The end of September brought both a golden harvest and a withering intent to kill. Xiulote led his army eastward for eighty or ninety miles and finally arrived at the camp of Jiowar. His gaze swept across the undulating hills along the way, and in the distance, towering mountains rose majestically. The dust of the troops ascended in the winding mountain paths, while the fallen leaves of the sparse trees fluttered amidst the hills.
"The Eastern Madre mountain range truly rises magnificently!"
Throughout the journey, Xiulote felt deeply moved. The Pamus Valley lay to the northeast of the Red Fox Valley, deep within the Eastern Madre Mountains. The distance between the two valleys was about one hundred and seventy miles, all along rugged, winding mountain roads. These paths varied in width and were obstructed by forests, making it extremely difficult for the army to pass through.
"To conquer the Guajili Canine Descendants in the North, I had thought we would duel and pursue them over the flat wilderness, but it turned out to be a laborious trek through the mountains, attacking mountain strongholds!"
Thinking of this, Xiulote shook his head and chuckled ruefully. The Guajili Canine Descendants had no herds; they were a tenacious nomadic hunting people, accustomed to the wilderness and mountains. They moved like the wind, and when encountering a powerful enemy, it was only natural for them to hide in the wilderness and flee for hundreds of miles. But now, besieged by the need for food, they remained in the two valleys, defending from a position of strength.
"Raise the Royal Banner, summon Jiowar over!"
Soon, the Royal Banner of Black Wolf was erected on a hill outside the camp. Xiulote ascended to a higher position, overlooking the terrain around him and surveying the enemy camp. Jiowar, too, was very careful, accompanying the King at his side.
"Jiowar, you’ve fought a battle against the Red Dog Alliance before, losing a thousand men."
Xiulote looked at the massive Canine camp and then at the dense forests nearby the camp.
"What about the Red Dog Alliance, how formidable are they?"
"Your Highness, the Guajili people are divided into five parts, with the Red Dog Tribe at the forefront, but their combat strength varies,"
Jiowar pondered for a moment before answering frankly.
"The direct lineage of the Red Dog Tribe is quite capable in battle, slightly less strong than my elite troops when lined up in formation, but stronger than the Ottopan Warriors in forest combat. However, they are very cunning, always avoiding head-on battles with the legions."
Then, Jiowar paused, his expression tinged with indignation. He leaned forward, protesting like a domestic dog,
"Your Highness, the Red Dog Alliance has a large number of red-haired Hunters. Their tactics are extremely flexible. They would harass us at night, preventing the Samurai from resting, and even launch night raids. They use tactics of provocation and feigned retreat to lure the legions into the forests and then engage in melee. Half of the thousand men I lost were ambushed and killed in the forest after engaging in fight without orders. They’re also extremely despicable, concentrating a large number of Divine Archers to snipe at leaders... Your Highness, please use the Chief Divine’s mana to destroy the enemy! If not for the Copper Armor you bestowed upon me, I would have already gone to the Divine Kingdom..."
"Night harassment? Provocation and feigned defeat? Skirmishes in the forest, decapitation tactics? It all seems so familiar..."
Xiulote pondered silently.
"The Red Dog Alliance is like a pack of wolves on the wilderness, leaning more towards offensive combat. Even when both armies face each other, they persistently take the initiative to attack, creating pressure on the opponent. The Canine Descendants’ weakness lies in their simple equipment and impulsive nature. They have poor discipline and aren’t good at defending."
The King reflected, looking toward the opposite side again. It seemed the Red Dog Tribe had noticed the arrival of reinforcements for the Alliance, and once more they sent out several hundred-man teams of elites to harass the camp with Archery. Among them, three teams headed towards the Black Wolf’s Royal Banner through the woods.
"Your Highness, there are also small squads of Canine Descendants hidden in the woods! The enemy is attacking, do you wish to return to the main camp temporarily..."
Bertade observed the birds in the woods for a while and suggested in a grave tone.
"There’s no need! A thousand Longbow trusted aides, five hundred Jaguar warriors, all donned in Armor. Why should I hide?"
Xiulote smiled and gave his command loudly.
"Bertade, I give you five hundred Longbow trusted aides, go and meet the Canine Hunters head on!"
