"Aren't there only 30,000 Hulu? Did they disperse half of their troops like this?" Xi Jian was also secretly surprised.
These scattered Huns cavalry could hardly pose a threat to the infantry array. They could only block traffic on the outer battlefield of the Han army, or pursue and intercept them after the war.
"Explore again!" Liu Yu immediately ordered the Han cavalry to investigate further.
However, this time the investigation was full of dangers.
After several bloody battles between the two sides' cavalry on the periphery, the Han cavalry opened a gap and were able to investigate ahead.
After another charge, these Han cavalry finally brought back the enemy situation in front.
"Your Majesty, the thieves are far from thirty thousand. The number of thieves crossing the Si River alone is already thirty or forty thousand. They are still pouring out of Hulao Pass in a steady stream!"
The news brought back by the Han cavalry immediately surprised Liu Yu and others.
This was different from the information they had received before. They originally thought that the Huns only had 30,000 people.
From this point of view, the Huns had at least 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers and horses, or even more.
"Your Majesty, the number of barbarians is far from 30,000. It is better to camp where we are for the time being, otherwise it will be dangerous if we are attacked by bandits during the march." Xi Jian immediately suggested.
After hearing this, Liu Yu immediately rejected the suggestion.
"No, we lure the enemy to fight this time just so that we can seize the victory after the war and conquer Hulao Pass in one battle. If we stand firm here, how will we catch up once the Hulu are defeated!"
In Liu Yu's words, he did not consider the risk of defeat at all, but thought about how to quickly approach Hulao Pass after the war without giving the Huns a chance to organize a complete defense.
Liu Yu immediately divided the entire army into three groups, taking the 30,000 people who had formed the formation first as the front army, and marched forward.
Between here and Hulao Pass, there is a low hill where you can overlook the surrounding area. Liu Yu wants to seize it, and then he can calmly dispatch his troops to respond to the enemy.
According to the original plan, the Han army could slowly approach and occupy it based on their numerical advantage.
However, the number of Xiongnu soldiers and horses now far exceeds expectations. Once occupied by the Huns, it will probably be extremely difficult.
For a time, the Han army's trumpets and drums sounded loudly. Under the guidance of the order, the Han army soldiers accelerated towards the front.
The Han army's sudden impatience was immediately noticed by the surrounding Huns cavalry.
They immediately ran back and reported it to the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong.
"What, the thieves divided their forces and advanced?"
After the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong heard this, he immediately felt a little incredible.
Splitting up troops before battle is a completely dangerous act, especially when infantry faces cavalry, it is very likely that they will be divided and surrounded by cavalry.
However, the Han army clearly knew its own situation, but still divided its forces and advanced like this. It was simply seeking death.
"Your Majesty, although the bandits are infantry, they are moving quickly and seem to be trying to seize the Dipei in front!" A Hun general immediately guessed the Han army's intentions.
"It's so high up there. If the rebels seize it, our cavalry charge won't be able to shake it!"
The Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong immediately thought quickly.
"On the contrary, at this time, when the bandit army is marching, the formation will inevitably be scattered. If our army clashes with cavalry, we will definitely be able to defeat the enemy!"
However, due to the surge in the river water, the passing capacity of the Si River seriously hindered the assembly of the Huns' cavalry.
Now there are only more than 20,000 Huns cavalry hastily completed the entire column after crossing the river.
"Your Majesty, although the thieves are in a hurry, they are all elite after all. Why don't you wait a moment and gather some more troops to attack!" Jin Zhun came to the side and said.
When the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong heard this, he shook his head.
"No, that hilly area is closer to the bandit army. If we waste time, they will definitely get there first!"
When the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong said this, he immediately got on his horse, raised his whip and pointed forward.
"Pass my order, the soldiers and horses who have crossed the Si River will all follow me forward to defeat the enemy!"
Soon, the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong led less than 10,000 cavalry to advance first, while Jin Zhun and others followed closely with 20,000 cavalry, ready to detour and flank the enemy at any time.
As for the remaining soldiers and horses, they were ordered to cross the river quickly to follow them.
The cavalry led by the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong ran wildly and quickly reached the front.
At the same time, most of the Han army had already reached the east side of the high slope.
In this way, both sides arrived on both sides of the commanding heights almost at the same time.
However, the Huns' cavalry ran to the high slope first.
"Your Majesty, look, the bandits are right in front!" a Hun general shouted loudly.
As soon as Liu Cong climbed up the hillside on horseback, he saw tens of thousands of Han troops not far ahead running towards here in several huge arrays.
"The formation of the bandit army is loose, it's really God who helps me!" Liu Cong couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw this.
Seeing that the Han army's array was loose, he no longer cared about organizing the array, and immediately shouted orders.
"Generals, listen to the order and quickly defeat the thieves for me!"
After receiving the order, several Xiongnu generals immediately followed the order.
Soon, the Hun cavalry, which also came in a hurry, roared down the hillside and charged down.
