Chapter 989: Kinship

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The sound of gunfire on the battlefield gradually thinned as the White Tiger Army soldiers reached the camp of the Northern Di soldiers.

On the snowy plains, scattered Northern Di deserters were everywhere.

These deserters were all Northern Di soldiers who had been guarding the trenches; now, their great army was reduced to nothing more than a black line.

The White Tiger Army soldiers who had reached the Northern Di camp had no intention of letting them go.

They fired continuously at the fleeing Northern Di soldiers, and people fell one after another into the thick, accumulated snow.

Ma Han, Dian Zhang, and other generals had also arrived at the Northern Di camp from Yulin at this moment.

Because they had left in such a hurry, the Northern Di had taken almost nothing with them.

A large number of warhorses, cattle, and sheep that could not be taken in time were left behind in the camp.

"It's a pity our cavalry was all lent to Chen Hu; otherwise, a pursuit would surely have yielded even greater results," Dian Zhang said, shaking his head.

Ma Han said, "His Highness considers things more thoroughly than we do. If left with us, at most we would have pursued some remnants and stragglers, but by handing them all to Chen Hu and concentrating our forces, we might achieve miraculous effects. The last time Chen Hu and his men annihilated their 180,000 cavalry is an example."

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "With this example before us, even with 300,000 Northern Di cavalry ahead, Chen Hu would likely dare to fight a battle."

Dian Zhang nodded, "I hope that kid Chen Hu seizes the opportunity. If he lets the big fish get away, there's no need for us to do anything; His Highness will peel a layer of skin off him."

Ma Han nodded and looked toward the ownerless warhorses in the camp.

He immediately ordered Dian Zhang and the other generals to clear the battlefield.

In this battle, they could be said to have gained a bountiful harvest.

The warhorses, cattle, and sheep left behind by the Ashuer Tribe alone were not few.

If Yulin is like this, there will only be more warhorses, cattle, and sheep on the Lingwu County battlefield; I fear Lingwu County City won't even be able to hold them all, right?

And now, although railways are being laid everywhere in the North Territory of Great Song.

The railways are mainly used for transport between prefectures and counties.

The main method of transport for the common people is still by human shoulder and horse-drawn cart.

But due to the development of trade and the increase in goods, the demand for horse-drawn carts is even greater.

This has caused the price of horses among the Great Song populace to rise again and again, with each warhorse increasing from the previous 10,000 Song Yuan to 15,000 Song Yuan.

500 Song Yuan of Great Song is equivalent to one tael of silver from before, so this is equal to 30 taels of silver.

Therefore, the warhorses they captured this time are truly worth a fortune.

Added together, they can be sold for a massive amount of Song Yuan; after all, Northern Di warhorses are of higher quality than those raised within Great Song, and they are hot commodities that merchants would break their heads trying to snatch up.

While the White Tiger Army was clearing the battlefield, the Ashuer Tribe did not stop, heading west all the way.

In a day and a half, the troops led by Ashuer and the troops led by Mule Hongzhen met.

When the two saw each other, they both felt as if the other had aged ten years overnight.

"The Khan need not be discouraged; victory and defeat are common matters for a military commander. Think back to the past, we Northern Di were just a small tribe on the Grassland. If we could grow from a small tribe into the hegemon of the Grassland before, as long as we keep our roots, we can become strong again," Ashuer advised.

Mule Hongzhen gave a bitter laugh and said, "Easier said than done. This time I have almost lost the entire foundation of the Northern Di, and even children as tall as a cart wheel have died in battle; I can no longer organize a great army."

"What of it? Northern Di children are like the cattle and sheep on the Grassland; in just a few years, they can become strong again," Ashuer said. "The most important thing now is to preserve our current strength and return to the Grassland to protect our fine pastures."

"I fear that is difficult," Mule Hongzhen said with a bitter laugh. "You must already know that our Northern Di cavalry has been defeated; the Great Song cavalry will not let us graze peacefully on the Grassland."

Seeing Mule Hongzhen so decadent, Ashuer suddenly became annoyed and shouted, "Have you forgotten why the Great Khan handed the Khanate to you back then? If he saw you today, he would surely regret it and choose me instead."

Pausing, he said, "Our empire on the Grassland has been crushed and driven out by Central Plains dynasties several times, but in the end, we survived and grew strong. The Grassland is so vast that no Central Plains dynasty can completely control it, and that Yan Wang cannot either."

"

Mule Hongzhen's body trembled as he looked at Ashuer. After a long while, his gaze became firm once again.

"You are right. The Grassland is large and vast, and we follow the water and grass to live. As long as we defend properly, we can avoid the encirclement and suppression of the Great Song cavalry. As long as we wait another three to five years, another batch of Northern Di warriors will grow up," Mule Hongzhen said slowly.

Ashuer grabbed Mule Hongzhen's shoulders firmly, "We Northern Di must survive, survive to await the destruction of Yan Wang."

Mule Hongzhen nodded heavily.

Just as the two were speaking, a troop of cavalry suddenly arrived in a hurry.

The leading cavalryman knelt before Mule Hongzhen and said urgently, "Khan, scouts of the Great Song cavalry have appeared nearby; they seem to have been tailing us the whole time."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of both Mule Hongzhen and Ashuer changed.

"Trash! Why did you only discover this now!" Mule Hongzhen raged.

"This... this..." the cavalryman was unable to speak for a moment.

Naturally, he did not know that the Great Song's reconnaissance cavalry were so wealthy that everyone could be equipped with a telescope, allowing them to avoid their detection in time.

"I fear our tracks can no longer be hidden from the Great Song cavalry," Ashuer said. "And they will likely arrive very soon."

Mule Hongzhen's expression was grave, "Even if your cavalry and mine are added together, I fear we will not be a match for this Great Song cavalry. We must find a way to escape back safely now."

Ashuer's heart tightened.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, "We cannot stay together. Split into three routes so they cannot figure out which route is whom."

The three routes he spoke of were naturally the route of Wulanba, his own route, and Mule Hongzhen's route.

However, his decision was ultimately a bit too late.

Just at this moment, Northern Di cavalry suddenly discovered a black line at the edge of the northern snowy plains.

These black lines were moving slowly; they were precisely the Gun Cavalry led by Chen Hu.

Because they needed to rendezvous with Ashuer, the direction of their march naturally drew closer and closer to Yin Mountain.

But even so, they did not expect the enemy to arrive so quickly.

"Split into three routes and flee immediately!" Ashuer shouted, while ordering a general to help him onto his horse.

Mule Hongzhen and Wulanba exchanged a glance, reined in their horses, and left.

Time was pressing, and they naturally had no time to carefully divide the troops.

Mule Hongzhen simply had Bamudan follow him, and a King of the Royal Tent follow Wulanba, before they fled toward the northwest.

"Great Khan, I will draw them away for you." Wulanba shouted, leading his troops toward the northeast.

Ashuer, meanwhile, headed straight toward the Southwest; he had to return to Tibet.

In the ensuing chaos, the North Territory Cavalry galloped away following their respective masters, while the North Territory Infantry could only run after the cavalry.

Very quickly, they were left far behind by the cavalry.

Looking toward the Great Song Cavalry that was drawing ever closer, they were filled with terror.

They could never have imagined that one day they would be hunted down by the Great Song Cavalry!