The allied forces of Longcheng's southern expeditionary army, the remnants of the Nanzhao Kingdom, and the elephant cavalry of the Pyu Kingdom met three days later outside Kachin City within Pyu territory.
In this battle, the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army assembled 30,000 cavalry and 70,000 infantry.
On the other hand, the Nanzhao Kingdom and the Pyu Kingdom assembled 3,000 elephant cavalry, 10,000 cavalry, and 30,000 infantry, almost exhausting the last of Nanzhao's military strength.
On the Pyu side, they also deployed all their elite troops.
The two sides are locked in a standoff along a front stretching for miles outside Kachin City, awaiting the moment of decisive battle.
On the central command observation platform of the Southern Expeditionary Army in Longcheng, Chang Yuchun, the deputy marshal of the army, wearing bright armor and a ring-pommel sword at his waist, personally commanded the army. Standing beside him was Su Chen, the former governor-general of Liangjiang and now the deputy general of the Southern Expeditionary Army, who was also wearing armor and a short sword at his waist.
The vanguard commander in charge of the charge was Su Chen's deputy, Lu Jiang.
Compared to the calm and composed Deputy Marshal Chang Yuchun, who sat steadily on the central command observation platform, Su Chen, as the deputy general, appeared much more nervous, his eyes never leaving the front line for a moment.
In particular, when the Pyu Kingdom's elephant cavalry appeared on the battlefield, Su Chen's heart pounded so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of his throat.
Even from a distance of thousands of steps, Su Chen could still feel the terrifying power of the Pyu Kingdom's elephant cavalry on the battlefield.
The Pyu war elephants, clad in heavy iron armor, resembled mobile steel fortresses, exuding a wild and untamed power.
In comparison, the cavalry of the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army, despite being well-equipped, also had the support of some of the Longcheng Ironclad Cavalry, whose soldiers and horses were all clad in heavy armor.
However, even the tallest and strongest warhorses appear so small when facing adult war elephants, and the difference in strength between the two sides is enormous.
This made Su Chen, the deputy general, worry for the soldiers on the front lines.
Similarly, Lu Jiang, as the vanguard commander, was riding on his warhorse, directing the vanguard to prepare for battle and defend against the enemy. Lu Jiang, who was only a thousand paces away from the Pyu Kingdom's elephant cavalry, could more directly feel the battlefield deterrent power displayed by the Pyu Kingdom's elephant cavalry.
In the cavalry formation of the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army, many warhorses, when facing the enemy's elephant troops, couldn't help but neigh out of their animalistic survival instincts, and some even tried to rear up and retreat.
If it weren't for the cavalrymen's desperate efforts to control them, some of the more timid warhorses would probably have already turned tail and run away.
However, to Lu Jiang's relief, when facing the enemy's elephant cavalry, not a single cavalryman of the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army showed any fear or retreat; their determined eyes shone with a desire to kill the enemy on the battlefield.
What Lu Jiang didn't know was that the cavalry of this Dragon City's southern expeditionary army were all super elite soldiers summoned by the [Born to be an Emperor] system. In addition to having 100% loyalty, they also had 100% obedience.
Even if it were just a herd of elephants standing in front of them, or even if they were facing a heavy firepower interception net composed of Maxim machine guns, as long as they gave the order, these super elite soldiers would immediately charge on horseback, and would never retreat even half a step until the last man was left.
This is why Chang Yuchun, the deputy marshal of the army, was able to maintain a calm and composed demeanor when facing the Pyu Kingdom's elephant cavalry.
He knew very well that although the war elephant was brave, it was not invincible.
The cavalry of the Longcheng Southern Expeditionary Army could rely on their agility and mobility to wear down the war elephants on the battlefield until they collapsed from exhaustion, at which point the battle would be considered won.
As for the rattan armor soldiers of the Nanzhao Kingdom and the infantrymen of the Pyu Kingdom who came to help, Chang Yuchun did not take them seriously at all.
In his view, the scattered soldiers of Nanzhao and Pyu were not even a rabble; they were just a bunch of savages who knew how to use iron cavalry.
Indeed, this was the case. Compared to the well-equipped and highly trained elite troops, the ordinary soldiers of Nanzhao and Pyu were no match for them.
Only the war elephants of the elephant corps made Chang Yuchun somewhat wary.
Otherwise, he would have already marched all the way to Naypyidaw, the capital of Pyu Kingdom.
On the other side, Emperor Murongfu of Nanzhao, who was personally overseeing the battle, and King Mangyinglong of Pyu, were also observing the battlefield from the central command's observation tower.
When they discovered that the entire Longcheng army had been mobilized to conquer the Pyu Kingdom with 100,000 troops, Mu Rongfu and Mang Yinglong were taken aback.
In terms of troop strength on the battlefield, the combined forces of Nanzhao and Pyu were at a significant disadvantage.
However, the two sides have suddenly met and confronted each other outside Kachin City, and the situation has reached a point where they have no choice but to act. They can't just retreat back to Kachin City, can they?
The simple city walls were no match for the might of the Dragon City's southern expeditionary army; on the contrary, they would cause the elephant cavalry to lose their advantage in battlefield assault.
Therefore, even though they were at a significant disadvantage in terms of troop strength, Mu Rongfu and Mang Yinglong had no choice but to fight this battle despite their difficulties.
Today, Emperor Murong Fu of Nanzhao has changed his usual style of wearing dragon robes. Instead, he has put on a bright suit of armor and a sword at his waist.
Meanwhile, King Mangyinglong of Pyu Kingdom was still wearing a python robe.
Mu Rongfu's expression was solemn, but his tone was firm as he said, "Brother, once the fight starts, we'll proceed as planned."
"The elephant cavalry of the Pyu Kingdom will serve as the vanguard in breaking through the enemy lines, carving a bloody path for our Nanzhao cavalry in the Longcheng rebel army's ranks;"
"I will personally ride into battle and strike at the heart of the rebel army in Longcheng. Once we cut down the rebels' banner, we brothers will have won half the battle!"
"Brother—"
Mang Yinglong hesitated to speak, but was interrupted by Mu Rongfu, who had already made up his mind.
Mu Rongfu continued, "Brother, my mind is made up, so there's no need for you to waste your breath!"
"If I fail on this mission, my dear brother, there is no need for you to grieve or shed tears for me. Just continue with the plan to lead Pyu Kingdom to surrender to Chen Huai'an."
"Based on your understanding of Chen Huai'an, his purpose in this southern expedition is simply to annihilate my Nanzhao regime. As long as you lead the Pyu Kingdom to surrender, he should not make things difficult for you!"
After a pause, Mu Rongfu said with a wry smile, "At worst, I'll lend you a hand then. We're brothers, and I'm already incredibly grateful that you offered a helping hand when I was in trouble."
"Therefore, if I, as your elder brother, cannot reverse the decline of our nation, I absolutely cannot drag you and the people of Pyu down with me!"
After saying that, Mu Rongfu walked down from the observation platform without turning his head.
Before heading down the stairs, he paused for a few seconds and said, "Brother, give the order to have the elephant cavalry clear the way for me!"
Upon hearing this, Mang Yinglong's eyes filled with tears, but he still gave the order to attack: "Pass down the order, the elephant cavalry will charge straight for the enemy's central army!"
"The elephant cavalry will advance, heading straight for the enemy's central command!"
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
Woohoo—
The next moment, the Pyu Kingdom's battle formation erupted in drums and horns.
Upon receiving the order, the elephant cavalry launched a full-scale attack, marching in a mighty force towards the central army of the Longcheng army.
"Dragon City cavalry, form ranks and prepare to meet the enemy!"
"All troops, attack!"
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