Iron Dynasty Chapter 1021

Dolgor restlessly paced back and forth inside the Golden Tent.

Kasimov's cavalry had pursued Gubat for a full day without any updates, leaving him deeply troubled.

“Kasimov acts too boldly. The Great Yu Empire’s cavalry lie just to the east. Who does he think he is!” Angel complained with frustration. As commander of the Golden Tent guards, his main responsibility was safeguarding Dolgor, yet the Tsarist Russians' reckless behavior had postponed their journey to Saint Petersburg.

Dolgor halted before Angel, a flash of intense bitterness crossing his gaze. Whenever the Great Yu Empire's name reached his ears, a surge of profound loathing stirred within him.

In the depths of his sleepless nights, he constantly regretted ignoring Baishan’s counsel to strike the Great Yu Empire earlier, allowing them time to recover.

“We cannot gamble any longer with Kasimov. That idiot seeks only to curry favor with the Queen, but our grudge runs deep. Only reaching Saint Petersburg safely will offer us future vengeance.”

Gazing at the sinking sun in the west, he declared, “Order the tribesmen to gather their supplies. We march through the night.”

Angel nodded and exited the Golden Tent. But as he glanced upward, a thick cluster of indistinct shapes appeared nearby, instantly putting him on alert.

He swiftly drew his monocular telescope from his belt for a closer inspection. However, with the fading evening light, he couldn't make out the faces of the approaching group. What stood out clearly was their distinctive tall, cylindrical hats worn by the Cossack cavalry.

Recognizing their gear, Angel relaxed. He called out to Dolgor within the Golden Tent, “Khan, Kasimov has come back.”

Upon hearing this, Dolgor's face lit up with delight. He stepped out and peered eastward. Sure enough, a substantial cavalry unit advanced toward them. Their clothing confirmed they were Cossack riders.

“Kasimov shows some skill. I never thought he'd make it back unharmed. Now, did they manage to eliminate Gubat? Come on, let's find out.”

With those words, Dolgor guided Angel and the Golden Tent guards, weaving through camps toward the open grassland ahead.

Unbeknownst to him, these impostor troops weren't Cossacks at all, but Qi Guangyi and Gubat, arriving to claim his life.

Once the valley clash concluded, he promptly instructed his men to don fresh attire for the dusk assault.

After careful consideration, he directed the rifle cavalry to switch into complete Tsarist Russian outfits, while Gubat's horsemen trailed them, ready to lead the charge.

Feng Dongjin stayed back to handle the aftermath and watch over the captured Cossacks.

“Brothers, get ready for combat! Chief Scribe Feng is readying savory roasted lamb. Once we finish this fight, we'll return for a feast of meat and wine!” As they neared the barbarian main camp, Qi Guangyi bellowed.

The troops responded with enthusiastic shouts. Then, following the strategy, they readied their carbines.

Five hundred meters, four hundred meters. At three hundred meters out, the rifle cavalry abruptly urged their mounts into a gallop.

For a warhorse, three hundred meters passed in mere seconds. The rifle cavalry unleashed their shots, and at fifty meters from the camp, rather than pressing forward, they wheeled their horses sharply. The unit divided into two flanks, flowing around like water parting against a rock.

Gubat, expert in melee, directed his tribal horsemen to surge forward with curved blades straight at the Golden Tent core.

As Dolgor watched the enemy horses speed up, dread gripped his heart like icy winter. The ensuing gunfire blasts shattered any lingering hope.

The Golden Tent guards beside him, set to greet Kasimov, fell in droves from the initial barrage. Then, he spotted Gubat, the betrayer of the Golden Tent Khanate, thundering toward him like a harbinger of doom.

Terror momentarily froze Dolgor, but he snapped to, spun on his heel, and bolted for the Golden Tent.

Yet it proved futile. Gubat's cavalry swept through the camp like a raging tempest. The Golden Tent riders, lounging in expectation of the Cossacks, perished often without a chance to respond.

Meanwhile, Qi Guangyi kept busy, commanding his men to strike at will.

Now, the soldiers unleashed volleys on the barbarian horsemen inside. Even those with powerful throws hurled grenades into the midst, heightening the chaos among the Golden Tent cavalry.

Trapped in this unexpected raid, the 60,000 Golden Tent cavalry scattered in panic like leaderless insects, failing to mount any solid defense.

Having sealed the perimeter, Qi Guangyi drove his riders inward from the edges, steadily squeezing the foes.

“Bang bang bang…”

“Boom…”

Gunfire and blasts pierced the growing twilight with vivid intensity, yet for the Golden Tent cavalry, it spelled utter horror.

The mere mention of “rifle cavalry” had already sown fear. Combined with Gubat's vengeful fury, they crumbled after just one hour of battle. The barbarians set to relocate alongside the Golden Tent quaked even more, offering no fight.

Surrounded by his Golden Tent guards, Dolgor darted about desperately. But wherever he turned, shadows of the Great Yu Empire’s rifle cavalry loomed.

Confronting this flawless blockade, desperation consumed him. Yet as he pushed westward, an eerie silence greeted him there. It appeared the Great Yu Empire had overlooked securing this front.

This discovery thrilled Dolgor. He rallied the Golden Tent guards and broke west in escape.

In the shadows, Qi Guangyi observed the barbarian camp aglow from flaming tents. Its vastness rivaled the three great tribes' setups. He figured at least 700,000 souls readied to follow Dolgor.

Of those 700,000, 60,000 formed the Golden Tent's protective cavalry. Their abrupt strike had stripped these warriors of any fighting spirit.

The leftover barbarians might muster some resistance, but toothless wolves couldn't challenge their fully armed pack.

Any barbarian grasping a weapon met instant death by shot.

“Commander, cavalry approaching,” a nearby guard informed Qi Guangyi.

At this, Qi Guangyi scanned the glow. True, a cavalry group neared, but the night concealed them, as firelight limited sight to its reach.

Exploiting this visual flaw, he had crafted this snare deliberately, a ploy he'd employed before.

“Fire!”

Against the onrushing cavalry, Qi Guangyi ordered the assault. Through the thick barrage, the fleeing barbarian riders toppled one by one.

Dolgor took a hit and tumbled down. His final sight was the myriad flames erupting in the black void.