We finally have the chance to have a good fight with the steppe Tartars, and I absolutely will not stay behind to support them."
Qin Ming pondered for a moment and said, "Lao Cao, then the two of us will take turns leading the troops to attack the grassland Tartar camp. After all, the grassland Tartar camp stretches for hundreds of miles, which is enough for us to attack."
Unfortunately, Qin Ming and Cao Guoyi's plan did not come true. Before the battle started the next day, the Minister of War Liu Bowen, who came to the grassland with the expeditionary force, ordered the governors and deputy governors of the six garrisons, forbidding them to lead their troops to attack the enemy's camps in person, and required them to stay behind to command.
On the morning of January 10, 195 of the Great Han Calendar, 160,000 vanguard soldiers from the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Regiments of the Han Imperial Army, 80,000 white-robed soldiers and 80,000 Qin elite soldiers from the 23rd and 24th Regiments of the Han Imperial Army, and 144 infantry brigades from the six wing army towns simultaneously launched a fierce attack on the camps of multiple grassland coalition forces.
Today, not only the Han army's infantry was attacking the camp, Sun Hao also mobilized a large number of armored cavalry to cooperate with the infantry to attack the camps of the grassland coalition forces.
As long as the Han army's infantry tore a hole in the camp of a grassland coalition army, the Han army's armored cavalry would rush into the grassland coalition army's camp through the gap and crush the enemy troops in the camp back and forth.
Even on the side of the grassland coalition, the armies of various ethnic groups were able to support each other. By the time night fell, the remaining twelve small ethnic camps of the grassland coalition were all captured by the Han army.
Even the Bai Qiang camp, which had sent out 500,000 troops, was beaten to pieces by the Han army, and the remaining 300,000 Bai Qiang cavalry had to retreat into the Tiele camp nearby.
However, just when the Bai Qiang's camp was breached, 700,000 Uighur cavalrymen arrived at the gathering place of the grassland coalition forces.
In the evening, the Khans of all ethnic groups on the grassland gathered together to discuss the battle with the Han army tomorrow.
The Xianbei Khan Helai Heng said with a wry smile, "We still underestimated the combat effectiveness of the Han army's infantry.
After defending the camp for two days, the combined losses of our various tribes are probably close to one million.
Although we have been reinforced by 700,000 Uighur cavalrymen, the total strength of our coalition forces is still much smaller than it was two days ago.
If we continue to waste time like this, it seems like everything we do will be meaningless."
At this time, the Great Khan of the White Qiang, Lyuqiuba, said in a deep voice, "I think it would be better to directly engage in a decisive battle with the Han army.
Today, after the Han army's infantry broke through a gap in our Baiqiang camp, the Han army's armored cavalry immediately rushed into our Baiqiang camp.
In such a hurry, our Bai Qiang tribe suffered extremely heavy losses. Of the 500,000 Bai Qiang cavalry, only about 300,000 were able to escape from the camp.
If the Han army continues to use this tactic, let alone delaying for half a month, I'm afraid that within a few days, all of our tribes' camps will be breached by the Han army."
Khitan Khan Yelu Rong nodded and said, "Khan Luqiuba is right. Fighting on foot is not the strong point of our grassland tribes.
Since the Han army has arrived with at least a million infantrymen, it is meaningless to continue defending. I suggest that all tribes gather their troops tomorrow and engage in a face-to-face decisive battle with the Han army."
Tufa Nan, the Great Khan of the Uighur tribe who had just arrived, said: "The 1.6 million strong army of the Mongol tribe is right behind our 700,000 Uighur cavalry and will arrive the day after tomorrow at the latest.
Should we wait for the Mongols and Jie people before engaging in a decisive battle with the Han army?"
The Khitan Khan Yelu Rong said decisively: "No more waiting. If we continue to stay in the camp tomorrow, the Han army might capture several more camps.
Anyway, if a decisive battle starts, it won't be over in a day or two, and the Mengjie people will definitely be able to catch up with it."
Compared with the grassland coalition forces, the Han army was much happier.
Although the Han army suffered about 70,000 casualties today, including 60,000 deaths, the losses of the grassland coalition were far greater than those of the Han army.
Sun Hao specially added a meat dish to the dinner for all the soldiers to celebrate today's great victory.
While Sun Hao was having dinner, the Minister of War Liu Bowen and the Commander-in-Chief of the Seven Banners Guards Jia Xu came to Sun Hao's tent together.
"Your Majesty, the scouts sent by the Seven Banner Guards have discovered traces of the Mengjie army." Liu Bowen said anxiously.
Upon hearing this, Sun Hao quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks and asked, "Where is the Mengjie army located?"
Jia Xu spread out the sheepskin map, pointed at it and said, "Your Majesty, the Mengjie army is here, about 280 miles away from us.
According to the scouts' report, the Mengjie army has at least one million soldiers. At their rate, they might be able to join up with the main force of the grassland coalition tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."
Sun Hao patted the sheepskin map and said, "Now that we have found the traces of the Mengjie army, let's eat them first."
Soon Sun Hao quietly left the Han army camp with Fan Kuai, the commander-in-chief of the left guard of the Imperial Guard, Xia Luqi, the deputy commander-in-chief, Xiong Kuohai, the commander-in-chief of the right guard of the Imperial Guard, Pei Yuanqing, the deputy commander-in-chief, and five hundred Great Snow Dragon Riders.
Following several scouts from the Seven Flags Guard, we headed to the Mengjie army's campsite for the night.
The reason why he only brought four brave generals and five hundred Snow Dragon Riders was to avoid being discovered by the grassland coalition forces.
If Sun Hao dispatched hundreds of thousands of armored cavalry, it would inevitably arouse the vigilance of the grassland coalition forces.
These scouts of the Seven Flags Guards were all Zhao Bianqi centurions from the "Annual Signature System". To ensure speed, these Zhao Bianqi centurions, as well as Sun Hao, four fierce generals and five hundred Great Snow Dragon Riders, were all equipped with two top-quality horses from the "Annual Signature System" that they could ride alternately.
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