Chapter 411 Do you dare to fight me head-on?
When the sixth victory report was sent back to the capital, it also stated that Chang Suining led his troops to pursue Fujiwara no Maru and was approaching Xingzhou.
Some officials immediately became alert. Xingzhou was dependent on Dongluo and had always been one with Dongluo. If Chang Suining approached Xingzhou, wouldn't it be tantamount to attacking Dongluo's front gate?
If the Eastern Luo army sent troops to rescue Fujiwara Maro, she would have been fighting for more than a month. If she was besieged, how would she be able to fight back? !
There is nothing wrong with pursuing a victory, but to march so deep into another country's territory... isn't that a bit too complacent? "In such a large Jiangdu Governor's Mansion, no one is willing to dissuade us?"
"Where is Yu the military supervisor? Has he issued an urgent order to recall the army?"
"Although Governor Chang is a rare military talent, he is also too young and arrogant..."
"After a series of great victories, the Japanese army's retreat was enough to deter Japan... But if they were defeated by the Eastern Luo, wouldn't this reputation that was so hard to build be destroyed in an instant? If so, it would be a complete failure!"
“…”
For a moment, his words sounded like worry, but in fact he was hinting that Chang Suining's move was a sign of greed and recklessness.
Master Chu stood in front, keeping silent for a rare time, and did not refute those who took the opportunity to belittle him.
What if he opened his mouth and choked them twice, and these people became dispirited and dared not say a word? Let them talk. The more they talk now, the louder and more pleasant it will sound when they are slapped in the face in the future.
What can he do to stop someone who is eager to get slapped in the face?
He is not such a kind person.
Master Chu looked calm and composed, with drooping eyelids, and even looked a little sleepy.
Wei Shuyi also gathered up the sleeves of his wide official robe and stood there leisurely. If the Grand Tutor didn't say anything, then he wouldn't say anything either.
In the end, it was the Holy Ceremonial Emperor who interrupted these voices: "You may not need to worry."
Compared to the beginning of the spring, her hair had a few more strands of gray, but under the protection of the dragon robe and the emperor's crown, this did not diminish her majesty.
At this moment, she said to the ministers in a confident tone: "I believe that Governor Chang will not take any risks."
When the officials heard this, they all had different feelings. A eunuch quickly stepped into the palace and reported, "Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Dongluo has sent an envoy to our country, saying that they are here to plead guilty!"
Dong Luo...please forgive me?!
It is a fact that the new king of Dong Luo is colluding with Japan, and all places have mobilized troops to resist Dong Luo's attacks, and the situation is like a taut string. But now Dong Luo wants to apologize without fighting... Could it be that they were scared by the battle in Jiangdu and turned back to the right path?
Or is there some other reason? Or is it a trick?
There was a sudden noise in the hall, and some officials' faces turned red and white, as if they were thinking of something.
Master Chu opened his sleepy eyes and became alert - how did I say it, the slap in the face is coming, isn't it?
While the imperial court of the capital was in a commotion due to the arrival of the Dong Luo envoy, Fujiwara no Maro was also filled with suspicion and speculation about Dong Luo's abnormal behavior.
After the victory in the first battle in Jiangdu, it took a total of one month for Chang Suining to send back five letters of victory.
None of these five reports of victory were false. During this month, Fujiwara no Maro's 28,000 troops were reduced by half again. Today, he has less than 10,000 soldiers left by his side.
This number of casualties was extremely heavy for the Japanese army, even not less than the 30,000 casualties in Jiangdu in one night... Because a pursuit battle has a lot in common with guerrilla warfare, so this should have been their advantage, but they were still killed by Sheng's army several times without any chance of fighting back.
During the pursuit, the casualties of Sheng’s army were almost negligible...
Although it was due to the low morale, the degree of frustration was almost indescribable for the Japanese army.
But fortunately, despite Chang Suining's numerous obstructions, they were finally able to successfully approach Xingzhou Island...
However, the Japanese army's hope called "fortunately" was soon ruthlessly shattered by reality.
When approaching Seongju Island, Fujiwara no Maro noticed something strange.
He was cautious and sent a group of trusted men to test the waters first, only to be shocked to find that Xingzhou had been controlled by Sheng's army!
Sheng's army is all over Xingzhou Island, so how credible is the reply that Jin Xianying sent to him not long ago? Half a month ago, he sent a message to Dongluo by speedboat, and Jin Xianying's reply was - lead Sheng's army to Dongluo waters, and then Dongluo will send troops to attack Sheng's army! The reply also said that the reason for leading Sheng's army to Dongluo instead of Dongluo directly sending navy to meet the Japanese army was to weaken Chang Suining's defense. To this end, Dongluo will launch a land battle in Andong, which borders Dasheng, to confuse Sheng's sight, thereby relaxing Sheng's vigilance against Dongluo in the sea, and ensuring that Chang Suining has enough courage to pursue here.
