Late at night, inside a simple little tent, Zhao Muyun looked at a map by the dim light of a gas lamp.
Tang Yanhai walked in and whispered, "Grand Commander, we've captured two prisoners; they're scouts from the Northern Di tribe under Arahan."
"According to their statements, Arahan seemed to have anticipated that we might take a detour and had increased patrols on several major routes leading to Tanzhou."
"And... there is an unspecified number of cavalrymen operating in the area south of Tanzhou, seemingly searching for something."
Zhao Muyun's eyes narrowed: "Arahan... his reaction is quick. It seems our movements are not entirely secret."
He thought of Li Jin's Fengtian Army troops, who had been trailing far behind. "Did our 'tails' behind us reveal our whereabouts, or did Wuzhu guess it himself?"
"Anything is possible," Tang Yanhai said. "However, we've successfully bypassed the first line of defense. What's next? Should we proceed straight to Tanzhou as planned?"
Zhao Muyun pointed to the location of Tanzhou on the map and pondered:
“Since Arahan has taken precautions, Tanzhou is probably prepared as well. It is not wise to launch a strong attack on a well-prepared city.”
His finger moved to the side, landing on an inconspicuous spot in the southwest of Tanzhou. "This is Songting Village. It's a military camp set up by the Northern Di on the outskirts of Tanzhou, where they stockpile a lot of grain and fodder. It's also a stronghold for monitoring the southern mountains. There won't be too many troops stationed here."
He glanced at Tang Yanhai and the people who had gathered around, including Wu Shangzhi, Liu Yi, and Guo Luo, a sharp glint in his eyes:
"Let's attack here first! Firstly, to secure supplies; secondly, to send a warning shot and see how Arahan reacts; and thirdly, if we can draw the garrison from Tanzhou to their aid, we might have a chance to ambush them along the way and weaken their forces!"
"Brilliant!" Wu Shangzhi exclaimed. "Taking Songting Village will not only replenish our troops but also allow us to probe the enemy's strength and gain the initiative!"
"Guo Luo, your heavy cavalry battalion has had a hard time marching in the mountains. Take a good rest tonight."
Tomorrow, Zhong Meng's infantry battalion and Murong Chunhua's light cavalry will lead the attack, aiming for a swift and decisive victory to capture Songting Village!
"Your subordinate obeys!"
At dawn the next day, when the first rays of sunlight shone on the low earthen walls of Songting Village, the Northern Di soldiers guarding the village were horrified to discover that the area outside the village was now filled with a menacing Southern army!
There was no attempt to persuade them to surrender, no empty talk.
Zhong Meng led his infantry, armed with shields and swords, in a direct assault.
They broke through the simple village gate and fence.
Murong Chunhua's light cavalry swept into the stronghold like a whirlwind, setting fires everywhere and creating chaos.
The thousand-plus Northern Di soldiers guarding the stockade never expected to encounter the main force of the Hedong army here. After a brief and hasty resistance, they were completely overwhelmed by the terrifying slaughter and infiltration of the Mo Dao Battalion's light cavalry.
Most of them were annihilated, and a few escaped to Tanzhou to report the news.
The battle ended within half an hour.
The Hedong army successfully captured Songting Village, obtaining much-needed supplies of food and fodder, especially livestock and hay, which alleviated the food crisis for the warhorses.
Standing on the stockade wall, Zhao Muyun looked towards Tanzhou and said to Murong Chunhua, "Send out scouts to make it appear as if they are marching towards Tanzhou, but keep the main force at bay."
"At the same time, on the only road from Songting Village to Tanzhou, choose a terrain suitable for an ambush and have Guo Luo's heavy cavalry and your light cavalry lie in ambush."
"The Grand Commander wants to..." Murong Chunhua's eyes lit up.
“If Songting Village is attacked, the garrison commander of Tanzhou will definitely send troops to investigate the situation and even try to take it back, unless he is completely stupid.”
"The grain and fodder stockpiled here are also very important to them," Zhao Muyun said calmly. "We'll stay here, rested and waiting for the fish to bite."
Sure enough, that afternoon, a cloud of dust rose from the direction of Tanzhou, and a mixed force of about three thousand Northern Di infantry and cavalry, led by a silver-armored captain named Tu Hu, hurriedly arrived.
Seeing from afar that Songting Village appeared to have been abandoned, they relaxed their vigilance considerably.
Just as they approached Songting Village and their formation began to break apart as they prepared to enter the village to investigate, a deafening sound of war drums rang out!
From the forest on the left, Guo Luo's heavy cavalry battalion surged out like an iron torrent, instantly cutting the Northern Di army's formation in half!
From the right, Murong Chunhua's light cavalry roared in, raining down arrows.
At the same time, the Hedong Army infantrymen also swarmed out from Songting Village, launching a pincer attack from three sides!
Tu Huqian was terrified; he never imagined he would encounter such an elite ambush here.
The Northern Di army was thrown into chaos in an instant. The heavy cavalry charges, the slashing of the long swords, and the hunting of the light cavalry left them with no chance to fight back.
In less than an hour, the three thousand Northern Di soldiers were almost completely annihilated, and Tu Hu himself was also killed by Guo Luo with a single spear thrust.
"Clean up the battlefield and evacuate immediately! Return to the mountains where we were hiding!" Zhao Muyun decisively ordered.
This place is not safe to stay for long. After two consecutive battles, our whereabouts have been completely exposed, and Arahan's main force is likely on its way.
The Hedong army, carrying the captured soldiers, armor, and prisoners, quickly withdrew from Songting Village and once again disappeared into the vast wilderness.
When the news reached Tanzhou, the garrison commander was terrified and dared not send troops out of the city again.
Arakhan, upon receiving the battle report, was both shocked and furious.
"Zhao Muyun! He's not staying in Xuanzhou, yet he actually dares to venture deep into our territory!"
"Order all scouts to assemble south of Tanzhou and find them! The main force will follow me south; I want to personally kill them and avenge my last incursion into the city!"
It turned out that after Zhao Muyun withdrew from Youzhou, he planted a thunderbolt in the city, which almost killed Arahan when he entered the city.
......
While Zhao Muyun was maneuvering among the mountains south of Tanzhou with Arahan, stirring up the rear of the Northern Di, the main battlefield beneath Youzhou City was also witnessing an unprecedentedly fierce attack and defense.
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