plumnovel Chapter 185 Pressing the Blade
Chapter 185 Pressing the Blade
The murky floodwaters had not yet fully receded, leaving the vast lowlands between Wulin and Jingling a muddy mess, resembling a swamp ravaged by a giant beast. Floating corpses, scattered weapons, and bloated, deformed grain sacks were everywhere among the murky puddles and silt, the air thick with the stench of death. Yet, against this backdrop of catastrophe, another force was rapidly, systematically, and with an oppressive force unfolding—the battle flag of the Star Army.
"Waaaaah—waaaah—"
The deep, resonant sound of bugles echoed across the plains, not the lament of retreat, but the prelude to an attack. With Chen Xing's command, the Star Army units, which had been preparing for a long time, began to mesh and operate like precise gears.
Dian Xiong's elite infantry unit served as the sharpest vanguard. The heavily armored infantry trudged through the mud, their pace slower than usual, yet still as steady as a mountain. They didn't pursue speed, but rather advanced slowly like a giant millstone, clearing away the remaining enemy, accepting the surrender of routed soldiers, and seizing scattered usable weapons. They didn't indiscriminately kill the terrified allied soldiers who knelt to surrender, but merely disarmed them and placed them under centralized guard; while the few leaders of the routed soldiers who attempted to gather a crowd to resist or take advantage of the chaos to loot were mercilessly beheaded with long-handled swords as a warning to others. Iron will and order were rapidly established in this chaotic land.
Chen Wei personally led the main force of mixed infantry and cavalry, which split into several routes and rapidly penetrated deep into enemy territory along the channels untouched or already receded by the floodwaters. Their objective was clear: to divide, encircle, and annihilate the remaining forces of the routed allied army, and to seize key transportation routes and high ground to prevent Liu Kun or Gu Yong from sending troops to reinforce or counterattack. The cavalry, like hunting dogs, constantly drove and separated small groups of fleeing soldiers, forcing them into pre-arranged encirclements or compelling them to escape further. The infantry followed closely behind, consolidating the occupied areas and establishing temporary defensive lines.
Zhang Heng's Xiliang cavalry displayed their prowess in long-distance raids and expanding their gains. They bypassed the main battlefield and attacked the allied forces' supply lines, small camps, and stockpiles. Many auxiliary soldiers and laborers left behind, unaware of the devastating defeat at the front, were overwhelmed and captured by the suddenly appearing Xingjun cavalry, and large quantities of grain, carts, and livestock fell into Xingjun hands. Zhang Heng even dispatched an elite light cavalry force to raid the rear of the Jingling camp, creating a diversion and setting fires to further exacerbate the chaos and panic within Liu Kun's forces.
At a higher level of command, Chen Xing was not satisfied with local victories on the battlefield. He knew that although the flooding of the seven armies had severely damaged the enemy, Liu Kun's main force was still intact and Gu Yong's navy was undamaged. If he could not take advantage of this opportunity to maximize his strategic advantage, the enemy might still have a chance to catch their breath or even launch a counterattack.
"Order Chen Wei: the main force need not linger too long in pursuing the remaining enemy. Immediately adjust direction and prepare for a strong attack on Jingling, but maintain distance. Focus on long-range harassment with crossbows and catapults. Maintain constant pressure on Liu Kun so he dares not easily divide his forces to rescue other areas or retreat." Chen Xing issued instructions from the makeshift frontline command tent, referring to the map. "Order Zhang Heng to continue disrupting the enemy's rear supply lines, focusing on harassing the land route from Xiakou to Jingling. If possible, seize or burn a number of grain ships. Tell Gu Yong that if his navy dares to leave the Xiakou water fortress and head north, my newly trained 'Jinghai Camp' navy will be waiting for him at the mouth of the Han River!"
He paused, then looked at Jia Wen, who stood to the side: "Wenhe, the matter of recruiting and accepting defectors must begin immediately. Countless soldiers were routed in the Battle of Wulin, and among them must be those who can be used by us. Pay particular attention to the lower and middle-ranking officers who were originally under Zhu Huan but harbor resentment towards Zhu Huan or Liu Kun. Offer them official positions, money, and even… promise to 'seek justice' from Zhu Huan or Liu Kun, so they can recruit their former subordinates or act as guides and provide intelligence for our army. Furthermore, Zhu Huan's fate is unknown; we must see him alive or dead. If he is captured alive, he will be of great use; if he is dead, we must let Jiangdong and Jingzhou 'know' how he died."
