Looking at the raging inferno engulfing Yanggao City, Long Zhang firmly believed that Wei Wuji's strategy had succeeded.
Tens of thousands of Qin troops would undoubtedly be reduced to ashes within the city.
"Pass down my orders!"
"The Qin army has already been consumed by the flames."
"Follow me in bypassing Yanggao and striking directly at the Qin military camp!"
"Destroy Qin in one decisive blow!" Long Zhang shouted.
"As you command!"
The Wei generals responded in unison.
However, just as Long Zhang's voice fell
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground suddenly began to tremble violently.
"Report!"
"General Long, urgent news!"
"A Qin cavalry force is attacking from our rear!"
A scout rushed in, panic-stricken.
"What?"
Long Zhang's expression changed drastically as he turned toward the rear.
Even though they were still far away, he could already feel the tremors of the earth. Under the first light of dawn, he saw an overwhelming wave of black-armored Qin cavalry surging toward them, completely blocking their escape route.
They had no way out.
At that moment, the excitement Long Zhang had felt from burning tens of thousands of Qin soldiers turned into an ashen grimace.
He had never anticipated this move.
A Qin cavalry force of one hundred thousand.
Even though he still had fifty thousand elite soldiers under his command, they were no match.
"Form fish-scale formation for defense!"
"Breakthrough to the south!"
Without hesitation, Long Zhang issued new orders.
The fifty thousand Wei troops quickly adjusted their formation archers in the rear, spearmen in the front.
Meanwhile, the thunderous galloping of the Qin cavalry grew louder.
At the very front, General Zhang Han led the charge, wielding a long spear.
As soon as the Wei army entered the range of Qin archers, Zhang Han roared, "Archers, fire in formation!"
"Wind! Wind! Wind!"
The battle cries of one hundred thousand Qin riders echoed through the battlefield as they dispersed and encircled the enemy.
Among them, nearly ninety percent were once part of Zhao's border army.
Now, they had fully transformed into Qin's deadliest weapon.
To the elite warriors, slaying enemies meant honor.
To the criminal soldiers, slaying enemies meant freedom.
Fifty thousand Wei troops simply not enough to go around.
As the command was given, the Qin cavalry lowered their long spears, drew their bows, and unleashed a rain of arrows.
"Aahh! Aahhh!"
Arrows rained down, and countless Wei soldiers collapsed into pools of blood.
Yet the onslaught did not cease.
Zhao's famed "Hu-style cavalry archery", once feared across the land, had now become Qin's lethal edge.
The Qin riders relentlessly circled the battlefield, showering arrows upon the enemy.
Even without engaging in close combat, the continuous waves of arrows were enough to decimate the Wei army.
"This is... Zhao's cavalry archery!"
Long Zhang clenched his teeth, a flicker of fear crossing his face.
As a Wei general, how could he not recognize the deadly Hu-style cavalry archery that had made Zhao's forces invincible in battle?
"But why..."
"Why would these Zhao defectors fight so desperately for Qin?"
"Are they mad?"
Long Zhang was bewildered.
Yet the Qin riders showed no intention of closing in, preferring to whittle them down with arrows.
"Abandon the defensive formation!"
"Breakthrough!"
Long Zhang roared.
The Wei troops obeyed, trampling over the bodies of their fallen comrades as they scattered, attempting to escape southward.
"Encircle and intercept!"
Zhang Han remained composed, directing his cavalry to maintain distance and continue the assault.
By the time the Wei troops had pushed within ten paces
"Charge!"
Without hesitation, Zhang Han led the Qin cavalry in a full-scale assault.
The ensuing battle was a massacre.
Within moments, the Wei forces were completely overwhelmed.
Even those who surrendered were mercilessly cut down every Qin rider was fighting like a frenzied beast, desperate to claim victory.
As the sun fully rose, illuminating the battlefield
The once-mighty Wei army of fifty thousand had been reduced to fewer than a thousand survivors.
Now surrounded, Long Zhang and his remaining officers had no escape.
The land outside Yanggao City was littered with corpses, an even more gruesome sight than within the city itself.
Zhang Han, his long spear stained with blood, rode forward slowly.
"Long Zhang."
"You have lost."
Zhang Han looked down at him from atop his warhorse.
"Qin General... Zhang Han."
Long Zhang recognized him instantly.
He had long known that Zhao Feng, once a mere deputy general, had risen to great fame.
After taking full command, Zhao Feng's reputation spread far and wide, and with it, the names of two fearsome subordinates Zhang Han and Tu Sui.
