NOVEL NEXT Ch. 8
Chapter 8: The Iron Cavalry Suppresses the Bandits
“Hahaha, I didn’t expect it to really be you, Zhang Yan!”
The valiant cavalry captain appeared on a black horse covered in black armor, slowly putting away his longbow.
“Zhang… Zhang Feng.”
Although Zhang Yan had little memory of the Saint Tang Plane, the instant he saw Zhang Feng, old memories between the two resurfaced.
Zhang Feng removed his mask and said in a hearty voice, “Hahaha, it’s me! Long time no see.”
Zhang Yan was momentarily delighted, but the stinging pain in his palm instantly reminded him of what had just happened.
“Long time no see, my ass!”
Zhang Yan turned sharply and swung his arm; the arrow in his hand shot out with tremendous force toward Zhang Feng.
Zhang Feng lowered his head to dodge the arrow, watching as it pierced through half a tree trunk. His expression turned to shock as he looked at Zhang Yan.
“Hey, I was just joking around to say hello.”
Zhang Yan gritted his teeth and replied, “I was also saying hello to you!”
Soon enough, Zhang Feng was knocked off his horse, and the two began grappling on the ground.
The surrounding soldiers looked at one another in dismay. With one being a Mo Blade Captain and the other a Valiant Cavalry Captain, none of them dared to intervene.
Through his spiritual sense, Jiang Zhaoming perceived what was happening in the camp, and his face instantly darkened.
“You two, stop right now.”
Sensing Jiang Zhaoming’s consciousness, the two men immediately froze mid-fight, glaring at each other in anger, neither willing to concede.
“Zhang Feng, return to your camp. I’ll have a task for you shortly.”
After Zhang Feng returned to the cavalry camp, Yan Chen soon arrived outside. Zhang Feng came out at once to greet him.
“Are you perhaps the Commander of the Black-Armored Army, Zhang Yan?”
Zhang Feng’s expression darkened—Zhang Yan was actually the commander of the Black-Armored Army now?
However, since the Mo Blade Army had arrived in this world first, he could only reply, “I am Zhang Feng, a Valiant Cavalry Captain of the Black-Armored Iron Cavalry.”
Hearing this, Yan Chen cupped his fists and took out a document given by Jiang Zhaoming.
“By royal decree, the Black-Armored Iron Cavalry is ordered to accompany me to Duwen Town to eradicate the Great Jin horse bandits!”
“Yes, sir!”
Zhang Feng cupped his fists heavily.
The resentment in his heart mostly dissipated, replaced by growing curiosity about this world.
Soon, three thousand Black-Armored Iron Cavalry assembled in formation.
Three thousand armored warhorses, paired with rows of soldiers clad in uniform black armor, exuded a soul-shaking pressure.
Even Yan Chen felt a chill crawl down his spine at the sight.
He glanced again at his own sparse five hundred cavalrymen and couldn’t help but shake his head.
Afterward, this cavalry force galloped toward the disaster-stricken region.
—
Royal Residence, Main Hall
After the troops departed, Jiang Zhaoming resumed reviewing official documents.
At that moment, Fan Kang re-entered the hall, barely able to conceal his joy.
Jiang Zhaoming asked curiously, “Lord Fan, what brings such a smile to your face?”
Fan Kang, full of praise, replied, “To have Your Highness in Anxi Prefecture is a fortune that comes once in a hundred years!”
“Who would have thought that as soon as Your Highness arrived, such a powerful force as the Black-Armored Army would come to pledge allegiance! What tremendous fortune for Anxi Prefecture!”
Jiang Zhaoming shook his head. “It is Anxi Prefecture’s great blessing to have Lord Fan.”
Fan Kang looked puzzled, and Jiang Zhaoming continued, “Why, I was just about to look for someone to help me organize these documents, and Lord Fan came in right on time.”
Hearing this, Fan Kang laughed heartily and immediately sat down to assist with the paperwork.
Three days passed.
Through their smooth cooperation, Jiang Zhaoming gradually became familiar with the affairs of Anxi Prefecture and its internal administration.
