bookrandom Chapter 2077 Joy and Sorrow, Different Feelings
Chapter 2077 Joy and Sorrow, Different Feelings
A fierce glint flashed in Xue Kehu's eyes. He clasped his hands and said sternly, "This subordinate obeys! We will ensure that the Chu traitors have no peace! Even if it costs us all our men, we will not allow Ma Chao and Han Xingteng to make a move!"
He knew full well how difficult the mission was, a desperate attack akin to sacrificing a pawn, aimed at drawing all the enemy's attention, but he showed no fear.
"Good!" Guo Ziyi nodded approvingly, then turned his gaze to the other two generals.
"Qin Hong! Yuchi Bo, listen to my command!"
The two generals stepped forward in response.
Qin Hong was quite capable and skilled at raids.
Yuchi Bo, on the other hand, is steady and reliable, and is capable of undertaking important tasks.
"I hereby order you two to each lead three thousand light cavalry, equipped with plenty of bows and crossbows, and to immediately set off stealthily from the flank of the main camp!"
Guo Ziyi traced a relatively hidden route on the map in the direction of Li Jing's retreat.
"Avoid the main battlefield, advance lightly and swiftly, and search for and support Li Shuai as quickly as possible!"
"If we encounter a small group of Chu soldiers pursuing us, we will annihilate them on the spot. If we encounter a large enemy force, we will harass them with bows and crossbows to delay their advance and cover Commander Li's retreat!"
"No matter what, we must escort Li Shuai safely to the main camp! Understand?"
"I will finally understand!"
Qin Hong and Yuchi Bo accepted the order in unison, their expressions solemn.
They knew that receiving the marshal was a great responsibility.
"Act immediately!" Guo Ziyi waved his hand, leaving no room for argument.
"Order!"
The three generals responded with a resounding "yes," immediately turned around, and strode out of the tent.
Soon, the sounds of Xue Kehu's troops gathering and the commotion of troop movements could be heard outside the camp, along with the hoofbeats of Qin Hong and Yuchi Bo's light cavalry rushing out of the camp like arrows.
Guo Ziyi stood still, listening to the commotion outside the tent, his gaze returning to her, his brows furrowed.
They dispatched a support force to draw the enemy's attention, but this was only a temporary measure.
The real test for him will come next: how to deal with the Chu army's main force, whose morale will inevitably soar after learning of the great victory, and how to stabilize his own troops' morale, which will soon be shaken by the bad news.
Night was quietly falling, foreshadowing an even more difficult situation to come.
Meanwhile, the Chu army camp, which faced the Tang army camp from afar, was filled with an atmosphere completely different from that of the opposing camp.
Although it was night, the camp was brightly lit, the patrol team was in high spirits, and the sentries were vigilant, exuding a disciplined and high morale.
Inside the central command tent, the charcoal brazier dispelled the chill of the night, illuminating the figures of the two Chu army commanders.
The burly Ma Chao was excitedly rubbing his hands together, pacing back and forth inside the tent, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy.
Sitting opposite him, the veteran Han Xing, with his white hair and beard but vigorous spirit, was much more composed, but deep in his eyes, which had seen many vicissitudes of life, there was also a spark of excitement.
"General Han! Great news! This is fantastic news!"
Ma Chao's voice was so loud that it almost made the dust on the top of the tent fall down.
He clutched a secret letter, delivered by a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard at top speed, and strode up to Han Xing, handing it over with a tone full of pride and honor.
"Look quickly! This is a report of victory just sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guard from Zhennan Pass!"
Han Xing took the secret letter, which still bore the scent of travel, and calmly unfolded it.
As his gaze moved between the lines, the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out, and his fingers holding the letter even trembled slightly with excitement.
He read it carefully, word by word, afraid of missing any detail.
After a long while, he slowly put down the secret letter and let out a long sigh of relief.
His aura was filled with indescribable emotion and admiration. He looked at Ma Chao, his voice tinged with a rare excitement:
"Your Majesty is truly a divine and mighty ruler, a master strategist!"
"After three days and three nights of bloody battle, they were able to decisively defeat Li Jing's 250,000-strong main force of the Tang Dynasty! They also killed renowned generals such as Wang Zhongsi, Gao Xianzhi, and Liu Hongji."
"Such achievements are enough to be recorded in history and shake the world!"
He paused, his tone tinged with disbelief and genuine admiration:
Even Li Jing, who was hailed as the God of War of the Tang Dynasty and had never been defeated on the battlefield for decades, was now fleeing in panic like a stray dog!
"Your Majesty's actions have broken the backbone of the Tang Dynasty!"
"Hahahaha!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao couldn't help but burst into laughter, a hearty laugh filled with a triumphant and triumphant feeling.
"That's satisfying! Truly satisfying! Li Jing, how arrogant he used to be, treating our Great Chu as nothing! Now he's fallen to such a state! What a pity, what a pity!"
He patted his thigh, a hint of regret on his face:
"It is a great pity that we were unable to personally participate in such an earth-shattering battle and fight alongside His Majesty!"
However, he quickly straightened his back and said with great pride:
"However, being able to hold off Guo Ziyi's 100,000-strong army here, preventing them from advancing an inch and forming a pincer attack with Li Jing, can be considered as relieving His Majesty's worries and contributing to our Great Chu! This achievement is not insignificant!"
Han Xing nodded, agreeing with Ma Chao's words.
Immediately, his expression turned serious, regaining the composure and meticulousness of a veteran general, and he pointed to the end of the secret letter, saying:
"General Ma, His Majesty specifically inquired about the movements of Guo Ziyi's 100,000-strong army, our enemy, in his letter. This matter is of great importance and must be reported back to His Majesty immediately, lest His Majesty be troubled."
Without hesitation, Ma Chao replied, "Of course! I'll order the scribe right away..."
Before he could finish speaking, Han Xing raised his hand to stop him, his eyes flashing with wisdom, and his tone becoming exceptionally serious:
"The reply is very simple: Guo Ziyi's 100,000-strong army has been stationed here since it arrived a few days ago and has been facing off against our army. It has been firmly pinned down by the two of us and has not moved an inch! This can put Your Majesty's mind at ease."
He changed the subject, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, lost in deeper thought, and slowly said:
"As for Li Jing, who is currently fleeing, I speculate that after his defeat, he is like a drowning man searching for driftwood. His most likely escape route is to come here and reunite with Guo Ziyi's troops!"
"After all, this is the only relatively intact large military force he can rely on at the moment."
"If the two armies join forces, although they cannot reverse the defeat, they can at least stabilize their position and retreat northward in an orderly manner."
Ma Chao was about to agree with Han Xing's analysis and discuss how to deal with the remnants of Li Jing's forces who might come to join them.
At this moment——
"Thump! Thump! Thump!" "Kill them—!"
A low, rapid beat of war drums, and a sudden burst of battle shouts like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, came from the front of the camp!
The sound grew louder as it approached, instantly shattering the tranquility of the night and interrupting their conversation!
The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became tense!
Ma Chao and Han Xing's expressions changed almost simultaneously, and they stood up abruptly, listening intently.