Chapter 241: Great Victory, Admonition, Hou Tong's Plan

In front of the Wu Shuang main building, Peng Bo held the Ghost-Head Large Blade with both hands. The strength of eight manes exploded completely, and every blade hacked toward Duan Pingyu's vital points. In just a moment, he forced Duan Pingyu from outside the building into the building.

It was not that he didn't want to run out, mainly because Xia Chuan and several others directly surrounded the main building. Whenever he showed any sign of fleeing, Xia Chuan and the others would immediately move their positions, clearly intending to block him.

He could only flee into the building.

Bang... bang............

"Ah!"

"Mercy, Leader Peng, mercy."

"I am willing to surrender, I ask the several Great Xia Lords to quickly persuade Peng Bo."

…………

Although the Wu Shuang main building used a lot of iron materials, it couldn't withstand such crazy bombing by a Cold-Resisting level with the strength of eight manes. Soon, huge blade-shaped marks appeared on the walls, constantly accompanied by Duan Pingyu's screams and pleas for mercy.

He even tried to use Xia Chuan and others' minds, posing a surrender posture, hoping that several people would help him persuade Peng Bo.

It was a pity that Xia Chuan had been watching the battlefield on the Earth-Digging Realm side. Luo Yuan, Zhao Long, and several other Cold-Resisting levels didn't have any reaction, just quietly watching the main building side, turning a deaf ear to his cries for help.

Hu…………

Duan Pingyu's weapon was the same as Wu Xiong's, also a long stick. A wind noise came from his ears. Noticing that Peng Bo's large blade was hacking down from the top of his head again, his heart was full of despair, and he directly dragged his injured body to ram open the wall of the second floor and run out.

However, he was already covered in injuries, and his strength was greatly reduced. He didn't manage to completely ram open the iron wall of the main building at once, only half of his body came out, and his two legs were left inside.

Crack…………

"Ah!"

The large blade hacked down, Duan Pingyu let out a scream, his two legs were cut off alive, and his upper body was planted down directly from the second-floor wall like an onion.

Even though his two legs were cut off, the instinct to survive still urged him to crawl forward with both hands, trying to escape. Even though he knew he would surely die, he still wanted to live a few more seconds.

But Peng Bo still didn't let him go. He jumped up from the second floor, taking advantage of the remaining strength of cutting his legs just now, his fingers hooked the eyeballs of the blade handle ghost head, the large blade suddenly flipped down from behind, and directly stabbed down toward Duan Pingyu's back.

His large blade handle was not sculpted into a skull form for bad taste. The three holes of the skull's eyes, nostrils, and mouth, when controlled by fingers at a critical moment, could have unexpected effects.

Puchi…………

"There are so many Yang Dew dead souls, killing you like this is too cheap for you!"

The Ghost-Head Large Blade stabbed through Duan Pingyu's back, and Peng Bo's voice full of hatred sounded again, also indicating that Duan Pingyu was about to face the most vicious revenge.

…………

"Ah!"

"Kill me, kill me."

"Peng Bo, you animal, kill me, kill me!"

"Please, kill me, kill me!"

…………

With Duan Pingyu's screams and pleas for mercy to the extreme, the battlefield that originally had some aftermath instantly calmed down.

Everyone turned their heads to look here. With every blade Peng Bo hacked down, their pupils would tremble violently, and their hearts gradually began to feel cold.

"Gulp…………"

Clang!

On the Wu Shuang side, the first person to put down his weapon and surrender appeared.

Clang... clang............

Soon a chain reaction appeared. More and more people put down their weapons and knelt down one after another toward the Great Xia people beside them; the Woodcutting Realm members who were shooting arrows in the back also threw down their iron bows and knelt down.

Actually, after the seven Cold-Resisting levels of Hong Gang, Huang Yong, Zhao Hu, Zhao Bao, Lu Yang, Zhu Yuan, and Lin Kai joined the battle, Wu Shuang had already been defeated. The number of people who still had the strength to resist added up to only more than two hundred.

With this part of the strongest people putting down their weapons, the remaining Woodcutting Realm members, including some very loyal Wu Shuang ordinary people, all surrendered.

Seeing that the Wu Shuang encampment had completely surrendered, the smiles on all the Great Xia people were incomparably excited.

Wu Shuang, just like that, was taken down!

"Tie up and detain all the people who participated in the battle in Wu Shuang, then quickly count the casualties. After finishing, the principals gather in front of me!"

Xia Chuan gave a drink, waking up all the Great Xia people who were still immersed in the great victory. The leaders or principals of the thirty intermediate hunting teams quickly began to get busy.

