mtlumby2d Chapter 2097 Getting Anxious
Chapter 2097 Getting Anxious
Guo Ziyi's roar was like a thunderclap in the darkness, a ray of dawn in despair!
It instantly dispelled the death wish in the hearts of Li Jing's remaining troops and ignited their last hope!
On the other side, Ma Chao's smugness and ferocity froze instantly, replaced by an uncontrollable shock, anger, and ashen face!
He had planned everything, but he never expected that Guo Ziyi would disregard the safety of the main camp and personally lead such a large cavalry force away from the camp to come deep into this place to provide relief!
This madman! Isn't he afraid that Han Xing will take the opportunity to destroy his base?!
However, reality left him no time to think it over.
Guo Ziyi's well-rested, large, and revenge-driven fresh army is poised to crush him like a mountain!
Guo Ziyi's roar of "I will protect you and ensure your safe return to camp" was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the entire battlefield!
The hunting grounds, which had seemed to be a foregone conclusion, suddenly saw the situation reversed!
The shock and anger on Ma Chao's face lasted only a moment before being replaced by a stronger killing intent and the decisiveness of a general.
He knew he absolutely could not let Li Jing get away with this!
Once this biggest fish is allowed to swim back to Guo Ziyi's "pond," all the previous efforts and sacrifices will be in vain, and all the hard work will be in vain!
"The whole army obeys the order!"
Ma Chao's voice boomed like thunder. He forcefully suppressed the shock in his heart and pointed his long sword sharply at the Tang army reinforcements that were rolling in.
"The vanguard will become the rearguard, and the horse archers will advance to hinder the enemy cavalry charge!"
"Ma Dai! Integrate your troops and follow my main force. Concentrate your strength and capture Li Jing before enemy reinforcements can encircle them!"
The command was urgent and clear.
The Chu cavalry demonstrated exceptional combat skills, remaining in order not to descend into chaos despite the sudden change in the situation.
The outermost cavalry archers immediately turned their horses around to face northeast, drew their bows, and unleashed a dense rain of arrows at Guo Ziyi's vanguard, attempting to slow their charge.
Despite his injuries, Ma Dai rallied his remaining troops and joined forces with Ma Chao's elite central army. Like a rope twisted into one, they launched another fierce attack on Li Jing's remaining troops, who were surrounded in the core and whose morale had been greatly boosted by the arrival of reinforcements!
They needed to act quickly and deliver a fatal blow before Guo Ziyi's army arrived!
However, Guo Ziyi brought not only an advantage in troop strength, but also a crushing defeat in morale and tactics!
His more than 15,000 fresh cavalrymen had been resting and preparing for a long time. Having witnessed their commander being trapped and their comrades dying tragically, they had long harbored a raging anger and a burning desire for revenge!
"Wedge formation! Charge!"
Guo Ziyi completely ignored the sparse rain of arrows, and his cavalry formed a sharp wedge shape, which was most adept at breaking through enemy lines.
With him as the arrowhead, like a red-hot iron cone, he fiercely wedged into the Chu army's archer cavalry formation that was trying to stop him!
"boom--!"
This clash was even more brutal than when Ma Chao attacked Yuchi Bo!
Guo Ziyi's cavalry charged with greater momentum, denser formation, and greater impact!
The Chu army's archer cavalry were not good at close combat, and under such a ferocious frontal assault, they collapsed almost immediately!
Men and horses were thrown into chaos, and a huge gap was instantly torn open in the defensive line!
Guo Ziyi took the lead, his long spear flashing, and wherever he went, the Chu soldiers and horses were crushed.
His gaze was fixed on Li Jing's banner not far away. He didn't engage in any fighting at all, but led his elite personal guards like a sharp blade cutting through the waves, charging madly in that direction!
"Stop him! Stop Guo Ziyi at all costs!"
Ma Chao's eyes widened in fury as he watched, and he divided his troops to intercept them. The two groups of Chu cavalry clashed fiercely with Guo Ziyi's vanguard, and the center of the battlefield was thrown into chaos.
Upon seeing the fierce resistance of the reinforcements, Li Jing's remaining troops, trapped in the heart of the encirclement, unleashed an astonishing power to survive in their desperate situation.
Instead of holding their ground, they launched a desperate counterattack led by several valiant generals in the direction Guo Ziyi had advanced!
With the combined forces from within and without, the pressure on the inner encirclement of the Chu army increased dramatically.
By this time, the sun had completely sunk below the horizon, leaving only a faint, dark red glow on the horizon.
Night fell like a giant curtain, quickly enveloping the earth.
Torches were lit, and the scattered sparks spread across the vast battlefield, illuminating the ferocious or resolute faces, making the battle appear even more chaotic and eerie.
Guo Ziyi caught a glimpse of Li Jing fighting against the Chu army amidst the chaos of battle, and his heart was at ease.
However, he also saw the overall situation on the battlefield: although Ma Chao's troops were exhausted, their strength was still formidable and their fighting spirit was strong.
Although he had brought fresh troops, they were now fighting in the open field, far from their camps, and it was not advisable to fight for a long time. He also needed to guard against a possible attack from Han Xing from the rear.
"Send the order!"
Guo Ziyi parried a slash from a Chu general and shouted sternly to the messenger beside him:
"Each battalion will provide alternating cover and move towards Marshal Li! Once you have reached Marshal Li, do not linger in battle. Immediately move towards the northeastern camp, fighting and retreating!"
"Use crossbows to cover the rear, while cavalry patrol the flanks, maintaining formation and avoiding chaos!"
"Order!"
The order was conveyed swiftly.
The Tang cavalry began to consciously change their tactics.
Instead of charging forward recklessly, they moved in battalion-sized units, providing mutual cover, surging towards Li Jing's location like a tide, and then slowly moving northeastward like the receding tide.
Whenever the Chu army attempted to take hold of a certain area, they would immediately be attacked from the side by other Tang army units or subjected to a hail of arrows.
Upon seeing this, Ma Chao became extremely anxious.
He realized that Guo Ziyi's intention was to rescue the people and retreat, not to engage in a decisive battle. If he allowed Guo Ziyi to succeed, all his previous efforts would be in vain!
"Hold them off! Don't let them escape! Split your forces around to their rear and cut off their retreat!"
Ma Chao frantically issued orders, personally leading his most elite troops to relentlessly pursue the junction between Guo Ziyi's central army and Li Jing's remnants, launching the fiercest attack.
As night fell, the battle entered an even more brutal and chaotic phase.
The firelight flickered, and shadowy figures moved about. The sounds of fighting, roaring, horses neighing, and the clanging of metal mingled together, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe.
The two cavalrymen repeatedly charged, clashed, and separated in the darkness. Arrows whizzed through the firelight, and men were frequently struck by arrows, falling from their horses and disappearing into the darkness with screams, or being trampled underfoot.
Guo Ziyi's strategy of fighting and retreating proved effective.
The Tang army's formation remained relatively intact, and their coordination among themselves was more effective.
They were like a tough piece of chewing gum; despite being constantly torn and attacked by the Chu army, they never broke and successfully brought Li Jing and his remaining troops to the core protected by the main army.
With the help of his guards, Li Jing reunited with Guo Ziyi.
The two commanders exchanged a quick glance amidst the chaos of battle, everything understood without a word.
Guo Ziyi immediately ordered the reinforcement of the rearguard and accelerated the retreat.
Ma Chao led his troops in a fierce attack, attempting to break through the Tang army's rear guard line. He even nearly cut into the Tang army's ranks several times, but was desperately blocked by the reserve forces and cavalry patrolling the flanks that Guo Ziyi had arranged in advance.