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Chapter 631: Still Have to Do It Myself
🕑 Added 2024-09-28 06:42:52 +0000 UTCIgnoring Zhao Yun’s current troubles, Chen Chi’s army had already advanced towards Tian Feng’s main camp using powerful crossbows and ballistae. However, Yuan Shao’s soldiers were no pushovers. They were battle-hardened and, under the command of numerous middle and lower-ranking officers, they defended the camp, holding large shields and counterattacking with arrows.
“Boom!” A loud explosion echoed as a bolt, nearly as thick as an arm, finally pierced through the outer defenses of Tian Feng’s main camp. This was soon followed by another volley of ballista bolts, creating a large hole in the perimeter fence. Compared to using ballistae to intimidate the enemy, destroying fortifications was the proper use of such weapons.
Chen Chi continued to deploy his soldiers, focusing their attack on the breached section of the camp. Meanwhile, commanders like Jiang Gong led their troops, carrying the remaining large shields and charging towards the breach in Tian Feng’s camp.
“Hmph, if only my cavalry had arrived, your current formation would be in real trouble,” Jiang Qi sneered as he ordered Zhu Han’s unit to move forward and block the breach. The morale of the Hebei troops was not weaker than that of Liu Bei’s forces, nor was their fighting spirit. Zhu Han led his troops to confront Jiang Gong’s men at the breach in the fence, and the two sides immediately clashed in the narrow space.
“Simaji, Wang Fu, lead your units and tear down that section of the fence! Xu Chu, prepare to attack Tian Feng’s camp!” Chen Chi waved his banner, sending two more units forward to exploit the breach and tear down Tian Feng’s outer defenses.
“Order Zhu Han to fight bravely after the enemy reinforcements arrive, then feign weakness to lure them into a stronger attack!” Jiang Qi calmly issued new orders to Zhu Han after he had stabilized the breach.
“Yes, sir!” the messenger responded promptly.
“Liu Xian, Liu Yu, prepare to fight hard at that location. Do not push the enemy out. Fight and retreat as needed, making them believe the defense is faltering, but do not let the fence completely collapse!” Jiang Qi ordered Liu Xian and Liu Yu, maintaining his composure despite Jiang Gong’s breakthrough.
Soon, Simaji and Wang Fu led their units through Yuan Shao’s barrage of arrows and joined the battle. As expected, after these two units reinforced the breach, a few soldiers managed to break through, forcing Zhu Han to retreat step by step.
Just as Jiang Gong’s forces were about to break through Zhu Han’s defense, Liu Xian and Liu Yu arrived just in time to stabilize the line again. The battle turned into a brutal back-and-forth in the narrow space, with Liu Bei’s troops occasionally breaking in, only to be pushed back by Yuan Shao’s reinforcements.
The three units from both sides fought fiercely, with Liu Bei’s forces showing high morale and superior combat power. However, due to the narrow breach, only dozens of soldiers could fight at once. Although Jiang Gong and his men were on the verge of breaking through, they had no way to decisively defeat the enemy as Yuan Shao’s new troops continued to press them.
“This is getting tricky, but it’s manageable,” Chen Chi muttered, his face showing some frustration. Chen Xi had entrusted him with command due to his outstanding performance in the last battle, giving him an opportunity to prove himself. However, he hadn’t expected the enemy to be so difficult to deal with this time.
“Gongxi, you’re being too hasty. Don’t focus all your attention on one spot,” Chen Xi commented, listening to the reports from his messengers. He had a good understanding of the situation at the front lines and could see that the breach was being used to lure them into a stronger attack.
“It’s a trap, isn’t it?” Chen Chi’s face darkened as he quickly realized what was happening.
“Forget it, I’ll give you a hand. Leveraging the strength of the soldiers is one way to fight, but when the battle reaches a stalemate, it’s better to rely on the commanders. Order Xu Chu to draw upon the army’s cloud energy and launch a powerful attack!” Chen Xi said, rising from his seat. He couldn’t stand watching any longer.
Chen Xi acknowledged that Chen Chi had a good grasp of the soldiers’ strength, but the enemy’s commander was also skilled. At this point, relying solely on morale and willpower wasn’t going to cut it. Yuan Shao’s forces were no less determined than theirs.
“Drawing upon the cloud energy for an all-out attack? If we fail, our cloud energy will be depleted, and the overall strength of our army will decrease,” Chen Chi said, turning to Chen Xi.
“Continuing this stalemate will cause even greater damage to our forces. We need a swift victory. General Guan drew Yan Liang away for this very reason. As for the loss of cloud energy, as long as we break through the enemy camp and crush their morale, it won’t matter,” Chen Xi replied coldly.
Chen Chi’s command style wasn’t suited for this type of battle. It was similar to the battle in Qingzhou. If it hadn’t been for Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, Taishi Ci, and Zhang Fei shattering the Yellow Turbans’ morale, even the elite Taishan army would have been worn down and defeated.
As for the time they drew upon the cloud energy to unleash super attacks, reducing the army’s strength to 50%, so what? The enemy’s morale was crushed, and even with just 30% strength remaining, victory was theirs.
“Pass my order to Xu Chu: draw upon the cloud energy and launch a devastating attack. Hit them hard within three strikes!” Chen Xi commanded the messenger. As for Chen Chi, he decided that future defensive battles would suit him better—offense wasn’t his forte.
“General, Lord Chen orders you to draw upon the cloud energy and unleash a destructive attack. Hit them hard within three strikes!” the messenger relayed the command to Xu Chu.
“Brothers, grab your weapons! We’re going in!” Xu Chu roared, drawing his nine-ring elephant trunk knife and channeling the army’s cloud energy. With a powerful swing, a dark blade of energy, hundreds of meters long, slashed through the enemy’s defenses.
“Ugh!” The black energy blade sliced through Yuan Shao’s cloud energy, quickly dissipating but leaving the enemy’s defenses significantly weakened.
“Not good!” Jiang Qi exclaimed in shock. He immediately tried to reinforce the weakened area, but Xu Chu’s second strike followed swiftly, further shattering the defenses. Although the attack’s remaining power only killed a few dozen of Yuan Shao’s soldiers, the damage was done.
“It’s too late. Forget it, order the entire army to attack!” Jiang Qi decided, seeing the breach in their cloud energy. He gritted his teeth and ordered a full-scale charge.
“Break through!” Xu Chu roared, mustering all his strength and energy for one final strike. The black blade, now five hundred meters long, slashed down, cutting through a large section of the fence and taking hundreds of Yuan Shao’s soldiers with it.
As soon as Jiang Qi’s orders were issued, all the archers within the fence unleashed a volley. Any of Liu Bei’s soldiers hit by the arrows suffered severe injuries. With Xu Chu drawing upon the army’s cloud energy, the soldiers were caught off guard, and their defenses weakened significantly.
“Full-scale charge! Order the hidden cavalry to flank from both sides and cut off Yuan Shao’s forces!” Chen Xi ordered with a cold smile.
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