Aragorn asked in confusion, "But can this work? Without mail armor, without lances, frankly, the power of these knights has dropped by more than fifty percent compared to before. Facing heavy Orcs like the Uruk-hai, I don't believe these elite knights deserve that title anymore. I truly cannot agree with this approach." Zheng Zha, however, laughed and said, "I think I more or less understand Chu Xuan's meaning.
You might think this method is foolish, but it is actually a terrifying way to fight. In the world I came from, one nation nearly conquered the entire world of that time using exactly this tactic. While I can't be certain how effective mounted archery will be in this world, I imagine it won't be too far off." Although the plot characters were deeply confused, the members of the main team present showed looks of sudden realization upon seeing Chu Xuan's orders. After all, anyone familiar with history knew how the Mongols rose to power, and their style of combat was inherently destructive.
Therefore, not a single member of the main team raised any objection. Preparing the elite heavy cavalry took up the better part of the day. Following that were the arrangements for the plot characters: the Gandalfs, as in the original movie plot, left to pursue the Rohan riders who had departed, while Gimli, Cheng Xiao, and Zhao Yingkong accompanied the King of Rohan toward Helm's Deep. Zheng Zha, Chu Xuan, Zhan Lan, Zhang Heng, Aragorn, and the Elf Prince—six individuals in total—set off with these one hundred elite knights to intercept the advance of the Uruk-hai force.
Everyone was preparing for battle. According to Chu Xuan's plan, they would depart that night, leaving everyone about an hour more to rest. Aragorn, at some unknown point, had struck up a conversation with the Princess of Rohan, a beautiful and valiant blonde woman, who was also preparing to take up arms to help defend the people heading to Helm's Deep. She was currently speaking to Aragorn with a faint blush on her face, while the Elf Prince and Gimli stood nearby, smiling nonstop.
The members of the main team also gathered together, exchanging words amongst themselves. Before parting, Zheng Zha naturally had to offer detailed instructions to Cheng Xiao and Zhao Yingkong. First and foremost, he instructed Cheng Xiao to protect Zhao Yingkong. Even though Zhao Yingkong was actually superior in strength compared to Cheng Xiao, Cheng Xiao still solemnly agreed.
"Above all, protect your own character. Among those Uruk-hai, there will be some who use explosive arrows, so absolutely do not try to show off or attack the Uruk-hai head-on. It is best to rely on the walls for defense. If the plot changes and you are forced to retreat, then never mind the outcome of the battle; ensuring your own survival is the most important thing." Zheng Zha said seriously to the pair.
Cheng Xiao laughed heartily twice, "Got it. You haven't gotten any older, so why the sudden increase in chatter? Relax. Even if we were fools, we wouldn't throw our lives away just for reward points, right?" "Having said that..." Zheng Zha was about to say more when Chu Xuan, standing not far away, suddenly called out loudly, "Time's up!
Everyone, mount up and let's go!" Zheng Zha could only glance helplessly at the two, then said, "In any case, be careful!" After speaking, he swung onto his skeletal warhorse, pulled the reins, and followed closely behind Chu Xuan. Although this unit had abandoned everything that could be called heavy cavalry—like solid armor and horse barding, long lances, and even only preparing a single broadsword as a melee weapon, completely different from the heavy cavalry of the past that wielded two weapons—this unit could only be called a scouting-style national cavalry. However, the resulting swift marching speed, combined with the cover of night, allowed this cavalry to charge into the darkness like the wind; the people in the city could no longer see them. Zhan Lan's utility became undeniable at this moment.
Although she was not proficient at riding, one could even describe her skill as clumsy, her Spirit Scan ability was the most crucial and useful skill for this style of mounted archery. Before dawn arrived the next day, this cavalry unit had already covered a distance that normally required two full days and nights. At this time, Zhan Lan's Spirit Scan detected the leading Uruk-hai unit. That Uruk-hai force consisted of about three hundred-plus Uruk-hai, accompanied by over three hundred massive wolf-like creatures.
These wolf-like creatures also bore saddles, suggesting this small contingent was likely the harassment unit mentioned in the original movie plot. "Use Night Arrows," Chu Xuan issued the command calmly. After locating this force, Chu Xuan immediately conveyed the general orders to them, and also had them prepare some of their arrows by dyeing them black. Due to the tight schedule, each person only received ten black arrows; "Night Arrow" was the name Chu Xuan had given them.
These hundred horsemen followed Chu Xuan as they rode near the encampment. The warhorses were well-trained animals that would not make stray sounds under their riders' control. Only after the Elf Prince and Gimli simultaneously loosed their arrows did all one hundred knights draw their bows and fire the Night Arrows overhead into the camp. The organizational structure of the Uruk-hai army was actually quite crude; there were no ranks like sergeants or officers.
