Chapter 1498: Continue the Mutual Pecking Between Beginners

**Chapter 1483: Another Underdog Squabble**

"Three dead, seven severely wounded, and eleven lightly injured."

He Lingchuan looked up at the sound and retorted bluntly, "Your casualty rate is quite high. You should take good care of your soldiers."

"First, there were seven monstrous bears, and then we encountered the Xiluo army personally led by Lu Wushuang..." Xin Yi paused there, shaking his head. "Never mind, no excuses. I'll be careful next time, absolutely!"

Wrong is wrong. Would the battlefield listen to his excuses?

He sighed again. "The army's elemental energy is truly formidable; my divine abilities and spells are almost useless on the battlefield."

Both Beijia's elemental energy and the Yuheng army's elemental energy are astonishingly potent. This significantly enhances the defensive capabilities of both sides' soldiers, especially their resistance to divine abilities and spells. When Xin Yi first entered the battlefield, he found it particularly hard to adapt.

Normally, when he unleashed a divine ability, the opponent would either die or be half-crippled. But Beijia soldiers on the battlefield? They could still bounce around and chase him down to hack at him.

"The battlefield is the domain of martial artists," He Lingchuan agreed. "To make divine abilities and spells effective on the battlefield, it's best not to use them directly on people. In fact, battlefield spellcasting has always been a subtle art."

Xin Yi shared his sentiment. "By the way, General He, when are we preparing to counterattack?"

Five battles in eleven days, all initiated by the enemy, with them defending.

When would the offensive and defensive roles switch?

"What's the rush?" He Lingchuan asked without looking up. "Let's play with them a bit longer."

"Huh?" Xin Yi, now familiar with He Lingchuan, asked straightforwardly, "Are we just going to keep taking hits passively? What does that mean? If we only take blows and don't retaliate, won't the enemy become reckless?"

"When did I say we're just taking hits?" He Lingchuan pointed towards the east bank. "I ask you, what do you think of Beijia's recent offensives?"

"They're ineffective."

Wen Daolun, standing nearby, secretly rolled his eyes. This Mr. Xin had also learned the art of stating the obvious.

"Why? They were clearly well-organized attacks."

Is General He implying that his command is too formidable for them to land? No, that's not right. Let me rephrase.

"The enemy is by-the-book. While their army looks vast, their tactics feel somewhat rigid, and their reactions aren't very swift." He added, "Actually, looking solely at the Beijia army, you wouldn't spot any problems, but when they faced He Lingchuan, their weaknesses quickly became apparent."

"Where's the problem?"

"The commander-in-chief." This time, Xin Yi answered without hesitation. "Beijia's soldiers are still formidable in combat."

"In the first battle, I thought Bai Mo Ji deliberately fought that way to set a trap for me. After all, he has quite a reputation: a top student from Wucheng Hall, a great general who suppressed the Xiluo rebellion, and even Lu Wushuang only serves as the Xiluo army's supervisor, two ranks below him. I thought he must have at least some real skill, right?" He Lingchuan admitted, "My information on Bai Mo Ji was incomplete, so I was naturally cautious in that first engagement. But after the subsequent battles, I'm certain now: he's nothing special, unfit for the position of commander-in-chief."

A single move reveals the master.

Xin Yi wondered, "If he lacks such talent, wouldn't it be a farce for the Demon Emperor to appoint him as commander-in-chief?"

Wen Daolun interjected, "Mr. Xin, you're not deeply involved in officialdom, so you might not understand the intricacies here."

Before he came to Panlong Wilderness with Zhong Shengguang, he had spent time within the Xiluo royal court.

"I'd like to hear more."

"It's just my inference, but hear me out," Wen Daolun began with a smile. "Two generations of the Bai family, father and son, died on the battlefield, heroically falling in the crucial war against the Abyss. Both emotionally and logically, the Demon Emperor should show extra care to Bai Mo Ji, the sole remaining descendant of the Bai family. If he appears unfeeling and ungrateful, his subordinates will lose heart. Would all those officials below him still be willing to work for him, to risk their lives for him? The Demon Emperor's promotion of Bai Mo Ji is meant for all officials to see; it's to uphold the established order of officialdom."

The Demon Emperor must not only obey this order but also lead by example in enforcing it.

"Ah," Xin Yi murmured. "Benefiting from ancestral prestige. His father held the rank of Supreme General, and Bai Mo Ji is currently a General of Miscellaneous Rank."

Wen Daolun smiled faintly at him, thinking, *Aren't you the same?* Xin Yi, as a descendant of the Immortal Wuhuan in the mortal world, received the opportunity to "further his studies" in Ling Mountain, just as Bai Mo Ji was chosen for Wucheng Hall.

"The Demon Emperor sent him to suppress the rebellion in Xiluo to gift him a merit. After all, he commanded Beijia's army; as soon as they entered Xiluo, the rebels would likely flee at the mere sight of them. It seems Bai Mo Ji will be promoted further in the future."

These merits and qualifications are all preparations for future promotions.

"This is standard practice in Beijia," He Lingchuan said with a chuckle. "After all, officialdom has its own rules. Beijia is a six—oh, no, a four-hundred-year-old empire; there are simply too many aspects to maintain. However, the rules of officialdom don't apply to the battlefield."

Officialdom relies on connections; the battlefield relies on skill.

"'Both emotionally and logically'—that approach doesn't work on the front lines." He pointed towards the great river. "Bai Mo Ji's problem isn't just a lack of experience. He fights rigidly, seemingly cautious, but in reality, he lacks ingenuity. His experience at Wucheng Hall raised his baseline, but unfortunately, his talent might have capped his potential."

Wucheng Hall can explain countless cases and impart endless theories, but it cannot teach innate talent and brilliance.

