bayedsolid Chapter 2054 Please, Your Majesty, step back for now!
Chapter 2054 Please, Your Majesty, step back for now!
Wang Zhongsi abruptly waved his hand, his attitude as firm as iron: "No need to persuade me anymore! My mind is made up!"
"If Feng Mulan, as a noble consort, can personally lead the troops into battle and hold their ground to the death, what do I, Wang Zhongsi, have to fear?"
"Only when the commander-in-chief personally confronts the enemy can the entire army be inspired to fight to the death! Only by disregarding life and death and striking straight at the heart of the enemy can we possibly create a miracle before nightfall!"
He surveyed his generals, his voice deep and powerful: "All generals, heed my command!"
"In three quarters of an hour, take the forward pointing of my command flag as the signal, and the entire army will advance! Leave no reserves!"
"In this battle, there is no retreat, no survival! We must either crush the Vermilion Bird Legion, capture Feng Mulan alive, and turn the tide!"
"Either let us serve our country loyally and shed our blood on the battlefield!"
"General..."
Seeing Wang Zhongsi's resolute gaze, the generals knew that further persuasion was futile, and a sense of tragic grandeur spread through their hearts.
They clasped their fists and roared in response: "We, your humble servants, are willing to fight to the death with you, General!"
"I am willing to fight to the death with the general!"
The order was passed on quickly.
The left-wing Tang army began an unprecedented mobilization, gathering all combat-ready troops. Soldiers silently checked their armor and ate the last of their rations, and the air was filled with a deathly stillness and oppression before the storm.
Wang Zhongsi quietly wiped his long sword, gazing at the red flag in the distance, waiting for the moment when the sky was completely dark.
He knew this would be the craziest, and possibly the last, gamble of his military career.
The setting sun, like blood, cast a tragic glow upon the position that the Vermilion Bird Legion had defended for two days and one night.
The air was thick with the lingering stench of blood and gunpowder. The soldiers leaned against their tattered shields and spears, seizing the brief lull in the fighting to regain their strength.
Many people's eyes were somewhat numb from exhaustion and the constant fighting, but they still maintained a basic level of vigilance.
The battlefield was littered with the corpses of both sides and broken weapons, silently testifying to the ferocity of the battle over the past two days.
Under the central banner, Feng Mulan still stood tall and straight. Her gilded phoenix-wing armor was stained with dust and dried, blackened bloodstains, but her white veil remained clean, as if it had shielded her from the filth and carnage of the world.
Her gaze swept calmly across the battlefield, assessing the enemy's movements and calculating her own losses and how long she could hold out.
Just then, a scout captain responsible for liaising with the central army appeared with barely suppressed excitement and agitation.
He arrived almost at breakneck speed, kneeling on one knee before Feng Mulan's horse, his voice trembling slightly with urgency:
"Your Majesty! A great victory! A tremendous victory!"
Feng Mulan's gaze sharpened slightly: "Speak."
"News has arrived from the central army! General Zhao Yu has already killed Tang general Gao Xianzhi in battle this afternoon, and has utterly defeated his left wing cavalry!"
"At this moment, General Zhao is personally leading tens of thousands of cavalry, advancing straight into the heart of the Tang army camp, with his troops aimed directly at Li Jing's central command flag!"
This news was like a bucket of cold water poured into a simmering oil pan, instantly causing an uproar under Feng Mulan's command flag!
The surrounding generals and officers were stunned at first, then their faces lit up with ecstatic joy!
"Excellent! General Zhao is truly awe-inspiring!"
"With Gao Xianzhi dead, the left wing will surely collapse!"
"They've stormed the enemy camp! Li Jing's stronghold is about to be taken!"
Cheers rose softly, as if the emotions suppressed for two days had finally found an outlet.
For days, they have been enduring the relentless attacks of the enemy's main force with inferior forces.
Every moment is filled with bloodshed and sacrifice; the tension in our hearts has been stretched to its limit.
How could I not be extremely excited to hear of such a brilliant victory achieved by our allies?
Upon hearing this news, Feng Mulan, who was sitting upright on her horse, suddenly had a brilliant light flash in her usually cold eyes, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky.
She nodded slightly, and a hint of appreciation seemed to curve her lips beneath the white veil.
"General Zhao Yu has indeed lived up to His Majesty's high expectations; he is truly a pillar of the nation!"
Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible lightness, “Slaying Gao Xianzhi, breaking through his left flank, and striking straight at the heart of the enemy—such achievements are worthy of being recorded in history!”
However, this feeling of appreciation and ease lasted only a moment.
Feng Mulan's gaze returned to the Tang army's position opposite her, which was temporarily silent but still exuded a dangerous aura. Her eyes quickly regained their previous calmness and sharpness, and were even more profound than before.
She abruptly changed the subject, her voice becoming serious: "However, precisely because of this, Wang Zhongsi on the other side will probably be driven to desperation."
She glanced around at the generals around her, who still wore expressions of joy, and calmly analyzed, "Li Jingzhong's army is in danger, and Wang Zhongsi must have already received the news."
"But instead of retreating to reinforce, he has stopped his previous attacks and is now amassing a large force."
She pointed to the unusually frequent flag movements and troop gatherings within the Tang army camp, her tone resolute:
"What does this show? It shows that Wang Zhongsi is unwilling to accept defeat; he doesn't want to retreat, and he can't retreat!"
"He wants to take advantage of the fact that General Zhao Yu has not yet completely defeated Li Jing's central army to preemptively crush our Vermilion Bird Legion!"
"Only in this way can he reverse the defeat, and perhaps even turn the tide of the entire battle!"
This analysis was like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, instantly wiping away the joy from the faces of the surrounding generals and replacing it with a deep sense of dread.
Yes, the more desperate the enemy is, the more frantic and reckless their counterattack may become!
A senior, wounded general couldn't help but step forward, his face filled with earnestness and worry, and he cupped his hands in remonstrance, saying:
"Your Majesty is wise! If Wang Zhongsi fights like a cornered beast, his ferocity will be unparalleled!"
"Your Majesty's health is of paramount importance, so perhaps... perhaps Your Majesty should retreat back to the pass and temporarily avoid their wrath!"
"With us here, we will lead the entire army in a desperate battle and never disgrace the Vermilion Bird Legion!"
"Your Majesty, please step back for now!"
Several other generals echoed their sentiments, expressing their strong reluctance to see the Imperial Concubine in danger in this place.
However, Feng Mulan slowly shook her head, her gaze sweeping firmly over each general, and finally looking at the soldiers around her who, though exhausted, were still firmly guarding their position.
Her voice was clear and firm, resonating distinctly throughout the central army area:
"I appreciate the generals' good intentions, but we cannot retreat now!"
She raised her hand, pointing to the fluttering crimson Vermilion Bird battle flag, her voice suddenly rising, carrying a resolute determination to live and die with the position:
"General Zhao Yu is fighting a bloody battle in the enemy camp, General Ran Ming is fighting to the death on the front lines, and His Majesty is eagerly awaiting his arrival from the city walls!"
"My Vermilion Bird Legion, with its 100,000 soldiers, fought a bloody battle here for two days. How many brave young men have been buried here?"
"Were their sacrifices so that I could retreat alone at the last moment?"