Usually, the strongest Uruk-hai would serve as the captain, leading a specified number of Uruk-hai into battle. Because their sheer combat strength far surpassed that of ordinary human infantry, the issues with their organizational structure were not particularly prominent. Under the surprise attack of the Night Arrows, this initial volley killed several dozen Uruk-hai. Next, Chu Xuan ordered the cavalry to shoot flaming arrows, setting the entire camp ablaze.
Another thirty-plus Uruk-hai were shot dead. By the time the third volley was released, Chu Xuan had the knights use Night Arrows again. Thus, the Uruk-hai, amidst the firelight, only had time to notice the flaming arrows. The casualties in this volley were even heavier.
After these three rounds of shooting, the utterly chaotic Uruk-hai managed to get just over a dozen soldiers mounted onto their war wolves, finally charging out of the camp instantly. But outside the camp, they were met by an entire line of mounted archers aiming at them. These dozen-plus wolf riders were shot full of holes the moment they charged out. After several continuous volleys, Chu Xuan finally commanded all the knights to lower their bows.
Then, Zheng Zha led thirty knights in a charge into the camp to kill any remaining living Uruk-hai, while the rest of the knights took this time to retrieve any undamaged arrows. And so, without a single casualty on their side, a contingent of Uruk-hai Wolf Riders was completely annihilated. Although the attack involved stealth and raiding, compared to the Rohan heavy cavalry's usual headlong charges upon engagement, the casualty rate this time could truly be described as miraculous. "Mount up, proceed at normal walking speed, eat for twenty minutes, rest on horseback for two hours.
Zhan Lan, expand your Spirit Scan range to the maximum. Sleep and rest whenever you feel tired or refreshed." Chu Xuan called out loudly to all the knights, then he was the first to vault onto his warhorse. These hundred knights were truly well-trained; upon receiving the order, they immediately began execution. However, while eating, they began to talk and laugh loudly.
With the renown of the Rohan heavy cavalry, they obviously held no fear of the Orc forces. But this time, they had faced three times their number in Wolf Riders and Uruk-hai! Previously, they would have needed five hundred elite heavy cavalry to contend with such a force, yet this time, their hundred men fought without a single loss. This record instantly filled them with confidence for the journey ahead.
Then, a little after three o'clock that afternoon, Zhan Lan's Spirit Scan indicated the presence of an Uruk-hai force numbering over fifteen hundred ahead. This force carried a great deal of plunder, looking as if they had just sacked a village. After Chu Xuan quickly assessed the situation, he ordered the unit to attack the Uruk-hai force. In terms of commanding and controlling large armies, Zheng Zha was far inferior to Chu Xuan.
In fact, whenever a tactical deployment involved more than thirty people, Zheng Zha showed significant inexperience, as he specialized only in small-squad individual assignments. Thus, once this guerrilla unit was established, Chu Xuan naturally became its leader; even Zheng Zha was under his command. When the cavalry unit caught up to the Uruk-hai force, it was precisely the beginning of dusk. The sunlight was gradually dimming, but the surrounding visibility remained clear.
When this one-hundred-strong cavalry unit first appeared, the Uruk-hai force visibly became disorganized. But upon seeing the number of troops opposing them, they quickly became careless. Only the three hundred Uruk-hai at the front braced their three-meter-long pikes, while the flanking units began to curve outwards, attempting to envelop the cavalry force from the front and rear. Who would have thought this cavalry unit did not charge with the usual loud war cries, but instead began shooting while maneuvering around the flanking units?
After three continuous volleys of fire, even the Uruk-hai protected by shields and armor had over a hundred soldiers felled. Immediately, these Uruk-hai became enraged, roaring loudly as they charged at the cavalry unit. Five or six hundred Uruk-hai soldiers charging together possessed enough sheer trampling power to crush this small unit. Who would have thought this cavalry unit would instantly cease firing and instead retreat outwards?
When they ran about fifty paces away, they stopped and loosed another volley of arrows, then advanced another ten li before firing another round. This back-and-forth continued. By the time hundreds of Uruk-hai were reduced to corpses, all the remaining Uruk-hai sensed that something was wrong, and their archers began to counterattack. Several riders who failed to dodge in time were shot and brought down.
However, the reason Chu Xuan brought Zhang Heng and the Elf Prince along was precisely for this: the range and accuracy of their archery far surpassed that of the Uruk-hai archers. Instantly, anyone who dared to shoot an arrow was targeted and eliminated. Any Uruk-hai who dared to charge forward would be kept at a distance and shot down by the cavalry. When they attempted to flee, they could not outrun the warhorses, and when they scattered, it only made them easier targets for the cavalry to shoot down.
By 2:00 AM, the last Uruk-hai in that enemy force was shot down, and the entire unit suffered only four casualties. "Mount up, proceed at normal marching speed, eat for twenty minutes, take a short nap for six hours on horseback, and then, continue the attack!"
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