Chapter 1946: 应拿尽拿

The Tanggu Viper is a venomous snake unique to Central Shanjing, far more potent than the Five-Step Viper. The viper demon residing in Bairong Forest boasts over three hundred years of cultivation; its bites are almost instantly fatal. It also commands several nests of smaller snake demons. Local residents are so terrified of this viper that no one dares venture into the forest.

While the python demons in Bairong Forest typically begin hibernation in autumn, the increasing density of spiritual energy in the world has made all monsters unusually active, defying conventional expectations.

Tao Ran then added, "However, reports from soldiers who escaped the forest indicate they encountered more than just giant pythons. There was also a host of grotesque monsters: two had the heads and tails of giant pythons but bodies like hippos; several others were hidden underground, their true forms indiscernible; and two resembled the Broodmother of the Crypt, spewing acid capable of dissolving human bodies."

He paused, then continued, "And there was also a swarm of thousands of creatures, resembling both bees and butterflies, whose stings caused skin to fester."

This physical description suggested they might be Ghoulish Beasts or Demonic Puppets.

Ghoulish Beasts are particularly dangerous when encountered by surprise. Du Xiaoyi's team might have been on high alert when entering Bairong Forest, but their vigilance was directed towards python demons, not anticipating these other creatures.

He Lingchuan frowned slightly. "Did the eyewitnesses see any normal python demons?"

"I asked, but they recalled seeing none."

A forest supposedly infested with python demons, yet none emerged from their lairs? "Tanggu Vipers do not share territory with other great demons. It seems that place has likely become a second Red Hut."

A forest inhabited by python demons is usually too dangerous for anyone to enter, so no one knew exactly what was happening inside. It was an ideal location for Beiga to conduct their demonic puppet experiments.

It was unknown how long this experimental site had existed until the Dragon God Army stumbled upon it today. It appears Beiga has quite a few operations in Shanjing.

He Lingchuan then asked, "How many men did the deputy team lose?"

"Two hundred and thirty-five men."

"Effective immediately, Xu Ziyang will be promoted to your deputy," He Lingchuan mused. "As for Bairong Forest, I will send specialists to investigate."

Dong Rui had made a fortune and been delighted for several months after clearing out one Red Hut. Uncovering another Ghoulish Beast experimental site would provide a tremendous boost to his research.

He Lingchuan turned to the other two teams. "What about your situations?"

The other two teams also sustained significant losses. Although the objectives for this round of battles were not inherently difficult, He Lingchuan had pushed for progress so relentlessly that teams sometimes had to act hastily due to practical constraints, essentially "forcing" their way through.

Furthermore, as this round of campaigns entered its later stages, targets along their routes had received news of the Black Armored Army's conquests, leading them to sharpen their weapons and strengthen their defenses.

With the enemy forewarned, the battles were no longer as easy as in the earlier stages.

In these two teams, there was a major shake-up in personnel below the rank of deputy general. Even half of the military officers under the Weng brothers were replaced, some having died in battle, others relieved of duty, leading to significant changes in their ranks.

He Lingchuan was not surprised.

He had anticipated that if even one-fifth of the initially appointed generals and officers remained, it would be a favorable outcome.

As long as new talents continued to emerge, in the eyes of the "Great Emperor of the Nine Underworlds," all sacrifices would be deemed worthwhile.

War is the cruelest screening tool: the capable ascend, while the incapable are demoted or perish.

Elite soldiers and formidable generals are forged only through successive rounds of bloody combat.

The campaign results for these teams were also exceptionally fruitful.

They rigorously followed the campaign routes set by He Lingchuan, and the three armies generally encountered only weak resistance along the way. Even Dr. Li, who conquered four towns and five villages mid-campaign, did so with little effort, essentially "claiming territory by riding around it" and bringing them effortlessly under control.

Tao Ran also captured an additional city that was not originally on their attack list. Unexpectedly, the garrison, aware of the Black Armored Army's proximity, suddenly mutinied, beheaded their own city governor, and came to surrender the city.

Since they had gone to such lengths, Tao Ran would have felt awkward not to accept.

After this rendezvous, vast stretches of land in the southern and south-central Shanjing Plain were flying the Black Dragon Banner. The annexed regions included various prefectures, counties, townships, towns, and tribal lands. Furthermore, three small nations, including the State of Qiao, were converted into states.

The armies absorbed by the three teams rapidly swelled like a snowball. From a mere seven thousand at the start of the uprising, they had brought over eighty thousand men by the time of the rendezvous!

This was not the full extent of the forces they had recruited.

According to He Lingchuan's requirements, whenever they captured a territory, they would integrate the local army and partially replace them with their own troops.

After the three armies rendezvoused, the troops were immediately reshuffled and reorganized. Elite units were selected for intensive training, at which point the eighty thousand men would rapidly "slim down." This was because the next phase of the Great Emperor of the Nine Underworlds' sweep across Shanjing was about to commence!

According to He Lingchuan's plan, seizing the entire Shanjing Plain would involve at least three steps.

The first phase involved a rapid territorial expansion. The seven armies would swiftly conquer cities and seize large swathes of land with lightning speed, moving at full pace.

The Shanjing Plain was home to countless forces of varying sizes: some were nations, others not; some were sects, others not; some were tribes, others not—a truly bewildering array. Some areas were even controlled by fierce bandits and routed armies, such as the ogre Zhao Guangzhi, whom He Lingchuan had previously slain.

Among these, some would be easy to defeat, others difficult, requiring careful discernment.

The Yangshan Chamber of Commerce had collected exceptionally comprehensive intelligence on these matters. Therefore, in the initial phase of the uprising, the various armies only targeted the "softest persimmons," aiming to seize as much territory as possible.

Any "hard bones" encountered along the way were set aside, not engaged, attacked, or entangled with.

The challenge of this phase lay in speed. As much territory as possible had to be captured before the Sky Gods, Mount Ling, and the various powers within Shanjing could react. Simultaneously, connections between other forces had to be severed, turning them into isolated islands, thereby disrupting all communication, liaison, and transport.

If the seven armies could successfully rendezvous, it would signify the substantial completion of this phase.

The second phase involved reorganizing and training elite troops, along with a focused effort on shaping public opinion.

While proclaiming the Dragon God's unstoppable sweep across Shanjing, the Elite Army also had to ensure that the remaining forces felt completely besieged, surrounded on all sides by Dragon God territory.

From this point onward, they would strive to persuade surrender wherever possible; those who stubbornly refused would be fought.

They would fight until submission.

In this phase, the focus was on overcoming significant challenges.

He Lingchuan designated the Yau territory for this phase.

The third phase would involve taking stock and consolidating, but it was still too early to discuss that.

He Lingchuan reassigned tasks to his subordinates, and the generals listened and took notes with exceptional diligence.

In fact, He Lingchuan had also recorded each team's tasks on jade slips—a useful tool acquired from the Upside-Down Sea—but the generals found it easier to remember by listening to the direct briefing.

This battle plan was more complex, and He Lingchuan spent two hours detailing it before addressing his generals:

"For this phase, Du Shan will be centrally positioned in Duocheng for support and coordination. The overall logistics of the Dragon God Army will be handled by Wan Qifeng and Ding Zuodong."

He Lingchuan himself had a mission: naturally, he would personally confront the most cunning, fierce, and formidable enemies.