Cui Mian was about fifty years old, with a fair complexion and a long beard, looking like a typical civil official, but his eyes revealed shrewdness and prudence.
His mission on the surface was to "strengthen communication between the two sides and comfort the soldiers of Hedong," but in reality, he was acting on Li Jingang's orders to urge and even monitor Zhao Muyun's deployment of troops, while openly probing Zhao Muyun's true strength.
Upon hearing that Zhao Muyun had finally set off, Cui Mian, with his entourage, hurriedly stood on the high ground inside the gate to watch the grand departure of the Hedong army.
Banners blotted out the sun, and swords and spears formed a forest.
Squads of soldiers marched out of the camp gate in neat formation.
Although the armor was not brand new, many still bore the marks of battle.
But the fierce spirit born from countless battles, and the fervent faith in their commander in their eyes, were completely different from the temperament displayed by Li Jingang's troops.
The infantry led the way, with Xi Sheng's "Mo Dao Battalion" and Liu Yi's "Shen Ji Battalion" forming the central army.
These soldiers were as silent as mountains, carrying heavy equipment, yet they moved without the slightest hesitation.
The cavalry flanked the enemy, with Wu Shangzhi's light cavalry moving swiftly like the wind. Murong Chunhua's foreign light cavalry joined them, adding to their imposing presence.
The most eye-catching sight was the thousand heavy cavalrymen under Guo Luo's command, who were slowly moving.
The Akhal-Teke horse was indeed extraordinary, standing half a head taller than ordinary warhorses, with a unique bone structure and smooth muscle lines. Even when draped in heavy armor, it still looked spirited and dashing.
The knights on horseback were like tigers and horses like dragons, their entire bodies covered in cold-forged iron armor, with only their sharp eyes showing.
The long lance pointed diagonally to the sky, its cold blade gleaming in the autumn sun.
They marched forward in silence, the only sounds being the clanging of armor and the muffled thud of horses' hooves, creating an invisible pressure that stirred the hearts of all who watched.
One thousand Mo Dao soldiers, one thousand Shenji soldiers, one thousand heavy cavalry soldiers, eight thousand light cavalry (Wu Shangzhi, Murong Chunhua, Huan Wu, Namtso), three thousand infantry (Zhong Meng), as well as Tang Yanhai's scout battalion and Shen Qianye's scout battalion.
Han Zhong was stationed in Daizhou, where he, along with Liu Pan and Cao Jun, oversaw the logistics and supplies.
The expeditionary force numbered approximately 15,000 men.
"Is this... the true strength of the Hedong Army?" A young attendant beside Cui Mian couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.
Cui Mian did not answer, but stared intently at the heavy cavalry, thinking to himself, "His Majesty's concerns are indeed true. This fierce army is sure to be a formidable enemy of our Great Feng."
Surrounded by a group of generals, Zhao Muyun rode away on horseback.
He wasn't wearing any fancy armor, just a plain general's uniform, but his presence exuded authority.
He saw Cui Mian from afar and smiled slightly.
Take him closer and have the guard Li Si summon Cui Mian:
“Minister Cui, the military camp is simple and the hospitality is inadequate. I hope you will forgive us.”
"I will lead my troops eastward immediately to join your dynasty in resisting the barbarians. I urge you, Vice Minister, to return to the capital and inform Li Jingang that I, Zhao Muyun, will certainly help him kill many more barbarians! Haha!"
Zhao Muyun addressed Li Jingang by his full name, which made Cui Mian's expression somewhat unnatural.
He cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency has kept your promise, and I admire you."
"I wish the Grand Commander a resounding victory and an early defeat of the Tartars!"
"I have been entrusted by the Emperor of Dafeng to stay in the army for several days to record the battle situation so that I can return to the capital to report."
He was determined to witness Zhao Muyun's army engage the Northern Di in battle with his own eyes.
A barely perceptible hint of coldness flashed in Zhao Muyun's eyes, but her smile remained unchanged.
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Vice Minister, to accompany the army. Shen Qian!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Shen Qian, the deputy commander of the Night Watch, appeared beside the horse like a ghost.
"Protect Minister Cui and his entourage to the best of your ability, and meet all their needs."
Zhao Muyun gave the order, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable air.
"Yes, sir!"
Shen Qian bowed and accepted the order, then looked up at Cui Mian. The look in his eyes sent a chill down Cui Mian's spine for no apparent reason.
The army marched eastward along the ancient Jingxing Road.
Jingxing is one of the eight passes of the Daxing Mountains, with a strategic location and a winding path stretching for hundreds of miles.
It was early winter, and the mountains were already chilly, with withered grass and trees adding to the desolate atmosphere.
As Zhao Muyun rode on his horse, he whispered to Tang Yanhai beside him, "Old Tang, has there been any movement from Yang Yan lately?"
Tang Yanhai frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Report from Xiangzhou: They ambushed Wuzhu's elite cavalry of two thousand men on the outskirts of Xiangzhou and almost annihilated them, greatly boosting the morale of the Fengtian Army."
"Wuzhu's offensive has slowed down slightly, but the pressure on Xiangzhou remains enormous."
Zhao Muyun nodded: "Yang Yan, this old rival... is indeed quite capable. Xi Jing's victory over him had an element of luck to it!"
He paused, then lowered his voice, "This eastward expedition is not only to defeat the Di, but also to guard against others. Cui Mian is merely a pawn in the open; Li Jingang and Yang Yan probably each have their own schemes."
"Our thunderous thunderbolts, fierce fire oil, and especially our heavy cavalry battalion, should not be revealed in full strength unless it is a critical moment."
"Understood." Tang Yanhai replied solemnly, "I have already given the order that all kinds of special military equipment be disguised, transported in batches, and guarded by reliable people."
The army marched at a considerable pace, but also with extreme caution.
The night watchmen had already been deployed, like an invisible spider web, covering an area of dozens of miles around the army, keeping watch for any possible ambush.
Wuzhu, the Left Wise King of the Northern Barbarians, was no mediocre man; it was impossible for him to be completely unaware of the movements of such a large army.
Three days later, the vanguard of Zhong Meng's troops had left Jingxing and arrived in the territory of Zhen Ding Prefecture in Hebei.
The entire journey was marked by devastation.
The village was reduced to ruins, the fields were barren, and the corpses of the dead, both civilians and defeated soldiers, were everywhere.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
