Chapter 2641

With her guarding Dragon Throat Pass, the Bekka have seen no sign of success in months. The commanders attacking Dragon Throat Pass have been replaced one after another, and the heavenly demons sent down one after another—still nothing works.

The harassment by Balin and other states against Panlong is like a mad dog biting an elephant's leg—it can cause pain, but for now it won't be fatal.

Therefore, Bekka must find a new route to bypass Dragon Throat Pass and invade the Panlong wilderness.

And just as the news of Chongguo's destruction reached Panlong, Zhong Shengguang immediately sensed trouble and was about to dispatch troops southward to repel the enemy beyond the national gates.

He Lingchuan woke up at this very moment.

The future course of the war in the southern wilderness will involve Panlong's survival or demise.

The Bekka army that just landed at Shantang Port not long ago is merely a vanguard force; the main force behind them is very likely led by Fushanlie.

This man, who later became the king of Chiyan, acts with such efficiency that it is rare even in the Bekka army. Thus we can see that when he invaded Liangchuan years ago, it was fortunate that Panlong's army produced a He Lingchuan who fought and defeated him; otherwise, relying on this man's scheming, strength, and military skill, it is truly uncertain whether Panlong City could have held its gains on the Mao River Plain.

Zhong Shengguang originally sent Xu Zhifu to seize Fulugou, which is an important point on the southern wilderness line.

Once Fulugou is taken by the Bekka, the surrounding waterways, which are interconnected in all directions, will also come under Bekka control, making their sneak attacks on Panlong's army even harder to defend against.

The more Hu Min explained, the heavier and more solemn He Lingchuan's expression became.

The dire state of the war situation is far worse than his imagination.

The generals were also anxious: "General, when do we set out?"

"Tomorrow at dawn." He Lingchuan's mind was very clear, "But before I move out, I still want to go into the city once."

Some important information cannot be provided by soldiers like Hu Min.

As his words fell, a report came from outside:

"Wen Changshi has arrived!"

It was actually Wen Dalun who came, and He Lingchuan raised his eyebrows: "Please come in!"

Just as he was dozing off, someone brought him a pillow—truly worthy of Zhong Shengguang.

……

When Wen Dalun entered the tent, the other commanders had already withdrawn, leaving only He Lingchuan standing tall inside. Light shone from behind, casting his silhouette as lonely and majestic.

For a moment, Wen Dalun felt utterly estranged; he could not see the other's face, only sensing a deep stillness merging into darkness.

But when the other turned slightly, warm light illuminated his smile.

"General, you have finally awakened!" Wen Dalun laughed with unbounded joy.

Many years ago, from Zhong Shengguang down to commoners, all acknowledged that the Tiger Wing General's importance to Panlong was no less than that of the Red General.

The Red General is Panlong's military soul, while the Tiger Wing General is a rare all-rounder, versed in both civil and military strategy. Whatever he undertakes, nothing goes wrong; whatever enemy he attacks, none can withstand him.

The Tiger Wing General's inexplicable coma, even affecting the Panlong-Bekka war—that is, the war between Panlong and Bekka—has had a great impact. Whether in the army or among the people, all are wringing their hands and sighing; even if the Red General is immensely strong, he is a lone palm unable to make a sound. If the Tiger Wing General were still here, the war on the Mao River Plain would certainly not have turned out as it has today.

The imperial twin stars—indispensable, both.

At this critical juncture, the Tiger Wing General has awakened! Even though Wen Dalun knows this is due to the great shaman's doing, he still feels deeply moved:

"It seems heaven does not treat our Panlong poorly."

"Old Wen!" He Lingchuan embraced him with both arms, shook him twice, then let go.

In the Panlong army, only close comrades-in-arms perform such gestures.

He and Wen Dalun have some history; during their joint administration of Yuheng City, Wen Dalun once did not fully approve of his policy methods, but later, during their joint resistance against the Bekka invasion of Yuheng City, they had already let go of past grievances.

Both are wholeheartedly devoted to the public good, with few misunderstandings.

After not seeing Wen Dalun for many years, his eye corners are piled with wrinkles, and his left eye is gone, covered by a black eye patch. This adds a touch of sternness to his originally gentle appearance.

He Lingchuan then asked: "What happened to your eyes?"

"In the Liangchuan battle fifteen months ago." Wen Dalun smiled lightly, "Past matters, not worth mentioning."

He Lingchuan stroked his chin: "Severed limbs can regenerate; theoretically, eyeballs should also be able to."

But the human eye's structure is more complex, making it harder than limb regeneration.

"The great shaman also said so, but during the war we lacked several medicinal ingredients, so we couldn't prepare the medicine." Wen Dalun changed the subject, "The general has just awakened; he must still have many doubts that the army cannot answer. The king therefore sent me here."

"No wonder it's the king." He Lingchuan sighed, "Zhong Shengguang is still as meticulous as before."

Alas, He Lingchuan had just seen Zhong Shengguang; this emperor of Panlong already has white hair at the temples and deep lines of law.

These past years, he must have been exhausted in mind and body.

He Lingchuan walked to the edge of the sand table, lightly brushed it a few times, and the terrain on the sand table began to change.

"Hu Min explained the past two years of the Panlong-Bekka war to me. Judging by the current situation, our prospects are not optimistic."

He also put it tactfully. The Bekka, relying on their own great strength, are step by step driving Panlong to the brink of life and death.

"This war is a contest of attack power versus hit points."

Panlong has high attack, but Bekka has high hit points. "After grinding against each other for so long, Panlong's shortcomings have become increasingly evident—namely—

Our national strength still falls far short of Bekka's."

Although Panlong's military strength is formidable, Bekka's army is simply endless. He Lingchuan has no doubt that even if we exchange ten for one, purely piling up lives, Bekka could literally wear down Panlong to death.

Not to mention resources like food, weapons, boats, and medicine—on those fronts, the two sides are not even in the same league.

And in terms of high-level powerful individuals, Bekka has immortals, demon immortals, and heavenly demons, capable of looking down on the entire world.

In a protracted war, Panlong is not incapable, but is born to suffer a great disadvantage.

"If we keep fighting this way, in as little as one or two years, or as much as two or three years, Panlong may well follow in the footsteps of Yuan Guo." He Lingchuan mused, "Purely passive defense offers no chance of victory."

Wen Dalun spoke softly:

"Since the Panlong-Bekka war began, we have been striving to find a turning point, trying to shake the support of the Fan Yao state for Lingxu. But..."

"The Lingxu Holy Venerable is too resolute; Lingxu City has twice executed officials, causing bloody storms in the court. Our efforts to sow discord have had little effect, and instead exposed several spies, who..."

He sighed: "Bekka has always been, and still is, the Bekka of the heavenly gods."

This is the source of Bekka's power, and also its inescapable shackles and curse.

He Lingchuan's eyes flickered: "You said Lingxu City executed not a few officials who were reluctant to fight or opposed to war?"

Yes. As soon as the war began, dozens of officials were executed; after the Battle of Maohe Plain lasted a year, dissent rose again in Bekka, so the Lingxu Holy Venerable killed another batch.

He's gone mad. He Lingchuan murmured, "Acting so recklessly, Bekka must be seething but unable to speak out?"

(End of chapter)