Large, fluffy snowflakes fell in a flurry, and the north wind whipped up the snowflakes, howling mournfully.
Visibility dropped sharply, and soon the world was a vast expanse of white.
The temperature dropped to the point where water would freeze instantly.
This sudden blizzard disrupted Wuzhu's plans but also gave Zhao Muyun an unexpected opportunity.
Inside the main tent of the Xijing Army, the honeycomb briquettes in the charcoal brazier were burning brightly, dispelling the chill inside.
Zhao Muyun gathered with core generals such as Tang Yanhai, Guo Luo, and Wu Shangzhi, and everyone had a hint of excitement on their faces.
"What a heavy snowfall!"
Zhao Muyun looked at the snow falling heavily outside the tent, his eyes gleaming. "A golden opportunity! Wuzhu would never have expected that we would launch an attack in this weather!"
Guo Luo said, "The Grand Commander is absolutely right. The Di army is confident in its strength and can fight at night in the bitter cold, but they did not expect our army to dare to launch a surprise attack against the snow. If we succeed, it will be a great success!"
"However, the wind and snow are too heavy, making marching difficult and making it very easy to lose one's way." Wu Shangzhi remained calm.
"It's alright!"
Zhao Muyun was confident. "I already had Lao Tang survey the terrain around Luancheng and draw up detailed maps."
"Moreover, in this kind of weather, the Di army's scouts will surely be lax! It's the perfect time to launch an attack!"
He walked to the map and pointed heavily to a valley northeast of Luancheng:
"This is the rear of Wuzhu's camp, and also the location of their main cavalry force. The Di army must think that we are hiding in the camp to avoid the snow and are therefore lax in our vigilance."
"Guo Luo!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Can your heavy cavalry battalion launch a charge in the snow?"
Guo Luo pondered for a moment, then said decisively, "Yes! The Akhal-Teke horses have far greater endurance and strength than ordinary horses. Although it is difficult to travel on snow, they can easily charge short distances! It is just that light cavalry will be needed to clear the obstacles first, and then the infantry will consolidate the gains."
"Excellent!" Zhao Muyun exclaimed. "Wu Shangzhi!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Your light cavalry, as well as the troops of Murong and Huanwu, are all under your command! Clear the way for your troops and strike straight into the Di army's cavalry camp! Burn their stables and disrupt their encampment!"
"Haha! Leave it to me! I guarantee the Tartars will be like headless flies!" Wu Shangzhi excitedly rubbed his hands together.
"Xi Sheng!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"I hereby order you to lead the Mo Dao Battalion, closely following the cavalry, to launch a surprise attack on the Di army's main camp, specifically to counter any cavalry counterattacks!"
"Yes, sir!" Xi Sheng's eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"The Divine Machine Battalion, carrying all the thunderbolts and raging oil, will move with the infantry and specifically attack areas where the enemy is concentrated!"
"The scout battalion will take advantage of the chaos to infiltrate the enemy camp, seek opportunities to assassinate enemy officers, and destroy their command system."
Zhao Muyun had already assigned the tasks. His gaze swept over the generals, and his voice was deep and resolute: "This battle concerns the life and death of our Hedong Army! Gentlemen, the time to achieve merit and establish our achievements is tonight!"
"I am willing to follow the Grand Commander and fight to the death!"
The generals roared in unison, their killing intent so intense that even the sound of the wind and snow outside the tent seemed to be suppressed.
At midnight, the snow was falling heavily.
The Xijing army camp quietly opened its doors, and troops, like steel streams flowing in the dark night, silently disappeared into the wind and snow.
Wu Shangzhi personally led three thousand of his most elite light cavalry as the vanguard. All of them covered their armor and weapons with white cloth, and the horses' hooves were also wrapped in thick cloth to minimize noise.
Guided by scouts, they made their way towards their predetermined target with difficulty and determination in the snowy night with extremely low visibility.
Guo Luo's heavy cavalry battalion followed closely behind, their Akhal-Teke horses trudging through the snow, the riders clinging tightly to their saddles to reduce wind resistance and conserve their energy.
