Chapter 519 (1/2)

Chapter 519: 519

Translator: DragonRider

After hearing Ling Zhang's explanation, all people present caught on to what it was about, their faces etched with excitement . If it worked, they would actually have an hour to carry out their plan of attack without the enemy noticing . That would considerably reduce both the time they needed to take the mountain pa.s.s and the casualties!

”The precondition of all this is the successful deployment of the large-scale Formation,” Ling Zhang reminded them in a cool and unemotional tone .

Xiao Jiangyue bobbed his head . ”I understand . The hour is of great importance to us . We will do everything we can to help you successfully deploy the Formation, even if we have to do an extra feint!”

”That's true . Just tell us what you need us to do,” said Jiang Ke .

Other officers also expressed their willingness to be cooperative . The couple of newly appointed officers changed their opinions of Ling Zhang . They had never heard of this kind of Formation before, but after watching Ling Zhang demonstrate it on the sand table, they were fully convinced and at the same looking forward to seeing the Formation serve its purpose .

. . .

It took them a long time to finalize the plan of operation . When the meeting was over, the officers took their leave and raced against time to have their men do a dry run .

The first round of attacks was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, so there was not much time left . What with the extra task, the whole army was rushed off its feet .

Ling Zhang's twenty-four bodyguards, along with dozens of guards led by Yao Yi, spent two nights secretly laying the foundations of the Formation outside the mountain pa.s.s of Jifang City according to Ling Zhang's requirements . The locations of a couple of crucial Eyes of Formation were too close to the mountain pa.s.s, so they had no choice but to wait until the day of the fight to get them ready .

. . .

Soon, two days pa.s.sed, and the first found of attacks, which was aimed at taking the enemy's measure, started .

This time around Ling Zhang went to the battlefield with the army . After another two days' rest, the cut in his chest had healed very well, but Yuwen Tong still did not allow him to ride a horse . Instead, he had Ling Zhang sit in a chariot and stay in the rear, and forbade Ling Zhang from going to the front to fight the enemies at close quarters .

Ling Zhang stroked his chest and meekly heeded Yuwen Tong's words .

Naturally, it was not that he did not want to go to the front . He was hoping to be allowed to join the fight when the army launched a full-on attack a couple of days later, so he had to rest more and be adequately prepared .

As the army of the Great Wen came into sight, the sound of a bugle, followed by the beat of war drums, rang out from the mountain pa.s.s guarded by Wan soldiers .

Soldiers of both sides tensed up, and the tension was rapidly reaching flashpoint .

Yuwen Jin, He Xiao and the couple of newly appointed officers, leading their respective units, attacked according to the battle plans . Outside the mountain pa.s.s of Jifang City, the bugles sounded the charge with deafening blasts, accompanied by thunderous battle cry which was filling everybody present with feverish ardor .

Although they did not expect to take the pa.s.s during the first battle, the main purpose of which was to take the measure of the enemy, it did not make the fighting any less real or brutal, and they must take it seriously . Yuwen Jin, He Xiao and the other officers leading the troops at the front concentrated all their efforts on directing their men, not daring be distracted for a single moment .

Xiao Jiangyue stayed in the rear, receiving reports and giving commands . The other officers, who had changed into common lieutenant's uniform and blended into the crowds of soldiers, were covering w.a.n.g Dashan and the others who were putting the finis.h.i.+ng touches to the deployment of the large-scale Formation according to the plan of operation they had made with Ling Zhang .

It was not easy to deceive the defenders' eyes, which was why they needed the soldiers to cooperate with them . Xiao Jiangyue's role as coordinator was of the utmost importance .

Meanwhile, according to the secret plan they had finalized beforehand, this round of attacks was aimed at preparing the ground for a full-on attack . Xiao Jiangyue needed to direct the troops to ensure the achievement of this objective and at the same time prevent the army from suffering heavy casualties . His face was just as tense as those of his two lieutenants standing beside him . On a tall pole flew the commander's flag . The drummers and the buglers were also under close protection, ready to give signals at the commander's orders .

”TOOT . . . ”

”RAT-TAT . . . ”

Every bugle call and drumbeat signified that the battle entered a different phase . Ling Zhang was standing on his chariot, watching . Though not fighting the enemies in person, he was keeping close watch on the development of the battle .

Yuwen Tong was also present, but he was not directing the troops . Just like Ling Zhang, he was also watching the fighting, attentively observing every defensive move of the defenders .

On the ramparts opposite the positions of Yuwen Tong's army stood Chen Jing and some other officers, all of whom were looking at the sea of troops of the Great Wen on the offensive, their faces grave .

”I think their attacks won't last long, seeing as Yuwen Tong is not directing his men in person . ”

These Wan officers, despite their failure to hold Yuwen Tong back in the previous battles, were fairly competent . As they saw that the enemies outside, though in large numbers, had not suffered many casualties so far, they came to realize the purpose of this offensive from Yuwen Tong's army .

However, aware of Yuwen Tong's attempt to take their measure as they were, they still had to try their level best to defend against the attacks, because Yuwen Tong's army would take advantage of any slip-up of theirs and use it to breach their defense, and if that happened, they might be in big trouble .

”This is by no means the best Yuwen Tong could do . Tighten the security after the fight, and I want an extra line of defense laid outside this mountain pa.s.s . We will hold Jifang City or die trying . In no circ.u.mstances will we let Yuwen Tong's army get through!” Chen Jing gripped the top of the parapet, staring resentfully in the direction of the imperial carriage in the enemy rear which was heavily guarded . Chen Jing would have some time ago started shooting arrows at it were it not too far away for him to hit .