dognovel Chapter 2049 Breaking In!
Chapter 2049 Breaking In!
The dawn light at Chenshi (7-9 AM) did not bring hope to the Tang army camp; instead, it acted like a cold searchlight, clearly illuminating the dire state of the right flank and the frontal defenses, which were on the verge of collapse.
The Ranming troops, like tireless war beasts, launched six waves of desperate attacks throughout the night, finally tearing the Tang army's hard-won defensive line to shreds.
Countless Chu soldiers surged in through multiple breaches like a burst dam, engaging in even more chaotic and brutal street fighting with the remaining Tang troops inside the camp.
Flags fell, tents were set ablaze, and shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, and the wails of the dying had penetrated deep into the heart of the camp.
Liu Hongji, who was in charge of commanding the front line of defense, was now covered in blood, his armor shattered.
He stood atop an arrow tower that had not yet been captured, looking down at the Chu army surging like a tide, and at his dwindling number of subordinates around him, his heart sank to the bottom.
He knew that with his remaining troops alone, he absolutely could not hold out!
If this continues, not only will the defense line collapse completely, but the right flank of the entire camp will be breached by the Chu army, at which point Wang Zhongsi's troops on the left flank will be caught in a desperate situation, attacked from both sides!
"Can't wait any longer!"
A resolute glint flashed in Liu Hongji's eyes, and he roared at his personal guards, "Quickly! Launch the distress signal arrow! Call for reinforcements from the commander-in-chief! Now!"
"Yes, General!"
The guards dared not delay. They immediately took out specially made whistling arrows for emergency reinforcements, nocked them onto powerful bows, and with all their might, shot them towards the central command tent!
"Boom-boom!"
An arrow, accompanied by a piercing whistle and a blinding red light, shot suddenly into the dawn sky, then exploded into a striking red cloud of smoke high above!
This desperate cry for help still seemed so abrupt and glaring amidst the clamor of the battlefield!
Inside the camp, atop the watchtower, Li Jing's gaze was fixed on that area almost the instant the signal arrow exploded.
His face was as gloomy as the sky before a storm, and his knuckles turned white from gripping the railing so tightly.
He understood the meaning of the signal—Liu Hongji's side had reached a dead end and was in danger of being completely wiped out at any moment!
"General, what about General Liu..." The adjutant beside him said in a trembling voice, filled with fear.
Li Jing closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.
He was well aware that any troop movement at this moment could be fatal, especially the last strategic reserve force he had left, commanded by Gao Xianzhi.
Once the transfer is made, it means that other directions will completely lose their flexibility, and there will be no room for recovery.
But can we not save them?
Once Liu Hongji's side completely collapses, the main force of the Chu army will advance unimpeded and attack from behind with Wang Zhongsi's troops on the left flank, and may even directly threaten the central command tent!
At that point, it won't just be a matter of losing a single soldier, but the complete collapse of the entire camp!
"call--"
Li Jing let out a long breath, as if expelling all the helplessness and struggle in his heart.
He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with cold resolve: "Send word to Gao Xianzhi! Order him to immediately dispatch 10,000 troops to quickly support Liu Hongji's forces! Make sure to stabilize the frontal defenses and drive out the Chu army that has broken through!"
This order carried the weight of a warrior cutting off his own arm.
He knew this was likely a short-sighted decision.
"Understood!" The messenger, his face pale, rushed down the tower.
The order was quickly delivered to Gao Xianzhi, who was on high alert and ready to deal with crises at any time.
When Gao Xianzhi heard that 10,000 troops were to be dispatched to support the front lines, his brows furrowed instantly.
He only had a little over 20,000 men under his command, and now nearly half of them had been sent away to fill what seemed like a bottomless pit.
But he also understood the urgency of the situation and dared not hesitate in the slightest.
He immediately mustered his 10,000 most elite infantrymen, led by a trusted lieutenant, and rushed to the front lines where the battle was raging.
The addition of this new force is like driving a pillar into a dam that is about to collapse.
The once unstoppable offensive of Ran Ming's troops came to a halt, and the Chu army that broke into the camp encountered fierce resistance. The two sides engaged in an even more intense tug-of-war amidst the burning tents and dilapidated fortifications.
Liu Hongji's pressure was temporarily relieved.
However, not long after these 10,000 troops left Gao Xianzhi's defense zone, and before their figures had even completely disappeared around the corner of the camp—
"Boom--!"
It was like a long-awaited thunderclap suddenly exploding!
Zhao Yu, who had been patiently waiting in the shadows outside the Tang army camp like a ghost, suddenly had a glint of light in his eyes the moment he saw Gao Xianzhi's troops being mobilized!
This is the opportunity he's been waiting for!
With Gao Xianzhi's troops being diverted, the defenses will inevitably experience a brief period of weakness and chaos!
"Soldiers!"
Zhao Yu, with his silver spear and white horse, stood at the front of the battle. After a night of rest, his injuries seemed to have healed.
The clear, cold voice carried a power that pierced through metal and stone, reaching the ears of every white-horse cavalryman:
"General Ran Ming has drawn away the enemy's main force! The Tang army has been redeployed, leaving the defenses vulnerable! Now is the time to break through their camp and achieve victory!"
He suddenly raised his silver spear, pointing it at the camp in Gao Xianzhi's defense zone, which had become noticeably sparse due to troop movements, and let out a thunderous roar: "For His Majesty! For Great Chu! Follow me—kill!"
"kill!"
The White Horse Cavalry, having accumulated fighting spirit and humiliation overnight, suddenly launched their attack like an avalanche!
Thousands of warhorses galloped at the same time, their hooves thundering, shaking the earth!
Under the pale light of dawn, the white torrent drew a tragic arc of death, crashing into Gao Xianzhi's defense zone with a speed and force far exceeding that of the previous night!
"Oh no! It's Zhao Baima's cavalry!" The sentry on the watchtower roared in despair.
When Gao Xianzhi heard that nightmarish hoofbeat, his heart sank!
What he was most worried about happened!
As expected, Zhao Yu, that venomous snake, had been lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the moment he would divide his forces!
"Enemy attack! All troops, prepare for battle!"
Gao Xianzhi roared at the top of his lungs, trying to calm the troops, "Archers! Front row archers! Fire! Stop them!"
In the chaos, the Tang archers left behind hastily unleashed a hail of arrows.
But this time, the arrows were much sparser and more scattered than last night!
On the one hand, it was because of the reduced troop strength, and on the other hand, it was because they were shocked by the sudden and even more intense offensive of the White Horse Cavalry!
"Puff puff……"
The arrows struck the white horse cavalry's fine armor, and most of them were deflected.
Only a few lucky ones managed to hit the warhorses or unarmored areas, causing some casualties, but they were no match for the overwhelming momentum of this white torrent!
"Bang! Crack—!"