The Head Warrior nodded. He personally led the Longbow trusted aides to the front of the hill, forming a loose defensive formation. In just a moment, figures with red hair also formed into loose formation, rushing towards them like the wind.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
From a higher vantage, with a hundred paces between them, the trusted aides began to let fly their arrows. The fierce rain of arrows whistled forth, felling several Hunters. Hundreds of Canine Hunters all crouched low, using the cover of the trees and hills, surrounding from all directions like a pack of wolves on the hunt in the wilderness. In no time, the two sides had closed to within fifty paces of each other and began to exchange fire.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
The Canine Hunters suddenly stood upright and fired their arrows furiously at the trusted aides. The precise Bone Arrows flew toward their targets, aiming for the vital spots on the chest, but were blocked by the Copper Armor, making a clanging metallic noise upon impact. The trusted aides did not dodge; squinting their eyes, they shot their arrows steadily. Soon, six to seventy bodies of Canine Warriors lay at the foot of the hill.
"Awoo!"
The Canine Warriors lurking in the forest finally arrived. Two hundred Canine Warriors burst out of the nearest woodland, charging toward the fluttering Black Wolf Banner. Xiulote’s expression remained unchanged as he waved the command banner.
"Roar!"
Two hundred Jaguar Warriors let out tiger roars. Clad in Copper Armor and holding shields, they suddenly lunged forward a few steps and hurled their Javelins! The heavy Javelins tore through the air, instantly piercing through the charging Canine Warriors, who fell screaming with wounds that could not be treated. A hit from a Javelin meant certain death. Then, the Jaguar Warriors pulled out their War Clubs and began to kill indiscriminately.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
The rain of arrows soared back and forth while the Canine Hunters were completely scattered, pinned down by the trusted aides, unable to raise their heads. Their arrows stuck into the thick hides of the enemy, hitting vital spots, but their opponents were unscathed. A single arrow from the trusted aides could penetrate the Hunters’ Cotton Armor and leave them seriously wounded or dead.
"Captain Uman, we can’t fight this! The other side has thick hides; we should retreat!"
Amoxtli, hunched down, hiding behind a rock, whispered to the Red Dog Captain.
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"Shooting like this is pointless! In the Red Fox Valley, we fought with the Cactus Warriors many times! To take down one with such thick hide, it takes five or six warriors attacking at the same time. They also wear helmets; if you want to shoot them, you must hit the lower leg or the throat!"
"Dammit! Don’t compare the cowards of the Red Fox Valley with the warriors of our Red Dog Tribe!"
Uman cursed out loud. Doubting such beliefs, he again peeked out and aimed at the leading Samurai, releaseing an arrow straight for the throat!
The dangerous sound of the arrow splitting the air preceded his reaction. Bertade ducked slightly and sidestepped, and the arrow grazed past his helmet, dragging out a grating metallic screech. Then, the Head Warrior turned sharply, fixing Uman with a piercing stare and drew his Longbow.
"Swoosh!"
Amoxtli yanked Uman back forcefully, pulling him behind the boulder. A sharp Copper Arrow grazed their red hair, "thunking" into the soil, burying two inches deep!
"Ah!"
Uman’s face turned pale, and his body trembled. He managed to get up from the ground and was about to shoot back.
"Captain Uman! The warriors ambushing us have been routed by the Tiger-heads! We stand no chance at a sneak attack now; let’s retreat quickly!"
Amoxtli held Uman down again, strenuously advising him. Uman was a personal guard to the Chieftain Chichika of the Red Dog Tribe and a warrior who couldn’t afford to fall here!
Over the past two days, Amoxtli had been forcibly conscripted by the Chieftain of the Red Dog Tribe into the camp to serve as his retinue. The Red Dog Chieftain frequently asked him for information about the Southern Tribes. He replied faithfully, while quietly learning the Chieftain’s methods of disciplining the tribe. Today, the Black Wolf’s banner approached from the western mountain pass. He advised the Chieftain that the God of Death Great Chief was near and that they should retreat quickly; the Red Dog Chieftain was noncommittal. Uman suggested a proactive sneak attack, which Chichika approved with a nod, further tasking Amoxtli, who was familiar with the Cactus Tribe, to strike alongside.
"The God of Death Great Chief’s Mana is boundless, with countless thick hides at his side; how could he be so easily ambushed?"
Amoxtli lamented in his heart.
"This battle"