Behind them were the main infantry force led by Xi Sheng, and the Shenji Battalion carrying heavy equipment.
The wind and snow concealed their movements and also lulled the Northern Di army into a false sense of security.
Most of the Di soldiers were huddled in their tents, keeping warm and fast asleep. The sentries huddled in sheltered spots, cursing the awful weather. No one expected that death would come on this night, treading through the snow.
......
The wind and snow raged, and the world was shrouded in chaos.
Wu Shangzhi led three thousand light cavalry, like white ghosts on the snowy plains, and silently approached the cavalry camp of the Northern Di army set up in the northeast valley of Luancheng.
Due to the inclement weather, the Northern Di army was unusually lax in its vigilance.
The outer outposts were either deserted or had only one or two sentries huddled in makeshift shacks, easily picked off by night scouts.
Only when the hoofbeats of the light cavalry from the east approached the camp's fence did sporadic, panicked shouts rang out from inside the camp: "Enemy...enemy attack?"
"Launch rockets! Burn them!" Wu Shangzhi gave the order.
Thousands of ignited arrows, like a meteor shower, pierced through the snow and shot towards the Northern Di army's camps, haystacks, and stables.
The dry tents and hay ignited instantly, and despite the heavy snow and wind, the fire spread rapidly thanks to the wind.
"Enemy attack! The southern barbarians are coming!"
"Fire! Quick, put out the fire!"
"The horse is startled! Stop the runaway horse!"
The Northern Barbarian cavalry camp instantly erupted into chaos!
The soldiers, startled awake from their sleep, panicked. Some rushed to put out the fire, some searched for weapons, and some tried to control their frightened warhorses, which collided and trampled each other, creating utter chaos.
Wu Shangzhi would never let this opportunity slip by. He drew his sword and swung it forward, shouting, "Brothers, follow me and charge in! Let's turn the world upside down!"
"kill--!"
Three thousand well-rested and prepared light cavalry from Hedong, like tigers descending a mountain, smashed through the flimsy fortifications of the camp and charged into the chaotic enemy camp.
The flashing of blades, the splattering of blood, the screams, the clanging of weapons, the neighing of warhorses, and the howling of the wind and snow mingled together, creating a symphony of death.
The chaos and towering flames in the Northern Di camp became the best guiding signal for Guo Luo's heavy cavalry camp in the rear.
"Heavy cavalry!"
Guo Luo stood at the head of the formation, his gaze beneath his visor as cold as iron. His voice, ringing with metallic clang, came through the visor: "Target: the main camp of the Di army—Charge!"
"Boom!!"
The heavy cavalry, which had been accumulating strength and killing intent for a long time, finally erupted at this moment!
The sound of the heavy cavalry charging was like muffled thunder rolling across the ground, finally alerting Wuzhu in the main camp.
Wuzhu was just woken up by his personal guards. He put on his clothes and went out of the tent. He saw flames soaring into the sky in the northeast and shouts of battle rising everywhere. Immediately afterward, he felt the earth beneath his feet tremble with a heart-stopping force!
"They're heavy cavalry! Zhao Muyun's heavy cavalry!"
Wuzhu's expression changed drastically. He instantly understood the other party's intention: a surprise attack on a snowy night, striking straight at the heart of the enemy's territory!
"Quickly! Assemble the guards! Order each battalion to hold their ground, pikemen form ranks! Archers, advance!"
Wuzhu, being a seasoned veteran of the battlefield, remained calm in the face of danger and issued orders loudly.
However, the chaos brought about by the snowstorm at night was deadly.
Many of the Northern Di soldiers had just crawled out of their warm beds, their minds were still foggy, and their equipment was incomplete.
Officers couldn't find their soldiers, soldiers couldn't find their officers, and communication between battalions was lost.
The entire camp was like a pot of boiling porridge.
Just then, Xi Sheng led the main force of the Hedong infantry, which appeared outside the camp like iron towers!
"Mo Dao Battalion! Advance!"
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