bookrandom Chapter 2008 proved true!
Chapter 2008 proved true!
Inside the tent, the red glow from the charcoal brazier illuminated Ma Chao's face, which was flushed with excitement. His heavy breathing was clearly audible, like that of an angry lion tightly bound by reins.
Han Xing's calm, almost cold "Wait a minute," was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, causing his boiling blood to freeze.
He abruptly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Han Xing, his chest heaving violently, his knuckles turning white from gripping the knife hilt so tightly, and he almost couldn't resist the urge to draw his sword.
However, the remaining rationality acted like invisible chains, restraining his impending outburst of rage.
The seemingly frail Vice Minister of War before him held a higher rank than him and was personally appointed by His Majesty as the deputy commander of this army, wielding considerable authority.
More importantly, although Han Xing was not a fierce general, his strategic prowess and accurate judgment were well-known in the court and among the people. His past military decisions had proven his foresight in hindsight.
Although Ma Chao was reckless, he was not entirely without wisdom. He knew that in such an important matter, if he insisted on going against Han Xing, he would be in serious trouble.
If something goes wrong, the consequences will be far beyond what he can bear.
"General Han... General Han!"
Ma Chao's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with intense resentment and suppressed anger.
"Could it be... could we really just stand by and watch that old bastard Gao Xianzhi lead tens of thousands of troops and swagger away right under our noses?"
"How can I swallow this insult! How can my soldiers be convinced?"
He slammed his fist into his thigh, making a dull thud, as if he wanted to vent all the pent-up frustration on himself.
The wind outside the tent seemed to grow stronger, howling as it swept across the camp, as if mocking his helplessness.
Han Xing looked at Ma Chao's appearance, his face still expressionless, but a subtle, almost imperceptible, glint of weighing options flashed deep in his eyes.
He knew Ma Chao's character well; if he were to suppress him too forcefully, it might create resentment and be detrimental to the army.
Moreover, simply letting the Tang army withdraw safely would indeed be too passive.
He pondered for a moment, then gently tapped his long fingers on the table spread out on the map, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.
He finally spoke slowly, his voice still steady: "I understand General Ma's desire for battle, but to let him go unchecked would indeed be inappropriate."
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's eyes instantly rekindled with hope, and he looked at Han Xing eagerly.
Han Xing changed the subject, his gaze sharp as a knife: "However, pursuit is possible, but we must not do as the general just said, send the entire army forward and rush in rashly."
"Gao Xianzhi is a shrewd and experienced strategist, and Huyan Ying's Scorpion Clan cavalry are incredibly swift and agile. How could they not be wary of our pursuit? There must be a trap!"
He walked to the sand table and pointed to the pre-planned pursuit route, especially marking several valleys and woodlands that were conducive to ambushes:
"To ensure a complete victory, General Ma can personally lead 10,000 elite cavalry to pursue them first."
"Only ten thousand?" Ma Chao's newly ignited enthusiasm was dampened again.
"The quality of soldiers is more important than their quantity!"
Han Xing interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Furthermore, General, you must remember three things! First, send out far more scouts than usual!"
"Not only must we scout the road ahead, but we must also be vigilant on both flanks, especially those terrains that are conducive to concealing troops. We must be able to see in all directions and hear from all sides! It is better to be slow than blind!"
"second,"
Han Xing's gaze fell on Ma Chao's sword: "The purpose of this pursuit is not to engage in a protracted battle, much less a decisive one! Rather, it is to harass and delay them, to probe their strength and weaknesses!"
"Therefore, carry plenty of bows and crossbows. When encountering enemy troops, especially their rearguard, there is no need for close combat. Simply rain down arrows from a distance to blunt their morale and disrupt their formation!"
"If the situation becomes untenable, or if there are signs of an ambush, retreat immediately and do not linger in battle!"
"Third, I will lead the main force from the rear to support you."
"If anything changes at the front, or if you send a signal, I will immediately lead my troops to provide support."
"General, remember this: your primary task on this mission is to probe and preserve your own forces, not to annihilate them!"
Han Xing's arrangements were meticulous and strategic, satisfying Ma Chao's desire to launch an attack while minimizing the risks.
Although Ma Chao felt it wasn't satisfying enough, he understood that it was the safest approach at the moment.
He clasped his hands tightly, his resentment turning into determination: "Fine! We'll do as General Han says! I, Old Ma, will go and muster ten thousand cavalry right now, and we'll definitely take a big bite out of Gao Xianzhi!"
"General, please be careful!" Han Xing warned as a final reminder.
Ma Chao said no more, turned and strode out of the command tent, his deep voice booming in the cold wind:
"Order! The first and second light cavalry battalions, and the crossbow cavalry units, assemble immediately, double the number of arrows! Hurry!"
In less than half an hour, ten thousand Chu light cavalry had assembled.
Thick white vapor billowed from the centaur's mouth and nose, mingling with the cold air.
Ma Chao mounted his horse, took the long sword handed to him by his personal guard, glanced one last time in the direction of Han Xing's command tent, and then suddenly swung his arm:
"Let's go! Let's show those Tang dogs what we're made of!"
"drive!"
Ten thousand cavalrymen galloped forward, their hooves thundering, shattering the silence along the banks of the Canglang River. Like a black torrent, they swept away in the direction of the Tang army's retreat.
Ma Chao heeded Han Xing's warning and sent out his scouts like a net, covering the front, back, left, right, and especially the mountains and hills on the flanks with countless vigilant eyes.
The weather grew increasingly gloomy, with leaden-gray clouds hanging low, seemingly within reach.
The cold wind became even more biting, whipping up snow and sand that stung the cavalrymen's armor and faces.
Visibility was also affected, with distant scenery appearing hazy and gray.
The army marched for about thirty miles, and along the way they only saw some tattered supplies abandoned by the Tang army and cooking pits that had not been filled in time. They did not see any large enemy troops.
Just as Ma Chao was feeling anxious and wondering if Gao Xianzhi had really fled far away, the sound of rapid hoofbeats rang out almost simultaneously from the front and the flanks.
"Report——!"
A scout rode up on horseback, his face showing excitement and tension at the discovery of prey.
"General! A large number of cavalry tracks have been spotted five miles to the left front, behind Luoyan Slope!"
"Judging from their banners and attire, they are from the Blood Eagle Tribe of the Scorpion Clan! They are very well hidden; they would be extremely difficult to spot without a thorough search!"
Almost simultaneously, another scout reported: "General, there are signs of enemy cavalry activity in the Black Pine Forest on the right flank. The number of enemy cavalry is unknown, and their intentions are unclear!"
Ma Chao felt a sudden chill run down his spine, instantly dispelling some of his anxiety.
Han Xing's prediction came true!
Gao Xianzhi really did leave behind elite cavalry to cover their retreat, and they ambushed them on the only road they could take in pursuit!
If Han Xing hadn't reminded him, and he had rashly led his entire army deep into the territory, he would probably have already run headlong into Huyan Ying's carefully laid trap, with unimaginable consequences!