Special Expert of Beauty CEO

”Boss, the current situation with Ade is that the West State Army of King Wu is attacking Sand City and Black Water City. The situation looks grim, as both these cities have only about fifty thousand garrison troops, while King Wu has amassed two hundred thousand soldiers, aiming to capture these two cities in one fell swoop and use them as a springboard to advance eastward.”

On the road to the West State border, Zhou Yang took out a map and analyzed the situation with Qin Tian.

Qin Tian had already studied the map of the West State and said, ”The West State borders the east with the Black Water River. Looking at the map, Sand City and Black Water City are chokepoints — once King Wu captures these two cities, he can advance or retreat at will.”

Zhou Yang nodded.

”So what should we do?”

Qin Tian looked at the generals gathered in the makeshift tent and asked, ”If we go to rescue Sand City and Black Water City now, will we make it in time?”

Xu Kuan slowly shook his head and said, ”Sand City is definitely too late, and that city doesn’t have solid fortifications. It’s also the closest to the West State. Even if we rush there within a day, I’m afraid the West State Army might have already taken Sand City. Besides, it’s difficult for us to reach there in one day.”

”The situation in Black Water City is a bit better. It has good defenses — the walls are tall and thick, capable of withstanding strikes of True Qi. Moreover, it’s over a hundred kilometers closer to us than Sand City. If we rush to Black Water City now, and the West State Army, after taking Sand City, doesn’t immediately attack Black Water City, we have a chance to hold it.”

Qin Tian said, ”In that case, let’s act quickly. If Sand City is lost, it’s lost, but Black Water City must not fall. Otherwise, advancing westward in the future will be difficult, and the initiative will be in King Wu’s hands.”

Immediately, Qin Tian dispatched Zhao Lanjin, leading fifty thousand troops — all cavalry and Flying Beast Soldiers — straight to Black Water City.

Meanwhile, Qin Tian led his main forces towards their operational base, Yueya City, which serves as the command center in the fight against the West State.

As they continued their journey, Zuo Yuanhao came to Qin Tian’s side. After some contemplation, he said to Qin Tian, ”General, I have a bad feeling... I’m afraid this time, Black Water City will fall to the enemy.”

Upon hearing such discouraging words, Qin Tian wasn’t angry. He knew Zuo Yuanhao’s military capability and asked, ”Yuanhao, what makes you say that? Are you implying that General Zhao Lanjin won’t be able to withstand the West State Army?”

Zuo Yuanhao shook his head and said, ”Not so. I worry that even with General Zhao hurrying there overnight, Black Water City... might have already fallen. Of course, I hope this isn’t the case, but I feel it’s highly probable...”

”Do you have any basis for your judgment?”

”I do. The garrison commander of Black Water City, Zhang Lang, is a foppish scion who got promoted through bribery. He’s timid and avoids trouble. Faced with danger, I suspect he won’t fight to the death but will either surrender or abandon the city and flee.”

Zuo Yuanhao’s words prompted Qin Tian to reassess; he didn’t know much about Zhang Lang, but since Zuo Yuanhao had investigated him, could he really be a coward?

That night, Zhao Lanjin’s scouts returned.

”General, when we were still about eighty kilometers from Black Water City, we received news that Black Water City had already fallen into the hands of the West State Army. Zhang Lang surrendered outright with his five thousand troops!”

The scout’s words struck Qin Tian like a bolt from the blue, leaving him dumbfounded and his face suddenly stiff!

An inauspicious start!

Upon reaching the West State border, such events transpired: Sand City fell, leaving over thirty thousand of the fifty thousand soldiers still on their way back.

As for Black Water City, Zhang Lang shamefully surrendered without any resistance, leading his five thousand men to open the city gates in surrender. It’s utterly outrageous!

”Hmph, Zhang Lang... really has some nerve!”

Upon hearing the scout’s report, Qin Tian was infuriated for several seconds before ordering, ”Instruct Zhao Lanjin to gather the soldiers retreating from Sand City and return to Yueya City together.”

After the scout left, Qin Tian immediately took out the map, anxiously asking Zhou Yang and others to gather by the roadside to analyze.

Now that King Wu has captured Sand City and Black Water City, the next target should be either Ye City or Sanshan Town.

”Sanshan Town is virtually undefended; I plan to relocate its five thousand garrison troops to Ye City, along with all supplies, concentrating everything in Ye City. Ye City will be the next major focus of the West State rebels’ attack, and we must hold it.”

While speaking, Qin Tian looked at Xu Kuan and said, ”General Xu, I’m considering assigning you to defend Ye City. How many troops do you need to ensure Ye City doesn’t fall?”

Upon hearing, Xu Kuan furrowed his brows slightly and said, ”I’m familiar with the terrain and landscape of Ye City. The enemy’s Flying Beast Soldiers will find it difficult to operate in the valleys, leaving only a frontal assault, making it arguably easy to defend and hard to attack.”

”However, as far as I know, Ye City’s walls haven’t been repaired in years, and in an actual battlefield scenario, they might not withstand the West State Army’s assault for long.”

He then looked up at Qin Tian and said, ”General Qin, give me a hundred thousand troops, and I can ensure the West State Army won’t breach Ye City within three months.”

”Moreover, if you provide me with ten thousand repairmen and the necessary materials to fortify the walls, I can guarantee that the West State Army won’t capture Ye City within a year.”

Xu Kuan confidently stared at Qin Tian as he spoke slowly.

If anyone else had said this, Qin Tian might have thought it was an exaggeration, but coming from Xu Kuan, he couldn’t help but believe it.

Ye City’s ten thousand soldiers face a combined force of over six hundred thousand from the West State Army and Demon Clan, a sixfold advantage. Qin Tian knew that Xu Kuan once held a city against enemy forces ten times his size.

Now that the West State is Xu Kuan’s home turf, Qin Tian had nothing but trust in him.

”Alright, I’ll give you a hundred and fifty thousand troops. Hold for three months first.”

Qin Tian agreed to Xu Kuan’s conditions without hesitation, adding, ”Moreover, I’ll have Zhou Yang begin preparing the repairmen and materials you mentioned, aiming to assemble them within half a month.”

Qin Tian looked at Xu Kuan and said, ”General Xu, I want you to make Ye City the strongest fortress in the West, impregnable to anyone.”

Xu Kuan nodded and said, ”As for offense, my ability to capture a city may be limited; but in terms of defense, as long as I have enough troops and the authority to deploy them at will, I am confident I can withstand any strong enemy attack!”

With Xu Kuan’s assurance, Qin Tian didn’t say much more and promptly had Xu Kuan lead Ye Kun and Zuo Yuanhao to form a team, commanding one hundred fifty thousand troops to head straight to Ye City.

Qin Tian was wary of delaying any further, fearing unforeseen events.

After Xu Kuan departed with the hundred and fifty thousand men, Qin Tian was left with only two thousand guards, as they turned towards Yueya City.