"Did not Five Yang tell us to attack the Han Dynasty? We can just encamp here in the Bloody Jungle, and I doubt the Han Dynasty would dare to provoke us."
"The leader just needs to wait here for Five Yang to complete the construction of a stable teleportation array. Once the Demon Lord descends, the leader can immediately lead the army to welcome him."
"By then, Five Yang will surely have no words to defend himself. If the Demon Lord were to make a move, the leader could then pin the blame on Five Yang, claiming that he was ordered by the Demon Lord to construct the teleportation array and welcome our army, yet he was ignorant of the strength of the Savage Realm and sought only petty gains, seizing bodies and thus ruining a great matter!"
"Leader, what do you think the Demon Lord will do then?"
"Good!"
"Excellent!"
Upon hearing this, Zhi Hai was first surprised, then he burst into laughter: "Five Yang sent my branch of the demon race, two hundred thousand strong, to intercept the Han Dynasty, while he himself hides in Nine Nether Mountain, constructing a teleportation array to welcome the Demon Lord!"
"Good, very good!"
"Are my three hundred thousand warriors not enough to be buried in vain? He even wants me to go to my death!"
"Very good!"
"Go, inform the entire army to continue their encampment in the Bloody Jungle. Without my command, no one is to step half a step out of the Bloody Jungle!"
"You are excellent. From this day forward, you shall be my personal guard!"
Zhi Hai examined the soldier before him, finding him brave and resourceful, and his analysis to be sound. Why had he not noticed this before?
"Thank you, General!"
The soldier lowered his head and immediately replied, his face unable to conceal his excitement and joy.
...
At the second day's Chou hour, tens of miles beyond the Bloody Jungle, the Vermillion Bird Legion had already begun to pack up their camps.
At the Zi hour, Zhang Liao urgently summoned the main generals and vice generals of the three armies. Under Chen Gong's meticulous planning, a strategy was devised to encircle and annihilate the demon army.
Led by the First Army's Commander Xu Huang and Vice Commander Gao Shun of the Vermillion Bird Legion, a force of two hundred thousand soldiers would advance northeast from the legion's encampment, circumventing to the north of the Bloody Jungle, thereby sealing off the northern approach!
Led by the Third Army's Commander Lu Kang and Vice Commanders Gan Ning and Zhou Tai of the Vermillion Bird Legion, a force of three hundred thousand soldiers would circumvent from the legion's encampment to the south of the Bloody Jungle, completely blocking the southern direction!
The Second Army of the Vermillion Bird Legion, consisting of two hundred thousand soldiers, all elite cavalry with strong mobility and speed, was specially ordered by Chen Gong to be led by Commander Gongsun Zan and Vice Commander Liao Hua. This force of two hundred thousand cavalry would race day and night, circumventing to the rear of the Bloody Jungle, that is, the eastern direction.
Furthermore, Yang Ye, temporarily assigned to the Vermillion Bird Legion, would lead the central army of one hundred thousand soldiers, launching an attack from the west, completing a four-way encirclement with the other three armies, aiming to annihilate the demon army in one battle and sweep through the Savage Realm!
The sprawling camp, stretching for miles, saw clusters of fires being extinguished. The earth trembled slightly, and in the blink of an eye, dawn had broken. The entire camp, despite being garrisoned by a hundred thousand soldiers, still appeared exceptionally vast and empty.
At the Si hour.
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, First Army Commander Xu Huang and Vice Commander Gao Shun, leading twenty thousand soldiers, have reached their designated positions and completed the complete blockade of the north!"
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, Third Army Commander Lu Kang and Vice Commanders Gan Ning and Zhou Tai, leading thirty thousand soldiers, have reached their designated positions and completed the complete blockade of the south!"
Inside the central tent of the Vermillion Bird Legion, Zhang Liao, Chen Gong, and Yang Ye were gathered around a military map and sand table, meticulously examining the marching routes of the three armies and their detailed ambush positions.
"What time is it now?"
Upon hearing the reports from the two armies, Chen Gong slightly raised his head and looked at the sentries guarding the tent.
"Reporting to the Strategist, it is currently Si hour!"
"Si hour?"
Chen Gong frowned and looked down at the map: "According to the Second Army's marching route and speed, it will take approximately another hour and a half, nearly two hours, to complete the blockade of the east!"
"Indeed, Strategist. This plan of yours is exceedingly decisive. With four armies encircling the Bloody Jungle, these two hundred thousand demon soldiers will be like birds in a cage, unable to escape!"
Yang Ye smiled, looking at the map.
"General Yang flatters me. We shall simply wait a moment. News from the Second Army should arrive shortly!"
Time flew by rapidly. It was nearing the Wei hour. The Bloody Jungle was relatively dark and humid. In the high temperature, the hundred thousand Vermillion Bird soldiers' faces were flushed red, and their bodies were covered in sticky sweat.
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief and Strategist, the Second Army, a force of twenty thousand cavalry, has successfully circumvented to the rear of the Bloody Jungle, and the army has successfully completed the blockade of the eastern defense line!"
"Hoo..."
A soldier panted, sweat dripping down his face.
"Good, go and rest quickly!"
Zhang Liao stood up abruptly, looking at the exhausted and pale scout, and immediately ordered him to go and rest.
"Notify the three armies to advance their encirclement of the Bloody Jungle and proceed according to the plan, delaying by one hour!"
"General Yang, the three armies have all completed their blockade. Next, it is up to you!"
"Commander-in-Chief, Strategist, I shall depart!"
Yang Ye clasped his fists in salute, then turned and left. As soon as he exited the command tent, he drew his long sword and roared, "Vermillion Bird Legion, assemble!"
The four armies converged, attacking simultaneously!
The two hundred thousand demon soldiers were now like birds in a cage!
Soon, Yang Ye led the remaining one hundred thousand Vermillion Bird soldiers, launching the initial attack on the demons, aiming to attract their attention.
The army charged with immense momentum, and a torrent of demonic energy swept through the boundless jungle like a fierce wind, creating ripples on the surface of water.
Half an hour later, the other three armies launched their charge with thunderous roars. Especially from the east, twenty thousand cavalry pounded the earth ferociously. Although the ground was damp and no dust was kicked up, the passage of ten thousand troops created a thunderous roar, as if the entire earth was shaking.
"Good!"
"Excellent!"
"This Han Dynasty, I did not go to destroy you, yet you are so eager to come and die!"
Zhi Hai looked at the ten thousand Vermillion Bird soldiers charging forward from the front. His face was icy cold as he watched the waves of Han soldiers pour into the camp. With a roar, he began to wield his long saber.
"Ten thousand soldiers dare to venture deep alone, far from their homeland. Do you truly believe that the Han can be so presumptuous in the Savage Realm?"
"My warriors, kill them! Annihilate these humans!"
His face gradually contorted with ferocity as he looked at the Vermillion Bird soldiers before him, his mind inevitably returning to the deaths of his three hundred thousand warriors.
"Slash!"
Yang Ye's saber sliced through the void, shattering the solid defensive line. An endless stream of Vermillion Bird soldiers, like a surging tide, poured into the demon camp, painting the land red with gore and shrouded in a bloody aura. In mere moments, patches of crimson began to cover the heavens and the earth.