During this process, Jiang Zhaoming discovered that the problems within Anxi Prefecture extended far beyond the rebel issue.
It was merely that the rebellion was so severe that all other problems had been suppressed beneath it.
Issues such as people’s livelihood, race relations, and the imperial examinations—all failed to meet the Great Zhou’s standards.
However, Jiang Zhaoming, being newly arrived, could not overturn these things overnight and could only plan for gradual reform.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhaoming calculated the days.
Duwen County was about a thousand li from the prefectural city—after three days of marching, the Black-Armored Iron Cavalry should have arrived.
He then closed his eyes and began to communicate with Zhang Feng through his spiritual sense to understand the situation at the front.
—
Meanwhile, outside Duwen County—
Yan Chen looked back at the Black-Armored Army and said, “General Zhang, issue the order: the entire army will divide into groups and investigate the surrounding towns and villages.”
Zhang Feng clasped his fists in acknowledgment, then turned to the cavalry behind him and shouted, “All troops, hear my order! Divide into thirty squads—immediately head to each town and search for the bandits’ trail!”
“Yes, sir!”
The sound of metal armor clanged in unison.
The cavalry quickly divided and dispersed, their thundering hooves raising clouds of dust.
—
Outside a small town
Leading a hundred riders, Zhang Feng approached.
From afar, he saw flames soaring into the sky and thick smoke billowing from the town.
His face darkened as he shouted, “Form the Wild Goose Formation! Prepare to charge!”
At his command, the iron cavalry swiftly shifted into formation, like a sharp blade thrusting toward the town entrance.
However, as the distance closed, Zhang Feng saw crowds of townsfolk crying and fleeing outward in panic.
Upon seeing the Black-Armored Iron Cavalry, the people screamed as if they had encountered beasts, scattering in all directions.
“Villagers, do not fear! We are the Great Zhou’s Black-Armored Army, here to suppress bandits and protect the people!”
Zhang Feng channeled his qi and blood, his voice like a thunderous bell that echoed throughout the town.
Hearing this call, the desperate refugees calmed slightly, though they still dared not fully trust.
Yet, this shout not only reassured the civilians but also alerted the Great Jin horse bandits who were plundering and burning within the town.
“Report—! Captain! The Great Zhou army is here!”
The lookout bandit tumbled into a nearby house.
Inside, a burly horse bandit captain was pressing down on a woman.
Startled by the shout, he leapt to his feet and twisted the woman’s neck without hesitation.
Storming outside, he barked nervously, “Damn it! Is that powerful cultivator surnamed Yan here?”
These past few days, Yan Chen had slaughtered his way through Duwen County, killing over eight hundred bandits. His infamous reputation made the bandits tremble at his name.
“N-no, it’s not…”
The captain’s fat body trembled violently. “Then could it be another Great Zhou cultivator?”
“A-also not…”
Smack!
The captain slapped his underling across the face and roared, “If it’s not this or that, then what the hell is it? Speak clearly!”
“It’s—it’s Great Zhou cavalry… about a hundred of them…”
“Damn it!”
The captain gave him another slap and cursed, “Just a hundred riders, and you’re already pissing yourself? I’ve killed no less than eighty Great Zhou riders myself!”
He fumed, his chest heaving as he glanced back at the room.
The mixed-blood woman—half from the Western Regions, half from the Great Zhou interior—was already lifeless.
“Damn it! I finally caught such a fine one, and you ruined it!”
The underling kept his head low, not daring to speak, while the captain continued muttering to himself.
“Great Zhou women are really something—their skin’s smooth like silk, so much better than the rough wenches from our lands…”
Seeing his leader still rambling, the underling broke into a cold sweat.
“Boss, please get on your horse! If we delay any longer, the Great Zhou soldiers will charge in!”
“What’s the rush! It’s just a few Great Zhou soldiers to kill!”
Cursing under his breath, the horse bandit captain donned his armor and mounted his steed.
By now, the other bandits in the town had gathered and lined up along the streets, awaiting his orders.