bayedsolid Chapter 2087 1. We Must Be Quick
Chapter 2087 1. We Must Be Quick
Ma Chao dismounted, not even bothering to find paper and pen, and directly tore a piece of white cloth from his inner robe with a "rip".
He drew his dagger again, and without hesitation, cut his fingertip, using his blood as ink to quickly write a hasty but clear message on the cloth:
"General Han: Li Jing's remnants are rushing towards Guo Ziyi's main camp along the dry riverbed! Please send troops immediately to intercept and kill them along the way! This opportunity must not be missed! Written in blood by Ma Chao!"
He carefully rolled up the blood-stained cloth, stuffed it into the small bamboo tube on the pigeon's leg, and then personally tossed the pigeon into the air!
The pigeon circled once in the air, determined its direction, and immediately flapped its wings, flying swiftly towards the Chu army camp like an arrow released from a bow!
Ma Chao watched the carrier pigeon disappear into the horizon, then abruptly turned, mounted his horse, and pointed his spear in the direction Li Jing had fled, his eyes burning with a final hope and resolve.
"All troops, mount up! Maintain battle formation and advance slowly!"
"Maintain the pressure and create opportunities for General Han! Even if we can't capture Li Jing, we'll make him suffer!"
He knew that all hope now rested on that swiftly flying pigeon and General Han Xing's timely response.
The hunt has entered its final and most crucial phase.
Half an hour later.
The Chu army camp, after a night of bloodshed and fire, was still filled with heavy smoke, blood, and the acrid smell of burning wood.
On the east side of the camp, the section of the wall that Xue Kehu had set ablaze with fire had been reduced to charred ruins, emitting wisps of smoke.
Under Han Xing's orders, the Chu soldiers were using the timber and earth stored in the camp, braving the occasional stray arrows fired by the Tang army, to carry out emergency repairs and reinforcements.
Although the fire was extinguished, the Tang army's relentless offensive did not stop.
Guo Ziyi was clearly determined to carry out the "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" strategy to the end, ordering his various units to take turns attacking the Chu army's defenses, regardless of casualties.
The sounds of war drums, battle cries, and clashing weapons never truly ceased; only their intensity fluctuated with time and the fatigue of the troops.
Han Xing remained in command of the central army, his gray hair and beard stained with dust, making him look even more weathered.
But those eyes remained sharp as an eagle's, constantly monitoring the dynamics of the battlefield, issuing commands and adjusting deployments from time to time, neutralizing wave after wave of Tang army offensives.
He knew that the longer he held out, the greater the chance that Ma Chao would have to capture and kill Li Jing.
Just then, a soldier responsible for raising and delivering carrier pigeons, under the cover of a squad of shield-bearing soldiers, crouched low and hurriedly passed through the rear camp, arriving at the high platform where the central command was located.
He was clutching a small, conspicuous strip of white cloth tightly in his hand.
"General! Urgent military news! It's a blood-written letter sent by General Ma Chao via carrier pigeon!"
The soldier knelt on one knee below the platform, holding the strip of cloth high with both hands, his voice urgent.
"A blood letter?"
Han Xing raised an eyebrow, his heart sinking slightly.
Ma Chao would never have used this method to send a message unless the situation was extremely urgent.
He immediately ordered his personal guards to bring up the strips of cloth.
Han Xing took the strip of cloth, which was covered in dust and had a faint smell of blood, and quickly unfolded it.
The words written in blood above were hasty and hurried, yet they clearly conveyed the predicament and discovery of Ma Chao's side:
"General Han: Li Jing's remnants are rushing towards Guo Ziyi's main camp along the dry riverbed! Please send troops immediately to intercept and kill them along the way! This opportunity must not be missed! Written in blood by Ma Chao!"
With just one line of text, Han Xing instantly understood the cause and effect.
He tightened his grip on the cloth strip slightly, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, a mixture of regret for Ma Chao's failure to intercept Li Jing in time and amazement at Li Jing's shrewd and experienced methods.
"Well done, Li Jing! He truly lives up to his reputation!"
Han Xing couldn't help but whisper his praise, but his tone carried a chilling coldness:
"To be so decisive, sacrificing three thousand elite troops as pawns to set up this feint, and actually buying a whole night from Ma Chao's encirclement of ten thousand cavalry!"
"Such courage and ruthlessness are beyond the reach of ordinary people!"
He pondered for a moment, his mind racing as he analyzed the current situation.
Having been held up overnight, Ma Chao would likely find it difficult to intercept Li Jing before he entered Guo Ziyi's camp if he pursued him now.
On their side, although the pressure was immense, their camp was relatively stable, with Guo Ziyi's main force firmly drawn to this location.
Therefore, the only way to deliver a fatal blow to Li Jing is to send a sufficiently elite and fast mobile force to intercept and kill him on the last leg of his journey home!
Opportunities are fleeting and allow no room for hesitation!
Han Xing suddenly looked up, a resolute glint in his eyes, and sternly addressed the messenger beside him:
"Immediately order General Ma Dai to come to the central army to receive orders!"
The order was passed on quickly.
Before long, a young and valiant general, clad in blood-stained armor, strode over. He was none other than Ma Dai, a cavalry commander known for his bravery and decisiveness.
He had just led his troops to repel a Tang army attack at the front line, and his murderous aura had not yet faded.
"This humble general, Ma Dai, pays his respects to the general!"
Han Xing didn't waste any words, directly handing Ma Chao's blood-written letter to Ma Dai, and said in a deep voice:
"General Ma Dai, the situation is urgent."
"Li Jing's remaining troops were fleeing towards Guo Ziyi's camp, but General Ma Chao was thwarted by his trickery and failed to intercept them in time."
"At this moment, the heavy responsibility of capturing and killing this fiend rests on your shoulders!"
Ma Dai quickly finished reading the blood-written letter, his eyes instantly blazing with fierce fighting spirit. He clasped his hands tightly, his voice ringing out:
"Understood, General! Please give the order!"
Han Xing stared at Ma Dai, speaking rapidly yet with exceptional clarity: "I order you to immediately muster your five thousand most elite light cavalry."
"With gags in their mouths and bells removed from their horses, they traveled light, carrying only a day's rations and the necessary bows and crossbows, and quietly left the camp through the west gate!"
He walked to the makeshift sand table and pointed to a virtual route in the northeast direction of the main camp:
"After leaving the camp, bypass the main battlefield and advance northeastward at top speed!"
"According to the intelligence provided by General Ma Chao, Li Jing should be coming from this direction. Your mission is to intercept him before he reaches the Tang army camp!"
"Capture him alive if possible; otherwise, kill him on the spot! We must not allow this man to return to the Tang camp safely!"
"The last general takes command!"
Ma Dai did not hesitate, his eyes sparkling with excitement and determination.
To kill or capture the enemy marshal alive is such an honor!
"Remember, speed is of the essence in war! You must act quickly!"
"Guo Ziyi will likely send reinforcements as well, and you may face the danger of being attacked from both sides. Be careful!"
Han Xing gave his final instructions.
"Rest assured, General! This humble general will certainly not fail in his mission!"
Ma Dai clasped his hands in a fist salute again, then turned around and rushed down the platform like a whirlwind, heading straight for his military camp.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a cavalry force of five thousand men had quietly assembled in the relatively quiet area on the west side of the camp.