"I don't know what the Battle of Changping is, but I also think this place is not a good place for a decisive battle." Tu Hesu nodded. "Linfen behind us is not a good place either... Although the middle is flat, there are mountains on both sides. The flat land in the middle is too narrow, and the cavalry can't take advantage. It's better to lure the enemy deep into the city of Taiyuan, and then use cavalry to block the exits on all sides and fight the Battle of Taiyuan again... What do you think?"

"That's about it." Balisu answered frankly. "I think anyone who came from the Western Route Army and fought in Taiyuan would have the same idea... We've discussed this before."

"In that case, should we withdraw our troops now?" Wanyan Zhehe suddenly interrupted.

"How can we withdraw?" Balisu frowned more and more, and his tone finally became fierce. "Strategy is strategy, tactics are tactics, and morale is morale... We are far away from Hezhong Prefecture, but this is the first major battle between the two countries in many years. How can we withdraw like this? Don't forget what we discussed a few years ago. When the Song army conquered Xixia, although it was due to the overall situation, the fourth prince repeatedly avoided fighting in the early stage, and as a result, he could not fight a decisive battle in Hetao, which caused the morale to be greatly damaged. This is a lesson! In this situation, whether we should lure the enemy deep into our territory or divide and conquer them, we must use all our strength first! We must not weaken this spirit first! What happened to you in the past few years?!"

Wanyan Zhehe seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.

Seeing this, Tu Hesu quickly made another joke: "Okay... the commander-in-chief must have an idea, tell me about it!"

"What can I say? Of course we should concentrate our cavalry and launch a surprise attack from behind." Balisu replied solemnly. "I thought about it... Although we all came here at a fast pace, the main force of the Song army is infantry, which is more tired than us... Our cavalry consumes horses, especially those who arrived later today and did not participate in the battle, and their spirits are still there... The most important thing is that the soldiers are tired. If we are tired, they will be even more tired... So, don't be stingy with the war horses. While Li Yanxian is still unstable and there is no time to send scouts, let's gather a group of elite cavalry and set off from Jiang County to launch a night attack from behind. Who knows, it may be effective!"

Tu Hesu nodded slightly.

Wanyan Zhehe was stunned for a moment, then looked at the two men again… Tuhesu’s troops were the vanguard, and most of them participated in the battle today. It didn’t matter that they just killed a Meng’an, but the key was that they were very tired. Although Balisu’s army was elite and had a large number of cavalry, was this kind of army used for night raids and encirclements?

That is used for the decisive battle.

With this thought in mind, Wanyan Zhehe thought for a moment and asked seriously beside the campfire, "If we are to charge, to what extent should the armor be reduced?"

"You must have a helmet, armor body, and armor skirt... and the rest of the masks, double brims (neck guards), shoulder guards... those that affect your movements don't need to be brought." Balisu blurted out.

"One more thing." Wanyan Zhehe asked seriously. "I am a commander, alone behind enemy lines, separated by a mountain range. If the battle goes against me, can I retreat at any time?"

Ba Lisu instinctively wanted to respond.

But for some reason, just as he was about to speak, he suddenly thought of something... In the Battle of Yaoshan, Wanyan Loushi ordered Zhehe to attack from the northeast of the Song army camp, but they accidentally fell into the swamp and became a sitting duck. At that time, Zhehe did not dare to move at all, but sent messengers to ask Loushi. Before Loushi gave the order, Zhehe and his troops shot at the Song army in the mud, without moving at all, resulting in heavy losses.

If Lou Shi was here today, why would he be so perfunctory? And why would he ask such a question?

"Can't we retreat?" Zhehe frowned.

"Why don't I go?" Tu Hesu interrupted helplessly when he saw this.

"No..." Balisu reacted and nodded immediately. "You are a ten thousand household, and I also said that I am just trying my best to win the first battle. If we really encounter danger, how can I let you and your tribe die before the battle? Even if it is a madman like Wen Dunsizhong in Hezhong, I didn't give up."

Zhehe nodded and stood up to leave.

Upon seeing this, Balisu quickly stood up and caught up with him, but he grabbed the other person again by the campfire and said earnestly: "After all, we have been friends for decades, and we really shouldn't be angry at this time... If I have done something unsatisfactory, you can tell me about it at the military meeting for official matters, and you can also talk about personal matters now..."

The unshaven Wanyan Zhehe glanced at Balisu, then at Tuhesu who had hurriedly climbed up while touching the bloodstains, and finally sighed:

"General, you are overthinking... How could I not know that this is a war between two countries, a life-and-death battle between the two countries? How could I not know that those bastards are getting worse day by day? How could I not know that we should do our best to hold on to the Tieling Pass regardless of victory or defeat? Besides, I only know how to fight. If you have an order, I will definitely do my best... If you had just said that we are not allowed to retreat, I would not have said anything... But General! I just don't understand why the Jin cavalry has become like this? It's not about why the Song people are able to fight and dare to fight, but why are we Jurchens unwilling to endure hardships? Why are you thinking more and more? When the old general was here, there were no such things!"

Balisu was unable to answer the other party, or rather, although he knew the answer, he was unwilling to answer the other party. Moreover, the other party stated that he would definitely obey military orders, and he suddenly lost the willingness to be open and frank with him as before.

Upon seeing this, Wanyan Zhehe didn't say much. He nodded quickly to Tu He, who was a little surprised, and turned away.

After a short moment, it could only be said that the military discipline of the Jurchens was still there. Although the Zhehe tribe complained bitterly, they still quickly gathered together under the guidance of Meng'an Mouke, and then concentrated about fifty Mouke, a total of 5,000 elite cavalry, and headed east overnight, preparing to bypass the passage between Jiangxian County and Taihang Mountains on the east side and attack Li Yanxian at night.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!