Launch the attack

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the steppe in the bruised purples of a coming storm. The tactical dilemma was clear: to storm a hill is to invite a rain of arrows. Sun Tzu advocated for caution when needed, but be more active when the oppurtunities present itself. "We shall split our forces," you declared, your voice low but absolute. "A small contingent of riders will circle the far side of the hill. Every man will carry ten torches. When night falls, they will light the darkness until the steppe glows like a city. The barbarians would believe your entire army sits at their back. Meanwhile, we shall move the main **** through the shadow of the valley. They will be looking at the light while the blade finds their throat."

By the hour of the Rat, the plan was started under your order. From your position in the dark, you saw the decoy fires roaring on the opposite horizon, drawing the panicked shouts of the sentries toward the rear. Under the shroud of a moonless sky, you led the crawl, silently making your way to the fortress. Eventually, your platoons reached the base of those crude wooden walls undetected.

At your signal, ladders were put against the walls and your men began making their way up the walls. A few dozens had made their way up the wall when the first men were detected. "Scale the walls!" you shouted, as you jump up a ladder, using your Qi to quickly scale up. You jumped over the wall and quickly made your way to the middle of the camp. Amidst the chaos of your forces and the defenders, you saw him, a monster of a man. It was clear who the leader of the barbarian was.

"I am Warrior Xue Yun," you said, introducing yourself, as you made the salutation gesture.

"I am Bato Khan," the man answered, brandishing a broad sword.

You held out your sword to a nearby soldier who took it, bowed slightly, retreated. You then settled into Awakening Dragon stance.

"What is this?" Bato Khan demanded.

"You're free to attack me with weapons," you said. "Your Head Cleaver is well known for having claimed the lives of many people, innocents and criminals alike. However, I will prove it to be inadequate against my Dragon Rising to the Heaven."

Bato Kahn lunged at you with a guttural roar.

Head Cleaver versus Dragon Fighting in a Bush. He ended up jumping away, seeing that his attack met nothing and was rendered ineffective.

You took the oppurtunity to go after him. Dragon Clawing the Mountain versus Head Cleaver. Your hand swiped against his armor, larcerating through it and drawing blood.

Bato Khan growled and renewed his attack. You find yourself admiring his tenacity as you expected that he would have realized by now that he had no way of winning against you. You channel your Qi into your fists.

Twin Dragon versus Head Cleaver.

The twin strikes landed on Bato Kahn. The barbarian gasped, the fire leaving his eyes, and slumped into the dust of his own stronghold.

As their leader fell, the spirit of the barbarian broke. They dropped their weapons, kneeling in the mud as your men let out a roar of triumph that echoed off the hills. The looting began, but as you wiped your blade clean, a commander beckoned you toward what seemed to be Bato Khan's tent.

You stepped inside and realized why the "butcher" had fought with such suicidal ferocity.