Chapter 677
Chapter 677
“What were you thinking about?”
To his wife’s question, Su Nan replied.
“I was thinking about whether we should press for victory or preserve our forces.”
“Would you like to hear my opinion, my lord?”
“Of course! Your opinion is very important to me.”
“I want to win.”
“Then I understand.”
He chose to preserve his forces. Su Nan was very fond of his wife, because acting contrary to her thoughts always turned out to be the most correct answer. If Su Nan’s prediction was correct, the Palace Guard’s sudden increase in strength was likely related to the Golden Dragon's Blood. King Gong had gathered incredibly detailed information on Shen Lang. Of course, Nangong Ao and Crown Prince Ning Yi had sold that information in great detail. Thanks to them, King Gong and Su Nan even knew about the time Shen Lang had swindled five hundred gold coins with the Golden Dragon's Blood. However, the Crown Prince was firmly convinced that Shen Lang had sold all of it. Otherwise, why wouldn't Shen Lang have made more money?
But this battle proved that Shen Lang had not sold it all. If what they had used was indeed the Golden Dragon's Blood, its effects would last for a month at most, and in less than a month, the Palace Guard in Yangguo City would revert to their weak state, becoming even more feeble than before. Therefore, the choice Su Nan had to make here was to besiege Yangguo City for a month without attacking.
However, a more important question remained. Did Shen Lang have more Golden Dragon's Blood? Was this truly all he had? Furthermore, Su Nan knew that the Golden Dragon's Blood only worked once on the same person. A second dose, while useful, would not grant the same immense power as the first. But what if Shen Lang used the remaining Golden Dragon's Blood on the ten thousand other Palace Guard members left in the capital? And what if, during the month he waited, the elite army from the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate rushed here?
The thought gave Su Nan a headache, but he ultimately had to make a decision. Maintain the siege without attacking and preserve his forces. In addition, he would send out scouts to monitor the direction of the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate and coordinate with Nangong Ao's army at all times. Su Nan was indeed a highly experienced commander. Even amidst numerous unknowns, he made the most correct choice.
* * *
The battle at Yangguo City fell into a temporary lull. Su Nan cautiously maintained the siege without launching an attack. So, how many casualties had Shen Lang's Palace Guard suffered in this battle? The casualty rate was extremely high, with six thousand wounded, but surprisingly, there were fewer than thirteen hundred fatalities. These Palace Guard members were so brave that they hadn't even defended from the city walls. The Shaman Tribe warriors were far superior in combat skills, and while the Palace Guard warriors had enhanced strength, agility, and morale, their swordsmanship and combat instincts were inferior to the Shaman Tribe's. Thus, in close-quarters combat, nearly everyone was bound to be injured.
However, because the armor Shen Lang had created was so exceptional, most of the injuries were minor. The thirteen hundred who died were mostly killed by blades to the vital carotid artery in their necks. The remaining eight thousand or so Palace Guard members were receiving the best medical treatment. But it was now impossible for them to voluntarily sally forth.
* * *
Gou Duhuan said.
“Young Master, if this trend continues, the situation will become dire. Su Nan is maintaining a siege without fighting. In ten days or so, the effects of the Golden Dragon's Blood on the Palace Guard will wear off, and we won't be able to withstand a single blow.”
Gou Duhuan was right. In just over ten days, Su Nan would likely launch a probing attack and discover that the defenders' combat effectiveness had drastically decreased. At that point, Su Nan could easily capture Yangguo City with just five thousand Shaman Tribe warriors. The moment Yangguo City fell, there would be nothing left to say. Shen Lang would flee far away, and Su Nan's grand army would march north to attack the capital of Yue directly. Then, the State of Yue would fall.
“Can’t our eight thousand men take the initiative and attack the enemy?”
At Ying Zheng’s question, Gou Duhuan shook his head.
“No. They expended a great deal of energy in this battle, and almost all of them are injured.”
This was a very unfavorable, even perilous, situation. Just then, Shen Lang spoke.
“It’s fine. This is the situation I envisioned. What I was trying to gain was that time—ten days or so.”
“What if the Second Nirvana Army from the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate defeats Nangong Ao’s army, then rushes to Yangguo City to join us in a pincer attack to crush Su Nan’s main force?”
At Gou Duhuan’s words, Shen Lang shook his head.
“No. Don't even consider that possibility!”
Then, Shen Lang stood before a map and declared.
“Your Highness, the first half of this war is over!”
For Shen Lang, the first half of this war was indeed over.
“The second half will be a direct contest between me and King Gong. If I win, the State of Yue will achieve a great victory. If I lose, the State of Yue will be destroyed!”
Shen Lang looked Ying Zheng and Gou Duhuan straight in the eye and said.
“I must leave now. I entrust this battlefield to you both.”
Hearing this, Gou Duhuan was greatly startled.
‘Shen Lang is leaving? Where on earth is he going?’
“I am going to face King Gong and decide the fate of Yue. Please pray for my victory!”
Gou Duhuan asked Shen Lang.
“What if Su Nan attacks?”
“Su Nan will absolutely not launch a large-scale attack within a fortnight. After a fortnight, he will attempt a small-scale probing attack to see if our army has truly lost its combat strength. That’s when you can use the three hundred men of the First Nirvana Army.”
This time, besides the ten thousand Palace Guard members, Shen Lang had also brought three hundred men from the Nirvana Army. They were originally meant to be his personal guard, but now a use for them had arisen.
“Su Nan is a suspicious man. He will surely probe several times before committing to a large-scale attack. These three hundred men of the First Nirvana Army can fend off his probes a few times. But after twenty days or so, he might see through the situation and launch a major assault.”
