12dz Chapter 2078 Calm Response
Chapter 2078 Calm Response
War drums sounded outside the tent!
The drumbeats signaled the Tang army's attack, and the shouts of battle indicated that the fighting had already begun fiercely on the outer defensive line!
"Report——!"
A messenger carrying a command flag, covered in dust and panting heavily, rushed into the tent like a whirlwind, knelt on one knee, and spoke urgently and loudly:
"Reporting to the two generals! Tang general Xue Kehu is personally leading his elite infantry and cavalry in a fierce attack on our northeastern defense line!"
"The offensive is extremely fierce. The front lines are requesting instructions on how to respond!"
Upon hearing the news, Ma Chao and Han Xing exchanged a glance. Instead of panic, a sharp glint of "I knew it" flashed in their eyes.
Xue Kehu's fierce attack confirmed Han Xing's earlier prediction.
Guo Ziyi must have already learned of Li Jing's defeat. His launch of a strong attack at this moment was not aimed at winning, but most likely at containing the main force of the Chu army so that he could meet up with the remnants of Li Jing's army that were about to arrive!
"Well done!"
A fighting spirit surged in Ma Chao's eyes, and he slammed his fist on the table: "I was just looking for a chance to stretch my muscles!"
"Order the vanguard to hold the line! Archers, fire like mad! Spearmen, advance! Drive Xue Kehu back!"
Han Xing remained calm and added, "At the same time, order the cavalry on both flanks to be on alert, and be wary of Guo Ziyi's feint attack or small groups of troops attempting to infiltrate and provide support."
"Send more scouts to expand the search area, focusing on the northwest and northeast directions, to search for traces of Li Jing's remaining troops!"
"Understood!" the messenger shouted in response, then turned and rushed out of the tent.
Ma Chao and Han Xing quickly walked outside the tent and looked towards the front line where the sounds of battle were deafening; the firelight had already turned the sky red.
The battle lines, which had been calm for four days, were finally ignited by the aftershocks of the decisive victory at Zhennanguan.
Next, they will not only have to withstand Guo Ziyi's fierce attack, but also lay their nets to see if they can catch Li Jing, the big fish who is about to walk into their trap!
The deafening war drums and battle cries crashed against the fences and walls of the Chu army camp like a surging tide.
The firelight flickered in the night, illuminating the area in front of the camp as bright as day, and reflecting the fierce yet resolute faces of the soldiers on both sides.
Tang general Xue Kehu lived up to his reputation for bravery.
He led from the front, wielding a heavy axe, roaring as he commanded his elite infantry, who, like a pack of raging wolves, relentlessly attacked the northeastern corner of the Chu army's vanguard.
That was a relatively weak point in the camp, and it was also the breakthrough point carefully chosen by Xue Kehu.
"Archers, fire upwards! Suppress the stockade walls!"
"Swordsmen and shieldmen, push forward! Set up the ladders!"
"First to storm the camp! Charge! The first to enter the Chu army camp will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with a hundred taels of gold!"
Xue Kehu's roar was exceptionally clear amidst the chaos of battle, and his Tang troops, as if injected with adrenaline, charged forward madly, braving the dense arrows of the Chu army.
The massive battering ram, carried by dozens of strong soldiers, pounded against the camp gate again and again, producing a dull, resounding "thump! thump!" sound, like the heartbeat of a giant beast, tugging at the heartstrings of every defender.
Countless ladders with iron hooks were erected on the stockade walls, and the fearless Tang soldiers, with steel swords in their mouths, struggled to climb upwards.
Inside the Chu army camp, Ma Chao, fully armored, personally commanded the vanguard.
His imposing figure stood like an iron tower on the watchtower behind the camp gate, calmly observing the battle situation.
Faced with Xue Kehu's relentless and aggressive attack, he showed no fear on his face, but instead revealed a cold smile that said, "I knew it."
"Are they trying to lure me away from the mountain? Or are they trying to force me into battle?" Ma Chao's mind raced.
He and Han Xing had already analyzed that Guo Ziyi's launch of such an intense attack at this moment was not simply to defeat them, but must have a deeper purpose hidden behind it.
It is highly likely that this was to cover the operation to receive the remnants of Li Jing's troops.
"Send the order!"
Ma Chao's voice was calm as he issued a series of orders: "All archers in the vanguard, divide into three teams, take turns advancing, and fire continuously!"
"Don't be stingy with your arrows! Rain them down to within 150 paces of the camp!"
"Spearmen, hold the line behind the breach in the stockade wall and the camp gate! Axemen, prepare on both flanks; if any Tang soldiers break through, immediately advance and annihilate them!"
"Get the logs and stones ready! Aim carefully and smash them down!"
"The cavalry shall remain in the camp and await orders. Without my command, no one shall leave the camp to pursue the enemy!"
Ma Chao's instructions were clear and decisive.
His strategy was very clear: rely on strong fortified camps and defensive works to defend instead of attack, thus depleting the Tang army's manpower and morale.
Before fully understanding Guo Ziyi's true intentions, especially the exact movements of Li Jing's remnants, he would never easily send his main force out of the camp for a reckless battle.
His core mission has always been to keep Guo Ziyi's 100,000-strong army at bay, preventing them from joining forces with Li Jing or heading north to threaten His Majesty's flanks.
The battle became intense from the very beginning.
The Chu army's arrows poured out of the camp like locusts, drawing dense arcs in the air before falling into the Tang army's charging ranks with deathly screams.
Tang soldiers kept falling to the ground, wounded by arrows, but those behind them immediately stepped over their fallen comrades and roared as they continued to charge forward.
On the stockade walls, the fighting became even more intense.
Tang soldiers kept climbing over the wall with their bravery, but they were immediately pierced by the Chu army's spearmen who were waiting in battle, and fell down with screams.
Heavy logs and rolling stones crashed down from above, accompanied by a whistling wind, crushing Tang soldiers and their ladders to pieces as they tried to climb them.
The scalding hot liquid was poured down from the top of the village, and anyone who touched it immediately had their skin torn open and flesh ripped apart, emitting a piercing wail.
At the camp gate, the sounds of impact continued incessantly, and the heavy wooden door groaned in pain with each impact.
The Chu soldiers behind the door desperately used their bodies and the giant logs to hold it in place, and the two sides were locked in a struggle through the door panels.
Xue Kehu personally rushed to a spot not far from the camp gate, wielding his axe to deflect incoming arrows, and angrily urged his men to launch a fierce attack.
He tried several times to lead the charge up the siege ladder, but was forced back by the concentrated fire of the Chu army. He also suffered several arrow wounds, which, although not fatal, only fueled his ferocity.
"Kill! Charge in for me!"
Xue Kehu's eyes were bloodshot with rage. His orders were to launch a fierce attack at all costs to draw the attention of the main Chu army.
Seeing the fierce resistance of the Chu army and the tight defense of their camp, he was anxious but helpless.
Time slipped away slowly amidst the bloody battles.
Although Xue Kehu's offensive was fierce, it was never able to truly shake the foundation of the Chu army's camp due to the Chu army's tight defense and ample preparation.
They could only reach the edge of the camp at most, unable to actually break through and storm into the camp.
Under Ma Chao's command, the Chu army was like a hedgehog covered in thorns, leaving Xue Kehu, the fierce tiger, with nowhere to bite and instead leaving him with bloodied hands from the thorns.