12dz Chapter 2188 In Danger
Chapter 2188 In Danger
"His Majesty!"
Xue Huaide rode up, his silver-white hair and beard fluttering in the wind, his face full of solemnity:
"It's Helian Hui! That old fox has indeed come! Your Majesty, please return to the city immediately. This humble general will lead the army to cover the rear!"
Chu Ning did not respond immediately.
He quickly surveyed the battlefield: although his side had just won, they had suffered considerable losses in the bloody battle with the Tang army, and their soldiers were exhausted.
Although the White Dragon Cavalry was brave, the horse's stamina was nearing its limit after continuous charges.
Xue Huaide's fresh troops were well-organized, but they were mostly infantry, and they were at a clear disadvantage against 30,000 Scorpion Clan cavalry on the plains.
More importantly, they were on their way back to the city, their formation was loose, and they had their backs to the enemy.
If they panic and rush back to the city now, the Scorpion Clan cavalry will pursue them from behind, resulting in a catastrophic defeat.
"We can't go back to the city." Chu Ning slowly shook his head, his voice frighteningly calm.
"His Majesty!"
Xue Huaide said urgently, "If we don't return to the city, are we supposed to fight the Scorpion Clan cavalry in the open field on the plains? We..."
"It is precisely because they are cavalry that they can easily catch up with us."
Chu Ning interrupted him, her gaze sweeping across the surrounding terrain like a hawk's: "If we keep heading back to the city now, we'll only be hunted down to death."
"The only way out is to defend the place, stabilize the situation, and then plan for the future."
He paused, then sternly ordered: "Order the entire army—cease entering the city! Immediately form ranks and defend!"
"The White Dragon Cavalry are responsible for flank maneuvers and are ready to counter-charge at any time!"
"Xue Dingshan's infantry, immediately form a circular formation, shields facing outwards, spears in position!"
"General Xue, you lead the remaining troops to fill the gaps in the formation, and all archers are to nock their crossbows!"
A series of orders were issued in rapid succession.
Chu Ning's voice remained steady, but every word carried immense weight.
Xue Huaide was taken aback at first, then a look of admiration flashed in his eyes.
Your Majesty is right—to flee now is to commit suicide. Only by fighting to the death can we have a chance of survival.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Xue Huaide clasped his hands in a fist salute and immediately spurred his horse to organize the defense.
The command was transmitted swiftly.
Although the Chu army had just fought a bloody battle and was exhausted, they were disciplined and had a strong ability to execute orders.
Under the generals' hoarse commands, the soldiers quickly abandoned their attempt to enter the city and turned to form ranks.
At the forefront, Xue Dingshan's 10,000 infantrymen quickly formed twelve huge circular formations, each with about 800 men.
The shields stood linked together like a wall, spears peeked out from the gaps, and archers took their positions within the formation. This was a standard defensive cavalry formation.
On both flanks, three thousand White Dragon Riders regrouped.
Although their warhorses were exhausted, the cavalrymen's eyes remained sharp, lances in hand, ready to counterattack at any moment.
In the rear, Xue Huaide's remaining troops filled the gaps in the formation, while simultaneously gathering the routed soldiers and reorganizing them.
The entire conversion process took no more than fifteen minutes.
When Helian Hui's 30,000 Scorpion Clan cavalry charged to within two miles, the Chu army had already completed its defensive deployment.
At the forefront of the Scorpion Clan cavalry, Helian Hui reined in his horse, his eagle eyes sweeping over the Chu army's defensive formation, a hint of surprise flashing in them.
He originally thought that the Chu army had just experienced a bloody battle and was about to return to the city, so their formation must be in disarray and their morale must be low.
With a single charge of his 30,000 iron cavalry, he could crush them, and then take advantage of the chaos to storm Jianghuai City—that would be a tremendous achievement, enough to allow the Scorpion Clan to get a share of the spoils in the Central Plains.
Unexpectedly, Chu Ning reacted so quickly, and the Chu army was so disciplined.
