As night fell over the Chu camp, tension was palpable. The men, still shocked by the loss of their commander, received orders from their officers to organize a rescue and counterattack operation at dawn. Morale, though low, was sustained by the iron discipline maintained by the generals.
The 5,000 men were divided into three main groups:
Rescue Group: 1,000 elite soldiers, prepared to recover
Assault Forces: 3,000 spearmen and swordsmen, ready for a frontal attack on the wall, aiming to exploit any weaknesses after the nighttime incursion.
Mounted Reserve: 1,000 light cavalry, ready to intercept any counterattack or exploit breaches in the defenses.
The operation began just before dawn. In silence and darkness, the rescue group advanced stealthily toward the walls. Li Wei's colossi unit, however, was alert and deployed careful patrols.
An initial skirmish broke out when a small rescue group was detected by the colossi. The battle was brutal and brief, with the elite soldiers fiercely defending the area. Although some bodies were recovered, most could not be taken.
Meanwhile, the main groups began advancing in tight formation, launching waves of coordinated attacks against the reinforced wall.
Li Wei ordered his defensive infantry to maintain shield formation and control the enemy's scaling attempts with spears. The mounted archers, although reserved for future maneuvers, were positioned to strike any group attempting to get close.
The battle intensified, with the noise of shields, spears, and war cries filling the air. Chu's soldiers demonstrated their training and numbers, but the organized defense and strengthened fortifications held the line.
At a critical point, when a group of Chu's spear-throwers managed to hold on to the wall, Li Wei's colossi deployed to crush the breach with their enormous strength and heavy armor. Their presence was decisive in preventing a defensive collapse.
After hours of combat, attrition began to affect both forces. The exhausted Chu men, with considerable losses, decided to withdraw in an orderly manner before losing more lives.
Result of the Counteroffensive
Chu's offensive was fierce, but the Blue Lion Fortress successfully resisted thanks to Li Wei's strategy and the strength of his elite troops. Chu lost approximately 1,200 men dead and wounded, while Li Wei's unit suffered about 150 casualties, mainly among experienced infantry.
Chu's troop morale was at its limit, while Li Wei's unit celebrated a strategic victory that gave them a breather to prepare for upcoming attacks.