Chapter 671: Breaking Through the Defenses

Even though the war was not yet over, Wu Kai had already gotten his wish and become an Assistant General, commanding six thousand soldiers under his hand. Although most were fresh recruits recently assigned to his unit, after seeing bloodshed a few times at the Front Gate Military Camp, they had mostly adapted. But their combat strength was still far inferior to the Four Major Armies or the veteran troops he once led.

Wu Kai was in no hurry. The battlefield was the best place to temper people; those former troublemakers from the military settlements would soon become elite soldiers as long as they could survive as much as possible.

His promotion was not just because Wu Kai led his troops bravely in battle, but also due to a small tactical innovation he submitted.

It was precisely thanks to this tactic that Cheng Jinhou’s forces, from the Upper Military Camp in Jianchuan to the present Front Gate Military Camp, had consistently maintained a high kill rate against the Barbarian Race’s heavily armored elite unit—the Long-toothed Elephant Race.

In fact, Wu Kai’s method was simple, even something he’d come up with as a sudden inspiration on his way to Jianchuan.

Each soldier carried a small shovel at his waist, which could be used as a hand axe for chopping, or for digging into the ground.

The massive size and terrifying strength of the Long-toothed Elephant Race, combined with their heavy armor, meant that once they charged, no existing battle array in the Jingjiu Dynasty could withstand them. Even cultivators’ magic protection could hardly resist the impact of their assault. Usually, the Long-toothed Elephants would break the array, then the Wolf Cavalry would swarm in, slicing through quickly and dismantling what should have been an advantageous formation.

This was precisely why the Long-toothed Elephant Race had always been regarded by the Jingjiu Dynasty as a thorn in their side and a dagger in their flesh.

But with Wu Kai’s idea, things were different. A simple small shovel could reduce at least 40% of the Long-toothed Elephants’ charge power!

The tactic was to dig several thigh-thick small pits in the ground, only half a foot deep, as the Long-toothed Elephants began their charge. Then, the troops would retreat behind these pits—whether forming a spear array or a shield wall—to withstand the residual impact afterward.

The Long-toothed Elephants, in a full-speed charge, gained tremendous speed and force but lost flexibility, making it nearly impossible to change direction or avoid obstacles. Their typical response was to stomp or smash through anything in their path.

But these small pits… Once an elephant leg stepped in, driven by their forward momentum, there was only one outcome: a twisted, broken limb and a heavy fall, becoming a huge obstacle for the comrades behind and setting off a chain reaction of tripping and tumbling. In the end, only sixty percent of the original Long-toothed Elephants would actually reach the battle array, and those who did had lost much of their speed and impact, along with their once unstoppable, crushing force.

Although a small shovel was far from crippling the Long-toothed Elephant Race completely, it was at least an effective restraint. Thus, Wu Kai had been field-promoted by the Daoxing Chief’s Office, from Deputy General directly to Assistant General, now with actual command of six thousand soldiers.

Presently, this position was truly one of real power on the front lines. Wu Kai had even received overtures from his Commander-in-Chief, Cheng Jinhou, who said that if the opportunity arose, he hoped Wu Kai could follow him back to the Jingbei Army.

Where to go was something for the future, but for now Wu Kai was determined to follow Cheng Jinhou, fighting wherever he was ordered, always throwing himself into the task and leading from the front.

However, Wu Kai’s survival and continuous merit-based promotions were due not only to his intellect and ability, but also to good fortune. Back at the Upper Military Camp in Jianchuan, he’d been gravely wounded. If not for Shen Hao, that wealthy acquaintance who happened to be at his side and saved his life, he would likely have ended up in Jianchuan’s great burial pit. Not to mention Shen Hao later advanced him several fine healing pills on credit—otherwise, his injuries would never have healed, and he would not have the chance to fight on the front lines now.

Because his six-thousand-strong force was not the main strength, Wu Kai’s unit was not deployed to the front today. Instead, they were assigned to the flank to guard against enemy feints and opportunistic attacks.

Wu Kai had no excessive ambition for distinguished service. Advancing steadily and cautiously was the most important quality for a commander. Thus, in his unit, he had the most lancers and large shield bearers, mixed in with some sword-and-shield troops, along with a team of elites from Jingying Prefecture. His troops might not be the most aggressive or capable of fierce assault, but they could hold the line and steadily advance with the main force’s overall offensive.

By Wu Kai’s side stood a master from Jingying Prefecture who had always served as his escort: Ding Shan. The two of them were already quite familiar, having traveled together all the way from Zhuo Huo Pass. When Wu Kai was saved by Shen Hao in Jianchuan, that cultivator from Jingying Prefecture had also survived. In fact, Ding Shan had saved Wu Kai’s life several times in the following battles.

After repelling another enemy charge, Wu Kai quickly took advantage of the rare lull to call for the emergency team and have the wounded carried off for treatment. Not far behind their position was a newly established “field treatment station,” where over a dozen physicians worked together to handle the seriously wounded before transferring them back to the military camp.

Using the reprieve, Wu Kai patrolled his own battle line, comforting and encouraging the resting soldiers to seize the chance to recover.

The busiest of all were the emergency medics, who had quickly become an indispensable part of every unit. With them and the field treatment station, the number of severely wounded who died from delayed care had drastically dropped. Everyone, including ordinary soldiers, could see this change clearly.

If you were wounded, even gravely, you wouldn’t necessarily die—so fear of battle naturally diminished, and the soldiers fought more fiercely.

Such changes were far more than just “a few less deaths.”

However, the situation on the battlefield made Wu Kai frown deeply and filled him with increasing suspicion: fighting like this simply didn’t make sense. Even if attrition was necessary, there was no need to throw so many people into the fray at once. If the Barbarian Race received reinforcements… then the Front Gate Military Camp and Shimen Military Camp were both in serious trouble.

Wu Kai could not understand why Cheng Jinhou was so stubborn today, acting as if he meant to settle matters with the barbarian army once and for all, which was completely at odds with previous strategies.

“Over there—that looks like General Pan from the Shimen Military Camp’s banner.” Ding Shan at his side raised his hand, pointing out the sudden appearance of a great banner in the rear, snapping Wu Kai from his distraction.

“Hmm?!” Wu Kai turned to look and, sure enough, it was General Pan from the Shimen Military Camp’s banner.

Why would Pan Shigui personally lead his army here? Had he abandoned the defense of Shimen? Wu Kai was shocked. But he quickly realized that two commander-in-chiefs, Cheng Jinhou and Pan Shigui, leading their forces out together was surely no impulsive move—it had to be a matter of high-level strategy from the Daoxing Chief’s Office.

“Is this the prelude to punching through the Barbarian defensive line?”

At this thought, a surge of excitement rose in Wu Kai’s chest. He realized that the Barbarian reinforcements hadn’t appeared, perhaps not because of the Barbarians, but because they had been outmaneuvered. Surely, the entire battlefield of Jianchuan was no longer calm.

“Dong dong dong…”

After a meal’s time of rest, the war drums suddenly thundered. All the soldiers gripped their weapons once more…