mtlumby2d Chapter 1998, is this how it ends?
Chapter 1998, is this how it ends?
Wang Zhongsi knew that neither of his next two paths would be easy!
The first option is a desperate counterattack, risking everything.
Taking advantage of the fact that Feng Mulan's Vermilion Bird Legion's main force might not have fully arrived at Luoxia Mountain yet, and that Xue Huaide's troops must be exhausted and unsettled after a series of fierce battles, he immediately gathered all the troops at his disposal.
The troops that had withdrawn from the Black River Valley and the remnants of Liu Hongji's forces turned back to try to retake the Luoxia Mountain camp.
If successful, it would not only save face and regain a strategic foothold, but could even disrupt the Chu army's subsequent plans.
However, the risks involved are enormous.
Xue Huaide was not someone to be trifled with; his camp was easy to defend but difficult to attack.
His own troops were in low morale after continuous battles, and if the counterattack failed, or if Feng Mulan's reinforcements arrived in time.
Then Wang Zhongsi and his tens of thousands of troops would most likely be attacked from both sides by the Chu army, and fall into an abyss of no return.
Gongsun Wei's sacrifice will also be meaningless.
The second option is to retreat while bearing the humiliation.
Immediately abandon any unrealistic fantasies and acknowledge the complete failure of this campaign.
Before the Chu army could organize an effective pursuit, he led the entire army to retreat quickly and orderly, completely withdrawing from Luoxia Mountain and even the current war zone, and rejoining other Tang army units in the rear to preserve their strength.
This can avoid the worst possible outcome of annihilation and preserve the seeds for a future comeback.
However, this means he will solidify his reputation as a defeated general, suffering heavy losses and losing important strongholds.
The accusations from the court and the attacks from his political enemies will inevitably follow, casting a huge shadow over his reputation and future.
Is it a risky gamble, betting the fate of the nation and the entire army on that slim chance of turning the tide?
Or should we make a tough decision, endure the humiliation to preserve our strength and wait for the future?
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long shadow of Wang Zhongsi. His brows were furrowed as he glanced at the fearful, weary, yet hopeful faces before him, then looked toward Luoxia Mountain, where the clamor of the victors seemed to still linger.
Time passed silently, second by second, and every breath felt incredibly heavy.
He knew that his decision would determine the lives of tens of thousands of people, and even the course of the empire's war in this region.
The setting sun sank completely below the horizon, leaving only a dark red ember on the horizon, like blood that had not yet cooled on the battlefield.
On the desolate plains, two defeated armies met, yet the air was thick with a sense of defeat and despair that was even darker than the night itself.
Although the troops under Wang Zhongsi who withdrew from the Black River Valley were relatively well-organized, they were also exhausted.
The defeated army from Luoxia Mountain, led by Liu Hongji, fared even worse, abandoning their armor and weapons, riddled with wounds, and like frightened birds.
Although the combined number of the two teams was still considerable, their low morale weighed heavily on the hearts of every general, like a mountain.
Wang Zhongsi's gaze slowly swept over the soldiers in front of him, whose faces were pale and whose eyes were filled with fear.
Looking southeast towards the Luoxia Mountain area, now covered by Chu army flags, one could almost hear the Chu army's triumphant cheers.
He took a deep breath of the chilly night wind, his chest filled with bitterness and helplessness.
Helian Wujiu's 40,000-strong allied army was annihilated, the Luoxia Mountain camp was lost, and his beloved general Gongsun Wei was killed in battle.
This series of blows, like a heavy hammer, almost shattered his years of pride and confidence.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse yet carrying an undeniable resolve, breaking the suffocating silence:
"Order the entire army to regroup, treat the wounded, and take stock of the losses."
"Half an hour later, we will break camp and depart, leaving this war zone. The entire army will retreat to Zhennanguan!"
"Zhennanguan?"
Tuwu Jin, standing to the side, almost thought he had misheard.
He abruptly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Wang Zhongsi, and the anger he had suppressed for so long erupted like a volcano:
"Wang Zhongsi! What did you say? Retreat to Zhennanguan?"
"We've suffered such a huge loss! Helian Wujiu's 40,000 troops are gone, and even the Luoxia Mountain camp, which we've built up over many years, is lost!"
"General Gongsun Wei has also died in battle! Such a humiliating disgrace, and you actually think you can just walk away like this? Fleeing to Zhennan Pass like a stray dog?!"
His roar echoed in the twilight, drawing the attention of many soldiers around him, but no one dared to utter a sound.
Tuwu Jin's chest heaved violently as he waved his thick arms and continued to roar:
"You can swallow this insult, but I, Tuwu Jin, cannot! The warriors of my Black Wolf tribe cannot die in vain! We must fight our way back and make the Chu army pay for their blood debt!"
Faced with Tuwu Jin's almost out-of-control roar, Wang Zhongsi's face remained calm and composed, but his eyes grew colder and sharper, like the ice of the North.
He waited until Tuwu Jin finished roaring before coldly retorting, each word like an icicle striking his opponent:
"Fight back? Turkic leader, then tell me, how are we supposed to fight back?"
"Should we immediately turn around and attack the Luoxia Mountain camp, which is currently heavily guarded by Xue Huaide and is waiting in ambush?"
Without waiting for Turkkin's reply, he pressed on, his tone filled with a cold, even cruel, analysis:
"Xue Huaide has just won a great victory and his morale is high. He is holding his position in the camp. Our exhausted troops have lost all their siege equipment and their morale is low. What can we use to attack?"
"Even if we launch a fierce attack regardless of the consequences, do you think Feng Mulan's Vermilion Bird Legion is currently at that moment?"
"Since they were able to deal with Helian Wujiu so quickly, their military might and combat strength far exceed our imagination!"
"They are probably traveling day and night right now, heading towards Luoxia Mountain!"
"If we fail to capture the city after a prolonged siege, or just as we make some progress, Feng Mulan's army will attack from the flanks or even the rear, coordinating with Xue Huaide..."
Wang Zhongsi's voice suddenly rose, carrying a stern tone that seemed to awaken someone from a dream:
"At that time, what awaits us will not be as simple as losing camps and suffering casualties! It will be the annihilation of the entire army!"
"It is you, me, and these tens of thousands of soldiers who will all perish here! Helian Wujiu's fate is a warning to us!"
"Do you want the last elite of the Black Wolf tribe to perish with them?!"
"I……"
Tuowujin was rendered speechless by the series of sharp questions, and his face turned bright red.
He wanted to refute, but found that every word Wang Zhongsi said was like a knife, precisely dissecting the cruel reality he didn't want to face.
He knew, of course, that what Wang Zhongsi said was very likely true, but he had nowhere to vent his frustration and resentment, so he could only stiffen his neck, pant heavily, and growl:
"Could it be... that we're just going to let it go like this?"
"Even if we can't retake the camp for the time being, we can still harass their supply lines and attack their strongholds. We'll make them pay the price!"
"I'm so unwilling to leave like this!"