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As the sky grew brighter, the light stronger, the surroundings became clearer…
Zhang Lie felt as if he were alive again, greedily taking in the scenery around him, like someone who had lost a treasure and found it once more.
Zhang Lie had always thought, always assumed everyone's vision was blurry at night, that when it got dark, people just went to bed. Suddenly discovering he was night-blind while others weren't—this feeling was terrible, infuriating and frustrating.
Though Commander Fei said many Han people were like this, it didn't offer Zhang Lie much comfort, especially since Commander Fei also said most Hu people didn't have night blindness.
Fortunately, according to Commander Fei, though Hu people didn't have as much night blindness as Han, their horses were basically blind at night, so galloping carried great risk. Before a battle even started, Hu horses might step into a hole, crash into a tree, breaking legs…
Once Hu people dismounted, their combat effectiveness dropped drastically. So Hu people basically didn't fight at night either. And though Han people couldn't see, they usually camped or stayed inside city walls at night, so it balanced out.
As his vision gradually cleared, Zhang Lie's confidence, along with his restored sight, returned to overflowing levels.
Hearing faint battle cries from Yong'an City nearing dawn had been agonizing. Though some soldiers without night blindness were watching ahead, not being able to see himself left him uneasy.
Commander Fei ordered him not to let any White Wave soldiers escape from the south gate, but he was blind in the dark. If even half escaped, it'd be hard to explain to Commander Fei.
Zhang Lie had to secretly ask the non-night-blind soldier beside him every little while, nearly driving the soldier mad…
They're coming!
Zhang Lie saw scattered dust rising ahead, knowing it must be White Wave soldiers fleeing Yong'an City. He was quite confident in Fei Qian's night raid. If his own side had so many night-blind, the White Wave must have even more. In the dark, suddenly attacked, panic would spread like wildfire, destroying resistance. But night blindness not only hindered White Wave resistance but also their escape. So now, as dawn broke, mass flight began…
Just like this!
"Everyone ready! Don't let a single one slip away!"
Fleeing east or north into the Lüliang Mountains was hard to intercept or chase. The west was Fei Qian's attack direction, the south held the main White Wave force. So these retreating White Wave would likely flee from the south gate, right into Zhang Lie's trap.
At Zhang Lie's command, soldiers hid themselves in grass and bushes along the roadside.
Disorderly footsteps drew nearer. Zhang Lie slightly parted the long grass before him, seeing White Wave soldiers scattering like disturbed ants. He roughly estimated about five hundred, the corners of his mouth curling in a silent smile.
Zhang Lie took the bow from his back, pulled out five arrows, fanned them before him, then took another arrow, loosely nocked it. He glanced left and right, seeing his soldiers' acknowledging looks, then fixed his gaze on the approaching White Wave rout.
Closer and closer, Zhang Lie silently estimated the distance…
Suddenly, Zhang Lie straightened abruptly, drew the loosely nocked bow to full draw, and twang! The leading White Wave soldier flung backward, screamed, and fell!
The moment he released, Zhang Lie grabbed one of the fanned arrows, nocked it, drew smoothly to full draw again. Another bowstring twang, arrow flying…
Repeating this, including the initially nocked arrow, in that short stretch, Zhang Lie shot six arrows, practically wiping out the White Wave soldiers at the front.
Simultaneously, archers ambushed on both sides of the road rose, arrows flying like locusts. The already disorganized White Wave rout instantly fell into chaos.
Those at the front were often stronger soldiers. Seeing an ambush, they shouted, brandished blades, charged Zhang Lie recklessly, trying to break through.
Some White Wave further back, seeing the situation turn, abandoned the official road, disregarding sharp stones, tangled undergrowth, fleeing into the sides.
Others, under sudden fierce attack, dazed, actually turned and ran back towards Yong'an City…
But regardless of escape direction or resistance, under Zhang Lie's well-prepared ambush, these five hundred or so White Wave soldiers couldn't create much disturbance.
After putting down his bow, drawing his ring-pommel saber, cutting down the White Wave soldier—whether fortunate or unfortunate—who reached him, looking back at the ambush zone, the battle was nearly over.
Using preparation against unpreparedness, preparedness against surprise, the battle was one-sided from the start. Under continuous archery, the front couldn't be breached. White Wave fleeing to the sides were quickly cut down by Zhang Lie's waiting troops. Those fleeing back were chased down by twenty cavalry emerging from the flanks, all killed.
Five hundred or so White Wave soldiers fleeing Yong'an lay dead on the escape road, none escaping.
The battle didn't last long, ending swiftly.
"Everyone careful, check the fallen, add a few stabs! Watch for feigners!" Zhang Lie ordered soldiers forward to inspect, specifically emphasizing.
Feigning death on the battlefield wasn't unseen. If a feigning White Wave soldier ruined the task Commander Fei entrusted him with, Zhang Lie would lose immense face.
Suddenly, one of the scouts Zhang Lie had positioned to the rear for safety galloped wildly, reaching Zhang Lie, tumbling off his horse: "Commandant Zhang! Dust sighted twenty-five li south! Estimated to be a troop, heading this way!"
Zhang Lie startled: "What?!"
Could it be the White Wave discovered Yong'an's situation, the main force returning?!
What to do?