stonecrandall Chapter 927: Attacked and suffered heavy losses!
Chapter 927: Attacked and suffered heavy losses!
"Xiaochuan, look at this valley. The terrain is dangerous. If the southern border army sets up an ambush here, it will be a troublesome." Xiang Yu raised his whip and pointed at the entrance of the Valley of Broken Souls with a loud voice.
Upon hearing this, Yi Xiaochuan reined in his horse and gazed intently. The valley entrance was deep and shrouded in mist, giving him a genuinely uneasy feeling. Having been versed in military texts since childhood, he naturally understood the principle of "avoid entering a forest and proceed with caution through a valley." However, the successive days of victories had not only made the Chu army arrogant, but also invisibly affected his judgment. He pondered, "Brother Yu is absolutely right. However, Gaoyao was recently defeated, and the remaining troops retreated to Xianyang. They are still in shock, so how could they have the energy to set an ambush here? Furthermore, our scouts had previously explored the route and found no signs of large-scale enemy movements. Perhaps... it's just the steepness of this place that makes it seem so eerie."
He had a trace of doubt in his heart, but it was quickly diluted by Gao Yao's previous disastrous defeat. Moreover, the main force of the Southern Border Army had been completely defeated by his own side, and now they could only defend Xianyang. How could they dare to come out to fight again? If they were not careful, Xianyang would really be lost. At that time, the loss to the Southern Border Army would be too great, and Gao Yao could not afford it at all. In fact, Xiang Yu only said this, and he was also thinking about returning to the north as soon as possible.
Xiang Yu roared with laughter, his voice echoing throughout the field. "You're right! The Gaoyao people are like dogs that have lost their homes! The southern army is at the end of its rope, how dare they dare to challenge me again? Send orders to hasten through this valley and return to the north as soon as possible. While this battle may not be a complete victory, it will be enough to prevent Gaoyao from advancing north for two or three years!" His inherent pride and underestimation of the enemy took over at this moment. Despite the potential risks, he was more confident that his own courage would be enough to thwart any conspiracy.
Upon receiving the order, the Chu army, with the vanguard leading the way, entered the Valley of Broken Souls without conducting any further reconnaissance. The sound of horse hooves, footsteps, and the clashing of armor echoed through the narrow valley, breaking the thousand-year-old silence.
Like a long snake, the Chu army slowly entered the "pocket" of the Valley of Broken Souls. The vanguard had almost reached the center of the valley, and the central army, including Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan's banners, had also completely entered the ambush circle. The rear guard was still pouring in.
On the cliff, Li Zhao's heart was beating strongly. He calculated the time and observed the movement in the valley. When he saw the familiar "Xiang" and "Yi" flags appear in the best attack position, he took a deep breath and suddenly raised his right hand.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Three heavy and rapid drumbeats, like thunderbolts from a clear sky, suddenly exploded over the silent valley! The drumbeats seemed to knock on the gates of hell.
In an instant, the Southern Border Army, which had been lying in ambush for a long time, showed its ferocious fangs!
"Fire arrows!"
"Push the log!"
"Seal the entrance to the valley!"
Countless orders rang out almost simultaneously. The Qin crossbowmen, long poised for action, leaped from their camouflage, unleashed their powerful bows and crossbows, and unleashed a deadly hail of arrows upon the densely packed Chu army at the bottom of the valley! Instantly, arrows rained down like locusts, covering the sky and the sun, with a shrill piercing sound! The Chu soldiers were caught off guard, their horses and men thrown to the ground, screams echoing in their wake. Even their heavy shields seemed vulnerable to such a barrage of upward fire, and many soldiers were reduced to hedgehogs before they could even raise their weapons to block.
Immediately afterwards, huge rolling logs and boulders were pushed down the cliff, carrying the force of thunder, rumbling down. Wherever they passed, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the sound of bones breaking was terrifying. These heavy objects not only caused direct casualties, but also formed an obstacle in the narrow valley, causing the Chu army to trample on each other and become a mess.
At the mouth of the valley, with a resounding roar, a massive rock that had been prepared was pushed down, completely blocking the Chu army's retreat. The rear guard tried to turn and flee, but they were met with a cold stone wall and a deadly attack from above, leaving them trapped, trapped in a jar.
"There's an ambush! We've fallen into a trap!"
"Protect the king!"
"Don't panic! Form a formation! Form a formation!"
The Chu army camp instantly fell into utter chaos. The sudden attack terrified the soldiers, who had just been immersed in the joy of victory. Fear spread like a plague, and the troops completely lost their command, fighting on their own, even killing each other.
"Protect the king and General Yi!" Xiang Yu's personal guards shouted at the top of their lungs, leading the most elite Jiangdong soldiers, waving their weapons vigorously, blocking the arrows, trying to form a circle in the chaos to protect Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan in the center.
Xiang Yu's eyes were bloodshot. He had never imagined he would find himself in such a desperate situation. Intense anger and humiliation instantly overwhelmed his reason. "Shameless Gao Yao! How dare you bully me!" He roared wildly, brandishing the powerful and heavy Overlord Halberd. His black horse leaped to its feet, ready to charge towards the cliff face against the hail of arrows! The Overlord's divine power was truly astonishing, and the wind from the halberd swept away all the incoming arrows.
"Brother Yu! No!" Yi Xiaochuan's face turned pale. He grabbed Xiang Yu's reins and said urgently, "The terrain is unfavorable. A strong attack will only increase casualties! The most urgent thing is to break through! Charge forward and break the blockade at the valley entrance. There is still a chance of survival!" Although he was also frightened, he still had a trace of calmness and realized that the only way to survive was ahead, not attacking the cliff.
Xiang Yu snapped back to his senses. Though brave, he wasn't completely foolhardy. Yi Xiaochuan's words had awakened him. "Alright! My men, follow me and charge out!" Xiang Yu turned his horse, pointed his Overlord Halberd forward, and like an enraged lion, he led the charge, desperately charging towards the valley entrance.
"Protect the king, charge!" Xiang Zhuang and the remaining Jiangdong soldiers burst out with amazing fighting power, following closely behind Xiang Yu, forming a sharp knife, trying to tear open the Qin army's death blockade.
Li Zhao had a clear view from the clifftop. He calmly commanded, "Concentrate your crossbows and shoot Xiang Yu's mount! Roll logs and rocks to block his rear! Spearmen, get ready and seal the valley entrance. Don't let them escape!"
The battle entered its most brutal phase. Xiang Yu, like a god of war, wielded his Overlord Halberd with impenetrable force, unstoppable. Any Qin soldier who attempted to approach was either killed or wounded. His black horse, a majestic beast, charged left and right through the chaotic battle. However, the Qin army held a commanding advantage in the terrain. Arrows, boulders, and wooden planks rained down like a relentless death rain, steadily eroding the Chu army's vitality. Chu soldiers fell with each passing moment, their blood staining every inch of the valley floor.
In the melee, a powerful crossbow arrow pierced the guards' shields and struck Xiang Yu in the left shoulder with such force that it nearly knocked him off his horse! Xiang Yu groaned, his face instantly turning pale, but he snapped the arrow shaft and roared, continuing to charge! The Overlord's bravery shocked both the enemy and us!