Chapter 525: Can’t Fight, Yet Eager for Battle |
The Great Xia war drum stands two meters tall with a diameter of three and a half meters. Its drum wall and frame are made of Soul-Shaking Wood, while the drumhead is sewn together from the skin membranes of three Beast King-level Thunder Kui.
The Thunder Kui itself is an incredibly defensive Frost Beast, let alone the fact that the war drum uses Beast King-level Thunder Kui skin membrane. Without at least 30 Zong of strength, one simply cannot beat it.
When the war drum was first developed the year before last, some soldiers in Xia City refused to believe it was that difficult. With just over 20 Zong of strength, they took the drumsticks and tried to strike it. The result was a forceful swing and a hard strike, followed by the terrifying recoil force from the drumhead directly causing them to vomit blood uncontrollably. They ended up lying in bed for over half a month before recovering.
With such demanding striking conditions, the spectacle it creates is naturally extremely astonishing.
Great Xia previously conducted tests. After beating the Thunder Kui war drum, the sound can travel up to five kilometers at its farthest. Within a three-kilometer radius centered on the drumbeat, the blood and qi inside every person's body will be affected by the drum sound. Within ten meters of the drumbeat, anyone without over 20 Zong of strength might even be directly shaken to death.
In extremely cold environments like the Ice Abyss, where ice and snow cover everything, normal sounds have difficulty traveling very far. Take Great Xia for example, even today when Xia people hunt in the Snowy Forest, bone whistles remain essential equipment.
"Thump, thump, thump, thump…………"
For Great Xia's war drums, different rhythms represent different commands:
A slightly slower rhythm that only sounds nine times is the Officer Assembly Drum, meaning the commander-in-chief has orders, and all battalion commanders and above must immediately assemble at the main tent;
The fastest rhythm is called the Enemy Defense Drum, meaning enemy troops are attacking, and everyone must immediately enter combat readiness according to their positions;
…………
During marches, city assaults, retreats, and even entering battle, armies are inherently collective action organizations. The need to summon the entire army to assemble happens far too often, so the Troop Assembly Drum sounds the most frequently and is naturally the drumbeat all soldiers are most familiar with.
Fu Tiandu, Meng Tian, and the other three are all flag officers of the Tiger Leopard Army. The five of them were already in full combat gear. When the war drum sounded and they recognized it as the Troop Assembly Drum, they immediately jumped down from the watchtower and quickly reported for roll call at the Tiger Leopard Army's assembly point.
"Battalion Commander Helian, aren't we about to start fighting?"
Flag officers already hold a decent position within the army, so Fu Tiandu is quite familiar with all ten battalion commanders of the Tiger Leopard Army. Not long after reporting in, seeing the scout battalion commander Helian Ba walking over with a gloomy expression, his heart first skipped a beat, and then he hurriedly asked.
The earliest founding Commander-in-Chief of the Tiger Leopard Army was Luo Yuan, but Luo Yuan himself holds the position of Department Head of the Hunting Department. As Great Xia's population has grown numerous, affairs in various departments have become increasingly complex. Plus, last year, to impact the Sun Manifestation Level, he didn't have much time to lead the army, so he simply relinquished the Commander-in-Chief position of the Tiger Leopard Army.
The current Commander-in-Chief of the Tiger Leopard Army is Mu Longhe's disciple, Helian Shan. Helian Shan joined Great Xia after the Chuishan fission the year before last. He is seventy-eight years old this year. When he first joined Great Xia, he only had 41 Zong of strength, but after staying in Great Xia for two years, it was like a withered tree encountering spring—his strength advanced by leaps and bounds. He now has 61 Zong of strength, and rumors before the war said he was impacting the Sun Manifestation Level, probably just one step away.
Helian Ba joined the Tiger Leopard Army with his father. His current strength is also 52 Zong, and he currently serves as the scout battalion commander of the Tiger Leopard Army.
Hearing Fu Tiandu inquire, Helian Ba, Meng Tian, and the other three deputy flag officers immediately looked over, including the other nine battalion commanders of the Tiger Leopard Army; their gazes also turned this way.
