Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 214 The Defense Line Tears

The fall of Feihu Pass was like tearing open a gaping, bloody wound in the seemingly impenetrable Allied Yangtze River defense line. This wound not only meant the loss of a key stronghold, but also exposed the flank of the main stronghold at Caishiji and even the entire central section of the defense line to the onslaught of the Xingqi army.

On the crumbling walls of the Flying Tiger Pass, the black banners of the Xingqi Army cast long shadows in the afternoon sun. Inside and outside the camp, soldiers of the Trapped Camp were busy clearing the battlefield, treating the wounded, and repairing damaged fortifications. At the same time, they were quickly turning around the arrows, logs, and even a few still-usable ballistae captured from the camp, aiming them towards the main stronghold of Caishiji to the west. The Xingqi infantry that landed later, at the shouts of their officers, poured through the camp gates and across the blood-soaked passages, spreading out in the open area behind the pass to begin constructing the second line of defense facing Caishiji.

Dian Xiong had already bandaged his wounds and put on a spare set of armor. Although his face was slightly pale from blood loss and exhaustion, his eyes remained sharp as an eagle's. He stood atop the newly repaired watchtower, his binoculars fixed on the even more imposing and fortified main stronghold of Caishiji, several miles away, nestled against the mountains and beside the water. From the direction of the main stronghold, smoke and dust were faintly visible, and flags were moving frequently, clearly indicating that the garrison was urgently mobilizing in an attempt to deal with this sudden flank threat.

"General, General Chen Wei has given an order!" A messenger rushed up the arrow tower, presenting the command token and documents.

Dian Xiong took the order and quickly scanned it. Chen Wei's orders were clear and decisive: First, the Vanguard Battalion was commended for its first victory in breaking through the pass, and the entire army was notified; Second, Dian Xiong's troops were ordered to immediately switch to defense, to hold Feihu Pass at all costs, and to send strong forces to conduct armed reconnaissance to the west and south to investigate the strength of the main stronghold of Caishiji and the movements of the surrounding enemy forces; Third, the main force was accelerating its landing, and Chen Wei would personally command it, using Feihu Pass as a springboard to launch a pressing attack on the main stronghold of Caishiji; Fourth, the navy would do its utmost to secure the river passage and, when the opportunity arose, bombard the Caishiji water fortress and the shore defenses.

"Reporting to the General, this subordinate obeys the order!" Dian Xiong handed the document to his deputy and said in a deep voice, "The first and second battalions of the Trapped Camp continue to consolidate the defenses of the pass, especially the west and south sides. The third battalion, send half of its men to establish crossbow formations on the high ground on both sides of the pass to guard the direction of Caishiji. The fourth battalion, select five hundred elite troops, led by Commandant Wang, to advance slowly westward to scout the enemy situation. If they encounter small groups of enemy troops, defeat them; if they encounter a large force, report back immediately. Do not engage in reckless battles!"

"Yes, sir!"

The order was issued swiftly. The elite Trapped Battalion, fresh from a bloody battle, once again displayed astonishing resilience and discipline, starting to operate like precise gears. Wang, the Commandant, led five hundred elite scouts, like unsheathed daggers, silently disappearing into the hills and woods west of Flying Tiger Pass.

Meanwhile, on the Yangtze River, the massive fleet of the Xingqi Navy, under Shen Qing's command, was undergoing tense scheduling and deployment. The new-style warship "Zhenhai" and its seven sister ships, like a mobile fortress, slowly approached the south bank, lined up in a row on the river east of Feihu Pass, their broadsides aimed at the main stronghold of Caishiji. Although the distance was still considerable, and the range of the heavy crossbows might not be able to cover the core of the main stronghold, their immense deterrent power had already been established. More warships and fighting vessels cruised the river, clearing away any remaining Southern Dynasty patrol boats, and providing cover for ship after ship of infantry, cavalry, pack horses, and dismantled light catapults and siege weapons as they approached the shore.

At the Jiangbei headquarters, Chen Xing had moved to a higher ground closer to the riverbank. The view from here was excellent; one could clearly see the flags rising at Feihu Pass on the south bank, the dense fleet of ships on the river, and even faintly hear the sounds of horns and drums drifting in the wind from the direction of Caishiji.

