kingnovel Chapter 2096 A matter of life and death
Chapter 2096 A matter of life and death
Li Jing's banner, under the desperate protection of his personal guards, was still moving northeast, but its speed had been greatly reduced, and it was being pursued and entangled by more and more Chu cavalry.
That banner, symbolizing the dignity of the Tang Dynasty's military god, appeared so disheveled and fragile against the backdrop of the Chu army's thunderous hooves and forest of swords and spears.
Ma Chao reined in his horse, gazing at the scene of the Tang army's defeat and the retreating banner in the distance, a savage grin spreading across his face.
He turned his horse around and, facing the surging Chu cavalry behind him, once again unleashed that awe-inspiring roar:
"Don't stop! Keep chasing! Target—Li Jingshuaiqi! We need to find him alive or dead!"
The wilderness became a hunting ground for the Chu army's iron hooves to gallop freely, and the Tang army's defeated torrent spread uncontrollably to the northeast.
Ma Chao took the lead, leading the Chu cavalry with their high morale, like wolves that had smelled blood, and relentlessly pursued the "Li" banner that was still struggling to move amidst the chaos of battle.
Li Jing's personal guard cavalry and some of the rearguard infantry were now like candles flickering in a storm, their numbers dwindling. They fought and retreated, but were unable to shake off the relentless pursuit of the Chu army.
Arrows kept flying in from behind, and guards kept falling from their horses, their screams echoing everywhere.
Li Jing's cloak was torn open by a stray arrow, and his mount was also hit in the rump with an arrow, causing it to limp and slow down considerably.
"Surround him! Don't let him get away!"
Ma Chao's voice was like a death knell. His cavalry split into several groups, flanking from both sides, gradually encircling Li Jing's remaining forces.
Finally, on a relatively flat and open area, the Chu cavalry successfully surrounded Li Jing and his last three or four hundred personal guards.
The encirclement tightened rapidly, spears stood like a forest, bows and crossbows were nocked, and a chilling killing intent filled the air.
Ma Chao slowly parted the crowd on horseback and came to the innermost part of the encirclement, where he faced Li Jing, who was trapped in the core, covered in blood but still standing tall.
His face held the exhilaration and triumph of a hunter finally cornering a beast, his gaze mockingly sweeping over the once mighty but now disheveled Tang Dynasty military genius.
"Marshal Li!"
Ma Chao's voice trailed off, filled with undisguised sarcasm: "You never expected this, did you? That we would meet here, in this way."
"You were commanding an army of 250,000 men at Zhennan Pass, your spirit as fierce as a tiger that could swallow ten thousand miles. How did you become a fish in my net and a turtle in a jar today?"
He glanced around at the dark mass of Chu cavalry, then at the few guards beside Li Jing, their faces filled with despair yet still gripping their weapons tightly. His laughter grew even more arrogant:
"Haha! What great military god of the Tang Dynasty, what invincible commander! In my opinion, he is nothing but a worthless, unlucky stray dog!"
"Today, your head, which is enough to shake the world, will become the best trophy that I, Ma Chao, offer to His Majesty!"
Li Jing's face was pale, but his eyes were unusually calm, even carrying a hint of indifference as if he had seen through life and death.
He listened to Ma Chao's mockery without getting angry. He simply straightened his tattered armor and drew the sword that had accompanied him in battle for many years.
The sword was still gleaming, reflecting his resolute yet slightly weathered face.
He knew that the final moment had come.
Breaking out was hopeless, and reinforcements were nowhere in sight.
As a soldier and a commander, he can accept defeat and retreat, but he can never tolerate the humiliation of being captured alive.
Ma Dai's tenacity and Ma Chao's swiftness indeed disrupted his entire plan, forcing him into this desperate situation.
"General Ma is indeed a valiant general, and Han Xing is also a wise and experienced strategist."
Li Jing spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an unassailable air of authority.
"To be defeated by you is not a disgrace to me, but the men of the Great Tang Dynasty only have generals who would rather die than be taken prisoner!"
His gaze swept across the faces of every guard around him, young and old alike, all of them filled with determination.
He took a deep breath, pointed the tip of his sword diagonally at the ground, and assumed a final charging stance:
"My comrades! Follow me, this final battle! With our blood, let us strengthen the spirit of our Great Tang army!"
"We swear to follow the Commander to the death!"
The surviving Tang soldiers roared in a tragic and heroic manner. Despite the vast disparity in numbers and the certainty of their impending doom, what burned in their eyes was their fervent patriotism and unwavering loyalty to their commander.
They quickly contracted, protecting Li Jing in the center, forming a small but exceptionally sturdy circular formation, with their spears pointing outwards, ready to meet the final destructive impact.
Seeing this, Ma Chao's eyes flashed even more fiercely. Too lazy to say anything more, he raised his long sword high.
Just one command is needed to unleash a final, thunderous strike, utterly crushing Li Jing, along with his last resistance, into dust!
At this critical moment, when life and death were hanging in the balance—
"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump—!!!"
A series of war drums, heavier and more intense than those during Ma Chaojun's charge, seemingly carrying the will to crush all obstacles, suddenly erupted from the northeast, the direction Li Jing had originally fled in, like rolling thunder!
The drumbeat was so powerful that it instantly drowned out all the noise on the battlefield!
Immediately afterwards, the earth trembled even more powerfully and rhythmically than when Ma Chao's ten thousand cavalry charged!
That was not the sound of defeated hooves, but the terrifying roar of a well-trained and large cavalry group galloping at full speed!
Everyone—Ma Chao, Li Jing, and the soldiers on both sides—looked in astonishment toward the northeast.
On the horizon, smoke and dust rose into the sky, as if a giant, earthen-yellow wall had risen out of nowhere, connecting the sky and the earth!
At the very forefront of the billowing dust, a huge, scarlet flag pierced through the veil of dust, fluttering in the wind!
On the flag, the character "Guo" with its unyielding spirit and domineering presence seems to be burning with raging flames in the afterglow of the setting sun!
The flag bearing the character "Guo" is Guo Ziyi's command flag!
Following closely behind this banner, like a tidal wave, came tens of thousands of Tang cavalrymen, their armor gleaming and their ranks impeccably orderly!
Like a long-awaited flood, they are sweeping towards the battlefield with overwhelming force and at an astonishing speed!
The sunlight shone on their forest of spears and gleaming armor, reflecting a chilling light.
Their power and strength seemed to be no less than, and perhaps even greater than, Ma Chao's forces!
At the very front of this massive cavalry force, a general in golden armor and a red robe galloped on his horse. He was none other than Guo Ziyi, the famous Tang general and the commander-in-chief supporting Li Jing in this battle!
His face was cold and his eyes were like lightning, fixed on the location of Li Jing's banner, which was surrounded by the Chu army.
Seeing that the Chu army was about to launch its final attack, Guo Ziyi gathered his strength in his dantian and let out a roar that resounded through the sky, like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon.
The voice, filled with boundless anxiety and determination, clearly resounded throughout the entire battlefield:
"General Li! Don't panic! Your humble servant Guo Ziyi is here!"
"Today, even if a thousand troops block your way, this humble general will escort you safely back to camp!!!"