
In the next moment, the concealed cavalry revealed themselves, unleashing an overwhelming killing intent as they charged toward the Donghu tribe.
The once-muted sounds of galloping hooves erupted like thunder, rolling toward the barbarian settlement.
The sudden cacophony of war startled the barbarians stationed at the gates.
They turned toward the direction of the sound, their gazes locking onto the shadows rapidly closing in.
Under the night sky, the outlines of charging figures became visible.
Panic spread through the barbarian ranks like wildfire.
"The Qin army… enemy attack!"
"It's the Qin!"
"Sound the drums! Strike the alarm!"
"The Qin are attacking"
Cries of terror filled the air as the barbarian warriors scrambled in confusion.
Chaos engulfed the camp.
The Qin cavalry thundered forward.
At the forefront, Zhao Feng raised his bow.
Under the cover of darkness, he no longer needed to restrain his abilities.
In his hands was the Black Iron Bow.
Ten arrows were nocked onto the bowstring.
His sharp gaze locked onto the enemy camp.
With an immense surge of internal energy drawn from his dantian, the arrows pulsed with raw power.
"Break!"
As soon as he pulled the bowstring to its full draw, he released.
Ten arrows shot forth like streaks of lightning.
Each arrow was infused with Zhao Feng's formidable energy.
In the darkness, they streaked through the air.
A moment later
The arrows struck the barbarian gates and watchtowers, detonating on impact.
Rather than piercing their targets, the arrows exploded with the sheer force of Zhao Feng's energy.
A massive shockwave erupted, engulfing a hundred enemies in an instant.
Bones shattered.
Limbs flew.
Internal organs ruptured under the impact.
"Ahhh!"
Screams of agony filled the night.
The barbarian watchtowers collapsed under the assault.
"Defeated a Donghu soldier, gained +1 speed."
"Defeated a Donghu centurion, gained +3 strength."
"Defeated a Donghu…"
Each arrow from Zhao Feng reaped dozens of lives, earning him countless attribute points.
If the enemies had been grouped closer together, his arrows could have wiped out hundreds at once.
But he didn't stop there.
Again, he knocked ten more arrows and let them fly.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The arrows whistled through the air.
They crashed into the barbarian walls with an earth-shaking explosion.
Boom!
The wooden barriers splintered, and the camp's defenses crumbled.
In mere moments, dozens of meters of the enemy's perimeter had been obliterated.
Compared to besieging a walled city in the Central Plains, attacking a barbarian camp was far easier these flimsy defenses were no match for Zhao Feng's power.
"Kill!"
His arrows became the signal for all-out war.
From behind him, ten thousand elite Qin archers raised their bows.
As soon as they entered firing range, they loosed a devastating volley.
A storm of arrows rained down upon the enemy settlement.
The arrows were invisible in the darkness, but the whistling sound of their deadly descent echoed through the night.
The barbarian camp was thrown into complete disarray.
"Ahh run!"
"The Qin army is attacking!"
"Arrows! The Qin are firing arrows!"
"Run for your lives"
This frontier tribe of the Donghu was filled with cries of terror.
Many Donghu civilians were jolted awake from their sleep, while some never even got the chance arrows pierced through their tents, ending their lives in their slumber.
Slaughter.
Death.
Instantly, it engulfed the entire Donghu frontier tribe.
However
They could not truly be called civilians, for their tribe was a society where all people were warriors.
When they mercilessly butchered defenseless Huaxia people, Zhao Feng would return the favor with equal brutality.
Since they showed no mercy, why should Zhao Feng?
Regardless of gender, regardless of age
Whoever blocked his army's advance, would die.
The Qin cavalry galloped forward at full speed.
They rapidly approached the shattered gates of the tribe, maintaining formation, shifting from a widespread into a long, winding column.
"Kill!"
Zhao Feng roared.
His warhorse charged ahead.
Behind him, his cavalry followed closely.
The rain of arrows continued to fall.
The slaughter of the Donghu tribe raged on.
Zhao Feng was the first to enter the enemy camp.
Before him, countless enemy warriors stood in his way.
He raised his palm.
"Dragon Subduing Palm!"
His true energy surged, forming a mighty palm force.
A shadowy dragon roared through the air, smashing down dozens of meters ahead.
Boom!
The terrifying true energy exploded forth.
In an instant
The dozens of Donghu warriors gathered in front of him were obliterated by the palm strike.
Some were sent flying dozens of meters, coughing blood midair as their organs ruptured before they even hit the ground.
In the darkness of night
The faint dragon shadow flickered briefly within the blast of palm force, but Zhao Feng did not need to hold back anymore.
A Grandmaster's true energy.
His immense physical strength.
Now, he unleashed them without restraint.
With every strike, dozens of hundreds of enemies were torn apart, crushed into a bloody pulp, or shattered from the inside.
Unlike fighting in the Central Plains
And under the cover of night, which concealed his true energy manifestations
Zhao Feng had descended into sheer, unrestrained carnage.
