In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight shone on Linrong City. Ma Chao had already gathered with Wang Shuang and more than a hundred bison outside the city, waiting for the 500 cavalry assigned to him by Pound.
After a while, five hundred strong wolf cavalry poured out of the city and came to Ma Chao's side under the leadership of a school captain.
All the Huns wore helmets with two wolf tails hanging on both sides, making them look very powerful.
This was the first time Ma Chao saw someone dressed like this. He didn't know that in the entire Linrong City, except for Pound, the rest were all wolf cavalry composed of Huns. Each one of them was a brave and capable warrior, and only in the
Only when going on expeditions will they dress up carefully, and they will no doubt dress like ordinary Han people at ordinary times.
The school lieutenant was originally Zhang Liao's subordinate. He had followed Zhang Liao for a long time. Since Zhang Liao was transferred to the Central Plains, he and several other school lieutenants had shouldered the heavy responsibility of Linrong City. He was also a first-class warrior among the Xiongnu tribe.
This group of people were all personally selected by Pound, and they were all warriors selected from a hundred. Although Pound was not convinced by Ma Chao, it was a matter between individuals, and he would not abandon public service for personal reasons.
After everyone paid homage to Ma Chao, they were ordered by Ma Chao to drive the herd of bison away from Linrong City.
The Huns were very experienced in herding horses and sheep, so it was no problem to deal with this herd of bison. As soon as a few chants were shouted, everyone waved their whips and drove the herd of bison on the road.
Baggage and water supplies were carried on the backs of bison as tools for transporting grain and grass.
Of course, it was for this reason that Ma Chao drove these bisons on the road together, but the main reason was that he wanted to use these bisons to do something amazing.
Ma Chao set off on a mighty road, guided by the Huns who were familiar with the terrain in this area, heading towards the Helan Mountains one or two hundred miles away.
As soon as Ma Chao left, Pang De climbed to the top of Linrong City, looked at Ma Chao's retreating back, and thought to himself: "I hope Ma Chao won't have the above situation during his trip, otherwise, I will be offended.
It’s too big if you pass it.”
After Ma Chao and others had completely disappeared without a trace, Pang De turned to the captains behind him and said, "You three, each with two thousand riders, follow Ma Chao and bring ten days' worth of food and water.
Be ready at any time to support General Zhengxi."
After hearing this, the three lieutenants under his command were a little puzzled, but they did not dare to disobey, and they all respectfully agreed. Then, the three lieutenants went to order the men and horses, prepared enough food and water, and moved forward in a staircase.
Every quarter of an hour, a cavalry team of two thousand people set off from Linrong City. After three consecutive times, the gate of Linrong City was closed.
Pang De was injured and could not go to the battlefield in person. For more than a month, Xian Ling Qiang's cunning guerrilla tactics had given him a headache. This time, Ma Chao personally led the army on the expedition. He also hoped that Ma Chao could defeat more with less and win in one battle.
After pacifying the Xianling Qiang, there was only so much he could do for Ma Chao.
Because Ma Chao was driving bison, his march on the first day was only fifty miles, so he camped on a nearby high slope. On the second and third days, it was still fifty miles, very regular. But on the fourth day, his march
The speed suddenly slowed down because we had to cross a small section of desert on the way, so we stopped after crossing that section of desert and re-entering the Loess Plateau with thousands of ravines.
Ma Chao climbed up the highest slope alone and looked far away. In the open wilderness, he could vaguely see Helan Mountain. He looked around at the nearby terrain again and remembered it carefully in his mind before descending.
Up high slope.
Returning to the crowd, he ordered Wang Shuang: "Drive fifty buffaloes and a hundred cavalry to a place five miles south, and use the old method of tying branches to the tails of the cows and horses. If you listen,
When you come to me, blow the horn, light the branches tied to the tail of the oxen, and you drive them from the other side to kill them. The bison is in front, you are behind, and a hundred cavalry are lined up in a line. In addition, if it is night,
No fire allowed."
After Wang Shuang heard this, he immediately nodded in agreement, selected a group of cavalrymen and drove fifty buffaloes away.
Next, Ma Chao arranged for a village commander to take the remaining fifty bison and a group of troops to an ambush five miles north, and asked them to use the same method.
After finishing his instructions, Ma Chao turned around and said to the Hun captain: "You all follow me and march forward ten miles."
Everyone couldn't figure out what Ma Chao was going to do, but they didn't disobey, so they responded and followed Ma Chao away.
Just after noon, Ma Chao led the wolf cavalry of 300 people and ran all the way, advancing ten miles forward and setting up a temporary tent. However, this place was only fifteen miles away from the Lingwu Valley at the foot of Helan Mountain, and there were already zero Qiang forces there.
range.
But the strange thing is that along the way, no one from Xian Lingqiang was seen.
Ma Chao, who is well aware of the habits of the Qiang people, has felt it since Pang De encountered the ambush. For him, he is not afraid that the Qiang people can learn martial arts, but is afraid that the Qiang people are educated. The last time he saw the Qiang people, they actually knew how to play tricks. Although
Said the ambush was
A very common thing on the battlefield, but for him, this incident revealed an unknown message, that is, there must be wise people who have penetrated deeply into the tribe of Xian Ling Qiang to fight for this Xian Ling Qiang.
