kingnovel Chapter 2210 Are there reinforcements?
Chapter 2210 Are there reinforcements?
"Great Chu! Victory!"
The banner bearing the character "Ma" fluttered in the torchlight, and a burly Chu general led the way, brandishing his spear. He was none other than Ma Chao, the fierce general of the Chu army who had just led his troops across the river!
Behind him stood 20,000 fresh cavalrymen of the Chu army, who were well-rested and ready to fight!
This force, like a long-awaited deadly hammer, slammed down on the Tang army's most vulnerable and unprepared rear flank!
“Report——!!!”
A Tang scout, covered in blood, who had practically crawled in from the outside.
With her last ounce of strength, she threw herself before Li Shimin's imperial carriage, her voice trembling with extreme terror and despair:
"Your Majesty! The river...the north bank of the river! A large number of Chu cavalry have successfully crossed the river!"
They've...they've already advanced towards our rear! It's the banner of Chu general Ma Chao! Their forces...they number no less than twenty thousand!
This report was like a thunderclap from the heavens, instantly striking the hearts of all the Tang soldiers who were still fighting bitterly!
Our escape route... has been completely cut off!
Moreover, they were fresh troops coming from the other side of the river, which they considered a temporary safety barrier!
The already crumbling defense line is now in a truly impenetrable, all-encompassing, and deadly situation!
Li Shiming's body swayed almost imperceptibly, and he quickly raised his hand to hold onto the edge of the imperial carriage before he could barely stand.
The last vestige of composure that he had managed to maintain due to the intense battle crumbled instantly, like a sandcastle swept away by a whirlwind, replaced by an almost deathly gloom.
Ma Chao crossed the river... Where is Zhao Yu's white horse?
Has the north bank fallen? Or...?
He dared not think any further, for that would mean their last, slim chance of tactical maneuvering had completely vanished.
Despair, like the coldest ice water, instantly seeped into the marrow of every Tang soldier who heard the news.
Many people's hands, gripping their weapons, began to tremble, and the bloodshot in their eyes faded, replaced by blankness and deathly stillness.
It's over, it's over.
With the Chu Emperor personally leading the main force in a fierce attack, the left and right flanks were constantly being squeezed and cut off, and now even the rear was being stabbed with a deadly dagger.
This is no longer a battle, but a one-sided, brutal massacre and hunt.
However, just as this deathly silence and despair were about to completely destroy the last vestiges of the Tang army's will to resist, like a plague—
"Why panic!"
A deep, hoarse shout, yet with a strangely penetrating force, came from the imperial carriage.
Li Shimin released his grip on the imperial carriage and straightened his back once more.
His face remained terrifyingly gloomy, and the bloodstains on his chest were shocking in the firelight, but his eyes had refocused, even with an almost obsessive sharpness.
He scanned the pale-faced generals and guards around him, their gazes fixed on him, and spoke each word clearly and decisively, leaving no room for argument:
"Ma Chao's crossing of the river was exactly what I expected! A mere 20,000 cavalrymen are nothing to worry about."
Upon hearing this, everyone around was stunned, including the most loyal Han Shidong and Zhang Wu, whose faces showed disbelief and astonishment.
As expected?
What's the point?
Your Majesty... Your Majesty, are you perhaps delirious from the pain of your injuries?
But Li Shiming didn't give them time to think.
He suddenly raised his voice, drowning out the growing clamor of Ma Chao's army charging from behind, like a wounded lion letting out its final roar:
"Issue my decree! The rear guard becomes the front, spearmen turn around, crossbowmen concentrate their forces, and hold Ma Chao at all costs! Not a single step is to be retreated!"
He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the darkness to the unknown south, his tone carrying an almost hypnotic firmness:
"Our reinforcements will be here soon!"
"Reinforcements will arrive by dawn at the latest!"
"Soldiers!"
He raised the precious sword in his hand, a symbol of the emperor's authority, its blade reflecting a cold, eerie light in the firelight:
"Grit your teeth and hold on! Hold on for the last few hours! Once our reinforcements arrive, we can launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside, and we will surely crush the Chu army and capture Chu Ning alive!"
"Victory still belongs to the Great Tang! Glory still belongs to you!"
"This battle will determine the life and death of our Great Tang Dynasty, and it will also determine the fate of the Central Plains!"
"Our Great Tang Dynasty will never be defeated!"
"Reinforcements?"
The Tang soldiers around them looked at each other, their despair clashing violently with the faint hope in His Majesty's words.
At this point in the battle, how could we possibly defeat the enemy forces that came to our rescue?
Moreover, even if reinforcements did arrive, could these mere remnants of the army survive until dawn?
Ma Chao's 20,000 fresh cavalrymen pounced on their exposed backs like a pack of wolves!
Doubt grows wildly in everyone's heart like weeds.
Your Majesty... are you lying to us?
Is it just so that we can resist a little longer, knowing we are doomed to die, and bleed to the last drop of blood?
However, looking at the emperor beside the imperial carriage, who was swaying precariously but whose eyes burned with an almost insane obsession.
Seeing the glaring red patch on his chest, some veterans suddenly burst into tears.
So what if it's deception?
At this point, besides trusting His Majesty and the reinforcements that may not even exist, what else can they rely on?
At least, His Majesty is still sharing life and death with them!
"Stop them! For His Majesty! For the Great Tang!"
Han Shidong wiped the blood off his face and roared, turning around first and leading his guards towards the direction from which immense pressure was coming from behind.
"Block the Chu dogs! Wait for reinforcements!" Zhang Wu roared, his eyes red.
Scattered yet gradually gathering shouts rang out once more from the remnants of the Tang army, carrying a heavy sense of tragedy and the last glimmer of hope forcibly ignited.
They carried out orders numbly. Some turned around, raised their spears with trembling arms, and faced the thunderous sound of approaching hooves. The archers aimed their last few quivers of arrows into the darkness.
Knowing full well that it's like throwing an egg against a rock, knowing that the hope is as slim as a candle flickering in the wind.
But they still chose to fight with their backs to the wall, for the reinforcements that might not even exist, for the dragon flag that was still flying, and for the last bit of dignity they had as soldiers.
Li Shiming watched his men's backs as they resumed their movements, listening to their weak yet persistent shouts. The veins on his sword-wielding hand bulged, and his nails dug deep into his palm.
He didn't know the final outcome of the battle, but he understood that if the formation was broken, the army would completely collapse and be at the mercy of others.
Every extra moment we can hold on is a moment more.
Even if... it's just to give the Tang Dynasty a moment's respite under this blood-red night.
He looked up at the boundless darkness to the south, the last glimmer of light in his eyes gradually fading, leaving only endless weariness and abyssal silence.
The thunderous roar of Ma Chao's cavalry charging was already close at hand.
The final moment is finally here.