Chapter 446: Chapter 446 Mind Battle
Yang Xiao arranged for manpower through the night, and Xia Luo had dispatched 3,000 elites from Shanyun City, while Xiao Zhe had called for another 3,000 elites from Nanmu City. Xiao Zhe swiftly led his troops and arrived first in the suburbs of Nanmu City, followed shortly by Xia Luo with his men.
Six thousand troops occupied the main thoroughfare leading from Golden Sand Town to Nanmu City, and everyone spent the night outdoors.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiao arrived near the suburbs with Gong Yu, Monk Ben Yin, Lan Xin, and others to rest in a nearby building that had not collapsed, waiting for the attack.
Zhao Gang also organized a reserve force of five thousand within the city, ready to fight back in case the enemy breached the defenses and a decisive battle ensued within the city.
...
Although Xie Jun had taken Golden Sand Town, he felt somewhat uneasy.
"Zhou Hua, go to the Genetic Store and open up the teleportation channel to Nanmu City to see if the other side has closed off the passageways."
"Okay."
Moments later, Zhou Hua rushed into a nearby house, saying:
"Boss, all teleportation channels from Golden Sand Town to Nanmu City have been closed by the enemy."
Xie Jun inhaled deeply, saying:
"It seems they’re already aware of the trouble in Golden Sand Town. This Yang Xiao is truly exceptional. When we’ve used the same tactic to attack other cities before, it’s rare for someone to catch on so quickly."
Zhou Hua was startled, nervously asking:
"Boss, what should we do now?"
"What’s there to panic about! We came here to attack them. Whether they know it or not, we’re still going to strike. It’s just that if they’re aware, they may make preparations in advance. Hehe, so what if Yang Xiao prepares in advance? Tomorrow, I’ll still slaughter him just the same."
Xie Jun was full of confidence in himself.
After pondering for a while, Zhou Hua said:
"Boss, if Yang Xiao and his men are prepared, wouldn’t our attack tomorrow morning play right into their hands? What if he has set traps waiting for us—wouldn’t that be a disaster?"
Xie Jun thought for a moment, then fell silent for a while.
Although he did not fear Yang Xiao’s traps, the Genetic Evolution Level of his warriors was not high. Compared to Yang Xiao’s men, who generally had a higher level of evolution, this was evident from the Genetic Evolution Level of the city itself.
Nanmu City’s current Genetic Evolution Level was 19, while the total Genetic Evolution Level of the four cities under Xie Jun’s control was at most 17, with some as low as 15.
"But now, Golden Sand Town is the only path available. If we were to change course, it would be too late to launch an attack from elsewhere. Moreover, shifting our strategy back and forth would severely impact morale. No need to panic—tomorrow, I’ll directly challenge Yang Xiao. Once I kill him, his subordinates will naturally surrender."
The next morning came, and Yang Xiao’s men were up early, arranging breakfast, each of them nervously awaiting Xie Jun’s assault.
Apart from Monk Ben Yin, Lan Xin, Gong Yu, Lan Xin, and others who had seen Yang Xiao’s prowess in the desert and were full of confidence in him, most of the others still had their doubts.
After all, Xie Jun had broken through to the Advanced Enhanced Gene level, possessing crushing level superiority, against which ordinary people stood no chance.
Even Xia Luo, Xiao Zhe and others were anxious at heart. Fortunately, with top fighters like Gong Yu, Monk Ben Yin, and Lan Xin on their side, everyone thought that, at the very least, these masters together should be able to confront Xie Jun.
The people waited until the sun was high in the sky, but Xie Jun still had not come.
Long Yongjun asked:
"Boss, do you think Xie Jun might not come after all?"
"How could that be possible? He’s committed to this major operation—it’s not something one would abandon halfway. Besides, once Xie Jun starts an offensive, he won’t stop until the battle is won."
"Then is it possible he knows we’re on guard and will attack Nanmu City from another direction?"
Xiao Zhe, Xia Luo, and others voiced similar concerns.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Xiao said firmly:
"No, it’s over twenty kilometers from Golden Sand Town to Nanmu City. If he abandons this main road and takes another path, it would be time-consuming and not worth it. The most important thing is, since he dares to attack Nanmu City, that means he has sufficient confidence and backing. Knowing that we’re prepared, he will still force his way through. Everyone, stay alert and be patient. There’s no need to rush."
...
At this moment, in Golden Sand Town, Xie Jun is leisurely gnawing on a roast rabbit.
Zhou Hua, standing beside him, says anxiously:
"Boss, when do we set off? The sun is already high in the sky."
Xie Jun chuckles and says:
"Zhou Hua, you graduated from military academy, too. Keep your shirt on. The ancients said, in a standoff between two armies, the initial charge is fierce, but then it weakens, and on the third time, it exhausts. Do you understand what that means?"
Zhou Hua smiles awkwardly and says:
"Of course, it means that the morale is high during the first charge, but with prolonged time, the morale will decline."
"Heh, think about it. Yang Xiao thinks he has foreseen the future, knowing that I am coming to attack Nanmu City. Surely, he must have called in his troops to block the city entrance overnight, wanting to catch me by surprise. I bet they’ve gotten up early in the morning and are all ready, just waiting for me to enter their ambush. And now? I’m not in a rush to attack him. Let him wait until he’s flustered and doubting life, and when the morale has dropped, then I’ll appear suddenly before them. Think about it, their troops have been waiting for hours, their determination to fight to death has already faded, whereas we’ve been actively waiting. If we strike at this moment when our morale is high, who has the better odds?"
Zhou Hua starts, then slaps his forehead and exclaims:
"Brilliant, Brother Jun is really brilliant! Truly putting the Thirty-Six Stratagems into practice! My simple mind can’t compare to your wisdom!"
Xie Jun bursts into hearty laughter!
"Prepare lunch for everyone. After we’re full, we’ll set off. Tonight, we’ll spend the night in Nanmu City. You said last time that there were a few pretty girls from Kongming Academy and Xianan University, heh, tonight I’ll reward you with one to make all the brothers happy!"
Zhou Hua immediately grins wickedly and says:
"Thanks, Brother Jun, I’ll get to it."
Zhou Hua walks out to the group of warriors and shouts loudly:
"Brothers, get ready for lunch, after we eat, we’ll head straight there. Brother Jun said, today we attack Nanmu City, and tonight we’ll spend the night there. Each brother gets a girl, we’ll all have a good time!"
"Great!"
"Brother Jun is mighty!"
"We’ll take down Nanmu City in one fell swoop this afternoon!"
...
Roars of excitement ring out as each man looks eager, as if they could already claim a pretty girl.
On the outskirts of Nanmu City, everyone has been waiting until noon, and Xie Jun’s troops still haven’t arrived. Many have been up since early morning, full of anticipation, but by noon, that anticipation has completely dissipated.
Everyone starts to show signs of fatigue and irritability.
Xia Luo says to Yang Xiao:
"Yang Xiao, what trick is that Xie Jun playing? He wouldn’t not come at all, would he?"
"He will definitely come back. Perhaps he’s playing mind games. Huang Wen, how many people do you currently have in your Flying People Team?"
"Between Nanmu City and Shanyun City, there are more than eight hundred in total."
Yang Xiao nods and says:
"Since the other side is playing psychological tricks with us, why not take your eight hundred Flying People Team and fly to Golden Sand Town. Launch a volley at them. Remember, do not engage them; after firing two waves of Feathered Arrows, return immediately. Got it?"
"Understood!"
Huang Wen immediately leads the eight hundred Flying People to take to the sky, darkening the sky, heading toward Golden Sand Town.