Chapter 273: Weakness Confronted
Five days later, Zhong Shan led his 200,000-strong army to a mountainous valley where they finally encountered the 100,000 remnants of the defeated forces.
These 100,000 soldiers, most of whom were injured, included several thousand who were now disabled.
"Salute to the General," the remnant soldiers said in unison after confirming Zhong Shan's identity.
Standing on a large boulder, Zhong Shan looked at these soldiers and took a deep breath. "Everyone, you've had a tough time! We came too late."
Having lost the battle and the city, they had expected the new general to be furious and scold them. However, the first thing this commander did was to take the blame upon himself.
Everyone stared at Zhong Shan, stunned and uncertain.
"I was a close friend of the former Lord of Wushuang City. The crisis of war was something I foresaw and warned about, but I never imagined it would actually come to pass. Despite the loss of Wushuang City, you all continued to resist fiercely, demonstrating your loyalty to the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty. You are the heroes that Da Luo needs the most; you are the heroes of the world," Zhong Shan said loudly.
Hearing Zhong Shan call them heroes, the soldiers felt their hearts surge with emotion. They were the defeated, the wounded, yet this general was calling them heroes?
"Outside, we face an army of 400,000. Inside, we had the betrayal of Mo Baili. You have done your best. Losing Wushuang City was not your fault. What is lost can be reclaimed. You are the heroes of Da Luo, who have resisted with tenacity and upheld Da Luo's honor. Each of you is to be awarded fourth-class merits and 100 top-grade spirit stones. Those who are injured will receive 500. We will be heroes not only in our actions but in the eyes of the world. We will retake Wushuang City and avenge our fallen brothers," Zhong Shan declared.
"Retake Wushuang City! Avenge our fallen brothers!" some of the passionate soldiers began to shout.
Emotions are contagious, and soon the entire valley was filled with the rallying cries.
"Retake Wushuang City! Avenge our fallen brothers!"
"Retake Wushuang City! Avenge our fallen brothers!"
... Zhong Shan, satisfied with the enthusiasm of these remnant soldiers, said, "Rest and heal well. We will avenge our past wrongs. I will lead you to stand once more in Wushuang City and show the world that what we have lost, we can reclaim."
Hearing this, the soldiers looked at Zhong Shan with some hope, though many still remained skeptical.
"Your leaders have fallen in battle, so I will now decide. From now on, Shui Wuhen will be your commander. He is the son of Shui Tianya and shares his father's determination to reclaim Wushuang City. With the same resolve, he will protect you and lead the revenge to the utmost," Zhong Shan said.
With these words, all eyes turned to Shui Wuhen.
Shui Wuhen glanced at Zhong Shan, a look of gratitude passing over his face. "Yes, General."
"Salute to Commander Shui," the 100,000 soldiers immediately saluted Shui Wuhen.
Having rallied the 100,000 remnant soldiers, Zhong Shan called Shui Wuhen for a private meeting in the central tent.
"Senior Brother!" Zhong Shan greeted him.
"General, please just call me Shui Wuhen or Wuhen," Shui Wuhen quickly said to Zhong Shan.
"Alright, Wuhen," Zhong Shan nodded with a smile.
"What does the General need?" Shui Wuhen asked.
"Can we get in contact with the other two groups of remnant forces?" Zhong Shan asked after thinking for a moment.
"We only have a rough idea of where they might be. Whether we can reach them is uncertain," Shui Wuhen pondered.
"Good. Select trustworthy and influential individuals from your men and send them urgently to the other two directions to search. Gather the remaining forces as quickly as possible," Zhong Shan instructed.
"Yes," Shui Wuhen replied.
"Also, send someone to scout the surroundings, find the gathering places of the former citizens, collect information on nearby sect locations, and swiftly bring it to me," Zhong Shan ordered.
"Yes!" Shui Wuhen replied.
"Go now, and also bring Zhao Chuan to me," Zhong Shan instructed.
"Yes!" Shui Wuhen immediately exited the tent.
Outside the tent, Shui Wuhen soon found Zhao Chuan.
"General Zhao, the commander requests your presence," Shui Wuhen said.
"Hmm," Zhao Chuan nodded.
Shui Wuhen went to attend to his own tasks, while Zhao Chuan, feeling resigned, walked towards the central tent. Despite his role as Zhong Shan's assistant, Zhao Chuan also served as a spy for the Great Xuan King, observing Zhong Shan's abilities. However, in just a short time, who would dare say that Zhong Shan lacked talent? Initially, the 100,000 remnant soldiers were despondent and lethargic, but under Zhong Shan's influence, they were now filled with high spirits, ready to charge towards Wushuang City as if they were the first.
Not only the remnant soldiers but also the soldiers of the Great Xuan Army's First Battalion were inspired by Zhong Shan. He had become the soul of the army. At this point, to think of replacing him? Without Zhong Shan's intervention, they would have been shot down like sieve by a barrage of arrows.
