A large army is pressing in on the South Vietnamese border.

Wang Jian stood in the central command tent, his gaze fixed on the terrain model before him.

He had visited this place ten years ago, when the Qin state had not yet become the hegemon of the world. Now, revisiting this place, looking at those familiar mountains and rivers, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

Time, like a knife, has etched countless vicissitudes on his face, but it has also honed his battlefield intuition to a sharper edge.

Ying Zheng originally intended for him to stay in the rear during this southward expedition, but he insisted on volunteering for the battle.

For no other reason than for this final battle.

"Reporting to the General!" a scout rushed into the tent. "We've gathered intelligence on the Baiyue army. Yi Yusong has amassed 100,000 troops and arrayed them at Longmen Valley. It seems they intend to engage us in a decisive battle!"

"One hundred thousand?" Wang Jian sneered, setting down the bamboo slips in his hand. "This Yi Yusong does have some guts. However..."

He strolled to the sand table and gently tapped the location of Longmen Valley with his finger: "This location selection shows considerable thought."

Longmen Valley is flanked by steep cliffs, with only a narrow, winding path through the middle. In such terrain, even a single soldier could easily take on ten. Yi Yusong's choice to fight here clearly indicates his intention to use the terrain to his advantage and stall the Qin army.

"Send the order: the entire army must prepare for a full-scale assault!"

Outside the tent, a palpable sense of impending doom filled the air. Sixty thousand elite Qin soldiers were already arrayed in battle. These seasoned veterans, personally selected by Wang Jian, were the cream of the crop, eagerly awaiting the order to charge.

"General," said Vice General Qin, stepping forward, "the Baiyue have deployed heavy troops in Longmen Valley, along with numerous repeating crossbows and catapults. A direct assault would likely result in significant casualties."

He had worked with Wang Jian for many years and knew that although the old general was of a strong character, he never acted rashly. His eagerness today was somewhat unusual.

"Do you know why Yi Yusong chose Longmen Valley for the final battle?" Wang Jian didn't answer directly, but instead asked.

"This..." Old Qin pondered for a moment, "They must be relying on the terrain, thinking they can stop our army here, right?"

"That's not all," Wang Jian said slowly. "He's gambling. He's gambling that our main force is tied down here and unable to reinforce the coast. That way, the wicked man's side will be weak and isolated, giving their navy an opportunity..."

At this point, he suddenly burst into laughter: "What a pity! This Yi Yusong was ultimately short-sighted. Even if he blocked the land route, his prized navy has probably already been dealt with by that wicked man!"

Old Qin suddenly realized. No wonder the general was in such a hurry today; it turned out he needed to coordinate with the operation on the waterway.

"So..." Wang Jian pointed to a hidden mountain path on the sand table, "Look here, there's a small path behind Longmen Valley that leads straight to the bottom. Although it's rugged and difficult to traverse, if we could send an elite force to outflank them from here, we could catch them completely off guard!"

"Brilliant idea!" Old Qin's eyes lit up. "It's just that the mountain path is too treacherous; transporting supplies will be difficult..."

"Who said we needed to transport supplies?" Wang Jian's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Select three thousand light cavalry, carrying three days' rations. They'll bypass this mountain path and strike directly at the enemy's rear. While our army launches a frontal assault, they'll attack from the rear!"

"This..." Old Qin said with some worry, "Three thousand people is far too few. What if the Baiyue find out..."

"Don't worry," Wang Jian said confidently. "I've been in the army for decades; what haven't I seen? If these three thousand men are well-chosen, they can handle even ten times the enemy's strength. Besides..."

He picked up a cup of warm medicinal wine and slowly took a sip. This was a habit he had maintained for many years; he would always drink a cup before a major battle to calm his nerves and refresh himself.

"Furthermore, Yi Yusong has deployed his main force at the valley entrance, leaving his rear vulnerable. By the time he realizes this, it will be too late!"

Just then, another scout rushed in to report: "General, there seems to be some unusual activity within the Baiyue army. A lot of supplies are being moved to the rear; it looks like they're about to advance!"

"A retreat?" Wang Jian frowned, then suddenly realized, "So that's it! This Yi Yusong is planning a guerrilla war. He must have heard that the wicked man has already succeeded at sea, and he's trying to avoid direct confrontation."

He immediately put down his wine cup and strode out of the tent. In the biting cold wind, 60,000 Qin soldiers stood in a dark, imposing array, their banners fluttering and their killing intent soaring to the sky.

"Order the entire army to depart immediately! We must not allow the main force of the Baiyue to escape!"

The sound of bugles echoed through the valleys. The Qin army began its methodical advance. Heavy infantry led the way, archers followed in the middle, and cavalry brought up the rear. This was the iron-blooded formation that Wang Jian had honed over many years, a formation that had once struck fear into the hearts of the six states.

Every step they took was exceptionally precise, demonstrating extremely strong military discipline. This was what made the Qin army so formidable—they were not only brave but also knew how to obey orders.

"General!" An old soldier rode up, "The scouts ahead report that the Baiyue are indeed retreating. However, they have left numerous traps and ambushes at the valley entrance."

"Ha!" Wang Jian scoffed. "You think this little trick can stump me? Order the archers forward and fire! Don't worry about accuracy, just make sure the entire area is covered."

He knew the characteristics of the Baiyue soldiers well—they were brave in individual combat, but they were most afraid of this kind of large-scale arrow rain.

As expected, the volley of arrows immediately disrupted the Baiyue ambush. The soldiers hidden in the grass were exposed and became easy targets for the Qin army.

Screams rose and fell; many Baiyue soldiers were riddled with arrows before they could even draw their weapons. Blood quickly stained the grassland at the valley entrance.

"kill!"

At a command, the Qin army surged into the valley entrance like a flood. The vanguard carefully cleared the traps, while the follow-up troops continued to advance. The sheer scale and momentum of this advance was enough to terrify any enemy.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!