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"This is indeed the most suitable battle tactic for the Black Wind Gang at the moment."

Having witnessed the entire battle, Geng Xuan offered this assessment.

The advantages are obvious: it can maximize the strengths of the Black Wind Clan.

Fanatical, bloodthirsty, courageous, and with extensive experience in life-or-death combat...

At the same time, the shortcomings of the Black Wind Gang, from top to bottom, in their lack of knowledge of proper battle formations and military tactics should be avoided as much as possible.

Exploit strengths and avoid weaknesses.

Even an army well-versed in battle formations and tactics would easily be bogged down in a quagmire if it suddenly encountered such a force.

If handled improperly, there is a possibility that "a novice can defeat a master."

In addition, there is another special "advantage"—at least, for Geng Xuan, this is an advantage.

That is, in such a "battle," the attacking side has a very high tolerance for death.

Geng Xuan had carefully considered the impact of casualties on his own morale.

The general view is that this is directly related to the strength of morale and fighting spirit.

Because of varying morale, some troops suffered losses of less than 10%, and some even collapsed at the first sign of trouble before engaging the enemy in direct combat.

Some, however, achieved the legendary feat of fighting to the death without a single retreat or surrender.

Geng Xuan pondered a rather unconventional direction. He believed that in addition to morale, this was also closely related to the transmission, dissemination, and even distortion of information within the military.

Many cases, such as troop mutinies or routs without a fight, are caused by the rampant spread of a large amount of information, whether true or false, or even rumors, within the military, which ferments and eventually erupts.

To put it simply, most of them are scared into it.

The Black Wind Gang's tactics are like giving themselves a "madness boost" before the battle, which is equivalent to actively weakening or even severing their own "pain receptors".

Battle damage information from different regions is not only harder to get back to the command center, but also harder for other teams to actually perceive.

If you haven't seen it, heard it, or experienced it personally, it's as if it doesn't exist or happen.

Naturally, it will not bring any negative impact to them.

This dullness and insensitivity to the "pain of death" spread throughout the Black Wind Regiment, resulting in a tolerance for death in battles that far exceeded that of a normal army.

To put it more bluntly, if the enemy's strength is strong enough and their killing efficiency is high enough, allowing the Black Wind Gang members to die quickly enough, the Black Wind Gang's "madness" could even be maintained until the moment of total annihilation.

From this perspective, the "high tolerance for death" resulting from "slow reaction" is not a good thing.

Just like a normal person, if their perception of pain becomes dulled or even disappears completely, the harm will far outweigh the benefits.

However, in Geng Xuan's eyes, this phenomenon manifesting in the Black Wind Gang is undoubtedly a good thing.

Of course, the shortcomings of this tactic are also readily apparent.

In general, this tactic is best suited for "using superior numbers to overwhelm the weak and achieve a sweeping victory."

If the opponents are evenly matched and their strength is similar.

Once the opponent survives the initial waves and the two sides enter a stalemate, one's own disadvantages will quickly become apparent.

It's easy for the opponent to seize the opportunity and quickly devour you piece by piece.

If the opponent's strength surpasses that of the Black Wind Gang, then it's like throwing an egg against a rock, a lamb entering a tiger's den, willingly turning oneself into a snack and delivering oneself to the opponent's mouth.

"If you want to use this tactic, you should try to avoid the latter two situations."

In every specific battle, we should try to create a situation where we have more people than people and the strong bully the weak.

Try to avoid gnawing on bones that are too hard.

"...On the other hand, we should also take this opportunity to quickly train and cultivate the awareness and ability to conduct large-scale operations."

"...This shouldn't be too difficult."

If there are more opportunities for practical experience in the early stages, those who can't keep up will naturally be eliminated.

Those who survive naturally acquire the necessary experience.

Geng Xuan, however, thought of the peasant rebel armies in his previous life. At first, they couldn't even be called armies; they were just a group of refugees with wooden sticks and bamboo poles who didn't even know how to kill.

