novelhk Chapter 861: Failed to capture Yangping Pass? Yi Xiaochuan is puzzled!
Chapter 861: Failed to capture Yangping Pass? Yi Xiaochuan is puzzled!
But after eliminating all impossibilities, whatever remained, no matter how incredible, was the truth. Yi Xiaochuan forced himself to accept this conclusion: Xianyang was most likely maintaining secret contact with the outside world through some specially trained flying birds! This also explained their composure—they had likely already sent intelligence, were aware of the reinforcements' movements, and were even executing a larger strategic plan!
After figuring this out, Yi Xiaochuan did not feel enlightened, but instead felt even more helpless and frustrated.
Even if he knew how the other party was transmitting information, what could he do? Send people to shoot birds? In the vast sky, how could he identify which birds were carrier birds? It was inefficient and impossible to eliminate.
More importantly, Xianyang's defenses intimidated him. This former Qin Dynasty capital had clearly undergone extensive reinforcement and modernization since Gao Yao took over! The walls were raised and thickened, with sharper corners, and even complex structures like urn fortifications were built to enhance defenses. The city was well-defended, and presumably well-stocked with food and fodder.
Although his 30,000 Chu troops were elite cavalry, their strengths lay in field combat and mobility. Using them to storm a well-prepared and well-defended city was like hitting a rock with an egg! Even if Xiang Yu had given him another 30,000 troops, he had no confidence he could defeat this tough opponent, not to mention the heavy casualties he would have suffered.
Yi Xiaochuan was a rational man, well aware of the principles of what to do and what not to do. Attacking Xianyang by force was something he absolutely shouldn't have done, and it was impossible. His original mission was to surround and attack the reinforcements, or at least cut off Xianyang from the outside world. But now, the first goal seemed to have failed, and the second goal had become meaningless.
It seemed that all he could do now was to continue to maintain the siege, while sending more scouts, expanding the scope of reconnaissance, paying close attention to the troop movements in the direction of Yangping Pass and other areas in the southern border, trying to capture the movements of Gaoyao's reinforcements, and praying that Xiang Yu's actions in Yangping Pass would go smoothly.
Yi Xiaochuan was looking at the map in the tent, thinking hard about the meaning behind the strange calmness in Xianyang and trying to find out what Gao Yao might have hidden. Suddenly, there came a burst of extremely rapid and even broken horse hoofbeats and roars outside the tent!
The sound came from far away and was full of urgency, instantly breaking the relative tranquility of the military camp!
"Report! Urgent news! Urgent news from Yangping Pass!"
A messenger, covered in dust and sweat, almost crawled to the front of the central army tent, his voice hoarse and distorted due to extreme fatigue and anxiety!
Yi Xiaochuan's heart suddenly clenched, and an ominous premonition instantly seized him. He stood up suddenly and rushed out of the tent!
"Why are you so panicked? How is the battle at Yangping Pass going?!" Yi Xiaochuan asked sternly, his eyes fixed on the messenger who was kneeling on the ground and panting.
The messenger raised his head, his face stained with dust and sweat, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief. He swallowed his saliva and shouted with all his strength:
"General Yi! The King of Chu... The King of Chu's attack at Yangping Pass was unsuccessful! The army... The army has retreated! They have retreated a hundred miles and are heading towards us to join us! The King of Chu ordered me to travel day and night to inform the general to prepare early and retreat together!"
Shock and dismay: unbelievable news
"What?!!"
Yi Xiaochuan was struck by lightning! He felt frozen in place! He even suspected something was wrong with his ears! A failed attack? A hundred-mile retreat? How could this be possible?!
He suddenly stepped forward and grabbed the messenger's shoulders with both hands, almost crushing his bones with such force! He stared into the messenger's eyes, his voice sharp with extreme shock and disbelief:
"What did you say?! Say it to me again! Xiang Yu... with his 50,000 troops... how could he possibly retreat?! What on earth happened at Yangping Pass?!" He was practically roaring, completely losing his usual calm and elegance.
The messenger turned pale at Yi Xiaochuan's reaction, stuttering and repeating with pain, "General! It's absolutely true! The order came from the King of Chu himself! The King of Chu said... that reinforcements from the Southern Border Army have arrived at Yangping Pass. They're strong, and the pass is formidable. Continuing the assault could lead to an enemy ambush. To save the army, he has no choice but to order a retreat! The King of Chu orders you to immediately abandon the siege of Xianyang and lead your troops to rejoin him and retreat!"
"Reinforcements have arrived... they're in great numbers..." Yi Xiaochuan released his hand and stumbled back a step, his face filled with extreme confusion and a sense of bewilderment as if his worldview had been shaken. "How... how is this possible?! Where did Gao Yao get his reinforcements?!"
His brain was working rapidly, trying to rationally understand this news that was completely beyond his expectations.
"Could it be...could it be that Gao Yao has really gone crazy? Has he given up on attacking Nanjun?!" This was the first and most logical speculation that popped into Yi Xiaochuan's mind. But he immediately rejected this idea.
"No! This doesn't make sense!" Yi Xiaochuan shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake off this absurd idea. "If he really wanted to abandon Nanjun and return to rescue Yangping Pass, then why bother launching the southern expedition in the first place? This is completely a strategic mistake!"
In his strategic deductions, Yangping Pass, while crucial, was not irrevocable. Even if it were temporarily lost and captured by the Chu army, it would indeed sever Xianyang's connection with the core southern border, giving the Chu army the strategic initiative. However, as long as Gao Neng could quickly capture Nanjun as planned and solidify his alliance with Wei Bao, stabilizing his flank, he would be able to consolidate his forces. Then, mobilizing the main force to recapture Yangping Pass would be a straightforward matter. This was the option that maximized his benefits.
And now, the situation was completely reversed! Xiang Yu led 50,000 elite troops and attacked fiercely for ten days, but not only did he fail to capture Yangping Pass, which was said to have only a few thousand defenders, but he was actually forced to retreat a hundred miles? This was simply absurd!
"If Gao Yao really recalled the troops that were attacking Nanjun..." Yi Xiaochuan felt a chill in his spine as he thought of this. "Then his loss would be too great! It's totally unprofitable!"
He was well aware of the immense force Gao Yao had mobilized for this southern expedition—nearly 200,000 troops! For a military operation of this scale, the daily expenditure of food and fodder, manpower, and material resources was astronomical! Abruptly abandoning the victories that were about to be secured and returning thousands of miles to provide support would entail unimaginable opportunity costs and actual losses!
Moreover, Yi Xiaochuan was even more aware: while the Southern Border Army was well-trained and well-equipped, the fatigue brought on by continuous battles could not be ignored. Soldiers were not machines, and long-distance raids and continuous combat would severely damage morale and combat effectiveness. If Gao Yao truly made such a decision, it would be tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs and damaging his own vitality!