Chapter 51: The Elite Cavalry of the Xiongnu

  Logically, the war has reached this point, it should be seen as a good opportunity to switch from offense to defense and withdraw troops. After all, although the Jie people have lost a lot in these three days, their living forces still far exceed Li Jing's.

  Especially in the past three days, the small tribes of Jie people who have been attacked are only peripheral forces on the edge. The real elite of the Jie people are still at Baishui River.

  But Li Zhong didn't think so.

  Although Li Jing was far inferior to the Jie people in terms of numbers, his cavalry under his command could outrun the Jie cavalry by several streets in terms of equipment and mounts.

  Cavalry warfare is carried out in motion, whoever has strong mobility and fine equipment will be at an advantageous position.

  What's most important is that Li Jing had long since decided to completely take down the Huns' Bielu. Now they've fought halfway, if because of being detected they withdraw their troops, then how will Li Jing spend his future days?!

  The Jie people will never give up, constantly attacking and harassing, definitely can't be defended against! As a close neighbor, the Jie tribe poses the most direct threat to the pasture.

  Sending Buddha to the West, having reached this point, there is absolutely no reason to retreat.

  One word, fight!

  At the moment, Li Zhēn sent a message to Zhao Wǔ through the Blue Bird Express, asking him to urge the 500 infantrymen who were escorting the captives back to hurry up and arrive as soon as possible. Then he sent another message to Bái Láng and Zhāng Shān, telling them not to engage in battle with the Jie people for the time being, but rather to focus on harassment and entanglement, holding down the main force of the Jie army and circling around them.

  The north wind howls, and the sky is gloomy. There was a bit of sunlight yesterday, but now it's completely gone.

  "Your Majesty, this is an omen of impending snow."

  A young warrior of the Xiongnu said to Li Jing, "The snow on the grasslands is quite frightening. Every winter when there's a big snowfall, it can be as deep as our knees or even bury livestock. For us nomads, it's a disaster."

  Li Zhēng raised his head and gazed at the horizon, which was gloomy and oppressive, making it seem like even breathing wasn't easy.

  "If it really snows heavily, it will be unfavorable for the war..." After a moment of contemplation, Li Zhēn said: "We must end the war before the heavy snow covers the grasslands!"

  Although the soldiers under Li Dian's command were not afraid of the cold, if it was true that the snow was knee-deep or could bury livestock, as the Qingjia cavalry had said earlier, it would be a huge obstacle for marching and fighting.

  Just as Li Zhen was considering how to end the war as soon as possible, the sound of horseshoes striking the ground came from afar.

  Li Zhēng raised his head and saw two riders in green armor.

  Li Ding's army, except for the thirty qingjia warriors on horseback, were all infantry. Therefore, scouts were assigned to the qingjia warriors on horseback, and two riders were sent out in each of the four directions: east, south, west, and north.

  These two riders are coming from the east at a very fast speed, they must have an urgent matter.

  Li Zhong's eyes narrowed slightly.

  Report!

  From a distance came the shout: "Report to the master, three thousand elite cavalry are rushing in this direction from the east!"

  "Three thousand!"

  Li Zhong's heart sank with a thud and immediately fell down.

  "Where did these three thousand elite cavalry come from?!" Li Zhēng's heart involuntarily tightened, but his mouth said: "Quickly, follow me to the front grassy slope, form a battle array and await orders!"

  Apart from the 24 Qīnguì cavalrymen, the remaining 500 soldiers were all infantry. If they were cavalry, they could immediately retreat or use their powerful mobility to circle around the enemy. But infantry couldn't do that; no matter how elite the infantry was, they couldn't outrun cavalry!

  The only thing that can be done now is to choose a favorable terrain and wait in array!

  The grassy slope in front is currently the best option.

  Occupying the high ground can neutralize the enemy cavalry's charging force and increase the difficulty of their shooting. In this way, one side offsets the other, relying on the elite equipment of his soldiers, Li Ding is not afraid of these three thousand cavalry!

  But after two breaths, Li Zhong had made up his mind.

  The infantry under his command heard the order and naturally did not dare to delay, they trotted in unison and followed the green armor war horse up the grass slope.

  Under Li's command, the heavy armored gunners were outside and the light infantry archers inside, forming a circular formation. If enemy cavalry came to attack, the heavy armored gunners would serve as the main defense shield on the outside, while the light infantry archers would launch the main attack with arrows from the inside!

  The usual good discipline training allowed Li Zhong's soldiers to quickly form a formation under the command of each squad leader. At this time, the distant rumbling sound of horseshoes finally reached their ears.

  Li Zhēng rode on a green cloud, holding a blood dragon spear, and gazed upwards.

  But then I saw that dark horizon, a black line as heavy as a flood beast, rushing over.

  When the first flagpole was raised, a wolf head was embroidered on it. The Xiongnu characters on the wolf head were unrecognizable to Li Jing.

  Beside him, a young general who could read Xiongnu script hastily explained: "Your Majesty, that is the great banner of Junchen Chanyu!"

  "What's wrong with your bones?!"