Make plans.
At this time, he felt more deeply that something was extremely unusual. If the Qiang people's past habits were followed, as long as someone dared to intrude into their sphere of influence, they would keep the enemy away for thousands of miles and would not let you in, life or death.
hinterland. Because the Qiang people are strong on the outside but dry on the inside.
, every time we go out for an expedition, we select strong and capable warriors. Those who stay behind are old, weak, women and children. Once the station is attacked, the loss will be property. For the Qiang people who are greedy for money.
Said, this is extremely undesirable to see.
After setting up a temporary camp, Ma Chao had some horse traps dug around the camp. They didn't need to be big, just small ones that could trap the horses' hooves. Moreover, they were super irregular, scattered, and uneven.
Digging one up, it's scattered like a dense net.
After working for most of the day, in the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on this high loess slope with thousands of ravines. Ma Chao asked the wolf cavalry to pile up the dried cow dung collected along the way and raise it in the camp.
A huge bonfire was built, illuminating the surroundings and looking particularly eye-catching at night.
As the saying goes, one learns from the experience and gains wisdom. It is undeniable that Ma Chao has indeed learned to be smarter than before and knows how to use his brain to think about things. In addition, the purpose of his doing this is precisely because he is familiar with the habits of the Qiang people. As the saying goes, brine
Order tofu, one thing will be the best. Ma Chao can't beat Gao Fei, and he can't beat Cao Cao. This does not mean that his combat ability is not good, but that he lacks resourcefulness, but he has his own way of dealing with the Qiang people who are always straightforward.
As night fell, Ma Chao gathered three hundred wolf cavalry together and said loudly: "We have gotten along day and night along the way, and we have become familiar with each other. Although I have been named the General of the Conquest of the West, don't think of me as a general.
General, think of me as your brother. I like to be straightforward, and you are exactly what I like."
"I know that you all used to be the former subordinates of General Huya Zhang Liao, and each of you is a carefully selected Xiongnu warrior. The Qiang and the Xiongnu are both nomads on the grassland. When the Xiongnu dominated the grassland, the Qiang people were just you.
Affiliated tribe, now it has developed into a
We are a very large tribe. I predict that the Qiang people will definitely come to attack at night tonight. I just hope that you can show the courage of your Huns. Although we are small in number, we are all elite soldiers worth one hundred. Even if the Qiang people
There are hundreds of thousands of them, and with me, Ma Chao, leading you, you won’t be afraid of them!"
"Now, I will use water instead of wine to toast all the warriors. After we win the battle, we will drink to our heart's content for three days and three nights after we return!" With that, Ma Chao raised the water bag in his hand.
, shouted towards the three hundred people in front of him, "Come on, let us do it!"
After the three hundred Xiongnu warriors heard these words of mobilization, they immediately felt their blood surge. At the same time, they raised the water bladders in their hands, shouted "dry" loudly, and took a gulp of water.
So everyone packed up their weapons, fed their horses with fodder, and quietly waited for the battle to come.
………………
In the Lingwu Valley, Qiang King Urd had already prepared everything. As soon as Ma Chao came out of the desert, scouts came to report. They reported all Ma Chao's movements bit by bit. They learned that Ma Chao led three hundred cavalry in ten
After setting up camp five miles away, two hundred men and fifty cows were sent out to ambush, and preparations were made here.
Liu Ye made a reasonable arrangement based on the intelligence reported, and immediately said to Urd: "Your Majesty, Ma Chao did this just to lure the enemy deeper and then ambush us. I thought that the army should be divided into three groups. Your Majesty,
self-introducing army
Attack Ma Chao's station, and send two more partial troops to detour from the flanks. First, they will deal with the two hundred cavalry and more than one hundred buffaloes that Ma Chao has arranged behind him. Then they will surround Ma Chao with the victorious division and the king. Ma Chao can be captured in one battle!
"
Logically speaking, Liu Ye's strategy was the best one, but Qiang King Urd didn't think so. In his opinion, Ma Chao only brought 500 cavalry and more than 100 cattle.
A hundred thousand people are besieging us, so we can be frightened by those from above. Even if the horses are outnumbered and an ambush is launched, there are only 200 people, which is not enough to fill the gap between our teeth.
He immediately waved his hands and said: "You Han people just like to beat around the bush, so why are you afraid of only 500 people and more than 100 bison? I am surrounded by an army of 100,000 people. Dealing with those people is as easy as squeezing an ant to death! Mr.
Stay here while I find a beautiful woman for your husband to enjoy. When I come back, I will definitely carry Ma Chao's head."
When Liu Ye heard this, he sighed and said nothing, thinking: "The Qiang people like to go straight. With one hundred thousand people against Ma Chao's five hundred people, my strategy is indeed a bit redundant."
"Wumenghu, send the order, the whole army sets off!" Urd immediately shouted loudly.
(ps: Today, I will update tomorrow for the time being. I will make up for it later. I have to attend my buddy’s wedding out of town, so it will take some time. I’m really sorry.)