Chapter 28: The Yun Army

Ye Xi tugged at Yun Zheng’s sleeve, her expression composed. “Have you ever heard of singing elephants?”

Yun Zheng was startled, then immediately understood. Ye Xi’s partial elven ancestry granted her hearing far sharper than that of an ordinary person. Amidst the deafening clamor of battle, she had keenly detected an anomaly in the roars of the elephants.

“So that’s it. Their calls, rising and falling in succession, do indeed follow musical theory, much like a performance on chime bells.”

“Sound propagates in all directions, so the music itself is unlikely to cause direct physical harm,” Ye Xi assessed, “but it can shatter an opponent’s composure.”

“Mu Chuan Sheng was a seasoned veteran, known for an agility akin to an ape’s. Even with the sudden appearance of the herd, he should not have been unable to escape. Furthermore, I sensed that both he and his elite infantry experienced a brief moment of paralysis just before their deaths.”

“So, this Elephant King also possesses the means for sonic attacks,” Yun Zheng concluded.

Shui Rouqin chimed in from the side, “General, Miss Ye—speaking of musical attacks, I am reminded of the four famous courtesans of the Southwest: Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon. While they appear to be high-ranking entertainers in the most prestigious houses, they are, in fact, renowned assassins of the underworld.”

“It is said that recently, a mysterious figure has brought all four of them—who have always been notoriously arrogant—under his command.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Zheng’s interest was instantly piqued.

The Southwest was a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, home to countless unsung heroes and formidable figures. Yet, for someone to have subjugated the four courtesans, they must possess truly heaven-defying capabilities. Having received great grace from his mentor, Zhu Xieyuan, Yun Zheng was sworn to protect the peace and tranquility of the Southwest and the entire Great Ming, refusing to allow a desolate, deathly winter to descend upon this world of hearth and home. Even if he were to face the leaders of the Jianzhou Wolf Cavalry—Hong Taiji or Dorgon—his resolve would remain the same. In this regard, he shared the same aspirations as Mu Ying, the Prince of Mu, who had founded Great Desert City.

...

“Soldiers, hear my command! The Yun Clan army is to form the enchanted musket formation. Meet the encroaching enemy with the force of a thunderbolt!”

“Front-row soldiers, hold your enchanted muskets steady as rock. Aim for the center of the enemy formation. You must ensure every shot hits its mark to strike terror into their hearts.”

“Middle-row brothers, alternate fire with the front row. Maintain a continuous barrage; give the enemy no chance to catch their breath.”

“Rear-row soldiers, focus on reloading. Coordinate your hands and eyes to ensure the enchanted musket formation remains a constant threat.”

“All tribal infantry, stand by to support the Yun Clan forces.”

In a flash, Yun Zheng had organized his men. This was the “Three-Stage Fire” tactic invented by Mu Ying; it was with this very method that the Lucuan Elephant King had been defeated in the Battle of Dingbian two centuries ago. Though the weapons had evolved from hand cannons to matchlocks, the “Three-Stage Fire” remained a highly effective strategy.

The soldiers responded in unison. The Yun Clan retainers set aside their melee weapons and raised their enchanted muskets. Suddenly, the massive muzzles, like deep, dark voids, loomed gloomily over the approaching elephant cavalry.

Given the craftsmanship of the seventeenth century, while it was possible to create fast-loading flintlock enchanted muskets, the complexity and difficulty of their production meant they were extremely rare. Almost every large-caliber flintlock enchanted musket that existed could be considered a priceless treasure. Compared to those rarities, the vast majority of enchanted muskets used in actual combat were slow-firing and cumbersome, requiring the ignition of long matchcords for every shot.

Yet, however heavy or slow they might be, these crudely crafted firearms remained decisive on the battlefield. The reason was simple: armor-piercing capability was the absolute truth. As long as the volume of fire was sufficient, the rate of fire ceased to be an issue, and the armor-piercing power of a musket was something that even the most skilled archers could not match.

Yun Zheng continued his orders: “Two Chieftains, I know you have practiced swordplay since childhood and possess immense strength. I will need your help later to catch the Elephant King off guard.”

The Chieftains of Umeng and Usa replied, “We await your command, General.”

As the words left their lips, the two Chieftains felt the oppressive weight that had been crushing them suddenly lighten.

*(It seems that briefly joining General Yun’s camp has dissipated the aura this monster was imposing upon us. What a reliable commander. It is a pity we are not cut from the same cloth.)*

Amidst the earth-shaking roars of the Elephant King, more and more phantom projections split from his body, soon filling everyone’s field of vision.

“This number...” Cold sweat broke out on the Umeng Chieftain’s face. There were only a few dozen Yun Clan soldiers who had followed Yun Zheng into the underground city; even counting the various tribal infantry, there were barely over a hundred men in total. Yet the number of elephants splitting off now seemed to equal that count. This was a force capable of crushing an army of thousands without suspense.

*(I have no choice but to trust General Yun. If the worst comes to pass and we are trampled into pulp, at least it will be quick.)*

Jin Kaijia, Shui Rouqin, and the Daoist Li turned deathly pale. They were either local chieftains who had only ever participated in minor bandit suppression or, like the Daoist Li, rough outlaws who had only experienced skirmishes in the world of martial arts. They had never faced a direct engagement with an elite army, especially one whose strength far exceeded their own. This left them with cold backs and sweating palms.

*(Despite our pride, our bodies are honest.)*

*(Can we really win against such an opponent?)*

*(The remains of the Shuixi rebels scattered across the ground must number over five hundred. Yet, all those soldiers had no power to resist these elephant troops, unable even to flee. If we ignore the possibility of total annihilation, the combat power of these hundred elephant soldiers is enough to shatter an army of a thousand.)*

The disparity in strength and momentum between the two sides was so vast that those who had just begun to follow Yun Zheng could not help but be filled with doubt.

However, looking at the Yun Clan soldiers, they remained completely composed in the face of such a situation. They maintained their calm, fulfilling their duties without the slightest slack. The process of reloading powder was meticulous and orderly; their hands did not tremble as they gripped their muskets.

Though Yun Zheng had no time to explain the rationale behind his tactical plan, the hundreds of victories they had achieved under this young general gave them infinite confidence and courage. They believed that they only needed to strictly follow General Yun’s commands to reap the fruits of victory once more—a scent they had tasted so many times they could never grow weary of it.

Seeing the audacity of the Yun Clan soldiers, as if the mountain-like elephant herd were merely a group of ignorant wild deer in the woods, a realization dawned on Shui Rouqin. She could not help but smile bitterly to herself: *The General isn’t asking us to support the formation; he is clearly telling us to stay out of the way and not be a hindrance.*

At this moment, the Jin Chieftain, Jin Kaijia, noticed something unusual: the Yun Clan army was using ordinary gunpowder, not enchanted alchemical powder. Furthermore, the Daoist Li and several retainers in Daoist robes were working together to draw a strange formation. Could it be that Mu Ying’s legendary defeat of the elephant formation was related to Daoist magic?

The smell of burning matchcords filled the air, and gunpowder smoke drifted from the dark muzzles.

The next moment, the elephant cavalry drew near.

The elephant herd surged forward like a towering mountain range, carrying an unstoppable momentum that made every inch of the earth groan in agony from the depths of its soul.