  Li Zhen furrowed his brow.

  "Gudouhou is an important official position for the Xiongnu people, ranking only below the Left and Right Wise Kings, and on par with other kings!"

  "Hiss..."

  Li Zhēng heard this and couldn't help but take a slight breath: "Since Bó Dōu Hòu has such status, why would he come here at this time?"

  "It shouldn't be Bone himself, maybe it's an envoy or something else. Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought only three thousand troops."

  Li Zhēng heard this and slightly nodded his head.

  As he watched the approaching army of Bone Demon, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Li Zhēn's mind.

  "It must be so!"

  Li Zhēng clenched his fist and said with regret: "I thought of these things a long time ago, but I actually overlooked them before sending troops out. It's really infuriating!"

  When Li Zhong learned from Xun Yu that the emperor had ordered the Huns to send troops to quell the rebellion, he roughly searched his memory for some vague memories.

  It seems that during this period of time, there will be internal strife among the Xiongnu people.

  It was for this reason that he decided to attack the Xiongnu Bialou. He wanted to take advantage of the Xiongnu people being busy with other things and bite off a piece of fat meat!

  But he ignored this situation before sending troops.

  The Xiongnu people were in internal strife, and it was the result of internal factions vying with each other. As a subordinate tribe of the Xiongnu people, this not insignificant force would definitely not be ignored by any faction of the Xiongnu people!

  So now the situation makes sense!

  These three thousand troops under the command of the Bone Marrow, must be preparing to go to Baishui River, mobilizing the military strength of affiliated tribes, or as envoys, persuading other Xiongnu tribes to surrender to this Bone Marrow.

  Looking at these three thousand soldiers and horses coming in a mighty manner, they must have encountered those Jie tribes that were attacked by Li Jing and reduced to ruins on the way.

  So they followed in Li Zhong's footsteps and chased all the way up!

  Just as Li Jing was considering this, the three thousand Xiongnu elite soldiers arrived at the foot of the slope.

  The leader of these three thousand cavalrymen was a young Xiongnu man. He looked to be only about twenty years old, wearing a fine sheepskin hat on his head, wrapped in luxurious fur-lined coat, and with a golden dagger at his waist.

  This man's face is quite handsome, but his body is extremely robust. The collar of his sheepskin coat is open, exposing his chest to the north wind, as if he doesn't feel cold at all.

  "This is an army of Han people!"

  "This young Xiongnu, dressed in luxurious attire, had a pair of eyes like a wolf's, staring at the army on the grassy slope. 'Why have the Han army come to the prairie?! And destroyed many other tribes?!'"

  "Perhaps it was someone else who provoked them." Next to him, however, was a middle-aged man wearing Han Chinese clothing, and judging by his appearance, he was undoubtedly a Han person.

  The middle-aged Han man said: "Isn't this a good thing for Your Highness?"

  "Oh?"

  The young man was taken aback and said, "What do you mean by this?"

  "Your Highness's purpose in coming to Bieyue this time is to conquer Bieyue and make them loyal to the Khan. And this Han army right now is the best gift for our meeting! If we annihilate this Han army, I'm sure Bieyue will willingly submit to the Khan!"

  "Haha, great!"

  Upon hearing this, the young man burst out laughing and said: "If it can make others feel happy and willing to part with their money, Father will definitely be delighted!"

  "It's true." A middle-aged Han Chinese smiled and said, "The Chanyu will surely appreciate Your Highness even more. After the Chanyu ascends to the throne, he will definitely make you the Left Wise King!"

  The young man listened and couldn't help but dance with excitement, his eyes gleaming with greed as he looked at Li Zhong's army on the grassy slope.

  Li Zhong looked at the Xiongnu army outside the arrow's range on the grass slope, his eyebrows deeply furrowed.

  This army, although only three thousand men, were all clad in armor and well-equipped, with war horses that were the best of the best.

  Not good at fighting!

  Li Zhong took a deep breath, and suddenly, the Xiongnu elite cavalry below the grass slope moved.

  "Everyone in position! Get ready!"

  As soon as the words fell, three thousand Huns elite cavalry divided into two thousand horses and rushed out in a slanting direction. Immediately afterwards, a long humming sound was heard, and a rain of arrows poured down on the grass mound!

  "Take cover! Defensive arrows!"

  More than 500 people lowered their heads, covering their faces. Then, a burst of sound was heard, like rain hitting banana leaves, dense and dense arrows fell into Li Zhong's army!

  As the arrows fell, several cries of pain came, Li Ding's long gun danced like a wheel, blocking the flying arrows, and when he turned his head to look, he found that several soldiers had been shot in the gaps of their armor and were injured!

  "Don't panic, pay attention to self-protection!"

  Officers of all levels shouted to calm down the soldiers gradually.

  However, the Xiongnu's arrow shower did not stop for a moment after this wave! The two thousand elite cavalry surrounded the grass mound and galloped around it, shouting and screaming as they poured down endless sheets of arrows like rain!

  For a moment, Li Zhēng was even unable to lift his head!