"You don't know when to quit!"
Ji Shuqian snorted coldly and sent an officer flying with his spear.
The two armies plunged into a chaotic melee. Nangong Shi divided his troops into three forces, with two closing in from either flank, gradually surrounding Han Rong.
"General Han! General Han!"
A rider emerged from the pass nearby and shouted urgently, "The enemy is here in force! Chief Commander Dou orders you not to linger in battle. Withdraw into the pass at once!"
"Bah! Why should I listen to that old turtle? Every day, it's hold the walls, hold the walls! I've had enough of this damned humiliation. Even if I die today, I'll kill enough to make it worth it!"
Han Rong spat, ignoring Dou Rong's military orders entirely, and continued leading his men in a desperate fight.
How could he not know that retreating into the pass would save his life? Whatever might happen to the others, his martial prowess would surely let him break free.
But he could not.
The two armies had already clashed head-on. If they withdrew, the enemy would inevitably pursue and slaughter them, inflicting heavy losses. Even if they eventually made it back inside, only one or two men in ten would remain.
Moreover, those men would be defeated troops, their spirits crushed, and they would inevitably affect the morale of the soldiers inside. The Zhou Army would not halt its offensive after repelling the Shang Army's night raid. Instead, it would ride the momentum of victory and storm the pass. With morale low, the defenders would struggle to hold it securely.
Since that was the case, why not kill more enemies while they still had some fighting spirit, before the troops were utterly routed?
Han Rong understood this clearly. He had guarded Sishui Pass