The three thousand five hundred Dark Cavalry quickly left a battlefield strewn with corpses. Behind them were waves of thick smoke from the burning of provisions. This was already the fifth time the Dark Cavalry had helped Northern Mang light up the 'smoke signal' outside the gourd. Fourteen thousand Beimang soldiers and auxiliary soldiers had been killed, and nearly two hundred thousand cattle and sheep had been scattered. The northernmost part of the Phantom Cavalry's tracks was actually already in Longyao Province. Then, they quickly headed south. In the battle just now, the Phantom Cavalry had not taken the initiative to attack, but Beimang's interception. Beimang had used the lives of 2,000 ordinary Phantom Cavalry soldiers to determine the location of the elite Phantom Cavalry, thereby reducing the Phantom Cavalry's room to maneuver. It was likely that the main cavalry forces of Longyao Province would soon hear the news and move.
While retreating, Yu Luandao suddenly raised his head and saw two birds chasing each other in the sky. At the same time, Hsu Fengnian pulled out an arrow from his quiver and pulled the bowstring back like a full moon. The arrowhead slowly deviated as the gyrfalcon and Beimang peregrine falcon soared. When the peregrine falcon was forced to lower its altitude to flee for its life, Hsu Fengnian shot out an arrow and killed it on the spot. The great inertia knocked the peregrine falcon into the clouds, and the extraordinarily handsome six-year phoenix soared into the sky. Under everyone's gaze, the gyrfalcon pierced through the clouds and charged toward Hsu Fengnian. Its two claws hooked onto the peregrine falcon's body and gently tossed it down. It circled a few times above its master's head before disappearing in a flash. Hsu Fengnian tossed away the peregrine falcon's body and put the arrow back into the quiver on the left side of his saddle. The light crossbows were of excellent quality, but after a great battle, heavy crossbows often couldn't bear the burden, still easily damaged in large amounts. Even though the light crossbows the Underworld Cavalry carried were more durable than heavy crossbows, after five cavalry battles, regardless of whether it was the crossbow itself or the crossbow bolts, there weren't many left. That was why they had no choice but to switch out the Northern Mang cavalry bows they obtained after the battle. Xu Fengnian and Yu Luandao both used iron bows with heavy Western Shu craftsmen's imprints.
Yu Luandao looked around worriedly. If it weren't for the fact that they could use battle to support battle, or even if the Beimang cavalry didn't come to surround them, his cavalry would have already collapsed. Previously, when they ran for five hundred li from Ji Province, it wasn't that the cavalry couldn't withstand it. Even though they had two horses at the time, the warhorses were still in a miserable state. Long-distance raids pursued speed and the element of surprise. However, since it was "long-distance", the cavalry could rely on their perseverance to hold on, but the warhorses couldn't. Especially since it wasn't autumn and the horses weren't fat enough. Beiliang's horse management officials weren't immortals, so they couldn't change this reality. Later on, after a short rest, they rushed for another six hundred li to the outside of the gourd. Fortunately, they had captured Beimang warhorses at the time to minimize this invisible battle damage. However, after five consecutive large-scale cavalry battles with short intervals, even if the warhorses could still be rotated, at this stage, the cavalry, who were "rushing from one battlefield to another at top speed," couldn't hold on any longer. As for why they didn't show any signs of fatigue … Yu Luandao subconsciously glanced at Hsu Fengnian beside him. Yu Luandao withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the faces around him. This young commander was filled with pride. For ten thousand Phantom Cavalry to fight to this extent, even with Yu Luandao's cold temperament, it was enough to make him proud. Killing more than fourteen thousand enemies was not strange. The cavalry that Beimang sent to escort the supplies were all second or third-rate fighting forces in the border towns of the Southern Court. Two of the cavalry battles, from the beginning to the end, had been a one-sided slaughter. However, the supply line between Longyao Province and the Gourd Pass had been mostly paralyzed, and in the end, they had involved at least ten thousand of Beimang's elite cavalry and had been led around in circles by several thousand cavalry. This was the greatest achievement of Yu Luandao and the Phantom Cavalry.
As the cavalry headed south, Hsu Fengnian, who had been escorting the wounded Phantom Cavalry away with Fan Xiaochai and Mi Fengjie, said softly, "We've pulled our bow too tightly."
Yu Luandao nodded. "Right now, the difficult part is finding a place to stop. Since the two young commanders in the east known as the 'Zhuo Bo' and 'Zhuo Bo' have also set out, it's no longer possible for us to retreat east. Besides, His Highness has also said that our spies have already shown that Yang Yuanzan has ordered Hong Jingyan to lead half of the Rouran Cavalry out of the gourd Pass to block our path south. "
Yu Luandao looked to the west. Go west? That was the northern front of Liangzhou Province, where the Beimang's main force, commanded by King Dong Zhuo of the Southern Courtyard, was currently attacking Hutou City. Both sides had a total of seven hundred thousand soldiers. If they went there, they would be walking right into the Northern Mang barbarians' trap. Not to mention the remaining three thousand five hundred cavalry, even if they had thirty-five thousand cavalry, without the support of their own army, they wouldn't be enough for the Northern Mang barbarians to wrap up dumplings. Even if Yu Luandao encountered the two Zhuo Bo or Hong Jingyan's Rouran Cavalry, even if all the Phantom Cavalry under his command were to die in battle, he would not go west.
