Although Xu Wushan was not considered desperate, the dense mountain forests along the way still caused these Wuhuan people to suffer a lot.
Especially since it is still summer, there are so many mosquitoes in the mountains and forests that it is unbearable.
Even the Wuhuan people originally grew up in the deep mountains and old forests, so they were not unfamiliar with these things, but after all, they were on the march.
In addition, they had lost basically all their luggage during their previous escape.
On average, each person carries no more than three days of rations.
What's even more uncomfortable is that the terrain of Xu Wushan is difficult, and if infantry is passing through, the speed will be faster.
But they were all cavalry, and the consumption of horses along the way made them even more exhausted.
Some people may say, wouldn’t it be enough for war horses to eat grass? Is there still a lack of grass on this mountain?
There is indeed no shortage of fresh green grass on the mountain, but the problem is that they carry more than 20,000 war horses.
And there is another misunderstanding here. When cavalry actually fights, in order to maintain the physical strength of the war horses, the war horses need to use a lot of refined grains every day.
Based on the food intake of Wuhuan horses, they need at least twenty kilograms of refined grain and five to ten kilograms of hay every day to ensure normal riding.
But now, they don't even have food for people to eat, let alone food for war horses.
During these ten days, Tuoba Lie didn't know how he survived.
Originally planned to be able to walk out of the mountain forest in seven days, it took ten days to walk on the road.
Although they had already begun to save food as soon as they entered the forest, they still could not meet the needs of the team.
On the fifth day, in desperation, in order to maintain the combat effectiveness of the soldiers, Tuoba Lie could only order the killing of the horses.
But when people are unlucky, their teeth often get clogged even if they drink cold water.
Because they were short of food and feed for their horses, they had no choice but to let their horses eat the grass on the road.
More than 20,000 war horses competed for the bit of green grass on the roadside. Driven by hunger, those war horses could only eat what they could.
This led to large-scale diarrhea in war horses, in this era of lack of medical treatment and antibiotics.
Not to mention horses, even noble people like Tuoba Lie have died from diarrhea on the grasslands!
In order to prevent more war horses from being infected, Tuoba Lie could only reluctantly execute all the horses with diarrhea.
After going back and forth, they killed more than 6,000 horses along the way.
The large-scale slaughter of war horses caused their already low morale to fall to the bottom.
If they hadn't walked out of the forest at this time, Tuoba Lie couldn't even imagine what kind of situation he would face next.
But even so, the current mess is enough to give him a headache.
If a cavalry loses its horse, is it still a cavalry?
Everyone knew in their hearts that after walking out of this mountain forest, they would face a brutal fight.
And those who lost their mounts may have to stay in the Han Dynasty forever...
"Your Majesty, we must find some food quickly now. If there is anyone, I'm afraid we are in danger this time..."
As soon as they crossed Xu Wushan, several Wuhuan generals immediately surrounded them.
They couldn't survive for long just by eating horse meat. Of course, the most important thing was that the physical strength of the war horses was really exhausted.
If the current situation continues, the Han army will not even need to fight with them at all. As long as it lasts for another ten days, they will be too hungry to walk!
From the Great Wall back to Wuhuan, they still have at least 600 miles to go.
If there were no war horses and no food, they might all have starved to death halfway before they even walked back.
"I would like to replenish you with some food, but where can we go around here?"
Tuoba Lie glared at them angrily. They managed to escape with great difficulty. Do they want to go back now?
"But……"
"Okay, there's nothing wrong with it. Just take it one step at a time. It's better to wait until you're on the grassland than here!"
Of course Tuoba Lie knew what they wanted to say. After leaving the Great Wall, there was hundreds of miles of no man's land.
However, although the no man's land is scary, if they kill the horses at any cost, at least they can keep the soldiers alive.
But if we delay here any longer, who knows what Liu Deng will do!
"Send out the scouting horses and head north along the way!"
After taking a deep breath, Tuoba Lie finally threw all those unrealistic thoughts behind him.
Ten days have passed, and now I am worried that Liu Deng will guess his intentions.
Although Gubei Crossing is the nearest way out, if you want to get out of the Great Wall from there, you must pass through Laohuling.
When he thought of the strange terrain, he had an ominous premonition.
The side of Laohuling close to the Great Wall has a very strange terrain. This place is located between two mountains.
There are deep valleys on the east and west sides, and only a mountain ridge in the middle is passable.
If the Han army wanted to set up an ambush, Laohuling would be their best choice.
"Your Majesty, why don't we set up an ambush at Laohuling?"
Regarding this point, Li Guang and Tuoba Lie have the same idea.
If you want to set up an ambush, Laohuling is indeed the best choice.
As long as they guard the exits on both sides, these Wuhuan people will starve to death on the mountain.
"Don't you think it would be too easy for them to kill them like this?"
Liu Deng's face was filled with a cruel smile.
"What does the king mean?"
"Fight a battle at the foot of the Great Wall, with 50,000 Yan troops as the main force. After the battle, let them pass, and pursue with 20,000 cavalry. I will make them die in despair!"
After ten days of living in the mountains, the supplies of these Wuhuan people had long been exhausted.
At this time, let alone one person and two horses, they simply can't even do one person and one horse.
Moreover, the physical strength of the war horses has almost been exhausted to the limit. Under this situation, even if they have extraordinary abilities, they will not be able to fight against the Han cavalry.
For Liu Deng, isn't this a good opportunity to train troops?
Fighting at the foot of the Great Wall can not only expose these Yan soldiers to blood, but also ensure their safety to the greatest extent.
After the battle, the injured and exhausted Wuhuan people were released into the grassland.
With hundreds of miles of no-man's land on the grassland, they were allowed to die in despair little by little. This was the punishment Liu Deng gave them!
