Chapter 738: Chapter 573: Hell Descends upon the World
After resting for the night, by the break of dawn the next day, as soon as the sky started to lighten up, Yang Mingzhen dispatched two thousand light Cavalry Scouts to survey the surroundings.
As daylight grew, after the soldiers have donned their Iron Armor, a troop of light cavalry rode back from the southeast direction at a gallop.
"Report, there’s a tribe fifteen miles to the southwest!"
"How large is it?"
"It’s not too big, should be around two to three thousand people," the light Cavalry Scout replied.
Yang Chengze cracked a smile and said, "What are we waiting for then? Brothers, follow me and let’s attack."
With his command, the soldiers from the right camp began to cry out, one after another, urging their horses towards the hills below.
Thousands of iron-clad cavalrymen poured down like a torrent, powerfully making their way towards the southeast.
"General, what about us?" the soldiers of the Left Camp asked, looking to Yang Mingzhen, waiting for his command.
Yang Mingzhen laughed heartily, "What’s the rush? There must be other Hu Clan tribes around. Let’s leave this wave to our brothers in the Right Camp!"
Sure enough, in just a moment, another troop of light Cavalry Scouts arrived, reporting: "Report, twenty miles to the northwest, we have discovered a tribe with about five thousand Northern barbarians!"
"Haha, brothers, there’s our food and fodder!"
Yang Mingzhen laughed loudly as he led the remaining cavalry straight towards the northwest.
...
The Alitan tribe was of medium size and belonged to the Chi Ci Tribe, as one of its satellite tribes.
The whole Alitan tribe had about five thousand people, with around one thousand six hundred capable adults. However, a while ago, the Chi Ci Tribe had summoned eight hundred of their capable adults to go to Menghe Mountain Pass, leaving only eight hundred weaker adults in the tribe.
The truly strong warriors had all gone to Menghe Mountain Pass, leaving mostly those whom the Chi Ci Tribe deemed unworthy.
Just as the sky began to brighten, the people of Alitan were getting ready to herd their cattle and sheep out to graze.
Suddenly, a rumbling sound of horse hoofbeats echoed, heard by many within the tribe, leaving them confused and stepping out of their yurts, with quite a few elders’ faces suddenly changing color.
"It’s a large-scale cavalry charge!" an elder warned.
But most of the tribespeople didn’t become vigilant at that time, only staring blankly in the direction of the sound.
Although Alitan was poor, they hadn’t participated in wars for many years, and under the management of the Chi Ci Tribe, they only took care of herding.
This time, the drafting of their adults by the Chi Ci Tribe was the first time in over a decade.
An old man with a cane hurried to the eastern side of the tribe looking out, as beneath the sky awash with a red dawn, rows of dark shadows were rushing forth.
The rising sun was too blinding, and the old man raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light.
The sound of horse hooves grew closer, and the figures the old man saw became clearer.
Suddenly, the elder’s face twisted in panic, "They’re not our warriors, it’s an enemy raid, an enemy raid!"
With a hoarse shout, he threw his cane aside and swiftly ran into the tribe’s camp.
"Prepare for battle!"
This sudden warning plunged the people of Alitan into chaos.
Men, women, the elderly, and the young grabbed their weapons and mounted their war horses, but many more were overwhelmed with panic, trying to flee in all directions.
The Alitan tribe had only a few short minutes.
Before their able-bodied men could gather, Yang Chengze had already charged into their lands.
"Kill, leave none!" Yang Chengze, wielding a long spear, flipped over a fleeing young adult and bellowed.
The next moment, hell descended upon the earth.
Sharp edges tore through flesh, bright red blood stained the grassland, the yurts, and the cattle and sheep.
Roars, screams, and cries of anguish sounded a tragic symphony under the bright morning sun.
The grassland in May was beautiful, with gentle sunshine, a soft breeze, and was the most vibrant - usually the favorite time of year for herders and their livestock.
Yet, in this most beautiful season, a brutal massacre unfolded.
Yang Chengze pierced the chest of a seven or eight-year-old Hu Clan boy with his spear, then glaring furiously at the soft-hearted soldiers beside him, he shouted, "Remember, not a single one should be spared!"
The soldiers, somewhat flustered, replied, "Yes, sir!"
At that moment, Yang Chengze’s demeanor was firm, his eyes cold, resembling a being devoid of any emotion.
He was no longer the simple village youth; he had experienced numerous cruel wars.
From Yang Zhenshan at Linguan Castle, to the annihilation of the East Sea Hu Clan, and Ji Feiyu’s rebellion - the wars had long since toughened his resolve.
Perhaps for many young soldiers from Chongshan Town, the Hu Clan was not a loathsome existence.
But for the elders of Chongshan Town, the Hu Clan was an unforgivable presence.
Countless people had died under the blades of the Hu Clan.
When the Wuliang Hu Clan invaded Liaoxi, countless millions of civilians were killed or injured there—their homes destroyed, and many lost their wives and children.
The Hu Clan and Da Rong have an ancient blood feud that goes back generations.
Put aside any notions of human nature’s good or evil—here, it was eye for an eye, blood for blood.
The Wuliang Hu Clan showed no mercy in Beiyuan Town, and Yang Chengze could not afford to be tender-hearted in the heartlands of the Wuliang.
Once the slaughter knife was raised, only blood could wash away any misplaced kindness.
Two hours later, all that was left in Alitan’s territory were bodies and blood.
The cattle and sheep had been driven away, and all the grain and dried meat were plundered. The torn yurts fluttered in the gentle breeze, and the blood-stained grass leaves sparkled under the sunlight.
Alitan was just the first.
In the following days, Yang Mingzhen and Yang Chengze split up, each leading Left and Right Camps, transforming into two unrestrained beasts.