Chapter 299: War

Historically, in the war between China and the grasslands, the gains were probably concentrated on cattle, sheep and horses. The people of Beidi lived in grass, using cattle and sheep as food, and strong horses as chariots. If they fight, they will send hundreds of thousands of troops and cavalry, and millions of cattle and sheep. They will eat and drink on the livestock.

They drank milk from cows and goats when they were thirsty, and ate beef and mutton when they were hungry. Wherever the war raged, livestock followed.

Once a big victory was achieved, hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep were often obtained.

This is a real asset.

Qian Yue said: "The Tatars have 60,000 soldiers and only 100,000 livestock. It seems that the idea is to fight quickly or to eat in the capital. I don't know where Wu Keshan's confidence comes from."

Sixty thousand cavalry eat and drink, and one hundred thousand livestock cannot hold out for a month.

In other words, Wu Keshan planned to end the war within a month.

Horqin is not far from the capital. Perhaps in Wu Keshan's view, as long as he crosses this distance and enters the territory of the Han people, isn't it easy to eat and drink?

He has 60,000 cavalry! And it's just support - Shanhaiguan is the main battlefield.

That’s how confidence comes.

Before the battle, both sides seemed to be quite relaxed and turned a blind eye to each other. It’s time to eat, it’s time to drink. In fact, it is loose on the outside and tight on the inside, and is ready for everything.

The distance of five or six miles is very close for a war. At the speed of the cavalry, once they charge, they will soon be in close combat.

"Instruct all the troops to eat as soon as possible, and after a moment, form a formation to meet the enemy."

...

"The Han people dug three trenches between 200 and 300 steps outside Xuanshi Slope. They probably wanted to delay the charge of our fine cavalry in this way."

Wu Keshan said to his brothers and tribe leaders: "I don't know who the generals of the Han people are. They can think of such a stupid method."

Although Qian Yue's defenses were covered up to a certain extent, they were too new, so how could they be covered up? Besides, the Tatars have excellent detection methods. The great shaman's giant eagle flies across the sky, hiding nothing.

Chahan said: "I think it's natural for him to think about it since he has never fought against my prairie elite knight. Brother, this is a good thing."

Wu Keshan laughed loudly: "It is indeed a good thing. Does the enemy general think that I will eagerly send people to fill the hole?"

"What do you mean, brother?" Manzhu said politely.

"The Han army defended the Xuanshi slope and dug ditches to block the cavalry charge, which was disadvantageous to me. In this case, we should turn the disadvantage into an advantage. He wanted to defend in formation, but I was not busy attacking him, only on the periphery. Wandering, let him attack me. Leaving Xuanshipo, there is no one to block me. I am surrounded on all sides, but I can avoid his trenches. The advantages and disadvantages are mutually exchanged. How can the Han army be immortal?"

Wu Keshan is confident.

Qian Yue's arrangement seemed extremely ridiculous to Wu Keshan. When fighting on the grassland, Wu Keshan did not think that the Han people were better than him.

"My brothers, in units of ten thousand cavalry, are cruising thousands of steps away from Xuanshipo to make noise. Let's see how the Han people react first."

At the end of noon, both sides were ready.

On the Xuanshi Slope, Qian Yue's troops formed three formations, facing three sides, with their backs against the Xuanshi Slope. He also lined up three thousand cavalry behind Xuanshi Slope, waiting for orders at any time.

Wu Keshan led his army to array three miles away.

Flags and banners on both sides fluttered in the wind. On the grassland, except for the crowing of horses and the rustle of the wind, there was no sound. It was clear that the sun was shining brightly, but there was a sense of calmness as dark clouds pressed over the city.

Qian Yue stood on the Wo Niu Stone and watched the Tatar battle formation. Soon, he saw thousands of Tatars coming out of the formation, slowly approaching.