However, as long as they survive the first few "trials of hell" and live to the end, they will naturally become "battle-hardened elites".

Geng Xuan believed that as long as Dong Guan didn't go all out from the start and crush the Black Wind Gang with overwhelming force, the Black Wind Gang would be completely crushed.

Under his own arrangement, it is inevitable that the Black Wind Gang will complete this transformation.

……

While in the "Rapid Current Cave" and witnessing everything that was happening there, Geng Xuan was thinking about questions that were not so relevant to the situation.

As for how to handle the aftermath, that will be taken care of by Zhang Kai, Guo Nan, Ren Jun, Dai Ming, and others.

The process of swallowing the "Rapid River Cave" was smooth and fast from beginning to end.

As they launched their formal attack, the sun in the western sky was already beginning to set.

By the time the war was completely over, the blood that had gushed from the thousands of corpses did not have time to fully seep into the soil.

The water flows like a stream in the "Rapid Stream Cave," turning the water source a deep crimson color, and the sky also has a blood-stained hue.

In terms of efficiency alone, this is much faster than taking over "Baihetan" and "Jinyeya".

Zhang Kai and others immediately organized their forces to quickly and carefully inventory the battlefield.

Find those on our side who are wounded but not dead, and provide them with centralized treatment;
To finish off those who are not on your side and have lost the ability to take care of themselves due to severe injuries;

All the dead were counted and buried in a deep pit.

—This is not a tradition in the bandit circles, but it is a requirement that Geng Xuan emphasized.

In addition, all valuable materials in the entire "Rapid River Cave" must be searched.

Finally, and most importantly, all the surrendered bandits were "persuaded" as necessary.

There are all sorts of complicated matters to attend to, a whole host of things to do.

Fortunately, the Black Wind Gang is not lacking in capable management talent.

To rise to a high-ranking position or even become a leader in a band of dozens or hundreds of bandits, one needs not only exceptional cultivation skills but also other talents.

In fact, the bandit circle is full of people with various talents.

The Black Wind Gang has never lacked people who can manage people, do things, do business, or have other special skills.

Even those who usually prefer to hide their talents will show themselves in the most positive way as long as they can join the Black Wind Gang alive.

With the assistance of a large number of sand wolves, no matter what kind of secret room or hidden compartment, whether it is hiding people or those who try to get away by playing dead, they will all have nowhere to hide under their scrutiny.

It wasn't until it was completely dark that Zhang Kai and the others managed to get a general idea of ​​what was going on and reported the most important details to Geng Xuan.

……

Before the war:

Black Wind Gang size: 10510 people.

Actual number of participants: 10025.

—485 of them were seriously injured in previous operations. After receiving emergency medication, they survived the critical period and have been holding on until now.

Number of bandits in Jiliudong: 6145.

Post-war:

The Black Wind Gang killed 652 people and seriously injured or disabled 514 others.

2318 people died in the rapids (including those who died in battle and the seriously wounded who were cleared of wounds after the battle), and 3827 surrendered with weapons.

In this battle, nearly 40% of the bandits in "Jiliudong" were killed.

Only about 60% surrendered.

It wasn't that they were tough; it was simply that the Black Wind Gang's actions were too swift, too fierce, and their killings were too satisfying.

By the time the surviving bandits realized what was happening and surrendered, large-scale casualties were already a foregone conclusion.

It was this real, head-on battle that terrified all the bandits who witnessed it, making Zhang Kai and his men's "persuasion" exceptionally smooth.

The process of recruiting new talent has a very low "impurity" content.

Of the 3827 who surrendered, only 15 were eliminated during the recruitment process.

The remaining 3812 people all successfully became new members of the Black Wind Gang.

In this single battle, nearly three thousand people died on both sides. It brought Geng Xuan 92,535 points of good luck and 3050 points of bad luck.

After recruiting new members and eliminating all "impurities," the Black Wind Gang expanded to 13670 members.

