dognovel Chapter 328 Yelü Xian's Decisiveness in Killing
Chapter 328 Yelü Xian's Decisiveness in Killing
Yue Ying maneuvered the tank like a sharp blade, tearing a gap in the Jin cavalry's impenetrable defenses. This action seemed to inject an invisible force into Li's army's lines, instantly easing their tense nerves.
Under the relentless crushing force of modern armored warfare, even the Jin army, renowned for its bravery and fearlessness, could not escape the fate of casualties, and they began a helpless retreat. Commendable courage does not equate to a willingness to sacrifice unnecessarily; the Jin soldiers also harbored a strong desire to survive.
As the smoke of battle cleared on land, the storm at sea subsided. The Jin army's naval forces were nearly wiped out; only five or six warships drifted forlornly on the surface. They had suffered the loss of over ten ships, yet had only managed to lightly damage one of Li's army's vessels, failing to sink it completely. This naval battle, while not entirely one-sided, clearly demonstrated the disparity in strength between the two sides.
The remaining Jin warships, witnessing the rapid deterioration of the battle, panicked and fled desperately into the deep sea like startled birds.
"Captain, the enemy is retreating. Should we pursue them?"
Duan Chengli gently lowered his binoculars, his gaze deep, as if he had seen through everything. "Let's hold back for now. After the battle, our ship's ammunition is almost depleted. Subsequent engagements will inevitably be even more brutal. Don't forget, our mission is to build a solid shield for our infantry brothers. Therefore, preserving our strength is the best strategy."
The military forces of the two Li family armies finally merged. In order to deal with the 20,000 Jin army prisoners, Yue Ying ordered naval warships to transport them back. At present, the Li family army is carrying out large-scale infrastructure construction and is in dire need of a large number of laborers. These Jin army prisoners can solve this problem.
The Jin soldiers were disobedient? That didn't exist in Li's army. The prisoners who survived were all obedient; those who were disobedient were already overgrown with weeds.
Of the 30,000 troops that came to provide support, Yue Ying only took 10,000 into Cangzhou City, leaving the rest to remain at the dock. This dock was extremely important to them, not only because it provided them with supplies from the sea, but also because it could restrain the Jin army, preventing them from focusing all their efforts on Yue Ying when attacking Cangzhou City.
Outside the ancient city of Cangzhou, on the vast, boundless plains, the Jin army's grand tent stood imposingly, exuding an air of solemnity in the night. Yelü Xian, a general who had fought countless battles, was now roaring angrily at the Jin army general who had led the troops into battle during the day. The air inside the tent seemed to freeze, and everyone else was silent, trembling with fear, no one daring to utter a word in reply.
Yelü Xian's voice echoed like thunder in the tent: "Your forces outnumber the enemy by more than two times, and I even assigned you my most elite cavalry. With such an advantage, you still can't even take down a small dock. It's outrageous!"
The Jin general, pale-faced, had no choice but to explain, "General, please calm your anger. The battle was already one-sided; our army was almost about to break through the enemy's lines. However, at this crucial moment, those iron lumps suddenly appeared from our rear. May I ask why you failed to stop them?"
Yelü Xian's voice was as cold as frost in the tent. Facing the doubts of his subordinates about his combat abilities, his gaze remained unwavering. The air seemed to freeze, and the gazes of the other Jin generals were like sharp swords, piercing the questioner.
"Defeat is defeat." Yelü Xian's words were short and powerful, each word like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone present. "No need for further words, and no need to look for excuses."
He waved his hand lightly, and the guards beside him immediately understood, stepping forward to support the questioning general. The general's face was pale, but he still tried to struggle, but to no avail.
"Take him away and deal with him according to military law." Yelü Xian's voice rang out again, this time with an added air of unquestionable authority. The guards responded and quickly dragged the general out of the tent.
Upon hearing this, the Jin general who had previously been at odds with General Yelü instantly lost his composure, as if a cold wind had pierced his spine, sending a chill straight to his heart. His face changed drastically, his knees involuntarily buckled, and he knelt on the ground, his voice trembling with urgency: "I beg the general to have mercy and grant me another chance to live. This time, I will definitely do my utmost and vow to conquer that dock."
Witnessing the other party's pleas for mercy, Yelü Xian remained silent, his face as cold and stern as ice. Just then, two Jin soldiers strode in, roughly grabbed the trembling general, and dragged him out of the tent. Realizing that Yelü Xian was not bluffing, a look of disbelief and panic flashed in the Jin general's eyes, his voice filled with a desperate struggle.
"Yelü Xian, how dare you take my life? You should know that my clan's elder is the Vice Minister of War, a man of great power and influence! What are you all standing there for? Come and save me! Otherwise, sooner or later you will all suffer the same fate as these Liao people, who will behead you..."
His shouts echoed in the empty tent, carrying a hint of resentment and despair.
Soon after, a piercing wail suddenly rang out outside the tent, followed by complete silence, as if even the air itself had frozen. A moment later, a Jin soldier, pale-faced and trembling, staggered into the tent, cradling a bloodied head in his hands. The sight was horrifying and chilling.
Yelü Xian's gaze swept across the surroundings like ice, his voice deep and authoritative: "Does anyone else have any objections?"
Inside the large tent, it was so quiet that you could almost hear the breath of a breeze. Even the faintest sound, like a needle falling to the ground, was exceptionally clear at this moment.
Seeing this, Yelü Xian smiled with satisfaction and nodded slightly: "In that case, everyone should return to their camps and conserve their energy. Tomorrow, we will engage in a decisive battle with the Li family army in Cangzhou City. I hope you will all give your all in this battle."
Li Zhen, who was in Tangyin, soon received Yue Ying's report of victory. Holding the secret letter, he said to Bu Liang, "Under normal circumstances, Cangzhou should be no problem. However, Yue Ying's troops alone are definitely not enough to take Yan and Zhao. Immediately send a letter to Yue Peng, asking him to dispatch Wang Changdao's troops to advance from the west to the north. I want to take advantage of the chaos within the Jin Kingdom to capture the Jin capital with all my might."
After pondering for a long time, Bu Liang spoke up: "My lord, with such a high-profile war against the Jin Kingdom, what will happen to Wanyan Ping on the south bank of the Yellow River...?"
Li Zhen walked to the vast map hanging on the wall, his gaze traversing the mountains and rivers with profound intensity. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, his voice tinged with contemplation: "Indeed, we must be on guard. Although there is a non-aggression pact between us, in such a chaotic world, where people's hearts are like wolves, the so-called oath is probably nothing more than a flimsy piece of paper, easily broken."
After a moment of silence, Li Zhen's thoughts seemed to deepen. He spoke again, his words carrying an undeniable determination: "Has Yue Peng been busy building a new army lately? Perfect timing. We should deploy all these fledgling, fierce troops to the banks of the Yellow River and establish multiple defensive lines. At the same time, we should build fortified military camps at various strategic passes and dangerous crossings, so that even an ambitious man like Wanyan Ping would have to overcome these tough obstacles before he could set foot on our territory."