My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 97 The Decisive Battle, A Reward for the Army! (Fourth Update, Please Subscribe!)
Anagui's words were resounding and powerful, like a thunderclap.

Shedi Gan and Daxi Wu also looked up at him suddenly, their eyes filled with admiration. This Rouran king was at least not a coward who feared death.

On the other side, the Ashina brothers reacted very quickly, kneeling down with red eyes and even squeezing out a few tears.

"Great Khan! The entire Ashina tribe is willing to serve as armor and swear to protect you to the death. We humbly request Your Majesty to command the Ashina tribe to advance and retreat with you, sharing life and death!"

The other tribal chiefs immediately expressed their opinions upon seeing this.

Whether it was just for show or they were genuinely impressed by Anagui's courage.

At least morale has been boosted.

Anagui displayed the demeanor befitting a ruler of the grasslands.

He personally helped each of his chieftains to their feet, then looked intently at Gao Yu. He had only known Gao Yu to be incredibly brave, but he had never imagined that Gao Yu was also so admirable in military strategy.

Such a talented person could only serve as a mere military commander in a border town?

How unfair!

Such talented individuals should be put to my use!
If he wins this battle, he will definitely spare no expense to recruit him.

Anagui grabbed his arm and shouted, "Someone! Bring the wine!"

"Gao Lang's tactics are very much to my liking. If the Gao chariots are defeated in this battle, Gao Lang will be credited with the greatest merit!"

Say it!

He took the wine jar from a guard and personally filled Gao Yu's cup.

Gao Yu didn't stand on ceremony and readily drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp. "Thank you for the wine, Great Khan!"

………………

Rumble.

The rapid clatter of hooves rose and fell, sounding like muffled thunder on a rainy day.

Surrounded by his guards, Yi rode up on horseback.

Yueju immediately dismounted and knelt before Yi's horse.

Yi Fu looked at him expressionlessly, but his words contained annoyance, "Yueju Tudoufa, for days you've been chasing after the Rouran people, have you brought me any good news today?"

Yueju was the younger brother of Yifu and also of Gaoche royal blood. He was related to Yifu by blood, otherwise he would not have been given the title of Tudoufa.

In the Gaoche tribe, military commanders were called 'Tudoufa'.

Yueju was terrified and hurriedly defended himself, "Please rest assured, Lord Loufule (Great Khan), Anagui will not escape! They have been driven to the brink of extinction by us and have fled all the way to Luhunhai."

The Genhe River and the Ruoluo River are two major rivers on the grassland. On the map, they are shaped like the Chinese character "几" (ji), similar to the Hetao Plain. However, unlike the flat, straight Hetao Plain, the Genhe River and Ruoluo River are more like the Chinese character "人" (ren, meaning person).

The Ruoluo River flows into the Gen River, which eventually flows into the Yini River, also known as the North Sea.

This is what later generations called Lake Baikal.

The land between the two rivers is fertile and is the heartland of the grassland royal court, where Luhunhai is located.

The Rouran army came from the south, while the Gaoche army marched south from the north.

These days of marching have essentially turned the tables on both sides.

The Rouran reached the northwest, while the Gaoche army was to the southeast of the Rouran.

Upon hearing this, a slight smile finally appeared on Yifu's face.

This was the best news he had heard in many days.

In other words, the Rouran people walked right into a natural encirclement. It was worth it for his army of over 100,000 men to divide into several routes and drive the Rouran army away like a hunting party.

Yue Ju breathed a sigh of relief. He knew his older brother was unpredictable, but thankfully he brought good news today.

"Like a god, Hou Lou Fule! The scouts have already scouted the camp where the Rouran people were stationed. Compared to last time, the number of hearths has decreased by three or four hundred. It seems that the tribes under Anagui's command felt they had no chance of winning and began a large-scale exodus!"

If nodded, while a man with fair skin, deep-set eyes, a high nose, thick hair and beard, and wearing a pointed helmet spoke up.

This was the man sent by the Hephthalites to assist If, named Batu.

He spoke the Gorky language rather awkwardly, so in the end he simply switched to the Xiongnu language and said, "The Rouran people are deliberately walking down a dead end. I'm afraid it's a trap. We should be more careful."

Ifbah, however, was unconvinced; whether it was a trap or not was completely irrelevant to him.

For him, the most important thing was to find the Rouran people.

Once the Rouran people are found...

No matter what wicked schemes the other party may have, it doesn't matter to him.

He also had sources that the great power in the Central Plains to the south had only sent a few thousand soldiers. It was quite normal for the tribes that had come to join him on the grasslands to defect after seeing that Anagui's strength was not as great as expected.

Very reasonable.

Grassland tribes may not value benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness.

They listen to whoever has the bigger fist.

Say it again!

With 150,000 against 50,000, the advantage lies with me.

If immediately gave the order.

"Full speed ahead! Send the order to those flanking forces to join me in encircling the Rouran! Don't give the Anagui tribe a chance to cross the Gen River and catch their breath!"

………………

Anagui rode his horse to a small hill and looked out from the top.

From a distance, the Genhe River can be seen as a silver dragon winding and coiling across the grassland, with the river rushing northward. The main obstacle is the gentle slopes and hills covered with dense forests on the sides of the river. With the forests and the river obstructing the flow, only about 70,000 to 80,000 people can be deployed at most. As a result, the Gaoche army cannot be fully deployed, and their advantage of having a large number of people cannot be fully utilized.

This is the place he chose for the decisive battle!

"The entire army shall set up camp!"

Another day passed, and the patrol team brought the latest news.

The Gaoche army is not far away; they will probably catch up with them in about a day.

