People are like tigers, horses are like dragons, and a group of more than a thousand people are riding like lightning, with momentum like a rainbow...
"Drive~!"
Li Hong shook off the reins, leaned forward, kicked the horse's belly with his feet, and maintained the same speed as the surrounding cavalry.
During the galloping, the tiny clashing sound of the chainmail made his blood boil even more. Li Hong didn't feel cold at all when the fresh wind blew on his face, and his heart was surging.
Finally... one step closer to fighting on the battlefield.
At this moment, he really wanted to fight in a bloody battle!
The horse's hooves as big as a bowl beat on the ground, like beating drums. Wherever they passed, dust was flying behind them, making them look very majestic.
The boy's dream in the past was fulfilled to the greatest extent at this moment, and Li Hong's eyes seemed to be burning.
It's so happy, so happy, this is the scene I imagined... Li Hong was in high spirits: It would be even more perfect if he met the prairie barbarian again.
Li Hong looked at the sword on his waist and grinned.
However, he soon stopped laughing, just because he was filling his mouth with wind...
~
After galloping for more than an hour, the speed slowly dropped and then stopped.
Zhu Yong got off his horse, walked up a slope and looked far into the distance. Then he squatted down and used his finger as a pen to write and draw on the ground.
"What are you doing, general?" Li Hong followed up and asked curiously.
"If you don't want to be a general, just call me the general." Zhu Yong replied politely and explained, "Our mission is reconnaissance. It is necessary to understand the surrounding terrain. After obtaining the surrounding terrain, we can judge the enemy's attack. The general direction for better response.”
Zhu Yong continued to draw and said: "We, more than 100,000 people, occupy a large area, more than 20 miles in length and breadth, and Yongqing Marquis has also designated several areas for subsequent development;
The place is too big to cover everything, so we have to focus..."
After all, he was a connected person, so Zhu Yong didn't dare to neglect him. Besides, this related person hadn't officially enlisted in the army yet, so it wouldn't affect him.
Zhu Yong has an easy-going attitude and doesn't mind teaching Li Hong some common sense.
This young master has made some progress. After returning, Zhu Yong will also gain the favor of Marquis Yongqing. Of course he will not be stingy.
Li Hong listened carefully and took notes silently. He did not get carried away and never forgot his godfather's teachings - read more, listen more and learn more.
Zhu Yong sometimes drew pictures, sometimes looked far into the distance, and perfected the sketches. Li Hong stopped disturbing him and just watched silently.
After a while, Zhu Yong completely perfected the sketch. Then he took out the rice paper and charcoal from his arms, copied the topographic map on the paper, and then put it away carefully.
Looking up, he saw Li Hong looking like he couldn't stop and was struggling. Zhu Yong thought for a while and said:
"Xiao Li, please go and notify the brothers and ask them to find a place with the wind to rest, fill their stomachs first, and feed the war horses some fodder."
"Yes, general... I obey your orders." Li Hong cupped his hands and left in a hurry.
This noble young master... is quite interesting... Zhu Yong laughed, and then began to make plans for subsequent reconnaissance...
A quarter of an hour later, Zhu Yong had almost completed his plan and said to himself:
"The supplies are only enough for three days. At best, two days of reconnaissance, one day for return, and..."
Zhu Yong was halfway talking to himself when he suddenly looked up and saw Li Hong staring directly at him.
"Xiao Li, what's wrong with you?"
"No, it's okay." Li Hong shook his hand and said, "I just want to learn from the commander-in-chief."
After a pause, he hesitated and said: "Um... Mr. Zhu, tell me, will the prairie barbarians come?"
"This... is unlikely." Zhu Yong muttered, "The prairie barbarians are not reckless. There are so many of us. Under normal circumstances, they would not dare to mess with us. Of course, it is not ruled out that they are really hungry and anxious, and they will come and eat regardless. Take a bite.”
"That's it..." Li Hong nodded slowly, somewhat disappointed: It seems that this trip to the Hetao will not be possible after all.
Zhu Yong said with a smile: "Are you eager to fight?"
"Uh...a little bit." Li Hong did not shy away and said, "To be honest with the general, my subordinates also want to fight on the battlefield and serve the country, haha..."
Zhu Yong nodded: "You are still young, and you will have many opportunities in the future. When I was your age, I had the same mentality as you, so there is no need to be embarrassed."
Li Hong nodded: "Commander, where should we go later?"
"Walk along the tributary for a while and find a leeward place to spend the night." Zhu Yong said with a smile, "However, sleeping at night will be a bit awkward. You may not be used to it without a tent."
"how come?"
…
As night fell, Li Hong stood still looking at the crowded open-air dormitory.
Extreme crowding aside, he doubted anyone would freeze to death.
Zhu Yong said: "This small area is a shelter from the wind. The terrain is low and it can store some heat to a certain extent. We have to travel tomorrow, so we should rest early."
Li Hong resisted a little, but he let out what he had promised. He didn't want to slap himself in the face, let alone embarrass his godfather.
~
At night, Li Hong stared at the stars in the sky, unable to sleep.
It's cold, but still acceptable. The main reason is that people sleep too closely together, and the hot breath they exhale gathers together. Although most of it is lost, it still provides a part of the heat.
but,
The sounds of snoring, grinding teeth, farting, and talking in sleep... all kinds of noises intertwined together, making this young man who had lived a prosperous life unable to sleep at all.
Did my godfather come here the same way? No wonder he doesn't want me to join the army... Li Hong thought to himself: However, I will not give in. I can endure the hardships my godfather can endure.
