Chapter 1507

"Will General Bai definitely use the Xuanjia Worm?" The guard knew Bai Mojie wasn't on good terms with Lu Zhifu, so would he use her thing?

"He definitely will!"

The guard still wasn't reassured: "What if... what if General Bai really uses the Xuanjia Worm to take Yuheng City...?"

With a puff, Lu Wushuang laughed, laughing louder and louder, the wide valley seeming to echo with her laughter.

Her laughter carried deep mockery.

Finally she stopped laughing, glanced back at the front line: "I hope Bai Mojie holds on a bit longer, at least until I return to the front. He Lingchuan, I really want to see what other tricks he has up his sleeve!"

The guard was moved. To make even the genius Zhifu adult itch and eager to try, the opposing Yuheng City commander must be formidable.

……

Because of this military aid, Bai Mojie again extorted a batch of grain and fodder from the ruler of Jinqi State.

The ruler of Jinqi State was already exhausted from the Jinqi front and troubled by domestic rebellion, so as long as Bai Mojie was willing to help, he agreed to anything first.

The next day, He Lingchuan received Xin Yi's report:

Bai Mojie defied orders and opened hostilities, Lingxu City was greatly angered.

It turned out Bai Mojie had attacked without Lingxu City's permission, acting prematurely? He Lingchuan read it, his face full of smiles, repeatedly saying "good." No wonder the Between Between Between Beijia army's attacks always carried an air of frustration and defeat—apart from grain shortage, there was this additional trouble.

Bai Mojie's unauthorized attack on Yuheng City—if he succeeded, everything could be discussed, no guilt but merit; if he failed...

Yuheng City and Panlong had no retreat, and neither did he.

He Lingchuan used the grain shortage contradiction to pin him down, precisely to make him lose his composure.

The busier and more anxious he became, the more prone to mistakes.

Yuheng City had already withstood the Between Between Between Beijia army's initial assault, the opposing problems becoming more exposed, the threat to Yuheng City consequently diminished.

Xin Yi, hearing this, was puzzled: "Besides grain shortage, what other problems do they have?"

Previously, when He Lingchuan sent him to burn the transfer depot, he timed it perfectly, firmly gripping the Between Between Between Beijia army's throat. Coincidentally, Bai Mojie hadn't yet arrived at the Jinqi front, so he was powerless regarding this.

Xin Yi admired this point.

Though young, this kid had his own understanding of the war situation and was especially skilled at discovering and creating contradictions.

In the art of warfare, psychological strategy is supreme, force of arms secondary.

If the Between Between Between Beijia army were strong and well-fed, that would truly be a dark cloud looming over Yuheng City.

Upon arrival, He Lingchuan used the few good cards in his hand to open a entirely new situation.

"After several days of engagement, I found the Between Between Between Beijia army relies heavily on formations and divine abilities, individual combat strength not weak, yet unwilling to risk themselves lightly." He Lingchuan laughed, "Simply put, they lack the courage to go all-in without regard for consequences!"

Xin Yi carefully recalled: "Hmm, that really seems to be the case."

"A good army's most basic quality is 'courage.' Without this foundation solid, even if combat techniques and divine abilities dazzle, the unit is top-heavy and light-footed."

Xin Yi also pondered: "Why does the Between Between Between Beijia army lack the courage you and your men possess?"

"They lack a bit of faith, the faith to defend home and city." Observing Panlongcheng and Yuheng City, everyone clearly knew their fate was tied to the city—city stands, person stands; city falls, person falls.

Only when each person faces death to live can they wholeheartedly engage in battle, only then can they advance without regard for self.

He Lingchuan has always tried to arouse and guide the army's such faith, to smooth over actual combat strength disparities.

"Moreover, the Between Between Between Beijia army's life is indeed affluent, they cannot achieve 'without regard for all.'" He Lingchuan continued, "This kind of 'affluent soldier' leaving home to invade the Mao River Plain has only these four words as reason: 'establish merit and achieve career.'"

Between Between Between Beijia's internal peace has lasted long; soldiers desire promotion and rank advancement, which can only be achieved through external military exploits and establishing merit.

"Besides, don't be misled by Between Between Between Beijia's constant mobilizations—these past twenty years, their opponents haven't been much." Over twenty years ago, the Yuangu War, Between Between Between Beijia trained many famous generals, "The Between Between Between Beijia army grew accustomed to bullying the weak with strength, crushing the decayed, you see their initial attack formation on Yuheng City—just wanted to overwhelm it in one wave. This mighty momentum tactic, they've long been used to; most opponents would be frightened into losing liver and gall, half admitting defeat."

But now, having grown used to eating soft food, suddenly gnawing hard bones, easily damage their teeth.

Xin Yi chuckled: "With you saying this, the prospects of the Jinqi front seem quite optimistic?"

He Lingchuan also laughed, the two laughing heartily at each other.

Then, He Lingchuan's smile faded: "Of course not."

"……" Not? Xin Yi heard it sounding like Yuheng City would win in the blink of an eye? "This is just what I tell the soldiers. To govern the army, first govern the heart; they must fight for hope." He Lingchuan said solemnly, "But the true crisis of Panlong Wasteland and Mao River Plain has not yet arrived. Currently we have ample maneuver, only because Between Between Between Beijia's gaze hasn't turned to the Mao River Plain, their attention still on the Red General, otherwise they wouldn't have sent Bai Mojie to intimidate Yuheng City."

