Chapter 442: Chapter 227: Slaying the Inborn Again
Translator: 549690339
On the 16th day of the twelfth month of Hongdao’s seventh year, the United Army launched a massive attack with King of Ninghai Su Xuange leading the charge, attacking Dangyang City with 50,000 troops.
In the meantime, they tried to undermine the morale of the Zhou People’s army by spreading rumors that Xiangyang City had fallen to the defenders.
However, these rumors were not believed by the Zhou People, and their soldiers continued to stand strong.
After a fierce battle, the Zhou People lost more than 3,000 soldiers, while the attacking United Army lost over 10,000.
During this time, Su Xuange had a fierce battle with Zhang Chanyi, but ultimately lost and retreated.
The next day, the United Army again launched an offensive with 50,000 troops, this time led by Yan Wangqiu, who still aimed to seize Dangyang City.
By this point, the rumors of Xiangyang City being surrounded had gradually spread overnight, although there were still very few people who believed them.
Both sides engaged in another fierce battle, with the United Army still losing over 10,000 soldiers, while the Zhou People lost 4,000.
During this time, Yan Wangqiu fought against Li Yanjing, who was defeated and then forced to retreat, only to have Zhang Chanyi step in once more, eventually forcing Yan Wangqiu back.
On the third day, the United Army still marched on with 50,000 troops, fiercely attacking Danyang City.
By this time, some fugitive soldiers from the Xiangyang front had already made it to Dangyang City, bringing news that Xiangyang was surrounded and that their path had been lost.
Upon hearing this terrible news, the morale of the Zhou People’s army in Dangyangt’s main camp was greatly shaken, and many soldiers panicked, already showing signs of imminent defeat.
As a result, during that day’s offensive and defensive battle, the Zhou People began to shrink back and avoid battle, no longer as spirited and daring as the previous two days.
After a day of siege, the United Army still lost over 10,000 soldiers, but the Zhou People’s losses had already exceeded 6,000.
This battle was personally commanded by Bai Mengyang. On the battlefield, the Wuan Marquis crossed swords with Zhang Chanyi and inflicted heavy damage to him on the spot.
But in the end, it was Li Yanjing’s desperate rescue that barely fended off Bai Mengyang.
Nevertheless, the Commander was heavily injured, and after more than half a month of continuous fighting, the Zhou army had lost more than 30,000 soldiers.
At this point, there were less than 50,000 troops left in the entire Dangyang camp.
Moreover, with the rear already lost and people panicking, collapse seemed not far away.
So that night, Zhang Chanyi and Li Yanjing met once again.
Zhang Chanyi had an unusual flush on his face at this time.
During the daytime battle, he had crossed swords with Bai Mengyang, who, as a Military God comparable to the second realm of Innate Fighters, only took a brief moment to severely injure the former Pillar State’s Grand General of Zhou People.
The gap between the first and second realms of Innate was indeed quite large.
However, Zhang Chanyi could no longer afford to nurse his wounds at this point. Looking at Li Yanjing, he asked, “Are the troops and horses ready?”
Li Yanjing looked at Zhang Chanyi worriedly, then nodded: “A total of 30,000 elite soldiers have been arranged, armored, and ready to withdraw at any time.”
Hearing this, Zhang Chanyi nodded, and then asked, “Those Yue people will not find out, will they?”
Li Yanjing replied, “Apart from the troops and horses withdrawing tonight, I have left behind more than 17,000 people arranged at various outposts and some outside camp personnel who have not been mobilized.
With these people in place, it should be enough to deceive the Yue people.
Even if they attack the city again tomorrow, we can hold on for a while before they realize what’s going on.”
Zhang Chanyi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, “Since there is no problem, then immediately issue orders to each unit to withdraw as previously planned.”
“Alright.” Li Yanjing nodded and immediately turned to carry out the arrangements, but his heart was filled with a sense of sadness.
To facilitate their withdrawal, the two of them had to abandon a large number of troops stationed at the periphery.
With these smokescreens and bait in place, and with the darkness of midnight as cover, if they still couldn’t conceal their withdrawal, then they would have commanded their troops in vain all these years.
It was just a pity that they had to leave behind those soldiers.
There were more than 17,000 of them, weren’t there?
When you count the more than 10,000 wounded soldiers left in the camp, the number even approached 30,000.
These were all elite soldiers skilled in battle, but now they were being abandoned, which was a great loss to the nation.
However, there was no choice. In order to withdraw from this desperate situation and to support the rear, to save Xiangyang City, the sacrifices they were making now were inevitable.
Hopefully they could preserve these last 30,000 elite soldiers.
With a heavy heart, Li Yanjing went on to arrange the withdrawal.
That night, in complete silence, under the cover of darkness, 30,000 Zhou troops quietly withdrew from Dangyang City, heading north.
For this withdrawal, they had indeed made extensive preparations.
Not only did they select the best soldiers to act as scouts, spreading in all directions and specifically killing the nearby Yue people’s spies, but also Li Yanjing and Zhang Chanyi personally used their Divine Senses to search out the hidden Yue people’s informants.
Under such actions, they successfully created a blind area and led their troops to retreat.
By the time the United Army’s main camp realized that something was wrong and sent scouts to investigate, the Zhou troops had already advanced more than ten miles away.
Upon hearing the news that the Zhou People had fled, Bai Mengyang, who had been keeping a close watch on their movements, immediately convened a meeting of the generals.
“Gentlemen, the Zhou People have fled. At this moment, Dangyang City’s defense is weak. We can attack quickly.”
After everyone had arrived, Bai Mengyang announced the news, then turned to Su Xuange and said, “King of Ninghai, gather your troops immediately and lead all forces to attack Dangyang City.
Now that only a few tempting remnants of the Zhou People’s army are left inside the city, there aren’t many people left.
Can we take it over tonight?”
When Su Xuange heard the military order, his eyes shifted as he stepped forward and responded, “Wuan Marquis, don’t worry. If there are only remnants in the city, I will break through tonight.”
While speaking, Su Xuange was indeed thinking to himself.
‘If there are not many Zhou people left in the city, and if we can conquer it, capturing the remaining soldiers and wounded people inside, and then bring them all back to our country. Won’t the elite soldiers I’ve been worrying about be handed to me on a silver platter?’