Slow at first, then gradually faster. But at 1,500 paces, they slowed down again. At 1,000 paces, the artillery array on Xuanshi Slope was ready to fire, but they stopped, brushed the line, passed to the side, and returned to the main array. .

After this period, another ten thousand horses came, going back and forth in this way, clearly provocative, but not even a step deep.

Qian Yue looked solemn and called the generals: "All the previous arrangements have been in vain. It seems that the Tatars will not rush into the formation easily."

One of the generals said: "It's annoying and hateful. The Tatars are provoking each other, and the soldiers are very angry. I will ask for an order to attack. Please give an order, general!"

Qian Yue shook his head: "The cavalry cannot attack easily."

Said: "The Tatars are not bad at fighting. The grassland is their home field. I probably miscalculated earlier. Now the Tatars are provoking thousands of steps away. If they can be attacked with artillery, they can still fight. But they can't expand the results. , once the artillery fire is fierce, it will scare away the Tatars, which is not in line with my thinking."

After pondering for a moment, Qian Yue's eyes showed a fierce look: "The Tatars were just trying to lure me out to fight. They asked me to abandon the black stone slopes and trenches and fight in the wilderness, but my calculation failed. At that time, I was fighting in the field, attacking from all sides. I heard that the Tartars are like a pack of wolves when they attack, rising and falling, one wave after another, without stopping. Once they besiege and break our formation, he will be successful."

At this point, Qian Yue sneered: "But how does he know that I have a strong army?!"

"Generals!"

"exist!"

"Since the Tatars want to fight me in the wilderness, and there is no point in delaying, I will comply with his wishes. All the troops are ordered to go down to Xuanshi slope and form a circular formation. The artillery is inside, the musketry is in the middle, and the spearmen are in the middle. Outside, the cavalry immediately escaped and were cruising around, looking for opportunities to attack the Tatars' main formation. Let's take the initiative!"

"Here!"

On the black stone slope here, there is a huge wave of armored soldiers. From a distance, they look like small parts of a huge machine. The gears are turning, and soon they form a huge circular array, rolling down the slope.

When Wu Keshan saw this, he couldn't help but said: "This Han general is quite impatient. I thought he could hold on for a day and a half, but within an hour, he couldn't hold it any longer."

He said: "Every unit should be prepared. When the enemy crosses two thousand steps, attack him!"

He also said: "Sonomu led ten thousand horses to the west, Chahan to the north, and Manzhu to practice rituals to the south. I will take charge of my own formation. I have surrounded the Han people, and don't let any of them escape. Let the Han people see the descendants of Genghis Khan. How majestic!”

Then he said: "Bier Tahar, I will give you five thousand cavalry." He pointed at the three thousand Han cavalry who rushed out from behind Xuanshi Slope and said: "Kill them."

Bier Tahar was the son of Wu Keshan, and he was young and vigorous. Hearing this, he said: "Father, don't worry, my son will kill all the Han cavalry!"

Then he stretched out his hand and said, "Follow me!"

At that moment, five thousand cavalry came out of the formation, drew a bright arc on the grassland, bypassed the main battlefield, and went straight towards the three thousand Han cavalry.

Qian Yue saw clearly the movements of the Tatars in the circular formation and said, "I'm afraid the Tatars have made a mistake."

Then he no longer paid attention to Sanqianqi.

At this time, the drums gradually began to sound, and the horns were dim. Looking from the sky, I saw a steel wheel composed of 9,000 people rolling down the slope. In the distance, Tatar cavalry rushed out from the formation, or circled south. , or around the north, as Qian Yue's troops crossed three trenches, they gradually showed the trend of encirclement.

Qian Yue's troops were as stable as Mount Tai, and the circular formation moved slowly. When they were a thousand steps away, there were Tatar cavalry behind them, cutting them off from Xuanshipo.

In this way, ride on all sides, north, south, east and west. Nine thousand armored soldiers were surrounded, and they were all a thousand steps away. The drums beat loudly, the circular formation clanged, and they stood still.