My father, King Chu, was besieged at Gaixia

Chapter 39: Another Special Achievement
Although the 20,000 elite Chu cavalry were brave and fought desperately, the Han army was too large and kept pouring in from all directions, seemingly endless.

Xiang Sheng, Xiang Zhuang, Xiang Guan and other Xiang clan members, as well as Ji Bu, Huan Chu and other generals of other surnames, all took turns to lead the charge to the front line to inspire morale. By now, not only had the cavalry suffered heavy losses, but the most valiant Xiang Guan and Ji Bu were also injured.

However, no matter how they charged, the smoke rising from the Zhou Yin army was clearly visible in the distance, but they could not break through the encirclement and join them.

The hot-tempered Xiang Guan cursed loudly: "What is Zhou Yin waiting for? Instead of commanding his troops to attack the Han army, he just stayed there quietly. Is he nursing his child?"

Huan Chu rode his horse to Xiang Yu and shouted anxiously, "Your Majesty, the soldiers have suffered heavy casualties. Han Xin is determined to surround and kill us. His troops are too superior. We are at an absolute disadvantage. A long battle will not be good for us. Should we retreat to Gaixia City for the time being and make long-term plans?"

Xiang Zhuang suddenly came forward and shouted angrily, "No!" He turned to Xiang Yu and said urgently, "Your Majesty, although it is difficult now, it is our last chance. We must not retreat. Once we retreat to Gaixia City, everything will be over. It will be difficult to boost morale. The only way now is to trust Master Chang!"

"It was unexpected that Lord Chang was able to persuade Zhou Yin to rebel, and I admire him very much. But he is a human being after all, not a god, and he is only a sixteen-year-old boy. Who is Ying Bu? He is a tiger that chooses its prey, a vassal who rules one side, and his determination is no less than that of the Overlord. How can anyone persuade him? Even if you use your horse's hoof to think, what reason does Ying Bu have to betray Liu Bang and join the Overlord again? Isn't it too frivolous to entrust the lives of these 20,000 soldiers to a sixteen-year-old boy?"

Xiang Yu sat upright on his tall black horse, ignoring the bloody and brutal fighting around him that was like hell, and the argument between Xiang Zhuang and Huan Chu. His double pupils kept scanning the armies of Zhou Yin and Ying Bu from afar.

The Grand Marshal Xiang Sheng, who was charging at the front, was replaced at this time and rode back panting. The familiar faces of the Xiang clan members and guards around him were almost half gone.

Hearing the argument between Xiang Zhuang and Huan Chu, Xiang Sheng sighed and said, "Your Majesty, Han Xin's banner has always been in front of us. He is personally in charge of the front line, holding the general's sword bestowed by Liu Bang, and all the soldiers dare not risk their lives. Without external forces, it will be difficult for us to break through the encirclement he has set up."

After a pause, Xiang Sheng took a long breath and said in a deep voice: "Whether to fight or retreat, the king must make a decision early. At present, the soldiers still have the strength to fight. If we retreat now, we can still break through the siege and retreat back to Gaixia City. If we delay any further, our strength will be exhausted, and Master Chang will not be able to convince Ying Bu. Our situation will be critical, and we will definitely be trapped to death by Han Xin's human wave tactics."

During the fierce battle, Xiang Yu still reserved 3,000 elite cavalry as a mobile force and never put them into battle. This was also his practice for many years of using troops. When he personally led the 3,000 elite cavalry to charge, it would be the key to the final victory!
The reason why the generals were not panicked despite the fierce battle was because they had the confidence of these three thousand fresh cavalry! Xiang Yu personally led these three thousand cavalry, which was enough to fight their way through the chaos and bring them back to Gaixia City safely.

There were still 30,000 troops in Gaixia City, who were holding out under the leadership of General Zhongli Mei. Although their combat power was far inferior to their 20,000 elite cavalry, it was not difficult to escort them back to the city.

Ji Bu's uncle, Ding Gu, the Lieutenant General of the Chu Army, could not help but ride forward and said to Xiang Yu, "Your Majesty, you should make a decision quickly. Do you really think that Master Chang can convince Ying Bu? Even if Ying Bu can be convinced, how can it be done in just half a morning? Time is too tight."

Ding Gu was right. In the past, envoys had to go there repeatedly to persuade the enemy, constantly presenting facts, reasoning and explaining the general situation, and slowly infiltrating the enemy before they could achieve success. But now, thinking that in half a morning, they could persuade a prince to change his flag and surrender, this was simply unbelievable and a fantasy.

Hei Shi, who had followed Xiang Sheng in retreating, became furious upon hearing this and stepped forward and roared:
"Don't think that Master Chang can't do what you can't do! You are just a bunch of mediocre people. The mighty Chu State has fallen to this point under your hands. Do you think that Master Chang can be the same as you?
Last night, the Han army camp was surrounded by enemies on all sides and the soldiers in the city were in a panic. Who stepped forward to save the fragmented morale and restore the morale?

