nycdaug Chapter 70 A Sudden Turn of Events
Chapter 70 A Sudden Turn of Events
On the city wall of Chang'an, Li Heng looked at the dark mass of enemy troops outside the city with a solemn expression.
He knew that this battle concerned the fate of the entire Tang Dynasty and could not be taken lightly.
"Your Highness, shall we launch a counterattack immediately?" Gao Shi stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Let's wait and see. There are still unknown enemy troops lurking in the shadows. If we reveal any weakness, we may be caught off guard and lose our advantage," Li Heng said calmly, his gaze sweeping across the entire area.
Meanwhile, in An Lushan's camp outside the city, the sound of war drums resounded through the sky, and the soldiers were ready to fight.
An Lushan stood in the center of the tent, with General Feng and another trusted confidant beside him.
"My lords and soldiers, today's battle is the key to our success or failure. The entire army must exert all its strength and not slacken!" An Lushan shouted to boost morale, his voice deep and powerful.
"We swear to follow the general to the death and conquer Chang'an!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their fighting spirit soaring.
Meanwhile, Li Mao was closely monitoring the battle situation from his residence.
He knew in his heart that as long as the inside and outside forces cooperated properly, they could take Chang'an in one fell swoop.
"General Feng has already sent someone to make contact, and the operation is imminent, ready to strike at any moment." Afu received the new report from the secret envoy and hurriedly reported it to Li Mao.
“Very good. Inform General Feng that everything is ready and he is just waiting for the order.” Li Mao smiled slightly, his face full of confidence.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, an army that An Lushan had not anticipated was quietly gathering.
The army was led by Cheng Zhang, the newly appointed military governor of the north. He was ordered to come to Chang'an to provide assistance and planned to launch a surprise attack on An Lushan's rear while the army was launching a full-scale offensive.
"General Cheng, are you sure you want to act now? The enemy forces are large, and it would be unwise for us to launch a rash attack." The deputy general was slightly worried about Cheng Zhang's decisive judgment.
Cheng Zhang turned around, his eyes resolute: "Precisely because the enemy is launching a full-scale attack and their rear is vulnerable, this is the best opportunity for us to launch a surprise attack on their rear. We must go all out."
"Yes, General! I will do my utmost to catch them off guard!" The lieutenant bowed and accepted the order.
……
Li Heng stood on the city wall of Chang'an, his face showing signs of fatigue from the pressure. But his eyes were filled with determination, a feeling that inspired every soldier around him.
"Your Highness, an urgent message has arrived from the border." A messenger rushed over and reported to Li Heng.
Li Heng took the letter, unfolded it, and read it carefully. Suddenly, a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.
"Commander Cheng Zhang has led his troops in an attempt to launch a surprise attack on An Lushan's rear. This operation has a very high chance of breaking the enemy's morale." Li Heng calmed down after reading the letter, his tone noticeably more relaxed.
Upon hearing this, Gao Shi's spirits lifted: "With such military assistance, the enemy will surely be caught off guard and their fate will be uncertain."
"Notify all units to closely coordinate with General Cheng's operation. When the enemy relaxes their guard, launch a full-scale counterattack and give them no chance to delay!" Li Heng issued further operational orders.
Amidst the raging flames of war, An Lushan's army, as it approached the walls of Chang'an, suddenly received an urgent report from the rear.
"General, something terrible has happened! We've been attacked from the rear! Cheng Zhang has led his troops in a breakthrough, and our vital supply depot has been lost!" a guard said breathlessly.
An Lushan's expression changed drastically, clearly caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events.
"Damn Cheng Zhang! I didn't expect him to cause trouble at this time." An Lushan gritted his teeth, a flash of anger in his eyes.
Just then, Feng Jiang also received Li Mao's secret letter, and a look of hesitation appeared on his face: "General, the situation over there is urgent. Should we adjust our tactics and make a quick victory?"
An Lushan pondered for a moment: "Immediately send an elite reinforcement to deal with Cheng Zhang's surprise attack and make sure to stabilize the rear!"
"Yes, General! I will not fail in my mission." General Feng clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.
At this moment, on the walls of Chang'an, Li Heng and Gao Shi were meticulously deploying defenses, all hoping for a response to the enemy's movements.
"Hold your ground and don't let your guard down. When the enemy is exhausted, that will be our opportunity to launch a surprise attack." Li Heng's eyes were sharp as he kept a close eye on the enemy situation in the distance.
at the same time.
Despite being surrounded by enemy troops, Cheng Zhang remained fearless.
"All soldiers, listen to my command! Do not fear the enemy! We are the iron wall of Chang'an, and we will surely drive the enemy out of the territory of our Great Tang!" Cheng Zhang's call to arms inspired the fighting spirit of all the soldiers.
Outside Chang'an, the reversal of the situation was already a foregone conclusion.
An Lushan was under immense pressure. He knew that if he were to lose at this moment, it would likely damage his morale and affect the outcome of the subsequent battles.
"Did you see that? This kind of surprise attack is truly unexpected. The enemy actually used such a tactic." An Lushan was slightly agitated and whispered to Feng Jiang beside him.
Feng was secretly surprised, not expecting that his plan had been disrupted by others. He was furious: "General, you must think twice before you act."
Beneath the walls of Chang'an, Cheng Zhang's army was engaged in fierce combat with An Lushan's reinforcements.
The infantry in the front ranks clashed in close combat, their shouts of battle echoing throughout the air.
Li Mao suddenly received a letter from Feng Jiang requesting assistance, hoping that Li Mao would temporarily halt his offensive in order to preserve his forces.
But Li Mao had no time to worry about that now. He knew that there was no time to hesitate, and the opportunity would be fleeting.
"No matter how difficult or dangerous the situation, we must not stop and must go all out!" Li Mao replied to General Feng, knowing in his heart that success or failure depended on this one move.
At this point, both An Lushan and Li Heng understood that the situation was irreconcilable and that the only option was to fight to the death.
"Your Highness, every step we take from here on out will determine our fate," Gao Shi whispered to Li Heng.
“Indeed, I will never allow the enemy to steal the land of my Great Tang,” Li Heng replied calmly, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Inside An Lushan's tent in his camp, the atmosphere was tense as An Lushan pondered his next move.
"Give the enemy another heavy blow, so they have no chance to recover," An Lushan ordered Feng Jiang in a deep voice.
……
Li Heng stood for a long time in the winding corridors of the palace, staring at Chang'an in the distance at dawn.
He knew in his heart that this battle was not only about the survival of the Tang Dynasty, but would also determine his fate as the crown prince.
"Your Highness, after last night's fierce battle, the enemy is showing signs of fatigue. This may be a good opportunity for us to launch a counterattack," Gao Shi suggested, standing to the side with several trusted generals.
Li Heng looked slightly tired, but his eyes remained resolute: "Strive for victory through stability. Please pay close attention to the enemy's movements and do not act rashly."
Meanwhile, in An Lushan's tent, an even more tense atmosphere enveloped his mind.
General Feng, looking worried, reported the latest battle situation.
"General, Hou Chengzhang's surprise attack was unstoppable. The enemy took the opportunity to invade our logistics force, and the army was in a state of panic." General Feng bowed slightly, his tone revealing his worry.
An Lushan looked tense and lowered his head in deep thought.
Cheng Zhang's surprise attack disrupted his overall plans, and he had to respond quickly, otherwise the impact would spread throughout the entire country.
"I have already dispatched troops to disrupt the enemy's attack. We must hold the line. General Feng, please lead another reinforcement to support the rear positions." An Lushan decisively gave the order, hoping to turn the tide of the battle.