Chapter 209: Do You Really Think You've Already Won?

"What's going on? The left and center routes are both retreating toward the summit. Why aren't Hou Jue and Anthony panicking yet!"

"Yes! Where are their other four thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry? Why haven't they moved out yet? Could it be that they've all been stationed on the far right path?"

"That's impossible, right? The right path is the steepest; in fact, only a minimal force is needed to defend it. There's no reason to station four thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry there!"

"Then what are they trying to do? Hurry and send soldiers to block them, or if they really break through to the summit, the situation will become extremely precarious!"

The assembled noble spectators began to murmur and debate.

Mainly because the defenders were allowing the attackers to continue advancing toward the summit, which seemed far too reckless to everyone.

Fortunately, Hou Jue and Anthony were not truly intent on losing. In the next moment, another thousand men surged out from the mountain paths on the left and center routes.

And with their charge, the attackers' momentum was immediately halted.

Although the numbers of troop types on both sides differed, they had been carefully calculated.

If they relied solely on a straight-line advance, the attackers clearly could not win.

So, if the attackers possessed only this level of capability, then what followed would simply be a war of attrition.

Once the prescribed hour and a half elapsed, the defenders would naturally emerge victorious.

Of course.

The attackers clearly could not possess only this few tricks!

Woo-woo-woo!

The horn sounded again, and then the cavalry on the center route suddenly broke away from the attacking formation, swiftly flanking toward the foot of the mountain, and immediately joined the left route.

Due to that formidable mobility, these seven hundred and fifty cavalry quickly assembled with the attacking force on the left route.

From this point on, the attacking force on the left route consisted of fifteen hundred cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry.

Opposing them were the defenders' three thousand infantry.

Which side held the advantage required no elaboration; the previously stalemate situation immediately broke.

Huh!

"So they intended to use this mobility to launch a surprise attack. As long as the fifteen hundred soldiers on the center route can tie up the defenders' three thousand men for a while, then the left route will very likely achieve a breakthrough!"

The nobles erupted in a clamor, having not expected the attackers to execute such a brilliant feint and return strike.

And this time, the advance speed on the left route became extremely fast; it looked as if they would reach the summit step by step very soon!

"Defenders, where is your cavalry? Hurry and move out, go support the left route!"

Many nobles, seeing the attackers drawing ever closer to the summit, could not help but strike their hands together and shout.

They had all placed bets from outside the field, so naturally, they were unwilling to see the defenders lose.

However, no matter how urgently they urged, the defenders' five hundred cavalry remained completely unseen.

"Damn it, what's going on? Could it be that those five hundred cavalry were also stationed on the right path?"

"But even if they are on the right path, they could charge out now, after all, all the attackers' troops have already been committed!"

"Moreover, cavalry moves fast; it is still not too late to return to the defense now!"

Hearing the anxious questions from the surrounding nobles, even Marshal Mi Xiusi and Adrie looked puzzledly toward Hou Jue and Anthony.

After all, if that cavalry did not move out soon, their own men would be attacking the summit.

Time ticked away second by second, and the great army drew ever closer to the summit.

Five hundred meters, three hundred meters, two hundred meters, one hundred meters...

"Kill!"

Just as the left route was about to be pierced, a sudden change finally occurred.

It was seen that from the forest beside the summit on the left route, another fifteen hundred infantry suddenly surged out.

With their addition, the attackers, who had previously been unstoppable, were immediately blocked.

Fifteen hundred cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry fighting against four thousand five hundred infantry; although they would not be at a disadvantage, their advantage was greatly compressed.

Especially at this summit position, the slope of the hillside had reached its highest point.

Thus, for the cavalry to charge and slaughter would require a much longer running start; not only would it take more time, but it would also require far more effort.

"Heavens, there were actually four thousand five hundred infantry ambushed on the left route, and there are also three thousand infantry on the center route. Does that not mean the defenders have only five hundred infantry on the right route? How dare they do this?"

"Yes, no wonder they weren't in a hurry to return to the aid earlier. It turns out they were waiting for this critical moment to surge out. After all, that summit position is also where the slope is steepest, capable of minimizing the cavalry's advantage to the lowest!"

Boom! Boom!

