At this time, Xiao Yunlong had led his 200,000 troops to a position twenty miles outside Aslanze City in the Snow Wolf Kingdom and made camp. He was, of course, aware that Bruzagh from the rear was rushing back with 300,000 troops to provide support.
As night fell, Xiao Yunlong stood on high ground, gazing at the vast city ahead, its lights twinkling. He smiled slightly and said, "I didn't expect Bruzagh to be so fast. I was originally planning to try and attack it, but it seems there won't be enough time now."
Jun Bufan, standing beside him, asked, "Big Brother, from what you're saying, you really had plans to attack Aslanze City?"
"Of course. Since I've come all this way, not trying to attack it wouldn't be my style!"
Speaking of this, Xiao Yunlong shook his head and smiled, curling his lips in a teasing manner. "However, there will be opportunities. Next time, I will definitely break through this city. The Snow Wolf Kingdom dares to collude with the other northern desert countries to invade our Dragon Country. If we don't retaliate and make them hurt and fear, they'll truly think we're easy to bully!"
"Big Brother is absolutely right. The Snow Wolf Kingdom has wolfish ambitions. We must teach them a harsh lesson this time!" Jun Bufan snorted coldly.
"Let's go, back to the camp. Call everyone to gather; there's a mission!"
Immediately, Xiao Yunlong and the two descended the mountain and returned to the camp. Li Jiuxiao and the others were already waiting in the camp.
"My Lord, are we preparing to launch an attack?" asked the vanguard general Tu Fu impatiently.
Because as soon as they arrived here, Xiao Yunlong had instructed him to be ready to attack Aslanze City at any moment, which had made Tu Fu excited.
"I'm not planning to attack for now. Bruzagh's speed in returning is a bit too fast, so we need to make some adjustments!"
As Xiao Yunlong spoke, he directly issued an order: "Qinglong, you will immediately lead 150,000 troops to Sky Burial Mountain to rendezvous with Xuanwu and complete the ambush preparations!"
"Yes!" The Azure Dragon general Li Jiuxiao bowed and then left swiftly.
"My Lord, what about me?" Tu Fu quickly asked.
"You will lead the remaining 50,000 soldiers to guard this place, preventing the 50,000 troops in Aslanze City from taking the opportunity to sally out and form a pincer attack with Bruzagh's army!"
"So that's how it is. No problem then!" Tu Fu immediately replied.
Xiao Yunlong said solemnly, "Remember, if there is no unusual activity from Aslanze City, you must not force an attack. Your true mission is to obstruct and cut off the 50,000 defenders in the city. However, to lull the enemy commander in the rear and create a false impression, you must organize feigned attacks on Aslanze City during this period!"
"Understood, my Lord. I guarantee the mission will be completed!" The White Tiger general Tu Fu nodded.
"Tu Fu, your mission is crucial. Whether the ambush in Sky Burial Mountain is successful depends on you, so be sure not to be careless or act impulsively!"
Xiao Yunlong said earnestly.
"Don't worry, my Lord. Although I'm usually reckless and impulsive, I never act rashly on the battlefield!" Tu Fu replied.
Xiao Yunlong nodded, then took Liu Ruyan, Jun Bufan, and others and left directly.
The night grew deeper. Two hours later, Li Jiuxiao arrived at Sky Burial Mountain with his army and met up with Zhuge Wushuang. The two great generals then began a series of ambush operations.
Xiao Yunlong did not meticulously plan the specific ambush details. After all, as the supreme commander, he could not personally oversee every single matter; otherwise, he would be overwhelmed.
The supreme commander only needed to establish the general strategic direction and then delegate it to the generals below for execution. Moreover, both Li Jiuxiao and Zhuge Wushuang possessed considerable military talent, so he was confident they could handle it.
Xiao Yunlong merely drew 30,000 elite troops from them and stationed them at the exit of Sky Burial Mountain, which was also the final defensive line.
As the night deepened, the wind howled across the northern desert land, and a chilling aura permeated the heavens and earth.
In the early hours of the morning, Bruzagh finally arrived with his 300,000-strong army before Sky Burial Mountain. However, they did not enter the low-lying terrain of Sky Burial Mountain, which resembled a gourd, but stopped at the mouth of the mountain pass.
As supreme commanders, and with several generals under their command, they naturally possessed some insight. Clearly, many had already noticed something amiss with Sky Burial Mountain.
"Commander, the terrain of this mountain range is very low, shaped like a gourd. If the enemy is ambushing from higher ground, once we enter, the consequences would be unimaginable!"
"Yes, Commander. We cannot afford to be careless about this!" Many generals spoke up at this moment.
Commander Bruzagh also looked at the mountain range ahead, his brow furrowed in thought. It seemed he couldn't make up his mind for a while.