"interesting!"
Helian Hui stroked his stubble and a sinister smile crept across his face: "That kid Chu Ning is definitely not someone to be trifled with."
Beside him, the Scorpion Clan general Hulun rode forward: "Khan, the Chu army has already formed ranks. A direct charge might result in casualties, perhaps..."
"Not as good as what?"
Helian Hui glanced at him sideways: "Wait for them to recover? Wait for the Tang army to reorganize their attack?"
"Hulun, remember this—on the grasslands, once a wolf has its eye on its prey, it will bite it to death in one bite and never give it a chance to breathe."
He paused, then drew his longsword, its blade gleaming with a ghostly blue light in the morning sun—a sign that it had been poisoned.
"Issue the order to the entire army."
Helian Hui's voice turned cold: "Divide into three teams and take turns attacking the Chu army's formation."
"Do not charge straight at the front of the circular formation. Focus on the junctions, shoot the warhorses, and cut their legs and feet!"
"Remember—our goal is not to annihilate the Chu army, but to hold them back, wear them down, and wait for the Tang army to recover so we can attack them from both sides!"
"Order!"
The Scorpion Clan cavalry quickly changed formation, splitting into three 10,000-strong units arranged in a triangular pattern.
Helian Hui personally led the central army, pointing his long sword forward:
"Warriors of the grasslands—show these people from the Central Plains what true cavalry is!"
"Roar--!"
Thirty thousand Scorpion Clan cavalry roared in unison, their voices like thunder.
They started simultaneously, their warhorses galloping like three black torrents, sweeping towards the Chu army's defensive formation!
Chu Ning had already returned to the central army.
He sat upright on his white horse, the black dragon banner fluttering behind him. Gazing at the scorpion cavalry surging towards him like a tidal wave, his eyes held no fear, only a chilling killing intent.
"Helian Hui!" Chu Ning murmured to himself, "Now that you're here, then—don't even think about leaving."
He slowly raised the Shangfang sword.
On the gentle slope in the distance, Li Shiming opened his eyes.
He gazed at the two armies about to clash, a cold smile playing on his lips.
The mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole is behind.
And now, the oriole is in position.
We're just waiting for... when both sides are severely injured.
This decisive battle, which would determine the fate of the Central Plains, has become unpredictable once again due to the intervention of the Scorpion Clan.
The ultimate victor will be the one who is the most patient, the most ruthless, and the most...unscrupulous.
at the same time.
On the city tower of the east gate of Jianghuai City, Feng Mulan held her sword with one hand and the crenellation with the other, her red armor gleaming in the morning light.
Her phoenix eyes widened as she stared intently at the billowing dust coming from the southeast outside the city, at the menacing scorpion banner, and at the 30,000 cavalrymen rushing towards the rear of the Chu army like a black torrent.
"It's the Scorpion Clan!"
Feng Mulan's voice was icy, and her knuckles turned white from gripping the sword: "That old fox Helian Hui has finally come after all."
She turned abruptly, her crimson cloak fluttering in the morning breeze: "Send the order! Gather ten thousand Xuanjia Iron Cavalry, open the city gates, and follow me out of the city to meet His Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Guan Yun strode forward, planted his sword on the ground, and sternly dissuaded her.
The warrior's armor was covered in scratches, and the penetrating wound on his left shoulder was hastily bandaged and still bleeding, but his eyes remained sharp as knives.
He said urgently, "General Xue Huaide is stationed outside the city to command, General Xue Dingshan is leading his troops to protect His Majesty, and there are also three thousand White Dragon Cavalry accompanying the emperor."
"With Commander Xue's abilities and our army's defensive formation, holding off the Scorpion Clan cavalry for a while is absolutely no problem!"
Feng Mulan frowned: "But His Majesty has just gone through a bloody battle, and the soldiers are exhausted. If they are entangled by the Scorpion Clan cavalry and then counterattacked by the Tang army, I'm afraid we won't be able to withstand it!"