Including Luo Yuan, Zhao Long, and Hong Guang standing beside Xia Chuan, seeing that Duan Pingyu was already surely going to die, they also went to summon their hunting teams and began to count the gains and casualties.

It was Zhao Hu, Zhao Bao, and Zhu Yuan, a few people, who heard the anger in Xia Chuan's tone and looked at each other, their expressions a bit confused.

Soon, the thirty intermediate hunting team leaders, after finishing their work, all walked to Xia Chuan and stood in three rows.

Thirty people, although they were all intermediate hunting team leaders, because of their different cultivation, their status was naturally different.

The ten Cold-Resisting levels who came this time, Luo Yuan, Zhao Long, Hong Guang, Hong Gang, Huang Yong, Zhao Hu, Zhao Bao, Lu Yang, Zhu Yuan, and Lin Kai, stood in the first row;

The two rows behind were a group of team leaders who had just been promoted to intermediate, such as Zhu Shun, Ying Xuan, Zou Yuankai, Xiao Kangcheng, and Zhu He.

Si Zheng Yu Wentao was not there, so the hunting department's affairs should be done by Luo Yuan, the deputy Si Zheng. Seeing that everyone had arrived, he asked about the casualties and gains one by one, summarized them, and then walked to Xia Chuan to report loudly:

"Report to Si Cheng, in this battle, thirty teams, total gains were 782 people, including 327 Earth-Digging Realm, 455 Woodcutting Realm; just detained 821 captives, including 252 Earth-Digging Realm, 548 Woodcutting Realm, 21 ordinary people; our department had a total of 42 casualties, 28 dead, 14 seriously injured, the rest were all slightly injured."

When Luo Yuan reported, his tone was very calm, but even so, most people heard this string of numbers, and their faces showed a touch of pride more or less.

Clearly, they were extremely satisfied with this result.

Only Luo Yuan himself, and a group of Cold-Resisting levels beside him, clearly noticed something. Looking up, they found Xia Chuan's gloomy face and immediately stood straight, not daring to show any expression.

"Only 28 died, you are all very satisfied in your hearts, right?"

Xia Chuan's inquiry full of anger made everyone slightly stunned.

42 casualties, nearly 800 gains, nearly half of which were Earth-Digging Realm, and also took down the entire Wu Shuang encampment. This was absolutely an indisputable great victory. What else was there to be dissatisfied with?

"30 intermediate hunting teams, 1500 people, Earth-Digging Realm has nearly three times the numerical advantage. With Great Xia's forging craftsmanship, the same ten-forged weapons, the ones in your hands are definitely stronger than the other party's. The Lei Kui iron armor you wear is also better than the ordinary iron armor worn by Wu Shuang people. These three points, you all admit, right?"

Hearing these words from Xia Chuan, everyone vaguely realized something. After their heads began to cool down, they all successively put away the pride on their faces.

"Number of people, weapons, armor, everything is stronger than the other party, and there are 7 Cold-Resisting levels to help you break the door. Even after you broke the door and came in, the vast majority of Wu Shuang people hadn't reacted yet. In such a situation where you occupied all the opportunities and advantages, you still had to let 7 Cold-Resisting levels come down to help, and in the end, there were still 42 casualties. Do you really think this great victory is glorious?"

Xia Chuan's voice fell, including the ten Cold-Resisting levels headed by Luo Yuan, and the twenty people behind them, all lowered their heads, a touch of shame appearing on their faces.

"42 casualties, of course, is not much, but you must understand that tonight, the 800-plus Earth-Digging Realm members of Wu Shuang were all not there, and the encampment only had one Cold-Resisting level, who didn't make a move on you people the whole time. In such a situation, there were 42 casualties. If attacking a normal giant camp, this number would have to be multiplied several times?"

"These thirty intermediate hunting teams of yours are currently considered the absolute elite of Great Xia. Such a smooth battle, attacking the enemy unprepared, could be fought like this. In the next Pingxi Plain battle, I'm afraid not many of you will be able to return to Xia City alive!"

"You all remember, Wu Shuang in Pingxi Plain is just a very ordinary camp. The strongest here are Longshan and Zhaoyang. I don't know about Zhaoyang's situation, but there is a Longyou Army on Longshan's side. Just judging from your attack on Wu Shuang just now, if you really bump into this army, you can think for yourselves what the outcome will be!"

Hearing Xia Chuan's increasingly profound admonition, besides shame, everyone's faces gradually added a few shades of solemnity.

