Chapter 137: Chai Rong's Personal Expedition

The collapse of the right wing spread like a plague.

The fleeing soldiers were like headless flies, wailing and trampling.

They brought panic and despair to the still-intact center and left wings.

The Khitan cavalry's sabers flashed with a deadly cold light behind the fleeing troops.

Each swing brought up a spray of blood.

They snarled and pursued, the distance to the flank of the Zhou army's center now less than one li!

The entire Zhou army's formation was like a dam torn open by a huge breach!

It seemed it would be utterly swept away by the surging enemy flood!

The center army's formation began to show unrest.

Even the most elite Forbidden Army, facing the completely exposed flank and the enemy iron cavalry about to storm the formation,

also found it hard to suppress panic.

The officers shouted hoarsely, trying to steady the footing, but the shadow of defeat had already descended.

At this critical moment!

Beneath the center army's great banner.

He suddenly burst forth with a roar like thunder!

The sound shook the wilderness, even briefly overwhelming the clamor on the battlefield:

"Soldiers of Great Zhou, follow me to kill the enemy——!"

It was Chai Rong!

In the astonished gazes of all the commanders and soldiers.

This actual controller of Great Zhou, the Military Governor of Chan Prefecture, the future Son of Heaven!

He actually shoved aside the Imperial Guard trying to block him, leapt onto his warhorse, and drew the sword symbolizing authority and will!

The golden armor reflected a dazzling gleam in the dim yellow sunlight

and the resolute light, he was no longer a strategist commander but was about to personally become a fierce general charging into battle!

"My Lord, you cannot!"

Wang Pu cried out in shock, his face turning deathly pale.

"My Lord!"

Zhang Yongde, Han Tong, and others were likewise shocked, wanting to dissuade him.

But Chai Rong's gaze, like burning flames, swept over the crowd.

The determination to die and the raging fury in that gaze left all words of protest stuck in their throats.

His sword tip pointed straight at the collapsed right wing and the surging Khitan cavalry, his voice carrying a resolve that tore the heavens:

"The state raises soldiers for a thousand days, to use them in a single moment!"

"Now the rebels run rampant, the state altars are in peril, I, as a member of the imperial clan, how could I cherish my life and sit idly by?!"

"If you still recognize me, Chai Rong, follow me forward, trample this barbarian! No advance without retreat, fight to the death!"

Before his words even fell!

He had already clamped his legs to the horse, like a golden meteor!

He actually led the charge, rushing first toward the most dangerous and chaotic gap in the right wing!

"Guard the Envoy!"

"Keep up! Hurry up!"

Chai Rong's personal guard awoke as from a dream, emitting beast-like roars, their eyes instantly reddening!

"If the lord is humiliated, the minister dies; if the lord is in peril, the minister perishes!"

"The Envoy has personally braved arrows and stones—what do they still have to fear?!"

Hundreds of the most elite armored soldiers, like a bursting flood, tightly followed that golden silhouette!

Fearless of death, they charged toward the gap about to be trampled by the Khitan iron cavalry!

This scene!

Was like pouring boiling oil onto a fire about to go out!

The Zhou army soldiers, originally panicked and with morale on the verge of collapse, saw their commander.

In their minds, the Envoy Chai, like a deity, actually personally brandished his long sword and charged toward the most dangerous enemy formation!

That visual and spiritual impact was unparalleled!

Shame, shock, and a fervor utterly ignited instantly replaced fear!

"The Envoy has gone on a personal expedition!"

"Protect the Envoy!"

"Fight the barbarian dogs to the death!"

Countless shouts erupted from the still-unbroken center and left wing formations, like mountains roaring and seas surging!

The previously tottering line miraculously stabilized, even beginning to push back!

The infantry units nearest to Chai Rong even more spontaneously and madly surged toward the direction he was advancing!

Using their flesh and blood, they tried to build a human wall for that golden silhouette!

Chai Rong's personal expedition!

Like a dose of the strongest stimulant, it was injected into the Zhou army's body, near paralysis!

Chen Wen, before the formation of the Jing'an Army, witnessed all this, feeling his whole body's blood boil!

He saw Chai Rong's golden armor flashing amid the chaotic troops, saw him recklessly charging toward the densest concentration of enemy cavalry.

Swinging his sword to cut down foes, though his martial skill was not top-notch!

But his spirit of leading from the front and regarding death as home was enough to shake heaven and earth!

He also saw the enormous risk at the same time.

——Chai Rong, although he temporarily boosted morale, but he himself and his limited number of personal guards.

Already deeply embedded in the chaotic melee, locked in a death struggle with the surging Khitan cavalry!

The command core of the center army, due to his departure, fell into a brief vacuum and chaos.

If Chai Rong suffers any mishap, or is targeted and surrounded by enemy elite forces.

Then the morale that had just been raised would collapse instantly, with consequences too dire to imagine!

"Envoy!"

Shi Dun was so anxious his eyes almost spat fire, nearly wanting to charge out himself.

Qian Gui also shouted urgently:

"Envoy, the commander is in too much danger! The flank gap hasn't been plugged!"

Chen Wen's heart pounded like a war drum.

He fixed his gaze on that golden figure shining amidst the myriad troops, yet as perilous as a candle in the wind.

He also glanced at the middle army's command system, which had grown slightly sluggish due to the commander-in-chief's departure.

We can't wait for orders any longer!

The center army's flank is empty, the commander is deeply surrounded.

Now is the time for this reserve unit to make its mark!

He suddenly drew his saber, his voice trembling slightly with excitement and resolve, yet it rang out across the entire Jing'an Army:

"Jing'an Army, hear my orders!"

"Shi Dun, lead the vanguard regiment, follow me forward, fill the center army's flank gap, and meet up with the commander!"

"Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, command this formation, advance steadily, archers and crossbows provide full cover!"

"Target—the commander's banner's location! Forward!"

"Roar——!"

The Jing'an Army, long unable to hold back, was like a tiger let out of its cage.

Under Chen Wen's leadership, for the first time they actively left their preset positions.

Like a sharp blade that had been gathering power, they surged toward the most chaotic and dangerous meat grinder.

They launched a charge without hesitation!

In Chen Wen's sea of consciousness, the 99% growth progress bar, under the immense pressure of witnessing his lord's peril and shouldering the heavy duty of protecting him.

It began to tremble violently, the light beyond that membrane almost breaking through!