Xiang Bo slapped his thigh and squatted down on the ground in anguish, "Alas! What can I do!"
Chapter 14 The Battle of Gaixia (Part 7)
"Great! Now Xiang Yu and the Chu army are completely finished, hahaha..." Liu Ji shaded his eyes with his hand, craned his neck, and laughed uncontrollably as more and more soldiers rushed into the fortifications.
Although Zhang Liang had doubts, he couldn't see what was happening inside the fortifications, so he didn't dare to make any rash conclusions. Moreover, the attack seemed to be going quite smoothly. Could it be that he was overthinking things?
Just then, a soldier came to report.
"Report! Your Majesty, Ding Gu, Xiang Sui, and Xiang You request an audience."
"No, no, what kind of cat or dog comes to see me?" Liu Ji waved his hand.
Zhang Liang pondered for a moment, "Your Majesty, isn't Ding Gu the one who saved you in the Battle of Pengcheng? And Ding Gu's surrender with his army was a great contribution to Han Xin's rapid crossing of the Xiao River. As for Xiang Sui and Xiang You, they are both sons of Xiang Bo. I don't need to tell you how great Xiang Bo's contributions were, do I?"
"Oh... so Ding Gu's merits are so great. Alright, bring them over. But strategist, what if they come to ask for rewards? What should I bestow upon them? Their merits are too great, especially Ding Gu's. What should I do?"
Liu Ji was somewhat troubled. Putting aside the great merit of defecting in battle, he had saved Liu Ji's life, which was a life-saving grace. How could he repay it? At the very least, he should be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.
Zhang Liang smiled slightly, "Your Majesty can appease him first, and reward him after the war is over and the overall situation is settled."
"Yes, the strategist is right," Liu Ji nodded.
“But this battle… Your Majesty, something seems amiss. How could our army have charged in without any resistance? How could the Chu army not have defenses behind the camp gates? Moreover, Xiang Yu’s timing in entering the camp was too perfect.” Zhang Liang voiced his concerns.
Liu Ji scoffed, "Strategist, you're overthinking it. The Chu soldiers inside must have surrendered one after another, which is why they didn't stop our army. As for Xiang Yu, he was just lucky. With so many troops blocking his way, how could he just enter the fortress whenever he wanted?"
"But why are the Chu troops still defending the outer walls of the fortress?" Zhang Liang's expression suddenly changed drastically.
"Haha, then naturally those who built the walls are all loyal to Xiang Yu. They would rather die than surrender. It's only a matter of time before they are all wiped out." Liu Ji thought to himself that Zhang Liang was too suspicious. What could possibly happen once they had already breached the walls?
However, what Liu Ji and the others did not know was that when the Qi-Han allied forces rushed into the fortified camp, they saw a completely unexpected scene. The Chu army had not built a defensive line near the camp gate, but had set up their formation a hundred feet to the north.
As more and more troops poured in, the Qi-Han allied soldiers who had previously charged into the fortified area, apart from some who rushed straight to the Chu army's defensive line to the north, mostly split up to the east and west. In particular, to the east where Xiang Yu was located, a group of officers were still chasing after him on horseback.
However, the capacity of the Chu army's fortifications was ultimately limited, and more and more Han soldiers were pushed toward the Chu army's northern defenses. A strong attack was imperative, but there was still a large trench blocking their way.
In a battle between two armies, one side forms a well-prepared battle formation and waits for the enemy to tire themselves out, while the other side rushes along in a chaotic and disorganized manner, making them significantly weaker in combat.
However, since the Qi-Han allied forces dared to charge in, they must have been aiming to win by sheer numbers. With troops continuously pouring in, they were confident in their strength.
"Kill! Charge... Ah!"
Countless Han soldiers perished in the trenches, but as long as they maintained this momentum, they would be able to break through soon.
However, the Qi-Han allied forces did not expect that the westernmost part of this trench was almost at the bank of the Xiao River.
Xiang Han, who had been waiting there for a long time, gave the order, and the last obstacle was dug open by the Chu army, and the surging Xiao River instantly poured into the trench.
Whoosh...
The floodwaters rushed in, and the Qi-Han allied forces in the trenches were swept away before they could react. They were swept away along with the water and crashed into the Xiao River from the east, essentially creating a tributary for the Xiao River.
The most tragic thing was that the soldiers who were originally standing on the edge of the trench, ready to jump down, were pushed down by the people behind them, and their screams for help were endless.
At this moment, the troops pursuing Xiang Yu to the east also came to an abrupt halt, because they not only saw Xiang Yu ahead, but also the densely packed Chu cavalry arrayed behind him!
Originally, within the Chu army's fortifications, the easternmost and westernmost areas were the garrisons of the Chu cavalry, each with four thousand elite cavalrymen.
"kill!"
