Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield - Chapter 652 - 265: Ying Bu: I Come by Order of My Lord! (2)
Chapter 652: Chapter 265: Ying Bu: I Come by Order of My Lord! (2)
“There must be some oversight in the border defense,” Li Xin cautiously suggested.
“Impossible,” Huan Yi waved his hand, turning to look at the battlefield in the city which had calmed down.
“Even if the Chu are engaged in internal conflict, their military strength is not weaker than the Zhao of the past. In the grand scheme of things, if the Chu’s national power were to consolidate, it would also be a strong nation.”
“No matter how much they fight internally, if Qin were to attack, there would definitely not be less than a hundred thousand troops at their border,” Huan Yi said definitively.
“So, what should our army do this time?”
“Should we halt our advance?” Li Xin inquired.
“Deploy several scout cavalry units to penetrate Chu territory and investigate.”
“Explore whether the Chu army has set any ambushes.”
“Aside from that,”
“The main army should halt advancement and rest at the current location,” Huan Yi immediately ordered.
“Understood.”
Li Xin promptly accepted the command.
At that moment!
“Senior General.”
“I have just investigated the grain storage in the city; the food supply is entirely empty, not a single grain left.”
“The Chu army had already evacuated it before we breached the city.”
A Deputy General quickly approached Huan Yi to report.
“The food was transported away ahead of time; the Chu army never intended to hold this city in a stubborn defense,”
“Xiang Yan, what is he truly planning?” Huan Yi furrowed his brows.
At this moment.
He felt a sense of unease stirring within him.
Though he had conquered five city-states of the Chu in just ten days, with Danyang being the most fortified and now fallen, it seemed the Chu army was luring the enemy and not celebrating genuine victories.
In Chu.
A city surrounded by towering mountains and rugged terrain.
Known as Chufang City.
The city was reputed to be the true barrier of Chu, a shield against Qin, easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Even with a million troops before the city, they would ultimately fall into the traps laid before the impenetrable walls, eventually being annihilated by the defensive forces of the Chu army from above.
Inside the city at this moment.
Xiang Yan sat in the hall, with his subordinates, several dozen generals, gathered together.
“Senior General.”
“The cities of Danyang and several surrounding smaller cities have already been conquered by the Qin army.”
“This battle.”
“Our army lost countless soldiers.”
“Yet the Qin army didn’t acquire a single grain of food,” a Deputy General promptly reported.
Xiang Yan, hearing this, furrowed his brows: “Fool.”
“Who told you to evacuate the supplies?”
The unexpected reprimand suddenly turned the face of the Chu general seeking praise pale.
“Huan Yi is a Senior General of Qin, commanding troops for many years; he can discern any movement on the battlefield.”
“Evacuating food supplies essentially informs Huan Yi that I never intended to defend the city but deliberately abandoned it.”
“Originally, we intended to lure the Qin army at least dozens of miles further, ultimately cutting off their retreat, annihilating them in one fell swoop. But now, it seems Huan Yi has become cautious and alerted,” Xiang Yan scolded angrily.
Upon hearing this.
The Chu general who had sought praise lowered his head and dared not speak further.
“Report.”
“The scouts have reported; the Qin army has ceased their attack.”
“The main army is stationed around Danyang City.”
“Yet our scouts encountered Qin scouts, resulting in conflicts,” a Scout General hastily entered the hall to report.
“Huan Yi already knows our army is luring them deeper,” Xiang Yan said coldly.
The Chu general seeking praise lowered his head even further, not daring to speak.
“Senior General, what should we do now?” A Chu general asked with concern.
“Since Huan Yi has discovered us, there is no need to conceal further.”
“Deliver my command.”
“Advance the main army and prepare for a decisive battle with Huan Yi,” Xiang Yan said with a resolved gaze, coldly.
On hearing this.
All the Chu generals’ expressions involuntarily changed.
“Senior General.”
“This time, it is Qin attacking our Great Chu, not our Great Chu initiating the assault; going out to engage them now might seem ill-advised.”
“Indeed.”
“Perhaps the Qin army’s greatest desire is for us to face them head-on.”
“This move is disadvantageous.”
The Chu generals all spoke up.
“Military orders are absolute, execute according to my words.”
“Those who defy orders will be subjected to military law,” Xiang Yan commanded coldly.
“Understood.”
Feeling Xiang Yan’s icy demeanor, all the Chu generals complied.
Evidently.
The news of Mi Qi’s allegiance to Chu was known only to Xiang Yan, and he had not divulged it to others.
After all.
Currently, Qin’s Dark Guards were ubiquitous in Great Chu, requiring him to act with caution.
After giving the orders.
Xiang Yan immediately summoned the Personal Guard Commander over with a gesture.
“Senior General, please give your instructions.”
The Personal Guard Commander stepped forward respectfully.
“Send someone to inform Lord Changping.”
“Once Huan Yi commands the army away from Danyang City, immediately cut off Qin’s supply lines and retreat paths.”
“In this battle.”
“I want these Qin soldiers to return without any chance,” Xiang Yan said coldly.
“Understood.”
The Personal Guard Commander responded promptly.
“Huan Yi.”
“Qin army.”
“This time, I, Xiang Yan, will annihilate you and prove to the world that Great Chu is stronger than your Qin.”
“It’s a shame that Zhao Feng isn’t commanding the troops; otherwise, I, Xiang Yan, would certainly shatter your myth of invincibility.”
Cold determination and indomitable pride flickered in Xiang Yan’s eyes.
Clearly.
With Mi Qi’s allegiance to Chu, once he orders, Mi Qi will lead his confidants to cut off Huan Yi’s retreat paths and supplies.
Ultimately.
Huan Yi will become trapped.
Of the two hundred thousand Qin troops, Xiang Yan could at least ensure half remains behind.
Inflict severe damage on the Qin army.
Chenying City.
“Senior General’s secret orders.”
“Once Huan Yi’s troops depart from Danyang, immediately sever Huan Yi’s retreat paths.”
A Dark Guard from Chu conveyed to Mi Qi.
“Hmm.”
“I will ensure it is done,” Mi Qi nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
“I take my leave.”
The Dark Guard bowed before promptly exiting the hall.
Under the night sky.
Inside the hall without any illumination.
Mi Qi bore an expression of coldness.
“Soldiers of Qin.”
“One must fight for oneself.”
“Do not blame me if you perish this time.”
