War can bring fortune.

But it can also lead to poverty.

Hang Yu basically emptied the current crystal reserves of the Azure Dragon and Cyan Dragon Groups, borrowed a large amount of crystal stones from the Celestial Net and the Spirit Relief Association, and used them to add and upgrade magic-guided equipment, while also acquiring a large quantity of magic potions, advanced recovery potions, and advanced skill scrolls at high prices.

The scale of the investment.

Very rare.

Unprecedented, one could say!

It imposed a huge financial burden on the groups and organizations.

In the Desert Province, five thousand personnel started intense preparations.

Update equipment as needed, enhance skills as needed.

Major wars inevitably drain resources and labor, but with real gold and silver investments, everyone’s confidence is bolstered significantly. So, the money spent is all worthwhile.

......

A small strategic deployment meeting was held in Deserted Valley Town.

Zhao Ming opened up the map of the four towns, "If we defend the four towns simultaneously, it will lead to neglecting one or the other, causing our strengths to be dispersed."

Xu Tianhua also said, "Indeed, our combat troops combined amount to no more than ten thousand, and even if we include five thousand humans, it’s insufficient to protect four towns simultaneously. I suggest abandoning the defense of Stone Furnace, Iron Mountain, and Black Sand Town, and concentrating all our forces on Deserted Valley Town."

"Abandon?" Luke from the Spirit Relief Association was somewhat dissatisfied, "We’ve spent a lot of resources and costs on managing and developing Black Sand Town, how can we just abandon it?"

Chris also frowned and said, "If Black Sand Town is destroyed, all our investments will be wasted, and the losses would be too great, making it very difficult for us to write our reports."

"The four towns are already at a clear disadvantage. If we can’t concentrate our forces for resistance, we will inevitably be defeated by Kaliemlo one by one." Hang Yu consoled, "I understand your feelings, but I hope you’ll prioritize the bigger picture!"

Hang Yu continued, "I can promise, if Black Sand Town suffers significant losses in this battle, these losses will be covered by all of us together, and you won’t have to bear the losses alone."

Zhao Ming also spoke up.

"You’re all sensible people and should understand the importance of this battle."

"To be honest, I have already established contacts with multiple Minor Lords before at Eagle’s Nest Town. They don’t dare to support the human race mainly due to a lack of confidence in our strength."

He paused and continued, "Because of this, we need a decisive battle to prove ourselves. Relying on the achievements of the surprise attack on Eagle’s Nest Town alone is not enough. As long as we can defeat Sand Spring City head-on once, I am confident that we can sway at least half of the Minor Lords to defect!"

The crowd nodded one after another upon hearing this.

What does swaying half of the Minor Lords mean?

Those Minor Lords who would originally help Sand Spring City suppress the human race might completely turn to support the human race, and eventually form a coalition with us.

This would be a force strong enough to shake Sand Spring City!

Once the human race completely occupies Sand Spring City.

What are the losses of one or two small towns?

The benefits are immeasurable!

"Actually, Stone Furnace, Iron Mountain, and Black Sand Town might not necessarily be attacked either." Xu Tianhua pointed to the map and added, "Deserted Valley Town guards the strategic passageway and is the closest town to Sand Spring City. If Sand Spring City attacks the human race, they will inevitably pass through Deserted Valley Town first. If they bypass it and attack, they would have to detour for two days to access the other three towns."

The crowd nodded repeatedly.

From a strategic position, Deserted Valley Town is indeed the most important!

Kaliemlo, at this moment, doesn’t say anything about patience, and it’s a testament to mental fortitude if he hasn’t flown into a rage.

Even if the humans gather forces and hold Deserted Valley Town, so what? As a Great Lord, could he be frightened by the forces of Minor Lords? He could bypass and advance on the undefended Stone Furnace, Iron Mountain, and Black Sand Towns first.

But what good would it do Kaliemlo to level these three towns to the ground?

After all, these towns are part of Sand Spring City.

The primary income source of Sand Spring City comes from them.

Apart from maybe annoying and confronting humanity.

Destroying the three towns holds little meaning!

It’s harmful and not beneficial!

The goal of Sand Spring City is to annihilate the human race, not to destroy the towns. From this perspective, Deserted Valley Town is very likely to be the first subjected to a strong assault!

Several individuals in the battle meeting carefully discussed and arranged the troops and city defenses, ensuring that each magic-guided cannon can be utilized to its fullest, and every combat soldier unit can operate smoothly.

The greatest advantage of the four towns is five thousand humans!

The strength of the five thousand humans is not much greater than that of the combat troops.

To this day, many still remain at level 8 or 9.

However, these individuals can use potions, scrolls, and manipulate magic-guided equipment, which allows them to form a coherent unit.

They will be dispersed among the combat soldier units, ensuring that each combat soldier unit can adapt and respond dynamically on the battlefield, something that Sand Spring City cannot achieve.

Even in a Great Lord’s territory.

The number of intelligent species in Sand Spring City does not exceed two to three hundred.

Kaliemlo at most could take out half of that, and dispersed across the battlefield, the number is actually not large, making it impossible to exert comprehensive control over the army. Once the battle becomes protracted, coordination among combat soldiers often becomes chaotic, thus restricting the battle power’s full potential.

"The troops for the three towns are in position!"

"The combat troops have been reorganized!"

"Combat tasks have been assigned!"

"Magic-guided cannons, magic-guided spears, heavy crossbows... deployed!"

"Traps, barriers, arrays, all checked and everything’s normal!"

Hang Yu inspected everything personally, finding everything in perfect order with no issues, and was quite satisfied, "Old Xu!"

Xu Tianhua: "Here!"

Hang Yu said seriously, "You will serve as the Chief Battle Commander, while Zhao Ming and I will be Deputy Commanders."

Xu Tianhua nodded, "Yes!"

No one found this appointment surprising.

Hang Yu must personally lead the charge!

He is not only the banner of the human race in the four towns!

He is also the strongest combat power in the Desert Province’s human faction!

He is the only one who might confront Kaliemlo directly!

This battle is different from any previous battle; even Hang Yu is uncertain about his safety and cannot be distracted by command. In this battle, it’s enough to just play the role of a warrior.

"Report!"

"Scout unit has sent back intel!"

"A large army has been spotted in the southwest direction!"

"Preliminary reconnaissance: estimated numbers around ten thousand, primarily Centaurs, likely Sand Spring City’s main army, currently eight hundred miles away."

After breaking through Eagle’s Nest Town, Hang Yu left scouts in key areas along the way, equipped with "Wind-favored Eagle" magic potions, which allow for high-altitude reconnaissance. At the first sign of a large enemy force, they would immediately detect them.

Here they come!

Everyone’s expressions turned serious!

The two sides are over eight hundred miles apart!

If this distance were in Earth’s ancient battlefields, it would be very far, with no worries at all.

But in this world.

The speed of march cannot be measured by common sense.

Centaurs have high constitution and fast movement speed.

The combat troop units of Sand Spring City are at least over a dozen levels, and on plains, they can travel one to two thousand miles a day as if playing, without tiring, faster than a car.

Even with the numerous mountains around Deserted Valley Town, at Sand Spring City’s troop speed, they could arrive within a day.

These bastards are coming really fast!

Many pieces of magic-guided equipment have yet to be upgraded!

Hang Yu shook his head, "Send out the order, prepare for battle!"