However, at this very moment, urgent news suddenly arrived from Aslanze City.
"Good for you, King Xiao Bei! You actually dare to attack Aslanze City. Do you really think this commander is a pushover!"
Bruzagh was furious. He immediately waved his hand and ordered, "All soldiers, listen up! Immediately march through Sky Burial Mountain to reinforce Aslanze City ahead!"
"Commander, you cannot! Even if they are already attacking Aslan City, we cannot rule out the possibility of an ambush in the Sky Burial Mountain area. Are you being rash by doing this?"
At this point, Brownie, the deputy commander, stepped forward. He was from the Stan Kingdom, one of the three northern desert countries.
"What? Are you questioning this commander's orders?" Bruzagh was instantly enraged.
Brownie said, "I am not questioning the supreme commander's authority, but for safety's sake, we must be cautious. The 300,000 troops must not enter Sky Burial Mountain all at once. I am willing to lead my 100,000 troops to provide rear support just in case. What do you think, Commander?"
"That is acceptable. Then you will lead your 100,000 troops to remain in place for rear support. Besides, with me leading 200,000 troops to reinforce, it should be enough!"
After Bruzagh finished speaking, he waved his hand and led the remaining 200,000 troops directly into Sky Burial Mountain.
"They're coming. Bruzagh's mind is ultimately too simple, too easily provoked and rash!"
Li Jiuxiao, ambushing at a high point in Sky Burial Mountain, snorted coldly and ordered, "Pass down the order for the regiments and battalions ambushing at various lines to enter combat readiness. We will engage in fifteen minutes!"
The messenger nodded and then used his equipment to relay the order.
Xiao Yunlong, who was stationed at the final defensive line, also received the news. He smiled slightly, leaned back against a rock, and leisurely ate the supper prepared for him by Liu Ruyan.
Fifteen minutes passed quickly. Suddenly, the dark and quiet night sky of Sky Burial Mountain erupted with thunderous roars, and shells poured down like a storm onto the low-lying area, the belly of the gourd in Sky Burial Mountain.
The artillery fire was dense and covered the area, almost a carpet bombing, and it continued for a full twenty minutes without any sign of stopping. One could imagine the fate of the 200,000 troops from the three northern desert countries caught in the two gourd-bellies of Sky Burial Mountain.
Zhang Qingyun, the Northeast Tiger of Wan City on the eastern front, had been closely monitoring the movements in Sky Burial Mountain. Upon hearing the news from the front lines, his heart was deeply unsettled.
"It is exactly as I predicted. King Xiao Bei has indeed set up an ambush in Sky Burial Mountain. His move is truly ruthless. With this ambush and bombardment, Bruzagh's 200,000 troops will likely be annihilated. King Xiao Bei, oh King Xiao Bei, what a masterful display of feigned retreat, secret passage, and attacking the enemy's rear to relieve the besieged! His military talent is truly extraordinary!"
Zhang Qingyun exclaimed repeatedly.
The bearded general then said, "Tiger King, the 250,000 enemy troops on the eastern front have now reached within thirty miles of Wan City and have formed a encirclement. Next, it is our turn to engage!"
Zhang Qingyun came back to his senses and said sternly, "250,000 enemy troops want to encircle my Wan City and swallow me whole? Do they really think I'm made of clay!"
"Pass down the order. According to the previous battle plan, we will also turn from passive to active. We will concentrate our main forces and attack them one by one before they can react!"
Zhang Qingyun stood up abruptly and issued the order.
Meanwhile, in Sky Burial Mountain, after half an hour, the dense artillery fire finally ceased. However, the two gourd-bellies of Sky Burial Mountain had already become scorched earth.
As Zhang Qingyun had predicted, the 200,000 allied troops from the three northern desert countries were almost completely annihilated, with less than 20,000 remaining.
Commander Bruzagh's eyes were bloodshot and filled with immense rage. Of course, he also knew that now was not the time for anger, and furthermore, roaring in anger was of no use.
"Quick, the rest of you, quickly break out with me!"
Hearing Bruzagh's roar, the panicked soldiers finally snapped back to reality. They quickly assembled and rushed out of the gourd's mouth at the fastest possible speed, which also meant they had broken out of the encirclement of the two great generals, Li Jiuxiao and Zhuge Wushuang.
However, what Bruzagh did not know was that as they rushed out of the Sky Burial Mountain pass, thinking they had escaped to safety, they suddenly discovered that in the wide open area ahead, more than 20,000 troops were densely stationed. The person leading them was none other than Xiao Yunlong.
"Bruzagh, you've finally come out. This King has been waiting for you here for a long time!"
Xiao Yunlong stood on a rock, his hands behind his back, staring at the disheveled Bruzagh ahead and speaking mockingly.