Chapter 1156: A Test

Li Jue, Guo Si, and their forces didn't chase down the Romans at full speed. They had already loaded their single-shot crossbows, ready to unleash concentrated firepower. Over the years, they had only employed this tactic a few times, but to be the vanguard of an empire wasn’t a title that could be taken lightly.

The powerful crossbows were preloaded, three-foot-long short spears strapped on their backs, and their charge lances were replaced with fine horses from Dawan, draped in armor. Each soldier was also equipped with charging lances, backup horse-cutting blades, and large sabers for close combat.

This was probably the best-equipped Li Jue had been since he had fought the northern warlords, Beigong Boyu and Bian Zhang, under Dong Zhuo’s command. The memory of that battle, one of the few defeats for the cavalry, still lingered.

Likewise, Li Jue and his men donned full armor—layered twice over—since the three of them were spearheading the charge. Unfortunately, despite their command roles, none of them were considered top-tier fighters in terms of personal combat ability.

The speed of the Western Liang Cavalry wasn’t overwhelming, but each soldier had three horses, so they could outpace the shorter-legged Roman infantry significantly. It didn’t take long for them to spot the black line of the Roman forces on the horizon.

At the same time, Roman scouts saw the approaching cavalry, advancing at a steady pace. Though lacking the wild fury of a storm, the disciplined, forward-moving force gave the Romans the impression of a tidal wave rolling in.

Once the Roman scouts relayed this information to Canasius, the entire Roman force immediately halted and formed ranks. Unlike standard Roman legions, Canasius’s legion was composed of experienced, well-equipped soldiers, with seasoned veterans at the back to assist in command.

By the time Li Jue and his troops were within a mile of the Roman formation, the Romans had already prepared for battle.

Rows of long spears formed a continuous phalanx, with heavy infantry positioned at the front, staring coldly at the approaching cavalry, as if the battle were about to erupt at any moment.

Li Jue and his men weren’t fools. The moment they saw the Roman infantry’s well-coordinated movements, they knew this wouldn’t be an easy fight. Such a well-drilled force, which didn’t require direct commands to fall into position, was something they hadn’t seen since their campaigns with Tao Qian against the unrest in Western Liang.

But as the vanguard, it was their duty to break through tough defenses. Li Jue halted the lead cavalry about a mile from the Roman forces, while Guo Si and Fan Chou instinctively split off from behind him, flanking the Roman formation from the left and right without engaging.

Almost simultaneously, the Roman soldiers under the command of veteran officers crouched down, spears lowered, tightening their formation in preparation for defense.

Li Jue no longer viewed the Romans as mere enemies; instead, he observed their every move, mentally recording each detail for future reference. This battle was not just about victory—it was a test, and every insight into Roman tactics would be invaluable.

Guo Si and Fan Chou circled around the Romans at a slightly faster pace, probing for weaknesses.

Their speed wasn’t overwhelming, so there was little pressure on their cavalry. The distance between them and the Roman soldiers remained about a mile, well out of the range of most ancient weapons, aside from heavy artillery like ballistae, though such devices would only be used in sieges or made on-site due to their cumbersome nature.

Thus, the Romans made no rash moves in response to the circling cavalry, silently maintaining their defensive posture.

A simple circular formation, when executed by different commanders, could yield vastly different results. Under Canasius’s command, it displayed an almost miraculous effectiveness, exuding an aura of unshakable strength.

A silver-gray glow surrounded the Roman defense line, and the spears seemed to hum with the concentrated power of Roman martial discipline. Just as Li Jue had estimated, any force capable of holding its own on the world stage had to be, at the very least, of regular elite caliber.

Guo Si and Fan Chou didn’t complete a full circuit around the Roman forces. After covering only about a quarter of the distance, they realized that this wasn’t a battle they could win easily. The Roman commander was exceptionally skilled, and there were no exploitable gaps in their formation.

As they turned their horses back, Guo Si and Fan Chou began to close the distance between them and the Romans, while the Roman soldiers stood firm, like silent rocks unmoved by the waves.

At sixty paces away—just one breath away from a full charge—the Roman formation suddenly erupted with a volley of arrows. Guo Si and Fan Chou, anticipating the attack, deftly pulled back and dodged all the arrows.

Even though Roman shortbows couldn’t penetrate their armor, Guo Si and Fan Chou remembered Li Ru’s advice: never test an enemy’s attack if you can avoid it.

Canasius watched with a heavy heart as the two black streams of cavalry flowed away like water. The caution of the Han army made it clear to him that this battle wouldn’t be easy.

The Han army is too cautious. The ambushed longbowmen had no chance to act. Canasius could see the sweat beading on his infantry’s foreheads. Even elite soldiers couldn’t help but feel the psychological strain when surrounded by strong enemies who refused to attack.

Guo Si and Fan Chou’s constant advancing and retreating, at times coming close enough to feign a charge, only increased the pressure on the Romans. Their swords were raised but never struck, creating a tension even more unbearable than a decisive blow.

After regrouping behind Li Jue, both Guo Si and Fan Chou wore serious expressions. They had used nearly all the tactics Li Ru had taught them, but without success. Now, there was only one option left.

"Zhirang, this isn’t going to work. The Romans are a tough nut to crack," Fan Chou said, staring straight ahead.

"If they weren’t strong, there wouldn’t be any need for us to test them. A hard bone? Then we’ll shatter it!" Li Jue coldly declared as he pulled a crossbow from his saddle. "The Roman infantry is well-organized, but if they think that’s enough to stop us, they’re sorely mistaken!"

Every Western Liang cavalryman grabbed his lance with his left hand, using his arm to steady the shaft, while holding a crossbow in his right hand, their eyes filled with resolve. As the wind and sand swept over them, Li Jue let out a thunderous roar, and the Western Liang cavalry surged forward like a black dragon, charging toward the Roman forces.

Almost immediately, the Romans adjusted their formation. The soldiers directly facing Li Jue lowered their spears, bracing themselves for the cavalry’s charge.

At that moment, Fan Chou and Guo Si led their troops to break out even faster, flanking the Romans. In just a few breaths, they had fanned out into a wedge formation. As arrows from the Roman forces rained down upon Li Jue’s charging cavalry, the Western Liang soldiers raised their crossbows, signaling the collision between two great empires.

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