Not just Fu Tiandu, currently the entire Tiger Leopard Army, and one could even say Luo Yuan's Central Route Army of forty thousand troops, after learning that both Longgu and Beishuo towns had already fallen, can be described with the phrase "eager for battle."
During non-wartime in Great Xia, the threshold for obtaining military merits is simply too high. Great Xia successively annexed the territories of Bashang, Jiangxia, Muyin, and Chuishan four towns. The total population across the entire territory has now exceeded six million, yet those who have received ennoblement haven't surpassed five hundred.
From this astonishing ratio of ennobled individuals, one can see just how difficult it is to obtain military merits during non-wartime.
Finally about to have a war, everyone who came north with the army this time was already filled with pent-up determination, ready to stake their lives for this wealth and honor. Who would have thought that after four days here, they still haven't fought a single battle?
Forget killing enemies, they haven't even seen the enemy's faces yet.
"No fight!"
Seeing everyone looking at him, Helian Ba's expression grew even darker. After directly giving his answer, he sighed slightly and said, "Just now in the main tent, the Marshal has already given orders. As long as the fifty thousand troops inside Donggu City don't come out, we won't take action. We just need to keep an eye on them."
"This... no fight?"
"Wuchuan Town, only the ten thousand Black-Armored Army are somewhat worth looking at. The other forty thousand are all ordinary Town Garrison Army. Against us, wouldn't they just crumble like clay dogs and tile tiles?"
"We've already reached the foot of Donggu City. How could the Marshal order no fight?"
"Longgu changed hands; Beishuo was breached; Yangju is surrounded by Department Head Yuan's Rear Route Army, and they might have started fighting by now; the Right Route's Dragon Warrior Army's strength is originally on par with the Cloud Python Army, and Department Head Yu Wen's strength is so formidable. Jinshan Town probably won't be our fight either. Wuchuan is the only combat opportunity left. If the Marshal doesn't fight, then didn't we come all this way for nothing?"
"Taking a city without fighting grants higher military merits. The problem is Wuchuan doesn't seem like it's about to surrender. If this stalemate continues, people from the other three route armies will come. With just this little military merit, how will it be divided once more people arrive?"
"First to scale the walls, breaking enemy formations, slaying enemy generals, capturing flags, plus killing enemies... The other three route armies look like they can all start fighting, while we're just sitting here watching for free?"
………………
"All of you, shut up! Criticizing the commander-in-chief before battle, I think you're all itching for a beating!"
The more Helian Ba listened, the more wrong it sounded. Realizing they were about to start criticizing Commander-in-Chief Luo Yuan, he immediately spoke sternly, interrupting them.
Hearing his voice, everyone shrank their necks, but their eyes clearly still held some dissatisfaction.
"Then what's the meaning of beating the Troop Assembly Drum now?"
But soon, Fu Tiandu grasped the key point.
Right!
Since we're not fighting, then why beat the Troop Assembly Drum now?
The others, hearing this, were momentarily stunned, then curiously looked at Helian Ba.
This kid is clever enough! No wonder he's not even thirty, yet at such a young age, he was personally appointed by his father as the chief flag officer.
Wait, this kid's strength is also formidable enough; he's already at 39 Zong.
Hearing Fu Tiandu's question, a look of appreciation instantly appeared on Helian Ba's face.
He is already forty-eight this year, nineteen years older than Fu Tiandu. The two have a good personal relationship; when not in the army, they also address each other as uncle and nephew.
He pondered for a moment, then thinking about what he needed to convey later, still spoke to everyone, "Deputy Commander Murong just returned to report, saying there are unusual movements inside Donggu City. The army is gathering at the north gate. They likely intend to exit the city."
Exit the city!
Fu Tiandu, Meng Tian, and all the battalion commanders and flag officers' eyes instantly lit up.
With the Wuchuan army holed up inside Donggu City, Commander-in-Chief Luo Yuan, worried about excessive casualties, unwilling to assault the city—that's understandable. But once those fifty thousand troops exit the city, the situation becomes completely different.
Engaging in normal combat outside the city, then what is there to fear?
Only Fu Tiandu didn't react like the others. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then immediately realized something and continued asking, "Is it that Department Chancellor's Left Route Army sent troops to attack Wuchuan Town City?"
