The Tibetan camp was ablaze with flames.
After breaking through the Tibetan cavalry's formation, Zuo Liangcai's vanguard of Xuanjia cavalry unleashed a volley of arrows soaked in raging oil at the Tibetan camp.
Unfortunately, the fire ignited the tents storing provisions and supplies in the Tibetan camp, causing panic among the Tibetan soldiers who scrambled to put out the fire.
If it weren't for the prior orders from Deputy Marshal Chen Qingzhi, even the vanguard commander Zuo Liangcai, caught up in the fighting spirit, would have wanted to seize the opportunity to strike directly at the heart of the enemy camp and storm into the Tibetan camp.
In the end, Zuo Liangcai, on horseback, simply raised his little finger at Baima, the Tibetan general who was pursuing them, and laughed arrogantly.
Then, without looking back, he led his troops to retreat north of Xiangji Temple.
This scene was witnessed by the Tibetan king Dama, who was returning to his camp from the observation area.
Dama looked at Zuo Liangcai's arrogant and provocative back, then glanced at the camp engulfed in flames, and nearly burst out laughing.
He immediately roared, "Men! Pass down the order: even if we have to chase him to the ends of the earth, we must bring this Han bastard named Zuo Liangcai back to this emperor!"
"Ben Zanpu, skin him alive!"
"Understood!"
The Tibetan cavalry commander, Baima, immediately accepted the order and then relayed it: "All 50,000 cavalrymen must be mobilized and annihilate this Han cavalry force at all costs!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
The next moment, apart from the 30,000 troops who had just left the camp to fight the Xuanjia cavalry, the remaining 20,000 chainmail cavalry who had stayed behind in the main camp also went out in full force, pursuing the enemy towards Zhongnan Mountain, north of Xiangji Temple.
Thump thump thump!
Thump thump thump!
In an instant, tens of thousands of cavalrymen galloped away, their hooves shattering mountains and rivers, their spirit soaring to the heavens.
at the same time.
In the Longcheng Xuanjia Army formation north of Xiangji Temple, Chen Qingzhi, the deputy marshal of the army and a white-robed scholar-general who was personally directing the battle on the front line, also seemed to hear the faint sound of horses' hooves coming from the direction of Chang'an.
At this moment, the 90,000 Xuanjia soldiers who were lying in ambush north of Xiangji Temple have completed their tiered deployment and are spread out in three battle lines between the Feng River and the Dachuan River near Xiangji Temple.
They prepared their troops and horses, awaiting the arrival of the Tibetan enemy.
At the very front of the formation was a 30,000-strong long-handled Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) unit from the Xuanjia Army, all clad in heavy armor and wielding Mo Dao.
On the central battlefront were archers and crossbowmen occupying advantageous terrain and commanding positions, as well as light cavalry providing flank cover for the main army, totaling more than 50,000 troops.
Trailing at the rear of the formation was the 10,000-strong central army personally led by General Chen Qingzhi.
"Report—"
"Reporting to the Vice Marshal, the Tibetan enemy has dispatched tens of thousands of cavalry, who are pursuing the vanguard of cavalry led by the Left General, heading north of Xiangji Temple."
"The Tibetan enemy only sent out cavalry; no infantry followed!"
At this moment, a messenger from the Xuanjia Army hurriedly reported the enemy situation discovered by the scouts at the front to Deputy Marshal Chen Qingzhi.
Um!
Chen Qingzhi nodded confidently; the development of the battlefield situation was entirely within his expectations.
In this battle, his original plan was to first eliminate the Tibetan cavalry, and then coordinate with the Anxi border army in Chang'an to break through the Tibetan camp.
Chen Qingzhi immediately gave the order: "Pass down the order that once the Tibetan cavalry enters the encirclement, the cavalry on both flanks should immediately attack and annihilate the Tibetan cavalry at Xiangji Temple!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
Zuo Liangcai's cavalry vanguard retreated but did not break down. They maintained their wedge formation and charged forward, galloping all the way to Xiangji Temple.
Sigh—
Suddenly, on a wide-open field stretching for miles outside Xiangji Temple, Zuo Liangcai reined in his warhorse.
