Three days later.
The Guan Ning cavalry and Anxi border troops stationed in Shule City, an important town in Anxi, finally ushered in the day of their departure.
Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, clad in golden armor and with the Seven-Star Dragon Abyss Sword at his waist, was the first to leap out of the gates of Shule City on his horse.
Following closely behind were Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guard, and Tan Li, the military advisor of the Anxi Border Army, who kept pace with Prince Jin on the left and right, always maintaining a distance of one body length.
Then came the Guan Ning cavalry and the Anxi border troops.
The large army marched out of Shule City and headed towards Kucha City, another important town in Anxi.
The news of the mobilization of the Longcheng army was immediately delivered by spies planted by the Uyghurs to the tent of the Uyghur Khan, Gulipeiro, in Shama Town.
In Shule during the first month of the lunar calendar, the temperature is still very low.
Fortunately, the sun is shining brightly today, which is also suitable for the army to set off on its expedition.
After two days and one night of marching, more than 30,000 troops from Longcheng finally arrived outside the Gobi town of Shama, and stopped again less than ten miles away from where Gulipe Luo had set up an ambush.
This time, it was both for a short rest and to replenish the horses' strength, and also to make it easier for the soldiers to put on their armor.
To conserve the energy of the troops, when the army set off, apart from the vanguard, the rest of the soldiers did not wear armor. Instead, they placed their armor on the wagons of the supply wagons, which were pulled by horses.
Before entering the battlefield, they should choose an opportune moment to don their armor and go into battle, in order to ensure the stamina of the cavalrymen and horses.
At this moment, Tan Li, the border army adjutant who had just put on his armor, couldn't wait to come to Chen Huai'an's side and said cautiously, "Your Highness, Shama Town is just ahead."
"This Shama Town is the most complex and dangerous section of the road from Shule to Kucha. I am willing to lead the Anxi border army as the vanguard to scout out the situation here for Your Highness and the army, and to guard against the Western Region barbarian troops ambushing us here!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an waved his hand and said, "General Tan, there is no need to worry. I have already ordered the entire army to don their armor and go into battle. Even if we encounter the barbarian soldiers from the Western Regions, we can use them as a sacrifice to our flag!"
The matter of the ambush at Shama Town is the top secret of the entire Dragon City army.
Apart from Chen Huai'an and Lan Yu, no one else in the entire city of Shule knew about this.
Even at this point, Chen Huai'an still did not tell Tan Li about the matter.
Seeing this, Tan Liben wanted to say something more, but in the end he didn't. After saying goodbye to Chen Huai'an, he returned to the Anxi border army and the first thing he did was to order the entire army to be on high alert.
If they are ambushed after entering Shama Town, the soldiers of the Anxi Border Army must rush to the front without hesitation to buy time for Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin and the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry to prepare for war.
"All troops, move out!"
With Chen Huai'an's order, more than 30,000 Longcheng soldiers continued to ride forward, traversing the vast Gobi Desert.
at the same time.
Chen Huai'an and his party's every move was clearly detected by the scouts in the Uyghur army formation near Shama Town, and the scouts promptly reported it to the central command tent.
"General, the Han army's cavalry are outside Shama Town, all fully armored and armed!"
As the first warrior of the Uyghurs and the vanguard of the Western Regions barbarian cavalry, Azhar received intelligence on the movements of the Longcheng troops even before Huai Ren Khan Guli Peiluo.
snort!
Hazar snorted coldly, seemingly not taking the matter of the Dragon City soldiers wearing armor and carrying swords to heart.
At this time, Azhar, who commanded 50,000 Uyghur cavalry, reverted to his arrogant and domineering state, and did not take the mere 30,000 troops of Longcheng seriously at all.
Moreover, on the outskirts of the Uyghur cavalry, there were 100,000 Western Region infantrymen waiting in full battle array, with powerful bows and crossbows ready, just waiting for Chen Huai'an and his Han cavalry to enter Shama Town!
Azhar said, "Pass down the order: each Uyghur cavalry formation shall use my command flag as a signal and launch an attack on the Han cavalry as appropriate!"
"No one shall act rashly without my command. Anyone who disobeys shall be executed!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Another incense stick's time passed, and the vanguard of the Anxi border army's cavalry had entered the ambush zone of the Western Regions allied forces.