Who set up an ambush at the foot of Gaixia City this morning, killing the Han cavalry general and wiping out 5,000 elite cavalrymen in one fell swoop?
Who was it that just now risked his life to go alone to Zhou Yin’s army to persuade the lieutenant general to change the flag again?

All of this, all of you, who can do it? Say! Who can? !
Since you can't do it and since you don't have the ability, just shut your stinky mouths and do your job honestly according to the arrangements and instructions given by Master Xiang Chang.

In order to win a way out for you and thousands of soldiers, Master Chang risked his life and went to the den of tigers and wolves to lobby for you, risking his own death. What about you? You are just a bunch of useless people who can't help but talk nonsense and drag your feet. Do you want to be a bunch of useless people who can't do anything but cause trouble?

Still want to retreat back to Gaixia? If you retreat back to Gaixia, you will have a chance to survive? Pah! You are a coward who wants to retreat when you encounter difficulties and setbacks. I, Heishi, really laugh at you. Humph, instead of waiting to die in Gaixia City, it is better to die in a glorious battle right now, kill a few more Han soldiers, and let Liu Bang see the blood of the men of Chu! "

Hei Shi cursed bitterly, and every time he cursed, Xiang Zhuang, Hou Xie, Guo Li and other middle-level generals that Xiang Chang had reported last night were excited and waved their weapons in response. When he finished cursing, not only did Xiang Sheng, Huan Chu, Ding Gu and other generals who wanted to retreat look pale and embarrassed, but the Overlord also had his pupils drooping and his face gloomy.

Last night, at the top of Gaixia City, under Xiang Chang's order, Hei Shi cursed the Han army camp for half the night, as if he had opened the door to a new world, and unexpectedly awakened the talent for cursing in his blood. Now it seems that he not only cursed the Han army generals and ministers, but also cursed his own army, which was so sharp and unpleasant to hear.

Xiang Zhuang turned his head and glanced at Xiang Yu's face. His heart skipped a beat. He knew that this fool Hei Shi was scolding him happily, but he didn't expect that he also scolded the king.

He knew the Overlord's character very well. Just as he was thinking about how to say something to excuse him so that Heishi would not be severely punished, Xiang Yu raised his eyebrows, his pupils widened, and said sternly:

"Well said! My son risked his life to save us, and went into the den of tigers and wolves alone. How can we retreat? Pass the order, anyone who dares to talk about retreating to Gaixia will be killed!"

Being completely defeated by Liu Bang and Han Xin in the field he was best at was a heavy blow to Overlord's confidence. At the moment, he no longer cared about anything else but to save his son and continue the Xiang family bloodline. So how could he abandon his son and retreat back to the city when he was alone in the tiger's den, risking his life to fight for a glimmer of hope?

It has to be said that even at this point, the Overlord's control over his soldiers was still unquestionable. Faced with his strict orders, all the generals had no objections and responded solemnly.

At this moment, "Woo--" a majestic and desolate horn sounded from Ying Bu's army, and at the same time a billowing smoke rose into the sky.

Looking at the signal that had been agreed upon in advance, all the generals of the Chu army, including the Overlord, were ecstatic, and a thought flashed through their minds: Did Master Chang really persuade Ying Bu to surrender again?

"Boom, boom, boom..." At this time, the war drums sounded in Zhou Yin's army. The 50,000 Chu troops, who had already lined up and prepared for a battle, came out in full force and rushed towards Jin Xu's 20,000 cavalry.

As the majestic and desolate horn sounded, Ying Bu's tens of thousands of troops came out of the cave like awakened beasts, heading straight for the Han army to support them.

At the front of the queue, the flag was held high and fluttering in the wind. Under his flag was a flamboyant general dressed in golden armor. He was visible from far and near and was extremely eye-catching.

Unexpectedly, Ying Bu really rebelled and joined the war. The new cavalry general of the Han army, Jin Xu, raised his eyebrows and his face changed drastically.

For a moment, he was so angry that his fists clenched and creaked. He gritted his teeth and said, "Ying Bu, you are really crazy. You actually betrayed the King of Han again!"

Next, he angrily jumped down from the watchtower and jumped onto his tall and majestic mount, whose fur was as red as fire. While sending people to convey urgent messages to Han Xin and Liu Bang, he commanded his cavalry to attack Zhou Yin's army.

The 50,000 troops under Zhou Yin were enough to keep his 20,000 cavalry busy, so he could only leave Ying Bu's tens of thousands of troops to Han Xin.

Not long after, Zhou Yin's army and Jin Xu's 20,000 cavalry collided fiercely like a raging tide. At the same time, Ying Bu's army also rushed into the right army of the Han army.

For a moment, the vast battlefield southeast of Gaixia was filled with shouts of killing and clashes, and the battle became even more violent and brutal...

(End of this chapter)