12dz Chapter 2061 The God of War Has Escaped
Chapter 2061 The God of War Has Escaped
Li Jing suddenly raised his head. Although there was still lingering frustration and pain in his eyes, there was more of a decision he was forced to make in a desperate situation.
No more hesitation!
If this drags on any longer, not only will Wang Zhongsi's rearguard action be meaningless, but he himself and the main force of this camp may also be completely left behind!
"Send the order!"
Li Jing's voice was hoarse, but it carried an undeniable determination. He pushed away the guards who were helping him and stood up straight.
"The vanguard has selected five thousand elite soldiers, led by Lieutenant General Li Ben, to hold off Zhao Yu's White Horse Cavalry at all costs!"
"Even if we fight to the last man, we must not retreat a single step!"
His gaze swept over the pale-faced generals in the tent, he took a deep breath, and almost gritted his teeth as he gave the final order:
"All other units, immediately abandon all supplies in the main camp, carrying only your personal armor and rations, travel light and follow me to break out through the north gate! Set off immediately, without delay!"
"General! What about the provisions and siege equipment..." a general in charge of logistics couldn't help but speak up.
"Abandoned! Abandoned them all!"
Li Jing interrupted sharply, "Things have come to this point, there's no turning back! Preserving our strength is the best priority!"
"As long as people are alive and the core of the army remains, there is still a chance to make a comeback! Quickly! Execute the military order!"
"Follow the order!"
The generals responded with a resounding roar, though their hearts were filled with resentment and shame, they understood that this was the only option to minimize losses.
The tent instantly sprang into action, with messengers rushing out and horns blaring mournfully, signaling the retreat order that echoed throughout the camp.
Li Jing glanced one last time at the red marker on the sand table representing the Chu army's power, which seemed to be constantly expanding, and a deep pain and humiliation flashed in his eyes.
He then turned abruptly, strode out of the tent, and merged into the chaotic retreat.
Fires suddenly erupted in the Tang army camp, as the rearguard burned supplies they couldn't take with them, illuminating the backs of the main Tang army force as they hastily retreated north.
This also marked the end of this meticulously planned offensive, which ended in a crushing defeat and a humiliating retreat for the Tang army.
Under the cover of darkness, the firelight, as red as blood, illuminated the battlefield surrounding the Tang army camp in a desolate manner.
Zhao Yu, clad in silver armor and a white robe, stood atop a slightly elevated earthen slope, his sharp gaze sweeping across the entire battlefield like that of a hawk.
His White Horse cavalry had just completed a sharp infiltration, once again scattering the Tang army that was trying to stabilize its position.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat, and the panting of warhorses mingled with the cries of wounded soldiers.
Suddenly, Zhao Yu's eyes narrowed.
He noticed unusual activity deep within the Tang army camp—the troops that had been holding the camp were rapidly retreating, and unusual dust was rising near the north gate of the camp, signs of a large-scale troop movement.
More obviously, although the Tang army resisting at the front lines remained tenacious, their determination to fight to the death was too strong, making it seem more like they were trying to buy time at any cost.
"Want to run?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhao Yu's lips.
He instantly understood Li Jing's intentions.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Tang army commander wanted to make a drastic decision, leaving a portion of his troops to cover the rear while the main force escaped.
"Send the order!"
Zhao Yu's voice was clear and resonant, yet filled with a murderous aura, instantly drowning out the clamor of the battlefield:
"The vanguard will change formation and launch a wedge attack, crushing these Tang troops covering the rear!"
"No need to hold back, no need to be stingy with horses, I will break through their defenses within fifteen minutes!"
"Order!"
The messenger beside him responded loudly, waving his command flag, and the distinctive bugle call immediately resounded throughout the battlefield.
Upon receiving the order, the White Horse Cavalry moved swiftly, their previously scattered formation quickly regrouping. Like a silver-white sword meticulously forged by a master craftsman, they plunged headlong into the Tang army's rearguard position with unstoppable momentum.
Arrows rained down like locusts, and swords flashed like snowflakes; each charge brought forth a shower of blood.
However, Zhao Yu knew that simply defeating these abandoned rearguard units was far from enough.
If Li Jing were to lead the main force of the Tang army to a safe retreat, today's victory would be greatly diminished. Given time, he would surely be able to regroup and become a major threat once again.
He abruptly turned his horse around, looked at his lieutenant following closely behind, and spoke rapidly, his instructions clear:
"You, immediately select two of the fastest scouts, take my command arrow, and return to Zhennan Pass as quickly as possible to report to General Feng Anguo!"
The lieutenant listened intently.
Zhao Yu continued, "Inform General Feng that Li Jing has abandoned his camp and fled north. His rearguard is under heavy attack by our troops and is about to be annihilated!"
"However, our army consists entirely of cavalry. After a day of fierce fighting, both men and horses are exhausted, and our forces are limited, making it difficult to independently encircle and pursue Li Jing's main force."
"I earnestly request General Feng to immediately dispatch the reserve troops within the pass to rush to our aid and join forces with our troops in a pincer attack. This may expand our gains. If we can capture and kill Li Jing, the situation in the south will be settled!"
"I will finally understand!"
The lieutenant clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, then immediately turned and summoned two of the most elite light cavalry scouts, repeating Zhao Yu's orders once more.
They took the command token, mounted their fastest warhorses, and sped off like arrows towards Zhennan Pass.
Having done all this, Zhao Yu turned his gaze back to the battlefield, pointing his gleaming silver spear forward:
"Soldiers, don't let a single one of these Tang dogs escape! Kill!"
Zhennanguan Pass, perched majestically in a strategic location, resembles a silent behemoth in the twilight.
On the wall, Feng Anguo, clad in heavy armor, frowned and kept gazing into the distance where shouts of battle were coming from.
Although he received news that His Majesty and his daughter were temporarily safe, the situation of the war was still uncertain, and he remained on edge.
Inside the pass, the only 8,000 reserve troops were already fully prepared and ready to go. This was his last remaining strength, and also his trump card to ensure the safety of Zhennan Pass and to deal with any emergencies.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and shouts from the guards came from below the pass.
Soon, a captain rushed up the city wall and knelt on one knee: "Report! General, General Zhao Yu has sent a scout with an urgent report!"
"Send it quickly!" Feng Anguo's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned around.
Two weary and sweaty scouts were brought in. One of them presented Zhao Yu's command arrow with both hands, panting as he reported:
"General Feng! General Zhao has ordered us to report urgently! Li Jing has led the main force of the Tang army to abandon camp and flee north, leaving only a small force to cover their retreat!"
"General Zhao is leading his troops in a fierce attack on Li Jing's rearguard, but his cavalry is exhausted and may find it difficult to pursue Li Jing's main force alone."
"General Zhao earnestly requests that you immediately dispatch troops to jointly attack Li Jing and achieve complete victory!"
Feng Anguo took the command token and, after a brief examination, knew whether it was genuine or not.
His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his previous worries and anxieties were instantly replaced by a huge sense of opportunity and a strong fighting spirit.
Did Li Jing run away?
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!
If we can defeat the Great Tang's military genius, it will be much easier to conquer the Great Tang in the future!