mtlumby2d Chapter 2108 Not So Easily Fooled
Chapter 2108 Not So Easily Fooled
Ma Chao also gasped, his gaze towards Han Xing filled with belated admiration and a hint of shame.
He finally understood the deeper meaning behind Han Xing's words, "waiting for news."
The old general was not afraid of fighting, nor was he unwilling to expand the victory. Rather, he would never easily put his soldiers in danger before he understood the enemy's true intentions and deployment!
Han Xing did not show much surprise at the scout's report, as if he had expected it.
He looked at the assembled generals, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Now, do you all understand?"
"The Tang army was prepared; this was not a rout, but an orderly withdrawal, and may even have concealed deadly intent."
"To pursue rashly at this moment would not only be unwise, but would be tantamount to walking into a trap!"
His gaze swept across the faces—some filled with lingering fear, others with realization, and still others with resentment—before finally settling on the receding dust in the distance. He gave his final, somber command:
"Since Li Jing and Guo Ziyi have already decided to retreat and are heavily guarded, it will be of no use for our army to force them to stay; it will only increase casualties."
"Order the entire army to strictly guard the camps and strengthen vigilance to prevent the enemy from feigning a retreat and launching a real attack or launching small-scale raids."
"All officers and soldiers have been fighting bloody battles for days and are extremely tired. Starting today, except for necessary defense duties, they shall take turns to rest, recover their strength, treat the wounded, and replenish their weapons and rations."
"All actions will be decided upon upon the arrival of His Majesty's decree!"
"Disperse, everyone, and get back to your posts!"
"I will obey your orders!"
This time, no one raised any objections.
The generals bowed and accepted the order with heartfelt gratitude, and then dispersed.
Ma Chao also gave Han Xing a deep look, clasped his hands in a salute, and turned to leave.
On the earthen slope, only Han Xing remained, still standing against the wind, watching the Tang army finally disappear on the northeastern horizon, his gaze distant.
A potential crisis was averted because of his composure and foresight.
Next, it is time to consolidate the gains of victory, digest the spoils, and patiently await news from the capital.
And, in the face of this great victory, the global chessboard will inevitably become even more complex.
An hour passed quietly as the Tang army retreated in a tense but orderly manner and the Chu army stood ready to fight.
On the official road and in the wilderness to the northeast, the large contingent of the Tang army, like a giant python slowly writhing but still bleeding from its wounds, marched away from the Chu army's camp.
Although the troops maintained basic marching order, the somber mood and exhaustion following the recent defeat still permeated the air.
The soldiers marched in silence, occasionally glancing back in the direction they had come from, their eyes still filled with lingering fear.
In the middle of the procession, Li Jing and Guo Ziyi rode side by side.
Neither of them rode in a carriage. Li Jing was wrapped in a heavy fur cloak, and his face was still pale.
But his eyes had regained some of their former calmness, though beneath that calmness lay an unfathomable gravity.
Guo Ziyi, fully armored, vigilantly scanned his surroundings, especially the flanks and rear of the formation.
The cold wind whipped up dust and withered grass from the ground, stinging my face.
A light cavalry scout galloped up from the rear of the column and, led by the guards, came straight to Li Jing and Guo Ziyi's horses.
The scout dismounted, knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse from the long journey, but his report was exceptionally clear:
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, General Guo! There has been no sign of a large-scale pursuit from the Chu army camp in the past hour!"
"The Chu army's camp gates are tightly closed, and scouts are everywhere. Only a small number of cavalry are patrolling around the camp, seemingly monitoring our movements, but they have no intention of attacking!"
This news caused Li Jing and Guo Ziyi to exchange a glance. There was not much surprise in their eyes, but Guo Ziyi's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
The scout continued, "Furthermore, our cavalry units, which were previously ordered to ambush in the woodlands on both flanks, have reported that the Chu army has dispatched a far larger number of elite scout squads than usual."
"They conducted close reconnaissance of our ambush area in an extremely bold and meticulous manner. Although no conflict occurred, they may have already detected the presence of some of our ambush troops!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Ziyi waved his hand, signaling the scouts to retreat and rest.
After saluting, the scout mounted his horse and rejoined the marching tide.
All that remained were the sounds of horses' hooves and the wind.
Guo Ziyi remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
The tone carried a complex meaning, a mixture of expected understanding and regret that the plan had fallen through:
"As expected, Han Xing is not so easy to fool."
“I deliberately revealed some flaws, and when I set up ambushes on both flanks, I did not deliberately pursue complete concealment. I wanted to gamble on the Chu army’s arrogance and eagerness after their recent victory.”
"If Ma Chao were to command the army alone, he might be greedy for merit and act rashly, thus falling into a trap."
"Unfortunately, with that old fox Han Xing in charge, it won't be so easy to fool them with such a crude trick."
His analysis was calm and objective.
Ma Chao was brave and decisive, a sharp blade in the charge.
However, in psychological games and battlefield calculations that require extreme patience and insight, there is indeed a gap between them and a seasoned and shrewd commander like Han Xing.
Han Xing's "waiting" was not cowardice, but absolute confidence and composure after seeing through the illusion.
Li Jing nodded slightly, showing little disappointment on his face, as if all of this was within his expectations.
He gazed at the dust rising from the road ahead, his voice low and firm: "Ziyi is right."
"Han Xing was revered as a military god by the people of Chu, which shows that he had extraordinary abilities."
"His military tactics are as steady as a deep pool and a towering mountain. He is particularly skilled in defense and insight. When his army is defeated, it is as difficult as climbing to heaven to try to outmaneuver him."
He paused, then changed the subject, his tone becoming resolute: "Since they are not pursuing us and are unwilling to fall into our trap, then we need not waste our energy on this."
"The ambush troops can be withdrawn. Proceed according to the second plan."
When the "second plan" was mentioned, Li Jing's eyes suddenly sharpened, revealing an unquestionable determination, even one that seemed to have nothing to lose.
He turned his head to look at Guo Ziyi and said, word by word, "General Yuchi Bo must not remain in the hands of the Chu army for long!"
"He is not only your beloved general and a valiant soldier of our army, but also a part of the spirit and dignity of our Great Tang army! To bring him back, I, the commander, will spare no expense!"
The phrase "at all costs" carries immense weight, clearly demonstrating Li Jing's determination.
The defeat and loss of generals is already a great disgrace. If even the captured general cannot be rescued, the blow to the morale of the entire army will be devastating, and it will also be a heavy blow to Li Jing's own prestige.
Rescuing Yuchi Bo was not only a military necessity, but also a political and moral imperative.
Upon hearing this, Guo Ziyi's body trembled slightly.
He knew Yuchi Bo's temperament well and knew that he would be humiliated if he fell into enemy hands, so he was extremely anxious.
Hearing Li Jing's clear statement and the high importance placed on rescuing Yuchi Bo, he felt both moved and burdened by a great responsibility.