Chapter 28: The Might of a Chinese Kingdom
Far to the north, where the icy breath of the Kingdom of the Frozen Peaks swept across the land, the Great Wall of China stood as an eternal sentinel, stretching across the rugged terrain like a stone dragon. Its imposing height and unyielding presence were symbols of the empire's resilience, a line that no invader had crossed in centuries.
The calm of the snowy plains was shattered when the Mongolian Empire, led by Khan Batu, unleashed their thunderous charge. A sea of cavalry riders, draped in crimson and gold, surged toward the wall like an unstoppable avalanche. Their banners flapped wildly in the freezing wind, and their cries of war pierced the silence.
At the vanguard rode Batu himself, his steely gaze fixed on the wall. A colossal figure atop a powerful black steed, the Mongolian Khan raised his spear high. "Today, the Wall falls! Forward!"
Behind him, trebuchets creaked and groaned, hurling massive boulders that arced through the sky like fiery meteors. The stones crashed into the Wall, sending shockwaves through its ancient structure.
Within moments, the garrison of Chinese forces stationed at the Wall sprang into action. This was no ordinary army; they were the Guards of the Dragon's Shield, a regiment renowned for their discipline and skill.
Captain Lǐ Xiāo, a seasoned warrior with piercing hawk-like eyes, stood at the watchtower, his fur-lined armor glinting in the pale sunlight. He watched the Mongolian army with a calm intensity, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade.
"Sound the drums," he commanded, his voice steady.
The deep, resonant boom of war drums echoed across the wall, their rhythm a heartbeat of defiance. Soldiers swarmed to their positions with precision, their movements choreographed like a well-rehearsed dance. Archers lined the battlements, their bows drawn taut, while engineers adjusted massive ballistae that gleamed like dragons ready to unleash their fury.
As the Mongolian cavalry thundered closer, a volley of arrows darkened the sky. The Chinese archers released in perfect unison, their arrows cutting through the air like falling stars. They struck the charging cavalry with deadly accuracy, felling horses and riders alike.
The trebuchets retaliated, another boulder smashing into the Wall, creating a fissure. Khan Batu roared with approval, urging his troops forward. "The Wall is weak! Breach it now!"
But the Wall was far from weak.
Captain Lǐ raised his hand, signaling the counterattack. From the depths of the Wall, concealed gates swung open, and a squadron of elite cavalry surged forth. These riders, clad in gleaming armor and wielding spears tipped with jade, were the Storm Riders, an elite force trained to meet invaders head-on.
The Storm Riders moved like a tempest, their horses galloping in tight formations. They slammed into the Mongolian flanks with devastating force, their spears piercing through armor with precision.
Above, the ballistae fired. Massive bolts, as thick as tree trunks, streaked across the battlefield. One struck a trebuchet, shattering it into splinters and sending Mongolian engineers scrambling for cover. Another bolt tore through a line of cavalry, the force of the impact scattering the riders like leaves in the wind.
Khan Batu bellowed in rage, his spear flashing as he rallied his troops. "Hold your ground! Push forward!"
But the Chinese forces were unyielding. Captain Lǐ unleashed another wave of archers, their arrows igniting mid-flight with alchemical fire. The burning projectiles rained down on the Mongolian trebuchets, reducing them to blazing ruins.
Meanwhile, at the breached section of the Wall, engineers worked with astonishing speed, repairing the damage with massive stone blocks hauled up by cranes. A contingent of infantry, wielding heavy shields and halberds, formed an impenetrable phalanx to protect the repair efforts.
As the battle reached its crescendo, Captain Lǐ gave the signal for the ultimate maneuver. Hidden atop the Wall were massive cauldrons filled with boiling oil and molten metal. With a coordinated effort, the defenders tipped the cauldrons, unleashing a torrent of liquid fire onto the advancing Mongolian forces.
The invaders screamed as the searing liquid tore through their ranks, forcing them into a chaotic retreat. The Storm Riders pursued them relentlessly, cutting down any who dared to linger.
Khan Batu, now surrounded by the remnants of his once-mighty army, glared at the Wall with seething hatred. But even he could not deny the truth: the Wall stood undefeated, its defenders as unshakable as the mountains.
"Fall back!" he commanded, his voice tinged with bitter resignation.
As the Mongolian forces retreated into the snowy horizon, the Chinese soldiers erupted in cheers. The Wall stood tall, unmarred by the invaders' assault.
Captain Lǐ stood at the battlements, his expression calm but his eyes alight with pride. "Let this be a lesson," he said softly, his voice carried by the wind. "The Wall is not just stone and mortar. It is the strength of a people who will never yield."
Far below, the battlefield lay silent, the snow stained red. Above, the Great Wall loomed, a symbol of unbroken defiance against all who dared to challenge it.
The Empire had spoken, not with words, but with action.
And the world would remember.
AN: Even without Po China stands strong, but I am no Kingdom, give me Powerstones, so that we can be just as formidable as The Chinese Empires and even Po, Tai Lung, and the Furious Five.