Chapter 828: Double Entendre

"Surrendering so easily is not the style of you Ross people." Aersiji suggested a retreat, and Ashuer mocked him with a sentence.

Aersiji was not angry, and he said, "Facts will prove it."

He was only a military advisor; the army at Zhongling Pass was actually under the command of Ashuer.

Whether to fight to the death or retreat was ultimately up to Ashuer to decide.

Ashuer snorted, "Even if we retreat, I will make them pay a price. If one-for-one doesn't work, then three-for-one, or even ten-for-one will do."

Having said that, he pointed forward and said to the generals at his side, "We Northern Di never submit to anyone. The time to prove your bravery has arrived."

"Yes, Great King." The Northern Di generals replied, one after another entering the trenches and leading their soldiers to charge forward.

As Ashuer committed his entire army, Chang Wei noticed the changes on the battlefield.

Having clashed with the Northern Di several times, he was naturally clear about the savagery and ferocity of the Northern Di people.

"Commit the whole army!" Chang Wei's eyes narrowed.

He wanted to see for himself whether their Qin-series Rifles were sharper, or the Northern Di's Curved Blades were sharper.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

The war drums thundered, resounding across the battlefield; this was the signal to launch the general offensive.

"Reserve troops, push up!"

Qin Shan, Guan Tong, and Lv Chang looked forward and issued the order almost simultaneously.

"Kill!"

A heaven-shaking roar pierced the clouds; the Wangfu Army climbed out of the trenches like a torrent, charging toward Zhongling Pass, and the sound of gunfire erupted across the battlefield.

The Wangfu Army soldiers in the trenches were also instantly inspired, a surge of strength emerging from their limbs and bones, as if it were inexhaustible.

They coordinated with each other; some controlled the tunnels, while others were responsible for clearing out the soldiers within the trenches.

There were also soldiers throwing Hand Grenades into the second trench.

As soon as the Hand Grenades exploded, they took the opportunity to charge into the second trench, advancing steadily.

Although reserve troops from Southern Liang and Northern Di were constantly being replenished from the rear,

faced with the Wangfu Army's Hand Grenades and Qin-series Rifles, Ashuer's tactics turned into "adding oil" tactics.

Every general of the Prince's Personal Army knew that the "adding oil" tactic in trench warfare was the worst tactic.

Faced with the enemy's fierce firepower, throwing in small waves of reserve troops to support was like adding oil to an oil lamp; the oil would be constantly burned away.

Therefore, in the end, not only would they fail to achieve their goal, but they would also constantly lose soldiers.

Most importantly, they would still fail to achieve their own objective.

So, facing the Northern Di's constant commitment of reserve troops, the Prince's Personal Army generals were not worried, but instead ecstatic.

This was an opportunity for them to earn merit.

Of course, the "adding oil" tactic was not entirely useless, but that was on the premise that the firepower was equal.

Clearly, Ashuer and his men did not have that.

And as the Prince's Personal Army launched a full-scale offensive, this point became particularly prominent.

No matter how many reserve troops Ashuer committed, they were always eaten up before long.

The Prince's Personal Army steadily captured trench after trench.

Afterward, Ashuer sent even more reserve troops into the trenches to fight for them.

This situation lasted for over an hour; five of the eight trenches were captured, and Ashuer finally realized that something was wrong.

"You are paying with the lives of soldiers, while they are only paying with bullets." Seeing Ashuer's extremely ugly expression, Aersiji offered a reminder.

Although Ashuer was unwilling to admit it, he finally nodded, and then he said, "I hope you have some useful suggestions, rather than just cold remarks."

Aersiji smiled, "Don't forget what you Northern Di relied on to get your start."

"Cavalry!" Ashuer's eyes narrowed.

Aersiji nodded, "After passing Zhongling Pass and heading south, there is still Jiameng Pass. Only by breaking through Jiameng Pass can you enter Yizhou, and Yizhou is as flat as a plain, suitable for cavalry warfare."

Pausing, he continued, "At that time, fight the Yan Wang's army again at Jiameng Pass. If you cannot hold them off, let them enter Yizhou and use the cavalry to fight them. The mountain roads in Yizhou are treacherous, and their grain transport will be inconvenient and inevitably scarce. Once they enter Yizhou, order the cavalry to harass them and burn a portion of their supplies; they will collapse without a fight."

Ashuer's eyes lit up, and he nodded slightly, "Hmm, this is a brilliant idea."

Aersiji curled his lips, "Back then, our Ross country also defeated invading enemies this way."

Thinking of something, he continued, "However, remember to strengthen the walls and clear the fields; do not let the Yan King Army obtain food from the battlefield."

"That is only natural," Ashuer said.

Immediately, he looked toward the battlefield; the Prince's Personal Army was getting closer and closer.

So he said to the generals, "Leave some soldiers to cover the retreat, and have the others withdraw to Jiameng Pass. Remember, we are not defeated; we have only changed our tactics. The battle at Zhongling Pass was not without any significance; we at least hindered the Yan King Army for a period of time, which bought time for the British Muskets to arrive in Yizhou."

He was always arrogant and naturally would not admit to being defeated at Zhongling Pass.

"Yes, Great King."

Receiving the order, the generals immediately gathered the soldiers and retreated toward the direction of Zhongling Pass.

The reserve troops at Zhongling Pass withdrew directly from the pass and headed toward Jiameng Pass.

"Hmph, they fled."

Ashuer's movements were immediately detected by Chang Wei, and he snorted softly.

He had actually hoped that Ashuer would continue to fight to the death so that more Northern Di soldiers could be eliminated.

With the bulk of the Northern Di soldiers retreating, the Southern Liang and Northern Di soldiers left in the trenches were even more vulnerable without the support of reserve troops.

In less than half an hour, the Prince's Personal Army had captured the remaining trenches.

Commander Wang Qiao led his soldiers and charged directly into Zhongling Pass.

At this time, the Granary inside Zhongling Pass was burning with a raging fire.

The mixed army of Northern Di and Southern Liang had long since fled, leaving no trace behind.

It was obvious that before retreating, Ashuer had burned the grain and Baggage Train.

Not long after, Chang Wei and Qin Shan and the others also entered Zhongling Pass.

They immediately had the soldiers repair the city walls and deploy defenses.

In Ashuer's hands, this Zhongling Pass was naturally a target.

But in their hands, it was an impregnable defensive fortification.

With this place taken, the western gate of Jingzhou was secure, and there was no longer any need to worry about suffering a surprise attack.

"Send this news to Yancheng," Chang Wei ordered.

Their goal was to take Zhongling Pass; as for what to do next, they still needed orders from His Highness Yan Wang.

At the same time.

A Southern Liang army retreating from Jian Pass was fleeing in a sorry state toward Jiameng Pass.

The commander leading the army was Xiao Cheng.

Ashuer guarded Zhongling Pass, and he guarded Jian Pass; this was their division of labor.

It was just that compared to Zhongling Pass, after Ma Han launched his attack, he had only held out for two days before suffering a rout.

Now, his mind was still filled with the cruel scenes of the Qin Army soldiers attacking.

Facing the Qin Army soldiers' strange attacks, the Southern Liang soldiers were completely unable to parry, and one Trench after another was quickly breached.

He kept sending out reserve soldiers to provide support, but the soldiers who went never returned.

After the fifth Trench was breached, his army collapsed directly; the soldiers no longer obeyed the commanders' orders and fled in a swarm toward Yizhou.