Murong Chunhua's troops were clearly more familiar with this terrain.
Before leaving the pass, Wu Shangzhi instructed his guide, An Dehai, to give a detailed explanation of the geography surrounding Loulan.
The generals of the Yin Army had a general idea of which areas had solid ground for riding and which areas were hidden with quicksand.
The Northern Di cavalry, however, were different.
They came from the northern grasslands and were unfamiliar with the desert terrain. Now, eager to pursue the enemy, they unknowingly ventured deep into dangerous territory.
"General! The 'Vortex of Death' is just ahead!" shouted a scout familiar with the terrain.
Murong Chunhua looked up and saw that the sand in front of her was noticeably darker, and the surface of the sand had strange ripples.
"Split into two teams and go around from both sides!" he decisively ordered.
The Yin army cavalry skillfully split into two groups and skimmed along the edge of the quicksand area.
The Northern Di cavalry pursuing from behind were unaware of the danger and continued their straight-line chase.
The hundred or so riders at the forefront felt their hooves sink as soon as they stepped onto the dark sand!
"Oh no! It's quicksand!"
"Help!"
A scream suddenly rang out. The warhorse sank into quicksand, and the more it struggled, the faster it sank.
The cavalrymen tried to dismount, but they sank into the sand along with their armor and were swallowed up in the blink of an eye.
The Northern Di cavalry behind them were shocked and hurriedly reined in their horses, causing chaos in the ranks.
"Now!" Murong Chunhua roared, "Turn around and kill!"
The Yin army cavalry, who had just bypassed the quicksand area, suddenly turned around and unleashed a barrage of arrows and crossbow bolts!
Arrows rained down on the chaotic Northern Di army, causing men and horses to fall in disarray.
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Bei Di Qianchang Badu's face turned ashen; he finally realized he had fallen into a trap.
But by then it was too late to retreat.
The Yin army cavalry pounced like a pack of wolves, targeting any lone survivors. The Northern Di army was in disarray, fleeing for their lives, their organization completely broken.
The chase lasted for half an hour.
Of the five thousand Northern Di cavalry, nearly half were killed, and the rest scattered. Batu himself was shot in the shoulder and only escaped thanks to the desperate protection of his personal guards.
Murong Chunhua did not pursue them further—his aim was to contain and wear them down, not to annihilate them.
"Take stock of casualties, collect arrows, and retreat towards Sweetwater Well to rejoin the main force," he ordered.
In this battle, the Yin army lost only a hundred or so cavalrymen, but captured more than 1,700 heads of the Northern Di, which can be described as a great victory.
When Murong Chunhua led his troops back to Tianshui Well, Wu Shangzhi's main force had already finished resting there.
"General!" Murong Chunhua dismounted and reported, "This humble general has defeated five thousand cavalry on the right wing of the Northern Barbarians, beheading more than seven hundred. Our army suffered more than one hundred casualties."
Wu Shangzhi stood by the pool, wiping the Embroidered Spring Knife in his hand with a cloth.
He looked up at these words, his eyes showing approval: "Well done. How is Wuhan doing now?"
"He was furious," Murong Chunhua laughed. "But he didn't dare to go all out to chase me—Loulan City was still watching him closely."
Guo Luo spread out a map beside him: "General, according to the prisoners' confessions and scouts' reconnaissance, the main force of the Wuhan is about 35,000 men, and they are currently besieging Loulan. There are about 8,000 defenders in Loulan, but their fighting strength is not strong."
"Our forces number 15,000, including 8,000 cavalry and 7,000 infantry," Liu Yi added. "In a direct confrontation, we are outnumbered. But if we can coordinate with the Loulan defenders from within..."
Wu Shangzhi stared at the map and pointed to the location of Loulan City: "Wuhan wants a quick victory because his supplies won't last long. We'll not let him have his way."
He raised his head and glanced at the generals: "Order: The whole army should eat their fill. We will depart at midnight tonight and circle around to the west of Loulan City."
"To the west?" Lin Yuan asked, puzzled. "That's deep in the desert, there's no water..."
“It is precisely because there is no water source that Wuhan will not take precautions.”
A sharp glint flashed in Wu Shangzhi's eyes. "We must strike him fatally from the place he least expects."
"Murong Chunhua, your cavalry continue to harass from the front, creating the illusion that the main force is still in the east."
"I will lead the Divine Machine Battalion and the Archer Battalion, taking advantage of the night to detour around the western desert. Within three days, we must reach the Stone Forest, thirty miles west of Loulan City."
"The chaotic rock forest?" The guide, Andehai, changed his expression. "General, the terrain there is complicated, with wind-eroded rock pillars everywhere, making it easy to get lost. Moreover... there are legends of ghosts and monsters appearing there."
"Ghosts?" Wu Shangzhi laughed. "How many dead have we seen on our way here? If any ghosts dare to block our path, we'll just chop them all down."
He looked at An Dehai: "Manager An, you are familiar with the terrain, so you are indispensable as our guide for this trip."
An Dehai took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Since the general dares to go, I will risk my life to accompany you!"
"Good!" Wu Shangzhi patted him on the shoulder, then turned to the generals, "The key to this battle lies in concealment and speed. Everyone should travel light, carrying only three days' worth of rations and necessary weapons."
"The supply battalion will remain at Sweetwater Well, under the command of Guo Luo for guard."
Guo Luo hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself—he longed to go to the front lines. But military orders were absolute, so he could only clasp his hands in a fist and say, "This humble general obeys!"
"Gentlemen," Wu Shangzhi said solemnly, "this journey is fraught with danger, but if we succeed, we will lift the siege of Loulan and severely damage Wuhan. At that time, the entire Western Regions will resound with praise for the might of the Great Yin army!"
All the generals clasped their fists in unison: "We are willing to follow the general to defeat the enemy!"
Night falls.
In the Sweetwater Well Oasis, the campfires gradually died down.
Five thousand elite Yin soldiers quietly assembled and, led by their guide Andehai, slithered into the boundless, dark desert to the west like a silent giant python.
Murong Chunhua stood on the sand dune, watching the main force depart. He turned to the two thousand cavalry behind him and said, "For the next three days, we must make Wuhan feel that our more than ten thousand men are still under his nose."
"Brothers, sing! Raise a commotion! Let the Tartars see what a feint is all about!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com