The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 694: Have to Hurry!

Have to Hurry! . . .

A lengthy oration from Zhu Chenggong was evidence of his genuine enthusiasm for their recent success.

"To hold the Iron Peak? Is that your sole aim?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired, his gaze fixed firmly upon Zhu Chenggong, and he emphasized the word 'hold.'

"Absolutely! Holding the Iron Peak is already a substantial achievement, a significant contribution," Zhu Chenggong responded, as if explaining something straightforward.

Shaking his head, Cha Eun Xiao appeared somewhat discomfited. "Perhaps I've been too aggressive, just as you've suggested. What I desire goes beyond mere defense of the Iron Peak. I seek to vanquish our enemies entirely. I want to obliterate the entire Lan-Feng army. That is my goal. If it were merely to maintain our hold on the Iron Peak, why would I have come?"

Zhu Chenggong was taken aback. "My dear Commander, holding the Iron Peak is no simple feat. Without your timely arrival, we might have already been overrun. However, even with the men under your command, we total no more than two hundred thousand, while the Kingdom of Lan-Feng boasts a force of over one million. They significantly outnumber us..."

"Please, Commander, let us not act rashly. As I mentioned, it's admirable that you approach this matter with boldness, but we must exercise caution in our actions. We are at war; we should not underestimate our foes," Zhu Chenggong cautioned, concerned.

He felt that Commander Cha was displaying overconfidence, as it seemed Cha Eun Xiao aimed not just to defeat but to utterly annihilate the one million-strong enemy forces.

[Is this ambition overly audacious?]

[Does it border on recklessness?]

The recent incursion, while it had served as a wake-up call for Wenren Jianyin, had not caused significant harm to the Lan-Feng army. The loss of several thousand soldiers paled in comparison to their one million-strong force. It was a substantial blow for Cha Eun Xiao, who commanded fewer than two hundred thousand troops.

Cha Eun Xiao gazed at Vice-Commander Zhu, grappling with the words left unsaid.

[Do you think I'm impatient? I am well aware that the longer we hold the Iron Peak, the more reinforcements we will receive from other battles. My father is the best support we can hope for, but I am pressed for time. I need to amass soul power now...]

[I don't have much time!]

[There's an urgency!]

"My decision is final, Vice-Commander. There is no more to be discussed!" Cha Eun Xiao adopted a resolute stance, his tone unwavering. "As warriors, it is our duty to make sacrifices. Failing to capture territory constitutes failure. Maintaining a defensive stance and not attempting to recover lost ground is a matter of disgrace!"

Zhu Chenggong struggled to speak, his face etched with embarrassment. He couldn't refute what Cha Eun Xiao had stated.

Cha Eun Xiao's words resonated with him, leaving him feeling shamed.

The territory they had lost was the result of his own failure.

However, a tinge of irritation flared within him. [Do you believe I wanted to lose it?]

Attempting to ease the situation, Cha Eun Xiao turned to Vice-Commander Zhu. "Please, Vice-Commander Zhu, don't overthink it. I understand your perspective, and I'm not passing judgment. Regardless of how or why we lost it, it's our land, and we have a cause to fight for. We must reclaim it! We must take back our kingdom's land!"

"We must reclaim our land, our honor, our pride, and our victory!"

A reassuring pat on Zhu Chenggong's shoulder preceded Cha Eun Xiao's departure from the tent.

Zhu Chenggong remained standing, and gradually, his countenance took on a radiant glow.

[That's right.]

[Reclaiming our land is our imperative!]

[I refuse to be a defeated general!]

[Whether we have stumbled in the past, the pursuit of victory will continue!]

[My honor, pride, glory—these are what I aspire to regain. What else can we do?]

[We shall fight!]

[For victory!]

[For our honor!]

"What could be worse? All I possess is a meager existence. Nothing can be worse than death!" Zhu Chenggong muttered through gritted teeth. "But if I should survive by chance, then I've achieved victory!"

With that, he exited the tent as well.

...

As Cha Eun Xiao stepped out, he promptly summoned all the generals to convene in the main tent. Here, he issued a series of battle orders.

"We have tasted our first victory. Going forward, we shall not remain passively within these walls, awaiting the enemy's assault. We will seize the initiative and strike them with surprise after the recent success we've achieved!"

"One hundred thousand men divide into twenty groups!"

"Continue to harass the enemy's camp!"

"Retrieve all the arrows from the field. Archers, keep raining arrows down on them, relentlessly. If you run out, scavenge from the battlefield or request more supplies. More arrows, the better. I want the arrow barrage to never cease!"

"We're not here for a protracted battle. I want one thing and one thing only. Hit them and withdraw swiftly. Ensure your safety and harass them as frequently as possible. I want them to lose precious time for rest. I want them running back and forth without respite!"

The plan seemed utterly audacious. If the Kingdom of Lan-Feng chose to launch an all-out assault, the one hundred thousand men positioned outside might be utterly decimated.

But Cha Eun Xiao had made up his mind.

This was the perfect moment to launch an offensive. The assassination had unfolded in the afternoon, and the Kingdom of Lan-Feng was undoubtedly still reeling from the shock. They would never anticipate another immediate attack.

After all, charging headlong into a force of over one million with slightly more than one hundred thousand troops bordered on suicidal.

Yet, that was precisely what Cha Eun Xiao intended to do. He was determined not to play into his enemies' expectations.

"Song Jue!"

"Yes!"

"You and Vice-Commander Zhu, infiltrate their camp and create chaos. Don't linger."

"Yes!"

"Ning Biluo!"

"Yes!"

"You and... do the same!"

"Yes!"

"Zhao Pingtian!"

"Yes!"

"Liu Changjun!"

"Yes!"

Cha Eun Xiao assigned each of his elite assassins to different squads, ensuring that every unit possessed a lethal edge. His intention was for these squads to breach the enemy's defenses, allowing his forces to penetrate the opponent's camp and commence the engagement.

...

After the time it took to brew several pots of tea, the thunderous sound of galloping horses echoed through the darkness.

Battle cries reverberated everywhere.

At that moment, the Kingdom of Lan-Feng's camp had just ceased cooking, and the sky was shrouded in darkness.

An eerie silence prevailed. Suddenly, the resounding thunder of hoofbeats erupted from all directions.

"What's this? They're launching an attack now!"