"Considering that this is the first time for such a big battle, the opponent I chose is not very strong, but looking at the whole battle, I have to say that your performance is very disappointing to me..."

Xia Chuan paused, stretched out his finger to point to the ordinary hunting team members who were still busy behind, and continued to open his mouth to the group of team leaders: "Them, I won't say anything. Usually, when hunting cold beasts outside, they all listen to you, so it's the same on the battlefield. But you, what were you doing just now?"

"Relying on your slightly stronger strength, you just rushed forward blindly, ignoring your subordinates, letting them fight on their own, without any rules to speak of. You are simply a mob."

Do you really think the 42-person battle damage was fought by yourselves?

This battle, you occupied all the advantages. My original plan was to let the 7 Cold-Resisting levels only be responsible for breaking the door, and the rest would be fully responsible by yourselves.

If it weren't for the fact that I really couldn't watch it anymore and let them make a move in advance, your battle damage would have to be multiplied by three to five times at least!"

This time, not only the 30 people standing in front were shocked, but even the ordinary Great Xia hunting team members behind also showed shame on their faces.

Hong Mu in the crowd lowered his head even more shamefully.

The people Xia Chuan said only knew how to rush forward blindly were not just the 30 team leaders. Nine out of ten of the ordinary hunting team members below were basically like this, and he himself was one of them.

He also rushed excitedly just now, putting himself in danger. If it weren't for his father Hong Gang making a move in time, he would have a high probability of becoming the 43rd casualty.

"Why, with only the title of hunting team leader, you only care about hunting, not about fighting with other camps? Once on the battlefield, you rely entirely on personal ability, right?"

Xia Chuan's voice was sonorous and powerful, as if questioning everyone.

"As long as it is a battle, whether it is cold beasts, ghosts, or humans, they are all enemies that will take your life. Establishing so many teams initially was to let you understand the meaning of division of labor, cooperation, and coordination. The 42 casualties today, in my opinion, were entirely caused by your negligence and carelessness.

In the future, our battles in Pingxi Plain will not be few. If there is another big battle and you are still like this, Great Xia doesn't need to stay in Pingxi Plain. I will immediately take you all back to Xia City and wait until the next time you are prepared before coming over!"

Xia Chuan's tone paused, and he said sternly: "It just so happens that the leader also said before that population is Great Xia's most precious wealth, especially you Earth-Digging Realm members of the hunting team. Losing any one of you is a huge loss for the camp. Rather than using your lives to exchange for territory, it is better to stay in Xia City and wait until the strength is sufficient before coming over."

Hearing these words, everyone's expressions were slightly moved.

Especially the first batch of people in Great Xia, they knew very well that with Xia Hong's attitude toward them ordinary people on the earthen slope before, he could completely say such things. So they didn't doubt the authenticity of Xia Chuan's last sentence.

"I guarantee to Si Cheng that in the next big battle, my Tiger-Leopard team will definitely not have anyone die."

"My Steel Mane team also guarantees to Si Cheng!"

"Lord Si Cheng, rest assured, in the next battle, we will definitely lead the team members to cooperate well and try our best to reduce casualties!"

………………

The ten Cold-Resisting levels in the first row, starting from Luo Yuan directly guaranteeing to Xia Chuan, the others successively made promises. They had stronger strength, so naturally, they were sure that the team would not have casualties;

And the team leaders in the back row who had not yet broken through to the Cold-Resisting level, although they didn't dare to make such a guarantee, also loudly declared their determination, guaranteeing to Xia Chuan that in the next big battle, they would try their best to reduce casualties.

Hearing everyone's guarantee, Xia Chuan's gloomy face finally cleared up a bit, and his brows also relaxed a lot.

"Good, I hope my admonition was not in vain. I look forward to your performance next time. Remember, there is only one life. Our Great Xia people's lives are even more precious. If you really want to die, at least die heroically. Dying on such a battlefield not only has no meaning but also cannot exert any value. If the price of attacking cities and seizing land is your life, then I would rather not have such bloody territory, and the leader would look down on it even more. Do you all understand?"

There is only one life, our Great Xia people's lives are even more precious!

Even if you die, you must die heroically.

!

If the price of attacking cities and seizing land is life, then rather not have it!

Xia Chuan's words suddenly lifted the spirit of everyone that had just been suppressed. Everyone's breathing became a bit heavier. They raised their heads slightly, their gazes all fixed on Xia Chuan.

"Do you all understand?"

Xia Chuan opened his mouth again in a deep voice.