Zhong Shan was too formidable!
With a slight sigh, Zhao Chuan entered the camp.
"Salute to the General," Zhao Chuan immediately greeted respectfully.
"Zhao Chuan, how is the production of my banner going?" Zhong Shan asked.
"It's almost done, but General, why do we need so many? This is the quantity we used when we had a million-strong army," Zhao Chuan asked, puzzled.
"Just do as I say. Also, there's something else I need you to do," Zhong Shan said —
North of Wushuang City, on a mountain peak.
Under the command of General Wu'an, a trusted aide of the Giant Deer King, 500,000 troops were dispatched from the city to eliminate the remnants of Wushuang City.
At the peak of the mountain, Wu'an stroked his sword and listened to the reports of the two men kneeling before him.
"General, there are 100,000 remnants of Wushuang City located 80,000 miles northwest. According to our estimates, only 30,000 are fit for battle, the rest are severely injured," one scout reported.
"Hmm," Wu'an nodded.
"General, 300,000 former citizens of Wushuang City have gathered at a large sect 30,000 miles northeast," another scout reported.
"Hmm, inform the troops to prepare to move northwest and exterminate the remnants," Wu'an ordered.
"Yes, General," a general behind Wu'an replied.
"General, what about the 300,000 former citizens in the northeast?" another general asked.
"Handle it? Why bother? They are just waiting and watching. With the five major dynasties attacking the Da Luo Dynasty together, once the Da Luo Dynasty falls, won't the territory here belong to our Great Yu Dynasty? Won't those former Da Luo citizens become citizens of our Great Yu Dynasty?" Wu'an replied.
"Yes, General, you are wise," the man behind Wu'an immediately said.
"Hmm, do your duty, we must wipe out the remnants around us before the reinforcements from the Da Luo Dynasty arrive. We can't give them time. Once they recover, our future attacks will become difficult," Wu'an said.
"Yes," the man replied —
In Zhong Shan's camp.
A scout flew hastily into the camp and quickly made his way towards the central tent.
Inside the tent, Zhong Shan was in conversation with Shui Wuhen and Zhao Chuan.
"Report—"
A loud call interrupted their conversation as the scout entered the camp and immediately knelt down.
"General, it's bad," the scout exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Zhong Shan frowned.
"General, it's General Wu'an from the Great Yu Dynasty. He's leading 500,000 troops towards us. They'll arrive in no more than two hours," the scout reported.
"Which direction are they coming from?" Zhong Shan asked calmly.
"Southeast, General," the scout replied.
"Alright, you may rest now," Zhong Shan said.
The scout nodded immediately and said, "Yes, General."
"General, the 100,000 remnant soldiers can't possibly be moved. What should we do now that 500,000 troops are coming?" Shui Wuhen expressed concern.
"It's just 500,000 troops, no need to panic," Zhong Shan chuckled.
"But, but…" Shui Wuhen wanted to mention that there were only around 20,000 troops capable of fighting. Facing 500,000 enemy troops, how could they not panic?
"Don't worry, I have arrangements in place," Zhong Shan reassured.
"Yes!" Shui Wuhen immediately responded, no longer pressing the issue.
"Zhao Chuan, carry out my previous instructions. Also, if you spot enemy scouts, eliminate them all," Zhong Shan ordered.
"Yes!" Zhao Chuan immediately complied.
Zhao Chuan went to make arrangements while Zhong Shan, accompanied by Ada, stepped out of the tent and flew to the top of a nearby mountain peak.
Under the guidance of a scout, Wu'an led his 500,000 troops towards Zhong Shan's location, moving swiftly without stopping.
As they approached, Wu'an slowed the pace and organized his troops, advancing steadily towards the distance.
Wu'an had a bad feeling. What was it? Perhaps it stemmed from the lack of return of the scouts he had sent out. None of them had returned. Why? Were they dead?
Flying closer, Wu'an suddenly spotted two figures.
Zhong Shan and Ada.
Was it them?
Wu'an signaled for his 500,000 troops to halt. From a distance, he said, "Mr. Zhong Shan, it's been a while."
"I didn't expect that my first battle would be against General Wu'an. How coincidental. I wonder how many troops General Wu'an is sending me this time?" Zhong Shan smiled faintly.
Hearing Zhong Shan's words, Wu'an raised an eyebrow. Zhong Shan's prowess, others might only hear about it, but Wu'an had experienced it firsthand. His ability to appear and disappear at will was no less than that of Yi Yan from the Great Yu Dynasty. He had held his own against Yi Yan and even repelled the Giant Deer King's 8 million troops during the search. This person was too terrifying! Without any military power in his hands, he was already so formidable. Now that he was leading troops, he would undoubtedly become the most terrifying general.