Mythical Three Kingdoms
Chapter 1949 - 1769: Already Calculated
"Hmph, we’re at this point already." A voice suddenly appeared amidst the watching envoys, but everyone could only hear it without seeing who spoke. The voice was unfamiliar, making everyone instantly realize the speaker was among them but using some technique.
"Ha, and so what if we’re at this point? The outcome is still uncertain?" Another voice suddenly emerged, surrounding the crowd, prompting all envoys to start observing their peers from the corners of their eyes.
However, no other voices appeared afterward, yet it was obvious that all the watching envoys had already formed an assessment of the battle in their hearts.
[Indeed, the Kushan Empire has a slight edge. Though the Han Dynasty dominated the previous era, it’s clear now that they are no longer capable.] Soma Prince’s gaze was as calm as water, yet his heart clearly showed traces of excitement, having pledged loyalty to Kushan in advance.
Similarly, many envoys were unable to hide their anxiety, evident despite their attempts at concealment. It was clear they had placed their nation’s fate in the hands of the Han Dynasty, and if the Han were to lose, they couldn’t bear to think about their fate.
The dull, spreading drumbeats could not be hidden from anyone, as even a layperson in military matters could sense the decisive nature it conveyed. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
"Playing the war drums at this point, are they gambling everything?" Hirilah questioned and answered himself in confusion, unable to see any hope for the Han Army in the current situation.
"It’s already too late; the entire Central Army has been split up, with the core assault generals locked within our encirclement, and the fact they haven’t collapsed yet is beyond my expectation." Leiblalei shook his head and said, "They no longer have any hope; after our success in dismantling their Central Army, the outcome is sealed."
"Sulapri, what do you think?" Brack turned to ask Sulapri.
"I have a foreboding feeling; our army might have pressed too early, and now your main force remains as the reserve." Sulapri said with a doubtful expression, feeling uneasy ever since the Han Army’s war drums started the decisive beat.
"Hahaha, you’re overthinking. The Han Army has no chance of a comeback; we’ve locked down the core of their assault, dismantled their main formation. How could a comeback be possible..." Brack laughed and, while chiding Sulapri’s overthinking, witnessed an astonishing scene.
As the decisive drumbeats of the Han Army echoed, their pierced Central Army suddenly erupted with brutal combat power, directly shattering the Kushan main force that was supposed to penetrate the Han Army. They intercepted the closest section of the Kushan forces on the left flank, cutting through into Shantanu’s Kushan right wing.
Instantly, Shantanu’s unit was in chaos while trying to intercept the forces of E Huan and Meng Huo, and as the Barbarian Army led by King Mulu collided with Shantanu’s unit, they unleashed full power. Liu Gui and Ling Bao, who had been holding back for a long time, delivered a fatal blow to Kushan’s right-wing as Shantanu was besieged on three sides with a crumbling defense.
In a flash since the battle began, Kushan’s right-wing, which hadn’t collapsed until now, was shredded to pieces, like a dam destroyed by an ant hole. The original force, already crippled by a three-pronged attack, was weak and couldn’t manage to hold.
Central commander Shantanu hadn’t even had time to react, when he was besieged by E Huan, Meng Huo, and King Mulu. Lacking advanced cultivation and the terrifying combat power akin to Lyu Bu’s, and facing three equally ranked experts with a group of men shooting from behind, Shantanu was knocked off his warhorse within ten moves.
Immediately after, Meng Huo, E Huan, and King Mulu charged and destroyed the Kushan right-wing, heading straight for the Kushan battle formation’s greatest weakness.
At the same time, Wu Yi’s Sword and Shield Corps alongside Li Hui’s Heavy Crossbow blocked the Kushan main army reinforced by King Mulu from breaking free, using a rain of arrows along with crossbow suppression to completely seal them within the Han Army’s central and rear tactical encirclement.
The Kushan Commander-in-Chief, upon realizing their entrapment, instantly understood they were outmaneuvered. Although puzzled at why the Han Army remains unbreakable and continues the battle under such circumstances, the encircling arrows were too dense, and it’s only a matter of time before their side might collapse.
"Where is Leitong’s Crossbow Corps? Heavy crossbows with close combat, even if it means death, we mustn’t let the remaining three routes break free. As long as these three routes are curbed, and our army is unbreakable, we can handle the Kushan Legion any way we wish." Yan Yan roared while commanding Leitong to use heavy crossbows to intercept Kushan forces’ advancement.
In reality, ever since the Kushan hadn’t yet dispatched, upon knowing Kushan had ten Inner Qi Manifestation Rank valiant generals, the Han Army had already plotted everything.
With such good cards at hand, the most fitting tactic is to utilize each valiant general’s strength, thus making a strong offensive formation the best choice.
The Han Dynasty’s civil and military officials had assessed their strength, and although their army from Yizhou wasn’t very strong, if truly calculated, the hands they held might not be weaker than their opponents.