funbook-pk Chapter 799 The flames of war have died down, and the rising sun shines on the rivers and mountains.
Chapter 799 The flames of war have died down, and the rising sun shines on the rivers and mountains.
The smoke of battle at Langya Pass had not yet cleared, and the fighting on the main battlefield had reached a fever pitch. The news that Lin Xue had led the Night Owl Guard to defeat Sun Biao's sneak attack was like a shot in the arm, quickly spreading throughout Lin Ping's camp via scouts on horseback, greatly boosting the morale of the soldiers on the front lines.
At this moment, Lin Ping was commanding the troops from the south gate. The rebel commander, Ma Kun, though brave, lacked Zhao Hu's composure and strategic acumen. Relying on his numerical superiority, he launched wave after wave of fierce attacks on the south gate. Rebel soldiers, carrying ladders and braving a hail of arrows, frantically climbed the city walls. On the walls, Lin Ping's troops fought valiantly, unleashing rolling stones, logs, powerful bows and crossbows, and even molten ladle upon the enemy below.
"Kill! For our homeland, hold the line!" A centurion, covered in blood, roared as he forcefully pushed a siege ladder that was about to be placed on the city wall down. The rebel soldiers on the ladder screamed and fell to their deaths. However, the next moment, a cold arrow struck him in the chest. He groaned and fell on the city wall, but his eyes still burned with an indomitable flame.
Lin Ping's face was ashen as she waved her command flag, calmly deploying troops and filling the gaps in the city's defenses. She knew that although Ma Kun's attack was fierce, she had a firm grasp of their attack route, main direction of attack, and even the weak points in their troop deployment through the intelligence brought back by Lin Xue.
“General Zhang, the rebels’ left flank is relatively weak and their offensive momentum has slowed down. It’s time!” Lin Ping said to General Zhang, the deputy general beside her.
General Zhang's spirits lifted: "This subordinate understands!"
Lin Ping shouted the order: "Pass on my command! The ambush troops on the left flank, attack immediately! Harass the enemy's flank and disrupt their offensive!"
"Order!"
General Zhang's troops, who had been concealed in the valley behind the left flank of the South Gate, emerged like lurking tigers upon receiving orders and charged straight at the rebels' relatively weak left flank. Caught off guard, the rebels' flank was instantly breached, and their attack formation was thrown into chaos.
Ma Kun was shocked. He hadn't expected that Lin Ping, while fiercely defending the south gate, had also left such an elite force as a surprise attack. He hurriedly redeployed troops to reinforce the left flank, attempting to plug the gap. However, this significantly weakened the force of the frontal assault on the south gate.
Lin Ping shrewdly seized this opportunity and ordered again: "General Wang, lead your heavy infantry out of the city from the front to launch a counterattack! Give the enemy a good beating for their arrogance!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" General Wang, the veteran in charge of the frontal defense, had an excited glint in his eyes. He personally beat the drum, and the city gates swung open. Thousands of heavily armored infantrymen, wielding spears and giant axes, surged out of the city like an iron torrent, launching a fierce attack on the rebel army, whose siege had faltered and whose formation was unstable.
The rebels, already demoralized by the attack on their flank, were now even more vulnerable to the advancing, heavily armored infantry. The front ranks of rebel soldiers were instantly pierced by spears and cleaved in two by giant axes, their formation retreating in waves like waves crashing against boulders.
"Hold on! Hold on!" Ma Kun roared hoarsely in the central army formation, but the army was collapsing like a house of cards, and his orders seemed so pale and powerless on the chaotic battlefield.
Just then, from the other side of the battlefield, deafening battle cries erupted once more. General Li's light cavalry, following Lin Ping's plan, had outflanked the rebels on their right flank, charging out like divine warriors descending from the heavens. Their objective wasn't to engage the main rebel force head-on, but to strike directly at the rebels' central command structure!
The light cavalry moved with incredible speed, their sabers flashing, and they quickly broke through the hastily organized defenses of the rebels, heading towards the banner where Ma Kun was positioned.
"Protect the general!" Ma Kun's personal guards fought desperately.
General Li took the lead, flicking his spear to send a personal guard flying, and shouted: "Ma Kun is beheaded! Any rebel who does not surrender will die!"
When Ma Kun saw the light cavalry approaching, he was terrified. He already harbored doubts about Zhao Hu's death, and now, seeing his flank, front, and right flank all under attack, he had already decided to retreat. He dared not linger any longer, so he turned his horse around and, with a few trusted men, fled desperately.
With their commander fleeing, the rebel army was immediately leaderless and completely lost the will to resist. The defeat was swift and decisive; the soldiers threw down their weapons and scattered in all directions.
"Pursue them! Leave no one alive!" Lin Ping, seeing the rebel army routed from the city wall, gave the order to give chase with a cold glint in her eyes.
The heavily armored infantry at the city gates, the other troops pouring out of the city, and General Zhang's forces, who had just completed their flank raid, surged forward like a flood bursting its banks, sweeping towards the routed rebels. General Li's light cavalry, even more swift and decisive, pursued and slaughtered the fleeing rebels across the open fields.
