Chapter 820: Chapter 82: The Enemy Chapter 820: Chapter 82: The Enemy On the Big Horn River, a small boat loaded with stones drifted downriver towards the floating bridge.
At the same time, in the wilderness south of Revodan, Dusack [Tulin] urged his horse into a frenzied run as he was chased by the people of Terdun.
Tulin kept looking back, and seeing the pursuing Herd Barbarians, he doubled his efforts, digging his spurs into the horse’s flanks.
The warhorse, distressed by the intense pain, exerted its strength crazily, its hooves thunderously striking the ground.
Tulin stood in the stirrups to alleviate as much of the burden on the horse as possible.
The horse’s legs were long and powerful, and its fetlocks were flawless—a descendant of shield river chargers brought from the north thirty years ago.
Usually, Tulin was extremely careful with the horse, rarely even using a whip.
But at this moment, the horse’s belly and flanks were covered in sweaty blood.
Terdun’s horses were shorter and slower, no match for Tulin’s in speed.
However, the Herders’ warhorses, like their owners, were tenacious. They pressed closely behind Tulin’s horse and refused to give up.
The battlefield was shrouded in a mist, with both armies dispatching many scouts to track the enemy’s movements.
Scout cavalryman Tulin unexpectedly encountered the Terdun scouts, outnumbered, he decisively retreated, though the Terdun people followed closely.
The two sides crossed wilderness, streams, and hills, chasing from the southern outskirts of Revodan all the way into the territory of Saint Town.
The people of Terdun were eager to capture Tulin alive, while Tulin led them into an ambush.
Tulin raced through abandoned farmland, passing a lane flanked by rows of birch trees, just as reinforcements arrived.
More than ten cavalry from Iron Peak County outflanked the Terdun forces from both sides, led by a rider on a spry reddish-brown horse—it was Anglu.
“[Herde Language] It’s the Big Beard!” panicked exclamations filled the air as the Terdun people recognized the rider and the distinctive saber.
Dusack, with his beard, forehead hair, and a silver earring, could be easily distinguished from standard Paratu people. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novelFɪre.net
The long wars had left the Herders with deep impressions of these skilled, fierce fighting cavalrymen, giving Dusack a nickname blending fear and respect—”Big Beard.”
The Terdun’s Hong Lingyu initially thought of retreating, but seeing that the approaching cavalry was not numerous, boldness took over.
He whistled sharply, signaling his troops to rally around him.
Horses galloped wildly, the sabers whishing through the air as Anglu led the Dusacks in a tangled, fierce fight with the Terdun people.
Before long, the Fire Tender and the old Translator learned about this small-scale encounter.
The Fire Tender, eyes ablaze, asked in a sharp tone facing Hong Lingyu, “[Herde Language] Is the command tent of the two-legged ones in the town to the south? You saw it with your own eyes.”
“[Herde Language] There is plenty of foot traffic and wagon tracks everywhere, it can’t be faked,” replied Hong Lingyu, pale-faced, grimacing in pain: “[Herde Language] And lots of Big Beards!”
Cavalry battles test horsemanship and saber skills, which Dusacks excel at. Hong Lingyu lost half an ear; had there not been an iron plate sewn in his sleeve, his arm would have been severed as well.
The Fire Tender rewarded Hong Lingyu with a medal of gold and promised two tents full of goods and slaves.
After Hong Lingyu gratefully departed, the Fire Tender’s expression suddenly darkened: “[Herde Language] They’re already in the south? How did they get here so fast?”
The old Translator tugged at his beard, his brows deeply furrowed: “[Herde Language] Tie Chi’s troops have likely been scattered!”
“[Herde Language] How is that possible?” the Fire Tender exclaimed in horror: “[Herde Language] It has only been a few days!”
“[Herde Language] Otherwise, there’s no way to explain how their reinforcements have managed such swift action,” the Translator’s wrinkles deepened.
The Fire Tender slapped his thigh, eyes flickering fiercely: “[Herde Language] Let them come! Good, we’ll slaughter them all. Then we’ll plunder at will!”
“[Herde Language] If they rush at us like animals with tails on fire, we’ll fight a big battle. They’ve just fought a fierce battle with Tie Chi’s troops, are tired and hungry, we can easily crush them,” the Translator paced within the tent: “[Herde Language] But they’ve stopped in the southern town and aren’t rushing their support. A cornered bull fights back; we can’t battle recklessly.”
“[Herde Language] What should we do then?” the Fire Tender asked impatiently.
“[Herde Language] When a fox hides in its hole and you want its fur, you must force it out,” the Translator stopped pacing, confident: “[Herde Language] The biggest knot on this rope is still that small city. If the city on the southern bank is threatened, they’ll have to face us.”
The Fire Tender abruptly stood: “[Herde Language] I’ll send my troops to attack the city now!”
“[Herde Language] Don’t overexert, but make enough noise; since their main camp is in the southern town, send several hundred cavalry squads to flank them, kill their able-bodied, and burn their supply carts; also send troops to gather supplies and rally dispersed forces…” the Translator slowly added.
The Fire Tender nodded continuously. Although he usually called the Translator ‘Echegke’ [father], the relationship between them was still master and servant.
However, in front of the old Translator, the Fire Tender did indeed seem like a son receiving lessons from a father.
Meanwhile, Anglu, along with Tulin, also made it to Winters’ command post.
Winters’ troops assembled at Saint Town, with the command post situated within the town’s church.