Seeing this, the vanguard of the Xuanjia Army cavalry behind them turned their horses around at high speed and changed their formation into an inverted triangle attack formation outside Xiangji Temple.
With General Zuo Liangcai as the single spearhead, they faced 50,000 Tibetan cavalrymen relentlessly pursuing them from several miles away.
Riding on the back of the big black horse, Zuo Liangcai took a few deep breaths to adjust his breathing rhythm, then patted the horse's neck and whispered in its ear, "Old buddy, are you ready?"
Hmm—Hmph—
The big black horse seemed to understand its master's words, snorting in response.
Zuo Liangcai's expression was arrogant, his eyes fixed fiercely on the front, where the outlines of Tibetan cavalry charging on horseback could already be seen.
He then raised the lance again with one hand, the tip pointing directly at the Tibetan cavalry.
A loud shout rang out: "Black Armor Cavalry Vanguard, all troops, attack!"
"Kill them!"
In an instant, shouts of battle filled the air.
With Zuo Liangcai as the single cavalry spearhead, the Xuanjia Army launched a surprise attack along the several-mile-long battle line, heading straight for the Tibetan army led by Baima.
"General, the Han cavalry have turned around!"
Amidst the charging Tibetan cavalry, Baima's deputy general shouted a military report to him.
In fact, even if the deputy general hadn't spoken, Baima could have seen the Han cavalry changing formation on the battlefield. He couldn't help but show a look of disdain, thinking to himself: These Han dogs are planning to use the same old tricks again!
snort!
Baima snorted coldly and said, "To fight against overwhelming odds is overestimating your abilities and courting death!"
"Pass down the order: except for the commander-in-chief Zuo Liangcai, all the other Han cavalrymen must be executed without exception!"
"Understood!"
However, before Baima's deputy could relay his orders, a deafening battle cry suddenly rang in everyone's ears.
"The Xuanjia cavalry of Longcheng are here! Tibetan traitors, prepare to die!"
"Kill them!"
Shouts of battle filled the mountains and fields.
Following closely behind were countless warhorses charging down from the mountains and fields, rushing towards the flanks and rear of the advancing Tibetan cavalry like a storm.
The iron hooves pounded the ground, making the earth tremble.
Even though the weather was gloomy, the Tibetan general, Baima, could still see the gleaming iron armor and swords of the Han army's ambush soldiers, which stung his eyes.
Oh no, we've fallen into a trap! There's an ambush!
A terrible thought flashed through her mind, but the extremely dangerous battlefield situation did not allow Baima to think too much.
In the rush, they had no choice but to issue a new order: "Charge!"
"Understood!"
Moments later, Baima's 50,000 Tibetan cavalry clashed fiercely with 10,000 Xuanjia cavalry who had launched a surprise attack on the battlefield.
boom!
Instantly, the sounds of swords, spears, and halberds clashing between the cavalry of the two armies rose and fell, never ceasing.
Cavalrymen from both armies were constantly being thrown from their horses, and many warhorses fell to the ground groaning in pain after being stabbed by spears and swords. The screams and groans mingled together in a deafening roar.
Zuo Liangcai's cavalry vanguard did not linger in battle. After one charge, they broke away from the Tibetan cavalry and joined forces with the main force of the Xuanjia Army cavalry, which had cut off the Tibetan cavalry's retreat.
They continued their pursuit, driving the Tibetan cavalry north of Xiangji Temple.
Knowing he was no match for the Xuanjia cavalry, Baima panicked and fled in disarray, continuing to lead his troops northward toward the Zhongnan Mountains near Xiangji Temple.
Behind them were 30,000 Xuanjia cavalrymen who had joined forces and were relentlessly pursuing them.
In an instant, the balance of power on the battlefield shifted.
drive!
drive!
drive!
Sigh—
A short while later, Baima, who was riding away towards Zhongnan Mountain, suddenly pulled on the reins and stopped his warhorse.
On the route the Tibetan army was bound to take during their retreat, a group of Han infantrymen clad in heavy armor and wielding long-handled swords suddenly appeared and blocked the Tibetan cavalry's path.
It was none other than the renowned Xuanjia Army's Mo Dao (陌刀) team!
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