Start with a red name

For the "Black Wind Army," the entire process of seizing "Huangwei Island" took place at night.

Although the whole process was difficult and exhausting.

The deepest feeling among all those who survived until dawn was "exhaustion".

With Geng Xuan working tirelessly behind the scenes, he was the first to break the toughest "bones".

Those who followed him and "picked up" along the way didn't have a deep understanding of that battle; they were all somewhat confused throughout.

In comparison, this time, the experience of taking down the "Watergate Army" was much clearer and stronger for all participants.

Contrary to everyone else's feelings, Geng Xuan saw this battle as uneventful and without any major upheavals.

Compared to everything that happened during the battle, it was the post-war handling and sorting out that consumed more of his energy and time, and it was also the part he cared about the most.

Once the reorganization was complete, Geng Xuan had a "refresh" understanding of the battle and the changes within the "Black Wind Army."

……

Participating forces:

Our side:

Iron Cavalry: 2000 cavalry

Combat troops: 19,366

Total: [11,573 people]

enemy:

Watergate Army: 8147 people

Iron Cavalry: 3426 cavalry

Total: [11,573 people]

……

Battle damage:

Our side:

Iron Cavalry: 784 cavalry

Soldiers: 2756

Total: [3540 people]

enemy:

Watergate Army casualties: 3286

Surrendered or captured: 4861 people

Cavalry casualties: 1864

Surrendered or captured: 1562 people

……

Elimination during recruitment:
Watergate prisoners of war: 1944

Iron Cavalry Prisoners: 802

……

New recruits:

Watergate Army origins: 2917 people

Enemy cavalry origin: 802 men

Total: 3719 people.

……

In this battle, the Black Wind Army suffered 3540 casualties and 3719 new recruits.

With one out and one in, the Black Wind Army's size increased by a mere 179 people.

Compared to the number of troops deployed, the increase was less than one percent.

If we take into account that among the more than 3,500 who died, there was not only one person at the peak of Marrow Refinement, but also four people at the later stage, and a large number of people at the middle and early stages of Marrow Refinement.

Of the more than 3,700 newly recruited soldiers, some possessed the combat strength of the Marrow Refinement Realm. However, if we include our own losses, more than 50 soldiers with combat strength above the Marrow Refinement Realm were lost.

If it weren't for the 106,830 points of good fortune consumed in this "blessing of good fortune," and the additional boost given to over 20,000 new and old members of the "Black Wind Army," the increase in combat power of less than 200 would not have been enough to make up for the overall deficit caused by the loss of combat power at the Marrow Refining level.

However, in Geng Xuan's view, this battle to seize the "Water Gate Army" was not a loss as long as the income was sufficient to cover the expenses.

Instead, he made money; he made a fortune.

The truth is that not only did he not lose money, but he also made a slight "surplus", which met his expectations and even exceeded them.

……

The death toll on both sides exceeded 11,000.

After the outflow and inflow, the size of the "Black Wind Army" not only did not decrease, but actually increased slightly.

This means that the sudden emergence of this "huge hole" affecting more than 11,000 people was entirely due to Dong Guan.

The two annihilation battles at "Wild Wolf Gorge" and "Swallow Peak" resulted in Dong Guan losing approximately two thousand cavalrymen each time, which was equivalent to stabbing Dong Guan twice deeply with a knife.

Although the amount of blood lost was not large, it was enough to cause him excruciating pain.

The Battle of Huangwei Island directly cost Dong Guan 30,000 troops, which was like a knife to his heart.

— 20,000 cavalry and 10,000 auxiliary troops.

Once he realizes what's happening, it will not only cause him to faint from the pain, but also deal a significant and direct blow to Dong Guan's "maximum health".

Before he could react, another knife stabbed him hard.

The amount of health lost directly exceeded 10,000 points.

Considering the importance of the waterways under the jurisdiction of the "Water Gate Army," the damage inflicted on Dong Guan was even greater than the ten thousand points of health that were directly reflected in the water.

Moreover, the deaths of over 11,000 people brought Geng Xuan over 400,000 points of good fortune.

Even after deducting the more than 100,000 points consumed in "Good Fortune Blessing", there are still more than 300,000 points left over.

For Geng Xuan, this was pure profit.

……

In addition, this battle also yielded four tower ships, thirty cart ships, and one hundred ram ships.

And three hundred ordinary sailing and rowing boats with a carrying capacity between five hundred and one thousand li.

In addition, after deducting the losses of both sides, the number of Xuanyou horses has increased by more than two thousand.

Correspondingly, the more than a thousand Xuanyou horses lost in the fierce battle were not wasted; they were all turned into new horse meat reserves for the "Black Wind Army".