"Once Between Between Between Beijia decides to take down Yuheng City, the pressure we bear will certainly be tenfold today's!" Before that, he must forge Yuheng City's army into a battle-hardened force.

Over the past twenty-plus days of combat, Yuheng City's garrison, plus the Ximo Legion He Lingchuan brought, have already lost over eight hundred personnel.

Wounded soldiers must be sent to the rear to rest for a period, fortunately Yuheng City is right behind.

The Mao River Plain has also long begun conscription, new troops will continuously replenish. Of course, soldiers are new not as good as old, best to have the old lead the new.

He Lingchuan still has much, much to do.

Due to the sudden outbreak of war on the eastern front of the Mao River Plain, Panlongcheng, after communicating with He Lingchuan, also temporarily halted action, no large-scale attack on Xianyou. Thus the entire Panlong Wasteland and Mao River Plain fell silent, only the eastern front's combat appearing particularly abrupt!

This is quite troublesome, because the Between Between Between Beijia army has no just cause for war! If Bai Mojie stations troops within Jinqi territory, that would be a huge threat to Yuheng City and even Panlongcheng, but no one could say anything; now he acts rashly, yet lacks even a legitimate reason!

Panlongcheng again did not attack Xianyou or pull Ling, why did the Between Between Between Beijia army suddenly invade the Mao River Plain? Earlier, Between Between Between Beijia, in the guise of "pacifying" Panlongcheng for Xiluo State, spoke grand righteousness with open mouth, sweet words with closed mouth, suddenly turned face and refused to recognize people? Like before, secretly sending a few small teams to sneak into the Liangchuan would also be fine; but Bai Mojie actually raised banners and sent troops to attack, only finding a laughable excuse, this caused Panlongcheng to send a flying message to Lingxu City, the latter unable to find even a pretext for delay, inevitably somewhat awkward.

As of now, Lingxu City and Panlongcheng have not yet formally broken relations.

Several days later, Wendao Lun received news from the opposite side: Jinqi army received strong support from Xiluo army, basically quelled domestic rebellion.

Xiluo army cannot contend with Yuheng City, but bullying a bit of Jinqi's grassroots righteous army still appears mighty.

The report didn't detail, but He Lingchuan inferred, Lu Wushuang should have played a significant role.

Though Jinqi is merely a small state, to quell all rebels in a few days still requires some capability.

As thanks, the Jinqi state ruler again gifted the Between Between Between Beijia army and Xiluo army a batch of grain and fodder, sufficient for fifteen days of food and drink.

Where did this batch of grain and fodder come from? The entire nation's effort.

The Jinqi state ruler also knows Between Between Between Beijia's favors cannot be owed, this time squeezing oil from stone, the last bit also extracted to give to others.

After the grain replenishment, Bai Mojie's heart finally let go of a great stone, but Lingxu City's flying message also arrived simultaneously:

The Demon Emperor scolded Bai Mojie until he was covered in dog-blood!

He acted against orders, disrupting Between Between Between Beijia's original plan, Lingxu City up and down were very angry.

The Emperor himself is a demon, nor does he bother with those empty-headed ceremonial orders, directly and bluntly telling him:

You want to fight? Fine, then just take down Yuheng City right now. Controlling Yuheng City means controlling most of the Mahe Plain, and Bekka has staked his face on this, but he now has one more bargaining chip against Panlongcheng.

Either retreat, fall back to the east of Dahe, and obediently hold your position!

Bai Mojie received this order, and paced back and forth in his tent for dozens of circles.

He knew he had no way to retreat.

Retreating back into Jinshu State, the food problem remained unsolved, and the Demon Emperor would not allow this army to return to Bekka on its own.

So, only a full-force assault remains! This battle, we must win!

No matter what means are used! But lately he has exhausted all his tactics, and the other side has resolved them all—truly like a mouse pulling a turtle, with nowhere to bite. What method must he use to settle the universe in one stroke? Bai Mojie thought for a long, long time before taking out three earth-yellow rings from his bosom and staring at them for a while.

……

The next day, Bekka launched the attack.

Bai Mojie had made thorough preparations beforehand, and the entire army, from top to bottom, fought with doubled spirit.

This time, the Bekka army attacked the river dikes and auxiliary cities, and He Lingchuan immediately sensed something different:

The enemy's killing intent was very heavy.

After fighting for over twenty days, He Lingchuan had come to understand this Bekka army somewhat; when the enemy suddenly burst forth with vigorous offensive desire, it could only mean——

They were truly driven to desperation.

The palace guards suddenly pointed east and shouted urgently: "General, look over there!"

A large hole appeared out of nowhere on the battlefield ground, over one zhang in diameter, and a huge creature emerged from the hole, seized a soldier, and swiftly dragged him into the hole!

The Yuheng City troops rushed forward and shot arrows into the hole, but it seemed they did not hit the target.

Immediately after, two more monsters surfaced, probing back and forth along the river dikes where the two armies clashed.

There were three monsters in total. To avoid being harmed by elemental force, they rarely stayed on the ground.

But everyone also saw clearly what they were: snake-like and earthworm-like monsters, each over twelve zhang in length, round and legless, even having segments.

Upon seeing them, He Lingchuan couldn't help but curse:

"Damn, isn't this just a earth dragon?"