Jia Wen stood to one side, holding a secret report that the Censorate had just sent through special channels: "Your Majesty, news of the fall of Feihu Pass should have reached the garrison commander of Caishiji and Xiao Jingyan of Jinling. According to reports, the garrison commander of Caishiji urgently requested reinforcements from Jinling and withdrew his outer forces to strengthen the defenses of the main camp and several nearby smaller camps. Xiao Jingyan... seems to be in a dilemma."

"Oh?" Chen Xing's gaze remained fixed on the opposite bank. "What's the dilemma?"

"On the western front, General Zhang Liao's feint attacks are becoming increasingly fierce. Yesterday, a detachment even successfully landed 30 li west of Xiakou. Although it was repelled, it caused great panic in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, with requests for reinforcements arriving several times a day. On the eastern front, our main force has landed and captured Feihu Pass, advancing directly towards Caishiji. Xiao Jingyan has limited mobile forces at his disposal. Should he go west to rescue Xiakou, or east to defend Caishiji? Or should he divide his forces to defend both? Regardless of the choice, it means that his seemingly complete riverside defense line, which he originally relied on, has been torn apart by our army, forcing him to engage in a decisive battle with our main force under unfavorable circumstances."

Chen Xing nodded slightly, a cold smile curving his lips: "Xiao Jingyan's military strategy prioritizes stability. Faced with our multi-pronged offensive, his most likely option is to hold key positions while urgently ordering the reserves in Jinling and Guazhoudu to reinforce them, especially Caishiji. Because if Caishiji falls, the gateway to Jinling will be wide open, which would be far more fatal than the loss of Xiakou on the western front."

He turned to Jia Wen and asked, "What is the reaction from the various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan, especially those military governorships that Xiao Jingyan forcibly dragged into the 'Anti-Star Alliance'?"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Jia Wen's eyes: "People's hearts are unsettled. The news of our successful landing at Feihu Pass, which was breached in a single day, has probably already spread throughout Jiangnan. Those warlords who were already wavering and only joined the allied forces under duress are now even more hesitant and observing, and may even be secretly contacting our 'friends.' Xiao Jingyan's 'anti-star banner' is probably not as secure as before."

"Very good." Chen Xing walked back to the table where the map was temporarily placed, pointing his finger at the location of Caishiji. "Tell Chen Wei that there's no need to rush into a full-scale attack on the main stronghold of Caishiji. Using Feihu Pass as a base, steadily expand the landing zone to the west and south, putting pressure on the Caishiji garrison. At the same time, send troops to clear out the surrounding smaller strongholds and consolidate the flanks. The key is to establish a secure supply depot and an advance route. The navy should maintain high pressure and, if necessary, launch a probing attack on the Caishiji naval stronghold."

"Does Your Majesty mean... to surround him without attacking, forcing Xiao Jingyan to make a choice? Or, to wait for his reinforcements to arrive and annihilate him in open battle?" Jia Wen asked tentatively.

"The main stronghold of Caishiji has been fortified for many years, with high walls and deep moats. A direct assault would result in heavy casualties. If Xiao Jingyan were to dispatch reinforcements from Jinling and Guazhou to its aid, it would suit my purposes perfectly." A cold glint flashed in Chen Xing's eyes. "In the open field, on the river, my soldiers and my warships can better utilize their strengths! What I want is not just to capture Caishiji, but to annihilate the last remaining force of the Southern Dynasty in one fell swoop, shattering all their hopes of resistance!"

He looked up at the south bank, his voice steady and powerful: "The defenses have been breached, and blood has been shed. Now, it depends on whether Xiao Jingyan dares to stake his entire fortune on this gambling table."

As if to confirm Chen Xing's words, a more urgent and louder sound of war drums suddenly rang out from the direction of the main stronghold of Caishiji on the south bank, accompanied by faint bugle calls and the distinctive noise of troop movements. Further to the west, a plume of dust rose into the sky, as if a large army was rushing eastward along the riverbank road.

Reinforcements? Or a feint?