Chapter 13: The Feathered Cavalry Displays Its Might

Hearing the murmurs among his men, Yue Fei simply waved his hand and said, “I am well aware of what you’re all worrying about, but have any of you considered what a golden opportunity this is to make our mark and earn distinction? Once we set these supplies ablaze, the main force of the Jin army will surely rush to save them. Their main encampment will be left vulnerable, and if we seize that moment to strike, our chances of a successful surprise attack are all but guaranteed.”

The men nodded in agreement, clearly convinced by his words. Indeed, this was a rare chance to gain merit. Most of those who had followed Yue Fei on this nocturnal raid were poor farmers by origin; without risking their lives for military achievements, it was almost impossible for them to rise through the ranks.

“Alright, let’s do it!” one among them responded.

“We’re with you!” the others quickly echoed.

“Good, then follow my lead. After we set the fire, we’ll strike at that point of the Jin camp!” As Yue Fei spoke, he pointed to the eastern side of the enemy encampment.

The eastern quarter of the Jin camp was where their cavalry was stationed. Not only were the finest cavalrymen quartered there, but also over ten thousand warhorses. Yue Fei’s decision to attack this sector was truly a choice to gnaw at the hardest bone.

Once the target was decided, Yue Fei led the men to ignite the supplies. As soon as the flames leaped high, they circled quietly behind the Jin cavalry camp.

The dry fodder caught fire and blazed with fierce intensity. The flames soared skyward, turning night into day. Waves of heat, driven by the wind, swept across the land.

“It’s bad! There’s a fire!” After some time, the Jin camp erupted with the thunder of drums as a sentry finally noticed the chaos. In no time, a large force of Jin soldiers came charging in desperation.

As the elite of the army, the cavalry camp responded first, racing to douse the fire. But the blaze was already out of control; saving the supplies was no longer possible.

Seeing the main force rush out, Yue Fei gave the order to charge. Under the cover of darkness, his three hundred Feathered Knights, all clad in black, moved like three hundred phantoms from the underworld, silently infiltrating the Jin cavalry camp.

The camp was filled with elite Jin warriors. Though most had gone to battle the fire, over a thousand still remained. But none could have imagined that Song soldiers would appear within their own encampment. Caught completely off guard, they were thrown into chaos and struck down before they could react.

“Stop! Who are you? Why are you attacking our camp?” the leading Jin officer demanded of Yue Fei.

“To take your life!” Yue Fei’s response was a mighty swing of his broadsword. As the foremost warrior of the Song, he cleaved the officer in two from head to toe with a single blow.

Blood splattered in a crimson arc!

The Jin army, already beaten in the day’s battle, now found themselves under a ghostly midnight assault. Even with superior numbers, leaderless and panicked, they could not mount a proper defense and scattered in all directions.

The three hundred Feathered Knights fought ever more fiercely, seizing the momentum to wreak havoc, cutting down Jin soldiers in droves.

“Zhang Xian, open the gates and release the horses!” After slaying the last foe, Yue Fei called to his deputy, Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian had been waiting for this moment. He produced several enormous wine jars from behind, exclaiming gleefully, “Right away!”

He hurled the jars into the stables, smashing them with loud crashes, then lit them with a fire striker. Instantly, the Jin stables were set alight as well.

Horses, easily startled creatures, bolted in a mad frenzy as the fire spread. In no time, the warhorses stampeded in all directions and vanished into the night.

Yue Fei surveyed the three hundred men before him with satisfaction. Now, with three hundred horses as well, they had achieved yet another great deed.

At this moment, everyone felt a surge of exhilaration. For so long, the Song soldiers had labored under a heavy psychological shadow, convinced the Jin army was invincible. But after two resounding victories, that fear was swept away; the Jin were no longer so formidable.

Gazing at his spirited men, Yue Fei raised his voice, “Comrades, now that we have fine steeds, and the Jin’s warhorses have been scattered, are you willing to fight by my side once more and turn their camp upside down?”

Buoyed by their new mounts, the men’s confidence soared. They replied in unison, “We await your command, sir. We will follow you to the end!”

Flush with victory, Yue Fei led his three hundred men, now mounted, in a charge towards the main Jin camp.

Like three hundred sharp blades, they pierced the eastern defenses of the Jin headquarters, slicing through all resistance, cutting a swath straight out the western side like a scythe through autumn leaves.

Once they broke free from the western gate, the men’s spirits soared even higher—never in all their battles against the Jin had they tasted such heady triumph.

“Commander, that was exhilarating! I say, let’s charge back in through the west gate and exit by the north. The Jin will never expect us to double back,” Zhang Xian suggested to Yue Fei.

“What do you all think?” Zhang Xian’s plan was precisely what Yue Fei desired, but he still sought his men’s opinions.

Caught up in the thrill of victory, the soldiers all agreed, “Yes! It’s a rare chance to fight so freely—let’s hit them again!”

Thus, the three hundred charged once more through the western gate.

As Yue Fei had predicted, the Jin never anticipated a surprise return attack. Caught unprepared, they lost several hundred more men. Without their warhorses, the Jin were greatly weakened. On this open plain, battle between cavalry and infantry was, to be frank, nothing short of a massacre.

The northern gate of the Jin camp came into view. The three hundred men spurred their horses to a gallop, when suddenly, an unexpected change occurred—a Jin detachment burst forth from the west. At their head rode a general on a pure white charger, who, upon arrival, cut down three Song soldiers in swift succession, displaying formidable prowess.

“Who dares assault our army?” the Jin general roared.

Seeing the might of the newcomer, Yue Fei parted his men and rode forth to meet him, engaging the Jin general in combat.

“I am Yue Fei, commander of the Song Feathered Knights—face me if you dare!”

As the saying goes, an expert reveals himself with the first move. In his initial exchange, Yue Fei sensed he had finally met a worthy adversary.