Chapter 472 - 335: War (Part 3)
Suddenly, a team of thousands of elite Silver Armor cavalry from Wei Country, along with a vast swarm of infantry, charged out from the city gates!
Su Yi’s pupils contracted as he watched the unexpectedly appearing Wei Army with a grave expression.
This time, accompanying Rong Heng on the campaign were Yan Country soldiers, including Mu Jun’s five thousand Dingyuan Army iron cavalry, five thousand border army cavalry led by Geng Gong, and his own eight thousand Pingnan Army.
A few days ago, Rong Baoyi arrived with five thousand infantry as support, plus ten thousand auxiliary soldiers following them, totaling no more than forty thousand, but in reality, only a little over twenty thousand were regular soldiers.
Today, except for the five thousand Dingyuan Army iron cavalry, all were sent by Rong Heng into the siege.
Meanwhile, Wei Junzhuo led an army of one hundred thousand to attack Qi Country, with every single soldier accounted for. According to previous military reports, after occupying various states and counties in Qi Country, three thousand remained stationed in Qingzhou.
After a full day of battle, the entire Yan Country army was already exhausted, nearly ten thousand killed in battle, and they fought desperately to climb onto the city walls, with barely any left to protect around Rong Heng’s Commander’s Chariot.
Now, just as the Yan Army finally scaled the walls of Qingzhou City, these nearly twenty thousand well-preserved elite Wei troops suddenly charged out!
No one anticipated Wei Junzhuo’s patience, allowing the Yan Army to nearly massacre the Wei defenders and the Pingnan Army to climb the Qingzhou City walls without resistance, but now leading his elites to launch a rested counterattack directly out of the city.
Su Yi gave a bitter smile, unconsciously glancing at the solitary figure sitting on the Commander’s Chariot in the distance.
What will the Prince do?
The Prince said he is the grandson of the old Marquis.
The Prince has chosen a path like the old Marquis, but he knows what to give and take.
So, he will surely go further than the old Marquis!
Realizing that these twenty thousand Wei troops were always well-rested and were elite, a resolute look appeared in Su Yi’s eyes.
The Prince must not be harmed!
No, there might be another opportunity... Su Yi forced himself to calm down, but he saw that Wei Junzhuo was already easily destroying the siege engines and arrow towers at the city wall, for which so many soldiers had sacrificed their lives to transport.
"Either we watch helplessly as these Wei troops charge at the Prince, or everyone follows me off the city to cover for the Prince’s retreat, Pingnan Army, fall back!" He shouted, picking up a hard bow and shooting an arrow at the Wei Army.
As his words fell, all the Yan Country soldiers who heard Su Yi’s words didn’t hesitate for a moment, immediately abandoning the city within their grasp to reinforce their Prince!
At the city gate, the suddenly emerging Wei troops had already engaged in combat with the Yan soldiers left below the city. However, the Wei troops, well-rested and outnumbering the Yan troops, created an almost one-sided battlefield, with arrow towers and cloud ladders destroyed, the Yan Army’s defeat apparent.
Su Yi and his few thousand Pingnan Army who climbed the city wall were firmly cut off by the Wei troops, with no way back, becoming an isolated force.
Wei Junzhuo, clad in golden armor and wielding a long halberd, rode out among the split cavalry divisions.
"Great General, the Yan’s Commander’s Chariot hasn’t moved. Could it be that Prince Xiang hasn’t ordered a retreat?" A Deputy General beside him, with excitement written on his face at the prospect of victory, couldn’t help but ask.
At this point, anyone with a clear eye could see the battlefield was divided by Wei Junzhuo, with Rong Heng and Geng Gong leading the remnants below the city against Wei Junzhuo, while Su Yi on the walls was already cut off by the twenty thousand Wei troops, and was almost certain to die.
Wei Junzhuo squinted his eyes, looking out at the smoke-filled battlefield, confidently speaking:
"He will retreat.
His Commander’s Chariot is at the rear of the army, and now our twenty thousand elite are blocking the city gate. Su Yi’s five thousand Pingnan Army, who reached the city walls, are doomed not to return.
As a commander, the more critical the situation, the more one must prioritize the big picture. At this point, Rong Heng retreating is merely not having breached Qingzhou City, returning to camp thirty miles away. If he doesn’t retreat, he would have to wager the lives of his tired troops and personal soldiers against mine, all for a desperate fight — what’s the point? By sacrificing Su Yi and some thousands of soldiers, he has countless opportunities to attack again tomorrow, the day after, and beyond.
Moreover, while our twenty thousand troops are well-rested and elite, the Yan still have five thousand Dingyuan Army cavalry lurking outside. If he retreats and I pursue, there is the risk of being divided and charged by cavalry, so his retreat would be best... Rong Heng is a wise man; this is the most appropriate choice now."
In the distance, the black "Rong" character King’s Flag soared amidst the swirling snow, Rong Heng’s Commander’s Chariot stood like a rock on the battlefield, unyielding.