The number of torches at night made the size of a force obvious, and it was precisely what gave Xu Sheng the confidence to launch such a brazen attack.
Once battle began, blades had no eyes.
Whether Sun Lin or Zhang Cheng died because of it, Xu Sheng would have ample excuses to shrug off the blame. Once he crushed the rebels and became a hero, he would be Chaisang's rightful commander in name and fact.
And if Zhang Cheng somehow survived, he would probably be too ashamed to remain. What kind of commanding general got captured the moment he left the city? Compared to that, how sharp had Xu Sheng's own eye been? If the King of Wu refused to make use of him, that was the King's loss.
In that instant, Xu Sheng thought of many things. He even imagined himself replacing Lu Xun as Eastern Wu's Grand Viceroy, thinking how glorious and spirited that would be. Yet reality dealt him a savage slap across the face.
The Chaisang defenders were like men kicking an iron plate. Charge after charge fell before the enemy lines. The Trap-Breaking Army was like an iron meat grinder: not only did it wipe out every Wu soldier who rushed at it, it also began its counterattack in orderly ranks.
Banner signals could not be seen in the darkness. The sounds of slaughter shattered the stillness of the wilderness. Using distinctive long and short whistles to relay commands, the Trap-Breaking Army pressed forward in perfect formation like iron-clad cavalry, without the poor visibility of night throwing its fighting troops into the slightest disorder.
"How is that possible?"
Xu Sheng had just been immersed in his beautiful dream, but in the blink of an eye, his vanguard was already fleeing to the rear. He