The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 317 Opposing Each Other
The distance from Guihua City to Guanshan area is nearly 500 li, and it would be even longer if you took a detour.

The journey from Xiaohuanghe to Guanshan is as long as seven or eight hundred li.

So no one expected that Uen would be so bold as to choose to venture deep into enemy territory alone. Who would make such a decision? It was far too risky.

Zhang Can left most of his troops behind and personally led a thousand cavalrymen in pursuit.

"Damn it..."

Mid-September, evening.

The weather is cool.

Zhang Can ate a sesame seed cake, chewed on some dried meat, took a sip of water, swallowed it, and looked at the traces left by the sheep on the ground. He cursed in disappointment.

The cavalrymen in the distance dismounted one after another to replenish their strength.

Dried meat was precious and not everyone could have it. These cavalrymen would also receive some, but not much. They mainly carried vinegar cloths and perforated sesame cakes, or cooked fried noodles when they had the means.

Deputy General Ma Fan sighed, "It's true that man proposes, God disposes."

"Hahaha."

Zhang Can couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The surrounding school officials couldn't help but chuckle.

"That kid Wu En must be kicking himself. He probably never expected that son of a bitch Hu Liyong would still be stuck in Kanerhai."

"Hahaha."

He'll regret it to death.

Everyone laughed.

It's something that makes you angry, really.

Hu Liyong was afraid of fighting. According to the original plan, the Tiancheng Army should have arrived at Guanshan long ago, advancing in three directions simultaneously, and then converging in the Xiaohuanghe area.

Everyone has their own ulterior motives.

The Yongxing Army was the same, but no one expected Hu Liyong to go so far.

It's been so long, and most of them are still in the rear.

Despite all his calculations, Wu En overlooked this point: now they have a thousand elite cavalry chasing from behind, and the majority of the Tiancheng Army blocking their way from the front.

Most importantly, Uen himself didn't have much savings.

The Hu people also knew how to make military rations, such as various kinds of dried meat and fried noodles.

They would only take the tribe's cattle and sheep on a campaign when their savings were insufficient, relying on the cattle and sheep for supplies along the way.

Such a wasteful approach would never be adopted by the Hu people unless they were in dire straits.

This means that Uen and his men have no staying power to hide and flee, and they must escape their predicament as soon as possible.

"Hu Liyong is quite shrewd in his calculations."

Wu En led his troops in a surprise attack on Tiancheng Army, but the news leaked out, and he miscalculated the route. Due to various reasons, the situation reversed. After learning about Wu En's whereabouts, Tiancheng Army was eager to seize the opportunity to win the battle.

Knowing that the Western Army was still in pursuit, and fearing that the Western Army would steal the credit, they accelerated their northward march.

"Let him."

Zhang Can said with disdain.

The general realized his mistake.

Next up is the tough nut to crack, Ou Yanhu; that's the biggest target.

It's alright if Hu Liyong tries to take credit; from another perspective, the Western Army preserved its strength and defeated Wu En. From a strategic point of view, the Western Army also gained an advantage. This is what the general meant by having a strategic vision.

As for Hu Liyong's men...

Zhang Can didn't take it seriously.

Although Hu Liyong had more than 18,000 troops, which was 6,000 more than the Western Army.

The scouts searched southeast.

After finishing their meal, Zhang Can and his officers sat in the open field, using the dim firelight to try and guess the enemy's whereabouts based on the map they had drawn.

To the west, the Tiancheng Army had nearly 30,000 troops, plus several thousand more from the Western Army, forming a veritable net.

To the north were their pursuers, and to the south was Hu Liyong.

As for whether Uen gave up on breaking through or even turned around to ambush them, all of these are possible, and everyone had their own opinions.

The battlefield situation is ever-changing and inherently unpredictable.

Having fought for years, traveling from south to north, they were all well-informed and in the prime of their lives. Although they carefully analyzed Wu En and considered every possible step, none of them took Wu En seriously.

As for the soldiers below, they were all wiping their weapons.

He skillfully took down a row of small bamboo tubes from his waist and examined them one by one.

These small bamboo tubes, about the size of a little finger, were filled with gunpowder. When needed, the bamboo tubes were removed, the gunpowder was poured into the barrel of the three-barreled musket, and then a short rod was inserted into the copper tube to tamp the gunpowder down.

The three-barreled musket has three barrels, each filled with a bamboo tube of gunpowder, and then each with a lead bullet.

Then plug the barrel with a wad of paper and continue to push the wad of paper into the lower end with a short rod.

In this way, with the gun barrel pointing downwards, the gunpowder and lead bullets won't fall out.

After being soaked in a special chemical solution and dried in the sun, the match cord, which is about an inch long, can burn slowly for half an hour after being lit. During this half hour, the three-eyed musket can be fired at any time.

Not only that, it can fire three shots in a row.

Once the three-eyed cavalrymen got close, they fired three shots in quick succession at the enemy, which would knock even a three-headed, six-armed warrior off his horse.