"It seems you know quite a lot about our Wu'an camp," Zhang Han remarked with a smirk.
Long Zhang gazed at the fierce Qin cavalry surrounding him, their eyes burning with the thirst for blood.
Then suddenly
He laughed.
"Yes, I lost."
"But you haven't won."
"Your Qin cavalry may have survived, but your infantry must have perished along with Yanggao City."
"And Zhao Feng..."
"Wasn't he hailed as an 'Unbeaten War God'?"
"Today, he has fallen by my hands. Today, even if I, Long Zhang, die, I take Zhao Feng with me. I take tens of thousands of Qin soldiers with me. It was worth it."
"In the annals of history, my name will be recorded!"
"Hahahaha!"
Long Zhang burst into triumphant laughter.
He was deeply satisfied with the outcome of the battle.
But at that moment
"Is that so?"
A calm yet chilling voice rang out from within the Qin ranks.
The Qin cavalry parted.
A war chariot slowly approached.
Long Zhang's expression changed drastically as he looked over.
"You are?"
Long Zhang stared intently at the approaching figure, his brows furrowing. "Zhao Feng?"
"What's the matter?"
"Are you surprised to see me?" Zhao Feng asked with a faint smile.
"Impossible."
"You charged into the city, leading the attack at the very front. How could you possibly have made it out alive?" Long Zhang's face was filled with shock and disbelief.
He had been certain that Zhao Feng would perish in the inferno. Yet now, Zhao Feng stood before him, very much alive, completely shattering his previous resolve to carve his name into history.
"Burning the city was indeed a clever strategy."
"But you were too confident."
"Did you think I, Zhao Feng, wouldn't know when to advance and when to retreat?"
"The moment you set fire to the city, I withdrew my elite troops from Yanggao."
"The ones burned to death in that city were all your Wei soldiers," Zhao Feng said with a cold sneer.
As soon as he finished speaking
It was like a thunderclap striking Long Zhang's mind.
He nearly fell off his warhorse.
"Impossible."
"This can't be possible."
"How could you have led your troops out?" Long Zhang's eyes were filled with unwillingness.
Not only had the fire failed to trap Zhao Feng and the Qin army, but it had also wiped out nearly a hundred thousand Wei soldiers inside the city.
It was like lifting a rock only to drop it on his foot.
Zhao Feng did not waste more words. He slowly raised his hand, lifting the Dragon Spring Sword.
"Leave no one alive."
Four chilling words escaped his lips.
In an instant
The Qin cavalry, who had been barely holding back, surged forward.
"Zhao Feng!"
"A battle to the death!"
Long Zhang let out a furious roar, spurring his horse straight toward Zhao Feng.
Seeing his charge forward
A sharp arrow appeared in Zhao Feng's hand.
With his internal energy-infused, he flicked it casually.
Under the terrifying force of Zhao Feng's throw, the arrow shot through the air like it had been loosed from a mighty war bow.
Thud!
The immense power of the arrow pierced through Long Zhang's chest armor, running him through in an instant.
"Defeated Wei's top general. Gained 100 points to all attributes," a system prompt appeared.
Immediately after
The Qin cavalry swarmed in and swiftly eradicated the remaining Wei soldiers.
The Battle of Yanggao
Lasted less than three days.
It was over.
Standing atop his war chariot
Zhao Feng stood with authority, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Qin cavalry. "Warriors!"
With internal energy amplifying his voice, he shouted.
Every soldier's attention immediately focused on him.
"Today's battle"
"You fought beautifully."
"And now"
"I will fulfill the promises I made to the army," Zhao Feng declared loudly.
His words echoed through the ranks as the soldiers repeated them in unison.
"Central Army Sima!" Zhao Feng commanded.
"Here!" Kuai Pu immediately rode forward.
"Quickly tally the battle achievements."
"In my Wu'an Army, elite soldiers are promoted based on their kills. Prisoner soldiers who achieve battle merits will be freed from their slave status and become regular Qin soldiers, receiving the pay of an unranked soldier. Those who kill six or more enemies will be promoted by one rank."
"This matter"
"Must be carried out immediately," Zhao Feng ordered sternly.
"I obey!" Kuai Pu responded loudly.
As soon as Zhao Feng's decree fell
The prisoner soldiers of the cavalry battalion erupted with excitement, especially those who had slain enemies and taken their heads.
To be freed from slavery and become a regular Qin soldier meant regaining their status as human beings.
"General Zhao is mighty!"
"General Zhao is mighty!"
"We swear to follow General Zhao to the death… Swear to follow…"
Countless prisoner soldiers raised their weapons and roared with fervor.
