vstars Chapter 2084 The prey is already in the trap!
Chapter 2084 The prey is already in the trap!
Han Xing's words, like a resounding bell, instantly dispelled all the confusion and hesitation in Ma Chao's heart!
General Han Xing not only discerned Guo Ziyi's intentions, but also clearly stated that he was confident in holding the camp!
This confidence and sense of responsibility were like a shot in the arm for Ma Chao!
"Hahaha! Well done! General Han! You are truly a military genius of our Great Chu!"
Ma Chao suddenly burst into laughter, a hearty laugh that echoed through the night sky, filled with the joy of relief and unconditional trust in his comrades.
"I knew it! With General Han here, the camp will be as stable as Mount Tai! How could Guo Ziyi's little tricks escape General Han's discerning eyes!"
He no longer hesitated; all his previous worries and guilt vanished, replaced by an unwavering determination and the excitement of hunting down his target.
His gaze flashed like lightning as he swept over the cavalry commanders waiting silently behind him. He swung his lance sharply into the endless darkness ahead, his voice like thunder: "Order the entire army! Continue the search! Open your eyes wide and smell your noses! Even if you have to turn this place upside down, find Li Jing's trail!"
"General Han held off 100,000 Tang troops for us. This is a tremendous achievement, and it's up to us to seize it! Men, follow me!"
"Understood!" The generals responded in unison, their morale soaring.
The next moment, nearly ten thousand cavalrymen moved again, like two more resolute and swift torrents of steel, sweeping headlong into the depths of darkness.
The distant firelight still flickered, but it was no longer a disturbing warning; instead, it became a backdrop that inspired them to move forward and proved their judgment correct.
The hunt continues.
The night grew darker, like thick, unyielding ink.
Ma Chao's Chu cavalry, like a patient pack of wolves, continued their search across the vast, dark plains and hills.
The horseshoes were wrapped in thick cloth, and the soldiers tried to keep their bodies low to minimize any sound or reflection that might reveal their location.
Time passed second by second, and more than half an hour had passed since the camp was discovered to be on fire.
Apart from the occasional discovery of some messy tire tracks whose origins were difficult to determine and a few extinguished campfires that appeared to have been left after a temporary rest stop, there were still no decisive findings.
Ma Chao's nerves were on edge.
He knew that General Han Xing was under tremendous pressure in the camp, buying him precious time.
If he ultimately fails, he will not only be unable to face Han Xing, but also have no face to meet His Majesty's expectations.
He kept sending out small groups of scouts, like tentacles reaching out to more distant and remote directions, not letting go of any possibility.
In the midst of this anxious wait, a rapid yet slight sound of hooves came from the flank.
A scout sent to search the northwest nimbly slid off his horse and rushed to Ma Chao, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. He lowered his voice and reported:
"General! A discovery! About five miles to the northwest, at the edge of a birch forest, a large number of fresh hoofprints and footprints have been found!"
"The footprints are messy, but they generally point northeast!"
"We followed the trail discreetly for a while and discovered a marching army of about three thousand men, flying the Qin banner!"
"The Qin banner?"
A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Ma Chao's eyes! Information about Qin Hong, a general under Guo Ziyi, instantly flashed through his mind!
He was one of the two generals sent by Guo Ziyi to provide support!
"Are you sure it's Tang army uniform? Or is it a feint?"
Ma Chaoqiang suppressed his excitement and asked in a deep voice, "Details determine success or failure."
“Absolutely true! My men got close enough and, by the dim light, we could see their armor and banners clearly; they are undoubtedly Tang soldiers!”
"Moreover, they marched at a considerable speed, but were quite vigilant, and their scouts were stationed far away. It didn't seem like a feint; it was more like they were on an urgent mission!"
The scouts answered with certainty.
"Great!"
One of Ma Chao's impatient lieutenants couldn't help but let out a low growl, his face filled with bloodthirsty fighting spirit.
"General! It really is the Tang dogs' support force! A mere three thousand men, just the appetizer for us!"
"Please allow me to lead two thousand brothers to charge over there and slaughter them without leaving a single one alive, to vent our anger!"
The other generals also looked over, their eyes eager, clearly believing that this was a reward that had been handed to them.
However, Ma Chao raised his hand to stop his restless subordinates.
He pulled on the reins, his gaze fixed on the darkness to the northwest, a cool and cruel smile playing on his lips—the kind of smile a hunter has when he spots his prey.
"Not in a hurry."
His voice was deep and authoritative: "Qin Hong's presence proves that we are on the right track."
"Why are they marching so hastily? Naturally, it's to pick up someone even more important!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the generals, and analyzed, "If we charge out now, we can certainly wipe out these three thousand men, but we will inevitably alert them!"
"If the real big fish—Li Jing—gets wind of this and changes course or goes into hiding, finding him in this vast darkness will be as difficult as climbing to the heavens!"
He abruptly waved his hand and made a decision: "Pass down the order: the entire army must remain silent and follow them at a distance!"
"Don't get too close. Send your best scouts to keep a close watch on them! Find out where they're going and who they're meeting!"
"What we want is not these three thousand heads, but the life of that old dog Li Jing!"
"The general is wise!"
Upon hearing this, the generals immediately understood Ma Chao's intention: he was playing the long game to catch a big fish!
Although they were itching to fight, they forcibly suppressed their urge to battle.
The order was quickly relayed. Nearly ten thousand Chu cavalrymen, like shadows blending into the night, silently and stealthily followed behind Qin Hong's troops.
Using the terrain's undulations and the cover of night, they maintained a safe distance, with only the scout at the forefront like a persistent, unyielding mole, firmly locking onto their target.
Qin Hong's troops were clearly on a mission and focused on getting there.
Although scouts were dispatched to keep watch, they failed to detect the massive cavalry force in the distance, which was far larger than their own and deliberately concealed its movements.
The tracking lasted for about fifteen minutes. The terrain ahead began to change, with flat plains gradually being replaced by undulating hills.
Qin Hong's team had a clear direction and headed straight for the entrance to a narrow canyon between two hills.
Ma Chao could see it clearly from the high ground behind him; the entrance to the canyon looked like the open mouth of a giant beast, appearing deep and mysterious in the night.
He saw that Qin Hong's troops entered the canyon without hesitation!
Upon seeing this, Ma Chao's heart began to pound violently!
A strong premonition surged into his heart—this hidden canyon was very likely the temporary hiding place that Li Jing had chosen, or the rendezvous point agreed upon with the support team!
He no longer needed to hesitate!
The prey is in the trap!