Lu Xuan was slowly heading south with a group of troops.
Beside Lu Xuan, there were more than a hundred imperial guards led by Xu Chu, and more than a thousand soldiers holding shields and spears following. In addition, war horses dragged a carriage carrying coffins.
Lu Xuan was riding a carriage this time, not riding a horse.
Leaving Yizhou from Hanzhong, and then heading north from Jingzhou to Yanzhou, all in order to save Zhou Yu, he had to seize the time, so Lu Xuan rode on horseback the whole way. Even if it was windy and snowy, and the weather was freezing cold, Lu Xuan accepted it.
This time going south, there was no need to rush, and there was no need to rush south. Lu Xuan sat in the carriage and drove on.
In the carriage, Lu Xuan closed his eyes and rested his mind.
He was thinking about the war.
This time Zhou Yu faked his death and lured Xiahou Dun out, and he would definitely be able to capture Dongjun. In recent months, due to the weather and the need to digest the Yanzhou area, the war will be temporarily suspended.
After spring farming begins, he can prepare for another war. Taking advantage of this gap, he can move the capital to Nanjing.
Moving the capital in the south will be conducive to the integration of the south.
While Lu Xuan was thinking, a sound of horse hooves was heard, and a sentry came to Lu Xuan's carriage and reported: "Your Majesty, General Taishi Ci reported urgently that the sentry has discovered Xiahou Dun's army. Xiahou Dun's army is currently
, has entered Suanzao County and is rapidly heading south."
"knew."
Lu Xuan replied.
There was a smile in his eyes, Xiahou Dun could not be stable after all. No matter what Xiahou Dun thought about or what preparations he made, the current situation forced Xiahou Dun to fight, otherwise Xiahou Dun would definitely lose.
This is Zhou Yu’s judgment.
Lu Xuan continued on his way in the carriage, and the speed became slower and slower. After walking for another hour, the sentinel came running on horseback again and reported: "Reporting to your Majesty, General Taishi said that the troops led by Xiahou Dun and Ma Chao arrived at the county seat.
Heading south. The cavalry led by Xiahou Dun has already come towards the direction of the king first."
Lu Xuan nodded and ordered again: "I know, let's explore again."
The sentry left, and Lu Xuan was full of fighting spirit.
When he and Zhou Yu made the plan, they took many situations into consideration and determined that Xiahou Dun would not attack the county town, but would definitely attack Lu Xuan, who was supporting Ling south. Therefore, beside Lu Xuan, there were a group of people wearing armor and holding shields.
A thousand infantrymen armed with lances.
These soldiers can form defensive formations.
Even if the cavalry charges into the formation, it is impossible to quickly break through the defense of the spear formation.
If Xiahou Dun had enough time and troops, he could wear down Lu Xuan's elite force step by step. The problem is that Xiahou Dun's time is very tight. When Xiahou Dun comes to attack Lu Xuan, Taishi Ci will follow closely to block Xiahou Dun's attack.
Elite.
Lu Xuan gave the order to slow down the march south again, and the troops crawled like a snail. As Lu Xuan's army slowly moved south, the soldiers and horses under Xiahou Dun were getting closer and closer.
News from sentry detectives also kept coming.
When the distance between the two sides was less than six miles, Lu Xuan ordered to stop advancing and formed an array with Lu Xuan's carriage and the horses pulling the coffin as the center. Surrounding Lu Xuan were more than a hundred guards led by Xu Chu to protect Lu Xuan's safety.
Surrounding these personal guards were spearmen arrayed.
Prepare spears and shields separately.
On the vast white land, Lu Xuan's elite team stood on the official road, like a pillar in the wind, unmoving.
When Lu Xuan set up his formation and was ready, the vanguard cavalry led by Ma Chao and Xiahou Dun discovered through sentries that Lu Xuan had stopped and was no longer on his way.
Ma Chao looked sternly, looked at Xiahou Dun who was traveling together, and said loudly: "Father-in-law, Lu Xuan discovered our pursuit in advance and stopped to form an array. It seems that Taishi Ci sent someone to notify us."
Xiahou Dun said coldly: "This is normal. We have not hidden our whereabouts. Taishi Ci must know. However, no matter how Lu Xuan responds, our three thousand elite cavalry will definitely win in one battle."