Hsu Fengnian also looked to the west, seemingly waiting for someone.
Hsu Fengnian was waiting for the leader of the horse bandits, Song Diao 'er. This one thousand strong horse bandits had been secretly recruited by Huangfu Jin. While they might not be able to change the overall situation in Youzhou, they could at least give Yu Luandao's Youzhou cavalry a breather. The Phantom Cavalry was like an exhausted martial arts grandmaster. If they could get a breath of fresh air, they could still fight. If they could not even get a breath of fresh air, they would be completely exhausted. The reason why Hsu Fengnian did not say this was not because he wanted to give this cavalry a surprise, but because he did not dare to have too much hope for Song Diao 'er, whom he had only met once. If not for the fact that there were Beiliang experts hiding in Song Diao' er's horse bandits, Hsu Fengnian would not even have let Song Diao 'er lead the way. Putting himself in Song Diao' er's shoes, it was the same no matter who the horse bandits chose to side with. Beimang currently had the upper hand. If Song Diao 'er wanted to rebel and used the three thousand five hundred Youzhou cavalry as proof of his allegiance, Yang Yuanzan, who had been tormented badly by Yu Luandao's cavalry, would probably not be stingy with a single General. In Hsu Fengnian's view, it would be strange if Song Diao 'er, who had been born into a landowning household of the Southern Dynasty, did not have any ulterior motives and stood on Beiliang's side from beginning to end. As for what the truth was, Hsu Fengnian could only judge after meeting with Song Diao 'er's messenger. If Song Diao' er did not dare to come personally and was not in the group, then Hsu Fengnian could only regard this chess piece as having changed its colors. Then Yu Luandao and the Phantom Cavalry, who had nowhere to run, were fated to fight to the death with the two great Jinbo Cavalry or the Rouran Cavalry. And Hsu Fengnian would go alone to find Song Diao 'er. Since he could have Beiliang and Huangfu Jin bring the horse bandits outside the pass to Song Diao' er to dominate, then Hsu Fengnian could personally take it back.
Rather than give hope and then disappoint, it was better not to say anything at all.
Hsu Fengnian asked, "How many of Fan Fen's scouts are left?"
Yu Luandao said bitterly, "Originally, there were less than sixty old scouts. Behind them, more than eight hundred cavalry have taken their place, barely maintaining the number of four hundred scouts. Therefore, it can be said that Captain Fan's losses are the greatest. There is nothing that can be done. Fighting outside the pass, as a scout, he will definitely die at the very front. "
Yu Luandao pursed his cracked and bleeding lips, a smile appearing on his face. He said in a hoarse voice, "However, we have not fought these battles for nothing. Compared to before we left Youzhou, the battle strength of the three thousand five hundred cavalry has increased greatly. As long as we can breathe a sigh of relief, we can completely recover. Against the Rouran Cavalry of the same strength as Hong Jingyan, we dare to say that we can win. Before this, who in Youzhou, which was only known for its infantry, would have such thoughts? If these three thousand five hundred people can return to Youzhou alive, it will definitely be of great benefit to the entire Youzhou war. "
Deputy generals Shi Yulu and Su Wenyao both had subtle expressions, not daring to speak. They were afraid that Hsu Fengnian would misunderstand the main general's words and misunderstand that the Rouran Cavalry was complaining about their awkward situation.
Yu Luandao suddenly laughed and said cheerfully, "After this mess, not only will the Dragon's Waist, Hexi, and Tangerine Prefectures suffer great losses, their vitality will also be greatly damaged. I'm afraid that the northern grasslands will also continue to lose meat. Those big factions that Tuoba Bodhisattva had suppressed with great difficulty might start to stir again. They originally had objections to attacking Beiliang first. In the eyes of these fellows who would not act until they saw the hare, who would be willing to attack a place that only had hard bones and no fat meat? How could it compare to attacking the Ji Prefecture that had no military strength? As long as they passed Ji Prefecture, it would be the rich Central Plains with thousands of miles of fertile land. Countless gold, silver, and people would be snatched until their hands went numb. Otherwise, attacking the two Liao Prefectures would be fine too. As long as they could defeat Gu Jiantang, they would be driving south and besieging the city. Not to mention how many enemies we have killed on this trip to the Calabash Mouth, we can definitely make Dong Zhuo and the Taiping Commandery, who insist on attacking Beiliang first and then attacking the Central Plains, gnash their teeth in hatred. Perhaps they are stomping their feet and cursing at us right now? "
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