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The Pincer Formation, also known as the Wedge Formation, appears somewhat like a brave soldier embarking on a one-way journey when compared to the Zhao Army's dual flanking maneuvers. However, military strategy states that when the enemy is numerous and our forces are few, we can divide and conquer. This can be understood as spreading false troops to distract the enemy or utilizing the superior quality of our soldiers to disrupt the enemy's formation during combat.
General Lu, hiding in the Central Army, saw dust rising all around and realized that the Zhao Army was charging from all directions. In comparison to his Defensive Formation, this display felt like a small boat tossed about in a storm. Perhaps just a gust of side wind could lead to capsizing.
"Long live King Wang Jian!" Luzi encouraged himself as he quickly removed the Long Spear hanging from his saddle, focusing on the shield wall slowly advancing from the front.
Unlike Luzi, the surrounding Qin Generals were clearly seasoned veterans familiar with large-scale formations. The Soldiers in formation were also indifferent to the sounds of drums and battle cries, seemingly waiting quietly for their fated moment that had long been predetermined.
Wang Jian had no intention of committing suicide, nor did he plan to lead anyone else to do so. He squinted at the rising dust around him, his expression calm like a still lake. In large-scale army formations, once they are deployed, it is not enough for someone to shout for others to hear.
The solution was to listen for the drumbeats, yet within the Qin Army's phalanx facing the Zhao Army's advance, there was complete silence. They waited quietly as if watching another troop drill before them.
The numerous Zhao Army employed a wedge formation for this assault. This formation utilized the Central Army's vanguard to create an impenetrable wall against the enemy's charge; their task was simply to withstand the pressure from across the battlefield. The real destructive force came from the wings spreading out on either side.
This open triangular attack formation allowed the side with superior numbers to potentially seal off their opponent in one swift move. As the relatively disadvantaged side was encircled within this triangle, attacks from all directions would commence.
Among the Qin Army's commanders were not only those well-versed in military texts but also seasoned veterans of countless battles. To avoid being completely surrounded by the enemy, their only option was a frontal breakout; as long as they could break free before the Zhao Army's encirclement was fully formed, they could still seize the initiative.
At this moment, not only did Wang Jian have no intention of ordering a full-scale assault, but no one even suggested it. They were confident in their victory due to their absolute advantage in defense with the Arrow Formation.
Wang Jian had already marked a warning line around their formation while calculating the distance between both armies: two hundred meters! Just as the first warhorse of the Zhao Army stepped forward, the drummer received orders and suddenly swung his drumsticks.
As the Qin Army's phalanx began to move, a series of thunderous sounds erupted. When these thunderclaps merged into one continuous roar, even the bright sky changed color, and nearly straight Arrow Paths began to harvest lives as sacrifices for the God of War.
The first to bear the brunt was the Qin Army's front line against the Zhao Army's Defensive Formation. When the shields that were raised were pierced, a large number of soldiers from the Qin State's Crossbow formation fell immediately. The soldiers behind them had not yet had time to reinforce, and were quickly knocked down by the powerful penetrating force.
As the Qin Army's phalanx slowly moved, archers on both flanks began to fire crossbow bolts, pinning down the cavalry attempting to charge through the Arrow Formation. This three-row rapid-fire method ensured a basic state of continuous fire, which was the most effective way to counter fast assaults by cavalry.
The cavalry could maintain high-speed breakthroughs, moving several dozen meters in just a minute. However, the problem was that indiscriminate Arrow Rain shot down all who completed their charge distance. The flying Arrow Rain formed an impenetrable wall; anyone who collided with it would suffer severe injuries.
The Zhao cavalry differed from those of other Feudal States, relying solely on their rapid mobility for breakthroughs. Barbarian Clothing and Cavalry Archery meant that most of the Zhao Army's cavalry were also equipped with another type of weapon: the Zhao Crossbow.
Embodying the rugged and bold spirit of northern Barbarians, the Zhao Army's cavalry paved their path to victory with their lives. Realizing that the cost of rapid breakthroughs was too high, they hastily picked up their crossbows to fire arrows.
Since equipping the New-Style Crossbow, the Qin Army had removed shields from within the Arrow Formation. This was intended to reduce the heavy burden of defensive shields, allowing crossbowmen to carry as many bolts as possible. At this moment, facing the Zhao Army's cavalry, who were also equipped with crossbows, the crossbowmen could only watch helplessly as arrows flew towards them.
The solid military quality was once again evident; whenever there was a gap in the Qin Army's Arrow Formation, a crossbowman would step forward to fill it. Even so, there were occasional successful breakthroughs by Zhao Army cavalry that charged close.
According to their training, crossbowmen would not pay attention to nearby targets. Their task was solely to eliminate targets beyond a hundred meters, ensuring that the resistance formed by their crossbow bolts remained flawless.
Next, it was not that the Zhao Army cavalry entering through breakthroughs went unchallenged; within the Qin Army's Arrow Formation were spear-wielding soldiers suitable for close combat. Their duty was to protect the crossbowmen and eliminate nearby enemies. Among these defensive troops were even a few archers whose role was to shoot down enemies approaching before they could breach the Arrow Formation.
Once the main army entered battle, it turned into a battlefield for miles around. Without having received news about heavy losses from the Charioteer Camp, Zhao General Lu Jian was now extremely displeased because signs of collapse began to appear in front of the Defensive Formation. Initially thinking that the Qin Army's phalanx would be shattered by their own cavalry, he found that what had been in front remained unchanged.
The Qin Army facing the enemy clearly began to accelerate their advance; Long Spearmen charged forward under cover of the Arrow Formation. With spears over ten meters long, they completely disregarded the impact force against the opposing shield wall.
Realizing there was a crisis at the front line, Lu Jian angrily cursed Zhou Zhi for being ineffective and immediately ordered archers positioned in the Central Army to quickly shoot arrows. Before the notification drum even sounded, he saw Arrow Rain coming from the direction of the Qin Army begin to extend backward; many archers were shot down before they even had time to raise their bows.
"What is going on here!?" Lu Jian, filled with resentment, urged his horse forward towards his own Arrow Formation to oversee the battle, simultaneously ordering the entire army to charge. He couldn't believe that a hundred thousand cavalry could be in such disarray; he didn't want to wait another moment.
The drums of the Zhao Army sounded, and the two legions collided head-on. The deafening sounds of battle drowned out the clashing of weapons completely.
In the vanguard, Wang Jian noticed that their troops were being held back by the Zhao Army and could not advance. He turned around and ordered Fang Tianhua to stay behind to ensure the General's safety. Then he took the reins of his warhorse and charged forward, leading the Central Army to support the vanguard amidst the rain of arrows.
Luzi confirmed that both flanks were extremely secure and, holding his Long Spear, asked Fang Tianhua if he wanted to fight.
If it weren't for General Wang's earlier orders, Fang Tianhua would have already rushed out to slay enemies. Suddenly hearing that the General wanted to go to the front line, he was about to agree but quickly changed his mind. "Please rest assured, General! This little skirmish doesn't require our intervention at all!"
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