Facing the roaring Hun cavalry, Liu Yu, who was half a step too late, did not panic too much.
Because the terrain here is flat, the Han army had already advanced in a large square formation when advancing.
Now when encountering enemy forces, they can quickly respond in a defensive formation.
"Drum beat, get in formation!"
Liu Yu quickly ordered all armies to prepare for the enemy.
Such a hasty battle between both sides began immediately.
Carrying the advantage of being at a commanding height, the Huns' cavalry charged directly into the front of the Han army's array.
Although the Han army issued a military order to form a formation to defend against the enemy, the soldiers in front were still in chaos.
Facing the menacing Hulu cavalry, there were signs of relaxation for a while.
However, even if several gaps were breached in the array, the Han soldiers at the rear could still quickly step forward to fill them.
The soldiers on both sides immediately got into a melee.
A large number of Huns cavalry coming from the rear were unable to rush forward, so they took out their bows and arrows and shot arrows at the Han army array.
Even with the protection of armor, many soldiers were still wounded and killed by arrows.
Faced with this situation, Liu Yu did not dismount. The soldiers on the left and right held up their shields to protect him.
Now that Liu Yu's plan to seize the commanding heights had failed, he could only wait for the rear troops to arrive.
Fortunately, the Han army has a strength advantage and can still hold on.
However, Liu Cong, the Hun emperor who was riding his horse on a high slope, didn't think so.
"The bandits' array is already in chaos. As long as we work harder, we can defeat the enemy!"
Liu Cong saw several depressions in the Han army's array, and there was already a melee there.
According to Liu Cong's experience, once this happens, the soldiers there are generally on the verge of collapse.
However, Liu Cong waited and waited, but never saw the Han soldiers collapse.
At this time, the Huns' cavalry had already taken turns attacking for several times.
The dead and wounded soldiers from both sides lay prone at the place where the battle took place.
At this time, the Xiongnu soldiers and horses led by Jin Zhun had already surrounded them from both sides, and the follow-up soldiers and horses of the Han army in the east were also gradually forced up.
"Your Majesty, the thieves' rear army is coming soon. Why don't we gather our troops and horses for the time being and wait for all the rear army to arrive before we can respond to the enemy again!" Hu Yanyan, the cavalry general, said beside him.
Anyway, he had already seen that although the Qingzhou Han army on the opposite side never had the chance to regroup, the Huns were unable to defeat them.
This melee between the two sides was even more uneconomical for the Huns.
The Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong looked at the reinforcements from both sides that were about to arrive on the battlefield, but he did not agree with Hu Yanyan's words.
"The thief army has dispersed long ago, and now they just need one last blow! This time, all the guards on the left and right will step forward to charge into the formation, and attack the thief army there!"
Liu Cong pointed with his hand, which was the place where the drums and flags were issued in the Han army array.
Hu Yanyan and others looked embarrassed in response to the order from the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong.
The array of Han troops in front of them was so thick that they were really not sure that they could really overwhelm the enemy.
"Your Majesty, the left and right guards are to protect your majesty's holy cavalry. How can they rush into the formation!?" Hu Yanyan, the general of chariots and cavalry, said this, hoping to make Liu Cong take back the order.
Anyway, reinforcements from both sides are about to arrive. By then, the Huns cavalry will be the main force, and they will be able to take more control of the battlefield initiative. Hu Yanyan will be more confident in finding the enemy's weaknesses and loopholes.
However, the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong did not give in at all.
"Don't you see it! That's where the thief chieftain Liu Yu is!"
Hu Yanyan and others were stunned when they heard this, and then turned around to look again.
I don't know when, a tall red-bottomed Han flag was raised high there.
"A red flag is not necessarily Liu Yu!" Hu Yanyan said in a low voice.
"I will never guess wrong, that must be where the Thief Chief is!" Liu Cong's words cannot be questioned at all.
Liu Cong suddenly drew his sword in his hand and said loudly.
"The guards on the left and right will charge into the formation immediately. I will personally supervise the battle. Anyone who hesitates will be killed!"
After hearing this, Hu Yanyan and others, who were the commanders of the left and right guards, had no choice but to immediately lead their troops to prepare to join the battle.
"Woo!"
"Woo!"
When another horn horn sounded, the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Cong personally held the formation at the rear, urging the elite left and right guards as personal soldiers to form a formation to attack the Han army's array.
"Your Majesty, the elite of thieves!"
The guard general Zhao Kun immediately saw the new Xiongnu troops who were about to join the battlefield.
"Hulu is so arrogant!" Liu Yu shook his head disdainfully.
Although these Bingzhou Huns have repeatedly defeated the Jin army in the past few years, today's battle revealed their true strength without hesitation.
Even if the Han army's dense array of armored soldiers was loose, it could still prevent the Huns from advancing even half a step further.
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"Bring me a strong bow and let me kill an elite Huru for you!"
