Three Kingdoms, Myth

As Cao Bao retreated with the command banner, the Danyang elite soldiers quickly fell into disarray. However, thanks to their rigorous training and numerical advantage, they managed to stabilize their formation despite being caught off guard by Cao Cao's onslaught, although their morale took a significant hit.

"These Danyang elites truly live up to their reputation as one of the most formidable large-scale forces, second only to the Xiliang Cavalry and the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry," Xun You remarked from his vantage point, watching the Danyang soldiers struggle to regain control after their commander's chaotic retreat.

Cheng Yu's face also showed a hint of concern. Although he had anticipated the strength of the Danyang elites, witnessing their prowess on the battlefield was still a shocking experience. The people of Danyang might indeed have been born for war.

Xun You's thoughts drifted back to the time when he served as a Yellow Gate Attendant in Chang'an and witnessed the power of the Xiliang Cavalry firsthand. The reality of that force was far beyond what he had imagined.

In the regular army, soldiers were typically supported by auxiliary troops. Generally, one regular soldier was accompanied by two or three auxiliaries who provided logistical support and did not participate in combat. This was the standard structure of an army where the number of auxiliary troops often outnumbered regular soldiers.

However, there were always exceptions. For example, the Danyang soldiers did not rely on auxiliaries, and the Xiliang Cavalry had their own unique setup where their auxiliary forces were actually Qiang cavalry. Xun You knew that in the early days, the Xiliang Cavalry had no need for auxiliaries. However, when Li Ru rose to power, he established a system of auxiliary troops for them.

The Xiliang region had an abundance of Qiang cavalry, who, despite not being as skilled as the Xiliang Cavalry, were still effective enough to support them in battle, particularly against infantry.

When Dong Zhuo consolidated his control over Xiliang, he had to weaken the power of the Qiang tribes while also avoiding making them feel betrayed. Thus, following Li Ru's advice, he established what could be described as the most eccentric auxiliary system in the Han Dynasty.

While other armies relied on commoners as auxiliaries, the Xiliang Cavalry used Qiang cavalry as their support. Dong Zhuo's reasoning was that the Qiang people were strong warriors who respected power. By offering them food and security, he managed to turn many of them into loyal followers.

Whether or not Dong Zhuo's words were mere flattery, the fact remained that the Qiang tribes often followed the Xiliang Cavalry wherever they went. Over time, they formed a hierarchical system where the Xiliang Cavalry sat at the top, each supported by three Qiang cavalry as auxiliaries. The Qiang cavalry, in turn, would gather their own followers, creating a pyramid structure.

This led to a rather comical situation: when the Xiliang Cavalry mobilized ten thousand troops, they actually brought along a massive force of one hundred thousand. Unlike other armies where auxiliaries didn't fight, the Qiang cavalry often engaged in battle under the leadership of the Xiliang Cavalry, easily overcoming regular infantry. Without the Xiliang Cavalry, however, the Qiang cavalry were merely a second-rate force.

The most frustrating aspect was that the Qiang cavalry had grown accustomed to following the strongest leaders. Whenever the Xiliang Cavalry passed by, the Qiang tribes would automatically provide reinforcements, eliminating the need for conscription.

Xun You, having witnessed the Xiliang Cavalry in action, understood the immense logistical burden they posed. Supporting ten thousand Xiliang Cavalry and their auxiliaries was akin to sustaining a force of two hundred thousand infantry, though their combat power justified the cost.

This was why when Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou collectively claimed to command thirty thousand iron cavalry, everyone believed them. It was also why Zhang Ji, despite his efforts to establish farming settlements, still had to resort to plundering to sustain his troops—supporting one Xiliang Cavalry meant supporting multiple auxiliaries as well.

After Li Jue and Guo Si's deaths, the leaderless Xiliang Cavalry should have faded into history due to a lack of resources. However, Ma Chao, with his martial prowess, managed to rebuild the pyramid structure of the Xiliang Cavalry. Though now consisting of more Qiang cavalry, the core remained the Xiliang Cavalry, which is why Ma Chao later posed such a threat to Cao Cao, even forcing him to shave his beard and flee.

Without the Xiliang Cavalry's leadership, the Qiang cavalry alone would never have been able to achieve such victories.

Xun You slightly frowned, doubting the strategy his uncle Xun Yu had proposed.

As he observed the chaotic battlefield, he noticed that with Cao Bao no longer issuing confusing commands, the Danyang soldiers had managed to stabilize their formation under the leadership of their centurions, sergeants, and lieutenants. Despite lacking high-level command, they began to regain control of the situation.

"Zhongde, it seems we underestimated the strength of the Danyang elites. Our infantry is still no match for them. Send orders to Xiahou Yuan and the others to proceed with the plan. To minimize our losses, we must rely on Cao Bao's chaotic commands to disrupt the Danyang soldiers' formation," Xun You instructed, turning to Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu nodded, relaying the orders to the waiting messengers who quickly mounted their horses and sped off to the south.

In just the time it took to eat a meal, Xiahou Yuan, leading his troops, had already launched a direct assault on Cao Bao's command banner from the rear. The Danyang soldiers fell into chaos once again, their efforts to stabilize the front lines undone by the confusion in the rear. The formation crumbled, and their cloud-like battle aura dissipated, leaving them in an even worse position.

"Rear units, form a defensive circle!" shouted Xu Sheng. But as a sergeant, even though he knew the correct course of action, he couldn't communicate it effectively. Meanwhile, Cao Bao's erratic orders only worsened the situation, leading to the loss of three centurions and further weakening their defense.

Before Cao Bao could make any adjustments, Xiahou Dun led another infantry assault, piercing through the Danyang formation under a rain of arrows. Xiahou Dun fought ferociously, cutting down the elite soldiers at the rear.

With the arrival of Mao Jie's third unit, the Danyang army was thrown into complete disarray. Amidst the chaos, Xiahou Yuan shot down Cao Bao's command banner from a distance. Terrified, Cao Bao could no longer suppress his fear. Screaming in panic, he abandoned control of the Danyang soldiers and fled towards the Yishui River, unable to endure the lethal atmosphere of the battlefield. He was a scholar, not a warrior!