As Baiqi's army pushed forward toward Wenshan City, the atmosphere in Yunnan Province reached its most nervous state.
The various media outlets invited military experts to predict the direction of the battle, attracting a global audience and raising sales.
Some experts insisted on their view points; these experts felt that the defeat of Shanhai City at Dongchuan meant that they would definitely face a fatal blow from Yunnan City-State.
However, there were experts that did not agree with this point of view.
After all, no matter what, Mengding Prefecture was already taken down by Shanhai City, meaning that they had not been thrown into chaos because of that small defeat. Rather, they had calmed themselves down and taken control of the situation.
Who would win and who would lose? It all remained unknown.
The various experts each had their own thoughts as they debated fervently with one another.
The reporters from the various outlets and publications used all their power to dig up the troop numbers, types, battle situations, and casualty situations to perform a specific numbers comparison.
Hence, it made the masses extremely excited.
Without a doubt, not only was the Battle of Yunnan important to Shanhai City, it was also a historical matter to the entire wilderness. It could be considered the first war in the entire wilderness that all the media outlets followed and reported on.
This would probably become a common matter in the future.
Tengyue Prefecture, Tengchong City.
A month ago, Tengchong City had been in total lockdown. In order to house the entire 170 thousand Yanhuang Alliance Army and the 110 thousand Alliance Army in the city and allow them to make use the teleportation tactic, they had emptied the entire city.
The originally bustling inner city instantly became a giant army barracks. However, since a solemn killing intent spread out in the city, this city seemed exceedingly cold and solid.
Due to the need to keep secrets, apart from the grain forces that transported fresh vegetables and meat, no one would dare to approach the inner city. If they carelessly got close, they would all be killed.
Even the grain transport members were fixed, and each one had a portrait drawn up and recorded in a book. Every time they entered, they needed to be checked one by one. If they noticed that a person was changed or the numbers did not tally up, the entire group would face the consequences.
The grain transport squad would enter the city and follow a fixed path, and even the stopping time was calculated. If they missed the time, all of them would instantly die, no mercy would be granted.
Hence, they blocked out all eyes from within the city walls.
City Lord's Manor, meeting hall.
This day, in the huge meeting hall, the Lords and generals had all gathered together once more.
Di Chen and Chun Shenjun made a trip to the global auction and obtained nothing. After returning to their respective territories, they did not even stop and just rushed back here.
In just three to four days, the war had entered its most crucial moment.
They were discussing when to send out the 300 thousand plus troops to start an all-out fight with the enemy; this fight would decide the fate of the entire Yunnan City-State.
The one who was speaking was the Yanhuang Alliance commander, Wuqi. He stood up, looked at all the Lords present, and bowed, "Lords, due to the stubborn defenses and disturbances along the way in Mengding Prefecture, not only has the enemy suffered heavy casualties, their morale has fallen. Currently, they are at their weakest state."
Based on the reports from the frontline, to take down Mengding Prefecture, the three War Fighting Legions of the left troops had lost 50 thousand men.
Of course, the Yunnan City-State had also paid a heavy price.
The left troops were the most elite forces of Shanhai City. Moreover, with Baiqi as the commanding general in addition to the fierce generals under him, their killing strength was truly astonishing.
Additionally, their equipment and siege weapons were incredibly advanced. Even in a siege battle, they still taught the stubbornly defending Yunnan City-State a huge lesson.
After this battle, the entire Mengding Prefecture was rendered useless and 40% of the able-bodied young men were lost. The local armies were either captured or destroyed.
The even scarier part was that the 50 thousand Alliance Army housed in Mengding had fallen as well.
To lower the fighting spirit of the enemy, Asura Baiqi did not hold back, killing without even blinking.
During that time, there was a city that defended too stubbornly, taking away eight thousand of their men. After Baiqi broke through, he viciously killed them all; he did not even accept a single prisoner.
They executed every single person who joined the battle.
Tens of thousands of heads hung outside the city gate and formed a miniature mountain.
As a consequence of his actions, their next attacks were smoother. Along with the system update buff they had already reached the border of Mengding Prefecture in a short four days.
The Lords who knew about the matter, including Di Chen and the others, were left speechless.
