mtlumby2d Chapter 1994 Just in Time!
Chapter 1994 Just in Time!
Wang Zhongsi paused, his gaze shifting towards Luoxia Mountain, his tone growing increasingly heavy:
"Moreover, according to previous intelligence, Xue Huaide is launching a fierce attack on my Luoxia Mountain camp."
"Now that Helian Wujiu has been defeated, it is pointless for us to entangle with Xue Dingshan here. On the contrary, we may be attacked from both sides by the Chu army."
"Our top priority is to immediately return to the camp, ensure the main camp is not lost, and stabilize our foundation!"
"Otherwise, if the main camp is lost, you and I will be like rootless duckweed, and the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Tuwu Jin opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but Wang Zhongsi's logically rigorous analysis and the ever-approaching threat of the cavalry extinguished most of his anger like a bucket of cold water.
He may be reckless, but he is not stupid.
The possibility of Helian Wujiu's entire army being wiped out, and the danger of being surrounded by the main force of the Vermilion Bird Legion, forced him to face reality.
If they continue fighting, they might be able to kill Xue Dingshan, but they and their Black Wolf warriors will likely perish here.
He couldn't afford the price.
"Humph!"
Tuwu Jin let out a muffled groan of resentment, his face turning ashen, but in the end he did not persist any longer.
"In that case, retreat quickly! Don't let the Chu cavalry catch up with us!"
He turned his horse around, shouted orders to his troops, and began an orderly retreat.
As the gong sounded, the Tang army and Scorpion Clan soldiers, like the receding tide, began to break away from the Chu army, retreating into their formation in preparation for withdrawal.
Although they maintained basic order, their hurried and even slightly flustered steps showed that they were not retreating calmly.
As the enemy retreated like a tide, the pressure on Xue Dingshan eased, and the breath he had been holding onto finally let out completely.
He felt waves of excruciating pain wash over him, his vision blurred, and the world spun around him. If he hadn't been holding on with his halberd, he would have collapsed to the ground long ago.
Just then, Guo Feng's cavalry vanguard, like a steel storm, crashed into the area previously occupied by the Tang army.
Although they failed to stop the retreating enemy forces, they completely dispersed the remaining enemy and came to a steady stop in front of the remnants of the Chu army.
Guo Feng dismounted and strode up to Xue Dingshan.
Seeing the young general covered in blood, swaying precariously yet still standing tall, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, and he cupped his hands in greeting:
"General Xue, Guo Feng came to provide support on Her Majesty's orders, and he has certainly not failed in his mission!"
Xue Dingshan struggled to lift his head, a grateful smile appearing on his pale face, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible:
"General Guo... a timely rain... I, Xue... on behalf of my soldiers... thank you..."
He fought off the dizziness and asked anxiously, "General Guo...how is the war...on the Empress's side? What about Helian Wujiu...?"
Guo Feng smiled broadly and proudly, and said loudly, "General Xue, rest assured!"
"With Her Majesty personally overseeing the operation, Helian Wujiu's 40,000 troops were completely annihilated by our Vermilion Bird Legion last night."
"Helian Wujiu himself has been beheaded! Zhang Xun has also been killed in battle! Our army has achieved a great victory!"
"Good...good...that's great..."
Upon hearing this, Xue Dingshan felt the last weight lifted from his heart.
He accomplished his father's mission, eliminating the major threat of Helian Wujiu, and the Vermilion Bird Legion achieved a great victory.
All worries and pressures vanished at that moment.
Extreme exhaustion and weakness from serious injuries, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly overwhelmed the dam of his will.
Before the smile on his lips could fully unfold, everything suddenly went black.
All sounds and sights quickly faded away, and the hand that had been gripping the halberd finally loosened its grip weakly.
As if all the bones had been removed from his body, he fell straight forward and completely lost consciousness.
"General!"
"Quick! The physician! Where is the physician?!"
Guo Feng and the surrounding Chu soldiers were shocked to see this and rushed forward to help Xue Dingshan up. Their anxious shouts echoed in the blood-red sunset over the Black River Valley.
This extremely brutal Battle of Heihe Valley finally came to a bloody end with a Pyrrhic victory for the Chu army and Xue Dingshan's exhaustion and unconsciousness.
Meanwhile, in front of Luoxia Mountain, battle clouds gathered and the sounds of fighting shook the heavens.
Xue Huaide led the charge, wielding his halberd with lightning speed, and wherever he went, Tang soldiers fell like wheat being harvested.
His warhorse neighed, its hooves splashing up mud mixed with blood, and his black iron armor was already stained dark red with the blood of his enemies.
Each swing of the halberd carried the force of thunder, relentlessly suppressing the Tang army's defensive line.
Inspired by their commander's fierce bravery, the Chu soldiers charged forward wave after wave, like a raging tide crashing against a dam, relentlessly assaulting the Tang army's camp.
Arrows flew like locusts, crisscrossing through the air; boulders and logs crashed down from the stockade walls, and soldiers screamed as they fell into the trenches.
But the newcomers immediately filled the gap, and the offensive never stopped for a moment.
The war has reached a stalemate.
Relying on the advantage of their encampment, the Tang army fought desperately. Although they were on the verge of collapse under Xue Huaide's relentless attacks, they still stubbornly held on.
The struggle for every inch of land came at a terrible cost; the air was scorching, filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder, blood, and sweat.
Just when the outcome was hanging by a thread, a rapid sound of hooves came from behind, growing louder as it approached.
A weary-looking Imperial Guard, dressed in a magnificent flying fish robe, skillfully maneuvered through layers of enemy lines, ignoring the whistling arrows around him, and charged straight towards Xue Huaide.
Then, he pulled the horse to a sudden stop, and the warhorse reared up, letting out a long neigh.
"Report! General Xue, Her Majesty's urgent message has arrived by carrier pigeon!"
The imperial guards spoke loudly, raising a sealed letter with a feather inserted in it high with both hands.
Upon hearing the sound, Xue Huaide swept his halberd horizontally, slicing two fierce Tang soldiers who were trying to take advantage of the situation in half at the waist, their warm blood splattering all over his face.
He didn't care at all, and with a backhand slammed the halberd to the ground. He stretched out his large hand, which was covered in iron wrist guards and stained with blood, and took the letter.
He quickly tore off the sealing wax, his eyes flashing like lightning as he scanned the familiar, delicate yet powerful handwriting on the letter.
In an instant, Xue Huaide's body trembled, and his tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed.
Immediately afterwards, a burst of exhilarating laughter, like a thunderclap, erupted from his chest, instantly drowning out the clamor of the battlefield!
"Hahaha! Well done! Well done, Lady Feng! You did a great job!"
He held the letter high, gathered his inner strength, and his deep, joyful voice, like rolling thunder, echoed throughout the entire front line:
"My lads! Did you hear that? Lady Feng has achieved a great victory in the direction of Black River Valley!"
"The 40,000 enemy troops under Helian Wujiu have been completely annihilated by our Vermilion Bird Legion. Helian Wujiu, Zhang Xun, and other bandit leaders have been beheaded! The Empress is personally leading her victorious army to reinforce our Luoxia Mountain!"