readsfreenovel Chapter 549 Conquest of Chu 5
Chapter 549 Conquest of Chu 5
"Xiang Yan is trying to lure me into sending troops." Wang Ben sneered. "Send out the order: the entire army must hold their positions. Anyone who dares to move will be punished according to military law!"
Outside the camp, the Chu general in charge of the feigned attack fled back into the dense forest and bowed to Xiang Yan, who was waiting there, saying, "General, the Qin army did not fall for the trap and did not pursue us."
Xiang Yan's expression turned grave. He hadn't expected Wang Ben to be so cautious, refusing even such obvious bait. "It seems Wang Ben is more difficult to deal with than I imagined."
He gritted his teeth. "Send the order to withdraw the ambush troops. Since luring the enemy has failed, we have to find another way."
Just as Xiang Yan was preparing to retreat, rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from afar. A scout galloped up, his face filled with panic: "General! To the northwest! The banners of Wang... Wang Jian's main force are visible! They are less than thirty li from here!"
"What?!" Xiang Yan was struck dumb, his face turning deathly pale. Wang Jian! He had actually come in person! One Wang Ben was already troublesome; if Wang Jian's 200,000 main force were to surround them, the 100,000 Chu soldiers would surely die without a burial place!
"Retreat! Retreat immediately! The entire army turns southeast and retreats to Chencheng!" Xiang Yan made a decisive decision, shouting the order. At this moment, any rescue plan was futile. Preserving the last main force of Chu in the field, retreating to Chencheng, and relying on the city's defenses to devise a plan for the future was the only way out.
Once the order to withdraw was given, the Chu army's previously orderly formation was thrown into chaos. Eager to return home, the soldiers surged towards the southeast.
Wang Ben astutely seized the opportunity. "The Chu army is trying to escape! Pursue!" Upon giving the order, the Qin cavalry, as if smelling wolves in a bloody abyss, instantly shifted from harassment to fierce pursuit. Using their speed advantage, they continuously attacked the Chu army's flanks and rear guard, turning the retreat into a bloody massacre.
Xiang Yan personally covered the rear, wielding his long spear and cutting down several Qin cavalrymen in an attempt to stabilize the situation. However, the defeat was overwhelming and unstoppable. Along the way, Chu soldiers who had fallen behind were continuously devoured by the Qin cavalry, their cries of agony echoing endlessly.
Wang Jian's main force also joined the pursuit. The Qin army's infantry and cavalry coordinated, grinding the fleeing Chu army like a giant millstone. Xiang Yan fought and retreated, and in one night, nearly 30% of his 100,000-strong army was lost, with abandoned baggage, banners, and weapons stretching for dozens of miles.
The following afternoon, the exhausted and weary Chu army finally caught sight of the familiar outline of Chencheng. Hope lay ahead! Once inside the city, they would have a chance to catch their breath!
But at this moment, the main force of the Qin army pursuing from behind, under the personal command of Wang Jian, suddenly accelerated! An even fiercer offensive came rushing in, and the vanguard cavalry had already bypassed the rear guard of the Chu army and charged straight at the center!
"Quickly! Enter the city!" Xiang Yan roared, his eyes bloodshot. However, the routed troops blocked the city gates, greatly slowing their progress. It seemed the Qin army was about to completely crush the Chu army outside Chen City, and the situation was perilous.
At the critical moment! "Grandfather!" A childish yet unusually loud voice rang in Xiang Yan's ear. Xiang Yan turned around and saw Xiang Yu, who was now covered in blood and his armor was riddled with blade marks. But in Xiang Yu's double pupils, Xiang Yan saw no fear, only excitement!
"Yu'er! You..." Xiang Yan looked at Xiang Yu, with a sense of foreboding.
"Grandfather! Lead the army into the city at once! Your grandson is willing to lead the brave warriors to cover the rear and block the enemy!" Xiang Yu's voice was resolute and brooked no argument. He knew that without someone willing to risk their life to stop them, the army would not be able to enter the city safely.
"No! You are still young! This journey is certain death!" Xiang Yan grabbed Xiang Yu's arm, tears welling in his eyes. Although the Xiang family members were not afraid of death, it was heartbreaking to see his ten-year-old grandson shoulder such a heavy responsibility.