However, nearly a thousand people had to withdraw from the front line due to serious injuries or disabilities.

After distributing the newly recruited members into the existing 950 teams, Geng Xuan delivered the most important reward of this battle, which was also what everyone was most concerned about—

Good fortune and blessings.

This blessing of good fortune not only includes the reward for the victory in the "Rapid Current Cave" battle, but also the follow-up to previous operations, as well as the incentive for the new recruits.

This consumed a total of 34,042 points of luck for Geng Xuan.

As this massive influx of good fortune poured down, the lingering gloom that had settled in everyone's hearts due to the fading passion and the deaths of some companions vanished in an instant.

One by one, they became "clear-headed and pure" and "passionate and excited" again.

It's like oil lamps that, after being filled with new oil, burn brighter and brighter.

Those who break through in battle, from those above the Marrow Refinement stage to those below, are not uncommon.

The snowball grew bigger and more solid.

After handling everything properly, Geng Xuan entrusted everything to Zhang Kai, Guo Nan, Ren Jun, Dai Ming, and two other newly promoted peak Marrow Refinement experts.

—Geng Xuan continued the fine tradition of "promoting" two newcomers to the top level wherever he went.

Because of the fundamental change in the "breakthrough mechanism," those who can obtain this path to advancement are people who possess a combination of cultivation strength, ability to do things, and loyalty.

Moreover, compared to the former two, loyalty has the highest priority and possesses a "veto power".

After they finished clearing the "Rapid Stream Cave," Geng Xuan led the main force to continue towards "Wild Wolf Gorge." Then, he left the "Rapid Stream Cave" again and began a new round of travel.

……

When passing through "Wild Wolf Gorge", in order to appease Song Mingzhu, Cao Ao and others, Geng Xuan made a special stop for more than half an hour and listened to them recount everything that had happened in "Wild Wolf Gorge" during this period.

Only when he was about to leave did he casually deliver the news that had shaken them to their core.

"In the next two days, a team of nearly 14,000 people will come from the direction of 'Jiliudong'."

Those are members of another Black Wind Gang, coming to join you.

Prepare to receive them.

At that moment, too many questions were stuck in the throats of Song Mingzhu, Cao Ao, and others, and they wanted to ask them.

But by the time they mustered the courage to ask, Geng Xuan had already left "Wild Wolf Gorge" and continued westward.

It was already late at night on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, and the fifth day was not far away.

According to what Geng Xuan learned, the Xuanyou Iron Cavalry would arrive at various bandit gathering places around the seventh day of the lunar new year.

The time he has to maneuver is rapidly disappearing.

Considering that Youzhou has only just devoured one "Fish Scale Dock", there are still three places left to be swallowed up.

If we continue with the original strategy, there is not enough time.

Having reached this point, Geng Xuan was unwilling to miss one or two bandit strongholds, which would eventually fall into Dong Guan's hands.

Geng Xuan decided to make some bolder attempts and take bigger steps.

Before dawn on the fifth day, Geng Xuan met up with Tie Lang, who had led more than 3,000 people, several dozen miles west of Baimagang.

He said to Iron Wolf, "Next, we need to speed things up."

Iron Wolf, who had also anticipated the timing of the Xuan You Iron Cavalry's appearance, instantly understood Geng Xuan's intention.

"How would you like to make the adjustments, Commander?" Iron Wolf asked immediately.

Geng Xuan said, "Let's take over 'Baimagang' first."

“That’s not difficult,” Iron Wolf said.

This is exactly what they were supposed to do.

The operation began quickly.

Because the focus is no longer on maximizing team size, but rather on prioritizing time and efficiency.

With Geng Xuan's cooperation, Tie Lang only took nearly two hours to convert the largest bandit gangs in Baimagang, which had spies from the Dark Night Division lurking there.

These more than a thousand new recruits were turned into inside agents and placed in key locations throughout "Baimagang".

Then, the more than 3,000 members of the Black Wind Gang, who had been preparing outside, launched a surprise attack on "White Horse Ridge," where nearly 7,000 bandits had gathered.

