The Demon Lords-Chapter 643 - 114: Waves Sweep Away Everything (Part 4) _3

"Assault Battalion, board the ships!"

Just then, the second wave of ferries arrived. Under Li Bao's command, the soldiers of the Assault Battalion began to board. Each of the six garrisons of the North Guard Army had an Assault Battalion, the elite core of its forces. Whenever there was a grueling battle, the Assault Battalion would invariably take the lead, acting as the army's spearhead.

Now, Li Bao was also burning his boats. If they couldn't break through the opposite bank, and Jade Plate City couldn't be taken, then everyone could just prepare to collectively plead for His Majesty's forgiveness!

The Eldest Prince, leading his personal guard camp, had already reached the shore. Even before his arrival, the Yan Army stationed on the bank had pushed forward, securing a large area. When the Eldest Prince came ashore, the Yan Army on the bank was not only reinforced by his personal guard camp, but their morale was also greatly boosted by his sheer presence. Conversely, the morale of the Cheng State rebel army positioned above them plummeted to an absolute low.

As the main general, shining armor is actually of great use; the main general is an army's courage and its soul. To use a perhaps unsuitable analogy, when soldiers are fighting on the battlefield, their emotions fluctuate wildly. In moments of hesitation and confusion, the sight of their main general can truly evoke the feeling a lost child has upon seeing their own beloved parents. Therefore, in bladed warfare throughout history, both in China and abroad, it has become an almost unspoken rule for the main general to wear distinctively bright armor. Back when Lord Jingnan led his army to conquer the snow plains, he needed no words. He simply acted as the arrowhead, charging at the forefront, and the morale boost this provided to the knights under his command was terrifyingly effective. Of course, Zheng Fan of Shengle City, prioritizing the safety of his demon lords, had to most regrettably forgo this privilege of a main general making a grand display.

The Cheng State rebel army on the shore also saw the figure of the Eldest Prince. It was impossible to miss, because both the Eldest Prince and his guards wore armor that was unusually bright. The enemy's main general, that legendary Prince of Yan who personally led his troops, had himself landed. In stark contrast, there wasn't even a shadow of their own emperor. Comparisons were indeed odious.

"Yan Army, on my command!" the Eldest Prince shouted, holding his long saber aloft. "Advance one hundred paces!"

Reinforced by the personal guard camp, the Yan Army began to advance with all its might, pushing back the enemy with an almost brutish, overwhelming force! The Cheng State rebel army on the riverbank was still resisting, but this resistance was steadily waning. Though they outnumbered the landed Yan Army, their morale was no longer comparable. As the Yan Army pushed forward, deserters and routed soldiers began to appear within the Cheng State rebel ranks. This phenomenon was contagious, and soon, the number of fleeing soldiers swelled. If Cheng State rebel reinforcements had arrived at this juncture, they might have been able to stabilize the situation. But it was evident that Jade Plate City had no more troops to send.

The Eldest Prince knew in his heart: since the main force of the wild people was upstream, this position must be vulnerable. As long as they endured, fought hard, and killed their way through, they could eventually tear open this defensive line! Initially, he might have been concerned about the cost in casualties, wanting to chip away at the Wang River defenses in the safest, least costly manner. But now, they had no choice but to fight a desperate battle.

Fortunately, they had succeeded. After a fierce round of fighting, the Eldest Prince reached up, pulled out an arrow lodged in a gap in his shoulder armor, and wiped the blood from his face.

Just then, the Assault Battalion personally led by Li Bao also landed. The arrival of this fresh wave of troops completely shattered the last vestiges of the Cheng State army's resistance. From generals to common soldiers, the rebels began to rout and flee.

Li Bao, wielding his saber single-handedly, was in the heat of the battle and reveling in the slaughter. However, he remembered his primary duty and quickly made his way to the Eldest Prince's side.

"Your Highness, are you unharmed?"

The Eldest Prince shook his head, steadied himself by placing a hand on Li Bao's shoulder, and said, "Continue forward! Take Jade Plate City!"

The defensive line on the bank had been breached. They had to press their advantage and take Jade Plate City at once, rather than wait for subsequent troops to cross the river. If they didn't seize Jade Plate City as a stronghold at this very moment, the Chu State navy might soon sail south and blockade this section of the river. With Jade Plate City as a base, they could coordinate with the Left Army upstream. Furthermore, the Chu State navy would no longer be able to sever the river passage with impunity. The Eldest Prince even dared to consider using the Left Army as a pivot point to, in turn, encircle the wild people! As a prince of Yan State, he certainly didn't lack such audacity!

