Chapter 431: Omen

The latest website: "Won! Won..."

The Northern Di cavalry fled in panic, and the soldiers within the chariot formation erupted into tremendous cheers.

The infantry held their flintlocks high, and the artillerymen stood before their artillery with hands raised.

The cavalry pointed their cavalry sabers toward the sky.

This was their first time venturing deep into the Grassland, and also their first time fighting against such a large number of Northern Di cavalry.

Before setting out, everyone knew this would be a difficult campaign, and they already held the conviction of dying on the battlefield.

Now, they had won, and it was a great victory.

Under the miserable life of suffering from Northern Di raids year after year, they had finally held their heads high today and vented this deep resentment.

"Sob, sob, sob..."

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers, there were some faint sobs from the soldiers.

They wept with joy, and the spirits of their loved ones in heaven would be comforted at this moment.

Chang Wei's eyes were slightly red as he looked toward Lv Chang, Qin Shan, Wei Qun, and the others.

Tears shimmered in the eyes of these generals.

They shed tears only because they deeply loved this homeland of the North Four Commanderies.

This victory made them realize that they had the ability to protect this land and the people of this land.

"Ta ta ta..."

At this moment, Zhong Li and Chen Hu returned leading the cavalry, their faces filled with excitement, waiting for Chang Wei's next order.

"Immediately surround and suppress all the tribes on the Black Iron Royal Tent's grazing land. Bring back everything you can to the North Four Commanderies, and burn everything you cannot," Chang Wei waved his hand.

The Black Iron Royal Tent had been soundly defeated; if they did not take the opportunity to seize their cattle, sheep, and warhorses, and rescue the Da Song people enslaved by them, when would they?

"Yes, General!" The two received their orders and left.

Immediately, the cavalry charged toward the dense white tents to the north.

"Lv Chang,

Qin Shan, Wei Qun, you each lead a detachment of troops to support the cavalry. I give you six days; return to the Bastion Fortress after six days," Chang Wei continued to order.

Six days was enough time for the Black Iron Royal Tent's cavalry to arrive with reinforcements.

Although they had won this time, he was not blinded by victory.

That they could win so smoothly this time was, firstly, due to Chen Hu and Zhong Li's harassment, which angered the Black Iron Royal Tent.

It made the Black Iron Royal Tent lose their heads and choose to fight a decisive battle with them.

Secondly, it was because the soldiers on the hot air balloon caught Enke by surprise and bombed him, causing the cavalry to go mad and lose all order in battle.

If they continued to go deep into the Grassland, their supply lines would be stretched thin.

Once the Northern Di reinforcements arrived, their cavalry could easily cut off their supply lines and trap them in the Grassland.

At that time, the Prince's troops would fall into a desperate situation.

Therefore, their goal this time would stop strictly at the grazing land of the Black Iron Royal Tent.

This was also what Yan Wang had instructed him before going to Yanguan.

Watching the cavalry charge into the Northern Di camp, Chang Wei looked at the soldiers groaning from their wounds within the chariot formation.

Although their faces were in pain, many soldiers wore smiles.

He could understand how these soldiers felt.

They were not afraid of being wounded, nor were they afraid of bleeding, but they were afraid of having no one to lead them to victory.

And now, one person had taken root in their hearts.

This was Yan Wang.

Not only the soldiers, but he himself now trusted Yan Wang incomparably as well.

When Yan Wang first chose him as the Great General, he might have still had a bit of self-interest.

But now, he loyally supported this Prince Yan, until death.

At this moment.

Yanguan.

Zhao Xu was standing on the city wall, looking at the vast expanse of white tents.

These tents were two li away from Yanguan and stretched for more than ten li.

Between the tents, Northern Di soldiers walked back and forth.

Because it was dusk, wisps of cooking smoke rose straight into the sky, dyed a crimson red by the sunset glow.

After arriving at Yanguan, he had been checking the defenses of Yanguan these past few days while also waiting for news from the sea.

At the same time, there was the movement of the Yuan Family.

After all, the Black Iron Royal Tent at Yanshan was only a small ripple in this war.

Yanguan was the true target of the Northern Di.

Once Yanguan was taken, the Northern Di would be able to advance to attack and retreat to defend, standing in an invincible position.

"The Northern Di are truly coming aggressively this time. Fortunately, Your Highness detected the Northern Di's conspiracy in advance, otherwise Yanzhou would truly be in danger this time." Mo Yu was beside Zhao Xu, also holding a telescope in his hand.

This reconnaissance tool was now basically issued to every general at the Colonel level and above.

Besides that, it was issued to the scout generals and soldiers responsible for reconnaissance.

However, to prevent the telescope from falling into the hands of the Northern Di, the army required that it be smashed immediately if there was a possibility of being captured.

Pausing, he suddenly frowned again, "It is just that the war in the northwest is proceeding so smoothly, which is truly very strange."

People from the Four Courts had just been here, bringing news of the war in the northwest.

The Northern Expeditionary Army successfully took Weng City, and they took it with extreme ease.

"Right now, from the Emperor and the aristocratic generals down to the soldiers, the Northern Expeditionary Army is superstitious about the power of Artillery. I fear taking Weng City will only make them believe in this even more, and that is very dangerous," Zhao Xu said bluntly.

Because the distance between Qinzhou and Yanzhou is about the same as the distance between Yanzhou and Jinling.

Therefore, this news is delayed; he does not know exactly what stage the war in the Northwest has reached now.

"Not to mention the Emperor and the aristocrats, even the generals and soldiers of the Prince's Mansion at that time were very superstitious about Artillery, thinking that with Artillery, everything would be fine," Mo Yu laughed.

If it were not for Yan Wang repeatedly emphasizing in the army that the foundation of warfare is people, I fear this impetuous atmosphere in the army would still be growing.

Zhao Xu shook his head helplessly, not to mention that the Beidi now also have Artillery.

Speaking only of Cavalry, before the appearance of Machine Guns and Tanks, they remain the kings of field warfare.

The high mobility of Cavalry is incomparable to other branches of the military.

This is also the reason why he ordered Chang Wei to stop while he was ahead during this sortie.

In a single sortie, the provisions and ammunition carried by the soldiers are fixed.

Once the ammunition is exhausted, the Flintlocks and Artillery become scrap metal; once the provisions are eaten, the soldiers will collapse without a fight.

This requires a constant stream of supplies to continue to maintain.

But an overly long supply line is a fatal flaw exposed to the Beidi Cavalry.

After all, his Cavalry is still unable to protect such a long supply line.

His North Four Commanderies also cannot conscript a large number of laborers to maintain such a long supply line.

This would seriously affect the development of the four commanderies.

"I hope the Emperor can trust Old General Yang; otherwise, I fear this Northern Expedition will be more ominous than auspicious," Zhao Xu said indifferently.

He can only say that the Beidi Khan, Mule Hongzhen, is a formidable opponent.

By attacking from both the east and west, he makes it impossible for the Northern Expeditionary Army and himself to look after one another, allowing him to defeat them one by one.

He does not know what will happen to the Northern Expeditionary Army, but the Beidi's schemes in Yanzhou shall not succeed.

As the two were talking, a soldier hurried onto the city wall and handed a letter to Zhao Xu.

"Your Highness, this is news just sent from Jinghai County; the Gaoli Navy is on the move," the soldier said.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu immediately tore open the envelope.

Glancing at it, his brows furrowed, "After waiting for so many days, the Beidi are finally coming by sea. It seems the great decisive battle on both the east and west fronts is about to arrive."