The World Online

Chapter 1195 – Battle of Phoenix Castle (Part 1)

Great Zhou Dynasty, Handan City.

After receiving Lianpo’s request for instructions, although Di Chen did not rage, he did not feel good deep down inside. “Lianpo is becoming more and more timid. After only losing a few times to Great Xia, he has become afraid to such an extent.”

Great Xia had three legions and Great Jin had four legions exiting the city. Compared to the Great Zhou palace guards, they did not have a crushing advantage.

“Even if they cannot beat the opponent, at least hold them back.”

Great Zhou’s strategy was really simple. As long as the palace guards held the enemy back for three to four days, once the remaining Great Zhou troops wiped out the blazing legion corps and returned, it would be tough to say who wins and who loses.

Di Chen ordered, “Tell Lianpo to defend for four days or else his head is mine.”

“Yes, my king!”

…

Fallen Phoenix City outskirts, palace guards camp.

After receiving the order, Lianpo immediately mobilized troops to check the defenses and camp and prepare the troops for battle.

Like Shanhai City, Fallen Phoenix City was also located in a small basin with only one entry point from the outside world. The entry was five miles long and was in a Chinese eight character shape with it being narrower as you enter.

The Great Zhou Palace Guards were defending this entry, trying their best to lock down Fallen Phoenix City.

Lianpo was a really experience general and was also famed for defending. For the Great Xia and Great Jin Alliance Army to breakthrough in a short time would be really difficult.

This was also where Di Chen’s confidence came from. He did not believe that the Great Xia Guards Legion Corps was truly omnipotent and could tear apart such an iron defensive line.

The only advantage that the Alliance Army had was that the Phoenix Castle at the narrowest point of the entry had not been taken down by the Great Zhou army, as it was easy to defend and hard to attack.

If not, there was no way that this war could be fought.

At 2 PM, the Alliance Army moved into Phoenix Castle, making their prebattle preparations.

As a military stronghold and the final castle defending the Capital City, the strength of the castle was naturally undeniable. Even the Great Zhou palace guards could not take it down in a short amount of time.

Outside of Phoenix Castle was a tall tower a hundred meter tall; this was the tallest part of the castle. It was also the watchtower of the castle. Looking out, one could see everything going on in the entire entry point.

Huo Qubing and Meng Tian arrived at the highest point of the tower under the accompaniment of the defending general of Phoenix Castle.

In history, after Qin country unified China, Meng Tian led 300 thousand troops up north to attack the Xiongnu to reclaim Henan. He led troops to fix the Great Wall of China and the Jiuzhou path, solving the problem of transportation in China.

Huo Qubing was also famous for going against the Xiongnu.

Although the two generals were meeting for the first time, they were not that awkward and uncomfortable. Huo Qubing let Meng Tian be the main general. First, Meng Tian was on home grounds, while Huo Qubing was the guest. Secondly, Meng Tian was from Qin and Huo Qubing was from Han, so he was his senior.

Meng Tian did not push it away and accepted the duty.

The military feared there being too many people giving orders and having a common commander was needed.

Standing at the top of the tower, the strong wind blew, blowing at the capes of the two generals. They were like two heroes and were the pride of their respective generations. Meng Tian pointed at the Great Zhou camp, “As expected from a famous warring states general, his planning of the camp is well done. There is not a single weakness that we can exploit.”

If one looked in the same direction, they would be able to see that the Great Zhou camp fanned out from the entrance. With a division as a basic fighting unit, the troops lined up a thousand meters away from the foot of Phoenix Castle all the way to the outer parts of the entrance.

Clean white tents, various flags fluttering in the wind, and the orderly military formation was a truly majestic sight.

Huo Qubing and Meng Tian were both top generals of their generation and saw that although the camp looked messy, in truth, it was based on the eight trigrams. Entering it would be like entering a giant maze.

They were standing on a high ground, so they could naturally see clearly the enemy formation. However, the moment they engaged the enemy and entered the vast camp, they might not be able to differentiate between east and west, and their formation would be messed up in the process.

The moment one entered the formation, one would become blind.