However, apart from a very few oddballs like Zhang Shan, the entire "Black Wind Army" was indifferent to this benefit, and some even felt nauseous.

In addition, there were over 3,500 sets of iron cavalry armor, tens of thousands of various weapons, and enough provisions for 10,000 men for half a month.

There are also medicines, supplementary training resources, cultivation techniques, money, and so on.

Although Geng Xuan didn't care much about these gains, it didn't stop the "Black Wind Army," whose main members were still "sand bandits," from carrying out their fine traditions after the war, and conducting a thorough cleanup of the battlefield.

All valuable resources were loaded onto ships and taken away.

Although, overall, the gains from this battle were significantly less than those from the Battle of Huangweidao.

However, in absolute terms, the quantity is also incredibly abundant.

……

"If we include the more than 20,000 troops under Song Mingzhu's command, the 'Black Wind Army' now numbers more than 44,000, nearly 45,000!" Geng Xuan thought to himself.

This is still the most conservative estimate.

Based on Geng Xuan's private speculation about Song Mingzhu's actions during this period, as well as the waves of residual red names that kept coming from the north, it was clear that Song Mingzhu and his group had not stayed put.

Geng Xuan guessed that even if he stayed on "Huangwei Island" and didn't go anywhere else.

Before long, the "Black Wind Army" will expand to more than 50,000.

This is a force of 50,000 men whose strength has increased by leaps and bounds, and who have already "demystified" Dong Guan on a spiritual level, and are now willing to fight him to the death!

It was nearly noon on the 12th.

According to the original plan, the troops of "Huangweidao" have already set off. Tens of thousands of bandits are also about to arrive at the north bank of the Hanghe River.

On the north bank of the Hanghe River, armies that were "fully prepared" began to be alert and made final preparations for the upcoming river crossing.

Now, all of that is naturally gone.

It will only be a vivid expression of imagination on paper, and will never actually happen.

The actual timeline.

The two initial stab wounds inflicted on Dong Guan's body from "Wild Wolf Gorge" and "Swallow Peak" were known to him around the eighth day of the month.

On the morning of the ninth day, a formal response was made. Along the Linxuanqinghai line, whether it was "Huangwei Island" hiding in the depths of the water or the remote northern shore of the Linxuanqinghai, all felt the changes brought about by this "response" at the same time on the evening of the ninth day.

Based on this estimate, the forces furthest from Dong Guan and his group, located on the westernmost side of Youzhou, would receive Dong Guan's latest "secret order" no later than noon on the tenth day of the month.

Just as the troops along the Hang River were about to move south but had not yet done so, they were pinned down on the north bank of the Hang River.

This reaction also means that, at the latest yesterday afternoon, that is, the afternoon of the 11th, Dong Guan and others were able to sense the abnormality of "Huangwei Island".

After a large group of messengers carrying the latest "secret orders" left Chizhu Plain and went to various places, Dong Guan and his group immediately set off from Chizhu Plain and headed west towards the Xuanqing Sea, instead of continuing to stay in Chizhu Plain and wait.

Dong Guan and others realized that there was a problem on Huangwei Island even earlier.

Now, it is nearly noon on the 12th.

Not only is the massive wound on "Huangwei Island" likely to have been noticed by Dong Guan and his group, but the wound that occurred at the "Water Gate Army" site is also very likely to have been noticed by Dong Guan and his group.

At this moment, having finished dealing with everything on the island, Geng Xuan stood on a huge protruding rock on the eastern side of "Huangwei Island," gazing at the vast waters in the distance.

His eyes were vacant, his mind wandering.

He mentally simulated the situation that was about to unfold.

Just then, Geng Xuan heard light footsteps behind him.

Geng Xuan didn't turn around; he knew the person's identity just from the sound of their footsteps.

Iron Wolf, who has reached the second realm of perfection, and Xiang Jinxiu, who has reached the first realm of perfection.

Zhang Kai, Guo Nan, and Dai Ming, who have been blessed with good fortune and have reached a state of perfect enlightenment, are among those who have achieved this.

And Yu Qiuhe, who advanced to the peak of Marrow Refinement thanks to this blessing.

In addition, there were four "advisors," including Liu Mu and Tan Ze.

Sensing their approach, Geng Xuan snapped out of his deep thoughts and turned to look at them.

"Commander," everyone bowed in greeting.

Geng Xuan's gaze swept over everyone.

Finally, the question landed on Iron Wolf: "Such a big commotion... something's up?"

Iron Wolf bowed deeply and asked, "Commander, what should our next move be?"

After hearing Tie Lang's words, Geng Xuan gave him a deep look but did not reply immediately.

