si-mexico Chapter 2043 Brutal Battle
Chapter 2043 Brutal Battle
under night.
Compared to the morning, the Vermilion Bird Legion's lines had been compressed by nearly a hundred paces, and the number of soldiers killed or seriously wounded was equally alarming.
Wang Zhongsi's face grew increasingly gloomy.
He committed a huge number of troops and paid a heavy price, but he was still unable to achieve a decisive breakthrough.
The Vermilion Bird Legion's tenacity exceeded his expectations.
Feng Mulan's command was impeccable.
Huyan Ying's Blood Eagle troops were also exhausted, and the loss of men and horses was further aggravated. The wolf-pack-like harassment was becoming less effective as the Chu army's counterattacks became more and more targeted.
The afterglow of the setting sun, like blood, spilled across this battlefield of carnage.
Both sides' soldiers were exhausted to the extreme, their arms mechanically swinging their weapons, their throats emitting hoarse shouts, all sustained by sheer willpower.
Wang Zhongsi knew that today's offensive could only end here.
He ordered the retreat, and the attacking Tang army withdrew like a tide, leaving behind a scene of devastation.
On the Vermilion Bird Legion's position, there were no cheers of victory, only a deathly silence of exhaustion and the heavy burden of silently collecting Tong Ze's body.
Feng Mulan still stood under the banner, her white veil stained with dust and her armor stained with blood. She gazed at the blood-red setting sun and knew that this was only the first day.
Even more brutal tests are yet to come.
Wang Zhongsi rallied his troops, tallied the losses, and his face turned ashen.
He knew that Commander-in-Chief Li Jing and His Majesty were waiting for his good news, while the right flank and the front line of defense were under tremendous pressure. He had to be faster!
He stared at the crimson Vermilion Bird flag still fluttering opposite him, a fierce glint in his eyes—tomorrow, we must settle this once and for all!
The setting sun finally sank completely below the horizon, and night fell like a huge black velvet curtain, enveloping this land soaked in blood.
The daytime hustle and bustle and fighting temporarily ceased, replaced by a suffocating silence.
Only the occasional groans of wounded soldiers and the mournful cries of owls punctuated the night in this hellish scene.
However, the silence did not last long.
Inside the Tang army's central command tent, Wang Zhongsi stared at the rough military map, his face showing no sign of sleepiness, only lingering anxiety and resentment.
The daytime offensive failed to achieve its intended effect, resulting in heavy losses. Meanwhile, the constant stream of urgent reports from the right flank and the front lines lashed at his nerves like whips.
General Li Jing has placed his bets on him; he can't afford to wait, and neither can the Tang Dynasty!
"We can't give them a chance to breathe!"
Wang Zhongsi slammed his fist on the table, his eyes flashing with a desperate, ruthless glint.
"The Chu army has been fighting fiercely all day and must be exhausted! Send the order down: all units should seize the time to eat and rest. We will fight tonight in one hour!"
"Night fight?"
The adjutant beside him was startled: "General, it's dark and visibility is poor, I'm afraid..."
What are you afraid of?
Wang Zhongsi interrupted sharply: "The Chu army is even more frightened! Their forces are already fewer than ours, and after a day of fierce fighting, night is the perfect opportunity for our army to defeat them!"
"Tell the soldiers that we will defeat the enemy tonight! Whoever slays Feng Mulan will be ennobled as a marquis of ten thousand households!"
A generous reward will surely attract brave men, especially the Tang army in dire straits.
Once the order was relayed, a suppressed hum of activity immediately filled the Tang army camp.
Meanwhile, on the Vermilion Bird Legion's position, Feng Mulan also did not get any rest.
She knew the pressure Wang Zhongsi was under and was certain that he would not accept the day's victory willingly.
Nighttime is often the time when the weaker side can turn the tide, and the stronger side can expand their gains.
"Order each battalion to take turns resting, but keep more than half of the troops on guard to prevent enemy night attacks."
"Set up multiple campfires to illuminate the area in front of the battle lines, but the firelight should not be too bright to avoid revealing the specific positions of our troops."
"Archers, prepare plenty of arrows, especially fire arrows, and await orders."
"Send out three miles of scouts; report back immediately if there is any unusual activity!"
Commands were issued from the central command. The Vermilion Bird Legion, like an experienced hunter, remained highly vigilant despite its fatigue, silently setting traps and waiting for its prey to attack.
An hour later, just past midnight.
On the left flank of the Tang army camp, the camp gate opened silently once again.
There were no thunderous war drums, no shouts, only countless dark figures emerging like ghosts, silently creeping towards the Vermilion Bird Legion's position by the faint starlight and the flickering campfires on the distant Chu army's position.
Wang Zhongsi deployed an even more elite force than Bai Ri, attempting to break through the Chu army's defenses through silence and surprise attacks.
Almost at the same time, a dull and rapid sound of horses' hooves rang out from the flank!
Huyan Ying's Blood Eagle Cavalry set out again, wrapping their horses' hooves in thick cloth to minimize the noise, like a pack of wolves lurking in the dark, rushing towards the right flank of the Vermilion Bird Legion!
Wang Zhongsi's tactics were clear: a frontal night attack and strong assault, with cavalry on the flanks creating distraction and momentum, a two-pronged approach to catch the Chu army off guard!
However, just as the vanguard of the Tang infantry was about to step into the area in front of the Vermilion Bird Legion's lines, faintly illuminated by the afterglow of the campfire—
“Swoosh—bang!”
A whistling arrow, accompanied by a piercing cry, shot suddenly from the Chu army's position into the night sky, exploding into a faint burst of fire!
This is an alarm!
"Enemy attack—! All troops on alert!" The sentries of the Vermilion Bird Legion shouted at the top of their lungs!
In an instant, the seemingly dormant Vermilion Bird Legion's position came alive like a giant beast awakening!
"Fire arrows!"
With the officer's order, the Chu archers, who had been waiting in ambush, didn't even need to aim. They unleashed a dense barrage of arrows like a torrential rain towards the area they had predicted in front of the formation!
"Pfft! Pfft!"
"what--!"
Screams suddenly erupted in waves from the darkness!
Many Tang soldiers were shot down by the oncoming rain of arrows before they could even see the enemy clearly!
The advantage of the surprise attack was quickly lost due to the Chu army's tight defenses!
"Raise your shields! Charge! Charge!"
Seeing that the sneak attack had failed, the Tang army's commander decided to stop hiding and let out a furious roar. The surviving Tang soldiers raised their shields and, braving the falling arrows, launched a desperate charge towards the Chu army's shield formation!
"boom!"
Flesh and blood clashed once again against the steel defenses. The fighting in the night was more chaotic and more brutal than that in the daytime!
Sparks flew from the clash of weapons in the darkness, accompanied by roars, screams, and the dull thuds of blades piercing flesh.
Soldiers from both sides often had to get extremely close to each other in the dim light to see each other's ferocious faces before engaging in the most primal battle!
At the same time, fierce fighting broke out on the right wing!
Huyan Ying's cavalry attempted to use their speed to break through the flank of the Chu army, but what they were met with were tripwires hidden in the darkness and temporary chevaux-de-frise that the Chu army had set up in advance!
The Blood Eagle cavalry at the forefront were immediately thrown into disarray, their formation thrown into chaos!