This method is cautious and is in line with Fujiwara no Maro's intentions.
Therefore, he brought the remnants of his troops and spared no effort to lure Chang Suining here at all costs, just to join forces with Dong Luo to wipe out Sheng's army in one fell swoop!
But now...
He had already reached the vicinity of Seongju, but there was no sign of the army that Kim Heon-young had promised! Was it because Kim Heon-young saw that the situation was not right and was willing to be a coward, betraying Japan and not saving him?
Or...
The situation in Seishuu made Fujiwara no Maro think of another possibility.
Seongju Island has always been under the jurisdiction of East Luo. The Japanese troops stationed on Seongju Island only stayed there since they were preparing to attack Seong. In order to facilitate communication with East Luo and monitor the movements in the nearby waters, they left a small number of Japanese troops here.
Moreover, these Japanese troops were sent directly by the Japanese country, not by Fujiwara no Maru. Therefore, even if these people had a problem on the island, under the premise that the Sheng army deliberately blocked the news, it was normal for him to flee all the way here in a short period of time and not know about the changes on Xingzhou Island.
But Seongju Island is only one day’s journey from Dongra, and it is also under the jurisdiction of Dongra… How could Dongra Jin Xianying not have noticed this for such a long time? !
Unless, Dong Luo is also controlled by Sheng’s army!
So, was the reply letter from "Kim Heon-yeong" with the seal of the King of Dongluo really written by Kim Heon-yeong? !
The strategy of luring the enemy deep into the territory in that letter... Is this enemy Chang Suining, or him?
He tried his best to lead Sheng Jun here, thinking that a big net had been laid here to wait for Chang Suining. However, was this cage set up by the girl for him? The identities of prey and hunter in his cognition were reversed...
This unprecedented frustration, as well as the shame and anger of being fooled and played tricks on others, almost drove Fujiwara no Maro, who was in a desperate situation at the time, crazy.
Along the way, they were chased and fled like rats, suffering defeat after defeat... They watched helplessly as their troops were decimated again and again!
He tried his best to be patient, just to lure the arrogant girl here, but when he got here, he realized that the other party was the one who set up the trap!
It’s not like he hasn’t been defeated before, but he has never been defeated like this!
At this moment, seeing the more than 20,000 strong troops approaching again, the remnants of Fujiwara no Maro almost collapsed completely.
The successive defeats have completely crushed their morale. The only reason they have been able to hold on until now is because of the existence of the Eastern Roman "allies".
But the allied forces never showed up, and Sheng's army had already drawn their swords once again.
Furthermore, although they had been fighting together at sea for a month, Sheng’s army had sufficient supplies and had taken turns resting along the way, so they were still energetic. On the other hand, they all had sunken cheeks and were in low spirits.
Their food and water had been exhausted. In order to ensure that the remaining supplies could sustain them to this point, General Fujiwara repeatedly abandoned the seriously injured. Some of the wounded soldiers even had their chest and abdomen flesh cut off and their legs cut off before being thrown into the sea to use as dry food...
They ate it all, so they could get here alive.
But what awaits them here is not dawn, but destruction.
Due to great despair and physical exhaustion, some Japanese soldiers could no longer hold their swords.
Some Japanese soldiers even suddenly knelt down, confessed their sins to God, and then stabbed the knife into their abdomen while crying, passing through their bodies, ending their lives as a gesture of atonement, in an attempt to eliminate their sins and be liberated in the next life.
This move actually attracted many mentally broken Japanese soldiers to follow suit.
In front of them was the Sheng army, and behind them was their hometown... But even if they fought to the death to return, what would that do? As a defeated army, their fate would be even more humiliating and terrible than dying here by disembowelment! "A bunch of shameless cowards!"
Fujiwara no Maro shouted angrily, almost gritting his teeth.
The generals around him began to persuade him to withdraw his troops and return to Japan.
Perhaps he should have gone back earlier. After the defeat in Jiangdu, he should have turned back to apologize, at least he could have preserved his strength... But the general was unwilling to retreat, so he fell to this point step by step!
The situation was now irreversible. Resistance would only cause the soldiers to lose their morale. Retreating was the only option! Fujiwara Maro knew this. He was still struggling, but suddenly heard a report from the soldiers behind him that the Tora navy had appeared in the rear! Fujiwara Maro suddenly turned his head.
One after another, the Dong Luo warships were approaching this place.
Also appearing was the flag of the Sheng army. The flag embroidered with the word "Chang" stood side by side with the Dong Luo battle flag. The former was taller than the latter, and it completely announced Dong Luo's position at the time in the wind.
