The plains north of Hejian Prefecture stretch as far as the eye can see, with the autumn wind whipping up withered grass and carrying an air of desolation.
Niu Desheng led 30,000 vanguard troops in a tight formation, advancing towards the Northern Di camp like a moving steel forest.
The Northern Di vanguard put up a brief resistance and then retreated, as planned.
Niu Desheng kept Ma Zongliang's orders in mind and did not pursue them relentlessly, but instead steadily squeezed the space of the Northern Di army.
However, the Northern Di army's "retreat" seemed too "realistic," with abandoned flags and supplies everywhere, and even small-scale "collapses."
This situation made some of the generals under Niu Desheng, who were extremely eager to make a name for themselves and reclaim Weizhou after their failure, unable to contain themselves.
"General! The Di dogs have been defeated! If we don't pursue them now, when will we?" one of his fierce generals said urgently.
Although Niu Desheng remembered Ma Zongliang's instructions, he couldn't help but be tempted when he saw the "fighting opportunity" appear.
He hesitated for a moment, then ordered: "The vanguard shall accelerate the pursuit! The central and rear guards shall maintain their formation and be ready to provide support at any time!"
He tried to find a balance between taking risks and playing it safe.
It was this slight acceleration that gave Wuzhu the opportunity!
When Niu Desheng's vanguard of about 10,000 men had chased after them for some distance and were slightly separated from the central and rear guard, the Northern Di vanguard, which had been "retreating," suddenly steadied itself and turned around to pounce!
At the same time, thick smoke and dust rose on the horizon on both sides.
The Northern Di cavalry, which had been lying in ambush for a long time, shot like two heavy arrows, but did not rush straight at Niu Desheng's vanguard.
Instead, they cleverly bypassed its sharp edge and fiercely attacked the junction between Niu Desheng's central and rear armies, as well as the flanks of Li Biao and Li Bao's armies, which were trying to move forward to provide support!
This completely disrupted Ma Zongliang's plans!
The Northern Di cavalry, taking advantage of their superior mobility, did not engage in direct confrontation with the Fengtian Army, but instead constantly infiltrated, divided, and harassed them.
Niu Desheng's troops were instantly cut into several pieces, with neither the beginning nor the end able to keep in touch.
Li Biao and Li Bao's troops were also thrown into disarray by the sudden flank attack, making it difficult to provide effective support for the time being.
"Form defensive formation! Don't panic!"
Niu Desheng roared at the top of his lungs in the central army, wielding his saber and cutting down several Di cavalrymen who tried to approach, but his personal bravery could not reverse the overall chaos.
The Northern Di cavalry, like a pack of wolves, kept tearing gaps in the Fengtian Army's formation, creating panic.
Seeing the sudden change in the battlefield situation, Ma Zongliang, who was in charge of the central army, had a gloomy expression.
He immediately ordered the main force of the central army to press forward, attempting to stabilize the battle line and support Niu Desheng, Li Biao, and Li Bao.
However, the Northern Di cavalry would strike and retreat immediately, never lingering in battle, leaving the Fengtian Army's heavy infantry feeling powerless, as if they were punching cotton.
The first day of fighting ended at sunset.
The Fengtian Army's vanguard suffered heavy losses, losing nearly three thousand men, which dampened their morale.
Although the Northern Barbarian army also paid a price, it basically achieved its tactical objectives, successfully striking a blow to the morale of the Fengtian Army and probing that the coordination between the various units of the Fengtian Army was not flawless.
The initial setback made Ma Zongliang more cautious, but it also gave Wuzhu hope of victory.
The decisive battle on the plains began in an atmosphere unfavorable to the Fengtian Army.
After suffering a setback in the first battle, Ma Zongliang regrouped his troops, fortified his position with deep trenches and high walls, and refrained from launching any more proactive attacks.
He knew that he was at a disadvantage in mobile warfare against the Northern Di cavalry on the plains, and that he had to make use of his numerical advantage and his strengths in formation warfare.
Wuzhu attempted several provocations and raids in an effort to lure the Fengtian Army into battle, but Ma Zongliang steadily thwarted them all.
The Fengjun camp was heavily guarded and equipped with bows and crossbows. Any Northern Di cavalry that approached would be met with a barrage of arrows and would not gain any advantage.
The battle seemed to have reached a stalemate.
Scouts from both sides engaged in a fierce battle on the vast battlefield, vying for every inch of vision and information.
Small-scale conflicts occur daily, but large-scale fighting has temporarily ceased.
Ma Zongliang was waiting, waiting for a suitable opportunity, or waiting for the Northern Di army to run out of supplies and retreat on its own.
He believed that with the immense national strength of Fengchao, victory would eventually be his due if he could wear them down.
He even began to divide his forces to try to clear out the surrounding area and establish a solid supply line.
However, Wuzhu did not sit idly by and wait for his doom.
On the one hand, he sent out scouts to continuously attack the Fengtian Army's supply lines. Although he failed to inflict fatal damage, he did increase the logistical pressure on the Fengtian Army.
On the other hand, he took advantage of the cavalry's mobility to constantly move his troops around and create various illusions.
Sometimes they concentrated heavy troops on the left flank, and sometimes they launched fierce attacks on the salient of the Fengtian Army's right flank, making it difficult for Ma Zongliang to determine their true main attack direction.
The intense psychological pressure and frequent local relocations left the Fengtian Army soldiers exhausted.
They had to remain vigilant at all times, guarding against the Northern Di cavalry who might suddenly charge out from any direction.
In contrast, the Northern Di cavalry could take turns resting, thus conserving their strength for the enemy.
"Marshal, if this continues, our soldiers will become exhausted, and this is not a long-term solution."
An aide spoke to Ma Zongliang with great concern.
Ma Zongliang was well aware of this.
But he didn't have a better solution.
Taking the initiative is too risky; holding out and waiting for change is too passive.
He pinned his hopes on subsequent food supplies and the possibility of fighter jets appearing.
This stalemate lasted for a full ten days.
A sense of oppression and anxiety permeated the battlefield.
Both sides are gathering their strength, waiting for the moment to deliver a fatal blow to their opponent.
The scales of victory seem to be tipping subtly in this suffocating stalemate.
The stalemate lasted until the eleventh day, when the weather suddenly changed.
The once clear autumn sky was shrouded in dark clouds sweeping in from the north, with howling winds whipping up dust and drastically reducing visibility.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