His system notifications flooded in continuously, showing the attributes he gained with each kill.
Here, in this battle
There was no distinction between Donghu civilians and warriors.
Zhao Feng had only one task: to kill.
"Follow the General!"
"Kill!"
The Qin elite troops roared as they stormed into the tribal camp, their long spears thrusting with deadly precision.
Those who had yet to engage in close combat loosed arrows, adding to the relentless massacre.
Kill.
Slaughter.
Every Qin soldier fought with the blood debt of tens of thousands of Huaxia people in their hearts.
"Burn everything we cannot take!"
"Kill anyone who stands in our way!" Zhao Feng commanded coldly.
At the same time
One hand wielded his spear.
The other unleashed his palm strikes.
Speartip flashed, and true energy surged
A storm of slaughter.
The Qin cavalry followed suit.
"Burn their food supplies!"
"Burn their tents!"
"Burn everything!"
As the Qin cavalry rampaged through the tribe, they hurled torches into the Donghu tents and storehouses.
Within moments
The entire camp erupted into flames.
"Let me add some fuel to the fire."
Zhao Feng, still charging forward, his eyes gleaming with icy resolve, raised his hand.
He summoned the Netherworld Flame from his dantian.
His true energy surged
Whoosh!
The black flames flickered eerily in the darkness, growing even fiercer under his power.
Fire, after all, was fire.
It could consume everything.
But this flame
Not only burned the flesh but also annihilated the soul.
Zhao Feng flicked his palm.
The black flames shot forward.
As they flew, they split into a dozen streaks, scattering across the tribal settlement under the force of his true energy.
The moment the Netherworld Flames landed on the Donghu tents
On their precious food supplies
They ignited instantly.
And they spread fast.
Unlike ordinary red flames, these burned pitch-black, spreading like a living curse.
Any Donghu touched by the fire screamed in agony as it latched onto their bodies and consumed them whole.
"Fire! The Qin army has set everything ablaze!"
"Help! Help me!"
"Put out the fire!"
"Fight back! We must fight back!"
The Qin cavalry was killed.
The Qin cavalry set fire.
The entire Donghu tribe was in chaos, filled with screams and wails.
The tribal settlement, stretching over ten miles, was now engulfed in flames.
They had been utterly unprepared
This frontier tribe had made no real defensive preparations.
Faced with the sudden assault, they were being slaughtered without resistance.
Though some shouted commands to counterattack, the Qin army's advance was too swift.
Under Zhao Feng's lead, they cut through the enemy like a scythe through wheat, slaughtering every enemy they met.
If a tent blocked their path, they trampled it beneath their warhorses and set it ablaze.
They did not engage in prolonged fights.
This battle
Zhao Feng led his forces straight into the heart of the enemy territory.
His true goal was not to kill every last enemy.
It was to plunge Donghu into utter chaos.
To cripple their war capabilities.
To shatter their ability to invade the Central Plains.
As the Qin cavalry swept through the enemy camp
Even from miles away
The inferno could be seen illuminating the night sky.
Flames blazed, reaching high into the heavens.
Thick, billowing smoke blackened the horizon.
Screams.
Slaughter.
The crackling of flames.
Echoed endlessly into the night.
Time passed.
The Qin army had carved a path from the southern end of the settlement to the northern edge.
Now, from a vantage point miles away
Zhao Feng reined in his warhorse, gazing at the burning remains of the enemy tribe.
The night sky glowed red with fire.
"General!"
"That battle…"
"It was glorious!"
Zhang Han, breathing heavily, could barely contain his excitement.
"I cut down over a hundred of those barbarian scum!"
"I killed dozens myself!"
"And I burned their tents and food stores to the ground!"
"This fire… What a sight!"
"With this blaze, the Donghu must have suffered catastrophic losses!"
"Hahaha! Indeed!"
"This battle has burned them to the core!"
The numerous generals and officers were all excitedly speaking.
This battle had been fought with pure exhilaration for every soldier.
When campaigning in Shenzhou, everything had to be restrained.
After all, the military laws of Great Qin imposed strict discipline, forbidding harm to civilians.
However, after entering this foreign tribe's settlement and receiving Zhao Feng's orders, they fought without any reservations.
One word Kill!
A second word Burn!
This battle had unleashed their innate battlefield bloodlust completely.
From the south to the north, they had slaughtered their way through the enemy settlement, their hands soaked in the blood of countless foes.
Yet, they all felt a deep sense of vengeance and satisfaction.
"Each unit leader, report your numbers."
"Check if anyone is missing."
Zhao Feng withdrew his gaze and turned to his troops.
Following his command, the unit leaders began tallying their men.
After a short while…
"The First Division All 1,000 present, 30 wounded, all lightly injured."
"The Second Division All 1,000 present, 45 wounded, all lightly injured."
"The Third Division All 1,000 present, 27 wounded."
