GBP Chapter 2215 Fighting
Chapter 2215 Fighting
Han Xing took a half step forward, lowered his voice, and spoke faster and more clearly:
"Your Majesty, the most important task at present is for our main force to enter the city and regroup!"
"If the rear guard is delayed due to being entangled, allowing Chu Xuan's rebel army or the Scorpion Clan cavalry to arrive at the city walls first or cut off our retreat, then the entire situation will be in danger!"
"This humble general will hold them off here, which can at least buy you one or two hours!"
"With this time, Your Majesty can safely lead the main force into the city and set up its defenses!"
As Han Xing said this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "Furthermore, the Tang army's pursuers, though seemingly fierce, are actually at their last gasp, relying entirely on their last bit of strength to keep going."
"Li Shiming offered a huge reward and promised reinforcements, which drove them to pursue him relentlessly."
"All I need to do is withstand their initial, most ferocious counterattacks, blunt their momentum, and their strength will naturally wane!"
"When they discover that the so-called reinforcements have failed to immediately encircle our army, and that our main force has already safely entered the city, their morale will surely be thrown into chaos, and they may even collapse without a fight!"
"At that time, I may find an opportunity to escape, or even turn the tables on you!"
Chu Ning stared intently at Han Xing, scrutinizing every expression on his face and weighing the pros and cons of his words.
Han Xing's analysis hit the nail on the head: covering the rear is essential, and it requires a general who is brave, clear-headed, and loyal enough.
Han Xing undoubtedly meets these criteria.
The time he mentioned that buying time and dampening the enemy's morale was exactly what the Chu army needed most at that moment.
The final line, "find an opportunity to escape or even turn the tables," reveals that Han Xing was not a reckless fool, but a brave and resourceful general.
Time ticked by, and the shouts of battle from the Tang army behind them grew closer and closer; they could even hear the whistling of arrows piercing the air.
Chu Ning glanced again at the silent and solid outline of Jianghuai City in the distance, and finally, the hesitation in his eyes was replaced by decisiveness.
He slammed his palm heavily on Han Xing's shoulder armor, making a dull thud.
"Very well! General Han, I entrust this vital lifeline of the entire army to you!"
Chu Ning's voice was deep and powerful: "There's no need to hold the position to the death. We can resist step by step according to the terrain, with the goal of delaying and inflicting casualties on the enemy!"
"Remember, your mission is to buy time, not to fight to the death!"
"Two hours... no, one and a half hours later, no matter how the battle goes, I want to see you lead your brothers back to the city walls as far as possible!"
"At the south gate of Jianghuai City, I will personally oversee the battle and provide support to your troops!"
"The last general takes command!"
Han Xing's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his clasped hands trembled slightly with excitement, but his voice remained as steady as a rock.
"Your Majesty, please proceed swiftly! Your humble servant will not fail in your trust! I will make sure that Li Shiming knows that the men of Great Chu can advance and conquer cities and fortresses, and retreat as steadily as Mount Tai!"
Having said that, Han Xing didn't delay any longer and suddenly turned his horse around.
He raised his long sword high and let out a deafening roar towards his own troops:
"Soldiers of Great Chu! Follow me—cover the rear and block the enemy, escort His Majesty into the city! Let the Tang dogs see what a true tiger and wolf army is!"
Ten thousand elite troops responded in unison, quickly breaking away from the main retreat and deploying in the opposite direction, like a rock facing the surging, blood-red tide that was chasing them.
Chu Ning took a deep look at Han Xing's retreating figure, then, without further hesitation, pointed his silver spear forward:
"All troops, accelerate! Target: Jianghuai City!"
The sound of hooves and footsteps suddenly quickened, and the main force surged toward the city that now symbolized safety and hope.
Behind them, Han Xing's troops had already collided violently with the pursuing Tang army vanguard.
The clang of metal and the shouts of battle rose into the sky once more, marking the most tragic and heroic chapter in this breathtaking retreat.
Han Xing accepted the order without hesitation.
He knew that in a battle to cover the rear, the most important factors were momentum and terrain.
Under his stern command, ten thousand elite troops quickly broke away from the main force of the Chu army, which was rapidly retreating.
Like a reef actively swimming upstream in a turbulent river, it quickly spread out on a slightly raised, relatively open slope about five miles from Jianghuai City.
This is not a particularly dangerous pass, but the view is relatively open.
The terrain in front is relatively flat, which is conducive to observing the enemy situation and making full use of the crossbows. Behind it is a gentle slope, which can be easily arranged to form a tiered defense.
Han Xing's command was efficient and ruthless: "Shield carts forward! Form a triple chevaux-de-frise!"
Dozens of hastily requisitioned supply wagons, loaded with heavy shields and spears, were quickly pushed to the front line, placed sideways and connected together, with the shafts secured by thick ropes and salvaged broken spears, forming a rough but sturdy mobile barrier.
Behind the chariot, soldiers carrying heavy shields and oars were stacked on top of each other, plunging the bottom of their shields deep into the soil and holding them firmly with their shoulders.
Between the gaps in the shields, heavy infantry spears, each over two zhang long, emerged like a forest, their cold light menacing.
"Archers, take your positions on the slope! Fire in three volleys, do not stop without orders!"
Nearly three thousand archers and crossbowmen were quickly positioned behind the shield formation and on the slightly higher slopes on both sides.
They removed all unnecessary weights, leaving only the quiver and crossbow bolt case.
At the command of the squad leader, they checked the bowstrings and tightened the crossbows as quickly as possible, aiming a dense barrage of arrows and bolts at the pursuing troops whose path was shrouded in a mixture of firelight and darkness.
"Spearmen and axemen, form ranks behind your shields! Anyone who retreats without my command will be executed!"
The remaining four thousand infantrymen were the core fighting force under Han Xing's command.
They formed tight squares of a hundred men each, behind the shield carts and heavy shield bearers, with spears like a forest and swords drawn, and every face was filled with determination.
They knew they would be the last line of defense, a wall of flesh and blood.
"Cavalry, flank your troops and move at my command!"
Han Xing used the few hundred light cavalry he had as a last reserve and fire brigade, and positioned them slightly away from the flanks of the position.
Their mission was to prevent small, elite Tang troops from flanking and infiltrating, and to launch counter-attacks at crucial moments to disrupt the enemy's rhythm.
Han Xing himself stood under a huge "Han" banner in the center of the army, positioned slightly above the front line, so that he could have a general view of the entire situation and his soldiers could see him clearly.
He removed his blood-stained cloak, revealing only his fine steel chainmail. The long iron sword that had accompanied him in battle for many years was planted firmly on the ground in his hand. His eyes were like torches, fixed on the Tang army pursuers surging forward like a black tide.
The night wind howled, whipping the commander's flag and countless torches, casting flickering light and shadow on his sharply defined face, making him appear like an iron-cast war god.
The Tang army's pursuit was extremely swift and fierce.
Inspired by Li Shimin's fanatical promise of "attacking from both inside and outside to capture and kill Chu Ning," and driven by the frustration of being suppressed for a long time and the hatred of their comrades dying tragically, they unleashed an astonishing force at this moment.
Leading the charge was Zhang Wu's elite assault force, composed of Li Shiming's personal guards and some fierce soldiers, numbering over three thousand.
Ignoring casualties, they plunged straight into the defensive line that Han Xing had just set up, like chisels!