Seeing Yuxi Timur constantly mobilizing troops and horses to surround Li Xia, Maunge La was inevitably a little impatient and sneered.
Originally, the 50,000-strong army had launched an encirclement that stretched for several miles, but when the dragon flag in the distance began to move eastward, the Yuan army had to tighten the encirclement at a faster pace, which consumed a lot of physical strength of the soldiers and horses.
"It is impossible for Li Xia to be captured without hesitation." Li Dehui said in Chinese, "Your Highness must be prepared for a tough battle."
"Don't worry, Prime Minister..."
Halfway through Mang Ge La's speech in Chinese, Yuxi Timur already said in Mongolian during the break of command: "It's just like when we used to hunt, when people and horses surrounded us, the prey wanted to run to the empty space. Li Xia is a flexible deer."
.No, he is a buffalo that can gore people with its horns."
"Ha ha."
Maunge Lalang smiled and replied in Mongolian: "Today reminds me of the scene on the grassland when we were children."
"Your Majesty, do you know what I'm thinking of?" Yuxi Timur pointed to the snow in the sky and said, "The snow is so thick. I remembered a story my father told me."
"What?"
"The great Genghis Khan was once cowardly besieged, injured and lost his beloved horse. My grandfather held Genghis Khan in his arms and fled to the wilderness with Mu Huali."
"It's like this wilderness right in front of you."
"Yes, they lost their tooth tents, so they had to let the Khan lie down in the snow. Grandfather and Mu Huali spread out the felt to cover him, and they stood there without moving a step until the next day. The snow kept falling at night, and the snow accumulated.
It jumped several feet and covered half of their bodies."
Although Mang Ge La had heard this story, he still couldn't help but sigh: "What a hero!"
"What my grandfather could do for Genghis Khan, I will do for you." Yuxi Timur said.
"Good answer!"
The two young men put their arms around each other's shoulders and patted each other, looking extremely friendly.
The wind and snow fell on the big cover above their heads. When it accumulated thickly, the soldiers would naturally sweep it away with long poles to prevent the snow from being too thick and falling down.
Maunge La was very high-spirited and pulled Li Dehui over again, saying: "I hope the three of us can become the most amazing heroes like Genghis Khan, Borshu, and Mu Huali."
Li Dehui smiled politely and said, "Yes, Your Highness."
Yuxi Timur didn't even look at Li Dehui and curled his lips in disdain.
He raised his sight tube and looked at the battlefield again, and frowned.
Sure enough, Li Xia only brought a few hundred cavalry, not to abandon the whole army and escape, but to use himself as bait to help the whole army break out.
When the hundreds of cavalrymen ran eastward with dragon flags high and stretched the Yuan army's line far enough, the main force of the thousands of Tang soldiers who remained suddenly turned around and began to speed up gradually, heading towards the thinnest part of the Yuan army's line.
.
The Yuan army came from afar, intending to slowly encircle Li Xia, but they chased for a long distance in order to quickly encircle Li Xia. The horses were exhausted and inevitably looked a bit clumsy. However, the Tang army waited for work and then charged at full speed. The Yuan soldiers did not dare to confront them.
When they hit each other, they subconsciously pulled the reins to get out of the way.
Yuxi Timur was not in a hurry. He knew that he led his army to chase him from dozens of miles away. Of course, the Tang army could escape, but they would not be able to bring any luggage with them.
In such a wilderness under a heavy snowstorm, marching without baggage, it would be impossible for the Tang army to withstand his pursuit.
After all, not everyone can be regarded as a great hero like Ghis Khan and Borshu. This is why he told the story just now. He had already thought about what would happen to Li Xia if he escaped from the siege.
Like a herd of bison being surrounded, they rush out of the hunter's siege arrogantly, but the hunter will chase them again until they run out of energy.
The lookout tube brought the scene in the distance into view, and one could see the Tang Army's cavalry charging out of the encirclement in one fell swoop.
Yuxi Timur moved the telescope again and looked at the Tang army's camp. He saw that tents were still left at the foot of the mountain. However, Li Xia's hundreds of horses had run too far and were blocked by the mountain, making them invisible.
, only the Yuan army could be seen following them like flowing water.
However, when he shifted his gaze to the direction of the main force of the Tang Army, he was surprised to find that the "Yang" flag had been turned around.
The Tang army did not retreat, but chose a group of Yuan troops to attack them.
Yuxi Timur couldn't help but lean forward and stared at the battlefield.
Snowflakes fell on the brim of his hat and were shaken off, as if they could be melted by the anger in his eyes.
At this time, there was not much he could do to command other than to blow the horn and order all the Yuan troops to gather around and fight.
Suddenly, hundreds more riders suddenly circled back from the other side of the mountain in the wind and snow, and slammed into the rear of the Yuan army that was bitten by Yang Ben.
At this time, the whole afternoon was almost over. It got dark very early in winter and I couldn't see the sunset, but my vision had become much darker before I knew it.
A banner of the Yuan Army Commander-in-Chief fell down.
And more Yuan troops have not arrived at the battlefield yet. Some are still running, some are still adjusting their direction, and some have just received orders. After all, the battlefield with tens of thousands of people stretches for more than ten miles, and orders cannot be issued immediately.
Issue. It is a great test of the commander's commanding ability and the tacit understanding between the generals.
Just like when hunting, the hunters dispersed and wanted to surround them, but suddenly a hunter was thrown to the ground by the prey and bitten hard.
As the blood splashed out, the fangs tore off his skin and flesh. The prey chewed twice hard, and then pounced on the next hunter like lightning.
Another captain's flag fell, and the 5,000-yuan army gathered at the battle site showed signs of defeat.
