Chapter 1018: Chapter 366: Reinforcements Gather, Rabble, Unexpected Joy, War Breaks Out (Part 2)
These words were indeed quite blunt.
Jiang Yuanlong was, after all, only the Deputy Army Chief of Jiangxia Town, treating the reinforcements from Seven Towns directly as subordinates. Even though they knew he had no personal agenda, but just wanted the uping battles to go more smoothly, Huang Tianxing, Shangguan Yan, Qin Yuanhai, and other Vice Institute Chiefs from the Six Towns all had somewhat unpleasant expressions.
Xiang Tiancheng was even more unfortable, given that Jiang Yuanlong had been blunt with him in front of the Six Towns’ people.
“Those who will stay, please follow me into the tent. Yuanhua, Xiahou Qin, you two take the others to receive the military supplies, and arrange their acmodations.”
“At your mand!”
Having instructed his two subordinates, Jiang Yuanlong turned and returned to the main tent. After a brief exchange of glances, the seven leaders, including Huang Tianxing, also walked toward the main tent.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me!”
Jiang Yuanhua and Xiahou Qin each led the teams from the Seven Towns toward the rear of the camp, preparing to distribute the military supplies.
Since the Seven Towns were reinforcements, they naturally couldn’t bring their own supplies.
The weapons that individuals were accustomed to using, which are crucial for effectiveness in battle, couldn’t be distributed temporarily, but war armor and healing pills could be provided by Jiangxia Town.
Lu Yang and the 31 individuals from East Ridge received a set of Hundred Forged Iron Armor and twenty Replenishing Essence Pills, and were allocated a military wooden house near Hongguan Village.
As a soldier from Jiangxia led him to the acmodation, Lu Yang discreetly slipped him a silver ingot to gather all the recent military intelligence.
“They’ve only given a set of Hundred Forged Iron Armor, which at best shields against arrows shot by ordinary Cold Resistance Level soldiers—better than nothing, but still quite stingy!”
“The Replenishing Essence Pill is pretty good, but unfortunately, it’s far inferior to our Great Xia’s Blood Sore Pill—only useful for temporary relief, and quite ineffective for external injuries.”
“Thousand Forged Iron Armor is highly difficult to forge, and every family treats it like a treasure. Even Jiangxia’s Defensive Army wears Hundred Forged Iron Armor, so receiving a set is not bad.”
“True, even our Great Xia doesn’t have many Thousand Forged Armors; most soldiers are wearing Hundred Forged Lei Kui Golden Armor.”
“Nine Towns’ forging techniques are weak; our Hundred Forged Lei Kui Golden Armor’s defense can rival their ordinary Thousand Forged Armor.”
“Indeed.”
………
As soon as they entered the wooden house, everyone started discussing, scrutinizing the newly acquired war armor and pills, making ments, but speaking softly, wary of being overheard.
Lu Yang certainly did not participate in the others’ discussions. It was already daylight outside, so he put down the war armor in his hands, walked to the window, and looked at the Hongguan Village in the distance.
“Sir, the Seven Towns have dispatched about 2100 Cold Resistance Level soldiers. I observed when they entered, and inside Hongguan Camp, there are roughly 800 Cold Resistance Level soldiers. Adding the two Defensive Army units, it’s not weak.”
Once Wang Tao spoke, everyone fell silent.
Zhu Shun also nodded and said, “Indeed, among the three thousand Cold Resistance Level, there are conservatively estimated to be over a hundred with strength of twenty mani and above. With two fully armed regular armies, I reckon there should be tens of thousands of Earth-digging Realm soldiers within Hongguan Village, although the exact number is unclear. With so many people, defending Hongguan Pass should be easy barring a full-scale assault from Dajue Temple.”
They had reviewed Dajue Temple’s intelligence with Lu Yang, unlike Nine Towns, they were well aware of Dajue Temple’s real capabilities.
Lin Fan, however, shook his head at this moment, addressing Zhu Shun, “Didn’t you hear what the Sir learned from the soldier just now? Dajue Temple has means to enable Earth-digging Realm soldiers to fight during the day, do not just count the Cold Resistance Level. If the number of Earth-digging Realm soldiers exceeds expectations, it will impact the battle significantly.”
Zhu Shun paused upon hearing this, having overheard when Lu Yang was gathering intelligence, he furrowed his brow slightly and asked, “Isn’t it exaggerated to suggest that the 20,000 Earth-digging Realm soldiers from Qinghepu would influence the battle?”
Methods enabling Earth-digging Realm soldiers to fight during daytime are indeed formidable.
But there are only 20,000 Earth-digging Realm soldiers from Qinghepu, factoring in losses from attacking Jinbi Dragon River…
Zhu Shun suddenly understood Lin Fan’s implication, his expression changing subtly as he said, “You mean, the 50,000 Earth-digging Realm soldiers, controlled in the Two Villages of Jinbi Dragon River, will turn against us, aiding Dajue Temple to attack Hongguan?”
Lin Fan immediately nodded.
Wang Tao then added, “They might not all assist, but certainly those from the Jinbi Dragon River Two Villages will; according to the Sir’s intelligence, this group accounts for at least 20,000 Earth-digging Realm soldiers. Thus, Dajue Temple’s Earth-digging Realm soldiers total at least over 40,000.”
The ordinary people and Logging Realm of Jinbi Dragon River Two Villages have all been controlled, along with their families, making the defection of these Earth-digging Realm soldiers almost certain.
“More than 40,000 Earth-digging Realm soldiers, if managed adeptly during daytime bat opportunities, along with 5,000 Zen Temple Bhikkhus, breaching Hongguan isn’t difficult.”
Upon hearing Wang Tao’s remark, Zhu Shun’s expression changed, clearly realizing the gravity of the situation.
For Jiangxia, even accounting for reinforcements, it’s 3000 against 5000. While they currently don’t have an advantage in numbers within the Cold Resistance Level, being the defending side allows some disadvantages to be tolerated. Jiangxia’s true advantage lies in its military; the capabilities of the two Defensive Army units significantly exceed those of Dajue Temple’s randomly assembled Earth-digging Realm forces.
The issue is that no matter how strong the Defensive Army is, they can only fight at night; once Dajue Temple chooses daytime for battle, Jiangxia will be caught off guard.
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