After listening to Yan Yingyuan's plan, Liu Zhaoji stood up and asked, "Is this... an open conspiracy?"

"Yes, it's an open plot!" Yan Yingyuan also stood up and replied: "If the Mongols dare to intercept the food, they will fall into our ambush. If they don't intercept the food, you can take the food and grass deep into the grassland to encircle and suppress the tribes."

"That's not right..." Liu Zhaoji glanced at Yan Yingyuan, "Just now you said that you had to requisition all the mules, horses, and ox carts of the people in the city to barely supply the food and grass needed by He Jin's army. My cavalry are basically war horses, and there are very few mules, horses, and ox carts. How can we carry food and grass deep into the grassland?"

Yan Yingyuan grinned and said, "To be honest, the Ministry of Revenue has hired a caravan to transport a batch of grain and grass. I can let this caravan transport the grain and grass to the grassland, and you are responsible for protecting their safety."

Li Xingzhong, Liu Zhaoji and Tang Tong looked at each other and the corners of their mouths rose at the same time.

Once the problem of food and fodder is solved, they can go to the grassland and fight the Mongols with confidence.

The few of them discussed in detail for a long time before finalizing the plan.

The next morning.

Li Xingzhong took the lead in sending 500 scouts with seven days' rations out of the Great Wall and north to the grassland.

Their mission is twofold.

The first is to report the location of He Jin’s troops.

The second is to investigate whether there are any enemy scouts near the grain route.

Six days later, the scouts sent back news, "Your Excellency the General, He Jin's troops have reached the abandoned Chahan Naoerwei, 300 miles away from here."

Chahan Naoer Guard was a Mongolian military guard established in the seventh year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty. Its seat was near Chahan Nao in Shangdu County, Inner Mongolia. It was later abandoned and became a nomadic area for grassland tribes.

"Three hundred miles?" Li Xingzhong frowned after opening the map.

According to the agreement before the expedition, He Jin should stop and set up camp 200 miles away from the Great Wall and wait for news.

I didn't expect that he would ignore military orders and go three hundred miles deep into the grassland!

The grassland is ruled by cavalry. He Jin has only about two thousand cavalry under his command, and the rest are all infantry.

If they are not careful, the whole army may be wiped out, which shows how brave he is!

"In addition..." The scout paused and said, "He Jin discovered that there is a tribe of more than a thousand people grazing sixty miles north of him."

"Sixty miles? Where?" Li Xingzhong asked, pointing on the map.

"In...here, in the area of the abandoned Xinghe Guarding Thousand Households!" The scout stared at the map for a while and pointed to a place and said.

The Xinghe Guarding Thousand Households was located near Huade County, Inner Mongolia.

In the early years of Hongwu, it was a prefecture under the jurisdiction of Beiping Provincial Administration Commissioner. It was abolished in the fourth year of Hongwu. In the 30th year of Hongwu, Xinghe Guarding Thousand Households was established. It was conquered by Tatars during the Xuande period. In the sixth year of Xuande, it was moved to Xuanfu City together with Kaiping Guard, and the guard was abolished.

"Have any enemy scouts been spotted near the grain route?" Li Xingzhong asked with a frown.

"Yes, I discovered at least three waves of unidentified scouts on the way there and back." The scout replied.

"That's easy!" Li Xingzhong happily left the military tent and shared the news with others.

A day later, Tang Tong led a thousand cavalrymen to escort a grain-carrying caravan out of the Great Wall and north to the grassland.

On the third day after Tang Tong set out, Li Xingzhong led three thousand elite cavalry to chase him.

On the fourth day after Tang Tong set out, Cha Binxun led 5,000 cavalry to catch up with him.

On the fifth day, Li Shunzu led 6,000 cavalry to chase after them.

Liu Zhaoji did not set out, but instead led all the remaining cavalry to assemble near the Great Wall and wait for orders.

Fighting a war is the same as playing cards. Whoever shows all his cards first loses.

If you are not clear about the enemy situation, sending troops in batches is the best option.

It can not only increase and reduce the logistical pressure, but also ensure a continuous supply of reinforcements.

It only took Li Xingzhong one day to catch up with Tang Tong.

Before the two sides joined forces, Tang Tong sent someone to deliver the news: "Report, a group of Mongolian cavalry was spotted 20 miles to the northeast, with a number of about 5,000. Judging from the flags, they should be Chahar cavalry."

"Heh..." Li Xingzhong's mouth curled up slightly, "It's really better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. The Chahar tribe despised the court and killed my envoy. I was worried that I couldn't find him, but I didn't expect that he would show up at my doorstep."

Tang Tong's personal guards looked at the confident Li Xingzhong and kindly reminded him, "Sir Li, the other side has 5,000 cavalry!"

"It's okay," Li Xingzhong said calmly, "The Mongols are no longer the same Mongols as they were back then, and the Mongolian cavalry are no longer the same Mongolian cavalry as they were back then. Go back and tell Lord Tang to guard the food and watch how I kill the enemy."

Following Li Xingzhong's order, three thousand elite Liaodong cavalrymen formed a horizontal formation to meet the enemy.

There are three main types of long-range weapons for this cavalry.

The first one is the three-barreled gun most commonly used by the Liaodong cavalry.

The second type is the cavalry soft bow.

The third type is the latest version of the flintlock Rumi gun developed by the Ministry of Industry specifically for the northern border troops.

Compared with the previous version of the flintlock Rummy gun, this version of the Rummy gun has an additional cover on the gunpowder pool.

Due to frequent strong winds in the north, the ignition powder in the gunpowder pool of the previous version of the Rumi gun was often blown away by the strong wind, making it impossible to ignite the gunpowder in the barrel.

In order to solve this problem, craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry added a lid to the gunpowder pool.

With this cover, the primer will not be blown away no matter how strong the wind is.

Li Xingzhong deployed 200 cavalrymen with bird guns on the left, middle and right wings respectively. They loaded the bird guns with ammunition in advance and waited for the enemy to arrive.

Five thousand Mongolian cavalry also formed up their battle formations under the orders of their general, and the two sides confronted each other silently on the grassland.

Mongolian cavalry were basically light cavalry.

The tactics are relatively simple.

First, they would use bows and arrows to harass the enemy. If the enemy's formation became chaotic, they would take the opportunity to launch a charge.

If the enemy's formation remains unchanged, the Mongolian cavalry will choose to feign defeat to lure the enemy.

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