stonecrandall Chapter 864 It was Xiang Yu’s turn to feel uncomfortable, and he was at a loss as to what to do!
Chapter 864 It was Xiang Yu’s turn to feel uncomfortable, and he was at a loss as to what to do!
When he thought of the second possibility, a flame of extreme shame and rage instantly swept through Xiang Yu's body. If it was the latter, Xiang Yu really wanted to slap himself in the face.
The cold reality, like a bucket of slush, extinguished Xiang Yu's last remaining hope. And judging by the current situation, the latter was clearly more likely. His military intuition and logic led to the same conclusion: he had been fooled.
After all, Xianyang was now besieged by the Chu army, and the situation was critical. This was Gao Yao's core interest. If Gao Yao truly received a massive reinforcement, significantly increasing its strength, then taking advantage of the Chu army's retreat and potential morale setbacks, further repelling or even severely damaging the Chu army, and ultimately ending the siege of Xianyang in one fell swoop, would be the best option any qualified commander would choose. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Otherwise, once the Chu army had safely retreated and recovered, even if they had suffered some losses during this expedition, the Chu cavalry would still have a clear advantage in mobility and field combat capabilities. Having missed this golden window of opportunity to strike while the enemy was halfway across the river, the Southern Border Army's chances of victory in a future direct confrontation with the rested Chu cavalry on the open plains would be extremely low. Had Gao Yao possessed any strategic foresight, he would not have missed this opportunity.
Therefore, the probability that Gao Yao would give up this possibility and choose to retreat is really low. The only explanation is that he simply does not have enough troops to pursue and fight in the field.
Xiang Yu had already guessed he'd been deceived. This conclusion, like a red-hot nail, pierced his pride, bringing immense humiliation and anger. However, the immense sense of loss of face made Xiang Yu reluctant to admit it immediately. This conflicting emotion was directly reflected in his military actions—leading to Xiang Yu's army suddenly halting after retreating about 150 miles.
The entire army stopped in its tracks. The soldiers were bewildered and the generals looked at each other, wondering why the Overlord suddenly ordered to stop retreating.
At this time, Xiang Yu was riding on his black horse, his heart as if being torn by two tigers, and he was extremely conflicted. One choice was shame, the other could be disaster.
He painstakingly calculated the time cost: during the retreat, to lure the enemy, he'd deliberately feigned disarray, disorganized his steps, and it had taken him three full days to retreat over a hundred and fifty miles. Those three days had been wasted, wasted for nothing! Even if he turned around immediately and rushed full speed to Yangping Pass again, the journey would still take at least another two days. That totaled five days, all around!
This time was a godsend for Gaoyao and the Southern Border troops trapped at Yangping Pass! Their extreme fatigue from days of fierce fighting could be fully alleviated; casualties could be initially repaired; and defensive fortifications could be reinforced. Whether through emergency conscription on the spot or by mobilizing sporadic reinforcements from the rear, five days would be enough time for them to gather another 1,000 to 2,000 fresh troops.
For the Chu army, this was a foolish maneuver, a loss of strength for one side and a loss of strength for the other. Xiang Yu suddenly realized that he had completely screwed himself! His soldiers had not received any real rest during these three days of "performative" retreat. Their spirits were constantly tense, and their physical strength was constantly depleted during the march. Instead of resting, they gave the enemy a crucial opportunity to catch their breath.
This was a far too fatal move. Even if Xiang Yu led his troops back to continue the attack, he would face a Yangping Pass that had partially recovered and fortified. It would be like starting the attack all over again! Thinking of the terrible price he had paid to break through the pass and the seven days of fruitless effort, Xiang Yu was furious. An inexplicable anger burned through his internal organs.
After being held up for seven days, and now with the five days lost this time, a total of twelve days had been lost. A more frightening calculation surfaced: According to Yi Xiaochuan's previous calculations, the Southern Border Army's reinforcements could reach the front lines in around fifteen days at the earliest. Furthermore, Yi Xiaochuan had stated the specific situation directly: if Yangping Pass had not been captured by fifteen days, then retreat was necessary without hesitation. Otherwise, there would be no room for maneuver. Every additional day of delay increased the chance of being caught by the main force of the Southern Border Army and trapped in a tight encirclement.
So now Xiang Yu was in a state of deep distress, trapped between a rock and a hard place. Should he continue to retreat? He would have fallen completely into a trap, completely outmaneuvered by Gao Yao's empty city tactic without a single soldier, and ultimately left in disgrace. This was a humiliating and even inexplicable defeat, not only costing Xiang Yu countless lives and money but also severely undermining the prestige of the Chu army and his own prestige as a powerful ruler.
On the contrary, continue the attack? The morale of the Chu army must have been extremely low due to this back-and-forth, and the soldiers were filled with confusion and resentment. Moreover, it was completely uncertain whether they could capture the already reinforced Yangping Pass in just two or three days. If they were to be stopped again before the fortified city in such a short time, and the main force of the Southern Border Army that Gao Yao had mentioned actually arrived, they would most likely be caught by Gao Yao, making retreat extremely difficult.
By then, it is very likely that the Chu army will be defeated and return home. The losses will be much greater than if they retreat now, and may even shake the foundation of the Chu army! Both choices are full of bitterness and risks. Xiang Yu tightened the reins, and his black horse trotted anxiously in place.
"Report! General Yi has sent a message and is rushing here! General Yi has told the king not to retreat easily and to wait for General Yi's arrival! General Yi will be here in half a day at the latest!"
Just as Xiang Yu's brow furrowed, his mind torn between inner conflict and a dilemma, a dusty messenger arrived at full speed. His voice, loud and urgent, pierced the gloomy and oppressive atmosphere of the army. He dismounted, knelt on one knee, and clearly and unmistakably delivered Yi Xiaochuan's message and request.
Upon hearing these words, Xiang Yu's tense nerves inexplicably relaxed, and he subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. It was as if a man, trudging alone through the fog, about to collapse under a heavy burden, had finally found a companion who could share the pressure of decision-making. After all, these kinds of scheming and deception were not Xiang Yu's forte. He was better at upright, decisive, and decisive battles. He even thought with some regret that if Yi Xiaochuan had stayed with him, he would never have let him make such a hasty decision to withdraw.