After firing.

The three-barreled musket could also be used upside down, resembling a mace.

With the armor worn by cavalrymen, they could shoot from a distance and attack at close range, making them extremely cost-effective.

If used in conjunction with wagon battalions, it would be even more powerful.

This elite cavalry force consists entirely of veterans who have fought for more than three years, not militia, and they come from diverse backgrounds.

For example, Zhang Can came from the Shaanxi border army and later served in the Beijing garrison.

Furthermore, Ma Fan was a cavalryman from the Beijing Garrison, and Liu Ying was an armored cavalryman from Datong, and so on.

With good organization, long-term training, and excellent equipment, a new fighting style was formed, which is why this thousand elite cavalry dared to pursue Wu En's two or three thousand men.

Although Wu En had two or three thousand Hu cavalry, they were not elite troops.

Herdsmen are indeed skilled in riding and archery, and their fighting ability is many times stronger than that of laborers who till the land, but they are still weaker than well-trained cavalrymen who have been freed from their jobs.

The former is for daily life, while the latter is for professional use.

Amateur scientists are still amateur scientists.

Sudden.

Two of the scouts returned, looking hurried. Upon seeing Zhang Can, they quickly said, "Wu En and Hu Liyong are fighting over Baihaizi, about fifty miles away."

"What a fucking piece of shit luck."

Ma Fan clenched his fist in frustration, realizing that Hu Liyong had still managed to seize the opportunity.

Zhang Can, though seemingly rough, was actually quite shrewd. "Did Wu En hit Hu Liyong first, or did Hu Liyong find Wu En first?"

The two scouts shook their heads.

"I don't know, but it seems that Tiancheng Army has the upper hand. The Hu people tried to break through several times, but they were all blocked by Tiancheng Army."

There is no definitive answer to how the military fights.

Who can fight and who can't is ever-changing. They all have two eyes and two hands, and if they're injured, they'll bleed.

Zhang Can quickly concluded that Hu Liyong was very likely to win this time.

We can't let Hu Liyong take all the credit. "Tell the brothers to pack their bags and get ready to leave immediately."

"Why should we help Hu Liyong?"

The subordinates were resentful.

Although Yongxing Army also had its own agenda, it was not wrong on the surface. It did arrive in Fengzhou on schedule, and its location was even ahead of Guihua City.

The strategic plan made by the Ministry of War of the Imperial Court designated the Yongxing Army as the main force, followed by the Western Army, and finally the Tiancheng Army.

If the battle is won, the main credit will naturally go to Zhang Wenjin.

However, the actual situation is another matter entirely.

There has never been a definitive answer as to whose contribution is greater; everyone has the right to claim that their contribution is greater.

In short.

The Tiancheng Army went too far, and both the Yongxing Army and the Western Army were dissatisfied with them. This had an unexpected effect, giving the Yongxing Army and the Western Army a common target for their complaints.

"If we don't seize the credit now, when will we?"

Zhang Can cursed.

Everyone suddenly realized what was happening and beamed with joy. Zhang Can didn't stop there; he continued to send out more scouts to investigate.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, more than a thousand elite riders packed up and set off.

If we were to march fifty li at a rapid pace, it would only take half a night. We don't need to light the fire rope yet, but the tinderbox is definitely in good condition and ready to be used at any time.

"Former general."

On the way, they encountered another soldier.

The messenger hurriedly rode over, bringing new information: "Two groups of Hu cavalry have broken through the encirclement, about three to five hundred men, while more than a thousand are still surrounded by Hu Liyong."

"useless."

Zhang Can and Ma Fan exchanged a glance, their contempt for Tian Chengjun growing even stronger, yet their eyes also gleamed with delight.

If the Tiancheng Army had annihilated all the Hu cavalry, they really wouldn't have had any reason to claim credit.

Now that some of the Hu cavalry have escaped, there are many more reasons they can come up with. They can't just believe whoever is in power, whether it's black or white.

With the connections behind his own general, what can Hu Liyong rely on to compare?

"Boost."

Zhang Can lowered his guard and ordered the army to speed up its march.

******
The moon is full today.

Visibility was still bright enough that it wasn't pitch black, which actually made it harder to escape.

The desert has many animal-dug holes or natural pits. During the day, it's okay; if you're careful, you can avoid most of them. But at night, it's all down to luck.

At this point, there was no time to worry about anything else.

Uen, looking frustrated, led over a hundred riders on a desperate journey.

This sneak attack backfired spectacularly.

Now that there is no chance, we might as well head north and go directly to our father, Khan.

Thinking of this, even though he knew it was the right thing to do, Uhn still couldn't help feeling annoyed and angry.

Losing the large board was not my fault.

Even though his father said he understood him and even praised him, others didn't see it that way. Especially with his elder brother's encouragement, he had become the culprit for losing the large board.

The Khan's good-for-nothing youngest son.

With such a reputation, what future do I have?

He took this risky step in order to clear his name and restore his reputation by annihilating the Zhou army before his father's main force arrived.

