Chapter 742: Strategic Assessment

Signal transmission preparation requires time.

Chen Wen did not stay at the Observatory Pavilion waiting.

He went to the Grand Council.

Inside the Grand Council, the huge sand table has been updated.

On the west side of the sand table, the terrain west of the light curtain is vividly lifelike.

Yellow River, Yangtze River, mountain ranges, cities.

Three of them have been planted with small flags of different colors.

Haozhou — red flag.

Hetu Ala — deep blue flag.

Baihe Town — gray‑blue flag.

Between the three flags, thin lines connect them.

The blue line representing the Dark Energy southward route has extended from Hetu Ala to the vicinity of the Great Wall.

And another, thinner gray‑blue line extends from Baihe Town, pointing toward Haozhou.

The two lines have not yet converged.

But the trend is clear.

Chen Wen stands before the sand table.

Yue Fei, Lin Chong, and Gongsun Sheng stand at the side.

"The situation is already clear."

Chen Wen speaks.

"The Iron Crow Army launches a two‑pronged attack."

"On the northern front, the Dark Energy main force sets out from Liaodong, intending long‑term infiltration to erode the foundations of Zhongyuan."

"On the southern front, the demon troops of Baihe Town serve as the vanguard, with the short‑term goal of destroying Zhu Yuanzhang's power."

Yue Fei gazes at the sand table.

"Baihe Town's forces, according to prior intelligence, number about five hundred black‑armored troops and over a thousand mutants."

"After losses at the Battle of Dingyuan and the blocking action of Chang Yuchun's unit, its usable strength should have been reduced by thirty percent."

"But if the Iron Crow Army reinforces its troops…"

Lin Chong continues.

"The key lies in time."

"Zhu Yuanzhang has just risen; his troops' morale is not yet solid, and their combat strength is not yet formed."

"If Baihe Town launches an all‑out attack right now, Haozhou will be in peril."

Chen Wen shakes his head.

"It will not happen immediately."

Everyone looks at him.

Chen Wen points to Baihe Town's gray‑blue flag.

"The Iron Crow Army's actions may seem mad, but they all follow a method."

"In the Battle of Dingyuan they won, but the victory was strange."

"They deliberately let Tang He and Chang Yuchun go."

"They even collected all the corpses."

"This does not look like a one‑battle‑to‑decide‑everything tactic."

He pauses.

"It is more like… a test."

"Testing Zhu Yuanzhang's army's combat strength."

"Testing their reaction to Dark Energy."

"Testing their will to resist."

Gongsun Sheng suddenly realizes.

"So they withdrew, not because they lacked the strength."

"But because the data collection is complete."

"Next comes targeted adjustment and attack."

Chen Wen nods.

"Therefore, Baihe Town's next invasion will see changes in both strength and tactics."

"And Zhu Yuanzhang has less than a month to prepare."

The Grand Council falls silent.

Yue Fei clasps his fists.

"My lord, may I lead a detachment of elite troops through the weak point of the light curtain to rush to Haozhou's aid?"

"No need."

Chen Wen refuses bluntly.

"First, crossing the light curtain carries extreme risk, with likely losses exceeding fifty percent."

"Second, even if successful, the numbers would be too small to change the overall situation."

"Third…"

He looks at the red flag on the sand table.

Zhu Yuanzhang must walk this road himself.

We can't provide soldiers, we can't provide generals.

We can only give the 'fire seed'.

Yue Fei remained silent.

He knew the sovereign was right.

But seeing that lone red flag, he still felt a heaviness in his heart.

At that moment, footsteps sounded from outside the hall.

Zhang Cheng strode in.

Sovereign, the signal transmission preparations are seventy percent complete.

But there is one matter that must be decided immediately.

Speak.

Zhang Cheng walked to the sand table and pointed to an area north of Haozhou.

According to the latest observations, three abnormal 'energy accumulation points' have been detected along the extension of the main southward Yuneng route.

They are suspected remnants of early Yuneng pollution, not yet activated.

If the Iron Crow Army wishes, they can activate it at any time, turning it into a forward base or ambush point.

He raised his head.

Should we send these three coordinates to Zhu Yuanzhang together?

Chen Wen's gaze swept over those three points.

How far are they from Haozhou?

The nearest is one hundred twenty li.

The farthest is two hundred forty li.

Terrain?

