novelraw Chapter 413 - 13: The Bloody Battle of Hulao Pass, Capturing Two Emperors in One Fight (Double-Length)
Chapter 413 - 13: The Bloody Battle of Hulao Pass, Capturing Two Emperors in One Fight (Double-Length)
"The bandits have brought their armies here, yet they’re only capable of boasting with empty words."
"Could it be—"
"That they’re afraid of my, Li Shimin’s, renowned might?"
The voices echoed like thunder.
At this moment, Gu Quan also spoke up: "Gu Ziyuan of the Gu Clan is here, how dare you invade?"
This was done deliberately.
Under Dou Jiande’s command, most of them were from Hebei, and the name of a member of the Gu Clan would definitely affect their morale.
Indeed, as soon as these words were spoken,
Slight chaos ensued among the armies below.
For a moment, a flash of anger crossed Dou Jiande’s face.
Actually, Li Shimin was right—he did harbor some fear of Li Shimin and the Gu Quan beside him.
"Courting death!"
He dared not hesitate any longer.
Since psychological tactics had failed, he had no choice but to attack forcefully.
Though his heart indeed harbored great apprehension, what of it?
He commanded an army of a hundred thousand!
A hundred thousand troops can sweep away all obstacles.
—The Great Battle erupted in an instant.
Gu Quan’s name could indeed affect the Xia Army’s morale, but relying solely on a name to repel the enemy was clearly insufficient. Only someone of Gu Chen’s stature might accomplish this.
Dou Jiande would not wait any longer.
As soon as Gu Quan revealed his identity, he completely lost the chance for psychological warfare!
His only option was a direct attack!
The cries of battle pierced the sky, dense arrows accompanied by the piercing sounds of breaking air descended like raindrops.
Dou Jiande knew very well.
He absolutely could not allow Li Shimin any chance to delay.
Even if the first battle couldn’t directly breach Hulao Pass, there had to be some advancement.
He did not believe that the Tang Army’s morale could remain so firm.
As long as a victory was won, under such a disparity in troop numbers, the Tang Army’s morale was destined to collapse completely.
By then, he could advance unimpeded.
In reality, Dou Jiande’s battle wasn’t just for Wang Shichong; he had his own ambitions.
Having reached this point,
who would not desire to become the ruler of the world?
Dou Jiande had long made his plans.
As long as he could break through Hulao Pass, nearly destroy the Tang Army’s elite, he could then seize the opportunity to attack Wang Shichong directly, capturing Luoyang and Li Tang’s Chang’an, Longxi, and other places, along with the foundation in Hebei.
By then, he would become the strongest warlord in the land.
It was precisely for this reason that Dou Jiande did not agree to his advisors’ strategy of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" by attacking Chang’an.
He needed to seize the initiative and capture the fruits of victory.
As for what other warlords would think then, why would he care?
The path to becoming an Emperor;
required each person to employ their methods.
By then, as the strongest warlord, the attitudes of others would not matter to him.
Therefore, no matter what, Dou Jiande had to gain the advantage.,
Under his continuous orders,
the entire Xia Army’s offensive was extremely swift.
But Hulao Pass, being a strategic stronghold, even with the abundant troops under Dou Jiande’s command, could not throw all his forces forward due to terrain constraints.
This was also the greatest reliance of Li Shimin, Gu Quan, and others.
They only needed to withstand this fiercest attack of the Xia Army to shatter their morale!
"Kill!!!"
"Kill!!!"
"Kill!!!"
"..."
On this battlefield, akin to a meat grinder, the surge of various hormones endlessly stimulated each soldier’s emotions, eliciting deafening shouts.
Li Shimin never retreated.
Together with Gu Quan, Cheng Yaojin, and Yuchi Gong, he fought alongside the soldiers in front of the pass!
There were indeed too many people!
The endless Xia Army truly flowed like a river, slaughtering without end.
In the dense crowd, some managed to dodge arrows, avoid rolling stones, and climb up the pass, leading to close combat.
Fortunately, Li Shimin had gathered only the finest of the elite.
Not only the Xia Army would be influenced by the surge of hormones, but the Tang Army would as well.
Especially when they saw Li Shimin and the generals like Gu Quan never retreating, it undoubtedly spurred their fighting spirit even more.
But this battle for the Tang Army,
was also extremely arduous.
Blood soaked the ground, history seemed to run backwards, countless lives once again fell under this legendary pass.
Among them were both Tang and Xia soldiers.
But compared to the entirely elite Tang Army, the casualties of the Xia Army were indeed greater.
However, under such a numerical advantage, it seemed negligible.
—For a full three days!
Dou Jiande attacked continuously for three days.
Several opportunities nearly breached Hulao Pass directly, but without exception, they were all thwarted.
In the end, he had to order the armies to rest.
Under such enormous casualties and psychological pressure, he had to prevent a mutiny and also consider the combat effectiveness of the armies.
Even knowing that Li Shimin was likely at the end of his resources now.
Just one final push could suffice.
But many times, no matter how unwilling, one has to accept it all.
Because many omens, about Li Shimin and the Gu Clan, had appeared in the barracks, and he had to control it all.
Of course, the most important reason.
He also intended for Li Tang and Wang Shichong to continue depleting each other.
This was the most crucial reason.
Just needed to maintain a balance, and he could completely reap the benefits as a bystander.
Within Hulao Pass.
Watching the enemy gradually retreat, the long sword in Li Shimin’s hand almost immediately dropped to the ground, and his entire body collapsed to the ground as if exhausted, uncontrollably gasping for breath.