kingnovel Chapter 2249 A backup plan emerges!
Chapter 2249 A backup plan emerges!
Ran Ming on the right side of the battlefield is now the embodiment of wildness and violence.
He charged forward on foot, wielding his two short-handled giant axes like windmills, seemingly without any pattern, yet so fast it was dazzling, and so ruthless it sent chills down one's spine.
He would target the legs of enemy cavalrymen and the lower body of infantrymen, or parry enemy weapons head-on, and then cleave their chests open with an axe.
He was covered in the blood and flesh of his enemies, but he didn't care. Instead, he fought with increasing ferocity, roaring and laughing like a wild beast.
"Hahaha! That's great! Again! You traitorous barbarians, is that all you've got? You can't even tickle my itch!"
"Do you see that? His Majesty is mighty! General Guan is mighty! Men, follow us and kill! Let these bastards know what the backbone of Great Chu is!"
Ran Ming's reckless arrogance and deafening roar became the most morale-boosting war drum on the bloody battlefield.
The Chu soldiers, who had been somewhat shaken by the pressure of the enemy commander's personal campaign, saw the emperor and the two generals as so brave and invincible, like three red-hot daggers piercing the enemy ranks, sweeping all before them.
I was instantly filled with excitement, and all my fatigue and fear vanished.
"Long live the Emperor!"
"General Guan! General Ran!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The surviving Chu soldiers roared in unison, following the direction of the triangular arrowhead, mustering their last courage and strength to launch a desperate counterattack against the encircling enemy.
Despite being outnumbered, the Chu army was at its most powerful and unstoppable!
Relying on their exceptional individual martial prowess and seamless teamwork, Chu Ning and his two companions fought their way through the enemy ranks, repelling the fiercest offensive of Chu Xuan and Li Shiming's personal guards!
Countless enemy soldiers were killed or wounded under their onslaught, and their formations were thrown into chaos.
In an instant, the Chu army's defense line, which was originally on the verge of collapse, was temporarily stabilized by this unexpected counterattack, and even the encirclement was pushed outward by a circle!
Chu Xuan and Li Shiming's expressions turned extremely ugly at this moment.
The battle at Changting Slope was briefly halted and reversed due to the earth-shattering counterattack by Chu Ning, Guan Yun, and Ran Ming.
However, this did not shake Chu Xuan and Li Shiming's determination to kill Chu Ning; on the contrary, it further fueled their desperate gamble.
Seeing his elite troops being thrown into disarray by the three men, Chu Xuan was filled with shock and anger, but more than that, he felt a ruthless determination to be pushed to the edge.
He wiped away the bloodstains splattered on his face, his eyes fixed only on Chu Ning's dazzling dragon banner and silver-armored figure, and roared hoarsely at the surrounding generals and guards:
"Listen up, everyone! Ignore everyone else! Ignore casualties! Everyone has only one goal—Chu Ning!"
"Kill him! Kill him at all costs! Anyone who retreats will be executed without mercy!"
On the other side, Li Shiming's face was also ashen. Chu Ning's bravery far exceeded expectations, but he also understood that the die was cast and could not be cast.
If Chu Ning is allowed to weather this storm, and Ma Chao manages to break free of his entanglement or if something else happens, the consequences will be unimaginable.
He pointed his sword forward and gave the same death order to the Tang army:
"All troops, advance! Target: Chu Ning! Whoever beheads him will be rewarded with ten thousand gold pieces and granted the title of Duke! Whoever retreats will have their entire family executed!"
The supreme commander's death order, like the coldest catalyst, instantly pushed the brutality of the battlefield to a new peak.
Driven by both hefty rewards and brutal torture, the Allied soldiers completely abandoned any concern for their own lives.
Like a tidal wave, wave after wave surged toward Chu Ning, Guan Yun, and Ran Ming, as well as the dragon flag behind them, regardless of casualties!
The battle instantly transformed from a structured offensive and defensive maneuver into a primitive and bloody war of attrition involving sheer numbers of people!
The clash of swords was as dense as a forest, and the shouts and roars were deafening.
Although Chu Ning and his two companions were brave, human strength has its limits.
The Chu soldiers around them kept falling, and the defensive line was compressed smaller and smaller.
Guan Yun's Green Dragon Blade swung slightly slower, and more nicks appeared on Ran Ming's double axes, while Chu Ning's silver spear remained sharp.
But his breathing had become heavy, and several more wounds had appeared on his silver armor.
The three stood back to back, like rocks in the eye of a storm, enduring the endless impacts from all directions.
Every moment, enemy weapons nearly touched their bodies, only to be narrowly deflected or killed in retaliation.
The battlefield is like a giant grinding wheel of flesh and blood, mercilessly devouring lives.
Meanwhile, on the south bank of the Yangtze River, about thirty miles from Changtingpo.
The wide river surface shimmered under the afternoon sun, with water vapor rising from it.
Compared to the deafening sounds of battle coming from Changtingpo and Jianghuai City upstream, this place was relatively quiet, with only the rushing sound of the river lapping against the shore and the faint, indistinct clamor carried on the wind.
However, this peace was soon shattered.
Dozens of Chu naval warships of varying sizes, relying on their excellent maneuvering and familiarity with the waterways, cleverly used the river islands and willows along the banks as cover, and silently approached a secluded river bend on the south bank.
On the fleet's flagship, the flag bearing the character "Zhang" fluttered.
The boat planks were quickly laid on the beach, and squads of cavalry, leading their warhorses, disembarked in an orderly and rapid manner.
These cavalrymen were all dressed in white robes and rode white horses, their saddles and harnesses gleaming. They were spirited and had sharp eyes.
It was the elite Chu army, the White Horse Cavalry, led by General Zhao Yu and renowned throughout the northern frontier!
They numbered approximately 20,000 and were the last complete main mobile corps under Chu Ning's command.
Zhao Yu was the last to ride his horse ashore.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his face was stern, and his gaze swept over the white horse riders who were quickly assembling, like a hawk, before looking towards the northwest.
Smoke and dust lingered there, and the sounds of battle, though distant, could still be vaguely perceived.
He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the slanting sunlight as he estimated the time.
Naval commander Zhang Shijie strode down from the flagship, approached Zhao Yu's horse, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:
"General Zhao, the entire army has landed safely and has not encountered any enemy scouts."
Zhao Yu nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the northwest, and said in a deep voice, "General Zhang, you've worked hard."
"Your Majesty used himself as bait to lure the rebel army and the main forces of Tang and Xie into a fierce battle at Changtingpo and Jianghuai City, thus buying us a precious window of time to cross the Yellow River on horseback."
"Now, the time has come."
He paused, his tone turning cold and clear: "With His Majesty in trouble, the battle at Changtingpo will inevitably become fierce."
"I will immediately lead the White Horse Cavalry at full speed to reinforce the Changtingpo battlefield, disrupt the enemy's deployment, and meet Your Majesty's aid!"
He pointed towards Jianghuai City, where the smoke and dust were thicker, and faint flames could be seen:
"As for the city of Jianghuai, Consort Feng is leading her troops in a fierce battle with Gongsun Yi's main force, and is under tremendous pressure."
"General Zhang, you shall lead the naval forces and some auxiliary troops to immediately sail south along the river, seek an opportunity to land, and harass the flanks and rear of Gongsun Yi's army!"
"We don't need to annihilate many enemies, but we must create chaos, tie down their forces, and prevent them from fully attacking the Imperial Concubine, let alone sending troops to support Changtingpo! If we can form a pincer attack, that would be the best strategy!"