vstars Chapter 2026 The Final Battle is Approaching
Chapter 2026 The Final Battle is Approaching
After Chu Ning finished speaking, he moved his finger to two moving arrows on the sand table.
One comes from the northwest, representing the Gao Xianzhi tribe.
Another one came from the northeast, representing Xue Huaide's troops.
"Indeed, Gao Xianzhi's Tang army is rushing here day and night, intending to join forces with Li Jing and strengthen his troops."
Chu Ning's voice remained unchanged: "But everyone, do not forget that our army's 120,000 elite troops under Xue Huaide and Guan Yun are also rushing towards this place!"
"In terms of marching speed, our army is not inferior! In terms of troop quality, Xue's troops are a battle-hardened army, and their morale is at its peak!"
"As long as Xue Huaide can arrive at the battlefield before Gao Xianzhi, or at least at the same time, our army will still maintain an overwhelming advantage over Li Jing in terms of total troop strength!"
Finally, Chu Ning pointed firmly to the northwest, the area where Ma Chao's troops were active, and also where Tang reinforcements and supply lines were located.
"But the most crucial move lies with Ma Chao!"
Chu Ning's eyes gleamed with the light of a decisive victory: "I have ordered Ma Chao to spare no effort to delay and harass Guo Ziyi's troops and the Tang army's logistics!"
"As long as Ma Chao can successfully cut off or severely delay the Tang army's reinforcements and supplies, then no matter how cleverly Li Jing arranges his camp, without sufficient troops and food, he will be like a turtle in a jar, fighting like a cornered beast!"
"Time is on our side!"
He surveyed his generals, his voice suddenly rising, filled with unwavering conviction:
"Therefore, even if Li Jing sees through my test and adjusts his plans, he is merely prolonging his life and doing his bare minimum!"
"The overall situation remains firmly in my hands!"
"As long as our army advances steadily and cautiously, step by step, and once Xue Huaide's army arrives with ample supplies and superior weaponry, we will be able to launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside the enemy lines. In this battle, our army will surely win!"
Chu Ning's comprehensive and detailed analysis was like the sun breaking through the clouds, instantly dispelling the gloom caused by the possibility of the intelligence being invalid.
He clearly analyzed the situation of both sides, their respective strengths and weaknesses, and the key moments in the future, which greatly boosted the confidence of the generals.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Feng Anguo, Zhao Yu, Ran Ming, and other generals bowed in unison, their voices loud and clear, filled with their desire for victory and their faith in the emperor.
Inside the imperial palace at Zhennan Pass, a resolute fighting spirit rose once more, awaiting the arrival of the final battle.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
For both Chu and Tang forces confronting each other at Zhennan Pass, these three days seemed exceptionally long, each moment filled with tense anticipation and intense pre-battle preparations.
Above the pass, the war clouds grew thicker and thicker, creating a suffocating atmosphere of oppression.
On the afternoon of the third day, this tense balance was finally broken by a deafening commotion from the northeast!
First, a cloud of dust rose from the horizon, obscuring the sky, like a sandstorm.
Immediately afterwards, the dull, thunderous sound of footsteps and horses' hooves grew clearer and clearer as they approached, eventually merging into a roar that shook the very earth!
Familiar banners bearing the characters "Xue" and "Guan" led a vast and boundless army into view.
Banners obscured the sky, and swords and spears filled the air. Although the soldiers' faces were covered in dust from their long journey, their eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit and excitement for the upcoming decisive battle!
It was Xue Huaide and Guan Yun who led 120,000 elite troops who arrived as scheduled!
The arrival of this new force was like injecting the already high-spirited Chu army with the strongest stimulant.
A thunderous roar of cheers erupted instantly, both inside and outside Zhennanguan!
The defenders on the wall pounded their shields and shouted rhythmically.
Soldiers from within the pass flocked to the streets to welcome this renowned legion.
The entire Zhennanguan area was abuzz with excitement because of the arrival of this powerful force!
Such a grand occasion was naturally observed by Tang scouts, and the news was quickly relayed back to the camp, adding to the already low morale of the Tang-Scorpion allied forces due to their previous defeat, and creating an even more somber and gloomy atmosphere.
That afternoon, in the council hall of the Zhennanguan Palace.
The atmosphere inside the hall was completely different from that of three days ago.
A mixture of the grim atmosphere of impending battle and the exhilarating feeling of certain victory permeated the air.
Chu Ning sat upright in the main seat, with Imperial Noble Consort Feng Mulan beside him.
Below, generals gathered in a hall, civil officials to the east and military officers to the west, standing on either side.
The newly arrived Xue Huaide and Guan Yun were prominently featured, joining generals such as Feng Anguo, Zhao Yu, and Ran Ming, forming what could be called the strongest lineup of the Chu army since its expedition began!
After a brief greeting, Feng Anguo, the Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Frontline, stepped forward first. As the chief steward of the entire army, he needed to give a clear report on the current overall situation to the Emperor and his generals.
He held a newly compiled ledger in his hand, his voice booming with an unquestionable authority:
"Your Majesty! Generals!"
Feng Anguo looked around at everyone and said loudly, "As of noon today, all six main legions of my Southern Army have completed their assembly at Zhennan Pass!"
He paused, then announced a number that invigorated all the generals:
"After verification by the Ministry of War and the commanders of each army corps, the total strength of our army gathered inside and outside Zhennan Pass has reached 380,000!"
This number caused many of the generals present to straighten their backs instinctively, their eyes gleaming.
Three hundred and eighty thousand!
This is the peak of military force deployed in a single battle since the founding of the Great Chu Kingdom!
"but,"
Feng Anguo then added a detail: "Because the space inside Zhennanguan City is limited, it cannot accommodate so many troops stationed at the same time."
"Therefore, the main force of 120,000 troops led by General Xue Huaide and General Guan Yun has temporarily established strong camps on the east and north sides outside the pass, relying on the terrain, forming a pincer movement with the pass and supporting each other."
His tone then became more serious, and he began to analyze the comparison between the enemy and ourselves:
"According to repeated confirmations from multiple scouts, the enemy's main force, together with Gao Xianzhi's troops who arrived the day before yesterday and the Scorpion Clan's troops, has a total strength of about 250,000."
He clearly compared the enemy's and our own troop numbers: "380,000 to 250,000! Your Majesty, generals, our army has an absolute advantage in troop strength!"
This brief comparison served as a reassurance to all the generals, and their faces lit up with excitement.
The absolute numerical superiority of the Chu army means that in the upcoming decisive battle, the Chu army will have more tactical options, stronger sustained combat capability, and greater room for error.
However, the good news brought by Feng Anguo did not stop there.
Because their troops here are not only the six legions, but also the Xiliang Iron Cavalry led by Ma Chao and Han Xing!