At Xiang Yu's command, four thousand Chu cavalry swept across from east to west with thunderous force. The soldiers of the Qi-Han allied army instinctively turned and ran. They knew they couldn't outrun the Chu cavalry behind them, but they only needed to outrun their comrades. However, those who fell behind were unwilling to accept defeat. Fortunately, their weapons were within reach, and they struck the thigh of the man in front of them with a blow...
At the same time, Huan Chu also led 4,000 Chu cavalry to sweep across the western side of the fortification from west to east. Under the pressure from both sides, many soldiers of the Qi-Han allied forces panicked and were pushed into the trenches and swept away.
Even if those who were good swimmers managed to reach the other side, they would still face the annihilation of the Chu army; it could be said that those who entered the water were almost certain to die.
Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Guan were guarding the north side of the trench, while Ji Bu and Zhongli Mei were guarding the outer wall of the fortification. For the Qi-Han allied forces that entered the Chu army's fortification, the only way out was through the gate they had entered, but they were still rushing in from there.
Those inside the fortified walls wanted to rush out, and those outside wanted to rush in, but there was only one exit. The Qi-Han allied forces trampled and squeezed each other, resulting in many casualties.
When Kong Cong, Chen He, and Ding Fu discovered the problem and ordered a retreat, the armies had already suffered heavy casualties, and it was extremely difficult for those inside to get out.
Upon seeing this, Han Xin immediately ordered his entire army to attack the fortifications, thereby tying down the Chu army defending the outer walls and giving the troops inside a better chance of survival.
But that was all. Han Xin knew that most of the troops who had charged into the fortified walls under a hail of arrows would never have a chance to come out again.
As the sounds of battle subsided, the gates of the Chu army's fortified camp closed once more, and everything returned to its original state.
However, the Qi-Han allied forces suffered heavy losses and their morale was low, while the Chu army won a great victory and their morale was high. Under such circumstances, breaking through the barrier was almost an impossible task.
Han Xin had no choice but to order a halt to the attack, as he needed to pause.
Kong Cong, Chen He, and Ding Fu, with red eyes, came before Han Xin to apologize. Han Xin did not punish them. Who could have imagined that Xiang Yu had set up such an ambush inside the fortified camp?
If they hadn't been greedy and focused all their attention on Xiang Yu, how could they have rashly rushed in?
Who's to blame? Zhang Liang? Zhang Liang's strategy itself was not flawed.
The problem was that Han Xin didn't rush in with them. If Han Xin had just glanced at the formation, he would have been able to immediately figure out how to deal with it. Not only would he have avoided having so many Chu troops annihilated, but he could have also turned the tables and actually captured the fortress.
However, Han Xin did not go with them, nor could he. He was the King of Qi; what if he were shot and killed halfway there?
In fact, even without Han Xin, if any one of Kong Cong, Chen He, or Ding Fu had charged in, the losses might not have been so heavy. However, they were equally afraid of death and dared not lead the charge.
Han Xin thought to himself, "If only one day, the commander-in-chief could see the battlefield clearly from a great distance and command his soldiers in battle from afar."
Just then, cheers erupted from inside the fortified walls, and Xiang Yu ascended the gate tower.
"Han Xin, are you convinced now? My two hundred cavalrymen are all unharmed, but how many of your thousand soldiers are left? Hahaha..."
Han Xin drew his sword and slashed it down on the chariot, leaving only a fart!
After the competition, all those who could still move rushed into the fortress!
Chapter 15 The Battle of Gaixia (Part 8)
Liu Ji's face was grim. "Strategist, what exactly happened? Our army clearly breached the fortifications, so why were we driven back?"
"Your Majesty, I fear that Xiang Yu was prepared inside the fortified walls, and our army was caught off guard after entering the walls. We underestimated Xiang Yu."
Zhang Liang had actually considered this possibility moments after the army stormed into the fortress, but he was too far from the fortress to send the order in time.
"What should we do? Strategist, please speak frankly if you have any good plans." Liu Ji asked, but then heard the black dragon inside him sneer repeatedly, "Hmm?"
"Abandon the siege and wait for Peng Yue, Liu Jia, Ying Bu, and other reinforcements to arrive before completely encircling the Chu army within the fortifications." Zhang Liang couldn't think of a better solution for the time being.
"What's there to be nervous about? It's just that your luck has run out again. We can just harvest some more." The black dragon sneered.
Liu Ji turned to look at Ding Gu, "You once saved me?"
Ding Gu's face lit up with joy. "Your Majesty has a good memory. During the Battle of Pengcheng, Your Majesty happened to meet me when you were fleeing. At that time, Your Majesty said to me, 'How can two wise men be at odds with each other?' I was convinced that Your Majesty would be the one to unify the world in the future, so I risked my head to let Your Majesty go. Now it seems that this was the most correct decision I ever made in my life."
"Was it because of your defection that the Qi King's army was able to cross the river so smoothly this time?" Liu Ji asked again.
"Your Majesty flatters me. This is what I should do," Ding Gu said modestly.
