strictlysupreme Chapter 2213 is finally here!
Chapter 2213 is finally here!
"What? Chu Xuan...!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Mulan was struck dumb, her pretty face instantly turning bright red, which was then replaced by extreme anger.
She was a fierce and passionate daughter of a military family, with a strong sense of right and wrong. She was loyal to Chu Ning and hated betrayal the most.
Upon hearing that it was the emperor's elder brother, the esteemed Prince Xuan, who had stabbed him in the back at such a critical moment concerning the fate of the nation, he was instantly enraged, his voice trembling with fury:
"Chu Xuan! As a member of the royal family and Your Majesty's elder brother, he has received the country's favor and commands a large army, yet instead of repaying it, he dares to betray the country and defect to the enemy at this crucial moment that will determine the fate of the world?"
"He let wolves into the house, colluded with the Scorpion Clan, and ruined our army's plans! Such behavior is utterly shameless and deserves to die a thousand deaths!"
She grew angrier with each word, a surge of anger rising in her chest, and with a sudden jerk of the reins, her warhorse reared up.
"Your Majesty! Such traitors deserve to be killed by everyone! I request permission to lead the cavalry to turn around immediately and engage the rebels!"
"Your Majesty, I will personally behead Chu Xuan to uphold the law and avenge this grievance!"
Her eyes burned with the fury of war, as if she were about to charge into the darkness alone to carry out the justice she believed in.
"Nonsense!"
Chu Ning frowned and shouted sharply to stop her. Although his voice was not loud, it carried an undeniable authority that instantly suppressed Feng Mulan's boiling anger.
"Mulan! Calm down!"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to persuade the impulsive yet loyal imperial concubine with clearer logic:
Chu Xuan, that scoundrel, truly deserves to be torn to pieces! But this is not the time to act rashly.
"Since he dared to betray us, he must have been in cahoots with the Scorpion Clan. Now that they have joined forces and launched a sudden attack, their 90,000 fresh troops, well-rested and ready, have struck our exhausted army from the rear, taking full advantage of the opportune moment and the terrain."
"If our army hastily divides its forces to meet the attack, or becomes entangled in battle and refuses to retreat, it will be extremely easy for us to be caught in a pincer movement between the remnants of the Tang army, the rebels, and the Scorpion Clan! At that time, the situation will be critical!"
Chu Ning's gaze swept over the troops who were retreating in an orderly manner, but whose morale was clearly fluctuating due to the retreat order and the unknown enemy situation.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the silhouette of the Jianghuai city, towering majestically in the night not far away, his tone resolute:
"The most urgent task is to immediately withdraw from the battlefield and retreat the entire army into Jianghuai City. Jianghuai City is high and deeply moored, with ample food and military supplies, and can be well defended."
"Our army should first occupy the fortified city, stabilize our position, and then ascertain the strength and weaknesses of the rebels and the Scorpion Clan before regrouping. This is the most foolproof strategy!"
"I will settle accounts with Chu Xuan sooner or later, but I will not risk a direct confrontation now!"
Feng Mulan bit her lower lip tightly, her knuckles turning white from gripping the halberd so hard.
She understood that Chu Ning's analysis was correct; acting impulsively is the worst thing to do on the battlefield.
Looking at the emperor's somber yet resolute profile, and feeling the oppressive atmosphere brought by the ever-approaching new threat from the rebels and the Scorpion Clan behind him.
Although her anger had not subsided, it had to be replaced by rational concern.
Finally, she stomped her foot on the stirrup and squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: "As you command!"
Immediately, she turned her horse around, her crimson cloak drawing a sharp arc in the night wind, her voice regaining the calm and decisiveness of a commander-in-chief:
"Vermilion Bird Legion, heed my command! Follow me to cover the rear and escort the central army and infantry to Jianghuai City!"
She wanted to use her own methods to vent her frustration at not being able to immediately settle scores with the traitors while carrying out the retreat order, and to ensure her emperor's safe evacuation from this suddenly perilous battlefield.
The chilling sound of retreating gongs pierced the blood-soaked night, like icy water flowing backward, pouring onto the already collapsing morale of the Tang army remnants.
The defensive perimeter, which had been bearing immense pressure like a reef in a raging storm, suddenly felt the pressure in front of it ease.
The Chu army's blades, which had been relentlessly attacking like a persistent leech, began to retreat in an orderly fashion, their fierce killing intent receding like a tide.
Instead, a hasty and oppressive contraction occurred, which was hard for the Tang army's remaining soldiers to believe.
"The Chu army...has retreated?"
A Tang army captain, his face covered in blood and barely able to hold his sword, stared blankly at his equally wounded comrade beside him. His voice was hoarse and dry, carrying the dazed feeling of having escaped death.
Most of the surviving soldiers around them were also stunned. Their nerves, which had been stretched to the limit, suddenly lost their target, and they felt a sense of exhaustion and confusion.
This retreat was too sudden and illogical.
Just moments before, the Chu Emperor's silver spear had nearly pierced their defenses.
Ma Chao's iron cavalry was tearing their formation apart from behind; despair, like the heaviest shackles, locked the throats of every single person.
How could the enemy, who had been so imposing, suddenly retreat in the blink of an eye?
However, before the joy of surviving the disaster could spread among the remaining Tang troops...
Further away, on the outskirts of the battlefield, came new, much larger-scale marching vibrations and faint bugle calls.
The obvious disarray that resulted in the Chu army's formation was keenly observed by some experienced veterans and generals.
Almost simultaneously, several scouts who had been sent to explore in different directions and were almost certain to never return miraculously brought back shocking news one after another!
"Report! Your Majesty! A large infantry corps has been spotted in the west, approaching the battlefield. Judging from their banners... they appear to be Youzhou troops!"
"Report! A large number of Scorpion Clan cavalry have appeared in the north, flying Gongsun Yi's banner!"
"Report! From the northeast, Helian Hui's remnants have returned!"
The urgent reports, like a shot of adrenaline injected into a dying body, instantly ignited the air around the core imperial carriage of the Tang army.
Li Shiming, whose face was ashen from excessive blood loss, was barely holding on with his last bit of willpower.
The moment he heard the keywords "Youzhou Army" and "Gongsun Yi", a terrifying glint suddenly burst forth from the depths of his dim eyes!
That light was a mixture of ecstasy, relief, and the trembling of a near-mad obsession finally achieved!
"Ha...haha...hahaha!!!"
First came a low chuckle, which then evolved into an uncontrollable, hoarse, and exhilarating laugh, and finally culminated in a long, resounding roar that shook the night sky!
This roar seemed to unleash all the resentment, sacrifice, forbearance, and despair that had been building up in his chest!
"They're here! They've finally arrived!! Chu Xuan! Gongsun Yi! Your troops have finally arrived as scheduled!!!"
He abruptly pushed away the imperial physician and eunuch who were helping him, not caring that the bandage on his chest was instantly stained with blood again.
An indescribable force supported his previously swaying body, allowing him to stand up steadily!
He looked around at the generals and guards who were astonished by his sudden, wild laughter, his expression more complex than ever before.
There was grief, there was triumph, and there was also a kind of ferocity after a desperate gamble.