Great Wilderness Demon Lord

Xiao Yunlan remained silent for a long time before slowly raising his head. His gaze was firm, and his tone was solemn: "This subordinate understands."

After several rounds of drinks, the conversation between the two became increasingly in-depth, shedding some of the formalities and becoming more candid and open.

Han Zhong's face was flushed with alcohol, the seriousness in his eyes eased slightly, and he became more talkative than before.

He leaned back in his chair, gazing intently at the map on the wall, and murmured to himself, a hint of confusion in his voice: "Tell me, what are those barbarians thinking?"

Xiao Yunlan turned slightly to the side and asked in a calm tone, "Who is the deputy commander?"

Han Zhong withdrew his gaze and slowly said, "The Wolf Rong suffered a great loss last year, and the Black Claw Tribe was severely weakened and has not yet recovered. Logically speaking, they should have restrained their strength, rested for a few years, and recuperated."

"But in the Great Wilderness, there are more than just the Wolf Rong barbarian tribes."

"The Tiger-Man tribe and the Leopard-Man tribe are both fierce and skilled in battle; which one is easy to deal with?"

"These barbarian tribes seem to have some kind of agreement, taking turns to invade the northern border every few years. This year you attack, next year they attack, they are very coordinated."

Xiao Yunlan pondered and said, "This humble general has also heard this explanation, but I have never been able to understand why they rotate in this way, and what the reason is."

Han Zhong shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Who knows? Perhaps there are some unwritten rules among their barbarian tribes, or perhaps there are their own ways of survival on the grasslands. We outsiders simply cannot understand."

"But there is one thing I see very clearly—although the Wolf Rong are wounded and their strength has not yet recovered, the Tiger and Leopard tribes are still powerful and their strength has not diminished."

"If they suddenly attack from another direction while we are pushing forward with all our might, catching us off guard, then we'll be in real trouble."

Xiao Yunlan frowned slightly and asked thoughtfully, "Does the Princess have a solution?"

Han Zhongdao said, "Of course. The plan is to divide our troops and set up defenses at various strategic passes to guard against surprise attacks by the barbarians."

"The number of troops that can be mobilized for the Northern Expedition is limited. If it is divided and distributed among various strongholds, the troop strength on each side will not be substantial enough to form an effective deterrent."

"If a real fight breaks out, it's impossible to say who can hold out and who will be defeated first."

He turned to look at Xiao Yunlan, his tone becoming increasingly solemn: "Last year, in the battle at Wangbei Fort, you won a victory against overwhelming odds, making a name for yourself and showcasing the prestige of Wangbei Fort."

"The eldest princess trusts you completely, and that is why she dares to entrust you with such an important task as Wangbei Fort."

"But you must understand in your heart—Wangbeibao has never been an isolated city. From now on, it will become the core of the entire new defense line and our foundation in the heart of the Great Wilderness."

"You must not only defend this city, but also be able to take the initiative to attack and support the fortified villages and military towns on all sides. You cannot just worry about the safety of your own side."

Xiao Yunlan nodded slightly, his tone firm: "I will fill the quota of three thousand soldiers as soon as possible, and the soldiers' training will not be neglected. I will not dare to slack off in the slightest."

Before the autumn harvest, Wangbeibao will have about 1,500 soldiers who are ready to fight.

Han nodded, a hint of approval on his face: "Fifteen hundred men is enough for now. If a battle really breaks out, we can still send troops from Zhenhuang Pass to provide support."

"The key is to set up the framework and train the soldiers properly, so that those barbarians know that Wangbei Fort is a tough nut to crack."

Xiao Yunlan remained silent for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, and asked softly, "Vice Commander, may I ask a question?"

"Do you think the Princess's plan to explore the vast wilderness is feasible?"

Han Zhong was taken aback, clearly not expecting him to be so direct. He then gave a wry smile, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Your question is quite straightforward, without beating around the bush at all."

He picked up the wine bowl on the table, drank the remaining wine in one gulp, and when he put the bowl down, his tone became serious: "To be honest, I'm not sure either, I have no confidence at all."

"A three-hundred-mile defense line, ten fortified villages, and three military towns. It sounds magnificent and glorious, but if it were to be deployed, troops, provisions, and management would be needed everywhere."

"Not every captain in the North has your ability to turn a few hundred scattered soldiers into an elite force."

Some fortified villages, once built, might be breached and destroyed by barbarians before their defenses could be solidified.

Xiao Yunlan pressed further, "If that's the case, why didn't the deputy commander advise the princess to slow down and wait for the right opportunity before proceeding?"

Han Zhong shook his head slightly, his tone full of helplessness and exhaustion: "I tried to persuade her, I tried to persuade her again and again, but she wouldn't listen, and she couldn't listen."

"She wasn't unaware of the risks involved, nor was she unaware that pushing forward in this way was too risky, but she had no choice and no way out."

"The imperial court is pressing hard, and the major families in the capital are also eyeing the terrain and mineral resources of the Great Wilderness, each wanting to seize the greatest benefit from it, and they will not allow her to delay even a little."

The eldest princess must firmly grasp the Northern Expeditionary Army in her own hands, defend her territory, and retain military power in the northern border so that she cannot be easily replaced by the people from the capital.

"You come from the capital, and are from the Xiao family, so you naturally know the situation in the capital."

"Within the royal family, many princes are eyeing the position of commander of the Northern Expeditionary Army, all wanting to hold this elite force in their hands as the foundation for their succession and as capital to contend for the throne."

"The powerful families want profit, the princes want power, and the eldest princess is caught in the middle. She can't retreat even a step, nor can she retreat."

"If someone else were to take command of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and that person were too eager for quick success and instant benefits, only concerned with pleasing the court and seeking merit, ignoring the actual situation in the north and causing a huge mess, it would be better for her to bite the bullet and take on the responsibility herself."

He sighed heavily, his tone filled with a sense of helplessness and sorrow: "Besides, we people eat the government's food and receive the government's salary. We are the ones who eat the emperor's food, and we must bear the emperor's worries."

"The imperial court wants to explore the wilderness and expand the territory. As soldiers, we can only obey orders and fight with all our might."

"Whether it will succeed or not, whether we can win or not, we'll have to fight first. If we lose, it's fate; if we win, it's an achievement. There's no other choice."

Xiao Yunlan lowered his eyes and remained silent, his fingertips gently stroking the rim of the wine bowl, his expression solemn and his eyes full of contemplation.

Seeing his silence, Han Zhong suddenly asked, "Yunlan, do you think what I said was too negative and discouraging?"

Xiao Yunlan slowly shook his head, his tone calm and frank: "What the deputy commander said is the truth, the truth of the Northern Border, and also our current situation."