"Prince Dunta, you...you lost your ten thousand cavalry?"
Two days later, when Dun Ta led less than 5,000 remaining soldiers back in haste from Lu County to the rebel coalition camp outside Ji County, Zhang Ju stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Zhang Chun, Qiu Liju, and Murong Mohuba stared at each other in disbelief.
They were aware of the fighting capabilities of the Wuhuan cavalry.
Ten thousand Wuhuan cavalrymen are invincible.
Once they launch their attack, the entire mountainside is like a pack of wolves, tearing apart any opponent, whether it be a lion or a tiger, leaving them battered and bruised, barely alive.
However, Dunta, leading 10,000 Wuhuan cavalry, was defeated by 2,000 Han cavalry.
No matter what, it just doesn't make sense!
The original plan was for Dunta to lead 10,000 Wuhuan cavalry into Youbeiping, where he would join forces with King Qiao and Louban to annihilate the 1,000 Han cavalry who had attacked Luxian, thus ensuring the stability of the rear.
Now look what's happened; they haven't even found any trace of them, yet another two thousand cavalry have driven them back.
So, the Han army already has three thousand cavalry in Youbeiping and Yuyang.
That's not a small-scale raid to disperse the rebel coalition's forces; it's a much bigger scheme!
One Han Chinese could defeat five barbarian tribes!
The Han people were by no means weak scholars, nor were they incapable of even killing a chicken.
They were all broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, and robust.
After all, the Han people, living under an agrarian civilization, had much better nutritional intake than the barbarian tribes.
Most of the Hu people, on the other hand, often went hungry, and were typically emaciated and pale.
Moreover, even Han Chinese scholars needed to master skills such as swordsmanship, archery, and horseback riding.
Xu Shu was a swordsman in his youth. Wang Lang fought Taishi Ci for fifty rounds with his sword. Sima Yi was also able to fight generals with a sword.
Therefore, Youbeiping and Yuyang already had three thousand Han cavalrymen. With the addition of their powerful bows, crossbows, and weapons, not only was Qiao Wang of Youbeiping in danger, but Zhang Ju's hometown in Yongnu was also completely exposed.
The expressions on everyone's faces immediately turned serious.
"Are these two thousand cavalrymen Gongsun Zan's White Horse Cavalry?"
Zhang Chun remained relatively calm, and his first thought was of Gongsun Zan's White Horse Cavalry.
"Strategist, Gongsun Zan's three thousand White Horse Cavalry are all riding white horses!"
"The Han cavalry we encountered mostly rode black and yellow horses. Their armor was more robust, and their bows and crossbows were more powerful."
"And their weapons are even stranger, with barbs on the spearheads, as if they were specifically designed to break through cavalry."
"Most of our warriors were killed by their horses' hooves getting caught on them, causing them to fall to the ground and die."
As he spoke, his eyes were filled with fear.
The opponent's strength far surpassed that of Bai Ma Yi, leaving a deep shadow on him.
The grand pronouncements made before departure have now been completely forgotten.
"When I served as the prefect of Mount Tai, I had never heard of the imperial court having such troops."
"Last year, the dog emperor sent three generals to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but I have never heard of any cavalry using such weapons!"
Zhang Ju looked bewildered and helpless. "Strategist, now that Prince Dun has suffered a crushing defeat, Yuyang and Youbeiping are in danger!"
"Also, Yongnu is a threat; my whole family is there!"
Zhang Ju, encouraged by Zhang Chun, started a rebellion. As soon as he started the rebellion, many people responded, and starving people from Yuyang, Youbeiping and other places came to join him.
Next, Zhang Chun persuaded the Wuhuan and Xianbei to send troops together.
In less than a month, an army of 300,000 swept through Youzhou with unstoppable momentum and earth-shattering force.
Zhang Ju also began to dream of becoming emperor.
However, Ji County remained unconquered after a prolonged siege, and Zhuo County could not be captured. During this period, Lu County was attacked, and Shanggu was also attacked.
Now it's another crushing defeat.
Zhang Jucai then realized that his army of two or three hundred thousand was all show and no substance.
The three thousand Han cavalrymen filled them with dread.
"You have a family in Yuyang, and I also have sons and relatives in Youbeiping!"
King Qiuliju of Wuhuan remained silent.
When Qiu Liju heard that Zhang Ju was worried about his family, he immediately stood up and criticized him.
Dunta's 10,000 cavalrymen were the elite of the entire Wuhuan tribe, while King Qiao of Wuhuan's forces consisted of both herders and soldiers, along with a large number of women, children, and the elderly.
If half of the 10,000 cavalry have been lost, then King Qiao's side must be utterly vulnerable.
Fortunately, as long as Louban and Qiaowang keep Lulongsai under their control, it won't be hopeless.
Zhang Chun quietly wiped the sweat from her brow.
Upon hearing of Dunta's defeat, he sensed the gravity of the situation.
Although the Han Dynasty court was corrupt and decadent, it still had a wealth of talented people in its ranks.
Characters like Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun are far from adequate for military campaigns.
It was previously deduced that the imperial court would send a general to control the troops of You and Bing to deal with them. Judging from the great defeat of the two thousand elite cavalrymen of Dunta, it can be seen that not only a general has come, but also elite troops.
Zhang Chun knew perfectly well how effective the starving people the two of them had gathered were in combat.
They are incredibly fierce when they have the upper hand, but they become utterly useless when they are at a disadvantage.
Their only means of support were the cavalry of the Wuhuan and Xianbei.
At this time, it is crucial to stabilize them first:
"Alright, everyone, please stop blaming each other. Our first priority now is to unite and focus on the external forces!"
"Although there has been a slight mishap, it is still under my control."
Regardless of whether others believed Zhang Chun's words or not, he believed them anyway!
"Then, strategist, tell me, what should we do now?" Qiu Liju shouted.
"King Qiuliju, at this moment we should not concern ourselves with the gains or losses of a single city or battleground!"
Zhang Chun forced a smile and said, "Make full preparations, gather your forces, wait for their arrival, and then engage in a decisive battle!"
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