"Then why don't you provoke the other party or even take the initiative to attack?" Bolo questioned Nikan in frustration.
"Based on the casualties on both sides, Li Dingguo's men are very powerful." Nikan said after a long pause, "I'm afraid I'm no match for him and will be defeated."
"What are you afraid of? You are not alone. You have my 6,000 elite soldiers to help you!" Bolo paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. "Do you know how much pressure Prince Zheng has endured in order to deal with Li Dingguo? These 8,000 soldiers are elite soldiers transferred from the central army. Without these people to help, the central army will probably be defeated by the Guanning Army."
"You are so good, not only did you not achieve anything, but you were also slapped in the face by the other party!"
A slap?
After thinking for a while, Nikan finally understood the meaning of this sentence.
Today's battle situation was like a game in which he and Li Dingguo played each other's slapping game.
Li Dingguo started the fight first, but after beating him he said he didn't want to play anymore.
He got slapped in the face for nothing.
Just as he was feeling frustrated, Jirgalang sent someone to inquire about the battle situation on the left wing (the right wing of the Ming army corresponded to the left wing of the Eight Banners Army).
No wonder Jirgalang is anxious.
Without the help of 8,000 cavalry, he was unable to attack, let alone defend.
If a tributary of the Liao River had not blocked the Ming army's attack temporarily, that place would have been lost.
"In the afternoon!" Bolo gave a death order, "In the afternoon, we must find out Li Dingguo's details and fight him tomorrow at the latest."
In the afternoon, the two sides lined up and confronted each other again.
This time, Nikan decided to let Li Dingguo take the first action.
Because he found that taking action first not only failed to gain the upper hand, but would put him in a passive position everywhere.
"Send out a large number of scouts to investigate the Ming army's formation." Nikan waved his hand and gave the order.
In the morning, Li Dingguo sent out a large number of scouts.
In order to drive away these scouts, he was forced to take the initiative.
Now he wants to follow Li Dingguo's example and let Li Dingguo take the first step.
Looking at the dozens of scouts appearing on the battlefield, Li Dingguo's mouth corners began to rise.
"Finally they've been fooled!" Li Dingguo waved his hand and ordered, "Send a hundred cavalrymen up."
Woo!
As the horn sounded, a hundred cavalrymen set out.
They rode into the battlefield and began to drive away the Eight Banners scouts.
Nikan was overjoyed and quickly ordered: "Send two hundred cavalrymen to make sure we get back the face we lost this morning."
As soon as the two hundred Eight Banners soldiers left the battle formation, Li Dingguo quickly ordered: "Send another two hundred!"
As soon as the two hundred Ming soldiers left the battle formation, Nikan quickly ordered: "Send another three hundred!"
Li Dingguo: Add another 500.
Nikam: I’ll add another eight hundred.
At this time, the two sides had not yet engaged in battle, and Li Dingguo immediately ordered: "Inform all troops to quickly retreat back to the main camp."
Amid the sound of gongs, the Ming army retreated.
The Eight Banners soldiers on the battlefield subconsciously wanted to chase, but they could not rashly pursue without Nikan's order.
Some people wanted to retreat, but there was no order from Nikan.
So they stayed there like fools, not knowing what to do.
"Come back everyone and send out a large number of scouts!" Nikan said angrily.
Li Dingguo sent out a hundred cavalrymen to drive away the Eight Banners scouts, just like before.
Nikan also used the same trick and sent out two hundred cavalrymen.
Li Dingguo sent an additional 200, and Nikan sent an additional 300...
The two sides repeated the previous operation.
Nikan still did not dare to directly attack Li Dingguo's army, so he could only order his army to retreat.
All afternoon.
On the Eastern Front, there were the sounds of horse hooves and shouts of killing, but there were not many casualties.
The few casualties came from the final test.
Towards evening, both sides sent out two hundred cavalrymen to fight on the battlefield.
They first competed in riding and archery, and then in close combat.
Before dark, both sides suffered casualties and returned to their camps.
After nightfall, Nikan came to Bolo's tent to report military intelligence.
He first described the battle situation, and then began to describe the last battle: "There were 200 people on each side in this battle. The Ming army suffered at least 50 casualties, while our army suffered only more than 30 casualties."
"From this point of view, the combat effectiveness of Li Dingguo's troops is not as good as that of the Eight Banners troops."
"Are you sure?" Bolo asked, staring into Nikan's eyes.
"Certainly and definitely," Nikan answered seriously.
"Okay then," Bolo nodded, "I will report to Prince Zheng and prepare for a decisive battle with Li Dingguo tomorrow. As long as we can defeat him, we won't have to deploy so many cavalry on the left wing of our army, which will be very beneficial to the progress of the Guangning battle."
Li Dingguo and Nikan agreed on the question of which individual soldier was stronger or weaker.
That is, the Eight Banners Army is slightly stronger.
Li Dingguo is self-aware.
The Eight Banners Army has two strengths.
One is the war horse, and the other is the soldier.
The war horses of the Eight Banners soldiers were all excellent horses carefully selected from various Mongolian tribes, while the war horses under Li Dingguo were all provided by the military households in the southern part of the Ming Dynasty.
Neither the Mongolian horse can compare to it in terms of physical strength nor endurance.
Next are the soldiers.
The Jurchens and Mongols in the Eight Banners lived in the cold north all year round. They usually farmed, fished and hunted, and when war broke out, they gathered together to fight.
Most of the soldiers under Li Dingguo were from the south.
Due to a combination of factors such as temperature, geography, diet and labor, people in the north are generally taller than people in the south.
There had always been discord between the southern and northern soldiers within the Ming army. Every time the northern soldiers verbally attacked the southern soldiers, they would bring up the issue of height.
The advantage that a tall stature brings on the battlefield is natural.
So in terms of individual combat capability, Li Dingguo knew that he was no match for the Eight Banners soldiers.
However...from the very beginning he had no intention of winning by force, but rather by tactics.
After a day of testing, he had figured out the details of the Eight Banners Army and also angered them.
"General," Li Dingguo came to the central army to report, "If nothing unexpected happens, the Jiannu will fight a decisive battle with us tomorrow."
"Oh?" Wang Yongji narrowed his eyes, "Can we delay the decisive battle?"
"Why?"
"You have tied down a large number of Jiannu troops on the right wing. The central front is progressing very smoothly today. We will be able to reach Guangning city in two or three days." Wang Yongji said.
"That's why Jiannu wants a decisive battle! Only by defeating me can he withdraw troops to support us or attack your flank!" said Li Dingguo.
"If that's the case, then let's fight!" Wang Yongji stood up and asked, "If we fight to the death, what are your chances of winning?"
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