"Strange, are the Qin troops mad? Why haven't they retreated yet?"
This insane war continued until midnight. The city walls of Anyi Pass were lit up by the blaze of war. Pang Juan rubbed his brow, fatigue etched on his face as he looked at the surrounding Qin troops. He felt utterly helpless against the Qin army's reckless onslaught. It's only the first day, is there really a need to fight so desperately?
"General, could there be a ruse?" the Deputy General asked, dragging his exhausted body over. He was covered in blood, his worry palpable, and exuded a strong Evil Qi.
"The Qin army has a million men outside the city; they shouldn't be trying to deceive us! I've found out that their leader is Qin Wudao, the Ninth Prince of the Qin Dynasty. He's young and full of vigor but lacks experience. I think he intends to capture Anyi Pass in one fell swoop!" Pang Juan mused for a moment, then shook his head. If it were a veteran like Wang Jian, he might have harbored suspicions. But Qin Wudao... He's just a greenhorn!
The Deputy General nodded, agreeing that it made sense and was consistent with a young man's approach to battle.
"Relay my orders! The army is to defend in rotating shifts. I want to see just how many days the Qin army can maintain this assault!" Pang Juan commanded, his gaze turning icy as he waved his hand. He knew very well that a full day of intense fighting had already exhausted his soldiers. If they didn't rotate soon, they would suffer devastating casualties against the ferocious Qin army. The goal of this battle wasn't to annihilate the Qin forces but to buy time.
"As you command!" The Deputy General saluted and left to deliver the orders.
Within an hour, 800,000 fresh troops were mobilized from behind Anyi Pass to relieve the weary defenders, beginning a new phase of stalwart defense.
"Retreat!"
In the Qin command camp, Qin Wudao noticed the activity on the walls of Anyi Pass. A cold sneer touched his lips as he calmly issued the order.
The bugle call for retreat sounded, and the fighting Qin soldiers withdrew from the battlefield in an orderly manner. This left Pang Juan, who had just ordered the changing of the guard, utterly frustrated, like a punch landing on soft cotton.
It seems I've underestimated Qin Wudao! Pang Juan thought, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, a sense of警惕 arising within him. Up to this point, the Qin army's advances and retreats had been disciplined, indicating that Qin Wudao still controlled the rhythm of the war. The tempo of battle was exceptionally crucial. Whoever controlled the rhythm could lead the enemy by the nose.
"The entire army will rest on the spot and remain ready for battle at any moment!" After issuing the command, Pang Juan didn't return to rest. Instead, he stood on the city wall, warily watching for another Qin offensive.
Indeed! Based on the Qin army's attack patterns during the day, they aren't truly retreating. he deduced.
But he waited, and waited.
「Three hours passed in a flash.」
The world outside the city remained pitch black, its stillness unsettlingly peaceful, enough to make one's skin crawl.
"Deputy General, take three thousand soldiers and scout outside the city!" Pang Juan ordered after a moment's hesitation. He disliked this feeling of being completely in the dark; he wanted to know the enemy's movements and their battle formations.
"Yes, General!" The Deputy General acknowledged, leading three thousand elite troops out from the city gate and disappearing into the night.
"AH..."
A few minutes later, a series of horrific screams echoed through the air, like demons and ghouls reaping lives in the darkness.
Pang Juan's brow furrowed deeply. He knew the Deputy General wouldn't be returning and was certain the Qin army had laid an ambush outside the city.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. Being cautious, Pang Juan refrained from sending more men to investigate and chose to wait.
「Time passed.」
A glimmer of light appeared in the eastern sky, piercing the dark world. As visibility gradually improved, they could see, a thousand zhang away, three thousand corpses laid out.
Not long after, Qin Wudao led the Qin army forward, trampling over the bodies of the Wei soldiers, and, just like the previous day, launched another ferocious assault.
The entire day was consumed by the sounds of fierce battle.
Only when night fell did the Qin army cease their attack and withdraw to rest.
Something's not right. The Qin army must have a reason for acting this way. I cannot simply sit back and await my doom! Pang Juan began to feel a sense of panic. For two consecutive days, the Qin army's attacks had seemed aimless, which made him suspicious. He started to ponder how he could gather intelligence on their situation. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
"Order the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Legions to sally forth!"
"Scout troops are to follow behind the three legions, infiltrate the Qin army's rear, and investigate their condition!"
Gritting his teeth, Pang Juan decided to dispatch his forces. Anyi Pass had ample troops; even sacrificing four legions wouldn't cripple their overall strength. Besides, the legions he was sending were composed of local forces. The Great Wei had eight commanderies, each with its own legion led by local clans, designated as the First to Eighth Legions.
"As you command!"
The four legions, totaling two hundred thousand troops, charged out from four different city gates. Five thousand scouts, clad in night gear and imbued with an aura of blood and Evil Qi, melted into the darkness.
The army advanced steadily, moving through the night toward the location where the three thousand soldiers had fallen the previous night.
Strange, everything seems normal! the commander of the First Legion thought, gripping his long spear and scanning his surroundings. As a cultivator of the Fasang Realm, even in darkness, his vision was as clear as daylight. There was no sign of the enemy, not even a mosquito.
Has the Qin army retreated? The commanders of the other three legions also found nothing amiss. After a thorough search, they decided to advance further.
They were unaware that, only a few hundred meters away, a hidden Formation concealed fifty thousand Qin heavy cavalry. Their eyes were bloodshot, like predatory beasts patiently awaiting their prey.
The Wei army continued forward. After advancing a thousand zhang, their vision suddenly turned red.
"KILL!"
Fifty thousand Qin heavy cavalry materialized as if from thin air, like celestial soldiers descending. They occupied advantageous terrain, radiating an boundless killing intent. They drew their war bows. Blood-red Spiritual Energy arrows streaked from the strings, their power immense, like a dark cloud pressing down, striking terror into those who beheld them.
"Enemy attack!"
The Wei soldiers, thrown into chaos, stared at the overwhelming volley of blood-red arrows. Their faces turned deathly pale, filled with terror and helplessness, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. They were like a flock of sheep facing a pack of wolves, overcome with utter despair and terror.
"AHH!"
"AHHH!"
Screams of agony rose one after another.
Bodies crumpled to the ground, eyes wide with unwillingness etched on their faces.
After that single volley of arrows, at least half of the Wei soldiers were laid to eternal rest.
"Break out!" The four legion commanders roared in fury, rallying their remaining men and charging toward their rear. They no longer held any hope of completing Pang Juan's mission; their only thought was to escape with their lives. This was terrifying!
"Since you've come all this way, you might as well stay!" Qin Wudao approached, flanked by the Eighteen Yan Yun Riders. He wielded the Xuanyuan Sword, its golden Sword Qi illuminating the sky, radiating an endless sharpness.
Slash! His sword descended!
Instantly, it was as if the Heavenly Sword itself had descended. The four legion commanders were sent flying, crashing to the ground. Hundreds of Wei soldiers around them were also cut down, sliced in half at the waist.
Blood flowed freely, dyeing the earth red.
All the remaining Wei soldiers were petrified, their morale utterly shattered.
"KILL! KILL! KILL!"
The Qin heavy cavalry raised their slaughtering blades and charged, ready to massacre all before them. Each swing of their weapons claimed a life.
The Wei army's formation completely disintegrated.
The five thousand scouts fared no better. Many were killed or injured; not a single one escaped.
Damn it...
Atop Anyi Pass, Pang Juan watched the distant sky. One moment, blood-red light flared; the next, golden light burst forth. He knew his main force had been ambushed, and his expression turned exceedingly grim.
He suddenly had a terrible premonition…