"Kill!"
The cavalry had arrived, and it was time for the real counterattack.
Zhang Han and the others didn't hesitate, charging forward directly with Lin Tian.
Cavalry charges were an absolute disaster for infantry.
The impact was too great, and the speed too fast; ordinary infantry were no match for cavalry.
Not to mention that Lin Tian's cavalry were equipped with the cavalry's three-piece set.
They fought with ease and without restraint.
In an instant, a large number of Zhao soldiers died under their swords, screams constantly echoing.
But even so, Sima Shang showed no intention of turning back.
"It must be the things they've attached to the warhorses, it must be those things that have greatly increased their cavalry's strength!"
"I must send this news back, and we must equip our Zhao cavalry with these magical things!"
"Then, our Zhao cavalry will surely become immensely powerful and crush Qin!!"
With this thought, Sima Shang no longer cared about the lives of other soldiers.
He would even be willing to sacrifice the lives of a hundred thousand troops for this cavalry equipment.
This cavalry equipment was likely a crucial reliance for Zhao's rise.
Therefore, he charged forward recklessly, solely focused on escaping the battlefield.
But what he didn't know was that his appearance on the battlefield had already drawn Lin Tian's attention.
"Still trying to leave?"
Seeing Sima Shang about to flee, Lin Tian ignored everyone else and headed straight for him.
His speed was astonishing, making everyone tremble.
The Zhao soldiers, seeing Lin Tian's actions, became even more worried.
"General, be careful!!"
"General, run quickly, Qin's Lin Tian is catching up!!"
"Protect the general, quickly protect the general!!"
Although the Zhao army was still in retreat, they were still willing to protect Sima Shang.
Therefore, sensing Sima Shang was in danger, a large number of soldiers surrounded him, attempting to block Lin Tian and stall for time.
However, despite their numbers, their combat effectiveness was poor.
In front of Lin Tian, they were like vegetables in a field, easily cut down.
Many lost their heads simply by approaching.
Their attempts to intercept Lin Tian caused him no obstruction whatsoever.
The distance between Lin Tian and Sima Shang continued to shrink.
Sima Shang looked back and was startled.
He realized that Lin Tian had no intention of letting him go.
This filled him with dread. He wanted to escape, to relay the information about the cavalry equipment to General Li Mu, and to see it popularized among the army.
If he could achieve this, their Zhao cavalry would undoubtedly become unprecedentedly powerful.
With this thought, he whipped his horse faster and faster.
"Giddy-up! Giddy-up!"
Sima Shang, riding his prized steed, galloped with all his might.
He hoped to increase the distance between himself and Lin Tian with speed.
But the warhorse beneath Lin Tian seemed to be faster. Despite his constant acceleration, he couldn't widen the gap.
He could even feel a sharp, chilling aura approaching him.
It felt as though if he were any slower, he would die by Lin Tian's sword.
This was incredibly terrifying for Sima Shang.
At the same time, he sensed death drawing near.
His heart skipped a beat, and then he shouted loudly:
"Qin has equipped their warhorses with saddles and placed footrests beneath the saddles, which is why their cavalry's combat strength is so great!"
"If anyone survives, they must pass this message on!"
"Whether our Zhao cavalry can become stronger hinges on this!"
Sima Shang clearly felt that he would not survive. Thus, he directly revealed the secret he had discovered.
He knew he wouldn't survive, but he hoped the surviving Zhao soldiers would convey this message back to Zhao.
To this end, he shouted repeatedly until Lin Tian was right in front of him before he stopped.
He straightened his appearance, trying to appear composed.
"Lin Tian of Qin, I have indeed heard much of your name!"
"May I know the name of this wise general?"
"Sima Shang!"
"So it is General Sima. I too have long heard your name! However, today, General Sima will likely be buried here!"
"As expected, but even so, I still wish to fight General Lin Tian!"
"And victory will ultimately belong to our Zhao!"
Sima Shang knew he was no match for Lin Tian and could no longer escape. Dying at Lin Tian's hands was inevitable.
But even so, Sima Shang was willing to fight with all his might.
A general should fight bravely, and die on the battlefield!
As Sima Shang raised his weapon, Lin Tian revealed a look of admiration.
Such a dignified general was indeed rare.
Therefore, he acted swiftly, dispatching Sima Shang with a single sword stroke.
After killing Sima Shang, he did not sever his head.
Instead, he said to Wang Wu beside him:
"After the war ends, give this Zhao general a proper burial!"
"Yes!"
Wang Wu sensed that Lin Tian admired this General Sima.
He was not surprised by this, as even he felt a sense of admiration for Sima Shang.
A proper burial was more than fitting.
Of course, the most important task now was to end this war.
The next moment, Lin Tian spoke again.
"Sima Shang is dead. Those who surrender will be spared!"
"Those who do not surrender will be exterminated!!"
Lin Tian's goal was simple: to completely control the situation and prevent anyone from escaping.
The secret of the cavalry's three-piece set should be kept as confidential as possible.
After all, Qin's enemies were not just Zhao, but also Yan, Chu, and other states.
If they were to secretly develop their cavalry strength while Qin and Zhao were at war, it would pose a problem for Qin.
With this in mind, not a single Zhao soldier on the battlefield managed to escape.
Many had already fled far away, but just as they felt joy at their escape, an arrow shot towards them, killing them on the spot.
Under Lin Tian's orders, many archers monitored the perimeter, ready to fire upon anyone attempting to flee.
Not only that, but Lin Tian also dispatched pursuers to chase them down.
Thus, after half a day of intense activity, Lin Tian had completely secured the situation, allowing no one to escape and establishing absolute control.
Lin Tian's army also suffered significant losses, with as many as ten thousand men falling on the battlefield.
However, after this great battle, the soldiers under Lin Tian had undergone a transformative change.
Their combat experience had become richer, and their fighting methods more ferocious.
Having endured true, brutal combat, their battle experience had improved, and their overall combat effectiveness had increased by ten to twenty percent.
...