strictlysupreme Chapter 2091 I just want to stall!
Chapter 2091 I just want to stall!
Ma Dai's resolute and determined shout of "Kill!" was like igniting the fuse of a powder keg.
The pent-up passion and fury of the five thousand Chu cavalrymen were unleashed in a deafening roar and thunderous hooves.
Like a raging torrent bursting its banks, it launched a seemingly suicidal charge towards the 10,000-strong army formation where Li Jing was located!
The earth trembled under the iron hooves, dust billowed into the sky, and a chilling atmosphere instantly filled the entire wilderness.
Ma Dai took the lead, his long sword trailing at his side, the blade slicing through the air with a low, whistling sound.
The cavalrymen behind him had bloodshot eyes, gripped their weapons tightly, and had only one thought in their minds—to break through the enemy lines, kill the generals, and seize the flag!
However, just as this surging torrent had covered half the distance, less than two hundred paces from the Tang army's front lines, and they could even see the tense and ferocious faces of the enemy's front-line soldiers—
"The whole army obeys the order!"
Ma Dai, who was charging at the forefront, suddenly let out a short and clear shout!
This command, in stark contrast to his previous resolute charge, startled the generals who were following him.
"Archers, 150 paces ahead, fire a volley! Hindrate the enemy's advance!"
"Each unit, spread out to the left and right, using your commander as the reference point! Change from a wedge formation to an arc-shaped defensive formation! Lancers on the outside, archers on the inside! Quickly!"
Ma Dai's orders were issued swiftly and decisively, like a sudden storm.
The madness and determination on his face had faded, replaced by a cold, clear-headedness and calculation characteristic of an excellent general.
He is not stupid!
He was neither provoked into losing his mind by Li Jing's words, nor was he blinded by the fighting spirit of his soldiers.
During that seemingly reckless charge, his mind was racing, calmly assessing the situation.
Li Jing is right; the disparity in troop strength is an objective fact.
Although his five thousand cavalrymen were elite, their horses were exhausted after half a day of galloping. If they were to charge headlong into the enemy's well-prepared army of ten thousand, they might cause heavy casualties and even disrupt some of their formation.
But the most likely outcome is that the enemy will use their overwhelming numerical advantage to gradually devour and annihilate them until they are completely wiped out!
That's not bravery, that's foolishness!
It betrayed General Han Xing's trust and used the lives of five thousand loyal soldiers to fill a hole that was almost doomed to failure!
His mission was to intercept, harass, and hold off Li Jing, creating an opportunity for other units to encircle and kill him, rather than to perish together with him!
True courage lies in knowing when to advance and when to defend, and in achieving strategic objectives with minimal cost!
"Whoosh whoosh-!"
Among the Chu cavalry, nearly two thousand horse archers equipped with bows and crossbows carried out the order almost reflexively the instant Ma Dai gave it.
They didn't even need to aim deliberately; relying solely on their superb horsemanship and rich experience, they simply adjusted their angle slightly while galloping and unleashed the first dense volley of arrows into the sky above the Tang army's front lines!
The arrows flew like locusts across the last hundred paces, whistling mournfully, and landed in the ranks of the Tang infantry who were waiting in battle.
Immediately, a chorus of screams and cries of agony erupted from the front lines of the Tang army. Shields were raised, and an inevitable moment of chaos broke out in the formation, halting the momentum of the charge.
At the same time, the Chu cavalry, who were charging forward, displayed extremely high training standards.
They adjusted their formation quickly and orderly as they galloped. The originally sharp arrowhead formation, led by Ma Dai, spread out in an arc to both sides, and the cavalry behind them changed direction accordingly.
In a very short time, the entire assault group transformed from a spearhead into a slightly looser, but wider, deeper, and more resilient arc-shaped defensive formation.
Lancers, armed with long weapons, positioned themselves on the outer perimeter, while horse archers retreated to the inner circle, ready to unleash a sustained barrage of fire.
This series of changes happened in the blink of an eye.
From the desperate charge to the sudden slowdown, the arrow rain that hindered them, and then to the change of formation for defense, Ma Dai's command was fluid and seamless, bringing out the maximum mobility and adaptability of a cavalry unit.
In the distance, Li Jing, who had been intently observing the movements of the Chu army, took in all of this.
The expression on his face, which had initially relaxed slightly due to Ma Dai's "reckless" charge, gradually turned serious, eventually culminating in a long sigh filled with complex emotions:
"Alas... Changing tactics on the spot, switching from offense to defense, and changing formations so quickly and orderly, this Ma Dai is indeed not a mediocre talent who is brave but lacks strategy. Han Xing and Ma Chao were right to send him here."
He knew that Ma Dai's change of heart meant that his most desired opportunity to "take advantage of the Chu army's momentary surge of fervor and defeat them in one fell swoop" had been lost.
The Chu army chose the smartest and most troublesome tactic—not seeking a decisive battle, but sticking to the enemy like glue, constantly harassing and delaying them, waiting for possible reinforcements to arrive.
We can't delay any longer! We must defeat or even annihilate this Chu army as soon as possible, otherwise things could get complicated!
A fierce glint flashed in Li Jing's eyes as he turned to look at the silent, bearded general beside him, Yuchi Bo, who held a long spear.
"General Yuchi!"
Li Jing's voice regained the composure and decisiveness of a commander-in-chief: "Ma Dai intends to delay; our army cannot linger here."
"I trouble you to lead all my cavalry, about four thousand strong, to break through their defenses head-on and drive them away!"
"I will personally lead the infantry to cover your retreat and clear the road as soon as possible!"
"The last general takes command!"
Yuchi Bo, who had long been unable to contain himself, clasped his hands in a fist and responded sternly.
He spurred his horse, raised his spear high, and roared at the Tang cavalrymen who had already assembled and were waiting behind him:
"Cavalleriamen! Charge with me! Crush these ignorant Chu dogs!"
"kill--!"
Four thousand Tang cavalrymen roared like a mountain collapsing and, led by Yuchi Bo, charged like tigers released from their cages, raising clouds of dust as they pounced on the Chu army's defensive arc formation, which had just completed its tactical shift and was still not firmly established!
Cavalry against cavalry, this is a head-on clash!
As the Tang cavalry surged forward like an iron torrent, Ma Dai's eyes remained cold, showing no fear whatsoever.
He shouted commands: "Lancers, front line barricades! Horse archers, free fire, focus fire on the enemy!"
He urgently ordered the captain of his personal guards, who had been closely following him:
"Quick! Release two carrier pigeons!"
"One of them flew to the main camp to inform General Han Xing that our army has engaged Li Jing's main force of more than 10,000 men in the open field north of Heifengyu and is doing its best to hold them off. We request that reinforcements be sent immediately to encircle them!"
"The other one, find General Ma Chao! Tell him Li Jing's exact location and troop strength, and ask him to come quickly to join our forces in a pincer attack!"
"Yes!"
Without hesitation, the captain of the personal guard immediately took a small pigeon cage from beside the specially made saddle. Inside were carrier pigeons that had been rigorously trained and could identify directions and deliver messages in complex battlefield environments.
He skillfully stuffed small strips of cloth with simple messages and directions into the bamboo tubes of the pigeons' legs, and forcefully tossed the two pigeons into the air one after the other.