Finally, the enemy stopped pursuing him. Xia Houhui, who was on the disadvantaged side, not only did not leave quickly with joy, but also returned. It was not that he continued to take risks regardless of life and death.
But he also thought of the reason why Wu Jun did not continue the pursuit.
Besides, it's almost noon now.
Calculating the time, Jiang Ban should have returned to Shouchun long ago and is now on his way with more than a hundred cavalry scouts.
In this case, it is really not risky to go back.
If we can arouse the anger of Wu soldiers and let them continue to pursue, they may be able to lure the enemy deeper and create an opportunity for Jiang Ban and others to ambush!
Of course, Ding Feng will not do what he wants.
When he saw Wei Jun's scouts appearing again a hundred steps away, he just asked his troops to prepare their crossbows.
If the Wei army scouts dare to approach, then let them go.
If it is just wandering around, then ignore it.
After he helped the injured onto the horse's back and collected the bodies of the fallen soldiers, he led the army back.
After all, after a night of galloping and a whole morning of chasing and fighting, he and his troops were already tired; staying here would only increase the danger.
One side is confident, and the other side has no power to attack, leaving the battlefield in a tacit stalemate.
About two quarters of an hour later.
Ding Feng estimated that the governor of Bu Qu had gone far away with the injured Bu Qu and the body of the deceased, so he turned his horse and led everyone back slowly.
Wei Jun's side naturally followed closely.
The difference was that, except for Xia Houhui, the other cavalrymen showed happy expressions.
The reason is that after the Wu soldiers leave, they can cut off the ears of the slaughtered prisoners and take back the weapons abandoned along the way for reward!
The hard work of a busy night was not in vain.
As for the dead Pao Ze, there is nothing sentimental about it.
Both of them are scouts with the highest mortality rate. Everyone will have one day, and they have long been accustomed to facing life and death.
Moreover, considering the current situation, winning as many rewards as possible and then distributing the property to the family of the deceased is the best way to comfort the deceased~
Both sides followed suit, moving very slowly.
Half an hour later, there was a sound of horse hoofbeats from far to near behind Wei Qi.
Chen Ding, who was injured and hanging at the back, looked back, then raised his horse's belly and galloped in the direction of Xia Houhui, and announced the good news loudly, "General, Jiang Sima is back!"
It also brought cheers from all the scouts.
"Reinforcements are coming!"
"Jiang Sima is back!"
Such movement naturally alerted the Wu army in front.
Ding Feng immediately stopped the troops at the rear, lined up his cavalry formation and raised his crossbow on guard. Then he picked up the spear from the side of the saddle and solemnly prepared to charge into the formation and fight.
He also heard the sound of horse hooves.
And it can be roughly judged that the number of Wei cavalry arriving is no less than a hundred cavalry.
But he was not afraid at all.
Because this place is already very close to the hilly areas of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, and in previous battles, he often charged into battle with inferior troops and beheaded others.
With only a hundred horses, it would be difficult to keep him.
The worst outcome is that both sides suffer losses and die together.
What to be afraid of!
"Sorry, General."
Jiang Ban, who had traveled hundreds of miles day and night, with a sleepy face, led a hundred horses to gallop to Xia Houhui's side, his tone full of self-blame, "I'm late."
When he arrived, he had roughly guessed what had happened based on the corpses of enemies and enemies along the way and the traces of fighting.
He also knew the price he had paid for Xia Houhui and others by agreeing with Huang Jizhi and persuading Xia Houhui to make a decision last night.
"It's not too late."
Xia Houhui waved his hand and said calmly, "It is not easy for Gongjun to gallop hundreds of miles day and night without stopping."
Uh~
Faced with such a bland answer, Jiang Ban was a little speechless for a moment.
To be precise, he couldn't guess what Xia Houhui was thinking at this time.
In particular, he saw with sharp eyes that the leather arm guards on his forearms and the military uniform at his waist were stained red with blood.
Is it because he was injured that he is a little depressed, or is it because the battle just now was too brutal, which was difficult for him to accept after being released from Luoyang not long ago in Huainan?
Jiang Ban secretly speculated.
After thinking for a while, he asked for orders again, "General, why don't I lead the cavalry to charge for a while and kill all the dozens of thief Wu's cavalry on the opposite side to avenge Pao Ze?"
Want to take revenge by killing the thief Wu Doshiqi?
If the other party is killed so easily, do I still need to ask you to do it for me?
Hearing this, Xia Houhui looked sideways with amusement in his eyes.
But seeing the deep tiredness on Jiang Ban's face, he finally did not utter any evil words, but shook his head and sighed, "Oh, no need. The other side is not the thief Wu's ordinary scouts, and he is also equipped with
Qiangnu, we will not cause unnecessary casualties. Well, Gongjun, we sent out forty cavalrymen to collect the corpses of Paoze who died in battle, and looted the battlefield along the way."
"only."
In response to this, Jiang Ban did not say much else, but responded respectfully.
Even when he turned around to dispatch the cavalry, he still felt puzzled in his heart.
Why did Xiahou Hui not allow himself to lead his troops to charge into the formation despite our own superiority in numbers and physical strength?
At dusk of the previous day, didn't he still vow to say, "There are native chickens and dogs in the east of the Yangtze River, and there is nothing to fear from people who want to sell their heads by inserting bids and betraying them?"
Very strange~
Could it be that General Wei has lost his courage?
Coincidentally, Ding Feng, who had been waiting in formation on the opposite side for a long time but had not waited for the Wei army to attack, also had doubts in his heart.
