Zhong Jinwei's five thousand Guan Ning cavalry kept moving to avoid Jianlu's search.
But no matter how they move or how they try to hide their traces, they can't hide it for long. There are three reasons.
First, they cannot be too far away from Changli City, which is their biggest restriction.
Second, it is very difficult to hide the five thousand cavalry, including the traces of humans and horses.
Thirdly, Jianlu's scouting horses are all elite, experts in tracking, and good at finding out the truth about the enemy from clues.[
Therefore, Jianlu's scouting horses quickly got into hands with the peripheral Ye Bushou of five thousand Guanning cavalry. The scouting horses from other directions immediately surrounded the fighting area like sharks smelling the smell of blood.
It is precisely because of the above reasons that no matter where the five thousand cavalry troops change places, they will always have Jianlu and scouting horses accompanying them like a shadow.
Soon, the approximate size and location of this Ming army was reported to Dai Shan.
In fact, if Tan Ma still cannot find any trace of this Ming army, a veteran like Dai Shan who has been fighting for many years can guess that this Ming army will not have too many people because it is too difficult to hide a large army.
.
Daishan quickly summoned the leaders of the Mongolian tribes for a meeting, reported that the number of the Ming army was about 6,000, and roughly marked the location on the military map.
After the Mongols understood the current situation, Daishan announced: "Ben Beile has decided to destroy this Ming army. We, Dajin, will do it. You divide into two parts and block their way from the left and right."
The Jianlu had a strong psychological advantage over the Ming army in field battles. They suffered losses under Changli City and felt aggrieved, and they wanted to vent all their frustrations on this Ming army.
As for the fact that this Ming army was able to destroy the previous Mongol servant army, Dai Shan attributed it to a sudden incident, mental calculation, and an ambush. It cannot be said that the combat power of the two sides is really so different.
Besides, can the combat power of these servant armies be comparable to that of the Dajin army? It’s not that Daishan underestimated them. Five thousand Dajin warriors can sweep away the 30,000 or so Mongolian army.
When these Mongolian leaders heard that the Ming army was not large in number and it was the Jin army that was going to fight, they just went to assist and they didn't have to go to Changli City anymore. What a good thing!
So, they all said that it was okay, they would listen to Baylor, go with Baylor, and go wherever they said they would go without saying a word.
In his heart, Dai Shan looked down on these Mongolians at all. They bullied the weak and feared the strong, frowned when chewing hard bones, and snatched from each other when there was an advantage.
Therefore, he took the Mongolians' statements directly and ordered them to return to camp and prepare to leave.
Since Changli County Magistrate Zuo Yingxuan confirmed the arrival of imperial reinforcements, he often visited the west wall of Changli, expecting to see the imperial army's banners and banners appearing densely in his field of vision.
But unfortunately, every time I look with hope, I end up looking away in disappointment.
Logically speaking, the imperial army should not be very far from Changli. This can be measured from the time from the departure of the Tatar army to the total annihilation of the army.
But why didn't they appear for so long? Could it be that they encountered other troops from Jianlu?
Zuo Yingxuan felt that it was not the case, because he only saw a large number of Tatars heading west, but not the Tatar army moving forward to assist.
Zuo Yingxuan couldn't figure it out and was a little worried. It wasn't that he was worried about the reinforcements. He thought that the reinforcements that could wipe out the previous Tatar army would never be something that the Jianlu could easily deal with.[
He was worried that the reinforcements would not appear for a long time. If they came to completely relieve the siege of Changli, the food in the city would be insufficient.
Zuo Yingxuan was worried about the lack of food in Changli City, but Zhong Jinwei did not consider it at all, while He Kegang and Cao Wenzhao did not know the exact situation in Changli even if they wanted to consider it. Judging from this, they were not aware of Changli's hidden worries.
The place where Zhong Jinwei and the others were was indeed within Jianlu's estimated range, not far from Changli, only half an hour away.
At this time, the army was taking a short rest, and the three top leaders gathered together for a meeting.
"Since the Supervisory Army and Jianlu's scouts have been targeting us last night, their numbers have been increasing, and they have appeared in several directions, and they can't be driven away. This situation cannot continue." He Kegang analyzed the situation to Zhong Jinwei.
Zhong Jinwei knew that these scouting horses were the tentacles of the main force of the Jianlu forces. Following him like this would be equivalent to telling the main force of the Jianlu forces outside Changli City where they were, which was really not good!