"Surround us!" Yuxi Timur roared.
"Let's temporarily withdraw our troops today." Li Dehui said: "The Tang army failed to escape and has been almost exhausted today. There is no need to rush."
What he said was not tactful.
Yuxi Timur did not give any orders, but scanned the battlefield to see if more Yuan troops could attack before dark and win as soon as possible.
Li Dehui hurriedly said to Brother Busan: "Your Highness, the sky is getting dark. Our exhausted army is coming from far away. If we continue to fight, what if we are defeated by night..."
Before Li Dehui could finish his words, Mang Gelu said decisively to Yuxi Timur: "Stop fighting. Let's withdraw our troops today."
In fact, Yuxi Timur had already thought it over carefully. He had many troops and was suitable to slowly surround Li Xia, and Li Xia was the one who wanted to determine the outcome of today's game.
But just as he was about to give the order, Li Dehui beat him to it.
Soon, the Yuan army of about 5,000 men attacked by the Tang army heard the sound of gold and couldn't wait to retreat.
~~
Like a flood receding, leaving behind a mess all over the ground.
Yang Ben turned his head, and across half a mile of corpses and blood, he saw the cavalrymen of the Selection Camp still holding the dragon flag, and he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
In this battle, even he was frightened by Li Xia's boldness. He actually led only 300 horsemen to clash back and forth on the battlefield, charging into the midst of 5,000 enemy soldiers.
The casualties were naturally huge. Everyone seemed to have been infected from the blood vat and then thrown into the ice and snow to freeze again.
"Go down with the order, no need to pursue, just take the loot and return to camp!"
"Move quickly, take your armor and horses, and return to the camp..."
Yang Ben actually felt a little pity.
He hoped that the Yuan army would not retreat and continue to fight. He would very likely defeat them and then drive them to attack the Yuan army commander. The first confrontation was the best opportunity for him.
Since the Yuan army has retreated, there is no point in chasing them. It will be difficult to defeat them in the short term, but they will be dragged down until they are exhausted and lose their camp. It is better to seize the time and go back to rest with the loot.
Yuan armies from other directions are still rushing here, and one has even rushed towards the Tang army's camp.
"Mom, if you don't go to camp, you will freeze to death at night."
Yang Ben cursed to himself, the sweat on his body was blown by the cold wind, and his nose was almost frozen off.
He had no choice but to suck hard and shouted: "I don't want the rest, kill me back!"
…
A Yuan army has arrived near the Tang army's camp, only to find that the snow is full of traps. The snow may not necessarily be solid land, but it may be a horse trap full of spears.
The horses and soldiers who fell heavily into the pit and were impaled were howling.
Although the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who stayed in the camp were wounded, they had already fired their crossbows.
Under such circumstances, it was impossible to seize the camp. Seeing that the main force of the Tang army turned back, the Yuan army had no choice but to withdraw.
"Go back to camp!"
When the soldiers and horses rushed back to the camp, the bonfire was still burning, and the military officers rushed to help the wounded soldiers.
The Huotou Army quickly disposed of the dead horses and roasted the horse meat.
In the past, at times like this, Li Xia would personally assist the army as soon as possible, but today he returned to the Chinese army's tent first.
Yang Ben felt a little uneasy, so he hurried over and asked through the curtain.
"His Majesty?"
"come in."
Hearing Li Xia's voice, Yang Ben breathed a sigh of relief and opened the curtain and entered the room. He saw that Li Xia had bandaged his wound and put on clothes, but his face was still a little pale.
"this……"
When Yang Ben saw the blood on the gauze, he was startled and said ashamedly: "Your Majesty only led 300 men to break the formation, but he allowed me to take command of the central army. I am guilty!"
"Even you talk like this." Li Xia said: "I'm fine. At least... I created an opportunity to defeat the enemy. Even if it fails in the end, it's worth it."
"It would be great if I could defeat the Yuan army faster."
"It's okay, look forward." Li Xia had already stood up, put on his armor, and said, "Let's go, follow me to work for the army."
Yang Ben couldn't see whether his injuries were serious, and he didn't dare to ask, so he had to hide his worry in his heart.
That night, Yang Ben didn't sleep all night.
He arranged for precautions and rearranged the traps outside the camp. Before dawn, he was able to return to the campfire and sit down, baking the shoes and socks that had been wet, dried, and dried again.
"If the general doesn't go back to his tent to sleep, he can just relax by the fire for a while." A colonel came over and said.
Yang Ben responded lightly, but didn't feel sleepy at all and asked instead.
"Do I hate it?"
"What? Why would General Yang dislike it?"
"I have a bad temper and am arrogant, so I am naturally annoying." Yang Ben said to himself, "It is only because I met His Majesty that I am today."
He raised his head and looked at the snowflakes in the sky, as if thinking about the past ten years.
~~
As soon as the sky dawned, the Tang army had already set up an array and attacked in the direction of the Yuan army commander.
After the battle yesterday afternoon, the gap in morale between the two sides became wider. While the Tang army returned to camp to rest after the war, the Yuan army still had to set up camp and did not have a good rest.
This is the strategy that Li Xia and Yang Ben believe they can win. Through a sneak attack and a counter-encirclement, they can establish an advantage in morale and soldier status to make up for the lack of military strength.
"Dong, dong, dong, dong..."
The war drums kept beating, and the surrounded Tang army was gradually approaching the banner of Mang Ge La. It seemed that they were the ones who had the initiative on the battlefield.
When he heard the sound of war drums, he woke up from his bed and shook his head, saying with a wry smile: "This time we surrounded a mad cow, and the horns are endless..."