Understanding of warfare often stems from a commander's instinct. If you ask him why he did something this way and not that way, he might not even be able to explain it.

Yet, he can still win battles.

That's what they call something that cannot be fully articulated.

Otherwise, why would there be the old saying, 'It's easy to raise an army of thousands, but hard to find a single general'?

Xin Yi, understanding yet puzzled, asked, "If we can clearly defeat him, why are we still entangled with him?"

He Lingchuan and Wen Daolun exchanged glances. The latter chuckled, "Commander Zhong's mission for us is to defend Yuheng City and resist Beijia's attacks. We won't complicate matters unnecessarily like Bai Mo Ji!"

He Lingchuan continued, "The Demon Emperor might not be unaware of Bai Mo Ji's flaws, but sending him here likely implies two possibilities: Either he believes Yuheng City can be easily taken, much like the Xiluo rebellion, and therefore dispatched Bai Mo Ji, who was already in Xiluo and closest to the Jintao front; or, the Demon Emperor's plan for the Mao River Plains is primarily deterrence, using us as leverage to threaten Panlong City, without intending to act immediately."

"In such circumstances, if we appear too aggressive or attention-grabbing, it will provoke Beijia's wrath, and they will surely teach us a lesson." He added, "Everyone knows Beijia cannot afford to lose. If we defeat Bai Mo Ji today, Beijia will send a more formidable figure tomorrow. If we defeat these fifteen thousand troops today, Beijia might send one hundred and fifty thousand tomorrow."

How could a small Yuheng City possibly contend with Beijia's war potential?

He Lingchuan asked Xin Yi, "Do you want to continue sparring with Bai Mo Ji, or do you want to fight to the death with a new, fierce general sent by Beijia, like Fu Shanlie?"

Beijia has famous generals aplenty, not just Fu Shanlie and a few others. Any one of them would be more than Yuheng City could handle.

Xin Yi waved his hands repeatedly. "Given what you've said, of course I'd choose Bai Mo Ji! I'm hoping to spar with him a few more times!"

"So, maintain the status quo and continue the 'underdog squabble.' He Lingchuan truly had a thousand tricks up his sleeve."

Xin Yi secretly sighed, *All's fair in war.*

The three burst into laughter.

Over the next ten days, the Jintao front saw intense back-and-forth fighting, with battles unfolding in rapid succession and creating a lively atmosphere.

The twenty days since the war began, all told, had been the most fulfilling for He Lingchuan since he formed the Ximo Legion. Generals were brimming with passion, soldiers were always ready for battle, and the people of Yuheng City offered their full assistance, ensuring the war machine ran smoothly.

The two main defensive forces, the Yuheng City Army and the Ximo Legion, initially experienced some friction as they began to cooperate. Not to mention, the Ximo Legion had many difficult individuals like Sha Wei, who caused quite a few conflicts with the Yuheng Army upon their arrival. However, facing a powerful enemy like Beijia, the two armies had no choice but to set aside their prejudices and quickly integrate.

After these twenty-odd days of fighting, He Lingchuan's forces had gradually developed a good rapport and understanding.

Bai Mo Ji not only launched fierce assaults but also devised numerous tricks, yet He Lingchuan countered every move, neutralizing them on the spot.

The battlefield situation changed rapidly, yet he always managed to grasp the key points. Xin Yi, observing from the side, was finally convinced and profoundly understood the meaning of 'talent is instinct.'

After so many battles, Yuheng City's army had improved rapidly, but honestly, He Lingchuan knew his soldiers still had shortcomings; they were not yet a veteran army. If Yuheng City were merely an isolated city on a plain, it would have been surrounded by Beijia's forces by now.

Fortunately, with the great river present, Beijia's advance was never smooth. Any slight movement on the banks or by boats was immediately observed by Yuheng's sentries, making it difficult for them to launch a true surprise attack.

Moreover, many of Beijia's charge-specialized monsters, such as black oxen and giant green antelopes, couldn't utilize their full abilities in water or confined spaces. They would even get seasick and vomit when traveling by boat in rough waves. In contrast, monkeys were exceptionally well-suited to rugged terrain and turbulent waters.

These factors greatly irritated Bai Mo Ji, the enemy commander. Even though his opponent's overall strength was clearly inferior, they consistently exploited geographical advantages and showed incredible resilience, absolutely unafraid to engage Beijia's army in protracted combat.

Before he came, he had heard that Panlong City's army was even more resilient than poplars. Why was the Mao River Plains army the same?

Naturally, He Lingchuan always advocated for reciprocating actions. Not only did Beijia cross the river to invade, but the Yuheng City army also frequently caused trouble behind Beijia's lines.

He was well aware of his own side's weaknesses, so instead of sending troops to forcibly cross the river and fight Beijia head-on, he dispatched several elite small teams. These teams bypassed the enemy via the Long River, executing 'harass when the enemy is stationary' tactics, specializing in assassinations, guerrilla warfare, arson, and raiding supply lines—all kinds of mischievous acts.

Beijia and Xiluo forces increased their night patrols, but the sleeping troops were still constantly awakened by massive explosions.

Bai Mo Ji naturally wanted to emulate this tactic, but most of Yuheng City's soldiers and civilians resided within the city, protected by its walls, making harassment tactics very difficult to succeed.

Furthermore, at this time, rebellions were breaking out across Jintao, with several counties reporting incidents of officials being killed.

Whether commoners or powerful clans led the uprisings, their first act was to seize and kill local officials, both to vent their hatred and to impede the enemy. The Jintao monarch dispatched troops to suppress several incidents, but instead of extinguishing the fires, it ignited the powder keg of national sentiment.

As soon as the enemy side fell into disarray, Yuheng City immediately sent out spies to fan the flames and stir up trouble.