Attila said without hesitation, "We are relocating the city. The barbarians migrate with the seasons, just as your Xianbei do. The climate this year is poor and not conducive to grazing. My father is mobilizing the relocation of the capital. You can directly head south to rendezvous with our main forces!"
Duo Wuneng pondered.
Attila added, "The Great Gan produces beautiful women, especially in the capital and Jiangnan. If you Xianbei don't declare your intentions soon and claim a share, don't expect wealth, let alone comfort women!"
"We will do our utmost, just as in the Battle of Helanshan back then. We hope for rewards!" Duo Wuneng chuckled dryly, though he was inwardly dismissive.
They were merely going through the motions to avoid punishment from the Barbarian Chieftain for the Xianbei, and would absolutely not serve as vanguards or be at the forefront of the fight!
Attila nodded in satisfaction and said, "Upon entering my Barbarian territory, you should conform to local customs. Untie your braids and remove the eagle feathers from your hair. As members of my Barbarian Iron Cavalry, there is no distinction between us!"
Duo Wuneng dared not object and immediately informed the entire army.
Ten thousand Xianbei cavalry all let their hair down, and the eagle feathers from their helmets were removed.
"Alright, I must go and see your Xianbei King. You will immediately march rapidly to rendezvous with my army, lest our supplies be cut off!" Attila urged impatiently.
Duo Wuneng did not dare to defy the order, but after agreeing, he led the ten thousand Xianbei cavalry south at speed.
After seeing off the Xianbei cavalry, Attila returned to Longcheng to report.
"Well done! Making the Xianbei cavalry cover our retreat to buy us time to return to Mobei!"
In Longcheng, over five hundred thousand Barbarian people responded to the Chieftain's call, migrating with grief and sorrow, their cries echoing!
The royal court in the southern Mobei vanished, and the glory of the Barbarians was no more!
Almost everyone rode horses or traveled in carriages, bringing large numbers of cattle and sheep, heading north in haste, each fearing they would become victims of the Great Gan Iron Cavalry.
"Deputy Marshal, a cavalry unit has been spotted ahead, possibly ten thousand strong, all with their hair unbound, heading southwest! They should be thirty li from our army now. Judging by their appearance, they seem to be on the march!"
Liang Xiao and his officers, who were on the march, were greatly surprised to receive the news.
"After such a devastating defeat by the Barbarians, they still dare to send troops south? Did they not have scouts discover our approach?" Lü Changhe was the first to voice his doubt.
Liang Xiao's thoughts raced.
This was highly illogical. If the Barbarians were truly capable of resisting the Great Gan Iron Cavalry, they would not have dispatched only ten thousand men to block them, and at such a rapid pace.
Once the men and horses were exhausted, if they encountered enemy cavalry, they would be at a definite disadvantage in terms of stamina and endurance.
But the military situation was urgent, and Liang Xiao made a decisive order: "This unit is on forced march. They are either here to launch a surprise attack on us, or they are Xianbei reinforcements of the Barbarians, completely unaware of our presence here! All three armies, heed my command! Disperse immediately, set ambushes, and encircle!"
The Great Gan Iron Cavalry immediately split into three divisions of twenty thousand men each, flanking around to cut off the enemy's retreat.
Lü Changhe led the White Robed Soldiers, while Nan Jiyun and others were responsible for the other cavalry, turning northeast to prepare for a decisive battle with the enemy.
Whether they were Barbarian or Xianbei, it made no difference; they were all sworn enemies!
Duo Wuneng's ten thousand cavalry advanced another twenty li.
Since they were in the desert ruled by the Barbarians, and urged by Attila, the Xianbei cavalry felt at ease on the road and did not send out scouts, instead striving to rendezvous with the so-called Barbarian main force as soon as possible.
"General, a cavalry unit of about twenty thousand has appeared ahead!"
Duo Wuneng, who had just received the urgent report, was taken aback. "Why is the Barbarian main force meeting us so soon?"
