Chapter 283: Advancing Xiang Yu

And with Xiang Yu's order, the Chu Army, which had cultivated an invincible momentum, descended like a fierce tiger from the mountain, swiftly seizing all important strongholds in the Jiangdong region.

And in this, the navy led by Gonggong played a huge role.

A large number of elite naval troops trained by Gonggong marched mightily toward the remaining prefectures of the Jiangdong region.

Their warships cut through the river surface like sharp swords, directly pointing at the heartland of the Jiangdong region.

Shuttling through the Jiangdong waters like a swimming dragon, they displayed astonishing combat power in both river battles and coastal landings.

Gonggong, this historically famous water god.

He enjoys extremely high prestige in Xiang Yu's navy today.

He is tall and sturdy, with a resolute face, and each swing of his weapon seems able to shake heaven and earth.

Under his leadership, the Chu navy is invincible, with none able to resist.

With the arrival of reinforcements from the Nine Heavens Army, the Nine Heavens Army's manpower is now no less than that of the combined forces of Wen Prefecture and half a prefecture's troops under Que Wang.

And in Wen Prefecture, the battlefield where the Nine Heavens Army and Que Wang's army clash, fires fill the sky and smoke permeates the air.

What Que Wang finds truly hard to accept is that weak vassal king alliance on his flank, assembled by Lu Wang.

For example, the current Jing Wang who came representing the Ling Prefecture Jing Wang Fu—Shangguan Lie.

He knows well that to unify the entire Great Yong dynasty, he must seize this important strategic point.

And Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng then lead the main force closely behind.

Earlier, taking advantage of the fact that the main force of the Nine Heavens Army had not yet arrived, they decisively sent Long Junzuo's Great Yong Dragon Que Army to inflict a heavy blow on the Que Wang of Ye Sui of the Nine Heavens Army.

But it cannot be denied that it also hides considerable elite strength.

After all, Que Wang cannot possibly dispatch all his troops to Wen Prefecture to fight the Nine Heavens Army.

And Fan Zeng also understands Xiang Yu's ambition and determination, and has begun to formulate a detailed conquest plan.

This move really stabbed Que Wang in the waist.

Moreover, the armies of most of these vassal kings are indeed a rabble, with uneven combat strength, and many came just to make up numbers.

Now it has also become rather difficult.

In the alliance where Su Qin now holds some sway, he conducted a round of persuasion.

Turning their spears, they helped beat up this outsider, the Nine Heavens Army, attacking Que Wang.

However, as reinforcements from the Nine Heavens Army arrived one after another, the situation began to reverse.

Although this vassal king alliance looks like a makeshift patchwork.

As the Jiangdong region gradually pacified, Xiang Yu began to turn his gaze toward northern Que Prefecture.

Of course, relying solely on the Nine Heavens Army is not enough to make Que Wang suffer.

Originally, Que Wang's army held absolute advantage on this battlefield belonging to them.

Without a word, they turned their weapons on each other.

As the future emperor star destined to dominate all Eastern Lands, his subordinates naturally gather heavenly talents.

Strategists gather like clouds, fierce generals like rain.

These people, under Shangguan Lie's command, coalesce into a powerful force.

Thus the army of the Jing Wang Fu is invincible on the battlefield.

And now, Shangguan Lie and Su Qin working hand in hand have greatly increased the strength of this vassal king alliance.

Su Qin is one of the core figures in the alliance.

Not only does he have outstanding talent in persuasion, but he also has unique insight in strategic planning.

Together with Li He, who serves under Shangguan Lie and is acclaimed as a brocade strategist, they join hands.

Together they plan in the inner chambers and secure victory from a thousand miles away.

Under Su Qin's persuasion, Shangguan Lie has already grasped most of the alliance's forces except for the troops behind Su Qin and Lu Wang.

Under these circumstances, it can be said that under the coordination of Shangguan Lie, Li He, and Shangguan Lie's retinue.

This alliance, formed from many a rabble.

It has initially gained the qualification to face off against the Three Major Vassal Kings of Great Yong.

Faced with this change in situation, Que Wang, as one of the Three Major Strong Vassal Kings of Great Yong, feels unprecedented pressure.

