stonecrandall Chapter 903: The war begins, a battle of encounter, with both sides winning and losing!
Chapter 903: The war begins, a battle of encounter, with both sides winning and losing!
Ying Bu took a deep breath: "Your Majesty means..."
"I've secretly ordered Li Zhao's troops in Xianyang to immediately dispatch troops to cut off their retreat if they discover the Chu army has ceased its siege." Gao Yao's finger traced the map, finally stopping at a valley. "If my prediction is correct, Xiang Yu will surely set an ambush here."
Ying Bu was shocked. He had not expected Gao Yao's plan to be so far-reaching. "This...this is too risky! Your Majesty, the Chu army has many cavalry and they move like the wind. If we are really surrounded, I'm afraid our army will..."
Gao Yao turned, his gaze piercing. "Why did the Chu army dare to raid Yangping Pass and assault Xianyang? It was simply because of their cavalry advantage. If we don't address this, will Xianyang remain under constant threat from the Chu army after the capital is moved?"
These words left Ying Bu speechless. Indeed, the mobility of the Chu cavalry had always been a thorny issue. If they couldn't inflict a heavy blow on their main force, there would be no peace on the border.
"I know it's dangerous," Gao Yao said, his tone softening. "But there's always a price to pay for every gain. That's a military principle. Besides," he said, a mysterious smile rising from his lips, "we're not necessarily going to die."
At that moment, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent. A dusty scout rushed into the tent, kneeling down and announcing, "Report! We've spotted Chu troops thirty miles ahead. It looks like a large-scale mobilization!"
Gao Yao and Ying Bu looked at each other, both knowing that the moment of decisive battle was about to come.
"Probe again!" Gao Yao ordered. After the scouts withdrew, he said to Ying Bu, "Inform all camps: slow down the march tomorrow and strengthen the defenses on both flanks. Also, have the heavy armored troops in the center, and the archers prepare rockets."
Ying Bu took his orders and left, leaving Gao Yao alone in the tent. He walked to the tent door, looked out at the dark mountain outlines in the distance, and whispered to himself, "Xiang Yu, Xiang Yu, you want my life. I want to see if you have the ability to take it."
At this moment, Yi Xiaochuan was leading the elite Chu army in an ambush on either side of a dangerous valley. The terrain was steep and the roads were narrow, making it an ideal location for an ambush. The Chu cavalry had dismounted and stood by, while archers were positioned on the commanding heights, waiting for the southern border troops to enter the encirclement.
"General Yi, the spies report that the southern border army will pass through here around noon tomorrow." The deputy general reported in a low voice.
Yi Xiaochuan nodded, his eyes gleaming with hunting intent. "Gao Yao has indeed come in person. Good! Very good! Pass the order down, whoever captures Gao Yao alive will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins and granted the title of Marquis of Wanhu!"
The darkness before dawn is thickest, and a damp mist lingers across the valley, casting an ominous veil over the impending battle. Like dormant beasts, the 30,000 Chu cavalry led by Yi Xiaochuan silently lurked behind the high ground on either side of the valley. Each soldier and horse held their tongues in their mouths, their hooves wrapped in cloth to minimize noise. The warriors, their weapons tightly gripped, gazes fixed on the official road winding through the valley floor below—the only route for Gaoyao's army.
Yi Xiaochuan immediately took up residence at a secluded hilltop, his scarlet cloak ruffling in the morning breeze. His young face displayed both the excitement of commanding a large army and a hint of barely concealed nervousness. This battle marked the beginning of his true independence and Xiang Yu's ultimate test of his abilities. His plan was clear: exploit the terrain to launch a surprise attack upon the Gaoyao army as it fully entered the valley. The impact of his cavalry would fragment the enemy, preventing them from coordinating their efforts and ultimately crushing this elite southern force in one fell swoop.
"General, the scouts report that Gaoyao's vanguard troops have begun to enter the valley." Deputy General Zhongli Mo reported in a low voice, his voice a little dry due to nervousness.
Yi Xiaochuan nodded slightly, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. "Inform all camps, no one is allowed to move without my order. When one-third of the troops have passed, listen to the drum sound as a signal and charge with all your strength!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, Gao Yao's army advanced in an orderly fashion. Contrary to Yi Xiaochuan's expectations, the Southern Border Army didn't march in a tight formation, as was typical. Instead, they stretched out their ranks, maintaining considerable distance between their battalions. Heavy infantry occupied the center, shieldmen on the perimeter, spearmen in the rear, and archers scattered throughout the ranks. Light cavalry patrolled the flanks, providing vigilance.
Gao Yao himself did not ride in a chariot, but rather on a majestic black horse, clad in black armor and a royal robe. Unusually for him, he was stationed at the front of the army, rather than in the center where the commander-in-chief usually resided.
"Your Majesty, the valley ahead is dangerous. Should we send scouts to explore it first?" Ying Bu suggested, frowning as he rode closer. As a battle-hardened veteran, he was instinctively wary of this type of terrain.
Gao Yao's eyes swept over the gradually steepening mountains on both sides, and a faint smile appeared on the corners of his mouth: "No need. If I were Xiang Yu, I would also set an ambush here."
Ying Bu was stunned: "Then why did the king..."
"As the art of war says, 'Know yourself and your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger.'" Gao Yao said calmly, "Xiang Yu is adept at using cavalry, and particularly enjoys surprise attacks. I had long anticipated that he wouldn't storm Xianyang, but would instead seek a decisive battle with me. The terrain here is ideal for a cavalry assault."
He turned to look at Ying Bu, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "But our army is not completely unprepared. Pass the order down, all battalions, follow the predetermined plan and prepare for contingency."
Ying Bu suddenly realized what was happening. Gao Yao had anticipated the Chu army's plan and had arranged his troops in this formation for this very purpose. He immediately passed the order down, and the commanders of each battalion understood. Although the troops continued to march normally, they had already quietly prepared for battle.
The eastern sky gradually brightened, and dawn was approaching. The fog in the valley began to slowly dissipate, and visibility gradually improved. At this moment, Yi Xiaochuan saw the signal he had been waiting for - Gao Yao's royal flag had entered the middle of the valley.
"Beat the drum!" Yi Xiaochuan drew his sword and pointed it at the sky.
Boom!Boom!Boom!
The deafening roar of war drums suddenly rang out from both sides of the valley, shattering the dawn's stillness. Immediately afterwards, thousands of Chu cavalrymen charged down from the heights like a flood. The clatter of hooves was deafening, and the cries of slaughter shook the earth. Arrows rained down upon the southern border troops like a swarm of locusts.
To the Chu army's surprise, the Southern Border troops didn't fall into the chaos they'd anticipated. Almost immediately upon the drumbeat, the Southern Border battalions rapidly shifted formation. The outer shieldmen crouched, thrusting their massive shields into the ground to form a makeshift barrier. Spearmen thrust their spears from the gaps, instantly forming a steel jungle. The crossbowmen swiftly returned fire, firing rockets like meteors at the charging Chu cavalry.
What shocked Yi Xiaochuan even more was the sudden appearance of dozens of strange vehicles mounted on giant metal cylinders from the Southern Border Army's formation. At a command, these cylinders spewed forth tongues of fire, emitting a deafening roar—these were none other than the Sky-shaking Bombs, a firearm secretly developed by Gao Yao. While their accuracy was lacking, the loud noise and blaze were enough to startle the Chu army's horses.