The Demon Lords-Chapter 694 - 139 Carry the Flag_2

"Hmm, Ah Li possesses such a skill?"

"Yes, he can even understand a bit of animal language."

"No wonder his speech sometimes sounds inhuman. That explains it."

Zheng Fan reached out and patted the battlement. Ever since they had captured Snow Sea Pass, he actually hadn't sent any messengers from his side to inform Lord Jingnan of this military development.

On one hand, the journey was long, fraught with wild people and Chu people, making it difficult for ordinary knights to successfully return to the western bank of the Wang River and relay this military intelligence.

Sending too few would be pointless, creating no ripple effect. Sending too many, however, would be a strain on their currently scarce manpower, a loss he was reluctant to incur.

Actually, sending Xue Three to deliver the message would be most suitable, as his success rate would be the highest, but Xue Three's role here was too crucial to be spared.

Of course, the most fundamental reason was Liang Cheng's conviction that Lord Jingnan, on the western bank of the Wang River, would deduce something from the wild people's reactions.

Letting the wild people act as their messengers was the most cost-effective and efficient plan.

Perhaps this is a sign of tacit understanding between two great military strategists.

Zheng Fan had once asked what would happen if the wild people on the front lines, even the Wild People's King, knew about this but deliberately pretended as if nothing had happened.

Liang Cheng had only one reply:

As long as the Wild People's King knew of this, then no matter how he tried to disguise or conceal it, it would inevitably leave traces. This was unavoidable, and Lord Jingnan over there would undoubtedly detect these traces.

The hawk circled here a while longer before leaving.

Off in the distance, the bonfires lit by the wild people's cavalry grew more and more numerous.

Zheng Fan cleared his throat, took out a cigarette, and lit it. He didn't take a puff but instead wedged it into a crevice in the wall.

"Allow me to offer this incense to you first, you sons of bitches."

...

This time, around the perimeter of the wild people's camp, although they hadn't yet had time to erect palisades or establish a fortified position, on both the east and west flanks, five thousand cavalrymen, divided into several contingents, were patrolling. This method ensured the security of the central army, preventing a repeat of the previous disastrous night raid by the Yan people.

The hawk returned, landing on Geremu's shoulder.

Geremu reached out and stroked the hawk's body. Several commanders sat before him. Troops from various divisions had gathered, numbering nearly forty thousand. The Wild People's King had likely received word by now and would probably dispatch more reinforcements.

Snow Sea Pass was simply too sensitive and too crucial a location; they neither dared to conceal what had happened, nor could they.

"Everyone, Liumuer has been guided away by the stars. We have no time to hold a funeral for him, for there is only one path before us now.

"That is to retake Snow Sea Pass, even if we have to gnaw it down with our teeth! This is the escape route for our Sacred Tribe!"

Geremu's voice turned grim.

"This time, after we retake Snow Sea Pass, I, Geremu, will personally bear all culpability. The King's wrath—I, Geremu, will bear it alone. This was my error from the beginning, and it has nothing to do with any of you. On this, I can swear to the stars!

"Therefore, right now, you fight not for me, nor for the King, nor even for the future of the Sacred Tribe. You are fighting for your own lives. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"If the Yan people manage to blockade Snow Sea Pass for a month, or two, all the warriors of our Sacred Tribe who entered Jin land this time could be entirely annihilated by the Yan people on this very soil.

"We... have no retreat."

Geremu spoke with utmost sincerity, showing no hint of shirking responsibility.

The commanders also understood the gravity of the situation. The wild people had been able to confront the Yan people along the Wang River front with such ease precisely because they had already secured enough spoils; vast quantities of treasure and slaves had already been transported back to the tundra.

If things at the front truly became untenable, they could all sound the retreat and fall back to the tundra.

The tundra, after all, was their home turf, where the Yan people wouldn't necessarily gain any advantage. Furthermore, while it might seem like their own withdrawal from Jin State, the Yan people would then directly face a pincer attack from the tundra and the Chu State. Even if the Yan people managed to swallow this half of Cheng State's territory, they wouldn't be able to digest it.

But now, their escape route was gone. This meant that if the worst-case scenario materialized, they would be plunged into a situation beyond redemption!

Heaven knows how those Yan people managed to sneak in, evade the encirclement of their tens-of-thousands-strong army, and ultimately seize Snow Sea Pass! The excellent position they held had crumbled in an instant!

"Geremu, give the order. Right now, our only option is to unite and recapture Snow Sea Pass. We have no other way."

"Yes, Geremu, we trust your abilities. As for assigning blame, that can wait. Regardless, we must take this pass now and reopen the route between Jin land and the tundra."

"What's the plan, Geremu? Just give the command. Among the King's generals, you are the most adept at warfare; we all know this."

Geremu was of Jin people origin. His family heritage and insight were indeed a cut above most wild people. Usually, the other wild people nobles and chieftains treated Geremu with outward respect, but inwardly, they rather looked down on him.

But at this critical juncture, they instinctively cast aside other considerations and heeded Geremu's commands.

Although they had previously defeated the Yan people once at the Wang River, the Yan forces were now led by their most formidable general, the Southern Marquis, who had even personally led an expedition into the tundra. Who could predict how the war would unfold?