The Demon Lords-Chapter 640 - 113 Surges of Emotion: Washed Away (Part 3)_4

On our side, firstly, the camp fortifications were not yet complete. Secondly, the Yan Army was not proficient in defense. Most importantly, if the enemy pressed their attack to the camp entrance, not only would we be unable to deploy effectively, but a single misstep could lead to the entire army being crushed and forced into the river!

The reason for this situation isn't that I underestimated the enemy; in fact, I've been extremely cautious. But the enemy was employing an overt strategy. One can dodge a covert plot, but an overt one is unavoidable. Of course, if blame must be assigned, then I, too, bear responsibility. The responsibility lay in being too cautious. If my troops had dispersed to launch assaults in all directions immediately after crossing the river, instead of cautiously waiting, even if the wild people's main army suddenly attacked, we could have engaged them in an open battle on the plains, instead of being immediately forced into such a dire predicament.

Deng Jiuru could now only hope his troops would prove their mettle. Regardless of the Chu State navy blockading the river, if his forces could hold out here, the outcome of this war was still uncertain!

Three columns of troops rapidly sortied from the camp, kicking up swirling clouds of dust.

「In the camp」

Deng Jiuru turned, his gaze falling upon the warships on the river behind him, each flying the phoenix banner of Chu. His eyes burned with hatred.

Chu State, I have marked this down! His Majesty will mark this down as well!

From a bird's-eye view, one would see cavalry converging like tidal waves from all directions upon a camp on the eastern bank of the Wang River.

From the camp, three columns of cavalry also charged out, fanning in three directions in an attempt to preemptively break the incoming tide.

However, although most of the Left Army of Yan had completed the river crossing, their camp was inevitably chaotic. Even the departing troops appeared disorganized and confused. Soldiers didn't know which contingent to follow—a state of disarray astonishing for a Yan Army encampment.

After all, the Left Army was a consolidation of forces under various commanders. With the Eldest Prince at the apex, wielding the Sword of the Son of Heaven to ensure obedience, and Deng Jiuru below, commanding through the Deng Family's prestige, outward appearances of order had been maintained. Yet, in such a chaotic and urgent situation, be it the transmission of military intelligence, the redeployment of soldiers, or the muddled state within the command tent, all these factors plunged the large army into a panicked frenzy.

This directly led to the three commanding generals, each originally leading nearly six to seven thousand cavalry, sallying forth with fewer than five thousand. Some men were present but couldn't find their warhorses; others had no idea where their units were located within the sprawling camp. Worse still, one general, about to order a change in formation, suddenly realized an adjutant beside him was not from his own command—the man had followed the wrong leader!

Such disarray was almost inevitable, not just for the Left Army, but for most armies. Over fifty thousand men were crammed into a narrow area on the riverbank. To restore order quickly was impossible, unless they were elite forces like those of the Earl of North Border or those renowned for pacifying the South.

Consequently, the three dispatched cavalry columns failed to achieve the delaying effect against the enemy that Deng Jiuru had anticipated.

Just as Deng Jiuru was preparing to use the time bought by these three attacking columns to organize his main force, urgent reports soon arrived:

"Report! General Zhang's contingent has been routed!"

"Report! General Huang's contingent has broken through the enemy formation!"

"Report! General Li's contingent is locked in a fierce battle!"

Of the three columns, General Zhang's contingent, the least seasoned, was unexpectedly routed by the wild people.

But then again, he had faced the Wild People King's personal guard, which included formidable chieftains like Sang Hu, A'lai, and Geremu. Their rout was, perhaps, understandable.

General Huang's column engaged the wild people attacking from the southeast—coincidentally, their weakest flank. Due to the urgency, scouts hadn't gathered much intelligence. Thus, General Huang led his men straight through the wild people's line, inexplicably turning what should have been a delaying action into his own "breakout battle"!

Having just "punched through" the wild people's army, Huang Shanming felt no elation. Instead, his heart plummeted. He immediately ordered his personal guard to wheel around and charge back into the fray.

However, a wild people cavalry unit, which had been maneuvering in their rear, immediately latched onto them, desperately trying to slow Huang Shanming's column.

Only Li Deyong's column to the east was locked in a brutal melee. Yet, the main wild people army did not focus on annihilating him. After dispatching a force to keep him entangled, the remaining wild people cavalry swept past, continuing their charge towards the half-built camp on the riverbank.

The first to bear down on the camp was the main wild people force from the northeast. The routed soldiers of Zhang Deyuan's contingent fled before them, with the wild people's main army in hot pursuit.

Deng Jiuru immediately ordered, "Those who flee before the enemy engage will be executed without mercy!"

The Yan Army archers within the camp instantly fired upon their own fleeing soldiers in front, to prevent them from disrupting their own lines.

Behind them, the main wild people force ignored the arrows striking them. With a fearless, death-defying resolve, the foremost wild warriors, man and horse alike, crashed directly into the camp's barricades!

BANG! BANG! BANG!!!

One side was caught unprepared; the Chu State navy's appearance had not only severed their retreat route but also gravely shaken their morale. The other side launched their assault with suicidal determination. In an instant, before Deng Jiuru's very eyes, the northeastern section of the camp defenses crumbled, and the wild people's army poured in.

The wild people from the east and southeast swiftly followed, surging forward like a relentless tide.

The already disorganized camp, manned by the Yan Army still in disarray from the river crossing, instantly showed signs of collapsing into a rout.

Wild people warriors, unhorsed by the impact, immediately scrambled to their feet to fight on foot, clearing paths for their kinsmen following behind.

They were like packs of frenzied wild dogs, tearing at the Yan people's already flimsy defenses with utter abandon.

Mounted, they were swift as the wind; dismounted, they fought with iron tenacity. These were traits usually displayed by the Yan Army when battling other states, but now, they were manifest in the wild people.

Deng Jiuru spun around, wrenched his command banner from the ground, held it high, and channeling all his vital energy, roared:

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Hold them back! Hold them back! Better to die fighting than to be driven into the river and drown in disgrace! Men of Yan, fight to the death, never retreat! Never retreat!!!"

The old general's cry reverberated across the chaotic battlefield.

The Wild People King, who had not joined the charge, sat calmly on his horse, observing the slaughter unfolding before him.

He smiled, a broad, pleased smile. He couldn't help but stroke the scar on his face—a mark from his past, one that also bore the lovely image of a woman.

He didn't quite understand why he was so captivated by her; she had been so young back then.

Perhaps it was because of what she symbolized. A lowly wild man... he dreamed. Dreamed of marrying the Countess from the Earl of North Border's household of the Yan people.

Huu... Wait for me. Just wait a little longer for me. This dream... it's truly not far from coming true now.

The Wild People King's gaze, which had softened, abruptly turned bone-chillingly cold.

You're getting married, aren't you? You should have reached Yanjing by now. Heh heh... This is my grand wedding gift for you!