"Is there no way to drive them away?" Zhong Jinwei was a little unconvinced. He had five thousand troops here. Wouldn't it be useless to use a carbine, run a short distance and then ambush him?
"Supervisory Army, these Jianlu Detective Horses are all veterans. They just follow them from a distance and do not get close. Moreover, they are divided into groups and monitor at a distance. Even if we find a chance to kill the Scout Horses in front, we can't do anything to the ones behind. The most important thing is that we
We can't leave Changli too far, so we can't get rid of them no matter what." After hearing Zhong Jinwei's question, Cao Wenzhao helped He Kegang explain to him.
"Then what should we do? It's definitely not possible to fight head-on with the main Tatar force outside Changli City. Although I offered to save Changli, I can't let you fight with your lives." Zhong Jinwei said with a frown.
He Kegang and Cao Wenzhao were both silent, and no one had any good ideas for a while.
"Otherwise, if we enter Changli City and defend the city, the Tatars won't even be able to defeat Changli, which is only defended by the common people. After we enter, the Tatars will be unable to defeat it." Zhong Jinwei came up with an idea.
Cao Wenzhao looked at He Kegang, and when he saw that he had no comment, he said to Zhong Jinwei himself: "Supervisor, we are a cavalry army. If we enter Changli, we will lose our mobility. If the Tatars besiege Changli, I am afraid it will be a disaster."
Can’t get out.”
At this time, He Kegang also added: "The city of Changli is small, I'm afraid it can't accommodate our five thousand cavalry."
"Then what do you think we should do?" Zhong Jinwei was a little discouraged when he heard what they said made sense, so he asked the two generals for their opinions again.
Strategies are not always useful. In the face of absolute strength, strategies are of little use.
Now the five thousand cavalry army faced about 10,000 elite Jianlu troops and about 30,000 Mongol Tatar troops. The strength was so different that there were very few strategies that could be used. It was not surprising that they couldn't think of a way.
Gu Baichuan, who was guarding Zhong Jinwei, was usually smart, but when it came to marching and fighting like this, he was helpless. Therefore, he had no suggestions to offer.
Zhong Jinwei, He Kegang and Cao Wenzhao continued to discuss until the scheduled rest time, but still could not come up with a good plan, so they had to make do with going around Changli.
Changli County Magistrate Zuo Yingxuan was inspecting the porridge situation in the city. When the alarm bell rang for him, he ignored the current civil affairs and hurriedly ran to the east city wall.
When he arrived at the top of the city, guard Shi Guozhu was already there, and together with some squires, they were watching the situation at the Tatar camp.
Zuo Yingxuan saw that the Tatar camp was bustling with people, as if they were still dismantling their tents and preparing to leave.
Everyone's first thought was that the Tatars were about to withdraw. It seemed that the imperial army was coming and they were about to flee.[
The day we had been waiting for finally arrived, and Chang Li was finally saved.
Victory was just around the corner. The people of Changli relied on their own strength to withstand the Tatars' siege for seven consecutive days. Everyone slowly began to cry for joy.
But gradually, several people with military experience realized something was wrong. The Tatars outside the city did not seem to be fleeing. Because their order was not chaotic at all and they were doing the things at hand in an orderly manner.
The camp was put away, the troops were divided into different tribes, and then there were Tatar leaders running in front of the formation. It was obvious that they were mobilizing before the war. Yes, mobilizing before the war. They were going to fight, not to run away.
Guard Shi Guozhu understood the situation first and quietly explained these details to the county official Zuo Yingxuan.
These Tatars must have gone to deal with the reinforcements coming to rescue Changli. Judging from their appearance, they seemed confident, and Zuo Yingxuan's heart sank again.
If the reinforcements rescuing Changli are defeated by the Tatars, there will really be no hope for Changli.
Zuo Yingxuan looked at the rural soldiers and civilians who were still happy, and then looked back at the people in the city who were crying and laughing after receiving the news. He sighed secretly in his heart, and did not explain that he, who never believed in gods and Buddhas, felt in his heart
Secretly praying for military reinforcements.
Shi Guozhu's guess was indeed correct. Not long after, the Tatars began to set off in formation, bypassing Changli and heading west.
When passing by Changli City, people on the top of the city could clearly see the murderous faces of the Tatars.
When he reached a fork in the west direction of Changli City, Daishan reined in his mount and said to the leaders of the Mongolian tribes around him: "The Ming army is about fifteen miles ahead. You go there in two directions.
Drive the Ming army over, and our big Jin army will go up against them and beat them to pieces."