owlsbooks Chapter 2505 The Han army should pursue the fleeing enemy with its remaining strength and march on t
Chapter 2505 The Han army should pursue the fleeing enemy with its remaining strength and march on t
Chapter 2505 The Han army should pursue the fleeing enemy with its remaining strength and march on the capital.
As the sun sets, its blood-red glow illuminates the vast battlefield strewn with corpses and fallen banners.
The epic battle that had lasted all day finally came to a decisive conclusion.
The air was thick with the stench of blood, the acrid smell of gunpowder and dust, and the cries of wounded soldiers and the cheers of victors echoed from every corner of the battlefield, weaving together a cruel yet magnificent triumphant song.
In the central camp of the Han army, under the ever-standing banner bearing the character "Han," all the meritorious generals of this battle are gathered.
Hulü Guang, his armor stained with blood, stood side by side with Gao Xianzhi. Huang Tianhua carried a silver hammer still wet with blood, and Xing Tian carried his signature giant axe and shield. Deng Jiugong, Hou Yi, Xiahou, and other generals were all excited.
Han Xin stood on a makeshift wooden platform, holding a battle report that had just been compiled by the various battalions.
His face didn't show much outward elation; he remained as calm as a deep lake. However, the slight upturn of his lips and the unprecedented brightness in his eyes revealed the equally turbulent waves within him.
After this battle, the situation in Dongyi was completely settled, and there was almost no possibility of any further changes.
"Generals, you have worked hard." Han Xin glanced at the generals below, slowly stood up, raised the bamboo slips in his hand, and said with a slight excitement in his voice.
"According to preliminary statistics, of the 200,000 Dongyi Liao troops personally led by Yelü Abaoji, countless were killed in battle or scattered, and fewer than 70,000 were able to escape with him!"
"His valiant generals Yelü Changwu and Kulin were killed in battle! The main force of the Eastern Yi royal court has been reduced to seven-tenths after this battle! Its strength has been severely damaged, and the destruction of the country is just around the corner!"
"This battle is all thanks to the bravery of all the generals. Han Xin thanks you all!"
As he spoke, Han Xin gave a simple bow of thanks.
"Great General! Mighty Han Army!" Someone below the stage shouted excitedly.
Immediately, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted from the mouths of these battle-hardened generals, soaring into the sky.
Hulü Guang stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said loudly, "It is entirely thanks to the General's strategic planning and foresight, his ability to engage the enemy with both orthodox and unorthodox tactics, that we were able to defeat this formidable foe in one fell swoop! We were merely following orders and have done nothing of merit!"
Hulü Guang guessed that after this battle, when it came time to reward those who had contributed to the victory, he would likely become the next duke of the Great Han Martial Merit Faction based on his achievements.
Huang Tianhua also brandished his silver hammer and laughed loudly, "That's exhilarating! Fighting alongside the General is truly exhilarating. Yelü Changwu was a hero, what a pity!"
Han Xin raised his hand to silence the commotion, his gaze fixed on the direction where Yelü Abaoji had fled in defeat, his eyes regaining their depth and composure.
"Although Yelü Abaoji was defeated, he still had 70,000 troops remaining. Moreover, he had been operating in the Eastern Yi region for many years and his foundation still existed. Even a cornered beast will fight, so we must be wary of him. The Sun Kingdom is also watching us like a tiger."
He changed the subject abruptly, his tone resolute: "However, this battle has broken their backbone. I hereby order all units to rest on the spot, take stock of the battle results, treat the wounded, and give a proper burial to the fallen soldiers."
"Furthermore, order the rear army to prepare to cross the river. Ten days later, we will march on Shangjing Prefecture," Han Xin commanded with great confidence. Although Wang Changluo had not been completely eliminated, after this battle, he no longer posed a threat to Han Xin.
With Yelü Abaoji's main force present, Han Xin's rear would only be threatened if all his troops crossed the river.
Now, Yelü Abaoji's main army has suffered a major defeat, and Wang Changluo alone is no longer able to hold out. Without the main army, there is no point in him defending Pingcheng; it is merely an isolated city.
Moreover, although Han Xin won this battle, Yelü Abaoji's forces were twice the size of his own, and Han Xin himself suffered a considerable number of casualties.
Without transferring the main force from the rear, they alone would be unable to continue attacking Shangjing Prefecture and completely destroy Yelü Abaoji.
In this battle, even the elite Black Riders, Vanguard Death Squad, Trapped Camp, Halberdiers, and White Dragon Battalion suffered considerable losses. These elite battalions fought with their lives on the line to win this battle.
The Black Riders, the Vanguard Death Squad, the Trapped Camp, and the Halberdiers—they single-handedly crushed the Pi Shi Army and Yelü Abaoji's main force on the front lines, which alone guaranteed that their casualties would be considerable.
As for the White Dragon Camp, this force was originally intended by Han Xin to be a fire brigade, to be deployed to whichever side of the battlefield, left or right, was in trouble.
Under the onslaught of the Azure Wolf Guard, the right flank battlefield, which was once in dire straits, was saved by the White Dragon Battalion's charge and their bloody battle against the Azure Wolf Guard, which allowed them to hold out until the decisive battle was decided on the main battlefield in the center.
If they hadn't held off the Azure Wolf Guards, the outcome of this battle might have been completely different.
However, after this fierce battle, the 3,000-strong White Dragon Camp suffered more than 60% casualties. It was not just a simple case of being severely weakened; they were practically wiped out.
It could be said that the other elite battalions only needed to be replenished with manpower, but this unit needed to be rebuilt.
The number of the Azure Wolf Guards was more than twice that of the White Dragon Cavalry. Moreover, one was heavy cavalry and the other was light cavalry, so their roles were different. If they fought head-on, the White Dragon Cavalry was destined to suffer heavy casualties and could only use their lives to buy time.
It's not that Han Xin didn't understand that the White Dragon Cavalry couldn't possibly fight the Azure Wolf Guard head-on, but among the various units of the Han army at that time, there really wasn't a more suitable force.
However, even though the losses in this battle were considerable, they were ultimately worthwhile compared to the final outcome.
Yelü Abaoji's main force had been almost completely wiped out. Of the 200,000 troops, only less than 70,000 were left as remnants. The Canglang Guard, one of the Three Wolf Guards, was completely wiped out, and the Jinlang Guard also suffered significant losses, losing more than one-third of its troops.
From any perspective, this battle was a resounding victory.
In fact, the spoils from this battle alone are almost enough to make up for the losses in this battle.
The armor and warhorses left behind by the annihilated Canglang Guard, as well as the spoils left by the lost Jinlang Guard, are things that even a great power would need to accumulate for several years to acquire.
However, due to the spoils of this battle, the cavalry generals, led by the two commanders of the Black Cavalry, Taishi Ci and Fang Tianci, could hardly contain their smiles.
Of these spoils, some will inevitably be distributed to their various units, as these are all valuable items that can directly enhance the combat effectiveness of their respective units.