Munitions Empire - Chapter 1471 - : 1388: catastrophic defeat in the shu territory

Chapter 1471: Chapter 1388: Catastrophic Defeat in the Shu Territory

Just when everyone thought this battle would be a solo performance of the 7th Corps of the Great Tang, the coordination of the Tang Army began to show its power.

The 6th Corps of Tang from Chu Territory took advantage of the fact that Zhang Xuan’s main troops moved south, launching a fierce attack on the Xishan Fortress. In just two days, they annihilated the defending forces and seized this important strategic stronghold.

Subsequently, the Tang Army entered Shu Territory from the Xishan Fortress, charging from the highlands into the plains of Shu Territory.

This caused the Qin Army’s defense line to collapse entirely, exposing the flank of Zhang Xuan’s main forces, who were fiercely attacking the 7th Corps, to the onslaught of the 6th Corps.

Despite Zhang Xuan’s utmost efforts to restore his flanking defense line, he ultimately failed: the Qin Army collapsed across the line, in a more dismal defeat than in Chu Territory.

The military of the Great Tang Empire pierced into Zhang Xuan’s heartland in one breath, disrupting all the defensive plans of the Qin Army.

Helpless, Zhang Xuan could only once again exhibit his “rabbit attributes,” retreating with the remnant troops of Qin Country, relinquishing vast fertile lands to the Tang Army.

With the warming weather, the Tang Army controlled extensive fertile lands in Shu Territory, giving them more time advantages.

Without missing any farming time, Shu Territory would soon resume production and provide a substantial supply of food and resources to the Tang Army.

Having lost the plains of Shu Territory, Zhang Xuan could only retreat to the defensive line at Shu Mountain, squeezing in with Ying Xu, who was previously unable to support due to a lack of troops.

Meanwhile, Sun Guang, who had previously exerted great effort to counterattack the Tang Army, was utterly left high and dry: all his mobile forces were wasted supporting Zhang Xuan’s counterattack, and now there’s no one to support him.

The heavily damaged Qin Army retreated to the area near Qingluan Port, only to awkwardly find themselves low on ammunition.

Sun Guang appealed for aid to Zhang Xuan and Ying Xu, but their response was, “I am powerless as well.” Indeed, with Zhang Xuan’s successive defeats, from an army of hundreds of thousands now reduced to little over a hundred thousand, how could there be any capacity to support Sun Guang?

Five days later, the 7th Corps of the Tang Army surrounded Qingluan Port. On the same day, the 6th Corps of Tang encircled the old capital of Shu Country, Kangrao.

To Qin Country, this was nothing short of a nightmare: Zhang Xuan’s troops, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, escaped with their lives in Chu Territory, thinking they had stabilized the situation, only to lose most of it in a local counterattack.

Years of hard work vanished overnight. Hundreds of thousands of Qin Army troops were encircled and dismembered, now nothing more than fish on the chopping board.

Simultaneously, in just a few days, Qin Country lost almost every valuable part of Shu Territory, and it appeared the rest wouldn’t be held either.

This situation of defeat cascading like a landslide is, in fact, a norm in war: previously, when forces were evenly matched or barely holding on, once exhausted, the weaker side suddenly collapses.

The Qin Country was just like this. Without follow-up support and with their main troops exhausted, they lost rapidly, as if the 6th Corps swept through their flanks, creating a miracle.

As the saying goes, to the outsider, it looks lively. With the repeated reports in the news of Tang Country, within Tang Country, the group of renowned generals from Dahua gradually surfaced: including the renowned Qian Jinhang from the Staff Department, General Feng Kezhi of the 9th Group Army, and newly famous Zhao Chen of the 6th Group Army.

Within fifteen days, the Tang Army captured Kangrao, advanced into Qingluan Port to engage in street battles, and seized the salient subjected to crossfire at the Shu Mountain defensive line.

In the eastern part of Shu Territory, the last Qin-controlled city, Quanyuan, near Chu Territory, surrendered to the Tang Army in despair. Nearby, 110,000 Qin troops laid down their weapons, averting their destruction.

After losing two-thirds of Chu Territory, the Qin Army had to retreat to the westernmost part of the Shu Mountain defensive line, including the area around Shu Mountain City.

Including the areas of Huai Mountain and Huxuan still under Qin control, the Qin Army was nearing a full retreat back to the homeland.

Finally, Sun Guang escaped from Qingluan Port by submarine, accompanied by Mike Larwell, the Staff Chief of the United Fleet.

As Qin Country had lost almost all its coastline, Sun Guang and Larwell could only return to Dorne–their positions seemed to have been swapped.

Within this, there was an interesting little story: the fortunate Qin destroyer Courage managed to endure until this moment without sinking. It had been anchored in Qingluan Port and later chose to scuttle itself.

And two hours after Sun Guang left Qingluan Port, the Qingluan garrison surrendered, and 100,000 Qin soldiers laid down their arms, bringing the Battle of Qingluan to a close.

By now, the Tang Army had captured nearly a million Qin troops in Shu Territory. Among these forces were over 100,000 able-bodied men from Shu Territory, who, after identification, were sent back home, with the rest remaining in the POW camps as laborers.

With millions of troops “annihilated,” the Qin Army had fallen into a completely passive strategic position, much like Germany Three in its final moments. Now their only consolation is that the war is still being waged outside Qin Country’s homeland.

“Prime Minister, how is His Majesty?” inquired the Minister of Foreign Affairs, bowing his head to greet the Emperor within the Imperial Palace.

The temporarily regent Ying Ke, with a heavy heart and a worried expression, replied, “His Majesty is merely overworked, nothing major… How are things on Tang Country’s side?”

“Sir, the Foreign Ministry of Tang Country is extremely arrogant, sending away our envoy without even letting Nangong Hong or Jiang Run show up.” The Foreign Minister of Qin Country responded through gritted teeth.

“We are willing to submit and cede territories such as Nanjiao… and they still refuse?” Ying Ke asked, slightly surprised. To him, it was the first time Qin Country had actively proposed ceding territory and paying indemnities, and he believed the other side should send someone of stature to attend to such a proposal.

But he quickly understood: their communication was vastly superior, so they must have already received news of the changed situation in Shu Territory.

Read latest Chapters at WebNovel Only

It’s no wonder they looked down on Qin Country’s price; if he were them, he wouldn’t agree to peace at such a critical moment either. After all, it was the first opportunity for the Western Continent to achieve the dream of unification!

“Well… continue to send people, and this time, say that we’re willing to pay 2 billion Gold Coins more. As long as Tang Country proposes terms, do not refuse anything. Just report back to me.” Finally, Ying Ke decided not to miss any opportunity and continued negotiations with Tang Country.

After sending away the Foreign Minister, Ying Ke was met by several military generals, bringing with them another series of bad news. The situation in Shu Territory had already crumbled. The Qin Army had lost its largest granary and treasury; the coming days would be tough…

—-

I caught a cold and felt very uncomfortable. However, I finally managed to catch up on the owed updates after enduring a day.