As for the more than ten Lords from Mengding Prefecture, their hearts had already died. Even if the City-State won, they did not dare to return to the territories to continue their rule.
Those people who had lost their children and husbands would want to skin them alive.
Within the meeting hall, Wuqi's voice once again sounded out.
"Due to the fame of Baiqi, Wenshan City and Yuanyang City have lost their will to fight. If we do not interfere, these two cities will also fall in a day or two. If they fall, the enemy army can walk into Tengyue Prefecture and pincer us from two sides. At that time, we will lose the initiative of the battle. Hence, I suggest we send troops to Wenshan City and surround the enemy left troops."
Hearing Wuqi's words, the eyes of the Lords of the two cities lit up.
The Wenshan City Lord was called Summon Wind, and his eyes shone with hope as he wished everyone present would agree with the plan so that his territory could survive.
As long as he still had his territory, everything would remain possible.
The quick thinking Summon Wind also thought deeply about the matter. If the City-State crushed Baiqi's army and won the war, after the battle, the huge Mengding Prefecture would have no owner. As a Lord in the prefecture, he could take all of it.
Just thinking about this, the desire in his eyes grew greater and greater.
The other Lord was the Lord of Yuanyang City; he was called Little Six. The glow in his eyes was one that left much to think about.
No one bothered about the expressions of these two Lords.
What Di Chen, Qin Feng, and the others were pondering about was Wuqi's choice of words.
Wuqi had said 'surround' and not sneak attack. Obviously, the so-called teleportation sneak attack tactic had lost its purpose in his eyes.
The essence of a sneak attack was the element of surprise.
Since Mengding Prefecture only had two territories left, there was not much potential for surprise left there.
When Wuqi had mobilized all the civilians and residents in the prefecture, he had given up on using the traditional teleportation tactics. He wanted to use the entire prefecture to wear down Baiqi and gain the advantage this way.
In Sun Zi's Art of War, 'Anyone who fights a war either wins by being better or by being craftier.'
War was not limited to the utilization of schemes. All schemes were performed to affect the main battlefield. After weakening the opponent, their troops would have a higher chance of achieving victory.
The Battle of Yongren City was a masterstroke, weakening the enemy right troops. Although the plan in Mengding Prefecture was not as brilliant, it was still made with the same goal in mind.
After these two battles, the 300 thousand army would only need to face 160 thousand exhausted, low morale troops. In Wuqi's eyes, it would simply be a slaughter.
As for the middle troops of Shanhai City, with the geography of Yunnan slowing them down and the stubborn defenses of the local forces, Wuqi was confident about clearing out the left troops before the enemy reinforcements arrived.
Hence, Wuqi suggested that they send out troops before they entered Tengyue Prefecture.
Tengyue Prefecture was the last hope of the City-State. If the enemy entered this area, the members of the City-State would definitely panic. If the people were not calm, how could they block the middle troops of Shanhai City?
If that happened, the entire battle would be filled with uncertainty, which was something God Generals like him tried to prevent. One could say that his entire plan was systematic.
Even so, it was still difficult for Di Chen and the other Lords to make a quick decision.
First, they did not want to give up on their successful teleportation sneak attack strategy.
Rationally speaking, they accepted Wuqi's explanation. However, the huge victory they achieved at Yongren City made it hard for them to let this method go.
After that battle, they were so happy that they even held a massive feast to celebrate that major win.
Yanhuang Alliance had fought with Shanhai City for many years, and they had never tasted such a clean victory.
Secondly, this battle was simply too important.
This was the most crucial battle in the entire Battle of Yunnan. Whoever won this battle would win it all. As it was a group decision, a little hesitation was to be expected.
"General Wuqi, let us think about it. We will give you an answer tomorrow." Anyways, based on the frontline intel, Baiqi's army was still resting up, and they were not prepared to immediately attack the city.
When Wuqi heard this reply, he sighed to himself and said, "Please make an early decision."
"Do not worry; we will give you an answer tomorrow." Di Chen said.
At this point, the military meeting had come to an end.
In a short hour after the meeting ended, Ouyang Shuo received a specific intel report.
"They really have no guts." Ouyang Shuo laughed as he spoke to Du Ruhui, "Since they do not dare to fight, let's fan the flames and push them to fight."
"Understood!"