The command structure was thrown into chaos.
Seizing the opportunity, Ma Zongliang ordered the main force of the central army to advance, and the war drums beat loudly, creating the impression of a general offensive.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless and that continuing the stalemate would risk being attacked from both inside and outside and being completely annihilated, the Northern Di general had no choice but to order the burning of the baggage that was inconvenient to carry and retreat in panic towards Liyang.
Ma Zongliang did not pursue them further, but instead consolidated his position and successfully joined forces with Li Biao at the foot of Xiangzhou City.
He then left 10,000 troops to guard the city, and the two combined their forces to form an army of 80,000. They then stationed themselves in Tanzhou, waiting for Niu Desheng's side to arrive and join them.
......
However, unlike Ma Zongliang's steady and methodical approach, Niu Desheng's side advanced rapidly.
The 50,000-strong army, like a restless dragon, rolled northward.
He abandoned the main road and took the shortcut, only wanting to bring his troops to the gates of Weizhou as soon as possible and make a name for himself.
The lieutenant once pointed to a low-lying area called "Luoyanze" and reminded him:
"General, this place is crisscrossed by waterways and overgrown with reeds; there may be an ambush."
Niu Desheng, mounted on his horse, gazed at the faintly visible Weizhou city walls in the distance and scoffed, "Those Di dogs only know how to ride horses and shoot arrows, what do they know about ambush? Even if there is one, I'll just chop them all down! Send the order to speed up the passage!"
The vanguard of the army, numbering over 30,000, mainly consisted of his elite cavalry and infantry battalions, plunged headlong into Luoyan Marsh.
It was early autumn, and the reeds were taller than a person. Although the waterway was not wide, it was muddy and difficult to walk on.
The procession was forced to lengthen, struggling to move forward along the winding path.
Suddenly, a series of rapid clanging sounds came from ahead!
Immediately afterwards, piercing whistles rang out from all directions.
"Whoosh whoosh-!"
Countless arrows, like a dense swarm of locusts, rained down from behind the earthen slope deep in the reeds.
The arrows were extremely powerful, easily piercing through the leather armor and even the iron-lined cotton armor of many soldiers, and screams of agony filled the air instantly!
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