Huo Qubing said, “Not having a weakness means that everywhere is a weakness. Since the enemy is using such an exquisite method, our troops can only use strength to forcefully breakthrough.” As he said that, Huo Qubing looked at Meng Tian, “When attacking, we need one person commanding from here and one person leading to engage in the formation. Great Xia is willing to be the vanguard.”

Just as Huo Qubing had said, since they would become blind once they charged in, they needed a pair of eyes in Phoenix Castle to look down and use flag language to command the army.

This was a huge ask on the commander. It needed him to command the entire field while using the battle situation to flexibly make changes to ensure that the army could break through the formation.

Meng Tian was undoubtedly a good choice.

However, he was not willing, “Let us be the vanguard and you command. After all, it’s our home ground. We will not shy away from the first tough battle.”

Although Great Jin was small, they had backbone.

Huo Qubing was still unwilling, “General, do not forget the true goal of this battle; it’s to cover the Great Xia army to charge out of the enemy camp. If we do not attack, how can we charge out?”

Meng Tian laughed. Obviously, he had thought about that, “Let Great Jin fight the first battle and probe their camp. You can use the chance to see how the enemy camp changes and adapts. Tomorrow, when we officially attack, we will have a much higher chance.”

Since Meng Tian’s words made sense, Huo Qubing agreed.

Although they were confident, they were not so confident that they thought they would break through in their first charge. A huge formation like the one that Lianpo had set needed to be tested multiple times.

If not, it might just be a trap set by the enemy.

If one gambled, one would often capsize.

The matter was settled, so Meng Tian turned around to gather up his troops to cross swords with the Great Zhou palace guards.

Before leaving, Meng Tian motivated his soldiers as such.

“Boys, Great Zhou has been arrogant for too long, and we have held it in for far too long. Now is the chance for us to fight for the honor and glory of Great Jin. It is a chance to write our names in history. What should we do?”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

The Great Jin soldiers who had a lot of pent up anger and frustration were filled with fighting spirit and were ready to go.

When Meng Tian saw that, he nodded his head in satisfaction. Apart from probing the enemy formation, the other reason he wanted to go first was to raise the morale.

The Great Jin Guards Legion Corps needed a huge battle to prove themselves.

“Let’s go!”

Meng Tian took the lead, charging out of Phoenix Castle, directly at the enemy formation.

Wave after wave of iron armored cavalry charged out of the gates, wrapping up a lot of dirt and dust. The ones following behind the cavalry were infantry, who waltzed out of the huge gates of Phoenix Castle and entered the battlefield.

As they were probing, Meng Tian did not send out all the troops. Instead, he only sent the 1st division.

Even so, the dust that rose up from 70 thousand troops was like a huge whirlwind, covering the skies and charging right at the camp. They looked like they were going to swallow up the enemy camp.

The Great Zhou palace guards were not weak either.

The previously calm and quiet camp started boiling like when a drop of water drips into an oil pot. Soldiers appeared all around the camp and drowned the enemies that entered their camp.

When Huo Qubing who was standing at the top of Phoenix Castle saw that, his eyes focused. Lianpo’s huge formation had some skill. Thinking about this, Huo Qubing focused more and more.

Meng Tian was also really skilled. Since they were probing, he used his senses to lead the troops to charge all around the camp. It looked barbaric, but in truth, they were testing all parts of the camp.

When Huo Qubing saw that, his eyes relaxed.

This was the first time he felt respect for the Great Jin army. They were partners worthy of respect.

…

Great Zhou palace guards camp, certain high ground.

Lianpo looked at the chaotic formation. Currently, his face was really calm, showing his confidence toward the formation. Under his leadership, the five legions, 25 divisions were in complete understanding of one another, knowing when to go forward and retreat.

As time went on, the Great Jin Guards Legion Corps were cut apart and swallowed up.

At this very moment, the change occurred.

The randomly charging enemy troops suddenly become alive like dragons and tigers. It was like there was an invisible line that was connecting them altogether.

Facing the encirclement of the formation, the enemies suddenly became really flexible, either dodging or attacking, and the originally separated troops miraculously gathered together once more.

Lianpo knew that he had faced an expert.