Chapter 2000: Each Calculating Their Own Interests

He had, in fact, already allotted ample rest time for each team. The Bixia territory was so small that he estimated it could be fully traversed and conquered in, at most, a day and a half. The remaining time would be used for a good rest, in preparation for the final decisive battle.

Upon hearing this, the allied generals felt a wave of apprehension.

Their campaign had been incredibly swift, catching the enemy off guard and giving them a crucial early advantage. However, Bixia was not defenseless; their upcoming targets would undoubtedly be well-prepared.

With General Chongwu's return, the Bixia people had regained their backbone and were fighting with renewed ferocity.

Since Bixia's territory wasn't extensive, why would Emperor Jiuyou choose to divide his forces? A few more days of concentrated fighting would surely finish the campaign, ensuring a secure victory without risk of defeat.

As if reading their thoughts, Emperor Jiuyou calmly stated, "Look at the banners above your heads! You are now the Dragon God Army; what is there to fear?"

No one dared to object, and so the troops were divided, and they departed.

Naturally, He Lingchuan had meticulously planned the routes, tackling the most challenging objectives himself. The other two teams also received strategic adjustments, with a portion of the Black Armored Army assigned to each as supervisors.

Situ He still couldn't grasp the reason behind the significant victory at Twin Fort, so he privately sought out He Lingchuan to ask.

He Lingchuan countered, "What's your favorite dish in the manor?"

Situ He pondered for a moment: "Spicy Stir-fried Eel Shreds. The cook is the same age as my father; I grew up eating his dishes."

"If both you and the cook prepare Spicy Stir-fried Eel Shreds, even if you use identical ingredients and follow the exact same steps, will the taste truly be the same?"

"Of course not," Situ He replied, shaking his head before nodding. "Oh, I understand."

Beyond superficial factors, the true keys to success or failure lie in the mastery of timing, the precise control of heat, and meticulous attention to detail.

Not every commander is an Emperor Jiuyou.

"But now that the troops are divided into three routes," Situ He continued, "aren't you worried they won't complete their assignments?"

Situ He knew the allied forces' disposition all too well; he himself had been utterly exhausted and worn out leading them. Emperor Jiuyou was now sending them out to fight; wasn't he concerned they would waste three days doing nothing and accomplish nothing?

When Emperor Jiuyou personally led the charge, the troops were united and could move mountains; but if the allied forces were left to attack on their own, then...

He Lingchuan said no more, merely smiling. "No matter," he said, "we'll see."

Who doesn't prefer a foolproof plan?

But a foolproof plan was not what He Lingchuan sought at this moment.

Anrong City, the capital of Bixia.

This capital had once belonged to another small kingdom. After Bixia conquered it, they inherited its city and wealth, which allowed them to develop more prosperously than other tribes.

The Bixia chief had received an overwhelming amount of grim news in recent days, leaving him restless and irritable. His temper had become particularly volatile; just yesterday, when a maid accidentally broke a bottle in his presence, he had her summarily executed.

This afternoon, he had barely managed to eat half a bowl of rice when the latest war report arrived from the south.

He glanced at the report and, in a fit of rage, hurled his rice bowl.

*Clang!* General Chongwu happened to walk in just as the rice bowl shattered at his feet.

"Guogang has fallen too!" the Bixia chief roared. "I heard the Dragon God Army is still in training. How could that man, He, leading the allied forces, attack so rapidly?"

King Poliu's death and the allied army's annexation by Emperor Jiuyou had occurred just days prior. Bixia had understood the dire implications immediately upon receiving the news and had already sent a plea for aid to Yao Country. They had never anticipated that Emperor Jiuyou, having absorbed the allied forces, would press on without a moment's rest, heading directly for Bixia!

Day after day, the Bixia people received news of yet another territory falling, or the sudden appearance of allied or Black Armored forces in various locations.

Panic now gripped the capital, and some clan members had already begun to flee secretly.

"Father, you've hit on the key point," General Chongwu remarked, observing the bloodshot eyes that made his father appear more than a decade older. "He Xiao's main forces are currently in training. The troops he led into Bixia, though they may seem formidable in numbers, are largely composed of allied forces with subpar combat capabilities."

Having fought the allied forces for so long, Bixia knew their opponent's true strength intimately.

"Save that pep talk for your subordinates, not your old man!" The Bixia chief paced back and forth, his face etched with anxiety. "He's almost at our gates; what are we going to do? If this question were posed outside, those cowards would immediately start advocating for an evacuation!"

"I'm telling you the truth, Father," General Chongwu analyzed. "He Xiao has only a limited number of elites with him. I've just received intelligence regarding King Poliu's death: He Xiao employed a cunning strategy, infiltrating the allied leaders' meeting to divide and conquer them. If he possessed sufficient troops, why wouldn't he simply overwhelm them directly?"

"So, by that logic, we could close the city gates and wait for rescue?" The Bixia chief cast him a look. "Haven't you already requested aid from Baitai? And you've always been highly regarded by National Preceptor Qingyang—oh, I mean Protector Qingyang."

"A passive, closed-city defense is a dead end," General Chongwu declared firmly. "Such a strategy would easily turn us into an isolated city. He Xiao's speed in conquering our territory is alarming; if we don't launch an offensive soon, we will be completely encircled. By then, their forces will number far more than just tens of thousands. Do not forget that the Dragon God's main army is still undergoing training. Once they are unleashed, will we have any chance of survival?"

The Bixia chief's jaw muscles tensed visibly.

"Furthermore, Anrong City's food and supplies are running low."

The allied forces and Bixia had been at war for two years. The attacking allied forces were visibly exhausted; how much better could the besieged Bixia possibly fare?

With food supplies dwindling and people on the brink of starvation, how could they possibly hold out?

"Also, Baitai is a treacherous individual; he might not come to our rescue." Originally, several factions had agreed that once King Poliu used Situ He and the allied army to tie down He Lingchuan, each faction would launch a concerted attack!

The Bixia chief gasped, "But Protector Qingyang..."

"Protector Qingyang is stationed in the rear, directing deployments with her focus on the entire Shanjin Plain. She might not have the luxury of paying attention to our plight," General Chongwu sighed. "Furthermore, I know her well: if Bixia fails to demonstrate its continued value, she will abandon us."

"You already have a plan then? What do you intend to do?"

General Chongwu stated gravely, "We must seize the initiative and actively engage them in battle."

The Bixia chief looked surprised: "Actively engage them?"

"He Xiao's advance is indeed rapid, but he unexpectedly divided his forces at Guogang. I estimate his contingent attacking Anrong City is no more than six thousand, and a larger force would be impractical," General Chongwu explained, tracing lightly on the sand table. "Our only opportunity to defeat him is to capture the leader first."

The Bixia chief gasped, "We can kill He Xiao?"

"He Xiao prefers to lead from the front, always charging into the thick of battle," General Chongwu mused. "We must find a way to separate him from his main army; then, the special ability granted to me by the Palace Master will prove invaluable!"

"Can it truly contend with him?" The Bixia chief asked with lingering doubt. "I've heard that some of the divine descent bodies retrieved by various factions from Yao Country don't genuinely allow gods to descend and assist in battle! At critical moments, alas, their users meet a frustrating end!"

"It's not necessarily the fault of the divine vessel, but rather that the gods themselves are observing the battlefield. If they deem a battle unwinnable or unnecessary, they will not descend, regardless of mortal pleas."