February 7th.
The battle outside Cang Lin Valley had been in a stalemate for four consecutive days. Finally, under the fierce attack of the Demon Race, the Empire could not hold on any longer. The four armies at the front had suffered heavy losses. Tens of thousands of wounded soldiers poured into the casualty barracks every day, but the Elixir Department could only send out a limited number of military doctors. Many soldiers had already died from their injuries.
Late at night, Chu Yao was dressed in the long white dress of the Elixir Department's Chief Deacon. Her face was covered in sweat as she bandaged the broken leg of a wounded soldier. She had already lost count of the number of wounded soldiers she had treated today.
A Chief Deacon of the Elixir Department, who was about forty years old, said respectfully, "Chief Deacon Chu Yao, Commander Yu of the Dragon's Courage Legion has sent people to escort you out of the casualty barracks."
"Ah, why?" Chu Yao was surprised.
The Chief said, "The frontline will most likely be lost. Once the Demon Race breaks through the Iron Blade Army's camp, they will march straight into the plains outside Cang Lin Valley. By then, we won't be able to leave even if we wanted to."
"But …" Chu Yao bit her red lips and looked at the countless wounded soldiers lying on the ground in the casualty barracks. She could not help but ask, "What about these wounded soldiers?"
A man lifted the white curtain and walked in. It was Lin Muyu's personal bodyguard, Bai Yin. He cupped his fists and said, "Chief Deacon Chu Yao, these wounded soldiers will be evacuated soon. You are the Chief Deacon of the Elixir Department and the Commander's sister, so please bring everyone from the Elixir Department and follow me. There will be more wounded soldiers waiting for your treatment. Please do not make things difficult for me. Let's go."
Chu Yao did not insist. She took off her blood-stained gloves and said, "Yes, immediately gather everyone from the Elixir Department and retreat with the Longdan Army Camp."
"Yes!"
Not long after, under the starry sky, a group of white-robed members of the Spiritual Medicine Department boarded the carriages, while Bai Yin commanded several hundred cavalrymen from the Longdan Army Camp to stand guard at the side. He shouted, "Depart!"
When the fleet left the casualty camp at a high speed, the moonlight fell all the way to the edge of the canyon. Over there, the battle roars were reverberating over 5 miles outside the canyon. The armored demons were attacking the human positions crazily. Even though many armored demons had lost their arms and legs, they were still fighting like wild beasts with resentful looks.
Most of the imperial soldiers were scared out of their wits by the Armor Demons' offensive. Many of them could not resist at all and were brutally killed. Their blood flowed all over the ground. Soon, the Armor Demon Legion flooded over like a tide. What was worse was that the Wing Clan Legion's shrill screams constantly came from the sky. Taking advantage of the darkness, these Wing Clan Legion shot down countless arrows. The imperial soldiers could only be beaten without being able to fight back.
On the frontline, Luo Xin carried her long spear and thrust it back and forth amidst the group of Armored Demons. Her Purple Dragon Martial Spirit's radiance soared to the sky, looking incomparably mighty. However, the people around her decreased as she fought, and in the blink of an eye, there were only a few left.
"Young General Luo Xin!"
On a hill, many soldiers waved the imperial war flag. Under the flag, the Marquis of Pingnan, Xiang Yu, sat on a tall horse and shouted, "Young General Luo Xin, retreat! We can't fight anymore. Otherwise, tens of thousands of us will die here! "
"What!?"
Luo Xin's eyes widened. "No! Once we retreat, the God Might Battalion and Su Long's troops on the left and right sides will be ambushed and killed. The demons will break through the middle of the army and form an encirclement. They will be blocked on both sides of the valley and killed one by one. They will not be able to escape! "
Xiang Yu immediately held up a token and said, "Young General Luo Xin, this is the token given to me by Her Highness, the empress. Please follow my orders and retreat with the Steel Blade Legion!"
"You!"
Luo Xin looked behind him. There were at least twenty thousand soldiers in the Steel Blade Army. Although they were fighting fiercely, if they could hold on for two to four hours and let the Shen Wei Battalion and Su Long Battalion retreat first, they might still be able to save Su Long Battalion and the Shen Wei Battalion. However, Xiang Yu had given the order and Luo Xin could do nothing about it. Under Su Muyun's constant guidance, Luo Xin naturally knew what a soldier should do.
With a face full of unwillingness, Luo Xin raised his spear and shouted, "Steel Blade Legion, retreat with Xiang Yu's army! The third battalion, stay behind and cover the retreat! The first battalion, follow me and cover the retreat of the God Might Battalion on the right! The second battalion, follow Deputy Commander Su Wan and cover the retreat of Su Long's troops on the left. Go now, don't hesitate! "
"Yes!"
All of a sudden, the main force of the Steel Blade Army retreated. The three Battalions of about 6,000 soldiers split into three groups, with one group bringing up the rear and two groups providing cover for the other two battlefields. However, the Winged Army in the air was extremely sharp. Arrows rained down from the sky, killing the cavalry on the ground. Luo Xin looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "Bastards!"
Xiang Yu clenched his fists and shouted, "Luo Xin, this bastard, how dare he act so arbitrarily. Men, retreat and leave the battlefield to the demons. Send a message to the central army and tell Her Highness that the frontline has been routed. We can't hold them off anymore!"
"Yes!"
…
"What? Routed? "
In the central tent, Qin Yin slammed the table and stood up. She looked at the messenger in shock. Su Muyun and Zeng Yifan stood up at the same time and said, "Oh no …"
Zeng Yifan looked at the messenger and asked sternly, "Xiang Yu gave the order to retreat?"
"Yes, Shen Hou."
