12dz Chapter 2075 All devoted themselves to serving their country
Chapter 2075 All devoted themselves to serving their country
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The generals shouted in unison, their voices louder and more resonant than before, filled with conviction and excitement.
Seeing that the ministers had no further objections, Chu Ning showed a satisfied expression. He slightly raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
Then, his gaze softened as he swept over the generals who had fought and bled for him and for the Great Chu.
"The victory in this battle was entirely due to the bravery of the generals and the selfless sacrifice of the soldiers."
"Ran Ming fought head-on and broke through the enemy's central army; Zhao Yu made a swift attack and turned the tide of the battle; Guan Yun pursued the fleeing enemy and killed generals to avenge the defeat."
"Xue Huaide and his son struck directly at the enemy's heartland, cutting off their supplies. General Feng held the pass firmly and pursued the remaining enemy. Your contributions will never be forgotten by me and the court!"
He spoke sincerely, with praise and gratitude, saying, "In the coming period, all units should prioritize recuperation, compensation for the wounded and injured, and training of troops."
"Regarding the reward of meritorious soldiers, I have ordered the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel to expedite the review and approval process, and an imperial edict will be issued soon."
Upon hearing this, the generals felt a surge of warmth in their hearts and bowed again in gratitude.
Finally, Chu Ning's expression turned serious again. He looked out into the deep night, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of concern and expectation:
"Furthermore, order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to send additional men to ascertain the battle situation on Generals Ma Chao and Han Xing's side as quickly as possible and report back immediately!"
He paused, his voice echoing in the hall: "Ma Chao and Han Xing led an army of 100,000 to block Guo Ziyi's 100,000 Tang troops on the northern front. The outcome should be clear by now."
This simple sentence shifted everyone's focus from the immediate victory to another crucial battlefield concerning the entire strategic layout.
With the victory at Zhennanguan secured, if we can also receive good news from the northern front, the foundation of the Great Chu's hegemony will be more solid than ever before.
The atmosphere inside the hall, which had just relaxed a little, quietly tightened again because of this new expectation.
Meanwhile, more than a hundred miles north of Zhennanguan.
On a vast and somewhat desolate open plain, the last rays of the setting sun cast their final warmth upon the earth.
On the plain, two massive military camps faced each other from afar, like two lurking beasts, the air thick with the tension and oppression of the eve of a great battle.
Banners fluttered in the evening breeze, and one side could be vaguely seen to be the flag of the Tang army, while the other side was the battle flag of the Chu army.
Inside the central command tent of the Tang army camp.
General Guo Ziyi stood alone in front of the huge cowhide map, deep in thought.
He was about forty years old, and his face was somewhat thin due to his long military career. His skin was a bronze color from years of exposure to the elements.
His cheeks were strong, his jaw was clenched, and he exuded an undeniable determination.
Beneath his thick eyebrows, his eyes were deep and calm, but now they were slightly furrowed, revealing his inner solemnity and anxiety.
Although he was not wearing armor and was only dressed in a simple blue casual uniform, his upright posture and the lingering majesty between his brows still made people feel the extraordinary demeanor of this middle-aged general.
His finger moved slowly across the map, finally stopping at the location representing Zhennan Pass, before tracing back to the nameless plain where he was currently located.
He had been leading his 100,000-strong army, but they had been held back for four whole days by an equal number of Chu troops led by Chu generals Ma Chao and Han Xing!
Over the course of four days, the two sides engaged in several probing exchanges and small-scale skirmishes, with each side experiencing victories and defeats, but neither side was able to achieve a decisive breakthrough.
Ma Chao was a valiant and cunning commander, while Han Xing was calm and experienced. The two worked together seamlessly, guarding the road to Zhennan Pass without leaving any gaps.
Guo Ziyi tried flanking maneuvers, ambushes, and even night raids, but all of them were thwarted by the enemy.
"Four days..."
Guo Ziyi silently recited the words in his heart, and an ominous premonition loomed over his mind like a dark cloud.
He was ordered to advance eastward, aiming to join forces with Marshal Li Jing's main force at Zhennan Pass, thus creating a pincer movement against the Chu army. Now, having been blocked here for so long, he has already missed his chance to strike.
If we cannot break through Ma Chao and Han Xing's defenses as soon as possible and join up with Marshal Li Jing in time, not only will we be unable to achieve our strategic objectives, but we may even find ourselves in danger because Li Jing's troops are isolated and unable to break through the defenses after a prolonged siege.
He could almost hear the deafening battle cries coming from the direction of Zhennanguan and see the towering smoke rising into the sky.
Just as he was staring at the mark on the map that represented the Chu army's defense line, racking his brains for a way to defeat the enemy, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent, accompanied by the low shouts and obstructions of his personal guards.
"General! There's an urgent military situation!"
The guards reported loudly outside the tent, their voices carrying an unusual tension.
Guo Ziyi frowned and said in a deep voice, "Come in!"
The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and a soldier covered in blood, with torn armor and a face full of dust staggered in and fell to his knees with a thud.
He was breathing heavily, and many wounds on his body were still bleeding, clearly indicating that he had gone through an extremely fierce battle and a desperate escape to reach this place.
Guo Ziyi's expression changed abruptly, and the ominous premonition in his heart instantly intensified.
He recognized the attire; it was the uniform of Li Shuai's elite scouts!
He stood up abruptly, his voice tense without him even realizing it:
"What happened? Why are you in this state? Tell me!"
The soldier raised his head, his face a mixture of blood, sweat, and extreme fear. His voice was hoarse and trembling, on the verge of tears:
"General Guo... General Guo! Something terrible has happened!"
"I...I am the captain of the third scout battalion under Commander Li Jing. I have been ordered to break through the encirclement at all costs and come to report to the general!"
He took a deep breath, as if he had used up all his strength, before he uttered that earth-shattering news:
"Our army...our army fought a fierce battle with the main force of the Chu army for three days at Zhennan Pass."
"An army of 250,000...the entire army...the entire army has been wiped out! Now...now the survivors are less than...less than tens of thousands!"
"what?"
Guo Ziyi felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. His vision went black, and he swayed. He managed to keep his composure by pressing his hand against the table.
An army of 250,000!
That's almost half of the Tang Dynasty's elite troops!
How can it be? !
The soldier continued to weep, each word striking Guo Ziyi's heart like a hammer blow:
"General Wang Zhongsi fought bravely and died for his country! General Gao Xianzhi was killed in battle! General Liu Hongji also died on the battlefield while covering the main force's retreat!"
"Generals, you have all... you have all served your country with utmost loyalty!"
He almost cried out at the end: "Marshal Li Jing, the marshal is gathering his remaining troops and retreating towards... towards you, General!"
"The Chu cavalry are hot on their heels! General Guo! Quickly find a way to support the marshal!"
These successive pieces of bad news swept through the entire military tent like a storm.
Guo Ziyi never expected that the battle at Zhennanguan would yield such results!