Chapter 355 (1/2)
I heard that this Nangong Hao guy is at some Icy Monkey Settlement. It should be quite near to my Thunderous Lion Settlement, why not I directly…
Fang Zhengzhi thought this way. Hence, naturally, he prepared to carry it out.
The next few days, Fang Zhengzhi began to split his army into two paths, doing a ”sweep” around the perimeter of the Thunderous Lion Settlement. Each path had almost ten thousand troops.
This caused the examinees who slipped through the net to feel extremely pained.
Attacking two thousand with ten thousand?
Was there truly a meaning in this?
Denial, shame. Yet, ultimately, helplessness.
It was simply impossible to defend against an army five times the size. The only thing they could do was to surrender one by one, then, give up their army.
As Fang Zhengzhi began his sweep, the Southern Mountain Range, in which the undercurrent had always been surging, finally stirred up a torrential storm.
Envelopes followed by envelopes of military reports were delivered into the tent of Crown Prince Lin Tianrong, causing him to live the past few days rather unhappily.
”Fang Zhengzhi eliminated Lue Qing, his army has expanded to thirty-four thousand troops.”
”Fang Zhengzhi eliminated Chen Dongping, his army has expanded to thirty-six thousand troops.”
”...”
Looking at the never-ending letters of military report, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's expression was extremely dark. His expression remained gloomy and solemn, and completely lost the mood to appreciate his flowers like he did everyday before.
Time pa.s.sed very quickly.
Five days later, the number of troops under Fang Zhengzhi's command had reached the terrifying amount of forty-one thousand. It also meant he commanded almost seventy percent of the entire military strength in the combat examination.
On the other hand, Fang Zhengzhi finally began to enjoy the treatment of a commander in chief.
In the huge stone house, each of the military commanders quietly stood in two rows by the side, and beside them stood gloomy scholars.
They were all examinees eliminated by Fang Zhengzhi.
Hence, naturally, they could only follow Fang Zhengzhi. Regardless of whether they were willing or reluctant, they had no choice but to follow him until the end of the combat examination.
Wu Feng and Chen Feiyu were also standing in the stone house at this moment.
These few days, it could be said that Wu Feng and Chen Feiyu's hearts had suffered extreme torment. However, if they wished to ensure that they would smoothly pa.s.s the combat examination, the only thing they could do was to help Fang Zhengzhi.
Because, they were eliminated by Fang Zhengzhi.
The rules of the combat examination were based on a compet.i.tion, level-based system. For example, if examinee A was eliminated by examinee B, then, examinee A would be in one level below that of examinee B.
If examinee B was eliminated by another person, then, examinee A would drop another level.
In other words.
Wu Feng had eliminated a bunch of examinees. As long as Wu Feng's ranking remained first in the combat examination, these examinees would gain their rankings based on the order of elimination.
However, the current situation was that Wu Feng had been eliminated by Fang Zhengzhi.
In this case, the examinees that Wu Feng had eliminated before had now entered Fang Zhengzhi's circle. If Fang Zhengzhi was eliminated by other examinees, they would likely have no hope left in the combat examination.
Hence...
The best course of action was for Fang Zhengzhi to attain first place. This would enable their rankings to be higher.
Of course, the gloomiest person of all was Wu Feng. He had initially planned to take down Chen Feiyu in one fell swoop, However, he had never imagined that he would be eliminated by Fang Zhengzhi.
It went without saying that this was a huge tragedy.
”Pa.s.s down my order, ask all of the troops guarding the Yan Ya Settlement and s.h.i.+ Zun Settlement to a.s.semble at the Thunderous Lion Settlement!” Fang Zhengzhi gazed down at the rows of armoured military commanders and gave his order.
”Asking all of them to a.s.semble at the Thunderous Lion Settlement?!”
When the gloomy scholars heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, they instantly became even more miserable. At this moment, they were all hoping for Fang Zhengzhi to gain a high ranking.
Yet, Fang Zhengzhi ordered everybody to a.s.semble?
What was the meaning of this!
”General, if all the troops were called to a.s.semble at the Thunderous Lion Settlement, it is equivalent to giving up control over the Yan Ya and s.h.i.+ Zun Settlement?” When General w.a.n.g heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, he instantly got a shock.
He had fought together with Wu Feng before, hence, he knew very clearly how important and hard to attack the Yan Ya and s.h.i.+ Zun Settlements were. Now, the settlements were already under their control.
Giving them up like this…
Would that be a little silly?
”Oh, I know. Then let's give it up.” Fang Zhengzhi said dismissively.
”Fang Zhengzhi, what are you trying to do? If you don't want to partic.i.p.ate in this exam properly, can you not eliminate me? Now that you already control three main settlements, at the very least, you would be able to attain second place!” Wu Feng finally couldn't control himself anymore.
Not mentioning that the settlements he had put in so much effort to conquer were delivered into Fang Zhengzhi's hands.
Fang Zhengzhi actually threw them away just as if he was throwing rubbish into the trash?
How could he accept this feeling!
”What are you doing? You are already eliminated. You wish to rebel? Pa.s.s down my order, gather some dung.” Fang Zhengzhi glanced at Wu Feng in despise and immediately brushed off Wu Feng's opinion.
”Please don't!”
”Fang Zhengzhi, please reconsider!”
”We are all willing to help you.”
When the scholars heard this, they became truly anxious. If Fang Zhengzhi lost the territory, and it was picked up by others, they were really about to suffer.
The scholars couldn't understand. The military commanders also exchanged glances among one another, completely unable to guess what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking.
Just like how General w.a.n.g felt deep down inside, they all felt that this order by Fang Zhengzhi was a little stupid.
However…
Was Fang Zhengzhi stupid?
This was an extremely serious question.
If Fang Zhengzhi was said to be stupid, then, how could he take down both Chen Feiyu and Wu Feng in one day? Furthermore, didn't this mean that all these people who lost to Fang Zhengzhi were even more stupid?
However, if Fang Zhengzhi wasn't stupid, then this order was simply equivalent to giving up the combat examination ranking he already attained.
They had absolutely no clue of what he was thinking.
Each of the military commander shook his head, simply unable to understand.
Of course, Fang Zhengzhi knew what the scholars and the commanders were thinking. However, it wasn't necessary for them to understand. Because, if they knew about the current situation in the Southern Mountain Range, they would probably have made the same decision.
Every citizen a soldier.
This meant that every main settlement was filled with soldiers of the Southern Mountain Range.
Fang Zhengzhi indeed possessed over forty-thousand troops at this moment, and have control over seventy percent of all the troops in the combat examination. However, compared to the Southern Mountain Range's ”every citizen a soldier”, it was the difference between an ant and an elephant.
Controlling territory?
Controlling three main settlements indeed seemed extremely glorious. However, once the military force was divided, when the Southern Mountain Range began their plan, these forty-thousand troops wouldn't even be able to defend themselves at all.
Fang Zhengzhi's thoughts at this moment were extremely simple.
If every citizen is a soldier.
Then, I will gather all my soldiers in one place and unite all the troops. As for controlling territory, I have a powerful military force, what do I fear? The combat examination hadn't ended yet!
General w.a.n.g really wished to attempt to convince Fang Zhengzhi once more.
However, Fang Zhengzhi was the true examinee of this combat examination. He didn't have any power to interfere. Hence, he could only carry out Fang Zhengzhi's order.