…
After all reports were received, a faint smile appeared on Zhao Feng's face.
"Brothers."
"You are all exceptional."
"Twelve thousand men."
"Not a single one left behind."
"I hope that when we return to Shenzhou, when we return to Great Qin, not a single one of us will be missing." Zhao Feng spoke with emotion and pride.
"We swear to follow the General to the death!"
The soldiers roared in unison.
Zhao Feng was extremely pleased with the outcome of this battle no casualties, only injuries.
Of course, he understood the reasons behind it.
First, all twelve thousand men had been handpicked by Zhang Han from the army battle-hardened veterans, even among the best of the best. Their battlefield awareness far surpassed that of ordinary soldiers.
Second, the foreign tribe had been completely unprepared, caught entirely off guard by the sudden assault.
"The enemy is now in a state of panic, and they have no immediate reinforcements."
"Their communication routes have been cut off by our forces."
"So there is no need to rush."
"We will rest here for half an hour."
"Let the warhorses graze and rest, and you all take the time to recover as well."
"Tend to the wounded immediately."
"One incense stick's time later, we continue raiding their settlements." Zhao Feng ordered.
"We obey the General's command!"
The officers answered in unison.
Then, they all began to rest.
Time passed.
A few days later.
In the Eastern Hu Royal Court.
"Report!"
"Urgent news from the border settlements!"
"The Qin army has launched a surprise attack on our villages."
"Our settlements have suffered devastating losses."
"Grain supplies and military provisions, stockpiled for months, have all been burned by the Qin army."
"Countless of our warriors have been slain, and initial estimates suggest that at least seventy to eighty thousand of our people have been massacred by the Qin forces."
"They showed no mercy not even to our elderly, women, or children."
A panicked Eastern Hu messenger rushed into the royal court, reporting in terror.
Upon hearing this, the Eastern Hu King frowned deeply, his face darkening with rage.
The generals in the tent also turned pale.
Before they could react
"Report!"
"The Wu Yan tribe has also been attacked by the Qin army."
"The settlement has suffered heavy losses."
"Grain supplies and encampments were set ablaze."
"Over sixty thousand of our people have been slain."
"The Qin army spared no one not even the elderly or children…"
Another urgent report arrived, making the Eastern Hu King's expression even more grim.
"How could this be?"
"How dare the Qin army?!"
The Eastern Hu King gritted his teeth in fury.
"My King!"
"We must quickly mobilize our forces and annihilate this Qin army!"
"The Qin soldiers are despicable they have even slaughtered our defenseless women and children!"
"The Qin army must die!"
"Please, my King, give the order!"
"My King…"
The Eastern Hu generals roared in anger.
At this moment
They were finally panicked and enraged.
Perhaps this was the same feeling that the people of Yan had felt when the Eastern Hu massacred them.
The Eastern Hu had shown no mercy in their slaughter killing indiscriminately, violating, and pillaging without restraint. Compared to their cruelty, the Qin army had at least shown restraint they had only killed but had not committed any other atrocities.
"Qin! If I do not make you pay a heavy price, I am unworthy to be called King!"
The Eastern Hu King stood up, roaring furiously.
Then
He turned to the two kneeling messengers and asked, "How many troops does the Qin army have?"
"My King!"
"The Qin forces launched their attack in the dead of night a sneak attack."
"We never saw their exact numbers, but it cannot be fewer than fifty thousand." The messenger from the border settlement reported.
"Only fifty thousand, and they dare attack my Eastern Hu?"
"They are courting death."
The Eastern Hu King let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with killing intent.
"Pass down my command."
"Search for the Qin army's location at once."
"Mobilize one hundred thousand warriors from the royal court I shall personally lead the charge to annihilate these Qin forces."
"Furthermore."
"Once we locate their position, all other tribes must immediately send reinforcements."
"We will encircle this Qin army completely, leaving them no chance of escape!" the Eastern Hu King commanded coldly.
"We obey the King's orders!"
The Eastern Hu generals bowed and accepted the order.
"My King."
"Judging from the Qin army's movements, it is likely led by their esteemed General Zhao Feng."
"He was the mastermind behind the massacre of our eighteen thousand warriors in Yan."
"If we can capture him, we may be able to negotiate with Qin and force them to cede territory."
"He is young, yet holds immense prestige in Qin."
One of the Eastern Hu generals suggested.
"Zhao Feng."
"If he dares enter my lands, then he will never return."
The Eastern Hu King scoffed, showing no regard for Zhao Feng.
A mere fifty thousand troops dared to march into Eastern Hu territory.
Even if it were a hundred thousand, they would not be able to shake his mighty kingdom.
To anyone analyzing the situation
Zhao Feng's expedition into Eastern Hu territory was nothing short of a death wish.
However
The Eastern Hu had already made a grave miscalculation.
Zhao Feng's forces were not fifty thousand.
He only had twelve thousand!
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 375+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader