In fact, the two sides began to fight as early as when the army arrived in Xanadu.
Eighty-seven thousand cavalry, including 5,000 scouts, fought against each other on the four hundred miles of grassland between Xanadu and Xilinhot.
Thanks to these scouts, the scope of exploration in Monan was reduced to about a hundred miles. After receiving the order to set off the army, they intensified their offensive efforts and pushed forward another twenty miles, reaching the limit. Going further, That's not something the scouts can do.
The army easily advanced to a place 90 miles away from Xilinhot.
Hurrying slowly, we arrived here in the evening of the next day.
I thought that the Khan Court was going to play a trick of escaping from afar, but unexpectedly it turned out to be a battle to defend the city.
"Are these Mongol people crazy? They want to fight with us Han people to defend the city?" Jia Hui was puzzled.
"This is the first time I have fought a siege with them since they captured Shangdu City." Yun Yu didn't know what to say.
Jia Hui looked at the information about Xilinhot and scratched his chin.
"Not to mention that they only have city walls that are more than ten feet high, or rammed earth walls mixed with weeds. Xilinhot has a population of nearly one million. Where does their food and grass come from?"
"It's just about killing cattle first, then sheep, and finally people. As long as we can hold on until our army is exhausted, Mantulu can bring people to help and repel our army. The materials consumed are much more cost-effective than running north with people. "
Yun Yu pinched his beard and said.
"people?"
"Yes, man, the population that the grassland can accommodate through grazing alone is always limited. What's more, there is not enough rain this year. As you can see, there is not much grass growing.
If more people die, it will make them feel better whether they win or lose. "
Yun Yu looked indifferent.
"Most of the time, wars on the grasslands are not about fighting for hegemony, but about fighting for lusher and warmer pastures and consuming people.
They are not naturally warlike. They can't survive by grazing alone. And since Daqi has blocked the grasslands and closed the mutual market, they can't even spend their money. If they want to survive and live a better life, they have no choice but to rob each other and fight with each other. "
"Then to what extent will the mutual market be restored again? The Khan Court will be completely destroyed?" Jia Hui was a little curious.
"Yes, once the Mongol people are more divided, they can trade with each other again."
While the two were chatting, the gang leader arrived.
"Report! Marshal, General, dinner is here!" The gang leader signed up outside the tent and entered the house after receiving permission.
As a high-ranking official, he still has some privileges. While the army is nibbling pancakes and eating dried meat, the military commanders can still eat fresh mutton and freshly roasted meat.
Of course, the soldiers still had a bowl of broth.
A large piece of mutton cooked while making the broth was brought to the table. Jia Hui and Yun Yu stopped talking and hurriedly sat down at the table.
Huotoujun placed two silver-covered wooden bowls on the table and opened the wooden barrel filled with mutton soup. What he saw was a faint milky white soup, and a delicious aroma of mutton came out of the barrel along with the heat. come out.
The tangy fragrance attracted the two of them to look over involuntarily. Huotoujun first picked up a bowl, took out a spoonful of the meat that Huotoujun had cut in advance, sprinkled some chopped green onion, poured a spoonful of soup on top, and sprinkled a little pepper. The aroma was overflowing and his mouth watered. Came down.
The gang leader brought two bowls of soup to the two of them, took out a spoon and chopsticks from the bag and handed them to them, and then brought out a basket of noodles.
Jia Hui took a noodle cake, tore it into small pieces, and carefully put it into the soup. After a while, the cake was full of soup, and the soup soaked the cake. He picked up the cake with chopsticks and put it into his mouth, chewing it gently. , soft and chewy, and the fragrant soup immediately overflowed the whole mouth. Slightly salty, slightly sweet, slightly spicy, slightly hot.
"Ah..." After a mouthful of mutton soup, steady Ru Yunyu couldn't help but smile happily.
After marching for a day, my tired body seemed to be healed by the warm mutton soup, and my body was filled with strength again.
"Ah, Shutan, has the whole army been given a bowl?" Jia Hui drank a bowl in one go, feeling the warm mutton soup entering his body along his esophagus, and asked as he looked at the gang leader.
"Back to the general, a total of 10,000 sheep have been killed, which is enough for the brothers to share. At most, there is not enough meat, but why is there still meat? It is enough to eat." The gang leader put down his hands and was helping the two of them cut the mutton. Knife, replied quickly.
"That's it." Jia Hui nodded and continued eating.
A night attack is a laborious task. If you can't protect everyone, you have to pursue them all night long. You must ensure that everyone has enough to eat.
After six bowls of soup, three pounds of mutton and five noodles, Jia Hui put down the bowl and chopsticks.
"Ah, eighty percent full and comfortable." Jia Hui leaned back on the chair comfortably and took out a toothpick to pick his teeth.
Yun Yu also finished eating slowly. As he got older, his stomach was not very good, so naturally he had to chew slowly. Besides, he didn't need to go to the front line, he could just eat as much as he could.
When the gang leader saw that the two had finished their meal, he quickly put away the bowls and chopsticks, carried the bucket and the basket and retired toward the two.
"Okay, kid, go back to your camp and have a rest. You will be the commander at night." Feeling sleepy, Yun Yu began to chase people away.
"Yes, I'll take my leave then." Jia Hui stood up holding on to the table, said goodbye to Yun Yu, turned around and left Yun Yu's handsome tent.
. . . . . .
The map shows that the army of the Khan Court was arranged in the shape of "Hui".
The city of Xilinhot is completely unable to accommodate a population of nearly one million. When it was designed, it was designed to accommodate a maximum of 50,000 people.
Therefore, except for a small number of nobles and regular soldiers, the rest were stationed outside the city.
With Xilinhot City as the center, the young and middle-aged men were arranged on the left and right, and the Qixue from various tribes and some elite regular soldiers were stationed in the rear. Inside the city were the Great Khan and a small number of Qixue and most of the regular soldiers from Huitaiji and Taiji from each tribe.
As for the south of the city facing the Qi army, it is the old and weak of the various ministries.
They didn't think they could defeat the Qi army in the south at all. They wanted to rely on defending the city to delay and consume the Qi army. Naturally, they were unwilling to consume the precious young and strong population.
On the one hand, it is to seize the weakness of the Qi army's respect for the elderly and compassion for the sick and weak, so that the Qi army's attack becomes hesitant, so that the young and strong soldiers on both sides and in the city can take the opportunity to attack.
On the one hand, the young men and regular soldiers should be allowed to reduce their losses as much as possible so that they can escape when they are unable to resist. As a result, the old, weak and sick from all tribes were placed in the south of the city.
On the other hand, even the conscience of the Qi army was eaten by dogs and they abandoned their morality. When they saw the left and right men who were all in their prime and the Nanfang who were all old and weak, they would choose which side to attack.
Fortunately, most of the horses and antlers are placed in the south.
As for how to tell...
The walking speed of the people in the south of the city was obviously slower than in other areas. If you look carefully to the left and right, you can see that the tents are arranged in no order. In the north of the city, discipline is strict, and it is obvious that some of them are wearing iron armor.
The most important thing is that Shangdu City also put up this formation in order to defend the Qi army.
At the right time, Jia Hui, who was already fully equipped, sat on his horse and checked the map to make one final confirmation whether the formation had changed.
After confirming that it was correct, the minimap was turned off.
The general formation had already been told to the generals during the day, and the details of how to fight would be discussed later.
Behind them stood Qi troops who were also fully equipped.
Jia Hui turned his horse's head, and the general who had been waiting for a long time came over quickly and gave some instructions. After they returned to their respective teams, Jia Hui faced the army.
"Today is the day when you have made great achievements and won the title of wife and son! All officers and men, listen to your orders!"
Jia Hui raised his horse's chariot and faced the north.
"Set off!"
. . . . . .
Khan court.
The moonless night was so irritating. Tumutaihutaiji'ombuchuhu'er was awakened by nightmares. The day Bansheng City was massacred by the Qi army appeared over and over again in the dream. It has become a dream. Obtained the nightmare of Ombu Chuhuer.
Ombu Chuhu'er looked out the window and was surprised to find that it was a dark moon today just like last year.
The irritated Ombu Chuhu'er suddenly lay down on the bed, waking up the sleeping soundly Yanshi beside her. Yanshi looked blankly at the person beside her pillow, Ombuchuhu'er ignored her, closed her eyes and forced herself to go again. Go to sleep.
. . . . . .
It was dark, there was no moonlight, and the scouts did not run far, only wandering within three miles outside the city.
There was no moon today, and Bilige Khan was also afraid that these elites would accidentally fall into Dalinuoer Lake, or fall into some pit and be killed or injured, so he didn't let them run too far.
Looking at the Mengwu scouts scattered outside the city like stars in the distance, Jia Hui whispered military orders to the back.
"People are holding their heads high, and horses are binding their hooves and strangling their mouths."
The soldiers behind them also whispered military orders to the back, and then passed them from person to person until the end of the team.
As early as thirty miles away from Xilinhot, Jia Hui had people extinguish the torches.
The infantry were fine, as long as the people behind them grasped the strings tied to the shoulders of the people in front, while the cavalry army held on to the ropes just like Jia Hui did on the plateau.
The ropes of the 60,000-horse army were tied forward to their respective commanders, who were then tied to Jia Hui's three direct subordinates. Finally, three ropes were tied to Jia Hui, connecting Guan Sheng, Lin Chong, and Yang Zhisan. people.
If this happened, he still fell behind, then Jia Hui had no choice but to wait until dawn and let the stragglers regroup on their own.
At least eighteen miles away from Xilinhot, at the right foot of a small hill, I saw the faint light of fire again.
"The infantry will attack, and the artillery vehicles will follow." Jia Hui ordered.
