freenovelworld Chapter 2206 Surrounded!
Chapter 2206 Surrounded!
After listening carefully, Ma Chao's eyes flashed with realization and agreement.
Although he was brave and straightforward, he was not ignorant of strategy and knew Zhao Yu's far-sighted considerations.
Only with a secure rear can the front lines fight with full force. He nodded emphatically and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying:
"The general's concerns are absolutely correct! It was my eagerness for victory that led me to overlook the bigger picture."
"This arrangement is excellent! I will then lead the men across the river first. The safety of the north bank is entirely entrusted to the general and the brothers of the White Horse Cavalry!"
"It's all within my duty, General Ma. May you have a safe journey." Zhao Yu returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute.
Ma Chao said no more, turned around and shouted loudly, directing his troops to gather orderly towards the riverbank.
At the bend in the river, dozens of flat-bottomed warships and supply ships belonging to their own navy were already quietly moored and waiting. The sailors and helmsmen on board had obviously received orders and were busy making preparations for the rescue.
The ships varied in size, with larger warships capable of carrying dozens of people and horses, while smaller ones were used to transport supplies or soldiers.
The river surface rippled, reflecting the gradually setting sun, intertwining with the bustling scene of soldiers and horses on the bank, their armor clanging.
The soldiers under Ma Chao's command began to board the ships in batches under the command of their respective officers.
Although the process was a bit crowded, it proceeded in an orderly manner.
The warhorses were carefully led onto specially made footboards and secured inside the ship, while the infantrymen filed in, quickly filling the ship to capacity.
A fully loaded boat, operated by sailors, slowly departed from the shore and headed towards the south bank, its oars creating ripples on the river's surface.
Subsequent ships then approached in turn to continue the transport.
Ma Chao himself, escorted by a group of personal guards, boarded a larger command ship.
He stood at the bow of the boat and waved to Zhao Yu on the shore once again.
Zhao Yu nodded slightly, watching the ship leave the shore.
At the same time, Zhao Yu waved his hand lightly, and tens of thousands of white horse cavalry behind him moved quickly and quietly as if receiving a silent command.
They did not gather in one place, but rather in groups of a hundred, like open white folding fans or flowing clouds, spreading lightly in all the key directions upstream and downstream of the north bank.
The hoofbeats were not hurried, but carried a well-trained rhythm.
A group of cavalrymen occupied high observation posts on the riverbank, vigilantly watching the movements on the upstream and downstream sections of the river and on the opposite bank.
Many more formed patrol teams and began to patrol back and forth along the long riverbank.
The white cloak fluttered in the rising evening breeze, creating a striking contrast between movement and stillness, water and shore, with the boats ferrying back and forth on the river.
Zhao Yu remained stationary, his posture upright like a pine tree.
His deep gaze swept past his own troops crossing the river and once again fell upon the distant and unknown northern horizon, his hand unconsciously stroking the hilt of the sword at his waist.
He knew that the attack across the river was the open blade, and his presence there was the sturdy shield that would protect him from harm when that blade was swung.
The river breeze grew cooler, bringing moisture and a hazy scent from afar; the smoke of battle seemed to have dissipated.
But a heavier responsibility and an invisible confrontation are quietly descending upon this vast land on the north bank, flowing with the shimmering waves.
As dusk approached, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the vast plains and surging river waters on the south bank of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers a desolate ochre red.
The exhaustion and despair of fleeing clung to this once mighty Tang army, now reduced to a mere 20,000 men, like maggots clinging to their bones.
Banners were tattered, armor was covered in dust, many soldiers were wounded and staggered, even the warhorses were snorting heavily and foaming at the mouth.
A palpable sense of grief and numbness permeated the crowd.
They had just shaken off their relentless pursuit and, with a sliver of hope, attempted to use the natural barrier of the Jianghuai region to catch their breath, or even find a glimmer of hope for survival.
However, reality is often crueler than the worst-case scenario imagined.
Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty was helped out of his carriage by his personal guards, struggling to lean out amidst the violent swaying and the lowered curtains.
When they looked toward their anticipated "temporary safe haven," the scene that greeted them made everyone's hearts sink, as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
On the plains, battle flags fluttered in the wind, and swords and spears stood like a forest.
A large, well-disciplined army, exuding a fierce aura, was already on high alert, seemingly emerging from the ground, or as if they had anticipated their every move and had been waiting there for a long time.
The black banner bearing the character "Chu" billowed arrogantly in the evening breeze. Beneath it, a Chu general stood with his reins in hand, his iron armor gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the afterglow of the setting sun. He was none other than Han Xing, a general under the Chu Emperor.
Han Xing's gaze was like that of a hawk, fixed on the imperial carriage that symbolized the highest power of the Tang Dynasty.
A cold, mocking, and victorious smile slowly curled at the corners of his lips.
The voice, though not loud, carried an inner strength, clearly piercing the twilight and reaching the ears of every Tang soldier; each word was like a knife.
"Emperor Li Shimin of the Great Tang Dynasty, I, Han, have been waiting here for a long time! It seems that the Mandate of Heaven is ultimately in our Great Chu."
"This southern bank of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers is a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters. It is the perfect place for the end of your Li dynasty and the final resting place for you, the last emperor!"
"Today is your end!"
"Wow—"
The already demoralized Tang army ranks suddenly erupted into an uncontrollable commotion.
Fear, anger, and despair spread through the ranks.
With ambushes ahead and pursuers behind, and rivers blocking their way, they were truly trapped in a desperate situation.
Beside the imperial carriage, Li Shimin, pale-faced and unusually haggard due to blood loss and exhaustion, shuddered almost imperceptibly upon hearing the words "doomsday."
But his sharp eyes, even in adversity, suddenly flashed with a terrifying light.
He abruptly pushed aside the eunuch and imperial physician who tried to dissuade him, ignoring the blood seeping from the bandage on his chest, and enduring the excruciating pain of the tearing wound. He almost staggered off the imperial carriage, his feet landing heavily on the land on the south bank.
He steadied himself, straightened his spine, as if trying to suppress all the pain and despair deep into his bones.
Even in dire straits, an emperor's majesty remains unyielding and cannot be underestimated.
He stared intently at Han Xing on horseback not far away, his voice hoarse from injuries and emotions, yet carrying an undeniable questioning force as he asked, word by word:
"Han Xing! Stop with your empty words! Tell me, where is General Guo Ziyi?"
This was his deepest concern and his last glimmer of hope.
Guo Ziyi volunteered to cover the rear, using himself as bait to tie down the main force of the Chu army, thus buying him a brief opportunity to escape.
Is there still a glimmer of hope for that loyal and resourceful veteran?
Guo Ziyi was a famous general of the Tang Dynasty. If he were still alive, he might still have a chance to break through the encirclement!
Upon hearing this, Han Xing's mockery deepened, even carrying a cruel, cat-and-mouse-like satisfaction.