Chapter 009: A Narrow Encounter

Rowling, send a cavalryman to report to General Li Benlei, instructing him to quickly prepare troops to support us. We have already entered the new city ahead of time

Rowling expressed some confusion, saying: "My lord, although we have defeated the army of Goguryeo that came out of the city, according to the scouts' reports, there are still nearly 10,000 troops inside the city. How can we possibly enter the city immediately?"

The team was just about to escort Gao Qi, who was happily riding, when he said to Chen Kefu on horseback: "General, we, under the orders of Lord Zhang He, have set up an ambush here, and unexpectedly caught a big fish. I recognize this person's official attire; he is a Rusa, the highest official of this city."

"Why hasn't it arrived at the new city after such a long time?" Gao Qi said anxiously

Kill

Chen Kefu glanced at Gao Qi, who was pressed down and kneeling on the ground, as well as the two to three hundred remaining soldiers, most of whom had already been killed. Only a small number, who had been shot with arrows but were still alive, were now lying on the ground, wailing incessantly.

Gao Qi looked at the infantry camp that had been completely divided into various small squares by the Sui army, and sighed helplessly, "It seems I was careless this time. Let's go." After saying this, he hurried eastward towards the new city with hundreds of his remaining soldiers and scholars.

Indeed, we have struck gold. This fellow is a Rusa, the highest official of a major city in the Goguryeo region. Not only does he command troops, but he also oversees the entire city. We have truly hit the jackpot this time. Once we present this individual to His Majesty, we are certain to receive His Majesty's rewards, and if His Majesty is particularly pleased, we might even be promoted a rank.

Gao Qi was as anxious as a dog that had lost its home; he now deeply regretted his earlier decision to scare off the Sui army out of fear of engaging them at the city gates. If he had directly confronted the Sui army with the new city at his back, he would not be pursued so relentlessly now

"Rowling, take a group and pursue that commander of the Goguryeo people with me, while the rest continue to encircle and kill these Goguryeo soldiers until they surrender." After saying this, Chen Kefu led two hundred men and relentlessly chased after the flag of the Goguryeo commander. Many defeated Goguryeo soldiers, seeing that large flag, attempted to gather around their commander, but each time they were fiercely charged at by Chen Kefu and his cavalry. Gradually, the defeated Goguryeo soldiers, seeing the flag, no longer gathered around it; instead, they turned and fled at the sight of the flag. Many defeated Goguryeo soldiers, seeing that large flag, attempted to gather around their commander, but each time they were fiercely charged at by Chen Kefu and his cavalry. Gradually, the defeated Goguryeo soldiers, seeing the flag, no longer gathered around it; instead, they turned and fled at the sight of the flag

Lord Zhang He, you quickly lead two groups of troops to maneuver around the enemy formation and attack from the rear. Lord Li Benlei and the remaining lords, charge with me from the front. All troops, charge! Kill!

That team member is also a veteran who participated in the last campaign against Liao. Just a glance at Gao Qi's armor made him break into a broad smile.

The formation was no longer solid and complete, and some Goguryeo warriors began to turn and retreat; in fact, it would be more appropriate to say they were fleeing. At first, the Goguryeo officers personally executed the fleeing soldiers, but this only had a minimal effect.

With a fierce roar, the five regiments of the Breakthrough Army, led by Chen Kefu and Li Benlei, pressed directly against the enemy's infantry formation. This time, they did not maneuver around the flanks but instead charged with spears at the front, followed by curved sabers, directly penetrating the enemy's formation from the front. For cavalry, the most difficult part of the formation to attack is actually the outermost layers, which are lined with spears, a true weapon against cavalry. However, once they penetrated the formation, the cavalry charged in as if a hot iron rod were plunged into cream, melting away without any resistance. The entire formation, for cavalry, is most difficult to attack at the outermost layers, which are lined with spears, a true weapon against cavalry. However, once they penetrated the formation, the cavalry charged in as if a hot iron rod were plunged into cream, melting away without any resistance.

Chen Kefu nodded and said, "This is your achievement; after the war, we will certainly reward you according to your contributions. Well done!"

The one thousand cavalry, who were highly anticipated by the Goguryeo general, have been steadily retreating under the assault of the cavalry from the eight regiments of the broken army. Faced with the well-armored and even better-equipped Sui cavalry, the Goguryeo cavalry found themselves in an increasingly one-sided situation.

In this phalanx of 10,000 infantry from Goguryeo, not all were Goguryeo people; there were also numerous outsiders, including Khitans, Xianbei, as well as some Han and Turkic individuals. Upon witnessing the Goguryeo warriors, who had previously defeated the hundreds of thousands of Sui troops on two occasions, continuously falling under the impact of the Sui cavalry, they began to waver

"Captain, it seems we have caught a big fish. Look at this fellow's armor and cloak; they are made of white mink fur. He must be quite a catch. We are in for a windfall now," said a squad leader. This team had been assigned by Zhang He to ambush in this small grove to prevent any fish from slipping through the net.

Li Benlei rode his warhorse beside Chen Kefu. At this moment, seeing the Goryeo army's formation finally in disarray, he immediately said: "My lord, let us charge directly into the Goryeo formation, break their lines, and divide them into smaller units, then encircle and eliminate them one by one"

Chen Kefu immediately spotted Gao Qi in his beautiful armor, and upon observing the panicked retreat of the several hundred defeated soldiers, he roughly deduced that this person was indeed the commander of the more than ten thousand Goguryeo troops.

Chen Kefu nodded. At this moment, the spear formation of the Goguryeo people had long lost its complete defensive line, with numerous gaps, presenting a truly good opportunity

"Sir, we must leave quickly. This unit of Sui soldiers is elite. We have been defeated; we should retreat to the New City. The New City must not fall." A general beside Gao Qi urged urgently.

General, as long as we pass through this small grove, we will reach the new city. The Sui army is still far from us, and we will surely be able to safely retreat into the new city

Chen Kefu and others did not remain engaged in a protracted battle; instead, they directly led the cavalry to split the entire formation in half, and then further divided it into two pairs, continuing to segment those halves until the entire formation was completely cut into smaller units. The infantry, deprived of the protection of the large formation, found themselves powerless against the rapidly advancing cavalry of the enemy, akin to lambs awaiting slaughter. Although they could still desperately counterattack the Sui soldiers, it was ultimately futile against the overwhelming tide.

In no time, the entire formation began to waver, and more and more Goguryeo soldiers started to turn and retreat towards the direction of the new city. Some soldiers even chose to abandon their spears and shields in order to run faster.

Just send someone to report it. Although the city is still in their hands, we already have this great general. As long as we have him, along with the hundreds of Goguryeo armors and clothing on the ground, we can achieve it without a direct assault, but through clever tactics

As soon as the guard's voice fell, a dense rain of arrows shot out from the woods. Caught completely off guard, Gao Qi and the few hundred remaining soldiers immediately cried out in panic, with many horses and men falling to the ground. Even Gao Qi was struck by an arrow in the leg, causing him to fall from his horse and lie motionless on the ground

Several people were laughing and chatting when they saw that the main general of the Broken Army Camp, Chen Kefu, had already arrived with more than 100 men

After several barrages of arrows, a large contingent of Sui cavalry charged out from the woods, launching a brutal assault on the Goguryeo soldiers who were still in defense.