Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 856: Deliberately letting the enemy off the hook and giving the Chu army a chance?

In the twilight, the walls of Yangping Pass clung like a weary python, coiling between the mountain passes. Outside, the Chu army surged like a surging black tide, crashing against the walls. The sound of war drums, shouts of killing, the clatter of arrows piercing the air, and the crash of tumbling boulders blended together into a heart-pounding din.

Gao Yao stood behind the parapet, his face pale, his breathing still a little rapid from his earlier exhaustion. His body beneath the armor hadn't recovered yet. But his gaze was fixed on the battle below, his voice hoarse as he barked out orders: "Crossbowmen on the left wing, cover fire! Quick! Where's the rolling log? Throw it down! Block that ladder!"

Under his command, the defenders, though apprehensive, dared not slack off, striving to put on a brave show of resistance. Arrows rained down sporadically, logs and rocks tumbled down the walls, stirring a brief moment of confusion among the Chu army. But Gao Yao knew this was merely a spent force, a bluff. The troops inside the pass were depleted, supplies scarce, and he was the only one holding on. If he fell now, this barely maintained line of defense would collapse instantly, and Yangping Pass wouldn't hold for even two hours.

Sweat mixed with dust from the wall slid down his forehead. He felt dizzy and quickly supported himself on the cold wall tiles with his hands.

At that moment, a figure who should not have been there, swiftly approached him through the chaotic crowd of soldiers. The man, dressed in scholar's robes, looked out of place amidst the bloody storm. It was Xiao He.

Xiao He grabbed Gao Yao's arm with such force that Gao Yao staggered.

"What are you doing up here?!" Gao Yao was shocked and furious. He grabbed Xiao He's arm and tried to push him off the wall. "Get back! Swords are merciless here! You're not a military commander. What if something goes wrong..." He couldn't bear the thought of losing this loyal and trusted general. Xiao He was not only a loyal subject, but Gao Yao also considered him a true friend. Xiao He was more precious than ten Yangping Passes.

Xiao He, however, was remarkably resolute. Far from retreating, he pulled Gao Yao closer. His voice was extremely low, yet every word was clear, piercing the clamor of the battlefield: "Your Majesty! I suggest that we feign resistance, and then... retreat from Yangping Pass!"

"what?!"

Gao Yao couldn't believe his ears. A surge of hot blood suddenly rushed to his head, his vision darkening with rage, and his blood pressure soared. He had fought tooth and nail to hold on here, even though he knew the hope was slim, he had never considered retreating without a fight! Whether or not he could hold the position was one thing, but giving up outright? That would be a humiliating shame! Moreover, Yangping Pass was a vital strategic point, how could he surrender it so easily?

"Xiao He! Do you know what you're talking about?!" Gao Yao's voice trembled slightly with anger and weakness. "We've fought bloody battles for days. How can we give up just like that? Wouldn't that mean the blood of our soldiers has been shed in vain?!"

Xiao He remained remarkably calm in the face of Gao Yao's fury, speaking even faster: "Your Majesty, calm down! Please listen to me! Xiang Yu is no longer a reckless man who blindly attacks with his might. This attack is by no means a full-scale assault, but rather a test! He intends to gauge our strength inside the pass—are we merely outwardly strong but inwardly weak, or do we truly harbor ambushes and reinforcements?"

He scanned the Chu army's offensive below the city with a sharp gaze and continued his analysis: "Your Majesty, please see. Although the Chu army's attack is fierce, their elite troops have not yet been fully deployed, and their formation has left room for maneuver. This is a tactic of deceiving the enemy! If Your Majesty puts all your efforts into defending the city now, you might be able to hold out for an hour or two, but this will expose our weakness! Once Xiang Yu confirms that the pass is open, he will unleash all his might to break through it. Then Yangping Pass will still be undefendable, and all our previous strategies of deceiving the enemy, all our sacrifices and efforts, will be in vain!"

He stared intently into Gao Yao's eyes, his voice heavy and urgent. "On the contrary, if we feign resistance now, acting exhausted, and then 'flee' in disarray, Xiang Yu, a suspicious person by nature, will become suspicious upon seeing this. He will conclude that we are luring the enemy deep into our territory, that there must be an ambush inside, or that he has other plans! He will most likely not dare to advance directly, and may even retreat temporarily for safety! Only in this way can we truly resolve the current crisis and buy our army a chance to breathe! Your Majesty, this is the best strategy of retreating to advance!"

Gao Yao was stunned.

The rage in his heart was like being suddenly doused with a basin of ice water, hissing, leaving only a cold clarity and a violent struggle. He instantly understood Xiao He's full intentions - this was a huge gamble, a bet on Xiang Yu's suspicion, a bet on exchanging a pass for strategic initiative.

He looked outside the city. The Chu army's banners fluttered in the flames. Although Xiang Yu's presence was not visible, the invisible pressure loomed over the surrounding area. Xiao He's judgment was most likely correct. A stubborn defense would inevitably result in the destruction of the city, the death of all soldiers, and the end of everything. But giving up... giving up might buy a glimmer of hope, or even a chance to turn defeat into victory.

But...Yangping Pass!

Gao Yao clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms. He felt incredibly frustrated and struggling, his mind clashing with his emotions. Giving up territory was a difficult decision for any commander.

The city wall shook slightly under the bombardment of the catapult, and a piece of rubble splashed at his feet.

time is limited.

Gao Yao suddenly closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the air filled with smoke and blood. When he opened his eyes again, although there was still pain in his eyes, he was determined.

His voice was dry, and he practically squeezed out the command through his teeth: "... Pass the order down, according to Prime Minister Xiao's instructions... Each unit shall... gradually abandon the first line of the city wall... Act as if defeated... but do not actually cause chaos! Retreat to the second line of defense... prepare... to withdraw from Yangping Pass!"

When he said the last word, he felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out. This was clearly a gamble, a bet on whether Xiao He's plan would work. With Gao Yao's order, the actions on the battlefield were quietly changing.

Xiang Yu sat upright on his black horse, his thick brows furrowed, his gaze sweeping across the battle scene on the city wall. Doubts grew and entangled in his heart like vines. Something was wrong, something was very wrong.

His strategy today was a steady and cautious one, unlike the reckless, reckless assault of the previous few days. The reason was simple: the disappearance of the 5,000 Southern Border cavalry was like a sword hanging over his head, forcing him to focus on defense, fearing a surprise attack on the main camp or a flank attack on the siege troops. This caution should have made the siege more difficult and bloodier.

The resistance of the southern border defenders was surprisingly weak.

Arrows were sparse and weak, often falling before they could even reach the Chu army's ranks. The timing and placement of rolling logs and rocks were always off by a hair's breadth, as if they were merely a perfunctory effort. Even when the Chu army's vanguard scaled the city walls, the counterattack they encountered was far less frenzied and resolute than in the previous few days. The defenders swayed behind the battlements, their movements weak and feeble. This wasn't exhaustion from physical exhaustion, but rather a kind of... morale depression bordering on disintegration.

"Strange..." Xiang Yu muttered to himself. If the Southern Border Army had been like this from the start, he wouldn't have harbored any suspicion, only considered them weak. But not long ago, these defenders had erupted in a frightening display of tenacity. Even at a complete disadvantage, they stood firm as a rock, each soldier seemingly determined to die together. That unwavering will had cost the Chu Army dearly.