"Rally the troops! Do not pursue the fleeing enemy! Follow me straight to Jade Plate City!"

「 」

On the tributary leading to Jade Plate City, the flower boat still drifted. However, as defeated rebel soldiers continuously streamed back from the riverbank along the roads on either side, attendants finally appeared on the flower boat and began to row, heading towards Jade Plate City.

On the flower boat, the Eighth Prince of Chu State had just relieved himself.

The sword-making master sighed deeply and said, "The Yan people are indeed ferocious."

This was an undeniable fact, and moreover, one that had already been proven multiple times. It was just that this time, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

The Eighth Prince nodded. "Yes, that's why Fourth Brother decided to ally with the wild people. Otherwise, if we just waited for the Yan people to completely swallow the lands of the Three Jin, they would be firmly established in the north, looking down upon the south. From such a commanding position, the Yan people could then attack Qian State or Chu State as they pleased. With the sharpness of the Yan iron cavalry, further supplemented by knights from the Three Jin, our Great Chu would be left with only the strength to parry, possessing no ability to strike back."

"I understand the reasoning," the sword-making master said with a sigh. "It's just that after this, my friendship with Yu Huaping is well and truly over. Alas."

It was common knowledge that the Sword Saint of Jin State and the sword-making master of Chu State were the closest of friends. The sword-making master of Chu State had forged the Longyuan sword for the Sword Saint. In return, a mere flattering remark from the Sword Saint had elevated the sword-making master to the esteemed position of one of the Four Great Swordsmen.

"It's also strange," the Eighth Prince mused. "The Xia Dynasty collapsed eight hundred years ago. What on earth is that Sword Saint's mind made of, for him to still consider himself a remnant subject of Xia rather than a man of Jin?"

"To wield a sword in this life, one must have a conviction," the sword-making master replied. "Actually, I believe that if he had a choice, the Fourth Prince would also prefer not to ally with the wild people."

"What are the wild people? Nothing more than a pack of curs," the Eighth Prince said dismissively. "Once this wave pins down the Yan people at Wang River, buying time for our Great Chu and my Fourth Brother, this territory of Cheng State will eventually belong to Great Chu."

"That Wild People King is no ordinary individual," the sword-making master cautioned. "If it were possible, I would have truly wanted to kill him while he was still on the boat. If the Yan people are tigers, then the wild people, Your Highness, could very well become wolves in the future. You must not be complacent."

"I understand the reasoning. After this battle, I will certainly speak to Fourth Brother about this Wild People King."

"Then I am reassured," the sword-making master said.

As he spoke, the sword-making master shouted to the men rowing, "Faster! Can't you see the Yan people are catching up!"

"Master, you seem quite frightened?" the Eighth Prince asked, somewhat curious. "Could it be that, as the legends say, you truly don't know any martial arts?"

"A sword in its scabbard is the most formidable sword in the world."

"I don't understand."

"Because it can be used to bluff."

"Oh, I think I understand a little."

"Whether you understand now or not is actually no longer important."

"Hmm?"

"Because if Qu TianNan doesn't show himself soon, we're about to be captured alive by the Yan people!"

「 」

Several thousand Yan Army soldiers, led by the Eldest Prince and Li Bao, chased the routing troops directly towards Jade Plate City. With this momentum, taking the city in this single push was almost a certainty! These Yan soldiers were already exhausted, but their will remained firm. They had crossed the river and fought in a hurry, unable to wait for warhorses to be transported. Thus, they were currently all infantry, their sole aim to capture the city in one swift assault!

However, just as the walls of Jade Plate City came into view, its gates suddenly swung open. From within, group after group of soldiers clad in azure armor marched out in orderly columns, a seemingly endless stream. Axemen, spearmen, crossbowmen, and heavy infantry emerged, column after column. Upon exiting the city, they immediately formed battle arrays. Their banners were azure, embroidered with a phoenix. The color of their armor and banners proclaimed their identity: the Blue Luan Army of Great Chu, elite infantry under the command of the powerful Qu Clan of Chu State.

At that moment, a middle-aged general, mounted on a white horse with a blue bird perched on his shoulder, slowly rode out from the city gates. "Qu TianNan of Great Chu has been awaiting the Eldest Prince of Yan State for a long time!"