In fact... Li Hong was still wrong. His godfather had never suffered such a hardship. Li Qing started out as a supervisor, lived in the commander's camp, and ate roasted lamb legs. He had never suffered such a crime...
"I can do it!" Li Hong whispered, cheering himself up, "My godfather can do it, so can I... Oops!"
A big foot stepped on his thigh unexpectedly, and Li Hong couldn't help but scream in surprise.
"Don't blame me, I have a stomachache. I need to solve it urgently. Brother, I'll bear with you." The man apologized hastily and hurried away. Two more people were stepped on on the road, which resulted in a few curses...
Soon, the snoring that had just subsided became louder again.
Li Hong couldn't help but smile bitterly. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, he also smelled a faint smell of Xiang...
That night, he didn't sleep peacefully...
~
Early the next morning, while others were full of energy, Li Hong was like an eggplant beaten by frost, with slumped shoulders, bowed body, and lowered his head, as he went to find his commander-in-chief.
Zhu Yong was not surprised when he saw Li Hong like this. When he experienced it for the first time, it wasn't any better.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Zhu Yong asked with concern. If possible, he would still like to send Li Hong back.
Li Hongqiang smiled and said, "It's okay. When should we set off?"
"In two quarters of an hour, you go and have something to eat first." Zhu Yong said, "There is no room for luck in the military. Even though the possibility is slim, you still have to be prepared for war in case you really encounter a barbarian. , in poor condition.”
"What the commander said is that my subordinates also think that they may encounter him." Li Hongqiang cheered up and went to eat.
…
'Ta-ta-ta-ta...! 'The dense sound of horse hooves is like a symphony, composing a passionate melody.
Li Hong was no longer so excited, but he still retained a trace of fantasy: what if he met him.
However, things went contrary to expectations. Until the evening of the second day, there was still no enemy coming. This was expected, but Li Hong felt very disappointed.
Reality is not as fulfilling as ideals after all!
On the mound, Zhu Yong finished drawing the terrain map, put it in his arms, and said to Li Hong: "Send the order: rest one night and return early tomorrow morning."
"Yes!" Li Hong cupped his hands and turned around to convey the military order.
But after taking a few steps, he suddenly felt something strange. Before he could react, Zhu Yong's expression changed, and he suddenly leaned down and put his ear to the ground.
After a while, he hurriedly said: "Quick, tell brothers, be prepared to defend against the enemy!"
Although I don’t know the number of people coming, since it is reconnaissance, I have to take risks. If I leave without seeing anyone, then reconnaissance is useless!
Zhu Yongxin said: I hope not many people come...
Li Hong was stunned at first, and then he cupped his hands heavily as if he had been given a shot of blood, "Yes!"
The enemy is really coming... Li Hong's heart is pounding, his blood is surging rapidly, and his handsome face is red. Finally, a battle is about to begin.
When this moment really arrived, Li Hong suddenly found that the excitement was even more joyful, and even accompanied by a hint of fear.
But he quickly suppressed all emotions and completed the tasks assigned by his superiors.
…
More than a thousand soldiers lined up in an orderly manner, and then, under Zhu Yong's command, gathered on a relatively high slope so as to be in a favorable position for cavalry charge.
It only took half an hour to see the enemy, a team of about three thousand people. Although they were still far away, they could be seen in tattered clothes and looked very embarrassed.
However, that momentum was extremely fierce.
Zhu Yong's expression changed slightly, and he immediately issued the safest order: "Withdraw!"
Facing more than twice the number of enemies, it is too difficult to win. Even if you can win, it will be a miserable victory and completely meaningless.
Moreover, with tens of thousands of Ming army soldiers behind him, Zhu Yong could not take any risks.
Li Hong was very disappointed, but he was just a soldier, and he had no say here. He could only obey the order and retreat with the army.
"Commander, can we win?" Li Hong asked the question in his heart while the horse was galloping.
"The chance of winning is only 20% at most." Zhu Yong hurriedly replied, "Although our Ming army has repeatedly defeated the grassland barbarians, it is because of the coordinated operations of the three battalions. If the cavalry fights the cavalry, these barbarians are not weak to us."
After a pause, "Looking at their situation, it is obvious that they are in a desperate situation of life and death. The combat power they unleashed at this time is far greater than usual. Under such circumstances, it would be unwise to fight."
Li Hong looked back and saw that they were all densely packed with friendly troops. He couldn't see the enemy at all, but he could feel that the barbarians were chasing after them.
He yelled anxiously: "But they have already discovered us, we are so close, I'm afraid we won't be able to survive without a fight!"
"Retreat first. It's getting dark and they may not be able to catch up." Zhu Yong said quickly, his voice trembling slightly, and he was not at peace in his heart.
He didn't expect to carry such a small amount of troops. When he came up, he encountered a cavalry team of 3,000 people. An ordinary small tribe could not gather so many people.
When grassland tribes send out troops, most of the time they will not go out in full force, because they often plunder each other. They can send out three thousand troops, and their strength is at least seven thousand.
With 7,000 fresh troops, the tribal population must be 40,000 to 50,000.
This level is considered a large tribe on the grassland, and large tribes generally do not send troops. When troops are sent, they often unite tribes of the same level in order to achieve the purpose of complementary plunder.
In other words, this may just be the vanguard force, followed by...
Zhu Yong knew that this was a big deal. If he did something great, if he didn't do it well, he might be surrounded and annihilated by the opponent. gòйЪ.ōΓg
Damn it, this young man is so open-mouthed, right...
