si-mexico Chapter 2032 Caught Him Off Guard!
Chapter 2032 Caught Him Off Guard!
Gao Xianzhi noticed that Li Jing's expression was off.
He tried to inspire the other side with his confidence: "This humble general believes that with your talent, Commander Li, you will surely be able to seize opportunities and command with composure!"
"Although the Chu army is strong, it is by no means invincible! As long as we hold our ground, we may still be able to wait for a turning point! Please be sure to stay strong!"
However, Li Jing simply shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face, a smile even more unsightly than crying.
"A war god? Invincible in every battle?"
He repeated those two words, which had once brought him immense glory, under his breath, but now they sounded incredibly ironic.
"General Gao, you don't need to comfort me."
"I don't know why, but I always feel uneasy. I've never felt this way before."
He raised his hand and pressed it weakly against his chest, his eyes filled with deep worry and self-reproach:
"This battle is of paramount importance, concerning the continuation of the nation's destiny and the lives of hundreds of millions of people."
"His Majesty has entrusted the nation's elite forces and the fate of the Tang Dynasty entirely to my hands. This trust is heavier than Mount Tai!"
His voice trembled slightly: "If...if something goes wrong and the whole thing is lost, I will be guilty of a thousand deaths! How will I have the face to see His Majesty, to see the elders of the Tang Dynasty?"
These heartfelt and heavy words revealed his deepest fear.
It's not about personal life or death, but about the responsibility for the fate of the nation and its people that can crush anyone.
This responsibility, given the absolute disparity in strength, felt so heavy that it almost suffocated him.
Gao Xianzhi opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but seeing the deep weariness and almost desperate heaviness hidden in Li Jing's bloodshot eyes, all words of comfort stuck in her throat.
He knew that at this moment, any words would seem pale and powerless.
In the end, he could only let out a silent sigh and stand quietly to the side.
Inside the tent, a suffocating silence fell once again.
The two pillars of the Tang Dynasty stood silently facing each other, with only the howling wind outside the tent and the faint sounds of labor preparing for tomorrow's death feast.
Will the Chu army launch an attack as planned?
Will Li Jing's anxious premonition come true?
What will become of the Tang Dynasty?
The answers to all these questions lie buried deep within the cold night, awaiting the cruel unveiling of dawn or the flames of war.
at the same time.
As night deepened, warm lights still shone in the sleeping quarters of the Zhennanguan Imperial Palace, a place specially prepared for the emperor and his consorts.
Chu Ning had already taken off his military uniform and changed into a loose-fitting casual outfit. He was talking quietly with Feng Mulan about the details of tomorrow's decisive battle. Although there was a hint of fatigue between his brows, there was more of a calm and composed feeling that he had the overall situation under control.
After days of fighting, a rare moment of peace was finally here. Feng Mulan shed her battlefield coldness, and under the candlelight, her face appeared even more gentle and beautiful.
However, this brief peace did not last long.
Outside the hall, a steady yet slightly hurried sound of footsteps approached from afar.
Immediately afterwards, Feng Anguo's familiar yet solemn voice came through clearly:
"Your Majesty! Your subject, Feng Anguo, has urgent military intelligence to report!"
The sound, coming through the heavy palace doors, instantly shattered the warm atmosphere inside.
Chu Ning frowned slightly and exchanged a glance with Feng Mulan. Both of them saw a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.
At this critical moment, it was no small matter that prompted Feng Anguo to personally knock on the door late at night.
"Come in."
Chu Ning said in a deep voice, his tone regaining its imperial majesty.
The palace door was gently pushed open, and Feng Anguo, covered in dust, strode in.
He didn't even have time to bow to Feng Mulan before bowing directly to Chu Ning and saying urgently:
"Your Majesty, we have just received multiple urgent reports from our scouts who risked their lives to bring them back! Li Jing has not been sitting idly by; there has been a large-scale disturbance in the Tang army camp tonight!"
Chu Ning remained expressionless and raised his hand to indicate, "Tell me in detail."
"Yes!"
Feng Anguo straightened up and spoke rapidly yet clearly: "According to observations, the Tang army is actively abandoning all secondary outer camps and significantly withdrawing its forces inward, concentrating them in its main camp and core fortress areas!"
"More importantly, they are frantically digging trenches and setting up numerous obstacles such as chevaux-de-frise and barbed wire outside the main camp walls!"
"Judging from their posture, they intend to completely abandon field battles, retreat into their camps, and wage a war of attrition against our army by relying on their strong fortifications and pre-set traps!"
He relayed the scene described by the scouts: "In the darkness of night, torches stretched as far as the eye could see, countless figures were on the move, and the sounds of digging were incessant. The extent and density of the traps they set far exceeded what was commonplace!"
After finishing his report, Feng Anguo, with deep worry on his face, offered his suggestions:
"Your Majesty, Li Jing's move is intended to turn the camp into a hedgehog, forcing our army to engage in a brutal siege."
"If our army launches a general offensive as originally planned after dawn, it will inevitably run into these traps that have not yet been fully explored, and may suffer considerable losses."
"Should we...should we postpone tomorrow's offensive? Let our scouts find out the details of their traps before making a decision?"
"Even if it's just a day or two later, it can reduce a lot of unnecessary casualties."
His suggestion was reasonable and full of mature and prudent consideration.
After all, launching a rash attack without knowing the strength or weakness of the enemy's defenses is a cardinal sin in warfare.
However, after listening to Feng Anguo's report and suggestions, Chu Ning's face did not show any seriousness. Instead, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, forming a light smile with sarcasm and arrogance.
"Stop the attack? Wait until they've completely finished building these tortoise shells?"
Chu Ning's voice carried a mocking tone that seemed to know his opponent's intentions: "Li Jing has a good plan. He wants to use these trenches and traps to buy time and wear down my troops and morale."
He stood up, walked to the hanging military map, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, as if he could see through the map and into the scene of intensive construction outside the Tang army camp.
"Lord Feng, you only see the danger after the trap is set,"
Chu Ning turned to look at Feng Anguo, his eyes gleaming with the shrewdness of a strategist:
"But they overlooked the fact that this is their most vulnerable moment!"
He pointed to the location of the Tang army camp on the map: "Think about it, they are currently digging trenches and setting up obstacles with all their might. Their troops are scattered outside the camp. The project is not yet half completed, and their position is not yet stable."
"The chaotic construction site itself is the biggest flaw! Why wait until everything settles down before going through the trouble of investigating?"
Feng Anguo was taken aback upon hearing this, seemingly unable to follow Chu Ning's train of thought: "Your Majesty means...?"
Chu Ning chuckled lightly, her tone resolute: "Why go through all that trouble?"
"While their traps are not yet complete and their trenches are still being dug, our army will launch a direct attack and catch them off guard!"