Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 659: The Battle of Moxi (4)

Just as the Rakshasa reinforcements entered the Dzungar Khanate, Huang Cheng's troops and the allied forces from the south and north of the desert had already approached a place more than 200 miles east of the Dzungar Khanate.

This battle was the first time that Meng Jun recruited various tribes of the grassland in the name of Tian Khan, and there had been almost no large-scale conflicts on the grassland over the years, so this time the various tribes almost exceeded the recruitment task, with the number of cavalry exceeding 60,000. Together with the 20,000 cavalry from the Qian Dynasty, the total number of the army was more than 80,000.

However, among the 60,000 cavalrymen on the grassland, there are not many who are truly skilled in archery and horse riding, brave and elite. There are about 10,000 of them, all of whom are taijis of various tribes, personal guards of chiefs, and warriors of various tribes.

Just when the Qian army was temporarily camping, a team of scouts hurried back to the camp, and these were the scouts who captured Muhara.

Muhalla entered the camp of the Qian army under the escort of the scouts. After translation, the scouts learned that this man was the garrison commander of Turpan and a person who had escaped from the Dzungar Khanate.

The scouts listened with great interest to this legendary story, but because it was too legendary, many people doubted Muhara's true identity.

The scout then informed Huang Cheng of this man's news. Huang Cheng was overjoyed upon hearing the news, and immediately ordered his subordinates to send the man and the interpreter to the big tent so that he could interrogate him personally.

When he met Muhalla, Huang Cheng asked directly: "You said you were the garrison commander of Turpan, do you have any proof?"

After listening to the translation, Muhalla nodded and said, "Yes, there are many details about my defense of Turpan. I can explain them clearly. Besides, some of the officers who attacked the city should know me. All we need to do is check and we will know the details."

Huang Cheng frowned when he heard this. Lin Shiqi was so far away from him, and in such a hurry, he really couldn't tell whether what he said was true or false.

Huang Cheng then asked: "The Dzungar Khanate must be heavily guarded. How did you escape from the camp? And aren't you from Yarkand? Why did you flee?"

After hearing so many questions, Muhalla told him everything from how he defended Turpan, to how he fled to Dzungar, how Sengge whipped him, and how he took the opportunity to escape when Sengge was entertaining the Rakshasas in order to save his life.

Huang Cheng was shocked when he heard this and asked hurriedly, "Did the Rakshasa send troops?"

"Yes, but I don't know exactly how many Russians have sent out." Muhara nodded.

Huang Cheng was silent for a while and fell into deep thought. After a long time, he asked about the geographical situation of the Dzungar Khanate, the army's equipment, training, number of troops, etc.

Muhalla told Huang Cheng everything he saw and knew without hiding anything. Although Huang Cheng did not have definite evidence to prove this man's identity, he was eager to make a move in his heart.

Although the guide knew the route, he did not know the exact location of the Dzungar Khanate. This man knew the location. If he could take the opportunity to use elite cavalry to drive directly to the Dzungar Khanate, then this battle would probably go down in history.

Huang Cheng asked someone to take Muhara away and settle him down. Huang Cheng had a feeling in his heart that this person must be the real one.

Huang Cheng was alone, thinking for a long time. Suddenly, he slammed the table hard. It was obvious that he had made up his mind. As a general, he had to worry about the lives and safety of his soldiers, but if there was a good opportunity, Huang Cheng would never miss it.

As for sending someone to ask Lin Shiqi, this is totally unnecessary. After waiting for so long to go back and forth, the information from this person will be useless.

Huang Cheng then gave an order to convene a military meeting. Soon after, all the generals and nobles from various tribes gathered in the military tent.

Inside the tent, Huang Cheng looked at everyone and said in a deep voice: "I have received news that the main force of the Junggar is still in the west, about 200 miles away. At the current marching speed, they will run into the main force of the Sengge in two or three days. But if we use elite light cavalry, one man with three horses, we can reach it in one day and one night!"

The leader of the Naiman tribe, Chagu, patted his chest and said, "We have the most powerful cavalry in the world. As long as we find Sengge's hiding place, the Junggars will definitely not be our opponents. Since the Marshal has accurate information, we don't need to advance slowly. Tomorrow morning, we will march west at full speed with our elite cavalry and crush the Junggar Khanate in one fell swoop!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Taiji Tulu of the Kharchin tribe frowned, shook his head and said, "It's not a good idea. If such elite cavalry rush forward rashly without logistical supplies, if anything goes wrong, it will be a big problem!"

"Tulutaiji is really too cautious!" The young chief of the Ulunsi tribe was a little disdainful and curled his lips slightly.

This man's name was Turantai. He had lived in a relatively stable environment in the tribe since he was born and had never experienced a cruel war personally. Even when Qian destroyed the Qing Dynasty and attacked Khorchin on the grassland, he only heard stories about the battlefield from his parents.

His mind was filled with those famous generals who fought on the battlefield and were invincible in their heroic deeds. In his simple and passionate understanding, war was nothing more than a perfect stage for him to fully display his bravery and achieve unprecedented achievements.

The crowd argued endlessly, but most people disagreed with a rash advance. After all, the guide could only lead them to the Dzungar Khanate, and they did not know how many troops Sengge had gathered at this time.

Huang Cheng listened to the debate quietly, but did not express his opinion immediately. After everyone calmed down, he stood up and looked at everyone in the tent with a steady gaze: "Our army is approaching this time, and the Junggars along the way dare not fight back. Now is the time when morale is high. I have decided to use 20,000 elite cavalry to attack the Junggar Khanate tomorrow!"

Liu Kun, Chagu, Turantai and others who supported the advance nodded repeatedly to show their support when they heard what the Marshal said. However, Tulu and others who supported a slow advance all looked uneasy.

Huang Cheng pointed to the simple map drawn by the guide and said to everyone: "The Junggar Khanate is backed by mountains, and a river valley flows down from the upper reaches. But here, the water flows slowly and is no deeper than a horse's knee. If we can take advantage of the opportunity to break in, we will be able to defeat the Junggar in one battle!"

As soon as Huang Cheng finished speaking, the generals who supported the advance echoed him, and the atmosphere in the tent gradually became heated. However, Tulu frowned and said, "General, I think that although the Junggars are hiding in the Khan's court and have not attacked, their scouts are all over the grassland. Our army's movements may not be completely hidden from them. If they defend the Khan's court and our army crosses the river, if we cannot defeat the enemy, we will probably be in danger."

Huang Cheng nodded slightly when he heard this. Tulu's worries were not groundless. Huang Cheng also knew the risks involved in his determination to send troops.

However, Lin Shiqi had already captured Turpan and was about to conquer the Western Regions. Huang Cheng had more troops than Lin Shiqi, and they were all cavalry. But since the Western Expedition, his gains could be said to be very few. Now, he had the opportunity to destroy Dzungar in one battle, and Huang Cheng was not willing to give up.