At this moment
All their doubts were gone, and their loyalty was sealed.
The veteran elite troops merely smiled at this reaction, as they had seen it before.
After all
Many of them had once been prisoner soldiers themselves and had experienced the same overwhelming emotions.
It was like a man sentenced to death receiving an unexpected pardon.
Slave status was akin to a slow death one that was prolonged and filled with suffering, whereas an execution was simply quick and final.
"Zhang Han."
Zhao Feng spoke with authority.
"Present!" Zhang Han responded immediately.
"Yanggao has fallen. One of Wei's defensive lines is now broken."
"Fifteen thousand troops have been all but annihilated."
"We must press the advantage and strike."
"I order you to lead the cavalry south at full speed, capturing cities before Wei's command has time to react."
"The armor and weapons from these Wei soldiers' corpses can be put to good use."
"I don't need to say more, do I?" Zhao Feng said in a deep voice.
Zhang Han glanced at the battlefield littered with Wei corpses and immediately understood.
"I understand!" Zhang Han responded decisively.
"Send word to Tu Sui and Li You."
"Advance according to the original battle plan and split into three forces."
"Each of the three main camps must push forward with all speed to the Wei capital!" Zhao Feng continued.
"I will relay the order at once!" Zhang Ming responded immediately.
He then instructed his guards to deliver the orders.
"Kuai Sima."
"Compile the battle report and send it to Xianyang immediately."
"The king has been waiting for news of this great victory for quite some time now," Zhao Feng added with a smile at Kuai Pu.
"Understood!" Kuai Pu's face was also filled with excitement.
With that
Zhao Feng waved his hand.
His guards immediately drove his war chariot away.
"Soldiers, hear my command!"
"Strip all the Wei soldiers' armor and uniforms!"
"Ensure everybody is dealt with!"
"Leave no survivors in this battle!" Zhang Han commanded loudly.
"We obey!"
Countless elite soldiers responded in unison.
Wei State, Heluo City
"Attack!"
Huan Yi commanded from the central army, directing the siege.
Countless Qin soldiers launched relentless assaults on the city.
A siege battle was a battle of attrition, one that consumed lives by the thousands.
Despite the falling boulders and the rain of arrows, the Wei army's defenses remained unbroken.
Wei Wuji had spent nearly two years preparing for this campaign.
He had studied the strategies of Zhao Feng, stationed in Yunzhong, and the seasoned Qin general Huan Yi.
He knew exactly how to fight them.
Heluo City was not only guarded by a general handpicked by Wei Wuji
Wei Wuji himself was present in the city.
"My lord."
"The Qin army's assault is fierce. With our current troops and strength, we cannot hold much longer."
"Perhaps… we must execute that plan," General Pang Wu said solemnly.
Wei Wuji gazed calmly at the attacking Qin forces before lifting his head.
"General Pang Wu."
"I await your command, my lord," Pang Wu responded immediately.
"One month."
Wei Wuji raised a finger and spoke solemnly, "I only need you to hold out for one month. After one month, execute that plan perish together with the enemy."
"I will do my best," Pang Wu immediately bowed.
Wei Wuji shook his head. "I don't want you to do your best I need you to succeed."
"This battle..."
"The Qin state has deployed two major military camps."
"The Hangu Camp is an elite veteran force. In the past, when five allied states attacked Qin with an army of over a million, it was the 300,000 troops of Hangu Camp that held them off. One camp alone withstood the assault of five states this speaks volumes about the strength of Hangu Camp. As for Huan Yi, he is a seasoned general with countless battles under his belt. If we want to lure him into the city, we must make him believe that we are genuinely unable to hold the defense, not that we are setting a trap."
"Only then can we annihilate Hangu Camp."
"Of course..."
"The more critical factor lies in the war to the north. If we want to prevent Great Wei from perishing, we must destroy one of the enemy armies. The Wu'an Camp is our opportunity."
"If we make full use of this one month, perhaps Long Zhang will be able to execute the scorched-earth strategy and annihilate Wu'an Camp, then advance northward in triumph."
"This will resolve the crisis of the Qin invasion." Wei Wuji's voice was heavy with determination.
From this, it was clear that this was the final, desperate strategy he had devised after much deliberation.
If they won, Wei would achieve a decisive victory over Qin and preserve its nation.
This was his last-ditch effort.
"Your Highness..."
"Is Zhao Feng that easy to deal with?" Pang Wu asked hesitantly.
"Compared to Huan Yi, Zhao Feng may be slightly easier to handle."
"But Great Wei has no other choice now." Wei Wuji sighed.
