The Prodigal Son

At dawn.

Yelü Shu, who lived in Haidong City, was awakened by a knocking sound.

"What is it?"

Yelü Shu yawned, asking with a hint of morning grumpiness.

"General, my scouts report that the Ning army's vanguard cavalry has made a large-scale disturbance!"

The voices of the guards could be heard from outside.

What?

Yelü Shu was wide awake and suddenly jumped out of bed, quickly opening the door without even putting on his shoes, stepping on the cold floor.

How did the Ning Army's vanguard cavalry make their unusual movements?

Yelü Shu asked hurriedly.

"Their right-wing cavalry began a rapid retreat overnight! The main force on the front also began an orderly withdrawal!"

Retreat?

One retreated quickly, the other retreated slowly!

Yelü Shu only needed a moment to think before he instantly understood Ning Jun's intentions.

What do you mean by a quick retreat? That's a reinforcement!

The cavalry in front slowly retreated to guard against a surprise attack.

It must be that Yelü Xing's side succeeded!

Thinking of this, Yelü Shu could no longer contain his excitement: "Order all units to prepare immediately, feed the horses, and bring dry rations and water, ready to attack at any time! Summon Xiao Hu to see me immediately!"

After giving the order, Yelü Shu quickly returned to his room and dressed in his clothes and armor.

Before long, Xiao Hu arrived as ordered: "This humble general Xiao Hu greets the general."

Xiao Hu bowed respectfully.

Yelü Shu said in a deep voice, "Yelü Xing has succeeded! I will immediately lead my troops to join him in attacking the vanguard cavalry of the Ning army. I order you to lead five thousand surrendered soldiers to garrison Haidong City!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hu's heart stirred: "This humble general is also willing to lead the troops there!"

"Just stay behind when I tell you to. Why all the nonsense?"

Yelü Shu's face suddenly darkened. "If you dare to utter another word, I will first give you fifty strokes of the military rod!"

"I……"

Xiao Hu's face stiffened, and he almost jumped up to curse Yelü Shu, but he ultimately held back, forced to accept the order with a heart full of anger: "This subordinate obeys!"

What a petty and narrow-minded person!

He holds a grudge against me just because I expressed my concerns yesterday!

He had such a great opportunity to make a name for himself, yet he ordered himself to lead the surrendered soldiers to stay and guard Haidong City.

He clearly didn't want me to gain any merit in the war by following him!

villain!

Xiao Hu cursed inwardly, sending insults to Yelü Shu's ancestors for eighteen generations.

"Alright, go and get ready!"

Yelü Shu waved his hand and quickly walked out.

By the time Yelü Shu had mustered ten thousand elite cavalry, it was already dawn.

Time was short, and no one had time to eat breakfast, so they ate dry rations with cold water.

Yelü Shu said nothing more and quickly led his army to set off.

Standing atop the city wall, Xiao Hu spat fiercely at Yelü Shu, who was leading his troops out of the city.

"General, has Yelü Xing really succeeded?"

As the troops advanced, the deputy general, unable to contain his excitement, asked a question.

"It should be a success!"

Yelü Shu, a broad smile on his face, then ordered, "Send men to scout our right flank. Beware of the Ning army ambushing us in that dense forest!"

Although victory is now practically assured, Yelü Shu remains cautious.

That dense forest has always been a hidden danger.

If a large force were hidden in the dense forest, and could launch a surprise attack from the right rear while they were engaged in fierce fighting with the Ning army, it might still be possible to change the course of the battle.

"yes!"

The deputy general accepted the order and immediately made the arrangements.

About half an hour later, Yelü Xing received a report from his scouts that the Ning Army's right-wing cavalry had retreated to the rear of the vanguard cavalry and had been intercepted by Yelü Xing's troops, unable to retreat any further, and had now stopped.

"Are you sure it's Yelü Xing's troops?"

Yelü Shu was overjoyed.

"Sure!"

The scout reported, "It's General Yelü Xing's banner! It's all our troops!"

"Very good!"

Yelü Shu was overjoyed and was about to give the order when another scout came to report.

"General Qi, the Ning army's vanguard cavalry has suddenly accelerated its retreat!"

Retreat?

"Ning Jun is trying to concentrate his forces and quickly break through General Yelü Xing's blockade!"

The deputy general saw through Ning Jun's intentions at a glance.

"Definitely!"

Yelü Shu nodded and smiled, "Order the entire army to launch a surprise attack immediately! I intend to annihilate this entire Ning cavalry force!"

They must speed things up!

Yelü Xing's troops numbered only 10,000, and there were bound to be casualties after the night attack.

If they cannot break out from the rear in time, once the two Ning army cavalry forces converge, they may indeed break through Yelü Xing's forces and escape.

He will never give Ning Jun that chance!

If you're going to win, you have to win spectacularly!

As soon as Yelü Shu gave the order, the army immediately accelerated and launched a surprise attack on Yuan Dingguo's troops.

Soon after, Yuan Dingguo, who was leading his troops to join forces with Liang Hongqiao's several thousand men, also received the news.

"Ha ha!"

Upon learning that the Northern Qi cavalry had begun their surprise attack, Yuan Dingguo burst into laughter. "Report this to Commander Qin! Order all units to await my command and be ready to turn and attack the enemy forces behind us! Order Liang Hongqiao's troops to launch an attack from the right flank as soon as the two armies engage!"

As for the left wing, that's none of his concern.

The two sides are still locked in a chase.

When Yelü Shu's troops entered the area of ​​five li, Yuan Dingguo also found a relatively open space and immediately ordered his army to turn around and prepare to fight.

"Did they turn around?"

Yelü Shu, who was in pursuit, quickly noticed the unusual movements of the Ning army and began to have doubts.

What's going on?

Could it be that Ning Jun is going to detach some of his troops to block them?

Concentrate superior forces to break through the encirclement?

"General, it seems the Ning army is going to divide its forces to block us!"

The lieutenant's voice rang out simultaneously.

"Yes, that's what I thought too."

Yelü Shu nodded slightly, and without much thought, quickly ordered: "Order all units to immediately launch an attack in assault formation!"

We can't give Ning Jun too much time!

Otherwise, if Yelü Xing's forces were to break through, the battle would be less than successful.

"Beep beep beep..."

A sudden, urgent bugle call to attack rang out.

"kill!"

At Yelü Shu's command, the army immediately charged towards Yuan Dingguo's troops.

As the distance between them continued to close, Yelü Shu suddenly realized that something was wrong.

The Ning army seems to have a lot of men!

To stop them, sending two or three thousand men at most will be enough!

But upon closer inspection, it became clear that there were far more than just two or three thousand people!

Is Ning Jun about to turn around and attack us?

That doesn't make sense!

After a long-distance raid and a major battle, Yelü Xing's troops must have been easy prey in the eyes of the Ning army.

Why attack the stronger side instead of the weaker one?

"Report..."

Just as Yelü Shu was filled with doubt, a scout rode up to him at full speed, "General Qi, a large force of Ning cavalry has suddenly attacked our left flank!"

Left wing?

They really came for me!

Without further ado, Yelü Xing immediately ordered his deputy, "You will immediately lead three thousand men to hold off the enemy on the left flank!"

Just as the deputy general was about to accept the order, another scout arrived on horseback with news.

"General Qi, a large force of Ning troops is attacking our right flank. Roughly estimated, it numbers over ten thousand!"

"What?"

Yelü Shu's expression changed drastically.

Where did Ning Jun get so many cavalry?

What was Yelü Xing's job?

"kill!"

Before Yelü Shu could even figure out what was going on, the Wudang Flying Army on the front lines launched a fierce counterattack against them...