The messengers immediately went to convey the military orders. They are still sneaking and cannot use the suona, so they can only notify them one by one.
The infantry who received the military order passed through the cavalry army, led by Ye Bushou, and walked along the dirt road towards Xilinhot City.
. . . . . .
Xie Yong, commander of the five military camps in Beijing, rode on horseback and followed Ye Bushou in front.
As a marquis of Qingyang County, Xie Yong naturally became the infantry commander.
Xie Yong was still a little panicked about this night attack.
After all, there were nearly a million tribesmen gathered around Xilinhot. Although he was very confident in the Qi army, the gap of nearly one to ten still made him sweat.
Turning his head and taking a look at the eight-foot-tall, strong man wearing heavy armor, Xie Yong felt a lot more at ease.
Ruda was sent by Jia Hui to be the vanguard of the infantry.
When Xie Yong saw Ruda wearing heavy armor for the first time, he was also shocked by Ruda's force. After watching Ruda's strong performance in the military exercise, he was even more shocked.
"Brother Lu, for the next matter of removing the antlers and resisting the horses, I will trouble you to get into camp first."
"Don't worry, Dusi. I'll leave it to the Sa family to make a frontal breakthrough!" Luda, who was wearing a turban, replied angrily.
"That's good, that's good." Xie Yong became firm. Since there is a strong general like Ruda who can advance first, Xie Yong has nothing to worry about.
One hundred thousand troops marched on in a muffled voice.
. . . . . .
Scout Tan Mawu Enqi was yawning and looking around casually.
Dawn was approaching, and he was already too sleepy to stand on the night guard.
I kept thinking about why it wasn’t time to change shifts yet!
Moonless nights are much harder than other times. When there is a moon, at least you can secretly hunt a few rabbits, marmots and the like for the tooth ceremony. Ever since the Great Khan summoned all the tribes to gather in Xilinhot, there has been less and less food. It's getting worse.
But when there was no moon, nothing could be seen in the dark, and there were clouds in the sky blocking the starlight, so he couldn't see his surroundings. Only the small area illuminated by the torch in his hand was his domain.
"Huh?" Wu Enqi felt something was wrong. The wind should not be so dull!
Wu Enqi knocked the horse's belly to cheer up his partner, and cautiously moved forward.
He kept pulling on the reins to make the horse go to the left, leaving only the right half of the body moving towards the south.
Suddenly, the dull sound stopped, and the torch held by Wu Enqi in his right hand suddenly illuminated an eight-foot-tall armored beast in front of him, which could scare people wherever he stood.
The atmosphere was silent.
This time, Wu Enqi finally remembered what the sound was.
"The enemy..." Before he could finish his words, Ruda had already taken action.
He picked up the terrestris stick and blew Wu Enqi's head off!
But Wu Enqi's horse neighed and fled towards the north crazily. Xie Yong shot an arrow into the back of the head and fell to the ground without making any sound.
"The whole army attacks!"
He had tried his best to get to the nearest position, and it was expected that he would be discovered. Xie Yong shouted, took out a few arrows and rushed out. Ruda led the infantry and walked quickly, trying to keep the formation moving at a constant speed.
Ye Bushou also chased Xie Yong, took out their bows and arrows, and shot the scouts outside.
"Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
The vulture shooter standing on the watchtower also discovered the attacking Qi army and hurriedly rang the small bell to summon men for defense.
A group of old Mongol soldiers who were not too old were instantly awakened by the sound of the bell. They stood up and put on their clothes while cursing. They took out their swords and rushed out of the tent, rushing towards the south. Other old and weak soldiers also took them. He picked up his weapon and rushed towards Qi Jun.
"Brother Lu, I'll leave the front to you!" Xie Yong waited for a moment until Ruda came over with his troops. After giving Ruda an order, he rushed towards the watchtower.
Let’s see which one is better, your shooting skills or mine!
Seeing the Qi general with good shooting skills rushing toward him, the Condor Shooter also wanted to compete. Then, he condescendingly fired three arrows at Xie Yong, but Xie Yong dodged two of them, and the last one It was also blocked by Xie Yong's soldiers with large shields.
Seeing Xie Yong getting closer and closer to him, the eagle shooter did not panic at all. He put the arrow in his hand on the bowstring again and aimed at Xie Yong.
As if he had a tacit understanding, Xie Yong also took out an arrow and aimed it at the eagle shooter.
"Go!" Xie Yong took the lead and let go.
The sharp arrow was shot towards the eagle shooter. A little later, the eagle shooter also shot out the arrow in his hand.
Boom!
With a loud noise, the arrow shot by the eagle shooter was blocked by the soldier again and hit the shield of the soldier. The soldier's face turned pale, he fell off his horse and vomited blood.
On the watchtower, the eagle-shooting hand tightly covered the arrow on his chest, with blood flowing continuously, and fell to the ground, his eyes gradually becoming dull.
