"General!" The lieutenant pointed into the distance, "The King of Chu's entourage has taken the opportunity to slip away! They've already entered the mountains!"
"Stop chasing!" Meng Wu glanced at the sky. "It's getting dark, and pursuing at night in this terrain is too dangerous. Order us to set up camp. We'll continue the chase at dawn tomorrow!"
That night, Xiong Qi's group finally entered the mountains. By the light of torches, they rested temporarily in a valley.
"Your Majesty," Zhen Xiong said, wiping away cold sweat, "it was thanks to the fierce fighting of the rear guard that we were in danger."
"Sigh..." Xiong Qi sighed deeply, "They were all excellent! It's a pity..."
He gazed northwards, where faint shouts of battle could be heard intermittently. Clearly, the soldiers covering the rear were still fighting a bloody battle.
"Your Majesty!" a general rushed in to report, "I've obtained some good news!"
"What news?"
"The Qin army has set up camp at the foot of the mountain! They dare not pursue in the dark!"
"Great!" Zhen Xiong exclaimed joyfully. "Let's take this opportunity and travel through the night; perhaps we can shake them off!"
"Yes!" Xiong Qi's spirits lifted. "Order the entire army to rest briefly and then continue advancing. We must reach the canyon before dawn!"
So, under the cover of night, the King of Chu's army continued south.
They took remote and difficult paths, which allowed them to avoid the Qin army's pursuit.
Meanwhile, Yingdu was in complete chaos.
"Report! The Qin army's vanguard has arrived at the city walls!"
"The garrison troops in the eastern part of the city have mutinied, saying they want to surrender!"
"The west side of the city is also in chaos, with people fleeing in all directions..."
The general stood atop the city wall, watching the Qin army gradually approach, his face ashen.
He knew that his mission was to hold off the Qin army as much as possible and buy time for the King of Chu. But right now, he was already doing his best just to maintain order in the city.
Even more critically, many generals were considering surrendering!
"General!" a trusted aide reported, "The city is in complete chaos, it's totally out of control!"
The general glanced at the sky, then at the Qin army outside the city. Suddenly, he drew his sword: "Send down the order, prepare for a desperate battle!"
"General..."
"His Majesty ordered us to defend the city, but he didn't say how long we had to hold out," the general said tragically. "As long as we can hold out a little longer, we'll hold out as long as possible!"
As night fell, flames soared into the sky atop the walls of Yingdu. The Qin army arrayed themselves below the city walls, preparing for a general offensive.
Meanwhile, in the mountains to the south, the King of Chu's army was making a difficult journey.
Unbeknownst to them, an elite Qin army had already outflanked them from another direction and was quietly waiting for dawn.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
