N-A-A Chapter 859 Xiang Yu retreated and did not dare to continue gambling!
Chapter 859 Xiang Yu retreated and did not dare to continue gambling!
When the rear team of the Chu army became the front team and really began to move away from the city wall of Yangping Pass, Gao Yao's heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally fell heavily back into the depths of his chest!
The bet was won!
An indescribable warmth, a mixture of immense relief, lingering fear, and utter exhaustion, instantly washed over him, nearly knocking him off his feet. But he forced himself to prop himself up with his spear. Now was not the time to relax!
Xiang Yu's retreat was like a rain after a long drought, a respite for the nearly exhausted Southern Border Army! This precious breathing time was bought with the blood and lives of countless brothers under the city, as well as the risky moves of Gao Yao and Xiao He!
Gao Yao never pinned all his hopes on a miraculous defense of the city. As the ruler of the southern border, his vision was far broader than just a single pass. While he and Xiao He rushed to support Yangping Pass overnight, his decrees had already been spread far and wide by swift horses!
The troops from Bashu and Hanzhong had indeed been exhausted in the previous battles or had rushed here to provide reinforcements. However, the potential of the southern border was far greater than this!
The three prefectures of Zhentuo, Qianzhong, and Nanjun were located in the rear, relatively stable, with relatively intact military organizations and no major battles. Before setting off, Gao Yao had already issued a supreme emergency military order, mobilizing 30,000 elite troops from these three prefectures to rush to the aid of Yangping Pass!
Mobilizing troops in ancient times was no easy task. Although Gao Yao had vigorously repaired roads and established a post station system since taking office, greatly improving transportation conditions in the southern border, it still took time to gather troops from the three counties, prepare food and supplies, and then travel the long distance to Yangping Pass, the front line!
According to the fastest estimate, this 30,000-strong fresh force would need at least 15 days and nights to complete the entire journey and arrive at Yangping Pass.
The race against time: the balance of victory begins to tilt
And eight days have passed since Gao Yao left Nanzheng and went to Yangping Pass to fight a bloody battle!
These eight days were endured by the blood, flesh and will of the defenders of Yangping Pass. Every day was extremely tragic, but it also successfully delayed the offensive of the Chu army to the greatest extent.
Now, Xiang Yu has retreated!
As long as the Chu army retreated thirty miles outside Yangping Pass, disengaged from direct contact, and reorganized, Gao Yao would have achieved a strategic victory! He successfully defended this barrier, thwarting Xiang Yu's strategic intention of a quick victory and a lightning westward advance.
More importantly, he gained the most precious time!
From now on, there are only seven days left until the expected arrival of 30,000 reinforcements!
City defense repair: The defenders can seize the time to repair damaged walls, strengthen fortifications, and manufacture more city defense equipment.
The remaining defenders could gain valuable time to rest, treat the wounded, and recover their physical and mental strength. Even if they could only recover 50% to 60% of their combat power, it would still be a huge improvement.
Once the news spreads that the lord is still there, the pass has not been lost, and reinforcements are on the way, it will greatly boost the defenders' almost collapsed morale.
Once the 30,000 fresh troops arrive as scheduled and cooperate with the defenders of Yangping Pass, Gao Yao can even consider switching from simple defense to counterattacks or harassment against the resting Chu army to regain the strategic initiative!
Even if Xiang Yu gradually realized through scouting a few days later that he might have fallen prey to a deceptive attack, by the time he resolutely reorganized his offensive, the optimal opportunity would likely have been missed. Reinforcements from the southern border army might already be approaching, and the heavily guarded Yangping Pass would once again become a formidable challenge!
Gao Yao stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the smoke and dust of the Chu army gradually moving away. Finally, a very tired but sharp smile slowly emerged on his cold face.
The dust from the retreating Chu army hadn't yet completely dissipated when a rapid, slightly erratic sound of footsteps echoed from the steps of the city wall. Xiao He, panting and almost using only his hands and feet, climbed the last few steps and quickly approached Gao Yao. His official robes were disheveled, his hair untied, and his forehead was beaded with sweat; it was obvious he had been running all the way.
When he looked over the battlements and confirmed that the massive Chu army was indeed slowly moving away from Yangping Pass, his tense nerves finally relaxed, and he let out a long, deep breath. That breath was filled with endless fatigue, but also with a sense of great relief at having survived the catastrophe.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Xiao He's voice was still panting from running, but the excitement and relief in his tone were hard to conceal. "God bless the Southern Territory! We...we finally won the bet!"
His words were both a congratulation to Gao Yao and a form of comfort and affirmation for himself. No one knew better than him the immense psychological pressure he had endured during that period! The "strategy of falsely attacking" was a desperate move forced upon him by a desperate situation, a truly risky tactic! A single mistake—the nighttime "breakout" being discovered, the camouflage on the city walls being seen through, or Xiang Yu simply refusing to fall for it and opting for a direct assault—would lead to disastrous consequences!
At this thought, Xiao He couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions. He glanced at Gao Yao, who stood beside him, exhausted but still standing tall, and thought to himself, "If it weren't for you, Your Majesty... so recklessly, insisting on taking such a risk yourself, defending the isolated city to the death, and putting our southern border in such a precarious position, how could I, Xiao He, have been forced into this situation? Why would I have come up with such an unconventional, almost gambling, strategy?"
This little complaint was soon replaced by another, stronger emotion - an unprecedented sense of breakthrough and accomplishment.
Although both Xiao He and Zhang Liang are hailed as outstanding counselors of the early Han Dynasty, their differing backgrounds, experiences, and personalities led to distinct strategic styles and focuses. Zhang Liang excelled at unconventional schemes, mastering strategic planning and delivering decisive blows at crucial moments. Like a soaring celestial being, he was both graceful and fierce. Xiao He, on the other hand, excelled at overt strategies, excelling in governing the country, procuring supplies, stabilizing the rear, and enacting laws. His plans, as solid and profound as the earth, revealed their true potential in silence, providing the most stable support for the front lines.
Taking risks wasn't his forte. But this time, under immense pressure from Gao Yao and facing a desperate situation, he forced himself to think outside the box and forcibly found a way out of a seemingly unsolvable situation! This strategy might not be as ingenious and artistic as Zhang Liang's, but it certainly worked, scaring off the King of Chu, Xiang Yu!
For Xiao He, this was undoubtedly a major strategic breakthrough and sublimation! It made him realize that he wasn't limited to rear-line operations. When necessary, he could also come up with a brilliant plan that could turn the tide of battle! The value of this cognitive breakthrough even far exceeded the victory in the current city defense battle.