12dz Chapter 2214 Taking the Initiative to Cover the Rear
Chapter 2214 Taking the Initiative to Cover the Rear
"I have planned this for a long time! I have gone to great lengths! I have even spared no expense..."
Under the cover of night, Li Shiming's voice suddenly deepened, with a barely perceptible tremor, but was then covered by an even more intense flame.
"They even went so far as to sacrifice General Guo Ziyi, using his life and that of eight thousand loyal and brave soldiers as bait to feign weakness and lure this young brat Chu Ning into sending out his elite troops far from his lair and deep into this perilous land of the Jianghuai region!"
"What I'm betting is the fate of the Tang Dynasty, my own life, and the blood of countless loyal ministers and righteous men!"
His gaze swept across the riverbank behind him, as if piercing the night to see the blood-stained landscape. A trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolute determination.
"General Guo's sacrifice, and the blood of his soldiers, were not shed in vain!"
"Chu Ning thought victory was assured, that I was already trapped? Little did he know, all of this was part of my plan!"
"What I've been waiting for is Chu Xuan's hidden move, and Gongsun Yi's sharp blade from the north!"
"What I want has never been to defeat the Chu army, but to bury Chu Ning, along with his elite troops who have fought countless battles, completely on the banks of this great river!"
He suddenly pointed at the Chu army, which was retreating in an orderly manner, but whose formation was obviously slightly disrupted by the appearance of a large enemy force on their flanks and rear.
The voice rose to its absolute peak, filled with unquestionable authority and a murderous aura:
"Do you see that? The Chu army is panicked! They're afraid! Because they know their retreat is cut off, and their flanks are in danger!"
"Chu Xuan's betrayal was the most fatal blow to Chu Ning's back!"
"Today, at this moment, even if the King of Heaven himself came, he couldn't save Chu Ning!"
"Preach my will!"
Li Shiming's voice boomed like thunder, making everyone around him ring in their ears:
"All troops! Immediately switch from defense to offense! Pursue them! Keep a close watch on Chu Ning's central dragon banner!"
"I don't expect you to annihilate a large number of enemies, just hold them back! Keep them occupied! Make it impossible for them to escape smoothly and retreat safely into Jianghuai City!"
He took a deep breath, as if inhaling the stench of blood and the scent of victory that filled the night air, his eyes gleaming with the light of a lone wolf:
"As long as we can hold off Chu Ning's main force, and wait for Chu Xuan's 50,000 Youzhou troops to cut in from the west, Gongsun Yi's 40,000 Scorpion Clan Iron Cavalry to break through his flank from the north, and Helian Hui's 20,000 remnants to disrupt his rear."
"With three powerful forces joining forces and attacking from both inside and outside, even if Chu Ning possesses extraordinary abilities, he will inevitably be caught in an ambush and unable to escape!"
"Then, we will capture and kill Chu Ning in one fell swoop, turn the tide, and restore our land!"
"All troops—pursue!!!"
The final order, filled with boundless hatred and a fervent desire to turn the tide, ignited the hearts of all the surviving Tang soldiers like a wildfire.
Despite being exhausted and covered in wounds.
But the emperor's inflammatory words, and the sight of the Chu army being forced to retreat due to unforeseen circumstances, were all too real.
Their long-dormant fighting spirit was rekindled, as if in a final burst of energy!
Yes!
General Guo and so many brothers cannot have died in vain!
Your Majesty's strategic planning was brilliant; you had a backup plan all along!
The dawn of victory arrived in such an unexpected way during the darkest hour!
"Kill! Pursue the Chu army! Capture and kill Chu Ning!!"
"Avenge General Guo! Avenge our fallen brothers!!"
"May the Great Tang Dynasty prosper! Long live His Majesty!!"
The deafening shouts of battle were no longer desperate cries, but roars filled with the flames of revenge and the desire for reversal!
The Tang army's remnants, which had been cowering in a defensive posture, suddenly awoke like a sleeping beast, unleashing astonishing energy.
The soldiers who could still move, whether infantry or the few remaining cavalry, had red eyes, brandished their broken weapons, forgot their pain and exhaustion, and rushed towards the retreating Chu army.
They no longer adhered to strict formations; they simply charged forward madly, using their bodies, weapons, and every means at their disposal to entangle and tear apart the Chu army's rear guard.
Especially the direction of the dragon banner, which was still conspicuous in the firelight!
The battlefield, which had just calmed down due to the order to retreat, was suddenly filled with the sounds of battle once again!
This time, however, the balance of power reversed dramatically in an instant.
Retreat and pursuit, survival and annihilation—on this night in the Jianghuai region, soaked in blood and fire, an even more brutal and chaotic struggle unfolded.
Li Shimin stood beside the imperial carriage, watching his subordinates pounce like wolves and tigers, a cold and pleased smile curving his lips.
The most thrilling chapter of this high-stakes gamble, where the world is at stake, has only just begun.
The indistinct outline of Jianghuai City was already faintly visible in the night.
However, the sudden surge of pursuit from the Tang army behind them was like a leech, relentlessly biting at the tail of the Chu army's retreat.
The originally orderly retreat began to falter due to the Tang army's relentless and frenzied attacks.
The rearguard was under immense pressure, with stragglers constantly being swallowed up by the ferocious Tang army.
Beneath the dragon banner, Chu Ning's face was so gloomy it seemed to drip water.
He listened to reports from various departments, his gaze shifting back and forth between the raging battlefield behind him and the seemingly safe Jianghuai City ahead, which in reality might harbor unknown risks due to Chu Xuan's betrayal.
Time, at this moment, has become the most luxurious and deadliest thing.
Every moment of delay brings Chu Xuan's Youzhou army and Gongsun Yi's Scorpion Clan cavalry closer together, increasing the risk of the entire army being surrounded.
We must shake off the Tang army's pursuers as soon as possible, retreat into Jianghuai City ahead of time, and rely on the city's defenses to stabilize our position!
At this critical juncture, a general spurred his horse and galloped to the emperor's presence; it was none other than General Han Xing.
His armor was covered in blood and slash marks, clearly indicating that he had just been through a fierce battle, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's.
He clasped his hands in a salute, his voice loud and urgent: "Your Majesty! The Tang army is pursuing us relentlessly, like a shadow. If we do not stop them, it will delay our entry into the city and destabilize the morale of our troops!"
"This humble general requests permission to lead 10,000 elite troops to construct a defensive line on the spot, intercept the pursuing troops, and buy time for Your Majesty and the main army to enter the city!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning's brows furrowed even more, and his sharp gaze swept over Han Xing:
"General Han, although the Tang army is exhausted, they are like cornered beasts fighting fiercely, and their momentum is extremely strong."
"You are leading only ten thousand troops to cover the rear, facing an enemy several times your size who are willing to fight to the death. You must withstand their attack in open, undefended territory. The danger is immense, I..."
"His Majesty!"
Before Chu Ning could finish speaking, Han Xing interrupted him with his head held high, his tone filled with unwavering determination and confidence.
"Precisely because the Tang army is fighting like a cornered beast, someone must strike them hard and crush their arrogance!"
"My ten thousand men are all battle-hardened soldiers, their armor is strong and their weapons are sharp, and their morale has not declined!"
"The purpose of covering the rear now is not to annihilate the enemy, but to be like an iron nail, firmly nailed to this place, so that every step Li Shiming's henchmen take will cost them blood!"