I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 49 - 19: Marching North to Overcome the Enemy, Shifting Momentum of Attack and Defense (Part 2)

Chapter 49: Chapter 19: Marching North to Overcome the Enemy, Shifting Momentum of Attack and Defense (Part 2)
And the army was divided into three echelons:
The first echelon consisted of light cavalry, equipped with strong crossbows;
The second echelon was heavy cavalry, armored with heavy armor, wielding long swords and spears.
The third echelon was composed of archers and infantry.
This arrangement aimed to maintain the army’s concealment as much as possible and adopt a strategy of marching at night and resting during the day, intending to launch a surprise attack on Yiwulu City.
But the Xiongnu were not completely unprepared.
The current situation was vastly different from the original historical context.
The news of consecutive years of bountiful harvests for the Great Han couldn’t be concealed.
Not to mention the oath Liu Xiu made before the people after his ceremonial excursion.
Evidently, the Northern Xiongnu knew the Han Army would certainly take action.
They had gleaned many lessons from the Central Plains and set up multiple watchtowers and patrol units along the entire Yiwulu City and Tianshan passes.
Each patrol unit was equipped with horns.
If anything unusual happened, they would blow the horns, allowing the news to be received immediately.
Thus, amidst such confrontations.
The two armies encountered each other at Tianshan!
Initially, it was just a chance encounter between the light cavalry and Xiongnu patrol soldiers.
But the moment the horn was blown, the small-scale encounter quickly escalated into large-scale slaughter.
King Huyan never expected that a battle meant to be a small-scale probing would suddenly evolve into a full-scale war.
But when Gu Cheng led the heavy cavalry of the second echelon into the battlefield.
The situation of the entire battle changed completely.
Though Gu Cheng seemed casual in daily life, once on the battlefield, he felt entirely different.
If Gu Kang was a born politician.
Then Gu Cheng was a born warrior.
The key point, whether it was because of Gu Kang’s influence or because Gu Cheng’s own talent also conquered Liu Zhuang.
Liu Zhuang entrusted Gu Cheng with a thousand central army soldiers.
What was the central army?
The most elite troops of the Great Han.
Not to mention that the current central army has undergone years of training by Gu Cheng.
Disregarding combat strength.
Focusing solely on discipline and obedience, this army far surpassed any other army of the era!
In this era of cold weapon warfare.
Possessing such a formidable army was enough to greatly boost the morale of all the troops.
And a highly motivated heavy cavalry was enough to crush all obstacles on the battlefield!
For a moment, the sound of horse hooves and shouts were deafening.
Cavalry from both sides clashed, with sword shadows flickering and blood splattering.
Gu Cheng was truly worthy of being Gu Xiao’s son, as he led by example on the battlefield just like Gu Xiao back in the day!
As was Ban Chao at this moment!
It was only upon truly reaching the battlefield that he became more sure about his inner self.
In those days, he didn’t make a mistake in turning from scholarly pursuits to military service.
His hands could not only hold a pen but also brandish a knife!
To achieve success on the battlefield!
The outcome of this battle was inevitable.
After leaving nearly two thousand bodies behind, King Huyan was utterly defeated and retreated.
The Han Army pursued the retreating enemy.
Especially the central army personally led by Gu Cheng, who followed every command without hesitation.
Determined to severely damage King Huyan’s troops, rendering them incapable of affecting the Han Army’s plans to enter the Western Regions.
"A mere fleeing enemy, what should we fear?"
"Back then, General Huo Qubing could cover over a thousand miles in six days without giving the enemy any chance to breathe."
"Why can’t we do the same today?"
"General, Zhong Sheng has discovered that Yiwulu City currently only has about three thousand men. As long as our army thoroughly cuts off King Huyan’s support, Yiwulu City will be within reach."
"A fleeting battle opportunity, how can we allow it to slip away?"
After saying this and receiving Dou Gu’s approval, Gu Cheng decisively chose to abandon the armor and pursue!
Although what Gu Yi gave him was theoretical knowledge.
Even theoretical knowledge, depending on different individuals’ talents, can yield different insights.
Gu Cheng was evidently one such person.
He unexpectedly used encircling tactics.
Framing Dou Gu’s central army as the core.
Gu Cheng personally led a group of soldiers who abandoned all logistical burdens, urging their horses at full speed, pursuing by taking a detour.
They followed the grassland north along the northern slopes of the Bogda Mountain Range.
Utilizing the Tianshan offshoot as a natural barrier, they limited King Huyan’s army from fleeing toward the southeast.
Facing such an opponent, King Huyan was truly bewildered.
Gu Cheng’s tactics even reminded him of that young general back then who almost completely swept away the Xiongnu.
He heard his ancestors say that young general was extremely proficient in using such tactics.
And at this moment, just like that moment.
Under Gu Cheng and the pursuing Han Army’s pressure at every step, he could only flee toward the direction of Puli Sea.
But given the situation, how could Gu Cheng not foresee it?
He didn’t know how long he had studied the geographical maps and swiftly cut through the Barkol Grassland, intending to coordinate with the Han Army to encircle King Huyan and trap him here.
But at the point of desperation, humans often unleash amazing potential.
Yet Gu Cheng only had so few soldiers this time.
After a fierce battle with significant casualties, King Huyan still managed to escape.
Beside Puli Sea.
Gu Cheng looked at the battlefield before him, raised his hand to wipe the blood off his face, and sighed with a hint of regret:
"If only I had two thousand troops in this battle, even with wings, King Huyan couldn’t fly away."
Upon hearing this, Ban Chao smiled and stepped forward, responding:
"Brother will surely defeat the Northern Xiongnu one day, achieving unparalleled merit!"
Gu Cheng glanced at him, shook his head, and said with a serious expression: "While the Western Regions remain unsettled, the Han Army is destined to be unable to fully focus on the Northern Xiongnu."