Anagui immediately ordered his personal guards to summon the tribal chiefs and also sent men to invite the central army and the Huai Shuo army. Arriving at the Khan's tent again, Gao Yu had observed the terrain on his way there and was even more impressed with Anagui. The man truly knew the geography surrounding the royal court intimately, and the chosen location for the decisive battle was indeed suitable.

After everyone was seated.

Anagui's expression turned slightly serious as he spoke.

"I have summoned you all here today to make final preparations before the battle. Tomorrow will be the decisive battle."

Anagui's voice was booming and full of power.

"At that time, I will personally lead my 10,000 cavalry to raise the Khan's flag on the left flank. When the Gaoche people see my flag, they will surely charge towards it."

"Tutujia and Yijufa, you two will lead your elite troops to guard the central army and be ready to cooperate with the right flank to cut off the Gaoche army formation!"

After making arrangements on the Rouran side.

Anagui looked to his right, where all the generals of the Wei army who had come this time were lined up.

After many days of marching and traveling, Yuan Fu was extremely dispirited and began to completely give up. He simply used his lack of military knowledge as an excuse to spend his days reading books in his own tent, becoming a hands-off manager and delegating military command to Da Xi Wu and She Di Gan, the two leaders of the central army.

"I will send 20,000 elite troops to join the Wei army. You will be the right flank of the army. When the Gaoche army launches a full-scale attack on the Khan's flag, you will seize the opportunity to break out!"

"Yes, sir! We will obey the Great Khan's orders!"

Anagui then looked at Gao Yu.

As a member of the Wei army, Gao Yu was about to leave the military tent with his colleagues after receiving the order.

"Gao Lang, wait a minute."

Gao Yu was puzzled when Anagui suddenly called out to him. "Does the Great Khan have any further instructions?"

Anagui looked at Gao Yu, then at the Ashina brothers, and gave them instructions.

"Tumen and Shidianmi, I hereby order you two brothers to personally lead your 2,500 cavalrymen and temporarily place them under Gaolang's command! Once the great battle begins, Gaolang's orders are my military orders! You must obey them!"

The two brothers exchanged a glance, then looked at Gao Yu. Although there was some confusion in their eyes, they immediately agreed.

Gao Yu was puzzled. "Your Majesty, what does this mean?"

"Ashina Bu is the most valiant warrior under my command..."

Anagui then told Gao Yu his thoughts, "Erlang, you will lead your five hundred cavalry and the Ashina tribe, totaling three thousand. You do not need to follow the main force of the right wing. You can choose a small hill on the right side to lie in ambush. When the main force of the right wing attacks from the side, you can choose an opportunity to strike."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yu only needed a moment to think before he understood Anagui's thoughts.

The diagonal attack tactic looks promising.

In reality, the flanks have always been the focus of defense. As long as the Gaoche people are not stupid, they will definitely arrange special cavalry to defend the flanks. Once the main force on the right flank is blocked and cannot make a breakthrough, the left flank, which bears the greatest pressure, will collapse at any time.

What Gao Yu was going to do was target the right-wing reserves.

The so-called opportune moment means that if the diagonal attack on the right flank is effective, Gao Yu can join the charge at any time; if the diagonal attack on the right flank encounters obstacles, then Gao Yu needs to provide the impetus to break through the final obstruction.

Success means ascension to heaven, failure means hell.

Of course, the best-case scenario is that Gao Yu's strategic reserve force becomes ineffective.

As the art of war says: Engage with the orthodox, and win with the unorthodox.

Obviously.

Anagui intends to use Gao Yu, the sharpest blade, at the most crucial moment.

After giving the order.

Anagui held Gao Yu's hand, her words earnest, her eyes seemingly holding a thousand words, but in the end, they all boiled down to one sentence: "Erlang, my life is in your hands."

Gao Yu's expression was very solemn, "I will certainly live up to the Khan's expectations!"

"it is good!"

Anagui looked around, and thinking of the impending decisive battle, a surge of heroic spirit welled up in his heart. "Pass on my order: slaughter cattle and sheep, bring out fine wine, and feast the entire army!"

Reward the troops.

Distributing meat and fine wine, which ordinary soldiers don't usually get to eat, is a way of telling them that they have to fight to the death!

You can have a hearty meal before you die.

Providing plenty of good wine is a way to encourage the soldiers' courage!

Gao Yu returned to his military camp, bringing with him precious meat and fine wine.

"Eat to your heart's content today! Consider this an appetizer before our victory celebration banquet. When we return in triumph tomorrow, we'll drink until we're completely drunk!"

He didn't say many encouraging words.

Train your soldiers for a thousand days and use them for a moment!
It's time for this elite force, which he has meticulously trained for almost two years, to show its strength.

The Ashina brothers soon arrived with their followers to join Gao Yu.

at night.

Ashina Tumen summoned Ashina Shidian to his tent.

"This great battle is fraught with unpredictable dangers. I never imagined that even if the Khan raised his royal banner, he could only muster less than 50,000 archers. But now it's too late to say anything."

The two brothers knew the principle that it was better to offer help in times of need than to add flowers to brocade.

However, Anagui's appeal was weaker than they had imagined.

“If the war goes badly, you shall cut off my head and lead your people to surrender to the Gaoche, saying that I forced the tribe to serve the Khan in the name of the chief.”

"Brother!!"

Ashina Shidianmi's eyes were bloodshot.

At the Gaoche army's camp, Yifu was also making pre-battle preparations and rewarding his troops.

The next day.

Before dawn, Gao Yu led his five hundred cavalrymen and the Ashina tribe to set off first, disappearing into the forests and hills.

(End of this chapter)