This made Duo Wuneng even more awestruck of the Barbarians, and he dared not delay, intending to urge his troops forward when another soldier galloped up, his face filled with terror.
"General! The banner of the cavalry unit ahead is the Great Gan army banner!!"
As soon as the words fell, Duo Wuneng turned pale with shock. "How is this possible! How could the Great Gan Iron Cavalry appear deep in the desert??" 138 Reading Net
"It is indeed the Great Gan army banner, and they are heading this way!" the soldier urged.
Duo Wuneng vaguely sensed something and said urgently, "Retreat immediately!"
Before the army could move, sounds of killing and horses neighing echoed from the east and west.
The Xianbei cavalry on both sides looked out and saw a vast expanse of silver-white rushing towards them, with blades glinting in the vast expanse of heaven and earth!
"Crush the enemy!"
Nie Yuan and Nan Jiyun, one from the east and one from the west, led their armies to charge.
Whether they were Barbarian Iron Cavalry or Xianbei cavalry, since they had encountered them here, the Great Gan had to annihilate them to prevent them from escaping!
"It's the Great Gan army! Retreat!"
Duo Wuneng, using the higher terrain, confirmed they were outnumbered and hastily ordered a retreat.
At this moment, another force of twenty thousand troops attacked from the rear.
It was Zhuo Ying, leading half of the White Robed Soldiers, who had flanked around to block the Xianbei cavalry's path!
"Engaged on three sides? How many enemy soldiers are there?!"
Duo Wuneng could no longer count how many Great Gan Iron Cavalry had arrived and urgently asked a nearby sharp-eyed scout.
"From the east, west, and north, at least twenty thousand on each route!"
Upon hearing this, Duo Wuneng roared, "Carve a bloody path towards the east!"
The three armies surrounded them but did not press the attack.
"What are the enemy's intentions? Why have they suddenly stopped advancing?"
The Xianbei cavalry were bewildered but also hoped for a miracle.
Just then, from the south, ten thousand horses galloped, stirring up a sky full of dust!
The last unit, led by Lü Changhe, with Liang Xiao commanding the central army, coordinated with the other three, completing the encirclement from all four sides!
"In the Battle of Helanshan and the disgrace of Yanzhou, the Xianbei, as one of the Barbarians' subordinates, were also responsible for much burning, killing, and looting. Annihilate them all!"
Liang Xiao gave the order. Twenty thousand logistical troops remained in position, while the twenty thousand rear guard let out earth-shattering roars and charged towards the Xianbei cavalry.
Hearing the roar of their own troops, the armies from the east, west, and north responded with roars, attacking from all sides!
Seven thousand Zhuge Crossbows, operated by the White Robed Soldiers, shot down countless enemy soldiers in the front and rear of the Xianbei army within moments!
Most of these Xianbei cavalry were swordsmen, lacking the ability to return fire with arrows. Facing the crossbow bolts shot from all directions by the Great Gan Iron Cavalry, they fell from their horses in droves.
The Great Gan soldiers fired their crossbow bolts as if they were inexhaustible, never engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the Xianbei cavalry.
This was Liang Xiao's "fear of insufficient firepower." The Great Gan soldiers also believed that the more intense the barrage, the fewer casualties their comrades would suffer.
If the matter could be resolved with crossbow bolts, they would not increase casualties. After all, the soldiers all hoped to return victoriously, not to die in the desert!
In any case, they had millions of arrows brought with them, and there was a chance to reclaim the fired arrows...
Although the ten thousand Xianbei cavalry were all armored, facing the concentrated fire of the Great Gan Iron Cavalry, their pleas for mercy were in vain.
In less than half an hour, the ten thousand Xianbei cavalry were almost completely annihilated. Only Duo Wuneng and three fully armed generals remained, kneeling to surrender!
The four Xianbei men were bound with ropes and brought before Liang Xiao.
"You, you are the Great Gan army. What do you want? Why are you making things difficult for us Xianbei!"