On the vast wilderness, there was a cavalry squad of ten people. Judging from their clothes and weapons, they were nomadic riders of the Northern Yuan. They had dismounted and gathered together for one of the few brief rests in the day. There were hundreds of such squads scattered around the periphery of the Northern Expedition's Eastern Route Army, and they were also a headache for Tang Huo.

  When the main army marched during the day, these scattered cavalrymen would appear on both sides of the military column. If they were not driven away by the cavalry, they would shoot arrows to harass and cause trouble; at night, they would frequently appear, shooting signal arrows, fire arrows, and other things that disturbed the main army into the camp of the Northern Expedition Army.

  Fu Youde and Tang He even personally led troops to ambush, but they could only wipe out a few small teams, which was not even one-tenth of the total number of small teams. Moreover, even if some people were killed by the Ming army, the Northern Yuan army would continue to send people over, and what they lacked least was horses and cavalry.

  The troops who have been harassing the Ming army for three days are now gathered together, chatting and laughing as they eat their dry rations. Their arrows and supplies have almost been used up, and tomorrow another batch of troops will come to replace them. Tonight is their last time to carry out harassment missions.

  "Head! You said this task is also quite easy, except for occasionally firing a few arrows, there's no other work to do, and it's very safe. Except for the beginning when several teams were surrounded and killed by the Ming army, we haven't lost anyone, right?" One of the team members said after taking a sip of water.

  Their leader laughed and said, "Isn't that right? When Commander Qianhu handed down this order, I thought it would be a waste of effort. Who knew that in just a few days, the Ming army's morale would become tense? Didn't you see last night when we went to raid their camp, the sentry couldn't even blow the warning horn? They're all scared of us, haha!"

  "They, that general of theirs, still want to chase us? Doesn't he see where we are? This is our territory, our home. With those stumpy, broken-down horses under them, they think they can catch up with us? They're simply dreaming!"

  "Hahahaha..."

  These days of risk-free missions have made the members of this squad think that the Ming army is nothing to be afraid of, what with all those princes and nobles being unable to do anything but stand by helplessly.

  "Alright! We've rested enough, and it's getting late. Everyone, mount up and get ready for tonight's mission. Once we're done with this, we can head back to the rear and enjoy some fine wine and good food!"

  "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" The team members responded with excitement, as if they had already smelled the aroma of fine wine and delicacies.

  "Depart!" With the team leader's order, the cavalry of ten people gradually disappeared into the desolate grassland. The wind and sand blew over, covering up the traces of their stay. If it weren't for the remaining ashes of the fire on the ground, no one would have known that a group of people had just stopped here...

  At night, the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Route Army, Tang He and his vanguard Fu Youde were sitting in the main tent waiting. With his eyes closed to rest his mind, Tang He suddenly gave an order: "Tang Bao! Order all units to act according to plan, and have the soldiers who are on call also prepare to take the stage!"

  "Promise!"

  Just after the guard Tang Bao went out, a loud shout of killing suddenly came from outside the account, as if someone was fighting each other, the sound was so fierce that it seemed like thousands of horses and people, but the two people inside the account still sat motionless...

  "Head! How come there are so few people on guard tonight in the Ming army, and vaguely I seem to hear the sound of killing inside. Could it be that our men have rushed in?"

  The squad leader continued to gaze at the flames, rubbing his chin and analyzing: "It shouldn't be our people, after all we didn't receive any orders to charge into the Ming army's camp. It looks like there's some internal problem within the Ming army itself."

  "Didn't something happen at the camp? Their soldiers blew up the camp?" a team member exclaimed in surprise.

  "Alright! We've been harassing them non-stop for days, and if we were in their shoes, we wouldn't be able to take it either. This time, it must have been their soldiers who couldn't withstand the provocation and burst into a riot. What a heaven-sent opportunity! You two quickly go report this to the general, and explain that the military camp is now in an uproar, which is the perfect chance for our army to launch a surprise attack!" The squad leader's face lit up with joy as he sent someone back to report the news, thinking that tonight would be the night they break through the Ming army.

  Looking at the bustling Ming army camp in front of him, the squad leader felt that by the time his own army arrived, the enemy's battle cry would not have ended yet. Even if the Ming soldiers were suppressed, they would definitely be terrified and unable to fight back. When the army charged into the enemy camp, they could win a great victory and return triumphantly. At that time, his merit in reporting this information would surely be heavily rewarded...

  A hundred miles outside the eastern route army, the three Ping Zhang Zhengshi cavalry of the Northern Yuan were stationed here. Tang He was unwilling to send his own 30,000 cavalry to clear out the harassment of the vanguard because of the existence of this batch of cavalry. A total of 80,000 Northern Yuan elite cavalry, 30,000 versus 80,000, and still in a situation where their war horses were at a disadvantage, it was simply blocking the way for Tang He's cavalry to come out.

  Of course, these 80,000 cavalrymen did not dare to directly attack Tang He's large camp. On the surface, it was said that Tang He had only 1 million people, but if you count the troops and civilians who were transferred from various border towns, there were almost 1.5 million people. Not to mention that siege warfare has never been the strong point of the Northern Yuan cavalry, they are more adept at relying on their horse power to consume the enemy's living forces, this is how the cavalry of the Great Yuan Empire defeated one enemy after another back in the day...

  "Report! Lord Manah is coming out! Urgent report from the vanguard!"

  "Speak!"

  "The Ming army's main camp has erupted in a loud shout, estimated to be on a scale of no less than tens of thousands!"

  "Haha!" Manchu's bearded face lit up with great joy, he had been impatient for a long time. If it weren't for the strict orders from above not to launch an attack on the Ming army, he might have already led his 80,000 iron cavalry in a charge. Now that there was such a good opportunity for a surprise attack, how could he miss it!

  "Come on! Sound the horn and assemble the troops, swift cavalry will raid the Ming army's camp!"

  "Yes!"

  Just as Ma Na was about to set out, a middle-aged man in fine attire walked into the camp and said, "General, I heard that there is chaos within your army. Are you going to lead troops on an expedition?"

  "Right! Hammer, you come with me too!"

  "But what if this is a strategy of the Ming army? The Ming army generals have always been cunning, what if this camp is also intentionally performed for us to see?" Ha Mute'er, brother of Beiyuan Ping Zhanggui Tiemuer, and also the deputy commander of the 800,000 iron cavalry.

  "Coward! If you're afraid, then stay here and guard the camp! I'll take a few men to charge into the Ming army's main camp. At worst, we can split the credit half and half!" Ma Na showed a face of impatience, waved his hand and walked out of the tent.

  "How can the general speak like this! Am I, Hammer, a man who covets merit and profit? I will immediately get ready and follow the general, how could we defeat the Ming army without me, Hammer!"

  "Haha! Alright, as expected of Ping Zhang's brother, let's charge into the enemy camp together!"

  "Good!"

  ……

  The eighty thousand iron cavalry were fully equipped within a moment, each and every one of them was spirited and waiting for the commander's order. They all knew that the Ming army had blown up their camp, which meant it was time for them to make achievements and establish merit. These Northern Yuan cavalrymen were clenching their fists and rubbing their palms, eager to kill the enemy and receive rewards!

  Manchu didn't waste any words and immediately set off with a loud shout, leading the army to accelerate towards Tang He's camp...

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