Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
Chapter 1132 – Waltzing Matilda
Just when the Canberra army started to lose their composure, the 100 thousand Great Xia Guards Legion Corps troops were like a sharp knife, stabbing right into the enemy. Before night came, at what seemed to be the most impossible time, they suddenly started a huge war.
The attacks of the Guards Legion Corps magnified the chaos of the Canberra army.
They were like wild deer that were scared on the grasslands. Under the chase of the lions, the were fleeing for their lives. They trampled and fought with one another. As long as they ran faster than them, they would have a chance to live.
Throughout the process, there were some players who realized that something was wrong, stopping to fight back.
Helplessly, they were the minority. Under the high speeds of the Great Xia Guards Legion Corps, such valiant people were like sand, quickly being swept aside, leaving behind streaks of white light.
To the Canberra army, a large-scale counterattack was impossible. The only thing they could hope to do was reduce their contact with the Great Xia Army and drag the time into the night.
This hour was exceptionally hard to pass.
When the black sky swiftly covered up the horizon like it was swallowing the sky, there were already some exhausted Canberra troops who heaved a sigh of relief like they had seen their saviors.
Their nightmare was finally over.
When night fell, the Great Xia Guards Legion Corps did not continue to chase. Instead, they returned to their camp to rest up. On this day, they had bountiful gains. First, they crushed the 100 thousand vanguard forces of the enemy, and then they scattered the main force.
Based on conservative estimates, in a short hour, 50 thousand people died and upward of 100 thousand people surrendered. Those who did so were mostly imperial city guards. After this battle, half of the Canberra imperial city guards was lost.
…
Deep in the night.
The 250 thousand Canberra army finally woke up and stopped retreating. Some of them laid down paralyzed on the ground. They cluelessly looked around; everyone around them had the same lost look on their faces.
As the night breeze blew across, it brought with it a cold and icy chill.
Most of them sat cross-legged on the ground, taking out their dry rations and forcefully chewing on them. Some quietly raised their bottles and went around to search for water to quench their already steaming throats.
The entire army lacked life.
The successive defeats that did not seem to make sense had greatly weakened their strength. Apart from their low morale, the image of the invincible Great Xia Guards Legion Corps was ingrained in their hearts.
In such a situation, even if they got past the night, what could they do?
“We cannot win, we are probably going to get destroyed…” someone teared up bitterly as he spoke. No one laughed at him, as everyone pretty much felt the same way.
The exhaustion of their bodies was far from the despair they felt in their hearts.
In the night, someone started singing a folk song, Australia’s ballad – Waltzing Matilda.
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
He sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled,
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
…
The song described a wanderer who was brewing tea, and when he captured a lamb to eat, the original owner of the land brought three policemen to capture him. The wanderer knew that even if he escaped, he would have nowhere to hide. As such, he jumped into the lake and killed himself.
The mood of the wanderer was exactly the same as what they felt. As such, more people sang along.
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
…
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong,
You’ll never catch me alive, said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me.
…
When they sang to the final sentence, some people had tears covering their face. Were they not a bunch of wanderers being forced into desperation by the enemy? Their outcome would probably be them jumping into a lake and ending it all.
The night wind covered the choking cries and left only chills.
Undeniable exhaustion swept everyone as the solders directly fell asleep on the ground, hugging one another. They were ready to pass a night in the night wind that was destined to be sleepless.
“Let’s have a final battle tomorrow, no matter if we win or lose!” The soldiers set their hearts to it.
…
The wishes of the Canberra army to fight to the death did not manage to happen in the end.
In the morning, when the sky had just turned bright, the Canberra army had already awakened. The soldiers were stretching their limbs on the wet grass.
Furnaces and pots were being lit up to cook hot milk and malt bread. The soldiers took out all their grain and were ready to fight to the death with the enemy after a full meal.
At this very moment, killing shouts spread out from all around them.
The sentries around were being cleared out by the enemy at a visible rate. They used their last bit of life to warn their brothers.
“Scoff, good timing!”
The soldiers thought that it was the Great Xia guards from yesterday, so they did not panic. They were already prepared to fight to the death, so since they came, let’s just fight.
They were wrong!
The ones joining in this encirclement was not only the 100 thousand Great Xia Guards Legion Corps but also the Ma Chao led Tiger Leopard Cavalry.
Not long after the battle ended yesterday, Lu Bu led the dragon blood cavalry to transport the prisoners while Ma Chao led his men to break away and travel toward Canberra.
Halfway there, he learned about the Canberra army exiting the city.
Logically speaking, Ma Chao should have taken down Canberra. When that happened, the Battle of Australia would have ended right there and then.
Helplessly, before they began their attack on Australia, advisor Jia Xu had strictly said, “This battle in Australia, the main goal is to crush the enemy and sieging is secondary. Even if we surround the imperial city and lead our troops in, we cannot smash the stone steele. When to occupy the imperial city and end the country war depends on the commander force.”
Huo Qubing roughly knew the plan and naturally passed down the orders to the five Legion Generals. One must not look at how Huo Qubing was always smiling, as Ma Chao did not dare to go against his orders.
During the Battle of Jin, Lu Bu was late for an hour to the gathering point due to the rain destroying the bridge.
Huo Qubing’s face had instantly turned cold.
The poor Lu Bu was whipped 20 times and had to stand outside Huo Qubing’s tent for an entire night.
After that incident, none of the Legion Generals dared to take orders from the marshal lightly. Going against orders was even more impossible.
Hence, Ma Chao could only give up the war merit that had reached his hands. He went around Canberra and pushed toward the enemy. Hence, there was the scene of two fronts of Guards Legion Corps troops surrounding the Canberra army.
