On September 26, 1908, the main force of 26,000 troops of the 2nd Field Army of Duke Matafaria of the Ethiopian Army arrived in the southeastern town of Kolahe. On that day, on the south and west sides of Korahhei, two infantry divisions of the Italian Somali Regiment and a number of indigenous troops totaling more than 50,000 people, this large army, driven by the veteran of the Italian army, Aldiye, was ready to move, trying to break through the Korah-Kebridhar line in one fell swoop, and open the door to the second largest city and foreign trade center in Ethiopia, Dre Dawa.

In the city of Cohela, in a luxurious mansion that had just been requisitioned as the headquarters of the legion, Duke Matafaria, who was in the prime of life, reclined in his chair and listened attentively to the report of the intelligence staff officer.

"The 2nd Italian Division is in front of our army, 20 kilometers from us, the 3rd Division is to the west of our army, 35 kilometers from me, and the indigenous army is deployed on the flanks of two divisions. The main four infantry brigades and two cavalry regiments of our regiment are all in Cohera, in addition, the original defenders of Cohela are 2,000 regular troops and 4,000 militia of the Marquis of Saniri, 1,500 regular troops and 6,000 militia of the Marquis of Belu are stationed in Kebridhar, 30 kilometers to the north, and 3,000 militia guerrillas of the Count of Tokson behind enemy lines. ”

After hearing this, the duke took a leisurely sip of coffee, and then turned to his Chinese adviser Li Xiuping: "Li, what do you think?" ”

"I think I can take the initiative to attack and catch the enemy by surprise."

"Tell me, how do you take the initiative?"

Li Xiuping walked to the large map hanging on the wall and pointed to a valley with contour lines to the south of Korahi: "I came here last year, and this is the only way for the enemy to approach Korahi from the south, and I thought that I could set up an ambush here. ”

Duke Matafaria shrugged: "Vasa Valley, I know the way, but it's just a small pass, the slope is gentle, and it's easy to be detoured. ”

"You can use cavalry ambushes there, intercept and kill the enemy's vanguard, and leave after the fight, with the goal of killing and injuring the enemy's vitality."

"No, my goal is not to be the vanguard of the enemy." Duke Matafaria twisted the cross around his neck and shook his head slightly.

"I'm going to fight a bigger battle." The Duke got up and walked over to the map, covering the entire Korahhe-Kebridhar region with one palm.

"What is the Duke's plan?"

"I will use the strength of the Second Army to destroy the entire Italian-Somali Army, first concentrate on defeating the Second Division, and then turn around and annihilate the Third Division under the city of Kolahei, as for those Somalis, it will be enough for the 30,000 militia I brought to deal with them."

Li Xiuping carefully persuaded: "Lord Duke, this is too risky...... Besides, the Emperor's order is for us to stick to Korahhe, and once Korah is lost......"

Duke Matafaria shook his head and smiled: "I know the army I lead, I know the land I defend, this place was conquered by me and Duke Maconnan back then, Li, you have to make a good record, and let your emperor know how the Abyssinians fought when you go back!" ”

Having said that, Li Xiuping feels that there is nothing to suggest anymore, after all, his identity is just a consultant, and the other party can speak freely when he wants to consult, and when others don't want you to talk, don't say it's good, and it's wrong to say more.

At dawn the next day, Duke Matafaria personally led the main force of the Second Field Army with 48 cannons to leave the city of Cohra and prepare for battle in the valley of Vasse, 10 kilometers south of the city.

According to Li Xiuping's records, the deployment of the Ethiopian army on that day was as follows:

Left flank - the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5,000 men, with 12 mountain guns, hidden behind the cliffs on the east side of the valley;

Mobile teams - the 5th and 6th Cavalry Regiments, 3,000 men, concealed behind a gentle slope on the eastern side of the valley;

Right flank - 14th and 15th Infantry Brigades, 10,000 men, with 24 mountain guns, concealed behind a gentle slope on the west side of the valley.

Reserve - 12th Infantry Brigade, 5,000 men, with 12 howitzers deployed in the middle of the valley, 10,000 militia from the Duke of Matafaria on the left and right.

Lure the enemy - 100 cavalry and 3,000 lightly armed militia led by Hatu, the second son of the Duke of Matafaria.

……

"The plan is perfect, the enemy will take the bait, the Duke of Matafaria was so convinced of his own judgment that when it was reported that the two infantry brigades on the right flank had collapsed from behind by the enemy attack, he spat nonchalantly at the man who came to report it, and ordered his men to drag the unlucky man out of the gang and whip him with a leather whip......"

Li Xiuping witnessed the crushing defeat of the Second Army, but what he could see was actually very limited.

What the truth of history is is not important to Li Xiuping.

Perhaps it was an internal intelligence leak, perhaps it was the inspiration of the Italian commander, or perhaps the newly conquered Muslims in the area took the initiative to give advice to the Italian army that had come to "liberate" them...... In any case, the Italian army did not fall into the pocket formation carefully set up by the Duke of Matafaria, but on the contrary, sneaked behind the flank of the Egyptian army and caught the Egyptian army off guard.

If Li Xiuping were God, or if he had the right to move freely and could ride a fast horse around the battlefield at will, he would have been able to see the following scene at that time:

The 14th and 15th Brigades, which were lying in ambush in a dense formation behind the hillside on the west side of the valley, suddenly heard the sound of artillery behind the Italian artillery firing covertly from behind the small dirt slope diagonally opposite the Egyptian position, and the shells fell in the middle of the densely packed Egyptian troops on the hillside, causing astonishing casualties and confusion, at the same time, at least 2,000 cavalry (many of them Muslim cavalry in turbans) shouted and launched an assault, and behind the sand with horses' hooves raised, countless neatly arranged infantry columns loomed.

Before the Italian cavalry could approach, the 14th and 15th Brigades of the Egyptian army, which had been stunned by the dense artillery fire falling from the sky, had already begun to disperse, and the commander of the right wing, Marquis Ansel, had personally executed several deserters before dying at the feet of the other deserters. More than half of the officers and men of the 14th and 15th Brigades crossed the top of the slope and fled into the valley intended to be the grave of the Italian army, and those who did not escape into the valley either died under artillery fire and sabers, or surrendered on their knees, and the 24 cannons on the position fell into the hands of the enemy before firing a few shells.

When the Duke of Matafaria saw the deserters and the Italian cavalry rushing to the top of the western side of the valley, he finally realized the gravity of the situation, and it was clear that his brilliant plan had failed.

"Lord Duke, the matter has come to this, it is important to preserve your strength, hurry up and withdraw to Korahi."

Li Xiuping suggested this to the duke at that time.

"No, I didn't fail, I still have 3000 strong highland cavalry, the cavalry of the Italians is not cavalry, they are just a herd of pigs on horseback!"

The Duke ignored Li Xiuping's suggestion and ordered two cavalry regiments, originally set up behind the gentle slope on the east side of the valley, to rush to the western slope of the valley to drive out the Italian cavalry and recapture the lost artillery.