The impact of cavalry is powerful, especially heavy cavalry, which in ancient times was equivalent to tanks and armored vehicles in later generations.

But the gap between the considerable and the same is also very large, and the Wuhan Iron and Steel Chariot, the Horse Rejection, the Iron Tribulus Terrestris, the trenches, and even the spear formations and crossbowmen of the infantry can all fight against the cavalry.

Therefore, the use of cavalry to charge into battle is not a common method of warfare, at least when the opponent's battle formation is strict and there is no chaos and vacillation, it is rarely used.

The Flower Hat Army played in a similar way to the Mongol Army, and in the face of the Rebels with poor weapons and equipment, they usually used strong bows to strike at long distances. In the fashionable name of later generations, it is called "non-contact warfare".

In this way, one team of the Flower Hats rushed closer to the enemy's line, throwing bows and arrows at the enemy, and after a few rounds, they quickly turned back, and the other team went up again, and so on, so that the enemy was always under the killing of bows and arrows.

The rebels had very few cavalry, and they couldn't catch up if they wanted to, and they couldn't retreat far. When the casualties reach a certain level, the battle formation is scattered, and the soldiers are afraid, the Flower Hat Army either flanks detours, or the whole army presses up to charge, and completes the fatal blow.

But in the face of the Red Turban Army, this tactic ran into trouble, making it unable to play its due effect.

First of all, the Red Turban Army has Wuhan Iron and Steel Vehicles and rejects horses, which can make the Flower Hat Army unable to approach easily;

Secondly, the Red Turban Army has meteor cannons and flying thunder cannons, which surpass the bows and arrows of the Flower Hat Army in range, and even the rear army of the Flower Hat Army may be hit;

Finally, the quality of the Red Turban Army, when it is well equipped, can persist in fighting and will not be easily chaotic and defeated.

Therefore, Zhang Hui's decision to retreat temporarily was more sensible. It has already become a war of attrition, the cavalry cannot play to their strengths, and it will be impulsive and reckless to fight any longer.

Besides, Zhang Hui has another idea. That is, to retreat in stride, to induce the enemy to pursue, to widen the distance between the divisions, and then to use the cavalry's mobility to defeat the enemy by making a detour or a flank attack.

This tactic is similar to the Mongol army's large-space retreat and encirclement, or retreat and ambush.

Either way, you may drag the enemy down, then seize the fighter, eliminate the weak parts of it, shake the enemy's morale, and then take advantage of the situation to crush the enemy.

But Zhang Hui's plan was very good, but the Red Turban Army did not act according to his idea.

It is still steady and steady, step by step for the camp to advance, still along the main road, the three teams of men and horses are equal to advancing in unison, slowly pressing towards Zizhou.

After Zhang Hui retreated and joined up with Guo Zhongyuan's main force, he was also a little helpless in the face of the stupid tactics of the Red Turban Army.

In order for cavalry to be mobile, it is natural that the wider the space, the better. If the territory is narrow, the cavalry's mobility advantage cannot be exerted, and it can only be forced.

The Red Turban Army concentrated on the main road and advanced, and the three roads went hand in hand, constantly building camps, which greatly limited the space and room for maneuver of the Flower Hat Army.

In addition, the terrain of Zizhou is high in the south and low in the north, the mountains on the east and west flanks are undulating, and most of the south is mountainous and hilly, which is not beneficial to the cavalry.

Guo Zhongyuan then sent Zhang Hui to attack another enemy. After a hard battle, the losses were not small, but only a camp was captured, forcing the enemy to retreat slightly.

Defeat is not defeated, because there are camps not far away that can be relied on to defend strongly; Even if the Flower Hat Army can intersperse detours and completely annihilate a part of the Red Turban Army, it is only a battalion of men and horses at most.

However, the Flower Hat Army has to pay a great price for this, and there are enemy troops pressing on it, which cannot fundamentally change the situation of the war.

"The enemy knows that our army does not have many troops, so he uses this stupid tactic with the intention of constantly depleting our army." Guo Zhongyuan finally understood the essence of the enemy's tactics, "As long as it is not a major rout, even if it is several times the price of our army, the enemy will eventually be able to achieve its goal." ”

Zhang Hui has experienced two battles, and has already lost seven or eight hundred men and horses, and he agrees with Guo Zhongyuan's judgment, and he doesn't want to fight the enemy like this anymore.

"The Red Turban Army is different from other thieves, although its combat strength is not as good as our army, but it has the advantage of numbers, sharp artillery, and strong will, and it is not easy to make it a big rout."

Of course, Guo Zhongyuan knew that it was not easy, but he had to find a way to stop the continuous advance of the enemy army, even if it was only one or two miles a day, how many days would it take to reach the city of Zizhou?

Besides, it's no longer a matter of dealing with the Red Turbans alone. According to the news from Tanma, Li Quan's department also began to encircle Zizhou.

Li Quanneng survived the turbulent times at the end of the Jin Dynasty, was defeated and fought repeatedly, and became a hero, of course, he had brains and ability.

On the one hand, he responded to cooperate with Meng Jiucheng, hoping to gain benefits in the Battle of Zizhou; On the one hand, he didn't want to fight head-on with the Flower Hat Army and lose too much of his own troops.

Therefore, Li Quan adopted a clever or cunning tactical play. This tactical style of play is very similar to the Red Turban Army's current slow advance and more camps, but it is more like a blockade and blockade, forming a posture of large encirclement.

Moreover, Li Quan also received the guidance in Meng Jiucheng's letter, and divided the troops into several thousand-man teams, separated by five or six miles, from Binzhou in the north and Qingzhou in the east, and pressed over by two routes.

The defeat of a thousand-man team, even two or three, will not easily cause the entire army to retreat. If it is to concentrate forces for a decisive battle with the Flower Hat Army, the risk is greatly increased, and it may be a complete defeat.

"If we can't stop the advance of the enemy army, Zizhou will be lost, and our army will be defeated."

Guo Zhongyuan knew that it was not possible to retreat to the city, first of all, the cavalry had no place to play, and secondly, the Red Turban Army's ability to attack the fortified position seemed to be terrifying.

Moreover, if we can't come up with a solution as soon as possible, the Flower Hat Army may be surrounded by the Red Turban Army and the Red Jacket Army. Even if you can rush out, I'm afraid you will lose most of it.

Zhang Hui had no choice but to remain silent.

From the failure to reinforce Laiwu, to the current invincibility of several battles, the Flower Hat Army has lost nearly 1,000 men and horses, 30% went to 10%, can 2,000 cavalry turn the situation around?

Even if all the defenders of Zizhou are transferred out, taking advantage of Li Quan's slow advance, and fighting the Red Turban Army first, there will be a time difference, what are the chances of success?

Guo Zhongyuan thought about it and found that it was difficult to crack the tactics of the Red Turban Army.

The difference in strength is too great, nearly ten times the strength of his own, not including Li Quan's Red Jacket Army.

Moreover, the enemy's weapons and tenacity are far superior to those of the rebels they have fought with, and it is almost impossible to defeat them in one fell swoop.

But if it drags on like this, it's about the same as chronic suicide. Waiting for the enemy army to advance under the city of Zizhou - suddenly, Guo Zhongyuan was thoughtful and fell into a long thought.

For a long time, Guo Zhongyuan slapped his thigh, and there was only this way. There is no guarantee of an outright victory, but there is always a chance of winning. He had no other plan.