In January of the third year of the end of the world, the battle for the unification of the land east of Hedong officially began.
The forces led by Chu Ge and Chu Ci were retreating steadily at the beginning of the war. Chu Ge's eighteen large and small cities, a total of three cities were quickly swept away, leaving almost no room to resist. The seemingly well-defended city was like paper under the new siege guns and catapults of Jiang Zhi's forces. The large city that was thought to be able to hold out for several months was breached in just a few days.
In the hand-to-hand combat after the city was broken, Jiang's forces still had the absolute advantage. It wasn't that the soldiers were strong enough, but that their numbers had the absolute advantage. However, in terms of battle loss ratio, Jiang Zhi's forces still suffered greater losses, almost one to five. After half a month of fierce fighting, Jiang Zhi's forces suffered about 10,000 casualties, while Chu Ci's casualties were about 2,000.
However, Chu Ci's total military strength was only five thousand, while Jiang Feng's total military strength was about two hundred thousand. Today, Chu Ci's military strength has been reduced by nearly half, and his heroic ambitions are gradually being erased by successive defeats.
As for Chu Ge, he had reservations from the beginning, which meant that almost none of his 100,000 troops were deployed, but huddled within the main city.
On this day, Chu Ci finally put down his face and had a big quarrel with Chu Ge.
"If you had put all your troops in from the beginning, we wouldn't have been defeated so miserably." Chu Ci said excitedly.
"It's not that you don't know the quality of my soldiers. Most of the 100,000 troops are newly recruited soldiers who have never fought in a war, and those veterans are also afraid of Jiang Zhi's power."
"Then you can't send no troops at all, right?"
"What are you talking about? During the battle to defend the city, didn't I send out a lot of soldiers? Didn't they help with the cannon fire?"
"But once the city is defeated, your soldiers will immediately retreat, leaving only my troops to resist."
"Aren't you talking nonsense? We have given you the best equipment. If my soldiers don't withdraw, it will be the same as death."
"But we can share it more or less."
"I think so too, but they are all flesh and blood beings. I don't want them to be cannon fodder and die worthless."
"What you said means that my people are not valuable and they deserve to die?" Chu Ci asked in return.
"I have never said this, but your average combat power is very high, and you have the best armor in our force. Even if you die in battle, you can kill countless enemies. Don't you see? There are people lying in every city. Most of the dead bodies are from Jiang Zhi’s influence.”
Whether Chu Ge was rude or not, in terms of the quality of his individual soldiers, Chu Ci's 5,000 men were really awesome. When paired with high-level armor, Jiang Feng's troops were plunged into a bitter battle. If it weren't for Jiang Feng's huge advantage in troop numbers, he really wouldn't have been able to capture the city.
However, Chu Ge lost so many cities but almost no soldiers died, which made Chu Ci feel a little unbalanced and even a little confused.
"Chu Ge, you didn't want to confront Jiang Feng from the beginning, right?"
"To this day, let me be honest with you. If it weren't for you, I should have surrendered long ago."
"Didn't you say you would fight to the death?"
"Such passionate words are easy to say but too difficult to do because the strength of the two sides is so disparate. It can be said that I have pinned all my hopes on you, so I put everything I have into using the best weapons. I gave you all the best armor. However, I didn’t expect that you still couldn’t stop them. Now, I don’t have any confidence anymore.”
"No, if you give up, won't my people die in vain?"
"But there's really nothing I can do. Now I have soldiers but no armor. No matter how many people go to the battlefield, they will all die."
"Is that all you have ambition for?"
"Then what do you think we should do?"
"Is there another way?"
"What?"
"Darkness."
"What did you say?" Chu Ge's eyes widened.
"The whole city is darkened, and the troops and civilians are used to fight against them."
If you want to talk about fighting against each other, Chu Ci's words do have some truth. The total number of civilians and troops in Chu Ge's main city is nearly one million, if it turns dark. One hundred thousand ghost soldiers can be born, of which at least 10,000 elite soldiers and generals will be born. As for the 900,000 dark zombies, although most of them have low combat power, they are at least contagious. As long as the ghost soldiers and Chu Ci's troops cooperate with each other to turn the headwind battle situation into a favorable one, those 900,000 If the zombie soldiers rush out again, they can infect one by one.
Even if Jiang Feng cannot be defeated, he can at least make Jiang Feng have some scruples and even force him to retreat.
I heard that before Jiang Feng went on the expedition, he originally planned to control the loss of his troops to about 1%, but now his loss has reached 5%, which is far beyond his expectations. Once the situation becomes more complicated and uncontrollable, Jiang Feng is likely to withdraw his troops.
In theory, this is true, but Chu Ge was so angry that he shouted: "Listen to me, even if the entire army and the people surrender, I will never use such inhumane methods as darkening."
"Then the foundation you worked so hard to build will be given away to others?"
"They are indeed my inheritance, but they are also human beings, living human beings. As long as they surrender, at least they can survive."
The discussion between Chu Ge and Chu Ci ended hastily without reaching a good conclusion. Chu Ci looked at Chu Ge's back leaving the office and was so angry that he could not speak.
In Chu Ci's heart, he has two purposes. One is to recognize his son and help him. One is a separate faction, fighting for a place in this troubled world.
Today, there is no progress in recognizing each other, because their policies and ideas are always very different, and they have no common views at all. As for wanting to separate one side in these troubled times, this idea is becoming increasingly difficult. Today's troubled times are much different from those at the beginning of the end of the world. Now is no longer a good time to enter the market. Even though he has accumulated a lot of talents in the Cross Chamber of Commerce, he still cannot compete with Jiang Feng.
At the moment, there is a more conservative method, which is to preserve strength, withdraw from Chu Ge's forces, and seek new development elsewhere, preferably in a remote place to avoid Jiang Feng. However, Chu Ci was really unwilling to accept the death of more than two thousand of his subordinates. They were all talents accumulated through hard work. If they just quit like this, wouldn't their death be in vain? Chu Ci gradually had a thought in his heart: Since he and Chu Ge had no common ideas, and there was no hope of getting to know each other, it would be better to give it a try and use Chu Ge's millions of people to darken the country. Even if Jiang Feng cannot be defeated, it will not make Jiang Feng's life easy.
At this moment, a new battle report came from the front line. The last buffer city had fallen. Now the Chuge forces only have the last main city, which is the largest city left.
Time flies so fast. In just half a month, Chu Ge's forces only have one main city left.
Chu Ci secretly summoned his capable subordinates and planned to start the darkening plan.
On the other side, Jiang Feng stood on the tallest watchtower in Yunlan City, picked up a telescope and looked into the distance.
From this position, you can just see Chu Ge's main city, Laizhou City. But because it was too far away, the city looked like a toy castle.
Su Kouye took the ladder to the top of the observation tower and reported to Jiang Fenghui: "As usual, this city doesn't have much supplies."
"It seems that all of Chu Ge's main forces and troops have stayed in the main city."
PS: Usually there are at least one or two updates a week, maybe two months. If I have time, I will save some manuscripts, and there will be double updates every day in the third or fourth month.
