Chapter 1150: Bloodstained New Year's Eve

First Volume_Chapter 1150: Bloodstained New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, Jingdu was alive with revelry; whether nobles or commoners, all flooded the streets to celebrate the New Year.

The entire Jingdu was shrouded in festive joy.

Yet a thousand li away, in Gusu City of Nan Jing, thick bloodstained stench hung in the air, and the clamor of battle roared deafeningly.

Twenty thousand vanguard troops, drawn from the Imperial Party and the Jingji Garrison.

Taking advantage of New Year's Eve, they launched a surprise attack on Gusu City.

The commanding general was Sun Bo, former commander of the Garrison Army.

Sun Bo knew full well that being sent to the Front Line was his last chance to redeem himself and rise again.

If he could achieve great military glory, he could wash away the guilt of having supported Li Yong and reclaim his status as a grand general of Jingzhong.

Although the superior command's order was crystal clear—Sun Bo's sole mission was to pressure Gusu City.

Under no circumstances should he launch any military action against Gusu City.

But…

Eager for glory, Sun Bo, after half a month of reconnaissance, had firmly confirmed that Gusu City's defenses were lax, and all garrison troops were preparing for the Spring Festival.

This was the perfect moment to launch a siege.

Despite prolonged deployment, the garrison inside Gusu City was conservatively estimated at fifty thousand.

Twenty thousand against fifty thousand—and in siege warfare—this was far from wise.

Yet Sun Bo was certain he could achieve victory through surprise, and crush the enemy in one strike while their guard was down.

The battle began at dawn and raged until dusk.

From the rear Camp, Sun Bo received continuous urgent Beidi War Intelligence from the Front Line.

"General! The siege is failing!"

"The enemy defenses are too strong; we cannot breach them."

"General, five hundred Dead Soldiers on the front line have been annihilated; over half of the five thousand siege main force have been killed or wounded."

"The Front Line commander begs the General to withdraw!"

Hearing the string of disasters from the Front Line, Sun Bo turned ashen.

He knew Gusu City was impregnable, and taking it would demand a heavy cost—but he never imagined his army couldn't even scale the walls.

Already over three thousand dead or wounded, further fighting would exhaust both morale and physical strength; continuing would be meaningless.

Though unwilling, Sun Bo still ordered a retreat.

These twenty thousand troops were Elite Troops.

With three thousand casualties, the returning forces, after muster, totaled precisely seventeen thousand—not a single deserter among them.

This was a stroke of luck amid misfortune; as long as they regrouped, this cost was bearable.

Just as Sun Bo prepared to order full rest, shifting from offense to defense, another disaster struck.

The messenger, gasping for breath, rushed to Sun Bo.

"General! Disaster! The enemy has sent cavalry toward us!"

What?!

Hearing this, Sun Bo leapt to his feet, barking: "How many?!"

The messenger's eyes were hollow with despair: "I… I can't say for sure—over two thousand at least."

Two thousand cavalry?!

Today was New Year's Eve—everyone was immersed in celebration—how could Gusu City deploy so many cavalry at once?

Could it be…

That the enemy had anticipated a possible battle on New Year's Eve, and all along kept two thousand cavalry on alert, ready to counterattack?

Sun Bo had seventeen thousand troops, but they had just suffered defeat, their morale at rock bottom.

Before morale could recover, no further battle must be engaged—otherwise the entire army might collapse.

Yet the enemy gave Sun Bo no chance to breathe.

Two thousand cavalry could not possibly break Sun Bo's army—but they could deliver a devastating blow to the vanguard's morale.

Once morale shattered, the vanguard's Combat Effectiveness would be finished.

Sun Bo did not hesitate—he immediately issued orders.

"Quickly relay my command: contract the battle line, Infantry hold firm in defense, Cavalry advance to meet the enemy!"

Sun Bo, once a former commander of the Garrison Army, remained calm despite the dire situation.

In this scenario, the best way to survive was to preserve the Infantry.

To counter cavalry, Infantry must form tight formations.

Once Infantry formed ranks, cavalry could no longer break through easily.

Because the vanguard's ZhuZhen was too close to Gusu City—less than one Envoy later, the two thousand cavalry arrived.

Facing the cavalry's furious ambush, the Infantry could only fight desperately; if they held through the enemy's peak horse energy, they could turn the tide.

As the two sides clashed fiercely,

in a ravine less than twenty Li from the Battlefield, eight hundred cavalry lay hidden.

All Warhorses were tethered among the woods below the hill, thoroughly camouflaged.

The eight hundred soldiers were arming themselves with Armor and Weapons.

This unit had arrived in Gusu City half a month ago—it was the Beixi Light Cavalry.

As part of the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade, they had been personally ordered by Qin Feng to be deployed to Gusu City for preliminary reconnaissance and probing attacks.

Their commander was Zhao Zhenhai, who had once fought bloodily alongside Qin Feng in the Bei Di and now held the rank of Tianji Camp Guard Vice Commander.

"General! Sun Bo's army has been ambushed by two thousand enemy cavalry and is fighting desperately!"

Hearing this, Zhao Zhenhai sat on a rock, expressionless, gnawing loudly on a flatbread.

"Ignore it."

"Two thousand cavalry are using a harassment tactic—they cannot crush Sun Bo's army."

"Sun Bo's army is mostly infantry; when infantry form formations, mere light cavalry cannot shake them."

"Sun Bo is a former great general with exceptional military expertise; what seems like desperate battle is in truth immovable as a mountain."

As he spoke, Zhao Zhenhai suddenly remembered something and asked casually: "When will the Zhongying arrive?"

"Today is New Year's Eve—damn it, where's our good meat and good dishes? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

Zhao Zhenhai seethed inside, silently cursing the Zhongying for laziness—they had already reached the Gusu region half a month ago.

Half a month's time, and the Zhongying still hasn't arrived?

Speed is paramount in warfare, and the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade is speed itself—if the Zhongying drags its feet, Zhao Zhenhai will definitely go before Qin Feng and lodge a strong complaint against them.

The other soldiers present also grumbled angrily.

"The Prince himself said that even when rushing to the Front Line, we must still observe the holiday."

"We marched lightly equipped, carrying only dried rations—can we really be expected to chew on flatbread during the New Year?"

"Forget the wine, but at least give us a few sips of meat broth."

"That bunch of bastards in the Zhongying are dragging their feet again!"

Just as the soldiers' resentment boiled over, the messenger appeared once more.

"They're here! They're here!"

Zhao Zhenhai's eyes lit up: "Is the Zhongying here?"

The messenger shook his head and quickly explained: "Reinforcements from Gusu City have arrived—estimated at over a thousand men."