Guli Peiluo, who was personally overseeing the battle from his central command tent, could even see with his naked eye the Longcheng troops marching across the vast Gobi Desert.
Among the dark mass of cavalry, a small golden dot stood out.
Gu Li Pei Luo naturally recognized that the small golden dot was Chen Huai'an, who had a grudge against him for stealing his wife.
His expression remained calm, as if victory was assured.
He had made up his mind that after capturing Chen Huai'an alive, he would not let him die a quick death. He would humiliate and torture him until he was no longer human, and see if this brat would dare to compete with him for the princess.
A moment later, the Guan Ning cavalry led by Chen Huai'an also entered the ambush circle of the Uyghur cavalry.
Woohoo—
Woohoo—
Woohoo—
Suddenly, the sound of bugles echoed across the desolate Gobi Desert.
In an instant, countless Western Region barbarian soldiers who had been waiting in formation behind the sand dunes appeared one after another to the sound of horns and climbed up the sand dunes in unison.
He then drew his bow and arrow, brandished his sword and spear, and stared intently at the Dragon City troops entering Shama Town.
"Protect the Emperor—"
Border Army Commander Tan Li roared angrily, shouting, "It's Uyghur cavalry! All Anxi border army generals, form ranks and protect His Highness Prince Jin!"
Despite being greatly alarmed by the sudden ambush, he still tried his best to maintain the composure and calmness that a general should have in the face of battle.
He commanded his Anxi border troops to disperse and then assemble in formation, standing at the forefront of the Longcheng army's defense against the enemy.
In the midst of the army, the well-trained Guan Ning cavalry, after a brief moment of panic, quickly regained their composure and began to form ranks to meet the enemy.
Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard, was even more solemn and tense, holding his shield and guarding Chen Huai'an closely.
The assassination attempt on Prince Jin a few days ago has already made Xiao Po ashamed to face the order of the general of the Po Lu Army.
This time, he would rather be pierced by a thousand arrows than allow the Western Region barbarians to harm His Highness Prince Jin in the slightest.
In contrast, Chen Huai'an remained as calm and composed as ever.
It was as if the Western Region ambushes appearing from all directions were made of paper.
"Your Highness, let the Eighteen Riders of Longcheng protect you as you break through towards Shule City. This humble general will personally lead the Imperial Guards to fight our way out for Your Highness!"
At this moment, Xiao Po, looking nervous, leaned close to Chen Huai'an and said loudly.
Hahaha!
Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an burst into hearty laughter, then said, "Xiao Po, no one in this world has yet been born who can force me to break through!"
"Have the Imperial Guards clear a path. I'm going to meet these Western Region barbarians who are about to die!"
"Your Highness!"
"What, you intend to disobey orders?"
"Imperial Guards, protect the Emperor!"
Xiao Po ultimately couldn't persuade Chen Huai'an otherwise, so he had to order the Imperial Guards to escort Prince Jin to the front line to face the ambush of the Western Region barbarian soldiers.
At this moment, Azhar, the number one warrior of the Uyghurs, also rode his horse to the sand dune closest to Chen Huai'an.
Looking down at his enemy, who was now trapped like a turtle in a jar, he couldn't help but shout a mocking tone, "Is that Han dog Chen Huai'an in the ranks?"
"presumptuous!"
Tan Li immediately retorted angrily, "Azar, how dare you speak disrespectfully to His Highness Prince Jin! You're courting death!"
Hahaha!
Hazard laughed unrestrainedly, "Tan Li, you need to understand the current situation. Are you courting death, or is this general courting death? Hahaha!"
"See? There are 150,000 Western Region warriors inside and outside Shama Town. Even a single spit from each of them could drown your mere 30,000 Han cavalry!"
"Oh, really?"
Suddenly, a voice, powerful yet dignified, boomed like thunder across the Gobi Desert outside Shama Town.
Chen Huai'an rode up, a mocking expression on his face, and said to Azhar on the sand dune, "You little barbarian from the Western Regions, do you think that in war, whoever has more soldiers can win?"
"You want more soldiers? Well, I have plenty too!"
"Xiao Po, fire the Cloud Piercing Arrow—"
"Summon troops to defend the emperor and quell the rebellion!"
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