dognovel Chapter 1972 Our play can't stop yet!
Chapter 1972 Our play can't stop yet!
Chu Ning stared at the battlefield, watching the Tang army's almost frenzied offensive and the signs of constant troop movements in the rear camps. His tightly furrowed brows did not relax.
Li Jing's reaction seemed to confirm the scout's report—he had to seek a breakthrough in infantry duels because the cavalry "could not be mobilized".
However, a faint unease lingered in Chu Ning's heart.
Li Jing's actions seemed reasonable, but they felt like he was being too cooperative.
Was his relentless, all-out attack really just to gain an advantage in open battle?
"Order the front lines to provide alternating cover and gradually retreat into the pass! Rely on the pass walls for defense!"
Chu Ning ultimately made a relatively prudent decision.
With the enemy situation unclear, especially the movements of the 30,000 Scorpion Clan cavalry uncertain, he could not afford to waste his precious troops indefinitely on open field battles outside the pass.
The dark tide began to slowly recede into the pass, while the Tang army's offensive wave relentlessly pursued it, and the battle remained fierce.
Li Jing stood in front of the command tent, watching the Chu army begin to retreat, his playful smile growing ever more pronounced.
Chu Ning's caution was within his expectations.
This is another guarantee that his entire plan can be implemented smoothly.
Now, all he needs to do is keep Chu Ning's attention focused here and wait for the decisive victory news to come from the direction of Luoxia Mountain.
The balance of power on the eastern front is quietly tilting in favor of the Tang Dynasty.
Standing atop Zhennan Pass, Chu Ning's gaze was like the most precise scale, carefully weighing every change in the battle situation below the pass.
The Tang army's sudden intensification of its offensive caused a continuous cloud of dust to gather and be moved from its rear camps.
And the "Scorpion Cavalry," who always hung like a dark cloud on his flanks, never engaging in battle yet exerting immense psychological pressure—all this information swirled and collided rapidly in his mind.
Feng Anguo and his generals held their breath, awaiting His Majesty's final decision.
The fighting below the pass had reached a fever pitch. Although the Chu army was elite, it began to suffer considerable casualties under the Tang army's almost relentless attacks, and the battle lines were forced to slowly retreat.
Time seemed to thicken and slow down at this moment. Chu Ning's fingertips unconsciously traced the cold edge of the barbed wire, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing.
What exactly is Li Jing's intention?
Was it truly because the cavalry was "unable to be deployed" that they were forced to seek a decisive battle with infantry?
Or is this frenzied attack itself a smokescreen for an even bigger conspiracy?
The whereabouts of those 30,000 Scorpion Clan cavalrymen remained a thorn in Chu Ning's side.
Scouts reported that they seemed to be inside the camp, but Li Jing's decision not to use this key force so far is itself full of contradictions.
Given Li Jing's abilities, it's impossible for him to make such a basic mistake.
Therefore, the only explanation is that this cavalry unit has a more important and secretive mission than the battlefield at hand!
"I can't gamble anymore," Chu Ning thought to himself.
He might be able to compete with Li Jingyi in open field battles, and even gain the upper hand by relying on the ferocity of the Chu army.
But as a monarch who bears the fate of the entire empire on his shoulders, he cannot pin his hopes on a wild, unpredictable battle in the field.
Defending the city is currently the safest and most effective strategy to leverage our strengths.
Thinking of this, the last trace of hesitation in Chu Ning's eyes vanished, replaced by a calm and decisiveness born from a thorough understanding of the situation.
He turned abruptly, his voice clear and powerful, echoing across the city walls:
"Ming Jin withdraws his troops!"
"Your Majesty?" Feng Anguo asked subconsciously, with a hint of resentment.
In his view, although the Tang army's offensive was fierce, the Chu army did not show any signs of defeat and was still capable of fighting.
Chu Ning glanced at him, her tone leaving no room for argument: "General Feng, don't forget, we are the ones defending the city!"
"The best strategy is to rely on the fortified city and wear down the enemy! Fighting the enemy outside the city now is exactly what Li Jing wants!"
"He would love for us to commit all our main forces to a protracted war of attrition against him!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping once more over the still-deafening battlefield and the faintly visible Scorpion Clan camp in the distance, before speaking in a deep voice:
"Moreover, the whereabouts of those 30,000 Scorpion Clan cavalry are still unknown, like a sharp blade hanging over our army's head, and we don't know when it will fall."
"I must be cautious until I fully understand Li Jing's true intentions!"
These words were like a wake-up call, instantly sobering up Feng Anguo and his generals.
Yes, Your Majesty's concerns are indeed wise and insightful advice for governing the country!
Defending the city is their fundamental objective!
"Your Majesty, we obey!" the generals replied in unison.
"Dang-dang-dang-!"
A crisp and urgent gong suddenly rang out from the top of Zhennan Pass, piercing through the deafening battle cries and clearly reaching the ears of every Chu soldier who was fighting a bloody battle.
This is a signal to retreat!
Upon hearing this, the Chu generals, who were fighting a bitter battle on the front lines, were unwilling but obeyed orders and immediately organized their troops to begin an orderly retreat.
The shield bearers and spearmen in the front row held off the Tang army's charge, while the troops in the rear row took turns providing cover, slowly retreating towards the open gate like a receding tide.
Despite the immense pressure throughout the process, the formation did not collapse, demonstrating exceptional military skill.
Almost at the same time that the Chu army sounded the retreat, the news reached Li Jing's ears.
A scout rushed into the tent: "Report—General! The Chu army has sounded the retreat and is withdrawing into the pass!"
Upon hearing this, several generals inside the tent immediately showed excitement, and some even suggested:
"General! The Chu army has retreated in fear, and their formation has been disrupted! Should we immediately order the entire army to press forward and pursue them relentlessly, perhaps taking advantage of the chaos to seize the pass?"
However, Li Jing, who was sitting in the main seat, did not show any surprise on his face. Instead, he revealed a calm smile that said, "I knew it."
He gently waved his hand, stopping his generals from requesting to fight.
"Don't be surprised, this was Chu Ning's inevitable move."
Li Jing's voice was calm and even, as if he had already expected it: "Chu Ning is a man of great talent and ambition, but also cautious and suspicious."
"His ability to destroy six kingdoms in a short period of time was by no means due to reckless attacks."
"Under unclear circumstances, especially with doubts about the movements of our cavalry, he would never risk leaving his main force in the field for an extended period to engage in a decisive battle with me."
"His most likely option is to withdraw his troops and defend the fortified city."
His grasp of Chu Ning's personality and psychology was incredibly precise.
"Then... Commander, shall we call it a day?" the lieutenant asked.
"No!"
Li Jing flatly denied it, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Although Chu Ning has retreated, our act cannot stop yet!"
He stood up, walked outside the tent, and looked at the Chu army slowly retreating into the pass in the distance. A calculating smile appeared on his lips.