This kid is truly amazing...
Although he had heard before that Fu Tiandu had high insight and likely had significant origins, hearing Fu Tiandu pinpoint the key point with one sentence still made Helian Ba inwardly exclaim in amazement.
He nodded slightly, "After capturing Beishuo City, Department Chancellor dispatched twenty thousand elite Xia troops to rapidly march south. By now, barring any surprises, they should have already surrounded Wuchuan Town City. Qin Feng will definitely want to protect Wuchuan Town City, so he must move these fifty thousand troops from Donggu City."
But with forty thousand Xia troops watching outside the city, for Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops to want to exit the city and head north to reinforce Wuchuan Town City, how could it be that easy?
Fu Tiandu's thinking was clear. He instantly grasped the key point, his expression slightly serious as he spoke in a deep voice, "Qin Feng knows the Marshal won't let him reinforce smoothly. Not engaging our forty thousand troops in a battle definitely won't work. So, this exiting the city might just be a feint, meant to lure us into fighting him?"
"That would be even better! Fighting outside the city, then what is there to fear?"
"Of Wuchuan's fifty thousand troops, only the ten thousand Black-Armored Army are worth looking at. If we truly fight in the wilderness, defeating them wouldn't be easy as pie?"
"Just waiting for them to come out!"
………………
Seeing many battalion commanders' emotions starting to stir, Helian Ba's expression grew even darker, but a few battalion commanders lowered their heads in contemplation, clearly having realized something.
Fu Tiandu's expression didn't change at all. After those few battalion commanders' emotions calmed down, he shook his head and slowly said, "The Marshal probably won't fight. Wuchuan's fifty thousand troops are all focused on reinforcing their town city. Right now is likely when their fighting spirit is most intense.
Not to mention, it's nighttime right now. Donggu City still has forty to fifty thousand Digging Realm cultivators. If we truly engage them outside the city, we'll most likely suffer losses. Even if we win, it would be a costly victory, not worth the gain..."
Helian Ba took over Fu Tiandu's words, nodding as he continued, "Commander Luo has already seen through it, so he beat the Troop Assembly Drum to have us assemble first, then decide based on the enemy's movements. In short, we cannot fight outside Donggu City. If they truly head towards the town city, we don't need to stop them either, just follow. Once they get close to Wuchuan Town City..."
Having said this much, everyone naturally understood.
Even though Helian Ba didn't finish his sentence, they grasped it.
Twenty thousand elite Xia troops are currently surrounding Wuchuan Town City and definitely won't rashly assault it. That means they are basically all in a state of readiness. Once Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops get close to Wuchuan Town City, our forty thousand troops will be following behind. With the town city having twenty thousand rested elite Xia troops waiting, it would become a situation of being attacked from both front and rear. No matter how capable Qin Feng is, it would be useless.
"Everyone has scouts on the battlefield. The situation at the town city, Qin Feng must also know clearly. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to return. Since that's the case, he must also have countermeasures, right?"
Meng Tian couldn't help but curiously ask. Fu Tiandu and Helian Ba looked at each other, both seeing a trace of gravity in each other's pupils.
"So, what follows is a game of strategy. Commander Luo knows Qin Feng wants to lure us into fighting him; Qin Feng also knows that without dealing with us, his fifty thousand troops will only be in worse trouble once they truly approach Wuchuan Town City. It just depends on whose calculations ultimately succeed."
"Ultimately, our Central Route Army still needs to avoid battle. Right now, the ones urgently seeking battle are actually Wuchuan's fifty thousand troops..."
A battalion commander suddenly spoke up, pinpointing the key. The others, hearing this, their expressions instantly turned gloomy.
They aren't stupid. After this exchange, they could naturally understand the current battlefield situation. Avoiding battle is clearly the best choice.
But the problem is, from the depths of their hearts, they don't want to avoid battle.
Finally getting a war, yet until now they haven't been able to truly fight a single battle. Four days have passed without gaining any military merit at all. Isn't this coming for nothing?
Seeing the disappointment on the faces of all the officers, Helian Ba spoke in a serious tone to instruct them, "Since the commander-in-chief has already made a decision, then we can only obey. Currently, avoiding battle is indeed the optimal choice. Later, once the army moves, you all must restrain the soldiers under you. Don't let any mishaps occur for me. Pass it down: those who disobey military orders and act without authorization will all be dealt with according to military law, showing no leniency whatsoever!"
