The Demon Lords-Chapter 718 - 151: Despair_4

There were two possibilities. One was that the opposing commander was an idiot. Of course, although the King of the Wild People wasn't sure if Lord Jingnan was currently east or west of the river, he wouldn't naively believe that the Yan general left in command was an idiot. That left only one other possibility: they had the confidence, the assurance, and the audacity to act this way!

This reminded the King of the Wild People of the time in Beifeng Prefecture, watching how the North Army fought against the barbarians.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

War cries rose and fell in succession, for the Wild People's riders had already seen the Yan Army charging towards them from afar. They were excited and eager to defeat them.

In his heart, however, the King of the Wild People felt a heavy weight. His hand involuntarily let his sword droop. He thought of a possibility, a very absurd one.

Yet, at this moment, regardless of whether this possibility was real, regardless of which Yan Army contingent was before him, it was too late. He could no longer order the entire army to halt its charge or retreat. Giving such an order would be tantamount to waiting for the enemy to strike them. And not far behind them was the Wang River!

There was no retreat, only forward!

Even if that possibility was true, the victor of a head-on clash was still uncertain, wasn't it?

A short while later, the King of the Wild People roared, "May the Stars protect us! Kill!"

If I win this battle, I shall become a true believer of the Stars.

「...」

Beneath the walls of Jade Plate City, three Chu army formations had been arrayed for some time. However, the surrounding Yan Army merely responded calmly, with three contingents of their own positioned opposite the three city gates. This, however, was the most peculiar part.

On the city tower, as time passed, Qu TianNan had lost his earlier spirited and heroic demeanor. As a Zhuguo of the Chu State, the representative of the Qu Clan, and entrusted with the critical mission of leading the army here, he was certainly no undeserving pretender to his fame.

It would have been one thing if the Yan people hadn't attacked. But with the main Wild People army having already crossed the river upstream, the North Army and Jingnan Army stationed here simply remained idle. They showed no sign of dispatching troops as reinforcements. Instead, both sides just stared at each other, and it was unusually quiet.

The Swordsmith still stood beside Qu TianNan. He would glance down at the opposing army formations below the city tower, then back at Qu TianNan's expression.

After a long moment, Qu TianNan laughed. He slapped the crenellations of the wall and exclaimed, "Well played, Lord Jingnan! Well played, Tian Wujing!"

"Zhuguo, has something gone wrong?" the Swordsmith asked.

"Haven't you noticed it too, Mister?"

The Swordsmith shook his head. "No, but I often play chess. When I lose, I find it best to first compliment my opponent. It makes the loss less unsightly."

"Are you mocking me, Mister?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

"You're right, Mister. But this stratagem wasn't set for me; it was for the Wild People. Mister, look at those North Army and Jingnan Army soldiers of Yan down there—those Yan elites. When they attacked the city yesterday, I was rather perplexed. That Southern Marquis was truly willing to sacrifice, willing to have these elite iron cavalry dismount to assault the city walls. It's only now that I finally understand. Letting them dismount to attack the city, even if it incurred some losses—well, it's common knowledge that the Yan people aren't skilled in siege warfare. Whatever the outcome, it would have seemed normal. And precisely because of this, their true identities remained concealed."

"So that's how it is. Thank you, Zhuguo, for dispelling my confusion. I understand now. It's like a treasured sword hidden within an ornate scabbard."

A treasured sword hidden in an ornate scabbard could be a renowned blade, or it could be a rusted, chipped, and broken one.

"Therefore, the Yan Army below, despite knowing that the Wild People's main force had already crossed the river upstream, still chose to remain stationary. They clearly know who awaits the Wild People on the other side of the river."

"Does that mean the Wild People are doomed to lose?"

"Not necessarily. In the end, the outcome of a battle hinges on morale. In a direct, head-on clash, the Wild People aren't without a chance of victory."

The Swordsmith laughed and said, "If they could win in a direct confrontation, why would there have been such a long standoff? Why would our Chu army be needed to hold Jade Plate City for them?"

Isn't it precisely because, in a head-on fight, they likely couldn't defeat the Yan cavalry?

Qu TianNan was momentarily speechless.

The Swordsmith turned and started walking down from the city wall.

"Where are you going, Mister?"

"To find the Eighth Prince. Zhuguo, please take care of yourself."

"Mister, are you planning to..."

"Yes. To flee."

The Swordsmith answered quite frankly, adding, "I must trouble Zhuguo to hold Jade Plate City firmly and cover our retreat."

Though his words were shameless and disloyal, the Swordsmith spoke them as if they were perfectly natural.

He understood that if the main Wild People forces on the other side of the river were defeated, the Yan Army could advance unopposed. In an instant, they could turn Jade Plate City into an isolated stronghold. Without the Wild People to tie them down on the periphery, the Yan people wouldn't even need to assault the city; they could simply besiege it. Even if they besieged it until spring, until the river ice thawed, by then, even if the Chu navy arrived, it would be futile.

Yet, at this juncture, he couldn't simply choose to abandon the city and withdraw. The Yan forces outside, even if not elites like the Jingnan Army or North Army, were still composed of Yan cavalry and knights from the Three Jin. His Blue Luan Army consisted mainly of infantry. Could they truly retreat safely with so much cavalry facing them?