The thunder of Wei's chariots gradually faded as the battlefield settled into a brutal deadlock.
The initial charge that had threatened to shatter Qin's entire formation had been halted.
At the forefront of the left flank, Lu Shen's army stood firm despite the horrifying losses they had suffered. Thousands of broken chariots littered the plains, crushed beneath piles of dead horses and soldiers. Bao Jun's battered force, though reduced to barely half its original strength, continued fighting with desperate determination beside Lu Shen's men.
The Wei chariot corps had lost the momentum that made it so terrifying.
Far behind the front lines, atop a command hill overlooking the battlefield, Gong Yuan silently observed the unfolding situation.
His officers anxiously waited for their commander's response.
One of them finally spoke.
"General... our chariot assault has been stopped."
Another added grimly.
"The Qin left army has somehow managed to survive..."
Silence followed.
Then...
Gong Yuan slowly smiled.
"There is no need to panic."
The surrounding officers looked toward him in surprise.
"This battle is still entirely salvageable."
His calm voice immediately steadied the command tent.
"Our chariots have fulfilled their purpose."
"They have bought us time and forced Qin to commit nearly every reserve they possessed."
His sharp eyes shifted toward the center of the battlefield.
"However..."
"The true battle has only just begun."
A scout suddenly arrived, kneeling before him.
"Report!"
"The Qin General Hyou Ren has personally led the central army into our lines! He has broken through the first defensive formation and continues advancing deeper into the center!"
Another messenger quickly followed.
"Our central commanders are struggling to contain him!"
Gong Yuan narrowed his eyes.
"So..."
"Hyou Ren has finally revealed himself."
He slowly drew his sword.
"If he wishes to decide this battle himself..."
"Then I shall personally answer him."
Every officer straightened immediately.
Gong Yuan pointed toward the eastern battlefield.
"Huang Lixian!"
A veteran commander stepped forward before kneeling.
"My lord."
"You will take your five thousand men."
"Crush Bao Jun and whatever remains of his army."
"Once Bao Jun falls, reinforce our position towards Lu Shen's Army and restore control over the battlefield."
Huang Lixian bowed without hesitation.
"It shall be done."
Without another word, he mounted his horse as five thousand elite Wei soldiers quickly assembled behind him before marching toward the blood-soaked left wing.
The command hill grew quiet once more.
Gong Yuan looked toward the distant banners bearing the character "Hyou."
A faint smile appeared across his face.
"So this is the son of Duke Hyou..."
He mounted his horse.
The surrounding guards immediately followed.
Before departing, Gong Yuan addressed every commander remaining at headquarters.
"Remember this well."
"In war..."
"It is not merely armies that decide victory."
"It is commanders."
His voice echoed across the command post.
"No matter how many soldiers are slain..."
"No matter how many formations collapse..."
"As long as the commanding general still stands..."
"The battle is never decided."
He slowly raised his sword toward the center battlefield.
"But should the enemy's general fall..."
"Their army loses its will."
"Their formations crumble."
"Their victory becomes impossible."
His eyes burned with absolute confidence.
"If the Qin General Hyou Ren falls today..."
"Then this battle..."
"...will belong to Wei."
The headquarters erupted.
"VICTORY TO WEI!"
"VICTORY TO GENERAL GONG YUAN!"
With a powerful pull on his reins, Gong Yuan led his personal guard straight toward the center battlefield.
Across the plains...
Hyou Ren continued carving a path through the Wei center, his sword stained crimson as Qin soldiers surged behind him with unstoppable momentum.
Neither commander had yet laid eyes upon the other.
But every soldier on the battlefield could feel it.
The greatest clash of the Battle of She Gan Plains was about to begin.