"This bastard!" Zeng Yifan's eyes flashed fiercely. "The central army retreated without warning. This means that the flanks will be surrounded and annihilated by the demons. Xiang Yu has been leading the army for a long time. How could he make such a mistake? He's putting the Shen Wei Battalion in a position of no return! Men, bring my guards to reinforce the Shen Wei Battalion. Bring back as many as you can! "
Su Muyun quickly grabbed Zeng Yifan's wrist and said, "Shen Hou!"
Zeng Yifan looked back at him and said, "Gong Yun! The Shen Wei Battalion is my life's blood. How can I let them die in vain in this Cang Lin Valley … "
Su Muyun's cloudy eyes were filled with helplessness. "Shen Hou, the number of old officials in the empire is decreasing day by day. Du Hai, Lei Hong and the others have already left us. If Shen Hou leaves, I'm afraid it'll be difficult for you to return. Shen Hou, please take care of yourself. In the future, you still need to assist Her Highness to unify the empire. Let me go."
Zeng Yifan was stunned.
At this time, the messenger reported respectfully, "Your Highness, Marquis, Young General Luo Xin has already led the Steel Blade Army's main force to cover the retreat of the Shen Wei Battalion and Su Long's army!"
"Xin Er …" Su Muyun's arm was slightly trembling. He said, "Men, lead my personal guards and advance five miles to support the Young General!"
"Yes!"
At this time, Lin Muyu stood up and looked at the messenger with a pair of clear eyes. She said, "Stop."
"Commander Yu, what's the matter?" The messenger's heart was pounding.
Lin Muyu asked, "Tell me honestly, is the frontline really at a point where they can't hold on any longer?"
"This …"
The messenger was perturbed and said, "Reporting to Commander Yu, the demon race's attack today is very fierce. At least two hundred thousand Armored Demons have attacked our frontline. Our brothers at the frontline have almost used up all their arrows and the Heavenly Tomes have been used up. Therefore, Commander Xiang Yu has ordered the entire army to retreat."
"Answer me directly. Can they hold on any longer?"
"Yes … yes, but they definitely won't last until tomorrow."
"Damn it!"
Lin Muyu said in a low voice, "What is Xiang Yu doing? Is he giving the Shen Wei Battalion and Su Long's army to the demon race? One night is enough for the left and right armies to retreat. Why didn't the frontline resist? "
The messenger trembled all over and didn't dare to answer.
Zeng Yifan frowned and said, "It's useless to say anything now. Let's think about what we should do next."
Lin Muyu said, "Since Xiang Yu has ordered the retreat, they will definitely collapse. With QianFeng and Lei Chong's personalities, it's impossible that they won't chase after us. Their wish is to fight us on the plains. The empire has already lost the first battle!"
Su Muyun raised his eyebrows and said, "Then what's next?"
Almost everyone's gaze fell on Lin Muyu. Everyone knew that the Steel Blade Army, Shen Wei Battalion, Xiang Yu Battalion, and Su Long's army had already fought against the demon race and lost. Their only hope was the well-preserved Longdan Army Camp. If the Longdan Army Camp couldn't turn the tide, then the empire's 500,000 soldiers would really be eaten by the demon race in the Cang Lin Valley.
"Sirs, please command the troops to retreat in an orderly manner."
Lin Muyu's voice was a little weak. She said, "I will arrange for the main force of the Longdan Army Camp to set up a formation to intercept the demon race's pursuers. Don't worry."
"Alright. Thank you, Commander Yu!"
Everyone nodded.
Qin Yin didn't say a word. Her beautiful eyes were looking toward the southeast. That was the direction of the Sword Pavilion. The empire's army had suffered a crushing defeat. If Sword Pavilion's Qin Yi still didn't send troops, then the entire continent's future would be out of control.
… …
On the north side of the Cang Lin Valley, facing more and more demons, Su Long's army was losing ground. They couldn't tell each other apart in the dark. They could only hear the endless roars of the demons.
Su Long rode his beloved warhorse with a long saber in his hand. His face was ashen as he shouted, "Military report, where's the military report?"
A centurion shouted, "Commander, Xiang Yu ordered the entire army to retreat!"
"What?"
Su Long's heart turned cold. He said, "This order didn't reach me at all. Xiang Yu, that bastard, is he trying to make us fall into eternal damnation? Men, immediately pass down my order. Everyone, follow me and charge back! Retreat! "
"It's too late, Commander. Look over there!"
Su Long looked back. Under the moonlight, countless armored demons were charging out of the valley. They had already formed an encirclement. In an instant, Su Long's heart felt like it had fallen into a glacier. He murmured, "It's over … it's over …"
"Commander, what do we do now? Hurry up and give the order!" A Captaincy whose arm had been chopped off said with tears of blood.
Su Long gritted his teeth, "Let's go. Retreat to the north with me. Grab the warhorses' necks and swim across the river. It's better than dying here!"
"Yes!"
A group of infantrymen put down their shields and armors and rushed into the river with their short swords. They waved their arms and rushed to the other side of the river. They all knew that the armored demons could not swim. As long as they reached the other side of the river, they would be able to save their lives.
However, a series of screams could be heard coming from the river. The river water turned blood red. The first thousand soldiers that entered the river were all killed. It was the demon army!
"God damn it …"
Su Long's body trembled in anger. He shouted, "Brothers, it's time to show our loyalty to the empire. Kill!"
"Kill!"
A group of chiliarchs and captains led the remaining troops to regroup and charge at the tide-like Armor Devils. However, when they looked back, they found that Su Rong's sword had slashed across his neck, and he had lost all signs of life and fallen off his horse.
… …
In the early morning of the 8th of February, Year 7736 of the Empire Calendar, Su Long, the deputy military governor of Yunzhong Province and the commander of the army, committed suicide in defeat.
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