Jia Wen understood, a knowing glint in his eyes: "Your Majesty, rest assured. Among the routed soldiers, morale is low, and they are easily divided by their fear of death and their desire for survival. I have already ordered those in the Censorate skilled in this to accompany the army with gold, silk, and official seals. As for Zhu Huan... whether he lives or dies, I will ensure that he plays a final role in this game."
The order was swiftly relayed. The Star Force's pursuit was not a blind slaughter and drive, but a combination of force and diplomacy with a clear strategic objective. It involved sustained military pressure, political division and disintegration, and the complete psychological destruction of the enemy's morale.
The effect is immediate.
Inside the Jingling camp, Liu Kun was in a state of utter panic. The outer camps were flooded, and communication with Wulin and Xiakou had been severed by the floodwaters and the Xing army's cavalry. Although tens of thousands of troops remained in the camp, morale was low, and rumors were rampant. Defeated soldiers kept fleeing back, bringing news of the carnage at Wulin and the near annihilation of Zhu Huan's army, as well as terrifying rumors that the Xing army was closing in and intending to encircle Jingling. Small reinforcements sent by Liu Kun were often intercepted and killed by Xing cavalry halfway there, suffering heavy losses. News of supply lines being harassed continued to arrive, further eroding his confidence in a prolonged defense.
What troubled him even more was the growing rumors circulating in the army that the water attack was actually a conspiracy between the Xing Army and Gu Yong of Jiangdong, with the aim of eliminating Liu Kun and Zhu Huan and dividing Jingzhou and Jiangdong among themselves. Although reason told him that this was likely a divisive tactic by the Xing Army, the morale was low after the recent defeat, and such attacks were very popular. Even some of his trusted generals seemed to look at him with a more evasive gaze.
"We can't wait any longer!" Liu Kun finally made up his mind, his face grim as he said to Wang Jun and the others, "Wulin has fallen, Zhu Huan is likely doomed, our flanks are wide open, our supply lines are in danger, morale is low, and being trapped in Jingling means certain death! Issue the order: all battalions must prepare immediately, discard heavy equipment and excess provisions, and at midnight tonight, retreat in batches by water and land to the south, retreating to Jiangling to hold the line! At the same time, urgently order Gu Yong's navy to sail up the river to Jiangling to provide support!"
He wanted to escape. While the main force of the Star Army seemed to still be focused on the Jingling front and the mopping up of the defeated troops in Wulin, he had to break out of this increasingly dangerous encirclement as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Gu Yong was also having a hard time in Xiakou. When news of Wulin's crushing defeat arrived, he was first shocked, then deeply fearful and relieved—luckily, he had insisted on placing his main force in Xiakou, relying on the Yangtze River, otherwise… At the same time, he felt complicated about Zhu Huan's downfall, a mix of sadness at the loss of a rival and a secret, unspeakable satisfaction at eliminating a competitor? But at this moment, none of these could outweigh the crisis before him.
With Zhu Huan's forces defeated and Liu Kun seemingly preparing to flee, the central route of the allied forces has completely collapsed. Where will the Xing Army go next? Will they continue the siege of Liu Kun at Jingling, or turn east and head straight for Xiakou? Although his Jiangdong navy still possesses fighting strength, his land forces are weak, and their morale has plummeted due to rumors and internal strife. To make matters worse, a secret letter from the Jiankang court, with its ambiguous tone, both demands that he "do his utmost to maintain the battle line" and hints that "if things become untenable, preserving the strength of Jiangdong should be the priority," clearly indicating a willingness to retreat.
"Star Army... Chen Xing..." Gu Yong gazed at the gloomy sky outside the tent, his heart filled with a sense of powerlessness. This Northern Expedition had already ended in utter defeat before even truly engaging in a decisive battle with the main force of the Star Army. He even began to doubt whether agreeing to form this alliance in the first place had been a huge mistake.
Just as Liu Kun and Gu Yong were each harboring their own thoughts and preparing to find their own way to survive, the Xingjun's iron hooves had already trampled over the mountains of corpses and blood in Wulin. Their advance was aimed directly at the vast area between Jingling and Xiakou, and also at the last remaining shaky will of resistance of the allied forces.