Originally, the number of this weak vassal king alliance should not be underestimated.

Especially after the addition of Shangguan Lie, Su Qin, and others, it has become even more formidable, like adding wings to a tiger.

What is most fatal is that Que Wang, originally already caught between the pincer attack of Shangguan Lie's vassal king alliance and the Nine Heavens Army.

Even the Que Prefecture behind his main base has begun to catch fire in the rear.

Originally, the Que Wang Fu still controlled part of the Jiangdong region of Great Yong.

Under the sudden rise of the Chu Army in this period, with an offensive like splitting bamboo, a large part of the Jiangdong region has already been swallowed up.

Furthermore, this Chu Army is not yet satisfied, after having swallowed most of southern Que Prefecture.

It eyes northern Que Prefecture with the same tigerish gaze, harboring the idea of launching a northern expedition in one fell swoop.

Originally, Que Wang's army, under the astute command of Long Junzuo, utilized the swiftness and flexibility of the Great Yong Dragon Que Army, as well as Wen Wang's battlefield betrayal.

They launched a surprise attack on Ye Sui, the Jade Qilin War God of the Nine Heavens Army.

This surprise once created a huge advantage in the Wen Prefecture region, plunging the Nine Heavens Army led by Ye Sui into an unprecedented predicament.

Even Dragon Gate Pass hangs in the balance, as if the scales of victory have already tilted toward Que Wang's army.

But because of the appearance of Ye Hua, the son of Ye Sui.

Replacing Ye Sui as the commander of the Nine Heavens Army's Dao Soldiers-Jade Qilin.

His appearance not only broke Que Wang's army's strategic deployment, but also renewed the combat power of the Nine Heavens Army.

The final outcome of this battle, too, has become even more bewildering due to Ye Hua's appearance.

This caused the advantage that Longjun Zuo and the Sparrow King's army had built in Wen Prefecture to be completely erased.

Especially when the main force of the Nine Heavens Army had not yet arrived, Longjun Zuo was dealt a heavy blow to the front by Ye Hua's Jade Qilin Army, which manifested the Jade Qilin Dharma Aspect.

Longjun Zuo's troops were caught off guard by this sudden, fierce attack.

Under the heavy blow to the front, they had no choice but to retreat temporarily.

Thus they lost the best opportunity to seize Dragon Gate Pass.

Afterward, Pei Yuanqing led the elite detachment that Su Ye had left at the border between Cangzhou and Yunzhou, and they arrived at Dragon Gate Pass in time.

The arrival of this detachment undoubtedly infused Dragon Gate Pass with new strength.

Pei Yuanqing and Ye Hua, the two War Gods, fought side by side.

Their presence greatly boosted morale.

Moreover, the Jade Qilin Army, this unit of Dao Soldiers under Ye Hua's command, became a solid barrier for Dragon Gate Pass.

Furthermore, the defending forces also included the two divine generals, Pei Xingyan and Li Jinlong.

And Pei Xingjian, this divine-level Commander-in-Chief, whose strategic deployment and command ability further greatly increased Dragon Gate Pass's overall strength.

All factors considered, Dragon Gate Pass's overall strength is now on par with that of Longjun Zuo, who commands an army of several hundred thousand.

Nevertheless, in terms of troop numbers, the side of Dragon Gate Pass still falls short of the opposing Sparrow King's great army.

However, after Pei Yuanqing's detachment merged with the original garrison of Dragon Gate Pass, they could also muster a force of tens of thousands.

Moreover, adding the inherent defensive advantage of Dragon Gate Pass's terrain, as well as the support of the two War Gods and numerous divine generals.

This caused Dragon Gate Pass's defensive capability during this period to reach an unprecedented height.

Furthermore, Dragon Gate Pass was originally on the defensive, and it also had the two War Gods present.

For a time, battles raged nonstop beneath Dragon Gate Pass, with both sides trading blows and each having its share of victories and defeats.

Although the Sparrow King's great army was formidable in numbers, it could never break through Dragon Gate Pass's defensive line.

And the side of Dragon Gate Pass, relying on tenacious defense and timely counterattacks, made the Sparrow King's great army pay a heavy price.

(End of chapter)