strictlysupreme Chapter 2177 Can you keep your composure?
Chapter 2177 Can you keep your composure?
"Two hours..."
Chu Ning repeated, a cold smile slowly curving his lips: "Guo Ziyi went to great lengths to set up such a grand scheme, luring my three generals and 70,000 elite troops into the city and besieging them, just to devour these 70,000 men?"
He turned around and glanced at the generals: "If that's all there is to it, he wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths."
"Li Guangbi's 40,000 baits, the traps on the north bank, and even his own personal command of 8,000 elite soldiers to cover the rear—the cost of all this was far too high."
The generals remained silent.
They had to admit that His Majesty was right.
Guo Ziyi was a famous general, not a gambler.
Since he dared to gamble with himself and his 150,000-strong army, his desires must be more than that.
"so,"
Chu Ning's voice turned cold: "Guo Ziyi must have a backup plan, a plan that could turn the tide of the battle and even turn defeat into victory."
He looked back at Jianghuai City, a sharp glint in his eyes: "And my 100,000 reserve troops are waiting for this final move."
"But Your Majesty!"
An old general said anxiously, "What if the Imperial Concubine and the others really can't hold on..."
"I can hold on."
Chu Ning interrupted him, her voice resolute: "Han Xing has already led 20,000 men into the city. With his 20,000 men, plus Mulan's 20,000 men, we can at least stabilize the situation."
He paused, then added, "Moreover, Feng Mulan, Guan Yun, and Ran Ming—these three are all seasoned and valiant generals."
"Forty thousand against fifty thousand, hold your ground and wait for reinforcements. They can hold out for two hours."
Even so, Chu Ning's knuckles turned slightly white as he gripped the reins.
Of course he was worried.
Feng Mulan was not only his imperial concubine, but also an indispensable commander of the Great Chu. Guan Yun was the god of the Mo Dao, and Ran Ming was the soul of the charge. If these three were to perish here, it would be an immeasurable loss to the Chu army.
But he knew even better—that those who rule and command sometimes have to be ruthless.
We must resist the urge to immediately provide aid, we must suppress our worries about our trusted confidants and beloved generals, and we must wait until the enemy reveals their final weakness.
Because war is not about the outcome of a single battle, but about winning or losing a single game.
Guo Ziyi was gambling that Chu Ning would mobilize the reserve army due to the crisis in the city.
Chu Ning was also gambling, betting that Guo Ziyi's backup plan was more fatal than the crisis in the city.
This is a test of patience, a contest of wills.
"Send the order to Han Xing."
Chu Ning finally spoke: "Tell him that I have given him two hours. Within two hours, he must guard the central square and ensure the safety of the three generals. After two hours, I will make my own arrangements."
"Then..." the Imperial Guard hesitated, "What if Guo Ziyi's backup plan still hasn't appeared after two hours?"
Chu Ning remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Then I will personally lead the army into the city and crush all the Tang troops."
His voice was soft, but every word carried immense weight.
This is not a threat.
It is a declaration.
It is the king's final judgment on his enemies.
"Go."
Chu Ning waved his hand: "Continue to monitor the movements within the city, especially pay attention to any unusual troop movements or unusual signals."
"I humbly obey my orders!"
The Imperial Guards rode away at full speed.
On the high slope, silence returned.
Only the sound of the morning wind fluttering the banners and the faint sounds of battle cries coming from within the city in the distance could be heard.
Chu Ning remained standing in the same spot, like a statue.
He is waiting.
Waiting for Guo Ziyi to make his move.
Waiting for that final move that will decide the outcome of this decisive battle.
And this wait could take two hours.
It could also be eternity.
On the south bank of the Huai River, the yellow sand was soaked with blood.
Guo Ziyi leaned on his dulled sword, panting heavily.
Around him, more than three thousand Tang soldiers formed a broken circular formation, struggling to hold on against the siege of ten thousand Chu soldiers left behind by Han Xing.
The morning light was blinding, shining on the old general's silvery beard and hair, on his tattered armor, and on the corpses and broken blades scattered on the ground.
Another wave of Chu troops charged and were repelled, with dozens more corpses added to the battlefield.
But Guo Ziyi knew that this was only a temporary respite.
The three thousand men around him were exhausted, their arrows nearly depleted, and their swords and spears worn out.
Meanwhile, the ten thousand Chu troops on the other side remained fully organized and launched repeated attacks.
"General, look at the knife..." the guard's voice trembled.
Guo Ziyi looked down at the sword in his hand that had been with him for twenty years.
The blade was chipped and had several nicks on the edge, marks left from when it had cleaved through the heavy armor of the Chu army.
He gave a wry smile: "The Chu army's armor is indeed sturdy. It is made of refined steel, forged layer upon layer. If it weren't for the difference in weapons and armor, our army wouldn't have had such a hard time fighting."
This is the truth.
The military technology of the Tang Dynasty was indeed lagging behind that of the Chu Dynasty.
The same strike could penetrate the armor of the Tang army, but it would only leave a white mark on the armor of the Chu army.
This tiny difference can mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield.
He raised his head and looked towards the distant high slope.
There, the black dragon flag fluttered in the morning breeze, and Chu Ning's figure could be vaguely seen under its banner.
The young emperor of the Great Chu has not yet mobilized a single soldier.
"Report——!"
A lone scout broke through the outer defenses of the Chu army and charged into the ranks, covered in blood.
The scout dismounted and knelt down, his voice hoarse: "Reporting to the commander! The Chu Emperor's 100,000 reserve troops remain inactive!"
"After Han Xing led 20,000 men into the city, our ambush troops inside the city temporarily suppressed Feng Mulan and her forces. However, Han Xing attacked from the rear, and now our army is attacked from both sides, and has instead fallen into a passive position!"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the surrounding generals changed.
"Chu Ning... is actually so calm?"
The lieutenant exclaimed in disbelief, "His most elite troops are inside the city, his beloved concubine and his favorite general! Isn't he afraid...?"
"afraid?"
Guo Ziyi slowly shook his head, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "Of course he's afraid, but he knows even better that on the battlefield, whoever moves first loses the initiative."
He sighed deeply, his voice tinged with admiration: "Chu Ning is indeed extraordinary. At only thirty, he possesses such composure and ruthlessness. Given time..."
He shook his head before he could finish speaking and did not continue.
Because given time, such an enemy will become a major threat to the Tang Dynasty.
Therefore, we must nip it in the bud today!
Guo Ziyi looked up and gazed eastward, where he could already see the outline of the undulating mountains on the horizon.
It's almost time.
"General, what should we do now..." The lieutenant's voice was hoarse: "Should we continue charging, or..."
"Charge?"
Guo Ziyi looked at the Chu army that was regrouping opposite him and smiled bitterly: "Three thousand remnants charging into a Chu army of ten thousand who are waiting in battle? That's suicide."
He paused, a resolute glint suddenly flashing in his eyes: "But our mission is complete."
"A mission?" The generals were bewildered.
"Lure the enemy."
Guo Ziyi said, word by word: "Lure the main force of the Chu army out of the city, draw Chu Ning's attention to the north and south banks, and create an opportunity for him."
he?
Who is he?