novelhk Chapter 848: What the hell is this reinforcement? It’s a complete failure!
Chapter 848: What the hell is this reinforcement? It’s a complete failure!
Gao Yao wasn't being self-deprecating. He knew full well that without him and his personal battalion, the existing defenders of Yangping Pass wouldn't have survived Xiang Yu's thundering offensive for more than three days. It was precisely his seven days of bloody fighting, at the cost of nearly the entirety of his own personal battalion, that had more than doubled the time it took to capture the pass, significantly slowing the Chu army's westward advance and buying precious time for the rear. This in itself was a near-impossible miracle.
At this moment, Gao Yao was limited in what he could do. Reinforce the fortifications? He lacked the manpower and time. Boost morale? Empty words paled in the face of sheer exhaustion and despair. The only hope for change lay not within the city, but outside, in the man who towered like a mountain before the Chu army—Xiang Yu.
Gao Yao's gaze once again turned towards the direction of the retreating Chu army in the distance, as if he wanted to penetrate the twilight and see Xiang Yu's tent clearly.
He hoped that today's "divine punishment" explosion would cause a psychological trauma on the Chu army that would be huge and long-lasting enough!
Has the deafening roar, the sight of blood and flesh flying everywhere, the trampling of uncontrolled horses, and the unknown terror of "heavenly thunder" been deeply ingrained in the bones of every surviving Chu soldier? Will this fear make their legs weak and their hearts timid when they face the city walls tomorrow, making it difficult for them to muster the courage to charge?
Did today's defeat completely shatter the Chu army's confidence in its invincibility? When the soldiers began to doubt the possibility of victory, and even doubted their commander's ability to protect them from "divine punishment," did their collective fighting spirit collapse like a tower of sand?
Most crucially, could Xiang Yu himself? Could this incredibly proud overlord withstand such a crushing blow to his army's morale? Would he consider it worth incurring the unbearable cost of casualties to conquer this already shaky pass, one that still seemed to summon the power of the gods? Would he, concerned about the instability of his rear, the lack of food and fodder, or other strategic considerations, temporarily abandon the assault on Yangping Pass and decide to reroute or rest?
"If I can force Xiang Yu to retreat... even if it's just to temporarily abandon the attack..." Gao Yao felt a faint glimmer of hope, like a candle in the wind. This was the best outcome he could think of, the only possible solution to his desperate situation.
This glimmer of hope was so slim it was almost unreal, yet it was the last bit of strength that kept Gao Yao from collapsing immediately. He took a deep breath, the air, mingled with the scent of blood, gunpowder, and dust, stinging his lungs. He straightened his back, slightly hunched from exhaustion, and his gaze, sharp again, scanned the remaining troops on the city wall. No matter what, before the final moment arrived, he had to stand on this city wall, like a true commander.
Gao Yao leaned against the cold, knife-scarred battlements of the city wall, his eyelids heavy and almost glued shut. Days of bloody battle had drained his last bit of strength. Just as his consciousness was about to sink into the brief abyss of darkness, a hoarse cry of ecstasy exploded in his ears like thunder:
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Reinforcements are here!"
"Reinforcements?!" Those two words were like a shot in the arm, instantly piercing Gao Yao's exhaustion. He suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes, his pupils constricting. His limp body, as if pulled upright by an invisible force, suddenly straightened! His heart pounded violently in his chest, and a torrent of ecstasy, disbelief, and a sense of having escaped a desperate situation instantly surged through him. Almost instinctively, he jerked his head toward the inner city, his gaze piercing, anxiously searching for the banner and figure that brought hope.
As far as the eye could see, a group appeared from the inner city, moving towards the fortress. Amidst the rising dust, figures swarmed, numbering around two thousand. However, at a single glance, the fiery light that had just ignited in Gao Yao's eyes was like being poured over with a basin of ice water, rapidly cooling and dimming, ultimately transforming into a gloomy haze, his brows furrowed tightly into a frown.
He was no longer the naive Gao Yao who had just arrived in this world. Years of blood and fire, countless struggles on the brink of life and death, had already honed him into a ruthless and meticulous leader. He saw through the team's true colors at a glance:
The chaotic uniforms, the somewhat unorganized marching formations, and the inconsistent equipment all clearly pointed to their identities—county soldiers assembled from various counties! These men and horses were definitely not his well-trained and well-equipped personal guards, nor were they elite field troops who were used to fighting in battles.
Due to Gaoyao's recent rapid expansion, its territory has swelled dramatically. Most of these so-called county soldiers are hastily recruited surrendered soldiers. Their recent affiliation lacks systematic, rigorous integration and training, making their loyalty and fighting spirit highly questionable. This is especially true for these county soldiers in the heart of Hanzhong, who are far from the front lines and have lived in peace for an extended period, making their combat effectiveness even more uncertain.
Attacking a city requires high morale, and defending it also requires a strong will and a stable military spirit! Let these county soldiers, who have not been fully trained, lack a sense of belonging and combat experience, face the fierce and ferocious Chu army under Xiang Yu, who have just experienced the baptism of thunder?
Gao Yao could almost foresee the horrific scene: if the battle reached a stalemate and casualties mounted, these county soldiers would easily waver in fear and retreat. In a city defense, a single retreat is like an ant hole in a dam, quickly triggering a chain reaction that would cause the entire defense to crumble in an instant! Their arrival, far from strengthening the defense, could be the straw that broke the camel's back, having the opposite effect!
"Two thousand men...just two thousand men like that." A bitter feeling welled up in Gao Yao's heart. This small force was a drop in the bucket for the precarious situation at Yangping Pass. He coldly assessed: Would their arrival increase the chances of successfully defending the city tomorrow by even half a percent? The answer was no.
The fall of Yangping Pass remained a high probability event even with Xiang Yu's all-out attack tomorrow. This reinforcement force was more like a thin blade of grass cast over the edge of a despairing abyss, completely unable to bear the heavy responsibility of turning the tide.
What made Gao Yao even more confused and alert was that he did not take the initiative to order the dispatch of these county soldiers!
This was no oversight. When Gao Yao decided to personally lead his own battalion to the rescue of Yangping Pass, he had already prepared for the worst-case scenario: the loss of Yangping Pass. His strategic considerations were profound:
The consequence of losing all the barriers is that once Yangping Pass is breached, the entire Hanzhong Plain will be completely exposed to the iron hoof of the Chu army, with no strategic location to defend.