Seeing that the White Horse Cavalry had retreated, Zheng Hun then ordered the retreating soldiers to be gathered together.

After some calculations, it was found that of the 20,000-strong vanguard, more than 7,000 had been lost. Apart from those killed by the White Horse Cavalry, most of them died at the hands of their own people.

"Damn it! What a bunch of good-for-nothings!"

Hearing the loss figures reported by his subordinates, Zheng Hun couldn't help but curse out loud.

Zheng Hun never imagined that 20,000 men would be slaughtered so badly by 3,000 cavalry.

Zheng Hun looked at the group of leaders around him with a gloomy expression and asked in a deep voice, "Where did this cavalry force come from?"

One of them said, "Chief, according to the report from the defeated soldiers, this cavalry seems to be the one stationed at the Donglai Saltworks!"

Zheng Hun's expression changed: "Impossible, didn't they evacuate a long time ago? How could they suddenly come here?"

When Zheng Hun and the King of Bohai conspired to start a rebellion, they had been keeping a close eye on Gongsun Zan, who was stationed in Donglai. Later, when they heard that Gongsun Zan had been recalled to Luoyang, they stopped paying much attention to him.

Moreover, after raising his army, his troops swept through various counties and prefectures in Qingzhou without finding any trace of the White Horse Cavalry. Therefore, Zheng Hun had already put them out of his mind, but he never expected that they would suddenly appear here today.

Li Xun stood up and said, "Chief, the countryside of Qingzhou is covered with dense forests. Perhaps it is hiding somewhere, which is why it has escaped our detection!"

Zheng Hun frowned deeply: "Now that they have suddenly appeared and are blocking our army's path, what should we do?"

One of them said, "Chief, our army consists entirely of infantry and is simply incapable of pursuing. Once we begin to march, we will only be able to passively take a beating. I think it would be better to advance to the plains and defend the city!"

Zheng Hun said, "If our army cannot rendezvous with the King of Bohai in time, what should we do if the imperial army captures Yanzhou?"

Li Xun said, "Chief, the terrain here is too open for us to handle. I think the only way is to find a mountain path to proceed!"

"Sigh, at this point, there's no other way!"