They are all mountainous, with concealed valleys, easy to defend but hard to attack.

Chen Wen pondered for a moment.

Send.

Not only must we send the coordinates.

We must also send the speculated activation conditions, possible mutant types, and preliminary countermeasures.

Zhang Cheng gave a bitter smile.

Sovereign, the information volume has increased again.

The load on the pinhole channel...

Remove redundant descriptions, keep only the core data.

Chen Wen interrupted him.

Use cipher encoding to compress to the maximum extent.

Also, prioritize sending the coordinates and threat level.

Let Zhu Yuanzhang know where the danger comes from and how close it is.

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath.

Your servant obeys the command.

He hurriedly left.

Chen Wen looked again at the sand table.

Gongsun Sheng.

The humble Daoist is present.

How simplified have the drawings of the Resonant Purification Tower become?

Gongsun Sheng took out a roll of thin silk from his sleeve.

He unfolded it.

It was covered with dense lines and symbols.

No, those are not symbols.

They are the mathematical formulas and structural parameters of potential energy guidance.

It has been simplified into a three-layer structural diagram.

The core resonator, the potential energy guidance array, and the strange metal base.

There are seventeen additional craft requirements and ninety-three key parameters.

If Zhu Yuanzhang had someone versed in calculation and investigation, they might barely understand thirty percent.

Chen Wen received the silk scroll.

He looked at it for a moment.

Simplify further.

Keep only the structural diagrams of the core resonator and the strange metal base.

Cut the parameters by seventy percent, leaving only the most critical dimensions, material ratios, and energy input thresholds.

Gongsun Sheng was astonished.

Sovereign, with such simplicity, what we build might not even be usable!

If it works at ten percent, that's enough.

Chen Wen returned the silk scroll.

What he needs most right now is not a perfect tower.

It is a direction.

A direction that proves 'dark energy can be purified.'

With a direction, he will find his own way out.

Gongsun Sheng fell into thought, taking the silk scroll.

I understand.

Submit the final simplified version before tonight.

He bowed and withdrew.

Inside the Military Council, only Chen Wen, Yue, and Lin remained.

Your Majesty.

Yue Fei suddenly spoke.

If Zhu Yuanzhang can truly hold his ground in Haozhou, even repelling the demon troops of Baihe Town...

And then?

The Iron Crow Army will not relent.

Next time, what comes might be the true Dark Energy Legion.

Chen Wen walked to the window.

Outside the window, the light of the Energy Smelting Furnace illuminated the night sky.

So, Zhu Yuanzhang must grow strong quickly.

Grow strong enough to threaten the main southward route of the dark energy.

Force the Iron Crow Army to split its forces.

Even...

He turned around.

Force them to bring forward the decisive battle.

Lin Chong's pupils contracted slightly.

But Zhu Yuanzhang's foundation...

If the foundation is lacking, borrow momentum.

Chen Wen walked back to the sand table, his finger pointing along the Yangtze.

The Yuan Court has rotted to the core.

The False Song shrinks back into Huai East.

Other rebel armies each fight on their own.

The Central Plains vast lands have many ownerless territories.

Zhu Yuanzhang bears the title of Prince of Wu, with the righteous cause of resisting the Yuan and demons.

As long as he can win several battles in a row, his prestige will grow like a snowball.

Refugees, defeated troops, even small rebel units will come to join.

There will be people.

There will be grain.

There will be weapons as well.

He looked toward Yue Fei and Lin Chong.

What we must do is ensure he isn't burned to death by a fire before he grows up.

Yue Fei nodded heavily.

I, the subordinate, understand.

Information and direction are the 'water' we send.

Help him extinguish the fire, help him take root.

Chen Wen said no more.

You also go prepare.

Once the signal is sent, there will be energy disturbances on the west side of the Light Curtain.

The Northern Frontier Defense Line must strengthen vigilance to prevent the Iron Crow Army from taking the opportunity to probe.

Yes!

The two received the order and withdrew.

Chen Wen stood alone before the sand table.

He gazed at that red flag.

Watching the golden-red halo gradually spreading around it.

The seed has already been sown.

He muttered softly to himself.

Now, we only wait for the wind and rain to arrive.

Can you... break through the earth and reach the heavens?

Outside the hall, the night wind howled.

The light of the Energy Smelting Furnace burned ever brighter.

The moment of sending draws near.