"Killing Lu Xuan, coupled with Zhou Yu's death, the state of Wu will definitely be in turmoil."
"The elite troops led by Taishi Ci have already come from behind to cut off our retreat. However, if we kill Lu Xuan first, Taishi Ci's army will not be afraid, but will collapse accordingly."
Xiahou Dun's eyes were bright and he said: "On the one hand, Yu Jin is resisting in the rear and is responsible for holding back Tai Shi Ci. On the other hand, after we kill Lu Xuan, we will go back and join Yu Jin to kill Tai Shi Ci."
Ma Chao nodded and said, "My father-in-law is wise."
Xiahou Dun charged forward with his gun in hand, his eyes bright, and he said loudly: "In this battle, we can only win, not lose."
Weng and his son-in-law rode on their horses,
The cavalry kept accelerating and headed south in the wind and snow.
The distance between Cao's cavalry and Lu Xuan quickly narrowed. When the two sides were less than two miles away, Lu Xuan's formation position could already see a large number of Cao's cavalry coming from the north.
Boom!!
The horses' hooves trampled on them, causing snow slag to fly all over the ground.
More than three thousand cavalry came charging forward.
This cavalry was a group of 3,000 cavalrymen reorganized by Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin's army after countless battles with Zhou Yu. Originally, Xiahou Dun was stationed in Yanzhou and had strong troops and horses and sufficient supplies.
Just the continuous fighting, Xiahou Dun's soldiers and horses were depleted little by little, and the consumption was huge.
So far, there are only so many cavalry.
In addition, Xiahou Dun's army also suffered from epidemics, and a large number of cavalrymen died due to the disease. Although the disease was under control, the number of cavalrymen decreased. Transforming ordinary soldiers into cavalrymen with superb riding skills could not be achieved overnight, and it would take enough time.
When Lu Xuan saw a large number of Cao Jun's cavalry, he looked calm and without any panic, and ordered: "The army defends!"
The spear array assumed a defensive posture.
As Lu Xuan's spear formation assumed a defensive posture, Xiahou Dun's cavalry was already close to Lu Xuan's formation, less than a hundred feet away. Under the fierce charge of the cavalry, the distance quickly closed.
Eighty feet!
Fifty feet!
The two sides were less than thirty feet apart, and Xiahou Dun became even more excited. He raised his spear and said loudly: "Kill Lu Xuan, charge."
One by one, the cavalry roared and charged.
The war horses rushed forward like lightning, but the cavalry at the front rode their horses until they were less than twenty-five feet away from Lu Xuan. Suddenly, a war horse neighed, continued to run two steps forward, and suddenly fell to the ground.
Boom! Boom!!!
One after another, the war horses fell forward and fell to the ground. In the northern area of Lu Xuan's spear formation, a large number of war horses fell.
"It's caltrops. There are caltrops scattered on the ground."
Cao Jun's cavalry who fell on the ground shouted loudly and looked even more painful.
When Xiahou Dun heard the situation, he frowned.
He glanced around and saw the fallen cavalry, with angry eyes. Lu Xuan was really cunning, and he actually had the thought to arrange barbed wire to stop him. Could it be that Lu Xuan had predicted that he would come to pursue him?
So, I prepared caltrops.
Lu Xuan is not suitable to carry things like horses and antlers.
Weapons such as caltrops, which are specifically designed to target war horses, can be carried with you and scattered directly on the official road. Such weapons can only be prepared if you have a plan. But Lu Xuan is specifically supporting the spirit to go south, so why would he prepare caltrops?
Xiahou Dun had a bad premonition in his heart.
However, this premonition was suppressed by Xiahou Dun in the blink of an eye. Although there were iron caltrops in the surrounding snow, the existence of iron caltrops could at most delay the cavalry, and it was impossible to block a large-scale attack.
"Go over and kill Lu Xuan."
"Whoever kills Lu Xuan will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins and be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households. If you kill Lu Xuan, kill him."
Xiahou Dun gave the order loudly.
Large groups of cavalry rushed forward, braving the danger of barrages. Moreover, many cavalry dispersed around, attacking Lu Xuan's spear formation from all around.