Chapter 127: An Easy Victory

Upon hearing this, Bo stroked his beard and smiled, explaining, "We have 'wicked metal' here as well, but after it is forged, it is too brittle to be of any use. I have seen it before, which is why I recognized it. However, I have no idea how effective a sword made from this wicked metal might be."

Hearing that there were iron deposits here, Meng Di felt a surge of joy. If that were the case, could he not acquire even more ironware here? Seeing how interested the other party was, he reached out, drew his iron sword, and gave it a casual swing.

The corner of the wooden table in front of them was sheared off instantly, yet the iron sword remained completely unscathed. Unlike bronze swords, iron swords could be forged with greater thickness, allowing for more powerful strikes.

This sight filled Bo and Meng with both astonishment and envy. They had never imagined that "wicked metal" could be used to forge such a sharp and formidable blade; their eyes shone with desire.

Observing their reaction, Meng Di had his guard remove the scabbard, then inserted the sword into it and said to Meng, "Since we have agreed upon the terms of our cooperation today, let this precious sword be a gift to the chieftain."

Meng was overjoyed. After receiving it with both hands, he could not help but draw it out to examine it repeatedly. He then pulled out his own bronze sword and struck the two blades together. With a sharp clang, the bronze sword snapped in two, while the iron sword remained perfectly intact.

This left Meng beyond delighted. He carefully sheathed the sword and offered his thanks, "Many thanks to you, noble one, for this gift. As long as you do not forsake us, our tribe will surely serve you with all our heart and strength."

Early the next morning, Meng Di had everything prepared. Upon reaching the designated battlefield, he first ordered his men to dig a series of trenches. On the side facing the enemy, the earth was piled up like a mound, while the other side formed a pit.

The pits were not deep, but they were a full meter and a half wide, designed primarily to slow the momentum of the chariots. They were arranged in three rows; the cavalry could easily leap over them, while the infantry and armored soldiers were divided into two lines, with the armored troops in the rear and the infantry in the front. In this era, everyone favored chariot warfare, so this method was a simple yet effective counter.

Once preparations were complete, Meng Di turned to Meng and said, "Now that everything is ready, Chieftain, just wait for the battle to begin. However, it would be best if you did not use your chariots. Keep a firm grip on your weapons, and when you see the enemy begin to crumble, charge forward together."

Meng felt a sense of unease. Meng Di’s forces totaled barely three thousand men, while the Tiger Tribe could field four or five thousand even if they only deployed half their strength. Under such circumstances, he lacked any confidence in the outcome. Yet, seeing the confident smile on Meng Di’s face, he could not help but feel a flicker of hope, and he nodded heavily.

At that moment, Meng Di waved his hand, and five hundred cavalrymen swarmed out, charging directly toward the Tiger Tribe.

The Tiger Tribe had long since discovered them, and their chariots began to roll out one after another. However, setting up their chariot formation was time-consuming, and before they could fully organize, Meng Di’s forces were already prepared.

Because of the vast difference in numbers, the Tiger Tribe had deployed over seventy chariots, followed by dense, endless ranks of infantry. Their numerical advantage made them entirely unconcerned about the outcome of the battle.

The cavalry took advantage of the unfinished formation to cut down many of the infantry, but as soon as the enemy chariots were in position, they immediately wheeled around and retreated.

On the lead chariot of the enemy, a command banner waved, and dozens of chariots began to advance in a steady line. However, the cavalry was far too fast, leaving the chariots far behind. They leapt over the first line of mounds and did not stop until they reached the second, where they rested.

As the charging chariots crossed the first mound, they faltered, their speed dropping significantly; two of them were even damaged beyond use. The infantry behind them had to put in great effort just to push the stalled chariots out of the way.

Meng Di smiled. The effect of the mounds was even better than he had anticipated. He gave the order, and leading his two hundred armored soldiers, he advanced to join the infantry in front. They formed a defensive line, ready to meet the coming clash. The enemy chariots did not give up, believing that their superior numbers—even just their infantry—would be enough to win the day.

But as the two sides collided, the tribal soldiers were struck by a chilling realization: the two hundred armored soldiers in the front were unstoppable. Their own bronze swords could not inflict any damage on them, and whenever their weapons clashed with the enemy's, they would shatter instantly. How could one fight such a battle? It was beyond their comprehension.

Chaos immediately erupted among the front lines. The infantry then flanked from both sides, further compressing the enemy's space. The chariots that had just crossed the mounds were blocked by the retreating infantry, trapped and unable to move.

The cavalry then launched a pincer movement, circling around to the rear. Seeing the tide of battle, Meng, who was watching from behind, was stunned. He had never imagined that a war could be fought in such a manner. Suddenly invigorated, he led his men into the fray.

The outcome of a battle is often decided in a heartbeat, especially when one's own advantages are rendered useless, inevitably leading to panic—and such panic is fatal.

At that moment, the enemy chose to surrender. Meng Di felt the battle had been too easy; it had ended almost as soon as it began. Within moments, the Tiger chieftain was bound and brought before him. Meng Di smiled and asked, "Since you have lost, I ask you: do you submit or not?"

The Tiger chieftain looked at Meng Di, then at Meng, his face full of defiance. "If we had the same armor and swords as you, you would not necessarily be our match."

Meng Di said nothing more, simply waving his hand to have him led away. He then said to Meng, "The battle is over. Go and enjoy the fruits of your victory."

Meng was delighted and led his men toward the Tiger Tribe to plunder their people and wealth. In this age, warfare was primarily about seizing women and children; as for the able-bodied men, there were only two fates: surrender or death.

Standing on the hillside, watching everything unfold below, Meng Di looked toward the captive Tiger chieftain and said, "I will give you a chance. If you are willing to surrender to me, then one day, you too shall possess armor and swords such as those of my army."