Faced with the formidable Imperial Guards, even the most elite personal guards following Li Xiao failed to mount any effective counterattack.
The spears carried by the Goguryeo cavalry were not only short, but also had wooden shafts. Many soldiers were killed by the spears of the Imperial Guards before they could even touch the Han soldiers.
Even if a few lucky Goguryeo soldiers managed to touch the Yulin Army's bodies, they couldn't cause any damage to the Mingguang Armor.
The vast difference in equipment left the Goguryeo cavalry completely on the defensive.
The Imperial Guards, like a red comb, swept through the Goguryeo cavalry without the slightest pause.
In just one charge, the Goguryeo cavalry lost nearly five thousand men.
"withdraw!!"
Turning his head to glance at the corpses on the ground and the Imperial Guards cavalry passing by, Li Xiao did not hesitate at all, and immediately led the remaining 13,000 cavalrymen to flee westward.
The Imperial Guard cavalry also turned their horses around and gave chase.
Seeing this, the soldiers of the Yuyang Camp behind them fought even harder against the Goguryeo infantry.
"We surrender, please stop fighting!!"
Seeing his soldiers fall one after another, Zhu Yao, who was hiding in the ranks, made a decisive move and threw away his weapon.
The remaining Goguryeo soldiers recognized their general and knelt down to surrender.
Huangfu Song immediately declared loudly, "Leave seven thousand men to guard the prisoners and clean up the battlefield; the rest of you, pursue them!!"
Immediately, Huangfu Song mounted his warhorse and led eight thousand Yuyang Camp soldiers to follow behind the Imperial Guards in pursuit of the fleeing Li Xiao.
After several days of forced marches, the Goguryeo army was exhausted. Although Li Xiao chose to flee immediately, the Imperial Guards, who had been conserving their strength, quickly caught up with them.
The pursuing Imperial Guard cavalry, in groups of one hundred, hunted down the lagging Goguryeo cavalry like a pride of lions.
The Goguryeo cavalrymen running ahead had no choice but to urge their horses on even more desperately, trying to leave their companions behind so that they could take the blows for them.
Before long, in the chase, the two sides had reached a low-lying area thirty miles west of Siping.
Liu Hong led 18,000 soldiers from the Yuyang Camp and 6,200 new soldiers from the Fuyu Army, who were arrayed on a hillside in the western part of the depression, blocking Li Xiao's retreat.
By this time, the number of Goguryeo cavalry had dwindled to less than ten thousand after being pursued by the Imperial Guards.
Li Xiao, who was fleeing at the forefront, looked at the army above the earthen slope and felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Now he was blocked in front and pursued behind, and he was truly trapped with nowhere to go.
But soon, Li Xiao noticed the large banner blocking the center of the army.
"The Emperor of Han is just ahead! If we capture him, we'll have endless wealth and beautiful women! Warriors, follow me!!"
Li Xiao's eyes flashed with madness as he screamed at the soldiers beside him.
As Li Xiao finished speaking, the guards beside him also shouted loudly. More and more Goguryeo cavalry heard their shouts, and their eyes revealed a crazy light. They followed behind Li Xiao and charged towards Liu Hong.
"Ha! You're courting death!"
Standing on the earthen slope below the great banner, Liu Hong looked at the Goguryeo cavalry charging straight up and couldn't help but sneer.
Liu Hong vaguely heard the shouts of the Goguryeo soldiers, and then turned to look at Zhu Jun beside him.
What are they shouting?
Zhu Jun was also slightly taken aback, then waved to one of the translators beside him.
The translator quickly translated the Goguryeo soldier's message to Liu Hong.
"Arrest me?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong couldn't help but laugh.
With a light laugh, Liu Hong took the military knife from his waist.
This military knife was a gift meticulously crafted by Mo Shang and Gongshu Lian, together with hundreds of top craftsmen from the Research and Manufacturing Bureau and the Engineering Academy, to celebrate the emperor's coming of age. Its value and significance are self-evident.
Because this was Liu Hong's first time personally leading an expedition, he brought this military knife with him.
Liu Hong then handed the military knife to the messenger beside him.
"Go and tell all the soldiers that whoever can capture Li Xiao alive will be granted this weapon by me!"
"promise!!"
The messenger respectfully took the saber and ran quickly toward the vanguard, shouting as he ran.
When Liu Hong's order spread throughout the army, everyone was in an uproar.
The emperor's sword was not only a divine weapon but also a symbol of honor, and no one could resist its allure.
Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Sun Jian, Dian Wei, and the others leading the army all stared intently at the figure in the center of the enemy forces.
"Knock knock knock~!"
As a burst of rousing war drums sounded, the Imperial Guard trainees, leading the Buyeo New Army, launched the first charge against the Goguryeo cavalry.
Li Jue, Guo Si, and the other border generals also led 5,000 cavalrymen from the Yuyang Camp to charge forward.
As for Song Feng, the Commander of the Imperial Guard who had been relatively inconspicuous, he led the Imperial Guards and Gao Shun's 10,000 shield soldiers to closely protect Liu Hong.
Looking at Gao Shun standing guard beside him, Liu Hong laughed and said, "Gongren, you should go too!"
"No, His Majesty's safety is paramount!!"
Gao Shun shook his head and refused the emperor without hesitation.
Seeing Gao Shun's reaction, Liu Hong said nothing more and looked up at the battlefield.
Seeing the Buyeo New Army and the Yuyang Camp cavalry flanking the Goguryeo cavalry from both flanks, Liu Hong couldn't help but laugh.
This tactic was almost a complete disregard for the Goguryeo elites, who were skilled in mounted archery and flanking maneuvers. However, this tactic was also extremely suitable, as it could prevent the enemy from escaping to the greatest extent and coordinate with the Imperial Guards pursuing from the rear to completely annihilate them.
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