The appearance of the firebombs was like a forbidden weapon to the Xiongnu cavalry. Their warhorses, utterly unaccustomed to the explosive sounds and infernos of the firebombs, lost all composure. A raging inferno engulfed them, causing utter chaos. Below Yanmen Pass, they broke and fled in disarray. What had begun as a fierce assault was immediately halted by the firebombs.
Simultaneously, Lin Tian's army's offensive momentum did not wane. On the contrary, seeing the Xiongnu cavalry in disarray, their volleys of arrows intensified. Vast swathes of arrows rained down, inflicting heavy casualties on the Xiongnu. The logs and boulders, which had been rolled down from Yanmen Pass, were ignited by the firebombs, creating even larger conflagrations. Many warhorses were roasted alive amidst the flames.
Even the Xiongnu cavalry further back were struck with terror. Their warhorses reared on their hooves, refusing to charge forward. Many Xiongnu riders desperately tried to control their mounts, urging them onward, but they found themselves utterly unable to do so. The warhorses, which had served them for years, no longer heeded their commands. Yanmen Pass, standing before them like an impregnable fortress, was a place their steeds now refused to approach. Witnessing their wounded comrades struggling, the Xiongnu were at a loss, unable to offer any aid.
"General, what shall we do? Our rear forces cannot even approach Yanmen Pass!"
"General, they were clearly prepared. Our casualties are too high. If this assault continues, we will suffer a crushing defeat!"
"Those flames are too fierce. Our warhorses cannot get close. Those Qin soldiers are detestable, having long anticipated our Xiongnu cavalry!"
Such a situation was completely unexpected by the Xiongnu. They had initially believed that a furious charge, leveraging the superiority of their cavalry, would quickly secure Yanmen Pass. However, they had not anticipated that Yanmen Pass would not only be heavily defended by soldiers but also by peculiar bottles prepared specifically for their warhorses. These bottles, with their immense power, were clearly designed to counter cavalry. With a single throw, their cavalry's assault was broken, and they descended into complete disarray. Their offensive of twenty thousand troops was so easily disrupted, and at a significant cost.
This made the Xiongnu suspect that Lin Tian had deliberately targeted them. Little did they know, Lin Tian's firebombs had already proven highly effective against the Yan kingdom's cavalry previously. Their use against the Xiongnu was merely an extension. Yet, this "mere extension" had plunged the Xiongnu into what they perceived as an immense crisis.
The Xiongnu general gazed at Yanmen Pass, observing the struggling Xiongnu cavalry below, before issuing an order: "Retreat for now!"
This command stunned many Xiongnu soldiers. They had set out with the firm belief in victory. Now, at the very beginning of the engagement, they were ordered to retreat, a turn of events far beyond their expectations. This left many feeling indignant. They wished to continue the charge, unwilling to believe that their combat prowess could not overcome Yanmen Pass. However, though they possessed the will to fight, their warhorses lacked any such inclination. Thus, they had no choice but to comply.
Soon, shouts of retreat echoed throughout their ranks. "Retreat! Retreat for now!!" "The general has ordered us to withdraw!!" "Quickly retreat, cease the attack!!"
The soldiers in the rear still wished to press forward, confident that their combat strength could capture Yanmen Pass. Therefore, they hesitated regarding the order to retreat. But the Xiongnu cavalry at the front were already in dire straits. Upon hearing the command to retreat, they turned back without a moment's delay. Their formation was already in disarray, and those at the forefront faced imminent danger. Under such circumstances, how could they possibly continue to push forward? Hearing the order to retreat, they fled even faster than a routed defeated army. Soon, leaving behind a field of corpses, they retreated twenty li.
This withdrawal immediately alerted the civilians observing the battle at Yanmen Pass that the Qin army on the pass had defeated the Xiongnu cavalry and secured Yanmen Commandery. This was utterly astonishing to them.
"They held! General Lin Tian's forces held Yanmen Pass?"
"Hiss! We've heard of the might of Qin soldiers before, but we never imagined they were this formidable! Those Xiongnu cavalry were routed and fled!"
"I recall General Lin Tian defeating Yan's hundred thousand troops with only twenty to thirty thousand soldiers. Now that General Lin Tian has a hundred thousand troops, surely he can deal with the Xiongnu's two hundred thousand!"
Previously, the people of Yanmen Commandery had not felt a strong sense of allegiance to Lin Tian. Although Lin Tian had occupied Yanmen Commandery without harassing them, these civilians still considered themselves citizens of Zhao, and Lin Tian a Qin soldier. They did not belong to the same nation. Even after the fall of Zhao, this sentiment persisted. To gain the people's loyalty, one had to achieve deeds that earned their recognition. This time, Lin Tian, leading a hundred thousand troops, had successfully defended Yanmen Pass and repelled the Xiongnu army, earning the people's immediate approval.
Before, few Yanmen Commandery citizens mentioned Lin Tian's name. But now, countless people were praising Lin Tian. With a single battle, Lin Tian had proven his strength to them. This also gave the people of Yanmen Commandery confidence that Lin Tian could defend Yanmen Pass and defeat the Xiongnu army.
At this moment, Lin Tian did something that shocked everyone. He ordered the corpses of the fallen Xiongnu soldiers to be piled together, forming a massive tower-like monument, a "Jingguan." However, this Jingguan was incomplete, serving only as a base. This base was constructed from forty thousand corpses. Though incomplete, it was still immensely tall, visible from twenty li away to the Xiongnu cavalry. Subsequently, they dispatched cavalry to investigate what had transpired. Upon discovering the truth, the Xiongnu were enraged. Such a barbaric act was unprecedented in Xiongnu history.