N-A-A Chapter 925 Return to the city, under Lu Zhi’s care!
Chapter 925 Return to the city, under Lu Zhi’s care!
What Gao Yao was gambling on was not only his own life and the safety of tens of thousands of troops, but also the blind spot in the thinking that Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan would inevitably develop after such a "bitter victory" - they believed that Gao Yao had suffered a heavy blow and would retreat to Xianyang to lick his wounds, and would never take the initiative to attack again; they believed that although the Chu army had won, it was also tired and in urgent need of rest, and that the route back north should be safe.
Just as the main force of the Chu army began to return north along the way they came, carrying a small amount of captured supplies and exhausted bodies and minds, a death net had already been laid on both sides of a valley of moderate length that was not very steep on their way.
The ultimate ambush mission was carried out by Li Zhao, a general under Gao Yao, known for his composure and strong execution. He meticulously prepared this feast, following Gao Yao's instructions in advance.
First and foremost was the fundamental concealment of their tracks. Li Zhao's 20,000 elite troops followed a meticulously covert route, staying hidden during the day and moving at night, staying away from major roads and relying solely on narrow mountain trails. Upon arriving at the designated ambush valley, a large force was immediately dispatched to meticulously remove any traces of the troops entering the wooded areas on either side of the valley, restoring them with branches and loose soil. The campsite and any traces of their daily life were meticulously maintained; this was fundamental to any general's skill, and Li Zhao executed it with unwavering care.
Secondly, there was the "visual deception" Gao Yao emphasized. Li Zhao ordered his soldiers to gather large quantities of withered branches and fallen leaves from the woodlands beyond the valley, away from the ambush zone, and evenly spread them over the area where the ambushing soldiers were hiding. These natural obscurants blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment. From below or from a distance, it was virtually impossible to discern the tens of thousands of soldiers hidden beneath the dense vegetation. This seemingly simple method was surprisingly effective in this specific environment, greatly enhancing the concealment of the ambush.
Finally, and the crowning touch of Gao Yao's strategy, was the use of living creatures to create a "false sense of security." Li Zhao dispatched troops in advance to capture large numbers of common birds, such as tits and wild pigeons, in and around the valley. They carefully confined them in specially constructed cages with hidden traps and placed them at various locations within the ambush circle. The birds remained silent, acting as if they were normal. Timing was crucial: when the Chu army's advance scouts or the vanguard of the main force entered the valley and cautiously surveyed their surroundings, the ambushing soldiers, acting on unified command, would timely and in batches unlock the traps in the cages, releasing the birds.
Instantly, flocks of birds took flight from the "safe" woodlands on either side of the valley, chirping and soaring into the sky. To any experienced officer, this would have been a perfectly normal natural phenomenon. If there were an ambush in the forest, the birds would have already been startled and taken flight. How could they have waited until the army was almost upon them before taking flight? This was the most powerful proof that there was no ambush. This move completely paralyzed any remaining vigilance of the Chu army.
All these meticulous preparations were designed to suit the Chu army's current state of mind—fresh off a major battle, and despite heavy losses, victors, exhausted and eager to return to their base for rest and recuperation. They could never have imagined that Gao Yao, in order to lay this final and most ruthless trap, would go so far as to use himself and tens of thousands of his troops as bait, staging such a heroic and realistic "retreat."
Li Zhao lurked in the bushes, his gaze coldly fixed on the valley entrance. He could hear the clatter of horses' hooves and footsteps growing increasingly clear in the distance. He tightened his grip on the bow, deeply impressed by Gao Yao's strategic strategy.
They'd staked everything on this one fatal strike. And now, the moment to close the net was approaching. Over the valley, the sky was high and the clouds were light. A few birds, released in advance, flew leisurely across. Everything seemed so peaceful and normal. Yet, beneath this calm, a murderous intent surged.
The setting sun shone like blood, tinting the towering walls of Xianyang with a tragic golden-red. An exhausted army, their armor tattered, their flags drooping, slowly approached the city gates with heavy steps.
The defenders on the city walls had already seen them from afar. When they saw the leader, though gaunt and bloodstained, still recognizable with his familiar face and the iconic general's armor, they immediately gave the signal. The heavy city gate creaked open, a crack wide enough for the wounded troops to file in.
There were no cheers, no shouting, only a lingering silence and the defenders' respectful gazes. Gao Yao, the leader, didn't even have the energy to nod to the soldier who opened the gate. He simply used his last bit of willpower to control his horse, passed through the gate, and entered the city he had sworn to defend.
Almost immediately after Gao Yao entered Xianyang, a swift horse galloped into the palace, carrying the news deep within. Empress Lü, who was attending to government affairs, heard the news of Gao Yao's return to the city. The bamboo slips in her hand clattered onto her desk. She abruptly stood up, a flicker of barely suppressed excitement and relief flashing across her face, but quickly replaced by a deeper worry and anxiety. Without even the time to change into more formal attire, she simply instructed her attendants, "Quickly prepare warm water, medicine, and clean clothes." Then, lifting her skirt, she practically trotted out of the palace, heading straight for Gao Yao's entrance.
However, when Lü Zhi and her attendants arrived near the city gate, Gao Yao was nowhere to be seen. A deputy general who had stayed behind reported: "After entering the city, General Gao simply inquired about the security of the city's defenses. Upon learning that the Chu army hadn't taken advantage of the situation to attack, his nerves, tense for months, seemed to snap. He casually pointed to a seemingly vacant house nearby, said, 'Don't disturb me unless necessary,' and then stumbled inside. There was no further movement."
Upon hearing this, Lü Zhi's heart sank. She immediately waved her followers to stop, then quietly walked towards the house. Pushing open the half-closed wooden door, she was greeted by a tangled odor of blood, sweat, and dust. In the dim light, she saw the figure she had worried about for months—Gao Yao hadn't even removed his boots, let alone his heavy armor, stained with blood and mud. He had simply collapsed, fully clothed, onto the earthen kang, which was covered with a little hay, and fallen into a deep sleep. His brows were furrowed even in his sleep, his face marked by fatigue and the ravages of time. His lips were chapped and his hands were clenched into fists, as if ready to burst into battle at any moment.
Lü Zhi stood at the doorway, watching the scene unfold silently. Her nose sore, and her eyes instantly filled with a complex mixture of tears. There was heartache, admiration, and an indescribable sense of peace. She understood all too well the pressure Gao Yao had endured in the past few months. His judgment that the Chu army wouldn't attack the city immediately was correct. This judgment stemmed from his precise understanding of the battlefield situation, but also from the reality that he was exhausted to the point of exhaustion. Unless Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan were mad, they wouldn't attack a defended city at this time, let alone provoke a "madman" who had lost his temper and no way to retreat.