Just as the nobles were chattering with many voices, the matter was not yet finished.

Amidst the roaring sound, it was seen that five hundred cavalry suddenly surged out from the mid-slope of the center route.

These were truly the defenders' cavalry; they had been hiding at the mid-slope of the center route all along.

Even when the attackers had passed right by them just now, they had not moved out.

And now, after bursting from the forest, they headed straight for the fifteen hundred attacking infantry who were already retreating step by step down the hillside.

Subsequently, after a few simple charges, all the attacking infantry on the center route responsible for tying up the three thousand defending infantry were 'killed'.

And after quickly eliminating these infantry, the cavalry began to maneuver once more.

They actually began heading toward the foot of the mountain, then detoured to the left route.

And the three thousand infantry released from the center route also plunged headlong into the dense forest, then detoured toward the left route.

Huh!

"It's actually an encirclement!"

"Heavens, so that's how it is. I thought the defenders were too foolish, but I didn't expect them not only to want to defend the flag but also to want to swallow the attackers whole!"

"Brilliant! Truly too brilliant!"

Seeing this, how could the dignitaries not understand why the defenders' support had been so slow to appear.

In fact, it was simply to allow the enemy to sink deep enough, to consume enough strength, leaving not even a shred of room for maneuver.

This way, under the pincer attack at this moment, the attacking force can be swallowed whole.

For instance, even the remaining five hundred infantry on the far right, which had been spared until now, are no longer delayed and are rushing from the foot of the right mountain toward the foot of the left mountain.

"Mi Xiusi, Adeli, do not be too sad. Although you failed this time, perhaps in the future you can earn military merit again, and Your Majesty will reward you with Rabbit People maids again!"

"As for those two Rabbit People women this time, Vice-Commander Anthony and I will not be polite! Hahaha!"

Hou Jue Wikes and Vice-Commander Anthony laughed triumphantly.

The attacking force at this moment has no hope of turning things around; after all, the infantry in the center was easily dealt with, and the cavalry on the left is exhausted.

Once the troops responsible for flanking arrive, they can be dealt with as easily as the few infantry in the center were.

Mi Xiusi and Adeli put down the round tubes in their hands, their expressions unreadable.

After a full moment of pause, Mi Xiusi could not help but clap and praise, "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

"Wikes, Anthony, your arrangement this time was truly a chain of interlocking links."

"First, you set up the first line of defense at the foot of the mountain to confirm our direction of attack."

"Then, you waited until our forces pushed to the mid-slope before assessing the situation and adding troops to resist!"

"This way, if we want to advance deeper, we can only send more troops!"

"And at this moment, you are not in a hurry, because if we split our cavalry, we definitely cannot truly break through the defense line!"

"So, you are also waiting for our next move, for instance, our cavalry in the center suddenly breaking off the battle and heading to the left!"

"At this moment, we have reached the most critical point of your arrangement, the key to victory or defeat!"

"In fact, those extra fifteen hundred infantry of yours were not deployed in advance at the summit of the left mountain!"

"Although the slope on the right side is the steepest, you would not dare to truly leave the entire route defended by only five hundred infantry!"

"This way, once you detect my forces heading toward the right, you would have those fifteen hundred people support the right via the path already cleared in the woods!"

"Similarly, upon discovering that our main attack is on the left, those fifteen hundred infantry of yours also arrived at the summit of the left mountain via the simple path cleared in advance within the dense forest!"

"So, no matter which route we attack today, you can defend with ease!"

Clap, clap, clap!

"I did not expect it! Truly did not expect it, that you saw through it! However... Mi Xiusi, there was no rule before the match prohibiting the clearing of paths within the forest! So, even if you can see through it now, it is too late!"

"Your great army is finished, which means you have lost today! Haha!" Hou Jue Wikes laughed triumphantly; although Mi Xiusi guessed correctly, he could not change the situation.

He indeed relied on clearing simple paths in the dense forest with all his might three hours in advance.

However, did Hou Jue Mi Xiusi really only discover this belatedly?

Yet, Hou Jue Mi Xiusi and Vice-Commander Adeli exchanged a glance, and both revealed brilliant smiles!

"Wikes, do you truly believe you have won for sure?"