The Demon Lords-Chapter 641 - 114: Waves Sweep Away Everything (Part 4) _1

Upon receiving the report from Deng Jiuru upstream that his forces had already crossed the river, Li Bao's main contingent, operating along the Jade Plate City river sector and under the Eldest Prince's command, began to launch more violent attacks on the opposite bank to support and coordinate with the Left Army.

Squads of Northern Army soldiers rowed furiously towards the opposite shore, while arrows rained down from both sides. Overturned boats and floating bodies littered the river.

The great river was a natural chasm. Before it, the Yan people's iron cavalry lost their usual sharpness; even the Northern Army was no exception. It was no wonder the Qian State had paid such a heavy price to manually dig the Bian River from the Qian River to protect their capital.

But the Northern Army was, after all, one of the world's finest elite forces. Even without horses, their morale and martial valor unequivocally marked them as formidable soldiers of their time.

Several times, the Northern Army had successfully broken through to the opposite shore and quickly attempted to establish a defensive formation to cover the arrival of subsequent troops.

However, previous attempts had all failed. The rebels' counterattacks were too fierce, preventing them from securing a foothold on the shore, and each attempt ultimately ended in vain.

It was like besieging a city: wave after wave, they sought to capture key points to break through the enemy's front.

However, when several Yan Army detachments, which had secretly crossed the river a few days earlier, suddenly attacked from another direction on the opposite bank under the Eldest Prince's command, they successfully disrupted the rebel army's formation.

Finally, a contingent of over five hundred soldiers successfully landed via ferries and secured their position. Immediately afterward, the subsequent Northern Army forces began to be transported across.

In contrast, the rebels' morale finally began to waver. They could no longer organize suicide squads to drive the Yan people off the shore as they had before.

Firstly, the sudden appearance of Yan cavalry among their own ranks caused immense psychological pressure. Secondly, the rebel army consisted mainly of a motley rabble; true elites were few.

And that small contingent of elites had been mostly depleted in the initial skirmishes on the riverbank.

Without the support of this core, the morale of the remaining rebels immediately plummeted.

"Your Highness," Li Bao said, finally unable to contain his excitement as he walked to the Eldest Prince's side, upon seeing another transport of eight hundred armored soldiers make its way over, "it seems that not only the Left Army but we here are also about to break through!"

Born in the northern lands, a man seasoned by countless battles across the vast deserts, this was, damn it, truly his first naval battle.

This river had nearly driven him mad with frustration, but at last, a breach had been made. The main force of the wild people wasn't here; conquering the opposite bank was only a matter of time.

Moreover, to a certain extent, capturing the opposite bank meant a successful river crossing. And a successful river crossing meant Jade Plate City was within their grasp.

The reason was simple: this location wasn't far from Jade Plate City. The rebels—that is, Situ Yi's pseudo-dynasty propped up by the wild people—would inevitably concentrate their main forces along the riverbank for defense. They wouldn't be foolish enough to station troops on the city walls, waiting for the Yan people to cross and then lay siege.

In other words, Jade Plate City should be an empty city right now!

The scales of victory had tipped in their favor! Destiny was with Yan; they were invincible!

The Eldest Prince took a deep breath. He was young, after all, and couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at this moment.

The Left Army's main force should have crossed the river by now. If we also break through here, then the defenses along the Wang River will be completely shattered.

Once Jade Plate City is taken, the terrain all the way to the easternmost part of Cheng State is mostly flat. Whether the wild people choose to fight or retreat, I, Ji Wujiang, can deal with them with greater composure.

The Yan Army is still most formidable on horseback; they are far more effective and easier to command in such terrain.

Most importantly, without Situ Yi's pseudo-dynasty to support them, this guest army of wild people will lose all backing in these lands.

Just then, however, a messenger galloped up, shouting:

"REPORT! Chu State warships have appeared upstream, blockading the river!"

What?! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The Eldest Prince and Li Bao exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.

The Chu people? Why would the Chu people be here?!

The Chu people are mired in internal strife! How could they possibly be here?!

"REPORT! The main force of the wild people is attacking the Left Army's main camp!"

"REPORT! The Left Army's main camp is caught in a fierce battle!"

"Direct Thief!" Li Bao cursed loudly, his chest heaving. "What kind of mess is this! No wonder we didn't see the wild people here. Their main force is upstream!"

The appearance of the Chu people and their navy completely disrupted the battlefield's rhythm and strategic layout, introducing a massive unknown variable.

Li Bao was a veteran commander, his experience in leading troops far richer than that of Deng Jiuru, who was his senior in age. This might not be as critical if it were only the Northern Army; Northern Army soldiers were accustomed to fighting barbarians in the desert. Even when sleeping, they habitually kept a hand on their knife hilts.

If the Jingnan Army's discipline stemmed from Lord Jingnan's strict military code, ensuring orders were followed without question, then the Northern Army relied on instincts honed through relentless desert combat.

When they invaded the Qian State from the south, Li Fusheng, as the main general, had dared to throw himself into the fray with the Assault Battalion, behaving like a reckless brawler. He could do this because even without his direct command, the various troops under him knew how to coordinate and fight effectively.

But what kind of outfit was the Left Army? It was rife with various commanders from different cliques and families, some connected by marriage, others locked in bitter, hereditary feuds. If the Eldest Prince hadn't reorganized the Left Army after entering Ying Capital City, they would have brawled even over the distribution of grain and fodder!