If it were just this one issue, there would be no need for such a "grand fuss".

Geng Xuan looked at Liu Mu, who had his head bowed and eyes lowered, and said:
"You haven't given up on the plan you were trying to sell me earlier?"

Moreover, judging from the current situation, not only did he not give up, but Liu Mu also persuaded even more people.

Tie Lang, Xiang Jinxiu, Zhang Kai, Guo Nan, and others are all high-ranking officials in the more than 20,000-strong Black Wind Army on Huangwei Island.

Yu Qiuhe was the person in charge of the boat camp.

Their presence here together clearly indicates that they were all tempted by the plan Liu Mu had previously tried to sell them, which they had ultimately rejected.

Unfortunately--

Faced with Geng Xuan's questioning, Liu Mu remained calm and said:

"Since you have appointed me as the Director of the General Staff Department, I should fulfill my duties accordingly."

If it's an action plan that benefits the 'Black Wind Army,' and I happen to have thought of it, then I should bring it up and try my best to make everyone understand the necessity and urgency of the plan.

...As for whether to adopt it in the end, that is of course up to you, Commander.

But that's not something I should be thinking about.

Geng Xuan nodded, acknowledging the legitimacy of Liu Mu's actions.

but--

Geng Xuan looked at Tie Lang and said:

"Currently, the number of troops on the island is greater than the number of troops under Song Mingzhu's command."

There are also too many ships to spare.

You should address this matter immediately and have the General Staff devise a more suitable transfer plan.

I'm not sure whether to continue sending manpower and ships to Song Mingzhu.

My only requirement is to make full use of the island's resources and accelerate the incorporation and integration of various forces within the Xuanqing Sea region.

Upon hearing his arrangement, everyone was slightly taken aback.

Iron Wolf paused for a moment, then quickly said:
"Commander, after careful consideration, we have found that although we have withdrawn from the 'Water Gate Army's' garrison..."

However, that waterway will remain effectively ownerless until the 14th.

During this time, even though Dong Guan observed our movements, he was powerless to stop us.

But once this window of opportunity closes, that area of ​​water will inevitably be occupied again by Dong Guan's forces.

It will become very difficult for us to enter the Hang River through that waterway again.

It might even require playing it all over again!
This time it will be even more difficult!

Geng Xuan nodded slightly, acknowledging the reasoning behind Tie Lang's words, but he still stuck to his own opinion.

But she still offered a brief explanation, saying softly:
“We’ve taken too big a step before; now it’s time to slow down.”

"Moreover, the primary task now is to integrate the forces within the Xuanqing Sea before Dong Guan's forces re-enter it. This is more important than rushing to carry out the next big plan."

Everyone was silent.

Having been pushed to this level step by step by Geng Xuan, they are no longer the same people they were a month ago.

They also had their own insights into the situation in Xuanyou and Erzhou.

The reasoning that Geng Xuan gave was certainly reasonable.

But to everyone else, it sounded rather awkward.

Previously, the "Black Wind Army" was always led by Geng Xuan, who dragged the others forward at a rapid pace, as if a ferocious beast with its gaping maw was chasing after them.

But now, just as they were gradually getting used to Geng Xuan's unrestrained and wild rhythm, he suddenly turned around, stood behind everyone, and warned them:
"Take it easy, slow down, don't rush, don't rush at all!"

Is this...reasonable?

However, they all felt that this was very unreasonable.

But once Geng Xuan got to this point, no one insisted anymore.

The military commander is the master of an army.

When opinions differ, no matter what reasons others may have, they can only unconditionally obey the commander's orders.

After Tie Lang and the others bowed respectfully, they went to make arrangements according to Geng Xuan's instructions.

Liu Mu, Tan Ze, and the other three slowed their pace slightly, but none of them stopped beside Geng Xuan to continue trying to persuade him.

Watching the crowd disappear into the distance, Geng Xuan sighed softly in his heart.

"The plan is a good plan, but unfortunately... it conflicts with my fundamental strategy."

To be honest, when Geng Xuan first heard Liu Mu propose that plan, he was really tempted.

At that time, the "Black Wind Army" had just captured the "Water Gate Army's" stronghold on the east bank of the waterway.

The cavalry duel that took place around the post station has also been decided.

The "Black Wind Army" is quickly cleaning up the battlefield, taking stock of their spoils, and moving supplies.

A busy scene.

Liu Mu then offered a suggestion to Geng Xuan, who was standing beside him:

"Leave some men to clean up the battlefield and guard the prisoners. We'll immediately continue south as quickly as possible, cross this body of water, and enter the Hang River!" (End of Chapter)