Although Baibagas Khan rejected his brother's suggestion to return to Ili, he also became more vigilant, ordering more scout riders and deeper fortifications to prevent the enemy from raiding the camp.
The night passed without incident. The rebels did not raid the camp; instead, they stayed in the forest at the end of the Taras River, waiting for an opportunity.
This idea did not come from veteran generals like Kundulun Ubashi and Mergen Temuna; with only twenty thousand remaining soldiers, they lacked the confidence to speak up. The actual command of the army was in the hands of the brothers Gunbu Yiledeng and Ursang. Their ten thousand elite soldiers were the army's greatest reliance.
Mergen Temuna asked Gunbu Yiledeng somewhat puzzled, "Nephew, the art of war lies in surprise. Why not take advantage of the enemy's initial arrival and launch a surprise attack on their camp?"
Gunbu Yiledeng smiled, "If it were ordinary people, your Nephew would definitely launch a surprise attack while they haven't established a firm foothold. But that is the Oirat tiger Baibagas, a veteran general who has fought his entire life. How could he not be prepared when setting up camp? Once a camp raid fails, it will inevitably alert the enemy. It's better to ambush them in this forest."
"As you said, Baibagas is battle-hardened. When passing through the forest, how could he not send scouts? How would you ambush him?" Mergen Temuna still didn't understand.
"Uncle is right. It is very difficult to ambush Baibagas. Your Nephew only hopes that he will fall into the trap; I'm not confident," Gunbu Yiledeng smiled even more broadly. "If Baibagas doesn't enter the ambush circle, we will walk out of the forest and form a proper battle array to fight him!"
"What! Nephew wants to form a battle array and fight the enemy?" Mergen Temuna gasped. That was Baibagas, the Oirat Great Khan who had killed Shulei Ubashi! A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger! He actually wanted to confront this fierce tiger head-on!
"Uncle need not worry. Although Baibagas is brave, we have two major advantages in a decisive battle against him: First, the enemy army has traveled a long distance and is exhausted, while our army is well-rested and waiting. Second, the enemy will never expect that we have an additional ten thousand soldiers. This is surprise!"
The Oirat tiger Baibagas arrived with twenty thousand cavalry, winding like a long snake, a continuous stream.
"Tell the men to speed up the march," the tiger ordered. Immediately, ten thousand horses galloped, creating a momentum like overturning mountains and seas. Hooves kicked up dust, and sand rolled, as if to bury all enemies.
This was the might of the Oirat Great Khan!
"On the flat sand, ten thousand horses gallop; in the vast Han Hai Desert, waves surge. Waves a thousand feet high, covering this Golden Mountain so high. If you want to know the Khan's might, look at the path before his horses. One stomp of a horse's hoof, and there is no spring grass for three years. A hundred men share one drum, a thousand men share one banner. The road is trampled with battle blood, a sheet of red glass. Tonight, there is no greater joy than winning the battle and having fun. In the left hand, holding a dead man's head; on the right side, embracing a living man's wife. Looking up at the sky, a cup of wine, the stars' light is dazzling."
The iron cavalry galloped like lightning, quickly approaching the forest at the end of the Taras River.
"Stop!"
The majestic Oirat Khan issued another military order. Twenty thousand iron cavalry reined in their horses in unison, truly worthy of being well-trained, battle-hardened soldiers.
"Great Khan, why stop?" The Khoshut fierce general Sereng Khatan Batur asked in confusion.
"Brother, this forest is dense. We must be wary of enemy ambushes," Baibagas said sternly. "Pass down my military order, send more scouts into the forest to reconnoiter."
Hundreds of scouts entered the forest to investigate. However, this forest was truly too vast, with high mountains and dense woods, making reconnaissance difficult. After searching for a while, no abnormalities were found.
"Great Khan, there are no ambushes. Let's enter the forest," Sereng Khatan Batur said.
Baibagas waved his hand. A battle-hardened veteran often has an instinctive intuition for danger. "Brother, caution is never wrong. Order the various units to bypass this forest and continue marching."
