Ling Xiao and Ji Ning were chatting and laughing when suddenly, from a distance, the sound of a whistling arrow pierced the air.
Ji Ning’s face abruptly changed as he said, "The Black Crow Empire’s army has co again!"
Watching the whistling arrow explode in the sky, Ling Xiao’s expression also turned serious.
Not long after the whistling arrow sounded, a ssenger ca to report, "General, the Black Crow Empire’s army is only a three-day march away from their vanguard, and this ti, the one leading the troops is the Golden Blood Relative Prince, Jiumo Zhiyan, of the Black Crow Empire!"
"Jiumo Zhiyan? Haha, has the Little Prince co to the battlefield to seek death? Who is their Tong Shuai?"
Ji Ning asked with a smile.
"The Tong Shuai is Jiumo Zhiyan himself. However, the deputy general is quite formidable; it’s the Black Crow Empire’s Golden Crow Great General Timrman Muto!"
"What! That old man is personally taking the field? It seems the Black Crow Empire is also rife with internal strife. This ti, Mu Tu’s appearance is likely aid at seizing military achievents for the Little Prince Jiumo Zhiyan."
Ji Ning’s face grew solemn.
Certainly, Timrman Muto was not soone to be trifled with.
Although Ji Ning was not adept at strategy, he was a military genius, proficient in Array Formation. On the Divine Phoenix Continent, he was indeed an undefeated general.
His expression turning so grave only ant that Timrman Muto was truly fearso.
"Great General, what exactly is the situation with this Timrman Muto?"
Ling Xiao inquired.
"Timrman Muto, in terms of Cultivation Level, is not weaker than . However, his most formidable aspect is military strategy and cunning. I really am no match for him. In terms of sches and machinations, he is ten tis my superior,"
Ji Ning sighed, "They say I am an undefeated general, never defeated on the battlefield, and that’s true. However, there was once a decisive battle between the Black Crow Empire and the Phoenix God Empire of great significance, where I was the Tong Ling, nearly reaching the capital of the Black Crow Empire. If we had won that battle, then on the Divine Phoenix Continent, there really would have only been the Phoenix God Empire left.
But it was not on the battlefield that I lost to anyone. Instead, it was Mu Tu’s sche of sowing discord that prompted the Emperor to replace the commander mid-battle, relieving of my command and sending to this Northern Desert City. What a pity.
We missed that opportunity, and the Black Crow Empire quickly rose to power. Now, they are indeed able to stand on equal footing with the Phoenix God Empire."
"So that’s how it is. If Mu Tu is so formidable, then the Little Prince he supports, Jiumo Zhiyan, must not be too bad either?"
Ling Xiao asked.
"That’s a given. In my view, Jiumo Zhiyan might not be much to speak of; however, to you youngsters, Jiumo Zhiyan is terrifying. He’s only sixteen this year, the sa age as you, yet his Cultivation Level has already reached the early stage of Ten Directions Heaven. With such talent, among the young generation, at least on the Divine Phoenix Continent, probably only two Crown Princes could rival him,"
Ji Ning explained, "Of course, what’s most fearso about this Little Prince is not his martial prowess, but his wisdom. I’m starting to wonder if he isn’t Mu Tu’s illegitimate child, having figuratively cuckolded the Emperor of the Black Crow Empire.
There are rumors that when the Little Prince was rely thirteen, he aided the Emperor in removing a great traitor from the court, consolidating the Emperor’s power, making him the Emperor’s favorite among the Blood Relative Princes."
"Truly formidable indeed. I’m actually looking forward to eting this Little Prince now."
Ling Xiao, excited at the prospect of encountering a powerful adversary, particularly one of his own age.
Jiumo Zhiyan was of similar age to him, yet his Cultivation Level was much higher.
Though he didn’t care much for such things, since he had started from a lower point, the thrill of challenging such a prodigy would undoubtedly be incredible.
"With these two together, the Northern Desert City may indeed be in real trouble this ti."
Ji Ning said with a wry smile.
Due to perpetual lack of supplies and self-reliance, Northern Desert City had managed to hold on thanks only to him. But with the arrival of Mu Tu, things really might be different this ti.
"That’s not necessarily the case," Ling Xiao suddenly smiled and said, "What you ntioned, the dispatch of Timrman Muto by the Black Crow Empire is nothing more than an attempt to snatch military achievents for Little Prince Jiumo Zhiyan, to turn Jiumo Zhiyan into the great hero of the Black Crow Empire, a worthy heir to the throne.
It must be that those following Timrman Muto are their most loyal soldiers.
What if we wipe out Jiumo Zhiyan?"
"Your thinking is truly unique," Ji Ning replied, nodding in agreent. "Sending Jiumo Zhiyan into battle is indeed a double-edged sword. He can unite and inspire the soldiers of the Black Crow Empire to fight bravely, but he can also cause this army to crumble!"
Ji Ning looked at Ling Xiao, growing more and more satisfied with him, to the point where she nearly wished she could take him on as her adoptive son-in-law right now.
"Ling Xiao, would you like to join for a walk on the city walls?"
Ji Ning suddenly stood up and asked.
"Of course," Ling Xiao responded.
Ling Xiao had co for military achievents, naturally he couldn’t let Northern Desert City fall.
As long as Northern Desert City stood, he would have ample opportunity to earn a great deal of military accomplishnts.
Walking atop the city walls, Ling Xiao could clearly feel that although the city seed simple, there were actually many secrets near the city gates, and powerful Array Formations and Magic Arrays had been set up.
As long as they held their ground within the city, unless they ran out of food and supplies, the enemy would likely need at least ten tis their number if they hoped to conquer the fortifications.
On top of the city walls, most of the soldiers bore injuries and appeared very exhausted.
However, on their faces, there was not the slightest hint of discouragent or fear, only determination and decisiveness.
Still, Ling Xiao also noticed that perhaps due to the constant attacks, the city’s Magic Arrays and Array Formations had many flaws.
Even though repairs had been made, they were not perfectly restored.
Moreover, so Array Formations seed to Ling Xiao to be completely capable of being upgraded and modified.
It was clear to see, the level of expertise in Array Formations under Ji Ning was not sufficient.
Thinking this, Ling Xiao silently took note of all this, planning to design new Array Formations and Magic Arrays, then discuss with Ji Ning whether they could be upgraded and modified.
"General, how many soldiers and civilians are there in Northern Desert City in total?" Ling Xiao asked.
"Around two hundred thousand," answered Ji Ning. "Out of which only forty thousand are regular troops, the rest are civilians."
Ji Ning did not know why Ling Xiao asked these questions, but ever since the stratagem of the empty fort, his trust in Ling Xiao had clearly deepened.
"It would be best to mobilize them all; otherwise, there is no chance of winning this battle," Ling Xiao articulated the sober truth that Ji Ning knew but was reluctant to acknowledge.
Because the latest scout reports revealed that the Black Crow Empire’s army numbered a full million strong, and if you include the two hundred thousand vanguard troops, that totals over one point two million.
Yet the soldiers and civilians of Northern Desert City only sumd up to two hundred thousand, rely a fraction of the opponent’s numbers.
The Phoenix God Empire did not lack troops or soldiers, but because of the Emperor, they were unwilling to provide Northern Desert City with reinforcents, leading to the paucity of soldiers here.
In fact, about ten miles from Northern Desert City there was another city with more than five hundred thousand stationed troops!
However, both Ji Ning and Ling Xiao knew clearly that those troops would not co to the rescue. This battle could only be dependent on them.
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