In the pursuit, the cavalry demonstrated unparalleled speed and endurance, completely destroying the routed Southern Dynasty army.
The Battle of Chongtianling, the first major battle between the Southern Dynasties and the Great Jing Dynasty, is a vivid example.
In that battle, the Southern Dynasty's 20,000-strong army was decimated by the Great Jing cavalry, precisely because the enemy commander skillfully utilized the power of the cavalry.
Later, the Dajing army crossed the Muyang River and, with the pursuit of a large number of cavalry, completely defeated the Southern Dynasty army, preventing it from putting up effective resistance.
This series of cavalry tactics is practically a living book of military strategy.
What are lessons from the past?
This serves as a lesson from the past!
"Therefore, we must learn from this painful experience and draw lessons from it."
The Crown Prince spoke in a heavy tone, his eyes flashing with determination, "Rebuilding the cavalry is not only to deal with the current crisis, but also for the long-term stability and security of the Southern Dynasty."
We must let everyone know that the Southern Dynasty's army is no longer a lamb to the slaughter, but a mighty lion capable of galloping across the battlefield and protecting its homeland!
He turned to look at Rong Ning and General Li, his eyes full of trust and expectation. "Ning, you are familiar with the North and are the person I trust the most. When we return to Nanyang City, I will report all of this to Father. If Father agrees, this matter will be entrusted to you two."
You and General Li should work together to find solutions, whether it's buying warhorses, rebuilding the military horse farm, or training cavalry; these are all matters for you to be responsible for.
I will fight for the greatest possible autonomy for you, but in the end, I must see a cavalry unit that can truly stand on its own!
Upon hearing this, General Li was extremely excited. His face was serious and earnest: "This humble general will do his utmost to live up to Your Highness's high expectations."
The Crown Prince gently patted General Li's shoulder, his eyes gleaming with approval, as if at that moment he saw the hope for the future of the Southern Dynasty.
He smiled and said to General Li, "You, as a young general, are in the prime of your life, full of vigor and fearless."
In this northern land that is in dire need of rebuilding, there is an urgent need for young men like you who are full of passion, courageous, and fearless.
Your courage and determination are your most valuable assets.
The Crown Prince paused, as if thinking, and then continued, "On the way to Tiger Mountain Camp, A Ning mentioned your name many times."
She said that although you are still young, you have already shown the demeanor of a great general. Your composure and decisiveness have earned her her deep respect.
I have always trusted A Ning's words implicitly, because her insight has always been unique and she can see into people's hearts.
My younger sister is proud and arrogant; even I, her older brother, rarely receive many compliments from her. Yet she is so generous with her praise for you, which means you must be a talented person.
Rong Ning listened from the side, feeling that something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Her eyes darted between the two of them, feeling that if she spoke now, she would ruin the atmosphere her older brother had created.
So I simply shut up.
The Crown Prince ignored her strange expression and looked at General Li with anticipation. His voice was firm and powerful: "I firmly believe that you will become the backbone of the Southern Dynasty in the future, supporting the peace and prosperity of this land."
We hope that the General will continue to uphold his diligence and responsibility, never forget his original aspiration, keep his mission firmly in mind, and vow to defend the peace and security of our surrounding territories to the death.
At this point, the Crown Prince suddenly clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to General Li.
This move greatly surprised General Li. How could a mere child like him accept such a grand gift from the Crown Prince?
General Li immediately knelt down as the Crown Prince had instructed, bowing deeply to him, his forehead hitting the ground with a loud thud.
Rong Ning felt sorry for him as she listened.
But General Li seemed unmoved, and only his voice was heard as he declared, "This humble general obeys! This humble general will certainly live up to your trust and swear to defend the northern border of the Southern Dynasty to the death!"
No matter how difficult or dangerous the road ahead, I will forge ahead until the very last moment!
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's eyes flashed with admiration. He reached out to help General Li up, and their eyes met, as if a thousand words were unspoken.
"With your words, General, I am greatly comforted. The Southern Dynasty is blessed with you, a fortune for the nation and its people."
The Crown Prince spoke sincerely.
The Southern Dynasty had been weak for a long time, and its corrupt practices were difficult to eradicate. If reforms were to be implemented, people like General Li Xiao were needed, both in the military and in the imperial court.
The Crown Prince liked this kind of person very much, but such people were rare.
He sighed silently to himself, feeling somewhat powerless.
Their arrival was sudden, and they didn't want to cause too much of a commotion, so they simply patrolled the Humen camp under the leadership of General Li.
Even as they were about to leave, the camp was unaware that their crown prince had been there.
This pleased the crown prince greatly.
Unlike Rong Ning, he is the Crown Prince.
As the crown prince, in order to put his father's mind at ease, he could not directly interfere with the northern garrison, so this inspection tour was not carried out with great fanfare.
After leaving the Humen camp and running for several miles, Rong Ning teased the Crown Prince, "You really know how to win people's hearts. Look how you've charmed General Li so much."
The Crown Prince smiled gently, a smile that contained both indulgence in Rong Ning's jokes and a hint of helplessness and deeper meaning.
He said, "Winning people's hearts? Perhaps. But in this chaotic situation both inside and outside the court, people's hearts are the most important thing. I am just doing my best to find and cherish those who are willing to give for me and for the Southern Dynasty."
"but,"
The Crown Prince changed the subject, his eyes becoming firm and profound, "I truly admire General Li's talent and loyalty, and I also want to thank A Ning for letting me get to know him."
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