Call of the Heroes of Chaos in Another World

Chapter 2334 Bai Qi defeats Zhao Wuji, Kuangyin burns Tianmen Pass

Just as Xu Xiao made his move to attack Han, Bai Qi had already led his troops to break through the mountainous area in the southern part of Guanzhong and entered Guanzhong.

When Bai Qi's army appeared in Dali territory, Zhao Kuangyin, who had received the news, already guessed Bai Qi's purpose.

Therefore, while Bai Qi was attacking the Dali Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin immediately ordered his clan general Zhao Wuji and strategist Chu Zhaoye to lead 30,000 troops to stop Bai Qi.

Although Zhao Wuji was mature and prudent, the Zhao Song dynasty's defensive focus had never been the southern region of Guanzhong.

Therefore, the defense system of the Zhao Song dynasty was not perfect in the southern part of Guanzhong.

In fact, Zhao Kuangyin didn't even deploy many troops in the southern part of Guanzhong.

Although the Eight Dynasties Alliance had previously caused Zhao Kuangyin a great deal of trouble, at this time, their presence could actually protect the flank of the Guanzhong region.

Furthermore, the region of the Eight Dynasties Alliance is mainly mountainous, making it a classic example of a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. In any case, with the Eight Dynasties Alliance blocking the way, they will have ample time to react.

It was precisely because of the alliance of eight dynasties protecting his flanks that Zhao Kuangyin made this decision, thus mobilizing more troops despite insufficient manpower.

However, who would have thought that the Dali Dynasty, the strongest of the eight dynasties in the alliance, would become a sieve, infiltrated to such an extent by the Han Dynasty.

As a result, the Dali Dynasty's advantageous terrain, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack, was completely wasted. Bai Qi easily conquered the entire Dali Dynasty without offering the slightest resistance!
This is why the situation in the south of the Zhao Song dynasty is so urgent and awkward.

Although Zhao Kuangyin reacted immediately upon receiving news that Bai Qi had led his troops into the Dali Dynasty, he decisively mobilized troops while Bai Qi was still attacking the Dali Dynasty, thus allowing Zhao Wuji to arrive in the southern part of Guanzhong Road ahead of Bai Qi.

However, when Zhao Wuji hurriedly led his troops to the southern mountainous region of Guanzhong, he had very little time left.

In such a short period of time, it would be impossible for Zhao Wuji to temporarily construct a sufficiently comprehensive defense system.

Facing a master like Bai Qi, the defenses he hastily constructed were riddled with flaws.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Wuji faced Bai Qi's three-fold numerical advantage, along with experts like Zhao Yun and Pallas. The two joined forces and personally led the vanguard.

Therefore, even though Zhao Wuji had the advantage of terrain, he still could not stop Bai Qi, who successfully broke through the obstacles in the southern mountainous area of ​​Guanxi Road and smoothly entered Guanxi Road.

During Zhao Wuji's retreat towards the city behind him, he was entangled by Zhao Yun's cavalry.

Moreover, Zhao Wuji, who failed to retreat in time, was eventually surrounded by Bai Qi's army. His 30,000 troops were all wiped out, including himself and his strategist Chu Zhaoye, all of whom died at the hands of Pallas.

Zhao Wuji and Chu Zhaoye had given their all in this battle, but facing a top military strategist like Bai Qi, and being at a disadvantage in every aspect, they were destined to be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

From then on, with Bai Qi having already advanced deep into the Guanzhong region, even though Zhao Kuangyin was still defending Tianmen Pass, he firmly kept Xue Rengui and Li Jing's hundreds of thousands of troops outside Tianmen Pass.

However, with the vulnerabilities already present, Tianmen Pass has lost its former significance.

With the Han army already advancing into Guanzhong from the south, Tianmen Pass could no longer hold them back. At this point, Zhao Kuangyin knew very well that the Song Dynasty was doomed from the brink of defeat, with no chance of turning the tide.

After Zhao Wuji's defeat in this battle, losing another 30,000 troops, it means that the Song Dynasty now only has 150,000 soldiers left.

150,000, that sounds like a lot.

However, the Han army's troop strength alone was three to four times that of theirs.

If there were still formidable passes like Tianmen Pass, this battle could have continued.

Having lost this advantage, and with the Song army suffering repeated defeats and its morale severely damaged, what reason did they have to continue fighting?

Even Tianmen Pass, which they still hold today, can no longer be defended.

Bai Qi's 100,000-strong army, which has already entered Guanzhong, can now advance unchecked, either directly towards Kaifeng, the capital of the Song Dynasty, or towards Tianmen Pass.

Regardless of Bai Qi's choice, both paths were dead ends for the Zhao Song dynasty.

The impact on the Song Dynasty if the capital Kaifeng were to fall would be self-evident.

If Bai Qi had marched towards Tianmen Pass, the impact on the Song Dynasty would have been equally disastrous.

At that time, on one side of Tianmen Pass were Xue Rengui and Li Jing's hundreds of thousands of troops, and on the other side was Bai Qi's 100,000-strong army.

This would mean that the Song army at Tianmen Pass would be completely cut off from its logistics.

Inside Tianmen Pass, how long could the stored grain and supplies sustain this army of 100,000?

By then, the Han army wouldn't even need to continue attacking Tianmen Pass. They would only need to besiege them for a few months, and they would collapse without a fight, just like Zong Ze had done in Yangdong Road.

At this moment, Zhao Kuangyin was heartbroken! The Song Dynasty, which he had painstakingly built in this chaotic world, was now about to fall just a few years later.

In particular, Zhao Kuangyin was even more aware that time was running out for him.

If he continues to waste time, once Bai Qi's troops march in from the south of Guanzhong, the last of the Song army will not even have a chance to retreat from Tianmen Pass.

If they were entangled by Bai Qi's cavalry, even if they didn't suffer the same fate as Zhao Wuji, their remaining forces would inevitably suffer heavy losses.

Therefore, Zhao Kuangyin now needs to withdraw his troops from Tianmen Pass as soon as possible to prevent these 100,000 men from being trapped in a deadly situation.

However, once he withdraws from Tianmen Pass, Xue Rengui and Li Jing's hundreds of thousands of troops east of Tianmen Pass will surely pour into Tianmen Pass and then chase after them.

Under these circumstances, in order to prevent Xue Rengui and Li Jing's hundreds of thousands of troops from catching up, and to prevent these 100,000 troops from being trapped in a dead end, Zhao Kuangyin reluctantly made the decision to burn Tianmen Pass.