Episode 124
As the Crusaders and the Khwarazmian army slowly advanced toward each other, the Western Xia, who had been acting as a buffer for Khwarazm, found themselves in a perplexing situation.
It was a given, really. Nomads prided themselves on their unparalleled horsemanship. To survive on the steppes, one had to master the art of riding as if the horse were an extension of their own body. The steppes were a harsh land where only the strong survived, and those who thrived here were the ones who had built great empires.
The emperor and generals of the Western Xia never doubted their cavalry’s superiority over other nations. They attributed their past defeats to internal corruption and complacency, not a lack of skill. So when a newly unified nomadic tribe dared to challenge them, they were confident in their ability to respond.
To them, these fledgling conquerors were nothing more than upstart chicks, claiming to be an empire after a few skirmishes. The emperor’s command was clear: “Show them the true dignity of a ruler who has built a real empire.”
With this command, the generals of the Western Xia charged at the invading Mongol forces with fervor, determined to crush the barbarians and prove the might of their empire. But things did not go as planned.
“What went wrong? Where did we miscalculate?”
The battle took place on the open plains, where the Western Xia cavalry should have had the advantage. Yet, the results were unbelievable. The left and right flanks were shattered within half a day, and the Mongols had cut off their retreat.
Had they been too arrogant, failing to perform at their best? No, they had fought as they always did. The only conclusion was that they had underestimated their enemy.
In a single battle, the Western Xia’s main forces suffered near-total destruction. They had committed most of their available troops, confident of victory, but the losses were catastrophic. They had clashed with Khwarazm before, but neither Khwarazm nor the Jin dynasty had ever posed such a threat.
“General! The west has been breached!”
“They’re circling to our rear!”
“We must retreat! Give the order!”
“Concentrate all remaining forces to break through!”
“Yes, we must inform the emperor of their formidable strength. We underestimated them!”
There was only one option left: retreat to the capital, stockpile supplies, and hold out until the enemy exhausted themselves. They could still hope for victory if they warned Khwarazm of the Mongol threat and requested reinforcements. If the Western Xia fell, Khwarazm would be next, and they would have to listen.
Clinging to this sliver of hope, the commander of the Western Xia turned his horse around. The tide of battle had turned, and not everyone would escape. “Even if I have to sacrifice the front lines as bait, I must survive. Who else will warn the emperor of this danger?”
Having rationalized his decision, he ordered the majority of his forces to retreat south while he led a detachment southwest. He was confident they could evade the Mongols, but unfortunately, a group of cavalry was hot on their trail.
“Those bastards are relentless.”
“General, isn’t that one of the Mongol commanders?”
“Impossible. Why would a commander bother chasing down stragglers?”
It seemed illogical, but upon closer inspection, the distinct attire of the figure stood out. This was no ordinary soldier; he held a significant position.
“If I can take him down, perhaps I can mitigate the blame for our defeat.”
Despite the heavy losses, if he could claim the head of an enemy commander, it might count for something. He quickly assessed the situation. Most of the Mongol forces had pursued the bait, leaving this group isolated. Even if they were stronger than expected, he could use his detachment as bait and escape.
His voice, however, was filled with determination. “If we keep running, they’ll catch us! Let’s turn and fight! Remember, the fate of our nation rests in our hands!”
“Focus on the one who looks like their leader. If we take him down, they’ll retreat.”
“Good idea! Charge! The fiercer our resistance, the more they’ll falter!”
At his signal, the Western Xia cavalry turned to face the pursuing Mongols, drawing their bows as they charged. Arrows flew, and with each chilling whistle, another soldier fell.
“Watch out! That one’s a master archer!”
“Cover your vitals with your armor!”
Despite their efforts, another soldier fell, blood spurting from his neck. Their own arrows missed more often than not, while the enemy’s arrows struck with uncanny precision, even targeting their horses.
“Why did they come so deep? They must have a plan.”
The Mongol commander seemed to be toying with them, showcasing his archery skills. “Damn it. I’ll make sure to put a blade through your face.”
But the Mongol commander maintained his distance, taunting them with his arrows. Their own archery skills couldn’t match his.
“Hey, you bastard! Do you call yourself a warrior of the steppes?”
No matter how much they cursed, the Mongols kept their distance, firing arrows with infuriating precision. They couldn’t understand the language, so it was pointless.
But if they delayed any longer, more Mongol pursuers might arrive. Just as he considered retreating, he spotted a low sand dune behind the enemy cavalry.
“Perfect. An opportunity!”
Seizing the moment, he drew his weapon and charged at the Mongol cavalry, who were slowed by the unexpected terrain.
“Close the gap while they’re slowed!”
The Mongol commander, caught off guard by the dune, couldn’t maintain his speed. He fired arrows in panic, but they were ineffective against the heavily armored Western Xia cavalry.
Leaving the lesser soldiers to his men, the commander charged at the Mongol leader, pouring all his frustration into his spear thrust. This could redeem their disgraceful defeat.
As he lunged, he locked eyes with the Mongol commander. Despite the unexpected turn of events, the Mongol’s eyes were calm, even amused.
His spear thrust met empty air.
“You fool. Did you think you could win just because I spent my life honing my archery?”
The words were mocking, though their meaning was lost on him. Before he could comprehend what went wrong, his consciousness faded forever.
The Great Khan’s army showed no mercy. Those who surrendered before the battle were treated well, but those who refused the Khan’s mercy paid the price.
The Mongol forces, having crushed the Western Xia soldiers, casually surveyed the battlefield, reclaiming any useful equipment from the fallen.
“Well done!”
The rising strategist of the Mongol army, Subutai, expressed genuine admiration for the commander who not only devised brilliant tactics but also personally slew the enemy leader.
“The Great Khan will be most pleased with this outcome.”
“Guess we got lucky. I never imagined they’d take us on so directly and perfectly.”
“Not just that, you pinpointed exactly where the commander of the fleeing troops was hiding.”
“That was obvious. The group running in a cluster was clearly trying to draw our attention. It was harder not to notice that the real target was slipping away to the side. I wasn’t sure if they’d fall for our bait, but fortunately, they were too hasty.”
They taunted with arrows, pretending to make a mistake, and then closed in for the kill. It was a textbook strategy, but few could execute it flawlessly.
Jebe’s tactics and combat skills were mostly instinctual, but Subutai, observing him, was different. He analyzed every action of his mentor, breaking it down into cause and effect, and absorbed it in his own way.
“But Master, that guy… he’s smiling?”
Jebe, who had just beheaded the enemy commander Subutai pointed at, let out a dry laugh. As his student noted, the commander seemed utterly unaware of what had happened, even as his head was severed.
“Leave him be. Maybe he’s dreaming sweetly in the afterlife.”
“Not realizing you’re dying might be a kind of happiness, in a way.”
“Is that so? Well… in that case, I should be a bit gentler next time. It’s not ideal to grant such a peaceful death to those who defy the Great Khan’s mercy.”
Subutai felt a chill at his mentor’s calm tone.
“In a battlefield where lives are at stake, there’s no one else like you who could say such things, Master. Did you know? The soldiers genuinely believe you could single-handedly break through thousands of enemies and take the enemy commander’s head.”
“What nonsense. Even I wouldn’t be that reckless. But if such a person truly exists…”
For some reason, Jebe instinctively gazed at the distant western sky and murmured with a lingering thought.
“It wouldn’t be bad to cross swords with them.”