TO ACHIEVE IMMORTALITY, I CULTIVATE USING QI LUCK

Chapter 876: Chapter 371 Difficult Escape_3

At the same time, because it is located at the intersection of Pengli Lake and the Yangtze River, and due to its strategic importance, outside the fortress of Xunyang Prefecture, Ning Country had specially established a water fortress, garrisoning over ten thousand naval forces with hundreds of warships.

As long as they could escape back there, reach Xunyang Prefecture, then relying on this navy for support, whether journeying along the Yangtze River back to the capital, Jinling,

or heading south via Pengli Lake toward the county town Nanchang to carry out a rescue, both would be extremely convenient.

The way of life was right before their eyes; all soldiers of the Ning Army saw hope and naturally could not give up.

After successively repelling the Chu forces and securing several victories, everyone believed that as long as Marquis Wuan was there, as long as General Bai was there, they could certainly return to their hometown, back to Ning Country.

With his courage and military achievements, Bai Yian’s prestige in the hearts of these remnants of the Ning Army had reached its peak, and he had seemingly surpassed Shen Qiu.

If this were normal times, it would definitely arouse the king’s great suspicion, and even lead to a terrible incident, which wouldn’t be surprising.

But at this time, when the country was ruined and no one knew what the next day would bring, everyone only wanted to survive, and even the monarch didn’t care about these matters anymore.

To live!

To return home!

All soldiers of the Ning Army, with this belief, dragging their exhausted bodies, under the sunset’s glow cast long shadows as they moved towards Ruichang.

…

“The Ning Army must have reached Yongxing by now.”

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Lu Yuan rode on a white horse, looking at the darkening twilight in the sky, and halted.

Under the afterglow of the sunset, tens of thousands of Chu soldiers marched, struggling on the road just like the Ning Army.

The Ning Army had been fleeing for several days, and naturally, the Chu Army had been in pursuit for the same amount of time.

After a pursuit over two hundred li, the Chu Army was also exhausted.

However, they were in a slightly better condition than the Ning Army because there were friendly forces constantly obstructing and harassing the front, forcing the Ning Army to fight and break through from time to time. So even as they rushed desperately, their speed was actually not quick.

In the span of three days and two nights, from leaving the main camp in Jiangxia, they had only covered just over two hundred li, averaging less than seventy li each day and night.

Moreover, due to fleeing, the Ning Army basically got no good rest and hoping to sleep for extended periods was even more of a luxury.

The Chu Army led by Lu Yuan, on the other hand, faced no such entanglements and could thus travel at full speed.

After a long chase during the day, they could comfortably get a good night’s sleep, restoring their physical strength and spirit.

After covering the same two hundred li, the Ning Army was weary both physically and mentally, while the Chu Army could remain energetic, maintaining their combat strength at a higher level.

As a result of this back and forth, the gap between the strengths of both sides naturally became even more pronounced.

“According to our calculations of time, the vanguard of the Ning Army should have already reached the border of Ruichang.”

Next to Lu Yuan, with a pale face and flickering breath, Han Hua answered with a weak voice, “At this time, the Prime Minister has already led fifty thousand soldiers and horses to seize Ruichang City. This city is a border fortress situated at the heart of the official road, where traffic is most convenient.

If they choose not to pass through this city and opt for the smaller paths, they would need at least two more days’ journey.

Being pursued by our forces, the Ning Army cannot afford to delay even a moment and would definitely not dare to take detours.

Passing through Ruichang City on the official road is inevitable.

With a fortified city to rely on, the Prime Minister can come and go as he pleases. The Ning Army taking this route, whether they forcefully attack the city to retake Ruichang or bypass it under the city walls, will face dangers tenfold greater than previously experienced breaking through my blockades.”

“By then, as long as the Left Prime Minister can somewhat delay the Ning Army and bring the King and his troops here in time, the Ning Army will surely perish beneath this city,”

Han Hua’s tone was icy, laced with a tinge of murderous intent.

He had previously led his troops to intercept the Ning Army, only to have his forty-thousand men, ready and waiting, broken through by five thousand led by Bai Yian. He himself had been severely injured and had fled in disgrace, losing all face.

Since the start of the war with Chu Ning, this was nearly the most disastrous defeat for the Chu state.

And as the commander responsible for this defeat, Han Hua inevitably faced criticism and mounting doubts about his capabilities.

As an Inborn Grandmaster, Han Hua had his pride.

Such a great humiliation naturally had to be washed away with blood.

So even though he was still nursing serious injuries, he still forced himself onto the battlefield, intent on personally confronting Bai Yian and slaying him to avenge his disgrace when it came time to annihilate the Ning Army at last.

“Yes, after such prolonged delays, this war should indeed be coming to a decisive end,”

Lu Yuan said nothing as he glanced at the injured Han Hua, his gaze deep and inscrutable.

In fact, since the day the Ning Army fled, he had led his forces to overrun the Front Camp of the Ning Army and had executed Marquis Wuyang Li Dao on the spot.

The next day, he had already led his troops on a forced march, catching up to the tail of the Ning Army just twenty li behind.

But at that time, Lu Yuan, considering that the main force of the Ning Army was still intact and that they had just fled not long ago with morale and condition still relatively high, knew they were not going to be easy to deal with.

Furthermore, military strategy advises against attacking a retreating army seeking to return home.

Confronting an army fighting for their lives to get back home would, even if successful, inevitably lead to heavy casualties on one’s own side.

Additionally, Lu Yuan wanted to see if, after executing Li Dao, he could cut down another one of Ning Country’s Inborn-level fighters to reduce their top combat strength.

So, based on the considerations above, when Han Hua was engaged in holding back the Ning Army, Lu Yuan actually could have hastened to join the battle.

But in the end, to achieve a complete victory and secure greater gains, he held back his urge, choosing to watch from behind, allowing the Ning Army to break through.

After all, even if the Ning Army broke through Han Hua’s blockade, they would still have Sun Siwen and Huang Xuan’s two lines of defense to contend with.

The road ahead was still long, and Shen Qiu and his forces wouldn’t escape so easily.

However, after dragging it out all this way, as the Ning Army neared their return to their own country, the time for a decisive battle had finally come.

Lu Yuan had received the news that yesterday, after a forced march, Sun Siwen had finally led his troops to arrive at Ruichang, beating Ning Country to it, and seized the county town to set up a blockade.

Also, on that very day, Huang Xuan contacted his main body, sending back news.

After surrounding Nanchang City, this Avatar personally led troops, charging at the forefront to be the first to assault the city.

Eventually, after a fierce assault lasting two days and nights, they finally broke through Nanchang City early yesterday morning, capturing the capital of Yuzhang Prefecture.

Now, Huang Xuan has left a garrison to clean up the aftermath in Nanchang City, maintain order, and pursue any remaining forces.

He himself, leading thirty thousand troops and using the boats collected from Nanchang City, is rushing toward the Ruichang front.

With the speed of the boats, they should arrive below Ruichang City by tomorrow morning.

Together with Lu Yuan’s forces on this route and the converging Han Hua, the initial plan of surrounding from four sides with four armies is about to be realized below Ruichang City.

The Ning Army, fleeing for their lives, eventually couldn’t escape the encirclement and is about to face their final doom.

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