Even though these more than 3,000 people had been strengthened by the "Red Fortune Blessing" and were all gathered under one banner, their actions were unified and their morale was high.

However, if it stops there, the situation won't look too good.

However, when the bandits gathered at "White Horse Ridge" were completely drawn to the more than three thousand people who were launching a frontal attack on them, the more than one thousand newly recruited members of the Black Wind Gang scattered inside immediately began to "go berserk" from within, launching targeted attacks on all non-Black Wind Gang members in the surrounding area.

Chaos, slaughter, and death spread instantly across Baimagang.

Geng Xuan also stopped standing idly by.

Those combatants above the Marrow Refinement level, especially those in the mid-Marrow Refinement stage, late-Marrow Refinement stage, and one peak Marrow Refinement stage who could seriously hinder the Black Wind Gang's operations, all became his targets.

Moreover, he no longer aims for uniforms.

To ensure that the power he exerts does not exceed their tolerance limits, he always acts with a degree of "caution" when dealing with these people, which undoubtedly hinders his operational efficiency.

Now, Geng Xuan no longer has such concerns.

Do it as quickly as possible.

Do whatever is most efficient.

Under such circumstances, those unfortunate enough to become his targets rarely left with intact corpses.

As for those who survived, there wasn't a single one among those in the late or peak stages of the Marrow Refinement realm.

On the contrary, those in the early and middle stages of Marrow Refinement, because of the huge gap in strength between them and him, could be completely subdued by using group attack skills like "Heart-Shattering Roar," without him needing to target them one by one. In fact, many of them were lucky enough to survive.

The Black Wind Clan's expansion both internally and externally was enough to cause the complete collapse of "White Horse Ridge".

Geng Xuan's intervention left "Baimagang" with no chance to struggle before it was directly plunged into "brain death".

When the surviving bandits completely gave up resistance and surrendered, less than an hour had passed since the attack began.

……

Two hours after the battle ended.

Some members of the Black Wind Gang were still active in various parts of "White Horse Ridge," collecting supplies, especially various kinds of food and weapons.

Horses that could be used as both mounts and military rations were gathered and sorted, regardless of whether they were dead or alive.

Having completed the recruitment and bestowal of good fortune, Geng Xuan said to Tie Lang:
"The supply train is now in your hands."

Iron Wolf nodded emphatically and said, "Don't worry, Captain, I'll set off immediately once I'm all packed."

Geng Xuan nodded and said to Fu Yunfeng beside him, "Let's go, let's set off for 'Sanya Pass'."

Fu Yunfeng was promoted after the "Fish Scale Dock" operation ended because of his ability and loyalty, and became a newly promoted peak marrow refinement expert.

Soon, the six thousand Azure Horses, all activated by Geng Xuan using his perfected "Horse Judging Technique," began a rapid march fueled by their burning life force.

When these 6,000 riders set off from Baimagang, it was around noon on the fifth day of the first lunar month.

When they arrived at the "Sanya Pass" nearly 800 li away, it was around 11 p.m. on the fifth day of the first lunar month.

Without any rest or buffer, the Black Wind Gang's 6,000 cavalrymen, who had marched 800 li in half a day, charged straight into the "Three Passes" under Geng Xuan's personal leadership.

The other members, using methods commonly employed by bandits, carried out a thorough looting and massacre of the entire "Sanya Pass".

And to spread the "decree" of "laying down arms and surrendering" everywhere.

Geng Xuan continued his "brain death attack".

All combatants above the Marrow Refinement level, especially those in the late Marrow Refinement stage and the peak Marrow Refinement stage, became his targets.

If given more time, and if they were to see their own will and determination to conquer the "Three Passes," the pragmatic ones would readily choose to surrender sincerely.

But the chance is gone.

In order to devour the entire "Three Passes" as quickly as possible, they all died swiftly at Geng Xuan's hands. (End of Chapter)