On the battlefield, 20,000 Eight Banners soldiers formed a horizontal formation to block the way of the Ming army's infantry.

Hauge did not rush to launch an attack, but carefully observed the Ming army's formation.

Standing at the front of the team were spearmen and sword and shield men.

Because the grassland roads were difficult to travel, the Ming army did not carry chariots, but used shields as cover.

They form a team of two, with spearmen responsible for blocking the enemy and sword and shield men responsible for cover and close combat.

Behind the spearmen and sword and shield men stood a large number of archers and firearms soldiers, mainly musket soldiers.

Further back are sword and shield soldiers and spearmen.

etc--

Haoge handed the Clairvoyance to the Duke of Zhenguo Yue Le and said, "Take a close look at the Ming army's bird gun soldiers. There seems to be something wrong with the bird guns in their hands."

Yue Le took the Clairvoyance and looked at it carefully for a while, then nodded and said, "It's indeed wrong. Their bird guns have a longer section than ordinary bird guns, and the bird gun soldiers don't have swords!"

"What's going on?" After taking the Clairvoyance and reading it, Prince Man Dahai was also puzzled. "Could it be that the Ming court is reluctant to give firearms soldiers swords?"

Haoge shook his head slowly: "No, the Ming court is not short of money, there must be something fishy here. Although the equipment of this Ming army is ordinary, the army is well-organized and the battle formation is huge, so what I mean is that we cannot attack by force."

Zhenguogong Yue Le suggested: "Why don't Prince Su send heavy-armored infantry to break through the formation?"

Hauge shook his head again: "The time is not right!"

Yue Le said no more and stayed aside to continue observing.

If heavy armored infantry does not participate in the battle, the cavalry has almost no particularly good way to break through the infantry formation, especially the infantry equipped with firearms.

"Report!" A scout rushed to Hauge's side: "The Mongolian cavalry was ambushed by the Ming cavalry and is retreating!"

"Hmm?" Hauge shook his head. "Say it again!"

After listening to the scout's retelling, Hauge was almost laughing out of anger.

He really couldn't figure out how the Mongolian cavalry responsible for the harassment fell into an ambush.

But this does not affect the overall situation.

"Send an order. Order Yue Le to lead 4,000 cavalry to contain the Ming army's infantry. All the rest of you will follow me to support the Mongols!"

As the military flags waved, the Eight Banners Army was divided into two.

Yue Le led 4,000 cavalrymen to stay where they were, using the tactics of encircling the formation to contain He Jin.

He Jin had less than two thousand cavalrymen and did not dare to attack rashly. He could only hide his cavalrymen in the infantry formation and confront them.

Hauge led 16,000 cavalrymen to attack Li Xingzhong.

Halfway through the journey, Haoge and Li Xingzhong met face to face.

Li Xingzhong's tactics were very clear. He would first use baggage and prisoners to lure the Mongolian cavalry forward, and then drive them away with an offensive.

Then they gathered their troops and moved closer to He Jin's infantry.

When you don't know the enemy's situation, the best strategy is to join forces!

The cavalry needed the space created by the infantry to rest, and the infantry needed the mobility of the cavalry to protect their flanks and rear.

"Kill!" When the Ming army met the Eight Banners soldiers, they drew their swords and rushed forward without any hesitation.

A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. When two brave men meet in a narrow road, the brave one wins!

The equipment of both sides is almost the same, and other factors have their own advantages and disadvantages.

The Eight Banners soldiers had relatively rich combat experience, after all, they had been fighting with the Guanning Army in Liaodong for many years.

Although the Ming cavalry did not have much combat experience, they had a huge advantage: full pay!

Yes.

The cavalry that Chongzhen built with a huge sum of money received a monthly salary of three taels of silver, and was provided with enough food and meat for one meal every day!

The monthly salary was half a tael more than the two and a half taels of the Guanning Army, and they also received an extra meal of meat.

With strong material supply, these cavalrymen became big and strong, and had endless energy.

In addition to these, Li Xingzhong would also matchmake for meritorious generals and soldiers from time to time, helping them to get married as soon as possible and complete the task of continuing the family line.

The imperial court helped them marry and have children during the chaotic times. How dare the soldiers disobey their orders?

Under the dual influence of material and spiritual factors, this cavalry is brave and loyal.

After exchanging firearms and arrows, the cavalry of both sides engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

"Kill!" The Ming cavalry held three-barreled guns and smashed them hard on the heads of the Eight Banners soldiers.

The Eight Banners soldiers had no time to dodge and could only raise their swords to block.

Killing enemies on the battlefield requires skills, reaction speed, and physical strength to fight continuously.

In addition, there is another very important indicator: strength!

Strength can defeat skill!

Under the huge force, the Eight Banners soldier's wrist was dislocated and his sword fell to the ground. The three-barreled gun was still powerful and hit his helmet hard.

The iron helmet dented and crushed his skull, and his eyes became stiff and lightless.

Before this Eight Banners soldier fell, another Eight Banners soldier rushed up to take his place.

There are no fancy moves on the battlefield, only the simplest killing skills!

The Ming army was killing people, and the Eight Banners soldiers were also killing people.

Every time blood spurts out, a life is lost.

As the wailing stopped abruptly, another person passed away.

"Report, the Mongolian cavalry has returned and intends to form a pincer attack on our army with the Jiannu cavalry!" The scout told Li Xingzhong the news immediately.

"Report! The Ming army's infantry formation is moving slowly, and it seems that they are going to form a pincer attack on our army with the Ming army's cavalry!" Hauge also received similar news.

Li Xingzhong and Haoge raised their heads at the same time and looked into the distance.

A complex but not chaotic scene appeared on the battlefield.

Amidst the huge crowds, the forces of each party are clearly distinguished.

From north to south they are Mongolian cavalry, Ming cavalry, Eight Banners soldiers, and Ming infantry.

The Ming cavalry and Eight Banners cavalry trapped in the middle were in great danger and could be attacked from the front and back at any time.

The position of the Eight Banners Cavalry was not only dangerous but also embarrassing.

The advantage of cavalry is mobility and kite flying.

Once the battle becomes a positional one, the cavalry advantage is gone.

Seeing the Ming infantry slowly approaching, Hauge immediately issued a military order: "Inform the entire army to retreat eastward while fighting."

At the same time, Li Xingzhong also issued a military order: "Inform all cavalry units to retreat westward while fighting."

After a wave of arrows, the two sides who were fighting retreated at the same time.

The Eight Banners troops retreated eastward, and the Ming army retreated westward.

After each retreated three miles, both sides stopped.

"Move closer to He Jin's troops!" Li Xingzhong ordered.

"Join forces with the Mongolian cavalry!" Hauge also gave the order.

After a short break, the two sides lined up to face each other again.

The Ming army was in the west, and the Mongolian cavalry and Eight Banners soldiers were in the east.

The grassland was exceptionally quiet in the evening, with only the sound of the gentle wind and the neighing of war horses.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the soldiers and horses golden, making them look like the solemn and dignified heavenly soldiers from the underworld.