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Chapter 146:
Chapter 146:
Chapter 146:
The contrast between White Dragon and the other warhorses was staggering. White Dragons presence alone threw the forefront of the Tubo forces into complete chaos while the main body of the Tang army approached at a slower pace.
During the distant battle, the Tang forces engaged fiercely with the Tubo vanguard, struggling due to fatigue. Though they initially held superior strength, the Tubo forces held them back, resulting in a fierce back-and-forth clash.
Su Lis brow furrowed as he shifted his gaze towards the Tubo central camp, formulating a plan to eliminate Lu Dongzan. Suddenly, a burst of battle cries erupted from behind. Su Lis commanding flag, depicting a coiled dragon, surged through the encirclement of Tubo forces.
In this era, advanced communication methods were absent during battles. Commanders directed actions using drumming and flag signals. Flags held immense importance on the battlefield, symbolizing the commanders position. If the commanding flag fell, it signaled the commanders potential demise in the chaos, causing a morale drop among the troops.
Yet, the White Dragons speed carried Su Li far ahead, leaving the commanding flag behind. The elite guards chosen from the Right Guards struggled to keep up with the horses pace, following Su Lis path through the Tubo formation.
Despite heavy wounds and casualties, these loyal guards tenaciously pursued Su Lis direction. Bloodied and determined, the standard-bearer held the flag high amidst the Tubo encirclement. However, their mortal limits became apparent as Tubo blades struck them down. Soon after, the Tang armys flag fell.
The Tang commander is dead! The Tang commander is dead! Amidst the chaos, a thunderous cheer erupted, freezing the actions of the Tang soldiers. They had seen Su Li charge into the Tubo ranks, with the commanding flag closely following. With the flag fallen, did this mean their esteemed commander was truly gone?
An intangible fear began to spread among the Tang soldiers. Su Dingfang, stationed in the Hou command, looked towards the direction Su Li had disappeared with a sense of alarm. Within the chaos of battle, it was impossible to pinpoint Su Lis exact location.
Then, a renewed glimmer appeared in Su Dingfangs eyes. He witnessed the commanding flag rise once more, sparking a renewed hope within him.
Simultaneously, a figure as white as snow effortlessly maneuvered through the Tubo ranks, appearing as if in an open expanse. Su Li, holding the flag, reentered the fray with determination. Despite being alone on horseback, he appeared to dismiss the presence of the fifty thousand-strong Tubo army. Su Dingfang quickly led his troops into the charge, recognizing the need to keep up with Su Lis pace.
While Su Dingfang knew Su Li was more than capable, he also understood the importance of coordination. During Su Lis initial charge, he had relished the battle, but the subsequent troops had yet to catch up. While Su Dingfang held no fear of combat, the absence of synchronization with the rear forces risked squandering the opportunity. His soldiers followed Su Li closely, again surging into the enemy formation. With their addition, the breach created by Su Lis charge was finally secured.
In the Tubo central army, Lu Dongzans eyes widened upon witnessing Su Lis return, commanding the flag. Only then did he realize the truth. This extraordinary and peerless general, who had seemed god-like in his massacre of Tibetan soldiers, was the commander-in-chief of the Tang army!
Lu Dongzan felt a deep sense of regret. Had he known earlier, he would have undoubtedly spared no effort to encircle and eliminate Su Li. He let out a self-deprecating laugh at his oversight.
Su Li had now recharged into battle, fighting fiercely for nearly half an hour without showing any fatigue. His massive halberd swung with deadly precision, causing a deluge of blood amidst the chaos. None of the Tibetan soldiers before him could match his skill. Wherever Su Li moved, carnage followed. Many of the less committed Tibetan soldiers were paralyzed with fear.
In Lu Dongzans view, the area around Su Li appeared to be drenched in blood-red hues. Confronted with such an adversary, could he truly have devised an effective strategy even if Lu Dongzan had identified him from the outset? He sighed, realizing his powerlessness against Su Li. Every conceivable tactic had been tried by the commanders of the Tibetan armys front lines. Yet, regardless of the approach, they couldnt halt White Dragons advance for even a fraction of a moment.
No wonder Su Li had ordered a forced march, boldly opening the city gates to face the Tibetan army despite his troops exhaustion.
At this moment, Lu Dongzan understood the situation entirely. The unparalleled warrior before him might surpass the legendary King of Western Chu. Despite the Kings renown, he had never ventured alone into an enemy force of fifty thousand soldiers. Yet here stood this figure, charging in and expertly mowing down enemies without breaking a sweat. Such courage could single-handedly constitute an entire army.
Lu Dongzan himself epitomized the unyielding spirit of the Tang army. He could cleave a path through fifty thousand soldiers with a solitary charge. Even if fifty thousand elite troops accompanied him, the surge would be disastrous for the Tibetan forces. How could they counterattack when encircled?
From the ongoing scenario, Su Li could easily handle a thousand enemy soldiers. Encirclement merely provided more adversaries for him to dispatch. As he surged forward, no Tibetan soldier in his path survived. Some were launched ten meters into the air by his halberds force, only to meet their demise upon impact after being disemboweled mid-air. Others were split along with their horses, while even more were cleaved in two before facing Su Li directly.
Su Li didnt intend for the scene to be so gruesome. His overwhelming strength, rated at 200, exceeded human comprehension. While an ordinary person might kill with a single blow, Su Li achieved the same with a single sweep of his halberd. There was no room for finesse on the battlefield, and Su Lis strength went untempered, resulting in the dismemberment of Tibetan soldiers with casual swings of his weapon.
This wasnt excessive cruelty but rather a demonstration of the human bodys fragility compared to his true strength. Lu Dongzans horror increased as he continued to watch, swallowing a gulp of saliva involuntarily. Despite his reluctance to admit it, Lu Dongzans thoughts were already leaning towards the possibility of retreat.