Dong Luo has turned against Da Sheng!
The Japanese army watched helplessly as the powerful Dongluo navy assisted Sheng's army and blocked their last route of retreat.
A Don Luo warship, leading the way, approached them, with guards standing on it, holding strong shields.
On the front deck of this heavily guarded ship stood a very young tall figure, wearing the robe and crown of the ruler of Dongluo.
At this moment, the fair-skinned young man stood at the bow, his eyes passing over the defeated Japanese army and looking at the Dasheng Navy opposite.
There was still some distance between them, and the figures were blurry, but he could still tell who was the one who first sent him the message.
The figure was wearing a black cape, a silver crown on her hair, and she was tall and straight. At first glance, I knew it was her.
The young man raised his hand and saluted the figure from a distance. This salute was an etiquette he had learned in Dasheng in the past.
However, the owner of that figure did not pay attention to him for the time being, but focused on the overall battle situation. At this time, a figure came from behind and walked onto her warship, so she turned around to look -
The one who came back was Yuan Xiang. He grinned as he clasped his fists and said, "Commander, I have accomplished your mission!"
Then, as he spoke, Yuan Xiang raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the Eastern Luo army.
Chang Suining looked in the direction of his finger and nodded with satisfaction and approval.
In comparison, Fujiwara no Maro's expression was not so relaxed.
He had already recognized that the man wearing the crown and robes of the King of Dongluo was not Jin Xianying!
Kim Heon-young is short and broad, and his temperament and age are very different from this person!
So... Dong Luo changed hands again?
No wonder, no wonder Dong Luo suddenly changed its position. It turned out that it was not being controlled, but that Da Sheng intervened and influenced its internal affairs!
The new ruler of Eastern Luo personally led his troops to encircle and suppress the enemy... It is obvious that he has a heart of "atonement". He is really a good dog of the Dasheng family! Fujiwara no Maro squeezed out a strange laugh from between his teeth. The veins on his big hand holding the Japanese sword bulged, and the resentment in his chest piled up more and more, as if it would burst him in the next moment.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and swung his sword to block the oncoming arrow.
The next moment, more sharp arrows flew over, forming a dense rain of arrows.
The ones who shot the arrows were the Dong Luo army.
The Japanese soldiers screamed and fell down after being shot by arrows.
After a hail of arrows, the remaining Japanese troops took shelter under the hulls of the ships. At this time, She Cai, He Wuhu, Bai Hong and other generals led their troops to rush forward and boarded the Japanese warships.
They all knew clearly that this was the last battle, just as the coach said - fight one more battle, get seven victories, kill all the enemies, withdraw the troops, and go back to celebrate the New Year!
Therefore, everyone was determined to win the battle quickly. Shepherd's Purse wielded the knife even more skillfully. After many battles, when she killed the enemies, she was no longer the butcher who howled in the snow and said, "It's not the same as killing pigs."
He Wuhu was eager to make a contribution, so he fought his way onto Fujiwara no Maro's warship.
He lost many brothers in this battle. That day, he saw with his own eyes that Chang Kuo was humiliated and injured by Fujiwara Maro. He was always thinking about chopping off Fujiwara Maro's head to relieve his hatred!
Besides, the New Year is coming soon, and killing an animal as a sacrifice to the gods is an old custom in their village!
He Wuhu fought with Fujiwara no Maro as he wished.
But the result after the fight was not what he expected.
After being defeated several times in succession, He Wuhu was forced out of the cabin by Fujiwara Maro holding a knife. He Wuhu struggled to block with the knife in his hand. As he retreated repeatedly, he suddenly felt a gust of cool wind blowing from behind.
"Dang!" With a crisp sound, a silver spear picked up Fujiwara Maro's sword, and it seemed to stir up silver fragments.
When Fujiwara no Maro put away his sword and retreated, He Wuhu also suddenly dodged backwards. At the same time, a small hand supported his back. When he was about to steady his body, the man had taken two steps forward and blocked him with a spear in his hand.
The figure was not taller than him, but the aura around him far outweighed him.
“Coach…!” He Wuhu covered his injured arm, with a hint of shame on his rough face.
Fujiwara no Maro had also stabilized himself. He stood in front of the cabin entrance, staring at the girl in the black cape with sinister eyes, and recited the words in Sheng Yu, word by word: "Chang, Sui Ning..."
The girl raised her chin slightly: "That's right."
A provocative smile appeared on Fujiwara Maru's face: "Youngest commander of the Great Sheng, do you dare to fight me head-on today?"
The girl's expression was even more defiant than his: "You are a defeated general, and I will grant your dying request. It is reasonable and proper for me to do so."
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(End of this chapter)
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