Just then
A personal guard arrived. "Your Highness, everything is ready."
"General Pang,"
"Hold He Luo City for a full month, no matter what."
"I must return to the capital and make preparations," Wei Wuji said firmly.
"Your Highness, everything has already been arranged. What more needs to be prepared?" Pang Wu asked in surprise.
Wei Wuji shook his head. "General Pang, I entrust He Luo City to you."
With that, he turned and left.
In his heart, he sighed bitterly, If my plan fails, in the end, I will have no choice but to make a last stand at Daliang. I can only hope… it works!
"Respectfully seeing off Your Highness," Pang Wu bowed deeply, watching Wei Wuji depart.
Then
"Pass down my orders!"
"Defend with all our might!"
"We must not let the Qin army breach the city!" Pang Wu shouted.
Qin Capital, Xianyang
Grand Court Assembly Hall
As soon as the morning court session began, Ying Zheng's gaze landed on Wei Liao. "Any war reports?"
"Your Majesty,"
"Based on the timeline,"
"Our Qin army has only begun its campaign for less than half a month."
"Wei Wuji has heavily fortified the border. Achieving significant results may take more time."
"But please rest assured, Your Majesty."
"With the Hangu and Wu'an Camps, we will surely destroy Wei."
"Our Qin state's national strength far surpasses that of Wei today," Wei Liao confidently declared, holding his court tablet high.
"The Chancellor speaks truly."
"After two years of recuperation, our Qin treasury is full. Within a year, Wei will be destroyed."
"With General Huan Yi commanding the Hangu Camp, the Wei army is no match."
"I have already coordinated the logistics of food and supplies, instructing local governors to mobilize young men for transport. There will be no delays."
"Before long, Your Majesty will receive news of victory," Wang Wan said with a smile.
"I concur."
"The entire state of Qin is united. Wei is insignificant in comparison."
"In the past, when five allied states attacked Qin, General Huan Yi held them off heroically. This time, he will surely replicate his success," Kuai Zhuang added.
From Wang Wan and Kuai Zhuang's words, it was clear they were praising Huan Yi while deliberately ignoring Zhao Feng.
They were evidently trying to elevate Huan Yi in hopes that he would be the first to break through the Wei defenses, securing the highest merit. Even if Zhao Feng later captured a city, his achievements would not compare.
This was their calculated move.
"The two Chancellors,"
"You are being too certain,"
"Since joining the army, Zhao Feng has never lost a battle. Yet, you only praise General Huan Yi. Do you believe Zhao Feng is incapable of breaking through the border?" Hu Hai said mockingly.
"Eighteenth Prince, you misunderstand."
"Zhao Feng has indeed never been defeated, but he is still too young."
"Compared to General Huan Yi, he remains slightly lacking," Wang Wan said, acting as if this was an undeniable fact.
"Indeed."
"General Huan Yi's command is unmatched."
"Zhao Feng is still not quite at that level," Kuai Zhuang immediately agreed.
Many ministers in the court nodded in agreement.
"The Chancellors speak with great certainty,"
"But the outcome of the battle is never so predictable," Li Si spoke slowly.
Normally, given his usual demeanor, Li Si might have remained silent. But his son was in Wu'an Camp, so he had to speak up.
He had also clearly seen through Wang Wan and Kuai Zhuang's intentions.
At that moment
"Report!"
"Urgent military dispatch from Wu'an Camp!"
"Great victory!"
A messenger soldier rushed in from outside the hall, his expression filled with excitement.
"A war report from Wu'an Camp?"
Hearing the words great victory, the court ministers were all taken aback.
Wang Wan and Kuai Zhuang's expressions changed slightly.
"The two Chancellors,"
"I told you not to be so certain,"
"Now, it is Wu'an Camp that has sent the first report of victory," Li Si said sarcastically.
Wang Wan and Kuai Zhuang remained silent.
The meaning behind the words great victory was already crystal clear.
At the high seat
Ying Zheng's face showed a knowing smile.
"Present it!"
Ying Zheng commanded in a deep voice.
Zhao Gao quickly stepped forward, taking the report and delivering it to Ying Zheng.
As he read the contents, Ying Zheng's smile grew even wider.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
"Zhao Feng has not disappointed me!"
"The 150,000 Wei troops stationed at Yanggao City have been annihilated!" Ying Zheng laughed heartily, his gaze sweeping across the court ministers.
His joy was evident from his expression.
Then
Ying Zheng waved a hand, passing the report to Zhao Gao.
"Read it aloud for all to hear let it inspire the court!"
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