novelSusiti Chapter 815 A Tragic Retreat
Chapter 815 A Tragic Retreat
Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the Nine Heavens Army responded enthusiastically and quickly pursued the fleeing Chu army from Jiangdong. However, they did not engage in excessive killing but instead cornered the enemy and forced them to surrender.
For a time, the battlefield was filled with shouts of battle, but even more so with the sounds of Jiangdong soldiers surrendering. Many Jiangdong Chu troops chose to lay down their weapons and end this meaningless war.
The complete defeat of the Chu army in Jiangdong was like a nightmare, leaving every Jiangdong native in disbelief.
Xiang Yu's defeat and escape completely extinguished the courage in their hearts that had sustained them to fight to the end.
...
After a day and a night of fierce fighting, the battlefield that countless Jiangdong Chu soldiers regarded as a disgrace is now nothing but a scene of desolation and ruin.
The setting sun, like blood, spilled across the ravaged land, adding a tragic touch to this crushing defeat.
Of the 100,000 Chu troops from Jiangdong who marched north to Wenzhou, nearly 40,000 were lost in this catastrophe, either dying, surrendering, or getting lost in the chaos of the battlefield.
The 100,000 elite troops of the Chu army in Jiangdong suffered nearly half their losses. This was a crushing defeat that Xiang Yu had never experienced since he raised his army!
When Xiang Yu dragged his exhausted body back to the camp, the entire camp was immersed in a depressing and gloomy atmosphere.
The laughter and high aspirations of the past have now turned into silent sighs and heavy footsteps.
Inside the tents, the flickering candlelight illuminated the sorrowful faces of the inhabitants.
The generals under his command, who were usually spirited and fearless, were now all dejected, as if they had aged ten years overnight.
As Xiang Yu entered the tent, his gaze swept over the crowd, and an indescribable sorrow welled up in his heart.
This defeat not only resulted in the loss of soldiers, but more importantly, it destroyed the morale of the army.
The myth of Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, and his Jiangdong troops being invincible has finally been shattered!
That former vigor and invincible confidence seem to have vanished along with this defeat.
Inside the tent, the most imposing Gonggong bowed his head, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white from the force, his heart filled with guilt and self-reproach.
As Xiang Yu's right-hand man, he failed to share the burden with Xiang Yu, and instead caused Xiang Yu to fall into such a predicament.
The five tiger generals, including Long Ju and Ji Bu, who were standing to the side, all had their heads bowed, their eyes filled with sadness and disappointment.
How valiant and heroic they once were, but now, faced with defeat, everything seems pale and powerless.
Xiang Yu remained silent for a moment, but that silence was more profound than any words.
He slowly walked to the main seat and sat down, his expression complex as he scanned the people below him.
At this moment, his heart was like a surging sea, turbulent and turbulent, yet he didn't know where to begin.
He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound more composed, even though his hoarse voice betrayed his exhaustion and pain.
The camp was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Xiang Yu's instructions.
"Brothers, we have been defeated. This is the worst defeat I, Xiang Yu, have ever suffered since I started my army."
"I know you are all filled with guilt and self-blame, but this defeat is not your fault, it is my fault, Xiang Yu's fault."
"It was my overconfidence and my carelessness that led to this outcome."
Finally, Xiang Yu spoke, his voice hoarse and deep.
Being ruthlessly defeated in his most confident area of military strength finally brought this arrogant overlord to his senses.
This finally made this confident king, who was invincible in martial arts, realize the price of being a reckless fool.
"However, the defeat has already happened, and we cannot change it. The most important thing now is how we face the situation ahead."
At this point, Xiang Yu paused, seemingly suppressing his inner regret, before continuing.
However, although Xiang Yu's words were firm, all the generals could hear the bitterness in them.
This defeat was absolutely fatal to the Chu army in Jiangdong. With morale broken, it would be extremely difficult to restore their former glory.
"Your Majesty, we are still willing to follow you, regardless of life or death, victory or defeat."
"As long as the King is alive, there is still hope for the Chu army in Jiangdong."
Gonggong raised his head, looked at Xiang Yu, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes.
No matter how badly Xiang Yu was defeated, as long as he hadn't completely fallen, his unparalleled mastery of internal energy was undeniable.
As long as Xiang Yu has not fallen, the Chu army of Jiangdong will not fall!
"Yes, Your Majesty, we are not afraid of death, but we are afraid of not being able to die on the battlefield for you."
"Give us your orders, and we will obey you to the death, whatever you command us to do."
Long Qie followed up with his own words.
Ji Bu and the other three generals also expressed their stance. They were all among the first group of confidants who followed Xiang Yu from the beginning, and naturally they all vowed to follow Xiang Yu to the death.
One defeat is not enough to shake their beliefs.
One defeat is not enough to shake their beliefs.
No army can remain undefeated forever, and they had long been prepared for this day.
Xiang Yu looked at his generals and felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but he was also now aware of what was going on.
The Chu army of Jiangdong at this moment is no longer the same Chu army of the past. They need time and space to reorganize and restore their morale.
"Alright, in that case, let's prepare to break camp and retreat south back to Quezhou."
"Let's regroup there and wait for the day... to fight again in Wenzhou and avenge our defeat!"
Xiang Yu nodded, his voice even more resolute.
After saying this, Xiang Yu turned and walked to the command desk, picked up a pen, and quickly wrote down several orders on the paper.
Every minute and second is crucial at this moment. We must arrange the retreat as soon as possible to prevent the Jiuxiao Army from pursuing us and bringing another catastrophe to the Jiangdong Chu Army.
The order was quickly relayed, and the entire camp sprang into action.
Although the soldiers were filled with resentment and sorrow, they knew that this was not the time to act recklessly. They could only silently pack up their supplies and prepare to retreat.
Subsequently, the Chu army of Jiangdong began to break camp in a silent atmosphere.
The once invincible Chu army of Jiangdong has now retreated to the south in dejection, like a stray dog.
On the retreat, Xiang Yu remained silent, gazing at the distant horizon, his heart filled with emotion.
This defeat was a huge blow to him. He lost many elite soldiers and, more importantly, the morale of the Jiangdong Chu army, which had always been invincible.
But at this moment, he could only lead the remaining soldiers and retreat back to the south in dejection.
The soldiers remained silent throughout the journey, with only the sounds of horses' hooves and wheels echoing through the desolate wilderness.
Gonggong, Longju, and others will always stay by Xiang Yu's side, silently protecting him.
This is the moment when Xiang Yu needs them the most. They can only protect their lord, who once led them to countless battles and never suffered a defeat, in their own way.