"Subordinates obey!"
Although the officers were very resistant to avoiding battle, they still understood what was important. Disobeying military orders is a serious crime even during normal non-wartime, let alone at this critical juncture.
So they all hurriedly cupped their hands in response, then went down to instruct their subordinates.
Watching everyone leave, Helian Ba sighed slightly.
Fu Tiandu is the chief flag officer, so his subordinates are just Meng Tian and the other three. Thus, he didn't need to go down to notify like the other battalion commanders. Hearing Helian Ba sighing beside him, his mind stirred slightly, and he inquired,
"Battalion Commander Helian, the arguing in the main tent was so loud earlier; it was to discuss whether or not to engage Wuchuan's army, right?"
The watchtower he was on earlier was located directly above the main tent. Although it was too high to hear very clearly, he could still hear some of the arguing inside the tent.
Helian Ba didn't hide it either, nodding with a bitter smile, "No choice. Finally having a war, who wants to avoid battle? I don't want to either. Commander-in-Chief Xiang and Deputy Commander Murong, including the four Commanders-in-Chief, all thought we should take the initiative to attack and didn't agree with Commander Luo's idea of avoiding battle. But Commander Luo insisted, so everyone could only obey."
Discord between generals and commander...
Hearing this, Fu Tiandu's expression froze slightly. Those four words popped into his mind, and his heart instantly skipped a beat.
Commander Luo's Central Route Army originally only had eight thousand troops, with the Tiger Leopard, Shenwu, Steel Zong, and Gold Eagle four designated armies under his command. Deputy Commander Murong Chui of the Central Route transferred twenty-two thousand Town Garrison Army from Muyin Town. Later, Department Head Yu Wen also had Jinyang Commander-in-Chief Xiang Fuhai bring ten thousand troops to reinforce, thus totaling forty thousand troops.
According to Helian Ba's account, earlier in the main tent, Deputy Commander Murong Chui, Jinyang Commander-in-Chief Xiang Fuhai, and the four Commanders-in-Chief Helian Shan, Hong Tian, Zhao Hu, and Zhao Bao—the six most important generals of the entire army—all disagreed with the commander-in-chief's idea of avoiding battle.
Not just these six, other officers certainly also disagreed with avoiding battle. Even based on Fu Tiandu's own thoughts, he also disapproved. Even though he clearly knew that avoiding battle was currently the better choice, he still opposed it.
If they don't fight, how can they obtain military merits?
Letting the Wuchuan army approach Wuchuan Town City, then having our forty thousand troops and the Left Route Army's twenty thousand elites attack from both front and rear—of course the chances of victory are greater. But conversely, wouldn't the military merits then also be shared a lot with the Left Route Army's twenty thousand elites?
He had just heard that the twenty thousand men the Left Route Army sent to surround Wuchuan Town City were all designated armies, and there were even Dragon Garrison Captains. Can our forty thousand troops compete with them for military merits?
People's hearts are all similar. Currently, the forty thousand troops of the Central Route Army, from top to bottom, all want to fight. Luo Yuan is essentially directly opposing the entire army's wishes. This isn't a good thing...
Fu Tiandu looked up at Helian Ba and asked in a low voice, "Battalion Commander Helian, did Commander Luo just directly make the decision like that? The others aren't convinced, right?"
Helian Ba shook his head, "Of course they're not convinced. But Deputy Department Head Xu, who came to report from Beishuo City, also agrees with his idea. Lord Xu came carrying the Lord Leader's orders. Who dares to oppose?"
Hearing this, Fu Tiandu immediately closed his mouth.
No wonder!
Having stayed in Great Xia for three years, Fu Tiandu is perfectly clear about Lord Leader Xia Hong's status in the hearts of the Xia people. If avoiding battle is Xia Hong's order, then there definitely cannot be any opposition within the army.
Calculating it this way, Luo Yuan can't be called overriding all objections either. Perhaps he himself originally wanted to fight, but with the Lord Leader's orders, he had no choice.