The shouts of battle, screams, the clash of weapons, and the neighing of warhorses intertwined to create a tragic symphony of war.
Just then, Lin Xue's Night Owl Guards arrived at the main battlefield. Although they were slightly exhausted from the fierce battle at Wolf Fang Pass, their morale soared again upon seeing the victory on the main battlefield. Lin Xue immediately volunteered to Lin Ping, requesting to join the pursuit.
Lin Ping looked at her sister, who was travel-worn but still full of energy, and nodded: "Xiao Xue, you've worked hard. The main force of the rebels has been defeated, but Ma Kun may flee to his stronghold. You lead the Night Owl Guard to continue the pursuit and make sure to severely damage their forces. Don't give them a chance to catch their breath! But remember, don't pursue a desperate enemy. Know when to stop and prioritize your own safety!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" Lin Xue clasped his hands in response, then immediately led the Night Owl Guards, like a black whirlwind, to join the pursuit. The Night Owl Guards excelled at raids and pursuits; like a pack of wolves on the grasslands, they constantly harassed and cut through the scattered rebel ranks, making it difficult for them to mount an effective resistance.
The pursuit lasted for nearly two hours, until they were within dozens of miles of the rebel city, before Lin Ping ordered a retreat.
As the sun sets, its blood-red rays illuminate the devastated battlefield.
The main force of the rebels suffered a devastating blow. Ma Kun fled back to the rebel stronghold with less than three thousand defeated soldiers, his strength severely weakened, and he was no longer able to launch a large-scale offensive in the short term. In this battle, the rebels suffered approximately 15,000 dead and nearly 5,000 captured, incurring heavy losses and abandoning countless weapons and provisions.
Although Lin Ping's troops also paid a heavy price, with about 3,000 soldiers killed and nearly 5,000 wounded, they achieved a decisive victory, completely shattering the rebels' plot to break through the camp and annihilate Lin Ping's troops in one fell swoop, preserving this strategic location, and laying a solid foundation for the court's subsequent suppression of the rebellion.
The cleanup of the battlefield continued until late at night. Lin Ping and Lin Xue stood in front of the command tent, gazing at the battlefield in the distance where wisps of smoke were still rising, their faces showing a tired yet gratified expression.
"We won," Lin Ping said softly, her voice slightly hoarse but full of strength.
"Yes, sister, we won." Lin Xue leaned against her sister, her nerves, which had been tense for several days, finally completely relaxed, and a deep sense of exhaustion washed over her.
Lin Ping gently patted her younger sister's shoulder, her eyes filled with love and pride: "Xiaoxue, we owe you so much this time. Without the intelligence you brought back, we couldn't have won so well, and our soldiers would have shed even more blood."
Lin Xue shook her head: "This is what I should do. It was the soldiers who fought and bled to win this victory." She thought of the Night Owl Guard brothers who sacrificed their lives at Langya Pass, and the nameless soldiers who fell on the city walls, and her heart sank.
War is always accompanied by sacrifice and suffering.
Uncle Zhang and his staff also came over, their faces beaming with the joy of victory.
"General, Miss Xue, this battle is a great victory! We not only defeated the main force of the rebels, but also captured a large amount of grain and weapons, which greatly boosted our morale! Next, should we press our advantage and attack the rebels' stronghold, or..." Uncle Zhang asked.
Lin Ping pondered for a moment and said, "Although the rebels suffered a great defeat, their stronghold is well-fortified, and Ma Kun has already led his remaining troops back, putting up a stubborn resistance. We also suffered heavy casualties in this battle, and our soldiers need rest. Moreover, we are still unaware of the rebels' movements in other directions. It is not advisable to advance rashly for the time being. Issue orders to hold the camp, strengthen vigilance, rest and reorganize the troops, take stock of the battle results, and treat the wounded. At the same time, immediately send someone to report the news of this great victory and its details to the court by fast horse, and await further instructions."
"Yes, General, you are wise!"
As night deepened, the military camp gradually quieted down, with only the footsteps of patrolling soldiers and the occasional groans of wounded soldiers. Around the campfire, the surviving soldiers huddled together, sharing their relief at surviving the ordeal and their joy at victory, while also silently mourning their fallen comrades.
Lin Xue lay in her makeshift tent, unable to fall asleep for a long time. The battle at Langya Pass, the shouts on the main battlefield, and the faces of the fallen soldiers kept flashing through her mind. She knew that this victory was only the beginning, and the road to quelling the rebellion was still long and arduous. But she was also more determined in her belief that as long as her sisters were of one mind and her soldiers fought with their lives, they would surely be able to quell the rebellion and restore peace to the world.
On the horizon, another morning star quietly rises, heralding the arrival of another dawn. The land, ravaged by war, though scarred, also harbors new hope. Lin Xue knows that when the sun rises tomorrow, she, her sister, and all the surviving soldiers will embark on a new journey. And she, this sharp blade in the darkness, will continue to fight between light and shadow to protect their homeland.