"Grandfather!" Xiang Yu abruptly shook off Xiang Yan's hand, pointed to the approaching Black Tide behind him, and roared, "Men of the Xiang family, what distinction is there between young and old! It is the right time to die for the country! Any further hesitation will lead to the annihilation of the entire army! Please, Grandfather, consider the greater good!"
He suddenly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your grandson Xiang Yu requests to fight!"
Seeing his grandson's resolute expression and hearing the increasingly loud battle cries, Xiang Yan knew this was their only way out. Suppressing the agonizing pain in his heart, he drew his sword, slashing his palm until blood stained the blade. He said in a deep voice, "Good! With a son like this, what more could the Xiang family ask for! I give you three thousand Xiang family soldiers! Remember, you must survive!"
"Yes, sir!" Xiang Yu kowtowed heavily, then mounted his horse, raised his specially made halberd high, and roared at the most loyal and brave Xiang clan soldiers who had gathered behind him: "Xiang family men! Follow me—kill!!"
Xiang Yu took the lead, like an arrow released from a bow, and actually turned around to meet the Qin army's vanguard cavalry. His three thousand soldiers, inspired by their commander's bravery, let out a thunderous roar and charged into the black tide like red arrows!
"Stop that young general!" Wang Jian spotted Xiang Yu charging at the front and, sensing the boy's bravery, immediately gave the order.
However, Xiang Yu charged into the enemy ranks, his halberd swirling like a whirlwind! His strength was astonishing; with a sweep of his halberd, he could send Qin soldiers and their horses flying!
With a thrust of his halberd, the thick shields of the Qin army were pierced as easily as paper! Wherever he passed, men and horses fell, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and he was utterly invincible! He had torn a gap in the dense formation of the Qin army!
"Fire arrows! Shoot him dead!" Wang Ben was shocked by what he saw and immediately gave the order.
A hail of arrows enveloped the area where Xiang Yu stood. Xiang Yu brandished his halberd, deflecting the arrows, but his warhorse was struck by several arrows and collapsed with a mournful cry. Xiang Yu landed, but without hesitation, he continued fighting on foot, wielding his halberd!
He was like a tireless war machine, each strike containing the power to split mountains and shatter rocks. Qin soldiers died instantly upon contact with him, and his offensive was forced to a standstill by him alone!
The three thousand Xiang family soldiers fought desperately, taking advantage of the chaos created by Xiang Yu to block the main force's path to Chencheng. They formed a human dam, stubbornly resisting wave after wave of Qin army attacks.
Xiang Yu was covered in blood, indistinguishable between his own and his enemy's. His armor was shattered, and he was wounded in many places, yet he continued to roar and fight fiercely. His long halberd was like the scythe of death, constantly reaping lives. His bravery not only held back the Qin army but also greatly intimidated everyone. For a time, the Qin army was hindered by his reckless fighting style, and their offensive was thwarted.
Taking advantage of the precious opportunity when Xiang Yu single-handedly disrupted the Qin army's vanguard and held off the pursuers, Xiang Yan tearfully commanded the remaining Chu army to surge into the gates of Chencheng like a flood bursting its banks.
"Quick! Close the city gates!" Xiang Yan was the last to retreat into the city, and he shouted the order. The heavy city gates slowly closed with the sound of winches.
Outside the city, Xiang Yu and his three thousand rear guard soldiers were surrounded by the Qin army. Seeing the city gates about to close, Xiang Yu knew his mission was complete.
With a roar, he led his remaining few hundred men in a charge against one side of the Qin army that had surrounded them.
"Capture this scoundrel alive!" Wang Jian, who was in the central army, was both surprised and regretful at the sight of Xiang Yu's bravery, and ordered him to be captured alive.
The Qin army swarmed forward, unleashing grappling hooks and lassos. Xiang Yu struggled fiercely, his long halberd breaking, but he seized a Qin spear and continued fighting, killing more than ten men in succession. Finally, exhausted, he relaxed his guard slightly and was pulled down by several lassos. The Qin soldiers rushed forward and pinned him down.
The gates of Chen City slammed shut under Xiang Yan's heart-wrenching gaze. Outside the city, the sounds of battle gradually subsided, leaving only the cheers of the Qin army and the corpses strewn across the fields.