Whether it was the ten Cold-Resisting levels like Luo Yuan and Zhao Long, the twenty team leaders behind them, or the rest of the ordinary hunting team members who were detaining and tying up Wu Shuang people, they all raised their heads excitedly and answered in unison:

"Understand!!!"

The answer of more than a thousand people in unison was earth-shaking, scaring the Wu Shuang people, whether captives or ordinary people, to lower their heads slightly. The posture of submission became even more respectful.

And not far away, Peng Bo, who had killed Duan Pingyu for a while, after taking all this into his eyes, was moved and also a bit complicated.

He was also a leader of a giant camp. If he could fight such battle damage in a battle, he would probably laugh in his dreams. But Xia Chuan's admonition just now was clearly sincere, and the shame on the faces of these Great Xia people was not fake at all. That is to say, in Great Xia's view, such battle damage was really unacceptable.

This made his heart, how could it not be complicated!

The moving was entirely because of the words Xia Chuan just said.

Compared with other camps, including his Yang Dew, Great Xia's emphasis on the lives of its own people was clearly at another level.

Opening up territory, how can there be no death?

This is the logic of normal people, but Great Xia, it seems, is not like this.

This emphasis on human life made Peng Bo feel refreshed, and at the same time, he felt inexplicably touched in his heart.

Great Xia, it seems, is really a bit different from other camps!

"Alright, it's dawn soon. Detain all the captives. First screen all the population of Wu Shuang, then count all the property and mineral resources. We will spend the day in Wu Shuang. Everyone keep vigilant and strictly prevent mutiny."

"Yes, Lord!"

The admonition ended. Under Xia Chuan's order, the work of counting and checking Wu Shuang's property was also quickly unfolded, and everyone continued to get busy.

And Xia Chuan, with a smile on his face, walked slowly toward Peng Bo:

"Leader Peng, collected some interest, the mood is not bad, right?"

"This time being able to kill Duan Pingyu, thank you, Lord!"

Peng Bo bowed slightly to thank him. In his heart, he could roughly guess what Xia Chuan was going to say to him next.

………………

Longyou Year 48, April 17th, at dawn.

Wu Shuang changed hands, Yang Dew ghost awakened, two things happening simultaneously, Xia Hong didn't know any of them. He was currently following Hou Tong, looking at the Longyou Army stationed on the south side of the Bai Yuan encampment with great interest.

On the plain covered by snow in front, two unusually abrupt wooden houses appeared. The wooden houses were spire-shaped, divided into three layers. The first layer was more than a hundred meters long, the second layer was only fifty meters, and when it reached the top layer, only about ten meters remained. Moreover, the four sides of the top layer left quite a few windows, clearly all used for observing the situation around.

Through the windows, one could see campfires in the house, and vaguely see quite a few fully armed figures walking around, clearly very vigilant.

"To the south of Bai Yuan is the Wu Shuang encampment. To the southeast is the Han Qiong encampment where our army is currently stationed. Look at the west side of the wooden house, there is a Longshan branch that generally runs east-west, which just bypasses this plain. The entrance for Wu Shuang and Han Qiong families to enter Longshan is right here at the branch."

On the big tree, cooperating with Hou Tong's explanation, Xia Hong looked at the map in his hand, slightly outlined the branch direction with his finger, and a touch of understanding appeared on his face.

"This branch just separates Han Qiong, Wu Shuang, and Zhaoyang, so if these two families want to go to Zhaoyang, they must walk this plain and pass through Bai Yuan."

Hou Tong, who had been maintaining the same position as Xia Hong, nodded immediately.

"To the north of the Wu Shuang and Han Qiong families is Zhaoyang, but they are separated by this branch of Longshan in the middle, and the north-south width of this branch is thirty or forty kilometers. Neither family has the ability to cross, so they can only take a detour."

"It should be that they don't have the ability to mobilize large-scale personnel!"

Xia Hong nodded slightly, then corrected Hou Tong's statement in his heart.

Small-scale personnel crossing and large-scale troop mobilization were completely two concepts. Why shouldn't the hunting team personnel of the Ice Abyss encampment be too many? Because once there are too many people, it will attract large-scale cold beasts.

Personnel exchanges are also the same principle. After all, they are all Earth-Digging Realm members. Mobilizing batch by batch is a bit dangerous; large-scale mobilization is afraid of attracting large-scale cold beasts, so they can only take a detour.

While Xia Hong understood the terrain of central Longyou, he also saw the reason why the Longshan army chose to station here.

The plain in front is about five or six kilometers long, with a few big trees in the middle, without any cover. Stationing here, one can see the situation of the entire plain passage at a glance. Any large-scale personnel movement of the Wu Shuang, Han Qiong, and Bai Yuan families can be seen clearly.