"Your Majesty, my father and we..." Xiang Sui and Xiang You were anxious. Ding Gu had actually taken all the credit for himself. It was outrageous.
Liu Ji glared at Xiang Sui and Xiang You, "I didn't ask you, so don't interrupt."
"Your Majesty, please forgive us." Xiang Sui and Xiang You bowed repeatedly.
Ding Gu glanced smugly at Xiang Sui and Xiang You, thinking to himself, "I am Liu Ji's savior, how can you compare to me?"
Liu Ji looked at Ding Gu and smiled coldly, "Ding Gu, as a subject of King Xiang, you failed to be loyal, causing King Xiang to lose the empire and now facing the danger of destruction. How can I keep such an unfaithful and unjust person by my side? Guards! Take Ding Gu away and behead him immediately, so that future subjects will not follow Ding Gu's example! This is the fate of those who fail to fulfill their duties as subjects!"
"Yes, sir!" The guards on both sides responded and restrained Ding Gu, dragging him down.
Zhang Liang glanced at Liu Ji with surprise, but didn't say anything more. If he said such a thing, even if Ding Gu was originally loyal to Liu Ji, he would feel resentment.
Ding Gu could hardly believe his ears. After a moment of stunned silence, he struggled violently, but to no avail, and was still forcibly dragged away.
"Your Majesty, you cannot kill me! Your humble servant is utterly loyal! I once saved Your Majesty's life, and I just performed a great service by supporting the Qi King's army! Your Majesty's ingratitude will surely chill the hearts of the people! Your Majesty, Liu Ji! You are ungrateful, you must not... Ah!"
Ding Gu's voice abruptly stopped. Xiang Sui and Xiang You were so frightened that they kowtowed to the ground with a thud, trembling like leaves, not daring to raise their heads or utter a word. Liu Ji had actually killed Ding Gu! What about them...?
"Your luck is full. Well done," Black Dragon praised.
Liu Ji laughed heartily, “Why are you two nephews like this? Ding Gu is utterly utterly disloyal and deserves to be killed. As long as you two remain loyal to me in the future, I will certainly treat you well. Now go and rest.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty." Xiang Sui and Xiang You kowtowed repeatedly, then got up and left the place. On the way, they happened to see Ding Gu, who had been beheaded and died with his eyes wide open.
They all thought Ding Gu was destined for high office and great wealth, but they never expected him to end up like this.
What about their father, Xiang Bo? Will he really be granted the title of king as promised?
Would Liu Jizhen marry her daughter to one of them?
Was betraying Xiang Yu truly the right thing to do?
...
"Your Majesty, why did you suddenly execute Ding Gu? If the Chu army finds out about this, I'm afraid no one will dare to surrender easily anymore. Even Zhou Yin and others who have already surrendered will likely be unsettled," Zhang Liang asked, puzzled.
"Oh dear, what can we do? Strategist, please help me think of a way to salvage this situation. I was so upset by the unfavorable war that I just executed Ding Gu." Liu Ji spread his hands.
“Very well, since they’ve already been killed, I’ll leave the aftermath to you. If this matter is publicized well, it might win the favor of the Chu soldiers, since they hate Ding Gu to the bone. When the time is right, Your Majesty can send someone to formally persuade the Chu army to surrender and promise not to kill any more surrendered soldiers,” Zhang Liang said with a wry smile.
"Haha, I knew the strategist had a plan," Liu Ji said with satisfaction.
Just then, a soldier came to report.
"Your Majesty, the armies of Liu Jia, Ying Bu, and Zhou Yin have arrived ahead of schedule!"
"Excellent!" Liu Ji exclaimed, clapping his hands.
Zhang Liang's eyes lit up. "These reinforcements have arrived just in time. Your humble servant will go with Ying Bu and Zhou Yin to persuade the Chu army to surrender. Even if we cannot make the Chu army surrender, we will certainly be able to completely destroy the morale that the Chu army has gained in this battle."
"Haha, then I'll trouble you to make the trip, strategist. But please remember to be careful, the Chu army's arrows are formidable."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will not give Xiang Yu a chance." Zhang Liang thought to himself that with Ying Bu and Zhou Yin by his side, even if Xiang Yu wanted to kill someone, he wouldn't kill him first.
The Chu army's fortifications were filled with the joy of victory; even the 400,000-strong allied army of Qi and Han could not compare.
"Xiang Yu, look! The enemy is retreating!" Zhongli Mei exclaimed excitedly.
Xiang Yu looked at the Han army gathering to the west and the Qi army gathering to the east with a solemn expression. "Are we really going to retreat?"
"What else can we do but retreat? Liu Bei and Han Xin suffered heavy losses in today's siege, and it looks like it's going to snow." Ji Bu looked at the sky and saw that large swaths of dark clouds had been blown in by the wind, and the temperature had dropped sharply, clearly indicating that the weather was about to change.