Since he couldn't see far, Gu Datou didn't force himself. He simply closed his eyes and rested, sat on the horse and let his horse follow the team forward.
The same goes for the other 800 or so people.
In this era where there is no radio and all information can only be transmitted by manpower or light, they have nothing to fear even if there are Xiliang people's scouts lurking around.
The Rock Frontier Pioneers have few people. This is not their first sneak attack, and it probably won't be their last.
On the contrary, the leaders of Xiliang's army were a little big-headed.
Epidemic, these two words always make them timid.
Every time they attack or defend, the people of Xiliang are afraid that they will catch the epidemic at some point and spread it to their own people.
Otherwise, with the number of people crushing them all the way, they would probably have been worshiping the wolf god at the foot of Yanjie Fortress by this time.
The team walked for more than an hour, and Gu Datou suddenly opened his eyes.
Although he was on horseback, he could clearly feel the ground beneath his feet trembling regularly.
Everyone was heartbroken.
They are cavalry themselves, so they know what they are doing.
There was a large number of cavalry in front of them, and military discipline was strict.
Shi Fengshou, who was riding in the Fourth Battalion, looked solemn as he drove his horse up to a nearby high point.
He raised his binoculars and looked ahead.
The place about fifteen miles ahead was filled with lights, and there were probably no less than ten thousand people there, slowly coming eastward.
Is it a coincidence, or did the news leak out?
If the news leaks out, the opponent's speed should not be so leisurely, and he has already laid an ambush and pounced from all directions; but if it is a coincidence, then what is the target of the Xiliang people?
Is it the forward camp or the fortress behind?
Shi Fengshou's mind was racing rapidly.
The vanguard army brought out by Huo Ling had very little combat strength left. Instead, there were too many wounded, and it could be said that it had completely become a burden to the rear fortress.
There is no need for the Xiliang people to sneak attack or disappear them now.
Just go out for a walk from time to time like during the day, hang up this group of wounded soldiers who are unable to advance or retreat, and work hard to consume the limited food and medicine in the Rock Frontier Fortress.
Shi Fengshou’s expression became even more solemn.
The target of this group of Xiliang people is probably the fortress or even the farther Dingxi City or Luoxia Mountains.
"From the Eighth Battalion!" Shi Fengshou said.
"Arrived!" Gu Datou and the other remaining chief of the Eighth Cavalry Battalion responded in unison.
"Send two of you back to report the situation here to General Huo. The others will avoid the Xiliang people in front and continue the mission."
Gu Datou and the other two were surprised, "What about the fourth battalion?"
Shi Fengshou laughed: "I'm here to play hide and seek with them."
There was a huge disparity in numbers, but he was not prepared to run away, let alone hide in an ambush.
The vast grassland is not a narrow and elongated mountainous area, so it does not have the conditions to intercept and ambush.
And for such a large-scale march, there must be scouts or spies scattered along the way.
It is estimated that when the thousand of them sensed the sound of horse hooves, the leader of Xiliang had already learned the news.
"let's go!"
Gu has a single-minded mind. He doesn't care whether the order is right or wrong. He turns around and leaves after receiving it anyway.
Shi Fengshou breathed a sigh of relief.
It's good that he has a straightforward temper, but it saves him a lot of words and doesn't have to spend a lot of time to convince them.
"Wait a minute." Shi Fengshou called to the two of them and pushed the telescope in his hand over, "Get it!"
Gu Datou hurriedly continued.
In the past, only generals at the rank of Qian Commander were equipped with these kinds of artifacts. These small soldiers had only seen them from afar, but had never touched them.
"If anything happens, even if it is destroyed, it must not fall into the hands of the Xiliang people." Shi Fengshou warned.
"Yes!" Gu Datou saluted solemnly: "I promise to take this treasure back and hand it over to Chief Qian."
The two teams parted ways.
In addition to the telescope in hand, the Eighth Battalion also had a batch of ignition fuel distributed by the Fourth Battalion.
Gu Datou sent two soldiers back to report, and led his men to run back for more than 20 miles. He continued northward until he could no longer hear any movement from the west.
This time he didn't dare to close his eyes and kept looking around with his telescope.
"Datou, where are we going?" Lu Youtian next to him patted his mount comfortingly.
After saying that, he looked at the telescope in Gu Datou's hand with emotion.
It is said that this artifact has something to do with Lu Youtian. When Ren Ning invented the first telescope, the first crystal needed was given by him.
Crystals are precious, and Lu Youtian has never regretted giving away crystals.
Because of the details of the breeding camp, Ren Ning found out.
His precious mount not only gave birth to healthy cubs, but can even accompany him through life and death on the grassland.
Lu Youtian was trapped in tight siege several times. It was precisely because of the desperate running of his horse that he escaped from the hands of death. Until now, he has become another one of the few remaining leaders of the Eighth Battalion.
Gu Datou didn't know what Lu Youtian was thinking. He put down the telescope.
Where to go?
Gu Datou scratched his neck in pain.
He only cares about the large number of soldiers charging into the battle, so how can he have any ideas?
Pooh!
He spat hard on the ground and said, "Bypass the idiots in front and continue to sneak attack on the Benlu tribe."
Huo Ling's men and the Xiliang Pioneers have been fighting back and forth to the west of the Kailun tribe, trampling almost half of the Kailun pasture to the ground.
And because there were enough water sources, the Benlu tribe further west became the base camp of the Xiliang forwards.
The target village of their trip was the Benlu tribe.
Lu Youtian reminded: "But we only have two hundred people. At most, we have to run away if we set fire from a distance. Otherwise..."
"Yeah." Gu Datou continued to scratch his cheek.
Huo Ling had sent people to sneak attack on the Benlu tribe many times before, some of which were successful and some of them failed.
Now the area around Benlu is as guarded as an iron barrel, and only two hundred people can break through.
"Why don't you get rid of the logistical equipment of the guys in front of you?" Lu Youtian suggested.
The enemy already has tens of thousands of cavalry at the front, and there must be more infantry at the back. With so many people going on an expedition, food, grass and baggage are absolutely indispensable.
There are loopholes everywhere in Changchang's grain and fodder team, and even if there are people protecting them along the way, they still can't do everything. It's just the perfect place for them to start.
"Good idea!" Gu Datou patted his thigh without thinking.
After making up their minds, more than two hundred people headed west.
Not long after walking, a shocking sound of killing could be heard from the south.
"The fight is about to begin." Everyone looked solemn.
Gu Datou nodded and couldn't help but pick up the telescope and look at it.
He breathed a sigh of relief at this sight.
The fourth cavalry battalion was able to survive so many people mainly because they were horse archers. Attacking while roaming was their specialty.
At this time, under the command of Shi Fengshou, the four battalions advanced and retreated in an orderly manner. No matter how many people there were in Xiliang, there was nothing they could do.
Unlike the cavalry of six to ten battalions, they are either lancers or heavy cavalry.
They also have bows, but they are not their main weapons. They usually rush in and out against the hail of guns and arrows, either directly breaking up the enemy infantry phalanx, or dying on the way.
"I shouldn't have wanted Shi Qianchang's clairvoyance." Gu Datou told the situation in the south and felt extremely regretful.
"Don't worry." Lu Youtian comforted him: "Shi Qianchang is a more cunning guy than a fox. He said hide and seek is hide and seek, and he will not be easily blocked by the Xiliang people."