The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 700: Headache in Both Sides!

Headache in Both Sides! . . .

"Vice-Commander Zhu, if we were to attempt to recruit new soldiers now, how many do you think we could enlist?" Cha Eun Xiao inquired with a furrowed brow.

"Very few, if any at all," Zhu Chenggong replied, his demeanor resembling a dejected rooster. His voice carried a tone of despair as he continued, "In the past six months, we've been relentless in our recruitment efforts to bolster our defenses against Wenren Jianyin. Following the death of Commander Wu and our arrival here, we've made three recruitment trips. Unfortunately, there are no adult men within a hundred miles who have joined our ranks."

Cha Eun Xiao and Song Jue understood what Zhu Chenggong was alluding to before he even finished.

Their situation appeared bleak, with an exhausted pool of potential recruits.

"What if we hold our position here and await reinforcements from the kingdom?" Song Jue suggested, his brows furrowing with concern.

Cha Eun Xiao and Zhu Chenggong exchanged bitter smiles. The Kingdom of Chen had already deployed nearly all available troops to the western front. No more support could be expected from the kingdom. In fact, even if reinforcements were available, they would likely be hesitant to entrust Cha Eun Xiao with leadership, given his recent disputes with court officials.

In essence, the officials harbored a deep desire for him to fail and suffer reprisals for their sons, grandsons, and nephews.

"I doubt we can expect any support," Cha Eun Xiao admitted with a resigned smile. "Our current force numbers just over one hundred thousand men. Whether we choose to hold our defensive line or go on the offensive, our only hope lies with these troops. There might be a twenty percent chance of receiving support, but that depends on my father. If he decides to withdraw from the grasslands and come to our aid."

He added with a heavy heart, "Our options are limited. Regardless, we achieved a victory today, and our men are filled with determination. Let's take some time to rest and observe Wenren Jianyin's next moves. If things turn dire, I can always destroy the mountain peaks on both sides. We can create opportunities. It's better to die in action than to die from holding back."

Zhu Chenggong couldn't help but express his astonishment, and his eyeballs seemed as if they were about to pop out once again. He had been taken by surprise on numerous occasions that day.

He was now on the brink of sheer disbelief.

[Is this for real? You really excel at grandiose claims...]

[The reason their one million-strong army still can't seize Iron Peak is the presence of these two towering mountains on either side.]

[The two mountains have naturally formed the most robust defensive barrier.]

[They are the guardians of Iron Peak.]

[The sections facing the Kingdom of Lan-Feng on these two mountains have been carved into cliffs through the relentless efforts of the Kingdom of Chen.]

[The cliffs are hundreds of meters high, and regular soldiers couldn't scale them. These cliffs are what allowed us to hold the enemy at bay for so long.]

[Iron Peak's position is nestled between these two mountains. They serve as natural fortifications.]

[The sides facing the Kingdom of Lan-Feng of these mountains have been shaped into steep cliffs due to the relentless labor of the Kingdom of Chen.]

[They are hundreds of meters high and are virtually insurmountable. They are the primary reason why the Kingdom of Chen can continue to resist the attacks.]

[Iron Peak is located between these two mountains, and they form the crux of its defensive capability.]

[Destroying these mountains would obliterate Iron Peak, the Kingdom of Chen's strongest bulwark!]

[Countless lives and resources were expended to construct Iron Peak.]

[With several more years, the Kingdom of Chen would have completed Iron Peak, transforming it into a more substantial structure that would fully connect to the mountains, sealing off any possible access from the outside world.]

[Now, Commander Cha Eun Xiao intends to destroy these two mountains?]

[Is he seriously calling it an opportunity? He's destroying our strongest safeguard!]

Zhu Chenggong was utterly horrified.

"Crazy! Are you out of your mind, Commander?" he exclaimed. "These two mountains are our most formidable defense! You're planning to destroy them? If you carry out such an action, you'll be remembered as a historical criminal!"

Cha Eun Xiao responded with composure, "I'm fully aware that these mountains are our most impregnable shield. The issue at hand is that we have significantly fewer troops than Wenren Jianyin. We can't possibly defeat his one million-strong force. Iron Peak will eventually fall. He can sacrifice as many troops as necessary to breach it. We must confront this reality."

Zhu Chenggong's face contorted with pain.

Cha Eun Xiao acknowledged the brutal truth that they couldn't afford to ignore. Zhu Chenggong knew he would only be deluding himself if he didn't face the reality.

"If circumstances indeed turn dire, I will destroy these two mountains. Although it won't annihilate all of his million troops, it will inflict hundreds of thousands of casualties upon them. It will wound him, and what do you think is wrong with my plan? Commander Wu willingly sacrificed himself to lure the enemy away. My plan isn't any different from his."

"Tell me, if we choose not to take that path and we can't maintain control of Iron Peak, what then? Iron Peak would serve as their strongest shield rather than ours! So, tell me, what would make me wrong, and you right?" Cha Eun Xiao questioned with determination.

Zhu Chenggong was left speechless, caught in a moral dilemma. He understood that Cha Eun Xiao's reasoning was rooted in a harsh reality, but he couldn't bear the thought of destroying the place he had diligently safeguarded. To him, the fall of Iron Peak would not only be the loss of a strategic location but also the shattering of his heart.

Cha Eun Xiao pondered deeply, consumed by his thoughts. Meanwhile, Wenren Jianyin was wrestling with his own concerns. He was seething with anger and frustration.

He wore a perpetual frown, tormented by the outcome of the battle. It was a colossal defeat for the Kingdom of Lan-Feng. Over a million soldiers had been defeated by a mere hundred thousand within their own encampment. It was an ignominious stain on his record, and he was at a loss about how to deal with the aftermath.

Witnessing his enemies retreat so casually had left him incensed. The Kingdom of Lan-Feng had suffered losses many times greater than those of the Kingdom of Chen, and it greatly disturbed Wenren Jianyin.

"Why is it so challenging to recruit martial artists who surpass our foes when we have so many cultivators in the Kingdom of Lan-Feng? Must we sacrifice so many lives to achieve our goals? Can it be considered a victory?" he raged, his face etched with frustration. "We had numerical superiority, laid out an ambush, and boasted an abundance of Sky Origin Stage cultivators working in unison. Yet, we managed to eliminate only two of their squads. Only two out of eight of our Sky Origin Stage cultivators returned unscathed. Can this be counted as a victory? Those we managed to eliminate were merely the regular members of their forces. I should be grateful that our men didn't cross paths with the likes of Ning Biluo, Zhao Pingtian, Song Jue... Had our men encountered them, not a single soul would have survived, let alone triumphing over the enemy!"