12dz Chapter 1991 Unable to Bear It, Rather Die Than Surrender
Chapter 1991 Unable to Bear It, Rather Die Than Surrender
Guo Feng and Niu Tian exchanged a glance, confirming that Zhang Xun was dead, and immediately commanded their troops to carry out a final mopping-up operation against the remaining enemy forces.
Time passed slowly amidst the carnage.
About half an hour later, as the eastern sky began to lighten with a barely perceptible glimmer of dawn, the shouts and clashes of weapons within the Golden Scorpion tribe's camp on Luoxia Mountain finally subsided and ceased, like the receding tide.
A deathly silence began to envelop the land.
A deathly silence more oppressive than any noise.
Looking around, the camp and its surroundings were littered with corpses, piled up in layers, leaving almost no place to step.
Broken weapons, tattered flags, and scattered arrows were everywhere.
Dark red blood soaked every inch of the land, gathering into trickles that flowed into low-lying areas, forming shocking pools of blood.
The embers of the burning tents had not yet been extinguished, and wisps of smoke mixed with the lingering gunpowder smoke rose up, outlining a bleak trace in the dimly lit sky.
Surrounded by a group of generals, Feng Mulan stood on a slightly elevated slope, coldly surveying the battlefield that had just been baptized in blood.
The 40,000 enemy troops, from Helian Wujiu and Zhang Xun down, were annihilated by the Chu army after a day and two nights of fierce fighting, with none escaping.
The faint light of dawn shone on her white veil, but it could not dispel the chilling aura that had gathered between her brows.
The price of victory was just as heavy. She slowly raised her hand, her voice tinged with weariness, yet still resolute:
"Clean up the battlefield, count the casualties, and properly collect the remains of our soldiers."
She paused, looked towards the Black River Valley, and frowned, saying, "I wonder how things are going on Xue Dingshan's side."
"I hope the reinforcements I send will arrive in time to lend him a helping hand."
After thinking for a moment, she was still somewhat uneasy and said in a deep voice, "General Guo!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Guo Feng immediately stepped forward and saluted.
"You must immediately lead 10,000 cavalry to Black River Valley and rescue General Xue Dingshan!"
"Yes, sir!" Guo Feng accepted the order and immediately led his cavalry away.
If Xue Dingshan hadn't held back 50,000 Tang troops for them, they wouldn't have been able to annihilate Helian Wujiu's 40,000 men so easily.
Now that they have some free time, they naturally want to send people to support Xue Dingshan.
Meanwhile, in the Black River Valley.
This dried-up riverbed is now soaked in blood and slaughter.
The light of dawn struggled to penetrate the pervasive dust and smoke, illuminating a hellish scene.
The riverbed was littered with fallen corpses, broken weapons, and stray warhorses. Dark red blood pooled in the low-lying areas, forming viscous pools of blood.
The air was filled with the stench of blood, sweat, and the nauseating smell of repeatedly trampled dirt, making one want to vomit.
The deafening shouts of battle, the clanging of weapons, and the wails of the dying converged into a destructive sonic wave that repeatedly crashed and echoed between the cliffs on both sides of the valley, making people's eardrums ache.
The Tang army and the Scorpion Clan's allied forces surged like a tidal wave, relentlessly assaulting the Chu army's already dilapidated defenses.
At the center of this vortex was the remnant of the Chu army led by Xue Dingshan.
Just last night, when Xue Dingshan's troops were about to be completely swallowed up by this raging tide, ten thousand reinforcements from the Vermilion Bird Legion descended like divine soldiers, tearing open a gap and joining in.
The arrival of this fresh force was like a shot in the arm for a dying patient, allowing Xue Dingshan and his men to regain their footing and withstand several more hours of relentless attacks in this desperate situation.
However, the glimmer of hope is always fleeting.
After a night of fierce fighting, the 10,000 reinforcements had also suffered heavy losses and, like Xue Dingshan's main force, were in dire straits, exhausted, out of arrows and food.
With their overwhelming numerical advantage, the Tang army and the Scorpion Clan troops, like a tireless pack of wolves, continuously squeezed their living space.
The encirclement grew thicker and tighter, and the surviving Chu soldiers stood back to back, forming a shrinking circle.
Exhaustion was etched on everyone's face; their armor was tattered and their weapons dulled, but their eyes still burned with an indomitable flame.
It was a desire to survive, but even more so, it was a trust in the commander behind him.
Xue Dingshan, this young general, has now become the soul and banner of this remnant army.
The halberd in his hand was already stained dark red with the blood of his enemies, and the blade was covered with fine nicks.
His bright silver armor had become dull and lifeless, covered with marks from cuts and stabs, and even a few places were still slightly bleeding.
His handsome face was covered in blood and dust, but his eyes remained bright as stars, burning with a scorching fighting spirit.
Like a tireless war god, every swing of his halberd inevitably brought forth a shower of blood, knocking down and smashing away any enemy soldiers who tried to approach.
Wherever he was, that was where the fiercest battle took place, and also the most resilient fulcrum of the Chu army's defenses.
In the distance, Tang army commander Wang Zhongsi stood under his command flag, gazing at Xue Dingshan, who remained valiant amidst the vast army, a complex mix of admiration and regret flashing in his eyes.
Such a young hero, if he were to surrender, would surely become a pillar of the nation in due time.
More importantly, if Xue Dingshan could be captured alive and his life threatened, Xue Huaide, who was far away at Luoxia Mountain, would definitely hesitate to act, and then breaking through the Chu army camp would be a piece of cake.
This is undoubtedly a more worthwhile move than a direct attack.
Thinking of this, Wang Zhongsi spurred his horse forward a few steps, gathered his strength, and his loud voice pierced through the clamor of the battlefield, clearly reaching ahead: "Xue Dingshan! Considering your youth and extraordinary talent, it would be a pity to die in battle like this!"
"I pity your talent. If you are willing to lay down your weapons and lead your people to surrender, I, Wang Zhongsi, guarantee in the name of the commander-in-chief of the Tang Dynasty that you will be spared and that I will petition His Majesty to grant you a promising future!"
His voice carried an undeniable authority and a seemingly sincere allure.
Upon hearing this, Xue Dingshan, who was in the midst of the fierce battle, swiftly deflected the scimitar of a Scorpion Clan centurion with his halberd and felled him in the process.
He raised his blood-stained face, looked in Wang Zhongsi's direction, and a smile that was a mixture of mockery and determination curled at the corner of his mouth.
He took a deep breath of the air, thick with the stench of blood, and with all his might, responded loudly and righteously.
Although his voice was somewhat hoarse from fatigue, every word he spoke was firm and resolute:
"General Wang! I appreciate your kindness!"
"But my Xue family has been loyal and virtuous for generations. We only have generals who would rather die than surrender!"
"These brothers behind me are all heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country. How can I, Xue Dingshan, live a life of shame, tarnish their loyal souls, and disgrace the Xue family's reputation!"
He slammed his halberd to the ground with a sharp clang, and looked around at the soldiers staring at him. His voice grew louder and louder: "Today, here, there is only Xue Dingshan who died in battle, and there is absolutely no Xue Dingshan who kneels down and begs for mercy!"
"The soldiers of Chu would rather die than surrender!"
"I would rather die than surrender!"
"I would rather die than surrender!"