"Before Lord Hong came, I had observed here for three days. Who the leader is, I haven't figured out yet, but at night they will have people come out to move, and even organize small-scale teams to enter the mountains to hunt. The total number is about two thousand five hundred or more, and nearly half are wearing hundred-forged iron armor. At a glance, they are Longyou Army soldiers."

Not only stationed, but also organized people to enter the mountains to hunt.

This clearly meant that they intended to stay here for a long time.

A touch of strange color rose slightly in Xia Hong's eyes, and he immediately gave birth to a few praises for Longshan's quick decision.

"Two thousand five hundred people, nearly half are Longyou Army. Once inserted here, it can cut off the connection between the north and the center. The people of Wu Shuang and Han Qiong families want to gather with Zhaoyang and Bai Yuan, but they have no way. Even at any time, they have to worry that the Longyou Army will go south to attack at any time. It seems you are a bit difficult!"

Hou Tong's expression turned difficult upon hearing this, but his expression changed quickly and he smiled lightly:

"Originally it was indeed very difficult, but Lord Hong came, so it's okay."

"Oh, do you have a plan?"

Xia Hong's brows lifted slightly. After Hou Hu gave him the task last night, he followed Hou Quan directly to the Han Qiong encampment. Once he arrived at Han Qiong, Hou Tong immediately pulled him to see the Longshan army stationed here.

Although the time spent staying at the Han Qiong encampment was very short, Xia Hong had already perceived the situation there as soon as he arrived.

The 1,500 people from Zhaoyang led by Hou Tong, plus the 1,000-plus people from Han Qiong itself, totaled more than 2,500 Earth-Digging Realm members.

It seems the total number is equivalent to Longshan, but if Hou Tong dared to bring people to fight, Xia Hong would only feel that he was sick.

How much stronger is the strength of the Longyou Army compared to ordinary camp hunting teams? Although Xia Hong didn't have an exact concept, he could be sure that when the number of people on both sides was equivalent, it would absolutely form a one-sided slaughter.

The average basic strength is at least the limit of thirty thousand jin, each person is equipped with a strong bow with a pulling force of thirty stones, plus hundred-forged blades, hundred-forged armor, from cultivation to equipment to personnel quality, it can be said that professional armies like the Longyou Army and Blood Guard Army formed an all-around crushing of the large armies composed of ordinary camp hunting team members.

When the number of people is equivalent, there is simply no way to fight.

Xia Hong roughly estimated that it would take at least three times or even more numerical advantage for the two sides to possibly reach a balanced state.

Even counting him who exerted all his strength, it was the same.

In large-scale Earth-Digging Realm confrontations, people like him with twenty-one mane strength can certainly play a huge role, but to say that he can completely influence the battle situation, that is completely impossible.

What's more, it was in front of elites like the Longyou Army.

Cold-Resisting levels are very strong. His twenty-one mane strength, with a full punch, killing more than a dozen people is no problem, but in the end, he is just a mortal body.

As long as you are a human, you will be tired, you will be exhausted. If you swing your fist too many times, you won't be able to swing it. Even if you can swing it, your strength will become smaller and smaller;

But a large army of thousands of people is different. Their arrows can threaten you, can detour to deal with you, can rush up in batches, consume your strength in the form of a wheel battle. If you don't escape in time, you can only end up as a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

This is why Li Tiancheng, seeing Hou Hu flee into the Blood Guard Army's phalanx that night, immediately gave up the idea of killing him.

This point, he knew clearly, and Hou Tong must also know clearly.

Hou Tong would not be stupid enough to think that just because he came, plus the 2,500 people in his hand, he could defeat the Longshan army. There must be some plan.

That's why Xia Hong asked him immediately what plan he had.

While Xia Hong was thinking, Hou Tong also stated his plan.

"I have sent people to Wu Shuang, Yang Dew, and Beehive respectively to notify Wu Xiong, Han Jiuli, and Hou Ming to draw personnel to gather in Wu Shuang first. Excluding those left behind, the three parties should be able to draw more than three thousand people, plus the 2,500 people of Han Qiong, totaling more than six thousand people. With so many people, even if they use their lives, they can pile the Longyou Army to death. Plus Lord Hong's strength, we will be able to break the Longshan blockade in a few days and gather with the leader and the others!"

Xia Hong's expression didn't fluctuate much upon hearing this, but hearing the sentence "even if they use their lives, they can pile the Longyou Army to death," a touch of dislike and disgust instantly flashed in the depths of his pupils.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 242 =====