He was clearly following the Great Zhou army's marching route provided by the merchant.

He had a clear understanding of not only the Tiancheng Army, but also the marching routes of the Yongxing Army and the Western Army, as well as the strategic plans of the Great Zhou Ministry of War.

They specifically chose the weakest side of the Tiancheng Army.

But in the end, they miscalculated.

Despite all the planning, no one expected Tiancheng Army to be so despicable, failing to arrive at Guanshan on time and even falling more than two hundred miles behind.

If I had known that Tiancheng Army wasn't planning to participate in the war, why would I have offered myself up?

A misstep becomes an eternal hate.

Now that he has lost the only men he has left, if he returns to his father Khan's side, his elder brother will surely mock him and describe him as a fool.

After all, it was his own actions.

Sending someone to their death from afar—it makes him look like a fool.

It’s so frustrating.

Wu En's eyes were bloodshot with anger. He felt as if the heavens were against him and that he was incredibly unlucky.

"Hey..."

The faint sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from ahead, startling Uen awake.

At this time, the Hu people were like stray dogs, living in constant fear and panic, and in their confusion, they did not notice anything amiss.

"There are enemies."

At this moment, the traces coming from the north are undoubtedly those of the enemy.

Without hesitation, Wu En shouted and took the lead in turning his horse around and fleeing eastward.

The remaining Hu people were thrown into chaos.

The night was dark, and although there was a full moon, it was not clearly visible.

The sound of horse hooves is getting closer.

Ironically, the direction Zhang Can chose to go in actually led to an encounter. Without time to confirm, he figured it was most likely an enemy, so he decided to get closer first.

Upon hearing the Hu language spoken on the other end, Zhang Can no longer hesitated.

Moments later, the Zhou cavalry charged forward, and the slower Hu cavalry had no time to escape.

The knowledgeable Hu leader knew that the Zhou army numbered around a thousand, so he led his men to charge at the Zhou army, believing that charging forward would give them a better chance of survival.

"bang bang bang"

Ma Fan accepted the victory award delivered to his door with a big laugh.

Zhang Can was a fierce general in the entire Western Army, and Ma Fan was the most valiant general under Zhang Can.

A series of rapid gunshots rang out, the flashes of light dazzling in the night.

Clusters of firelight.

The group of Hu cavalrymen all fell off their horses.

Unlike arrows, which cause pain, some people have a high pain tolerance and can endure it.

The scalding hot lead bullet tumbling inside the flesh is painful enough to render most ordinary people immobile or even cause them to fall into a coma.

In an instant.

Zhang Can led his troops in an unimpeded pursuit.

Uen, who kept looking back, almost popped his eyes out when he saw the scene behind him.

Although he had already spoken up to remind them, the reminder was so hasty that some people below would inevitably be caught off guard, so Uen didn't take it seriously.

These slow-moving people are just buying time for everyone else.

But this was unexpected.

The fighting style of Zhou Jun's group is astonishing.

After a series of blows, Uen completely lost his confidence, dared not think too much, and buried himself in the escape.

The horse Hu Qi rode was not like the prized horse that Wu En rode.

After a long and arduous raid, and a night-long march, many horses were exhausted and could no longer outrun Zhang Can and his men. They were caught up with and killed one by one.

During the pursuit, they encountered another group of defeated Hu soldiers.

Actually it is not surprising.

After the Hu people collapsed, they instinctively ran north. In addition, there were many mountains in Guanshan, and there were only a few mountain paths suitable for horse racing. Only after leaving Guanshan did they see the vast desert again.

This is why there are nine sides.

The Nine Garrisons, established relying on the Changbai Mountains, Yanshan Mountains, and Taihang Mountains, were built on the basis of the rugged terrain, which is also the reason why the Nine Garrisons have a sparse population, as the mountainous areas cannot support people.

After a busy night, Zhang Can and his men had achieved the feat of taking more than 400 heads of Hu people, while suffering only a dozen or so casualties themselves.

In contrast, Hu Liyong's troops...

In order to eliminate this group of two or three thousand Hu cavalry, they suffered more than a thousand casualties themselves, and in the end only obtained less than eight hundred heads. How could they not be envious?

Zhang Can, having served in the border army, knew the character of his comrades.

Upon seeing Hu Liyong from afar, he did not approach, ignoring Hu Liyong's attempts to persuade him to stay, and immediately led his men to leave.

Unable to fool Zhang Can, who was slippery and unpredictable, Hu Liyong watched helplessly as the Western Army left with over four hundred severed heads. He then burst into a tirade of curses.

The entire Tiancheng Army became unhappy.

"We've worked so hard, only to have it all go to waste, like giving the Western Army a stage to perform on. They've gotten away with it all."

Consider it a token of my gratitude.

someone said.

"Zhao He, what makes you say that?"

Zhao He sighed, "They've come from the Yellow River, hundreds of miles away, and they're genuinely here to save us."

This is true.

The group felt a little better.

(End of this chapter)