Chương 583: 1 vs. 3, the advantage is in my hands.

3, the advantage is in my hands.

Mid-April, the southern grasslands of Inner Mongolia.

At this time of year, the area would have been teeming with cattle and sheep, tents stretching as far as the eye could see, and the wind would have blown the grass low to reveal the animals, with the sounds of herdsmen shouting and horses neighing everywhere.

But now, as far as the eye can see, the endless grass grows taller than a person. When the wind blows, all you can hear is the rustling of the grass. You can't even see a sheep dropping. It's all empty and makes you feel uneasy.

Xu Da reined in his horse, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

Behind him followed 100, 000 troops from the Northern Theater Command. Zhang Liao, Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, Gongsun Zan, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou lined up in a row, each with a blank expression on their face, wondering, "Who am I? Where am I? Who am I going to fight?"

The army of 100, 000 set off from Zhuoxian and marched north, fully prepared to fight a decisive battle with the main force of the Xianbei. They even brought artillery, but they didn't encounter a single Xianbei.

That feeling was like punching cotton; all your strength had nowhere to go.

"Holy crap! My goodness!"

Chang Yuchun was the first to lose his temper and slapped his thigh.

"Lu Bing wasn't lying to us after all! The Xianbei really did empty their homes and flee deep into the northern desert! Their intelligence was quite accurate!"

Then, he scratched the back of his head, looking frustrated, his hair all messed up:

"The Xianbei used to be so arrogant, they'd come and rob us all the time. Now look at them, they've just packed up and run away! How cowardly! They don't even dare to fight, all they do is run!"

Gongsun Zan stroked his beard, sighed, his face full of the melancholy of a "hero in his twilight years," and his eyes held a hint of loneliness.

"Yes, back when I led the White Horse Cavalry to sweep across the northern frontier, those Xianbei people... Now these descendants of the Xianbei are truly worse than the last. They don't even dare to fight; they only know how to run away. The world has changed."

Yan Liang pursed his lips and nudged Wen Chou beside him:

"Are they stupid? In the depths of the northern desert, winters are so cold your ears can freeze off, and your breath can freeze solid; in summer, mosquitoes are swarming everywhere, enough to kill a dozen with a single slap. Are they just going to hide there and starve?"

Wen Chou rolled his eyes: "It's better than having your head chopped off. If I were in his shoes, I'd run too. Why would I stay and wait to die? Living is better than dying."

"They may escape, but they can't hide!" Chang Yuchun shouted, brandishing his spear, the shaft whistling through the air.

"They can't stay in the northern desert forever! Let's chase them in and find them! We'll chase them to the ends of the earth!"

After arguing for a long time, everyone finally looked at Commander Xu Da, waiting for his decision.

Xu Da coughed twice, cleared his throat, and adopted the authoritative demeanor of a commander-in-chief:

"Alright, stop arguing. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has already figured it out. All the Xianbei tribes are hiding deep in the northern desert, thinking we dare not go deep, thinking we are afraid of the cold, and thinking we don't have enough food."

"They wanted to wage a war of attrition against us, thinking that we didn't have enough supplies and would have to retreat soon. Unfortunately for them, they miscalculated. We have highways that allow our supplies to be transported directly to the southern desert. There are post stations and warehouses along the way, enough to keep us going for a year. When it comes to wars of attrition, we've never been afraid of anyone."

Xu Da pointed to the map spread on the ground, which was specially drawn by the Ministry of Works based on intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The mountains, rivers, tribes, and water sources were clearly marked.

He said in a deep voice, "Now we will divide our forces into six routes! Zhang Liao and I will lead the main force of 50, 000 men, stationed at the source of the Onon River, to support the other routes and coordinate operations from the center. Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, Gongsun Zan, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou, the five of you will each lead 10, 000 elite cavalry to conduct a dispersed search and sweep through the area thoroughly."

"Remember, once you find the Xianbei tribes, annihilate any that dare to resist! Show no mercy! His Majesty said that this time we must eradicate them completely and resolve the millennia-old border troubles in the north, leaving no trouble for our descendants."

The surrendered tribes were all relocated to the interior, separated and resettled, and forbidden to gather together. They were assigned to different prefectures and counties to prevent them from communicating.

"This humble general obeys the order!"

The five responded in unison, each mustered their troops, and turned to leave.

Chang Yuchun spurred his horse forward, and his shouts could be heard from afar: "Brothers! Follow me northeast! Whoever finds the main tribe first gets the credit! The loser buys a drink!"

Li Wenzhong didn't speak, but only glanced coldly at the most remote northwest direction, turned his horse around, and led ten thousand iron cavalry away in a cloud of dust.

The thunderous sound of hooves and the billowing dust disappeared on the horizon in an instant.

The route he chose was the most desolate and treacherous place in the northern desert, where the sandstorms were the worst and water sources were scarcest. Even the Imperial Guards could only find the approximate location, and even the herdsmen dared not venture deep into it.

Xu Da watched his retreating figure and said to Zhang Liao, "Wen Zhong is still so hardworking. Everyone else chooses the easy path, but he insists on choosing the most difficult one."

Zhang Liao nodded and sighed.

...

Three days later, deep in the northern desert, by the river.

Li Wenzhong led 10, 000 cavalrymen, traveling day and night for hundreds of miles, and finally found the first Xianbei tribe.

During the process, everyone was exhausted, but no one complained of being tired.

From a distance, the tents stretched for three miles, densely packed together, white, gray, and black, like a mushroom.

Herds of cattle and sheep grazed and drank the clear river water, leisurely grazing along the riverbank.

Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, drifting across the blue sky...

The women are milking, cooking, and drying meat.

The men are sharpening weapons and repairing horse tack.

A peaceful and harmonious scene.

This tribe was the largest in the central Xianbei region, with a population of over 80, 000, of which 30, 000 were able-bodied young men capable of fighting.

The tribal chief was a cunning old fox who hid the tribe very well, thinking no one could find it.

Lieutenant Wang Hu leaned close to Li Wenzhong, swallowed hard, and his voice trembled slightly:

"General, we only have 10, 000 men, while they have 30, 000 capable fighters. How about... we send someone back to call for the main force? We can wait for Commander Xu to arrive before we fight; that would be safer."

Li Wenzhong scoffed, not even lifting his eyelids, patted the horizontal sword at his waist, his eyes as cold as ice, his voice devoid of any warmth:

"With 10, 000 against 30, 000, the advantage lies with me."

By the time the main force arrives, there won't even be any soup left. It might already be snatched away by Chang Yuchun.

He pointed at the tribe, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable command:

"Attention! Check equipment! Load crossbows! Charge in fifteen minutes! Remember, leave no survivors! No prisoners! Leave not a single one alive!"

"yes!"

Ten thousand soldiers responded in unison, their voices like muffled thunder.

They all pulled out their crossbows and loaded them with bolts.

Their movements were as practiced and natural as breathing, and the clicking sounds filled the air.

They were all ruthless killers, their faces devoid of any expression.

Having followed Li Wenzhong for so long, they no longer considered themselves human; they saw themselves as the Grim Reaper.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Wenzhong, spear in hand, its tip gleaming coldly in the sunlight, swung it forward:

"Charge! Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"