"Woo~ woo~ woo~"
The sound of horns was desolate and far-reaching. The Khoshut soldiers marched around the forest.
"Clap~ clap~ clap~"
In the forest, Gunbu Yiledeng clapped his hands in admiration, "As expected of the Oirat tiger Baibagas, he actually didn't fall into my trap!"
"Nephew, what shall we do now?" Mergen Temuna and Kundulun Ubashi asked anxiously.
"Please, the two Great Taijis, lead your units out of the forest to form a battle array and attract the enemy's attention. Ursang and I will each lead our respective units and circle around to attack the enemy's flanks and rear," Gunbu Yiledeng said.
Mergen Temuna, Kundulun Ubashi, Nuoerwei Zheng Chukur, Guyang, and Tabentai led their twenty thousand soldiers slowly out of the forest and formed a battle array.
Seeing this group of enemies that had suddenly appeared, Sereng Khatan Batur's eyes widened. "Great Khan, there were indeed ambushes in the forest. Now the enemy's strength is unclear. It's better to temporarily retreat and fight again after clarifying the enemy's situation."
"Absurd! Shameful!"
Baibagas became angry. "When did an Oirat Great Khan only know how to flee like a mole? According to intelligence, the rebel remnants are no more than twenty thousand. The enemy forming a battle array is also approximately twenty thousand. This should be their entire force. They are just a group of defeated soldiers. What is there to fear? Order the various units to charge bravely. Whoever beheads Nuoerwei Zheng Chukur will be rewarded with five thousand sheep and granted the title 'Oirat Batur'."
The commander is the courage of the generals. The rousing advance drums were beaten. Hanak Tushitu, Sereng Khatan Batur, and Buyan Hatan Batur advanced bravely at the sound of the drums.
A cornered beast's struggle is the most brutal. Mergen Temuna, Kundulun Ubashi, Nuoerwei Zheng Chukur, Guyang, Tabentai, and others were now at their wits' end, with nowhere to flee, like cornered beasts forced into a desperate situation. There was only death or battle. Moreover, they had the support of Gunbu Yiledeng and Ursang's ten thousand reinforcements, which gave them even more courage to resist.
An hour passed, and the outcome was still undecided.
During the fierce battle, Buyan Hatan Batur encountered Kundulun Ubashi and shouted in surprise, "Third brother, we are all our own brothers. Don't fight. Come with me to see Second Brother and admit your mistake. Second Brother won't hold a grudge."
"Admit my mistake?"
Kundulun Ubashi sneered, "What mistake have I made? Baibagas, as the Great Khan, violated the Oirat inheritance law and seized his Elder Brother's inheritance. He is the one who should admit his mistake!"
Buyan Hatan Batur wanted to persuade him further, but was met with a heavy saber. These blood brothers, due to their different stances, could only fight to the death.
Seeing the battle enter a stalemate, Baibagas frowned. His army was busy marching and had not eaten, while the enemy was well-rested and waiting. Prolonging the battle would be disadvantageous to his side.
He summoned his trusted and beloved general, Sainser Tengji. It was this fierce general who had ridden into the Khalkha Khoshut Tribe's central army and assassinated their Huntaiji Shulei Ubashi back then.
"My general, it is time for you to attack. The victory or defeat of the entire army rests on you," the Great Khan's voice was not loud, but every word was as heavy as a thousand jun.
"Great Khan, rest assured. Your servant will surely bring you Nuoerwei Zheng Chukur's head," Sainser Tengji saluted and left to carry out the order.
With his departure, only two thousand guards remained by Baibagas Khan's side.
The majestic Khan calmly observed the battlefield, waiting for the enemy to collapse. This Khan always had full confidence in his warriors.
Suddenly, on the horizon of the grassland, two black lines appeared, slowly converging into a tide. The two Taijis of the Torghut tribe, Gunbu Yiledeng and Ursang, each leading five thousand soldiers, appeared behind the flanks of Baibagas's army.