If Su Nan were to launch another large-scale attack after twenty-odd days, not even a god could save Yangguo City; it would surely fall.
“Within those twenty days, there will be a major shift in the situation. So, the key to this battle lies not in Yangguo City or the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate, but in the confrontation between me and King Gong! I told His Highness that I was sixty to seventy percent confident. If the situation hasn't turned around by the time Su Nan launches his major assault, it will mean I have lost. In that case, you must take His Highness Ying Zheng and leave immediately. Cross the sea and go to Raging Tide City!”
Gou Duhuan asked.
“And… and what about His Highness?”
“His Highness will likely take his own life. Let us pray that such a situation does not come to pass.”
Then, Shen Lang bowed to Ying Zheng and Gou Duhuan with his hands clasped.
“I will take my leave now. Take care!”
Around midnight, Shen Lang and the Sword King Li Qianqiu left Yangguo City without a soul knowing. How could they leave a city surrounded by the enemy? Though the city was small, its walls stretched for over a dozen li. With only forty-seven thousand troops, how could Su Nan possibly form a watertight siege?
* * *
At the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate.
The situation here was even more miserable. Nangong Ao and Si Yan’s army of over fifty thousand was now down to about thirty thousand, with only a thousand Shaman Tribe warriors remaining. This force of thirty thousand had already lost the ability to attack the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate. Thus, the allied forces of Nangong Ao and Si Yan had retreated several hundred meters, building fortifications and digging trenches where they stood.
Their posture made it clear that they intended to maintain a siege without attacking while awaiting new orders from King Gong. To continue the battle, King Gong's elite archer army would have to be deployed. This mysterious elite force under King Gong had yet to make an appearance. Nangong Ao had heard that though their numbers were small, they were all incredible marksmen.
Mulan, Jin Zhuo, and Great Master Nandu were in the middle of a meeting. Jin Zhuo spoke first.
“We are now faced with a dilemma. Should our Second Nirvana Army sally forth to annihilate the allied forces of Nangong Ao and Si Yan, and then go to rescue Yangguo City? Great Master Nandu, if the Second Nirvana Army attacks with all its might, can we annihilate their thirty thousand allied troops?”
Nandu thought for a moment before replying.
“Perhaps it is possible! But we would suffer too many casualties. It would not be worth it!”
When three thousand eight hundred men fought against thirty thousand, defending from within the fortress walls gave them a huge advantage. But what about in a pitched battle? That was too risky. The enemy numbers were too great, and if this archer unit were to be surrounded, the consequences would be dire. Besides, Nangong Ao still had two thousand cavalrymen under his command.
A dangerous aura seemed to emanate from Jin Mulan, who had her eyes closed. After a moment, Mulan opened her eyes and said.
“There is another option. I will lead three thousand of the Nirvana Army, secretly leave the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate, travel south by ship, and then cross the mountains and passes to attack the Nangu Capital, striking at King Gong's base and hitting the enemy’s heartland!”
Hearing this, both Nandu and Jin Zhuo were dumbfounded.
‘That… that’s too insane.’
“After his defeat, Nangong Ao must have reported to King Gong first. Furthermore, Su Nan has also been defeated at Yangguo City. When news of failure on two fronts reaches King Gong, he will either withdraw his troops or send reinforcements. Given the current situation, he will definitely send reinforcements. Because this is a war King Gong must win. Therefore, the interior of the State of Nangu will be completely empty. No army in the world can cross the deep mountains and dense forests to attack the capital of Nangu. But our Second Nirvana Army can. We are the perfect kings of the jungle.”
Great Master Nandu fell silent. The Second Nirvana Army could indeed do it. The environment of Nirvana Island was even harsher than where the Shaman Tribe lived, and they had undertaken countless of the most arduous field marches. They could scale cliffs, traverse deep forests, and march where there were no paths. Moreover, no one in the world would ever imagine that the Second Nirvana Army would leave the Marquis of Xuanwu's Estate, much less that they would directly attack the capital of Nangu. A normal army lacked that capability; any army that entered the dense forests of Nangu would be utterly lost.
But Mulan would not be. After her bloodline transformation, she had gained a powerful sense of awareness and could determine direction with great accuracy. This was a top secret that no one else knew yet. So, although this method was extremely risky, it was certainly a way to strike at the enemy's weakness. No madman would ever imagine that an army under Shen Lang would attack King Gong’s home base.
“Did Shen Lang ever mention this method to you?”
At Jin Zhuo’s question, Mulan shook her head.
“No. He cherishes me too much to suggest such a thing. But I know how he thinks.”
Great Master Nandu said.
“Mulan, think carefully. Crossing the sea to the State of Nangu is not difficult, but after landing, you have to travel two to three hundred li to the Nangu Capital. The amount of food and arrows you can carry will be limited. Each person can carry four or five hundred arrows at most.”
Carrying four or five hundred arrows was already astonishing. The bow alone would weigh nearly three hundred jin, and with other gear, the total load would be close to four hundred jin. But that was the standard weight carried by the Second Nirvana Army during a march. Mulan gritted her teeth and said.
“I’ve already decided!”
Jin Zhuo started to say something but stopped.
“In a situation like this, we can only win by using a method the enemy would never expect! My husband said he was only sixty to seventy percent confident of winning this war. I will add more weight to the scales in favor of his victory.”
“Then we must set up a double for you.”
“Master Lin Shang would be a good choice. She is tall enough to wear my armor.”
Jin Zhuo muttered worriedly.
“I don't know if she will agree!”