Especially after seeing Xia Houhui detached his cavalry to clean the battlefield, he became even more puzzled.
Of course, doubts are doubts, and it is ultimately a good thing for the Wei army to stop advancing for the exhausted Wu soldiers.
Ding Feng hesitated for a moment, then asked his troops to remain on alert and slowly retreat, to test whether the Wei army really no longer had the will to fight.
After retreating twenty steps, the Wei army was still as motionless as a mountain.
Thirty steps.
Fifty steps.
After cautiously retreating seventy or eighty steps and the Wei army still did not follow, he asked his troops to ride back at full speed, while he drove his horse in the opposite direction and climbed onto a small dirt bag, shouting loudly at Xia Houhui,
"I am the commander-in-chief Ding Feng! How dare you leave your name, General Wu? If we meet him again and again, I will take your life!"
It's actually Ding Feng?!
No wonder the sense of smell on the battlefield is so keen.
Xia Houhui, who had originally seen the Wu army retreating away and completely relaxed his guard, was immediately surprised when he heard this.
He also let go of the depression of being restrained everywhere today. After thinking about it, he spurred his horse and walked slowly for more than thirty steps. He sucked in his belly and raised his chest and said loudly, "I am the gatekeeper of Wei Ya, and so is Xia Houhui!"
Xia Houhui?
Hmm. It seems that I have never heard of it.
Could it be that he was after Qiao Pei, the founding father of Wei State?
But if he was a Qiao Pei, why did his official position stop at the Yamen General and why did he do such a thing of going deep into the enemy's territory and putting himself in danger?
Probably not~
The world is so vast that those with the surname Xiahou are not limited to the Qiaopei clan.
Regardless of where he is from, just by the divine horse under his crotch, you can tell that he comes from a wealthy family.
By the way, that good horse is really a great horse!
I have been through combat for a long time, but I have never seen such a magnificent horse in my life.
Well, if there is a chance to meet him on the battlefield next time, I will definitely kill him in order to capture that divine horse!
When riding his horse back, Ding Feng also made a decision in his mind.
After collecting the corpses, cutting off the ears of the slaughtered prisoners, collecting the abandoned weapons and arrows scattered everywhere, the Wei Scouting Battalion slowly embarked on its return journey.
The difference is everyone's reaction.
The cavalry who arrived later were in high spirits, and those who had been chasing and shooting in the morning were a little sad, while Xiahou Hui lay on his horse without saying a word, closing his eyes and concentrating.
Learning to take a nap while riding a bumpy horse is an essential foundation for an elite cavalryman.
Obviously, he is adapting at this time.
Jiang Ban, who learned the whole story of the war from Chen Ding, quietly drove his horse to ride alongside Xia Houhui. He seemed to want to say something, but he stopped every time he opened his mouth.
Maybe, it's something I feel in my heart.
Xia Houhui opened his eyes, but without waiting for Jiang Ban to say anything, he said directly, "If anything like what happened last night happens again in the future, if Gong Jun is thinking about it, you can call me in private."
It's a private suggestion, rather than a face-to-face statement that echoes other people's ideas.
Since you are someone else's confidant, you must always follow the other person's will in everything, and you must stand firmly on the other person's side even if they are wrong.
Just like last night, Jiang Ban should not agree with Huang Ji and other cavalrymen, let alone persuade Xia Houhui. It became difficult to go against the consensus and put Xia Houhui into a situation where it was difficult to get off the tiger.
Instead, he should take the initiative to act as a villain and scold Huang Ji and everyone else's behavior, so that no matter what decision Xia Houhui makes, he will not face the slander of others.
To put it bluntly, it means knowing your priorities. Since you are attached to others, you must have the consciousness to be their minions.
Otherwise, why would you expect chickens and dogs to ascend to heaven?
After Jiang Ban heard this, he understood in his heart.
It also made all the hesitation to say something just now melt away, and the anxiety in my heart also disappeared.
Because Xia Houhui guessed what he wanted to say and gave the answer directly.
"only!"
Jiang Ban responded loudly and very respectfully, "General, I know it."
"Um"
With a slight nod of his head, Xia Houhui closed his eyes again to rest his mind and said nothing else.
No more words to say on the way home.
After returning to Shouchun and instructing Jiang Ban to restrain the soldiers and transfer the captured weapons to Yousi, Xia Houhui walked slowly to the Zhengdong General's Office and apologized to Man Chong.
Yes, he is now guilty.
Man Chong had previously issued a general order so that the scouts did not have to go deep into the territory occupied by Jiangdong.
Xia Houhui privately led his scouts around Ruxuwu to spy on Hengjiangpu, which was a violation of the general's order. If he could bring all the scouts back, he could use the excuse of pursuing the enemy scouts and enter by mistake, and for the sake of the gains, he would be satisfied
Chong just turned a blind eye.
But now that twelve scouts have been killed, it is naturally difficult to tell them apart.
Don't make excuses by cutting off the enemy's hundreds of ears, burning the Fuling garrison, and seizing weapons.
For the Wei State with its well-established cavalry, it was not difficult to burn down a mere Fuling garrison.
Moreover, there are many brave men in the army, but is it so easy to cultivate cavalry scouts who are skilled in bow and horse, bold and careful, and familiar with the terrain?
Can Wu's hundreds of thieves and miscellaneous soldiers compare to the twelve elite scouts of Wei?
Just in terms of the loss outweighing the gain, Xia Houhui can be regarded as having done nothing but a mistake!
In fact, this is also true.
After Man Chong received his reward, he immediately stood up and shouted angrily: "How dare you disobey my general's order, a humble man!"