CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 360: BATTLE PLAN

"An active assault is unwise. Perhaps we can employ a flanking tactic. Since these Secret Spirits have gathered here, their lairs must be left unguarded. We could send troops to strike their lairs first, forcing them to retreat, thereby resolving this predicament," suggested Bai Yueguang.

Zhu Hongzhi shook his head, "Our understanding of the Phoenix Forest is limited. Finding their lairs is not that easy. Searching one by one would take too much time. Judging by the situation, they should soon flood toward the Qilin Mountain Range. We won’t make it in time."

"Then we can lure the enemy deep into dangerous terrain, set up defenses in advance, and draw them in to annihilate them," Zhang Yujian thought aloud. "The valley we passed earlier should be suitable."

Bai Yueguang opposed, saying, "With our forces, if trapped in that valley, not a single person would escape."

They debated back and forth, unable to come up with a perfect countermeasure. The disparity in forces was too great, rendering many plans unfeasible.

Currently, the strength of their three camps amounts to merely six or seven thousand people. If there were only about a hundred thousand Secret Spirits, despite their varying Levels and races, essentially a ragtag band, these elite Third Awakening troops could easily scatter them.

But now, with over a million Secret Spirits gathered here, among which over a hundred thousand are Third Awakening Secret Spirits, possibly up to two or three hundred thousand, this is a war they simply cannot fight.

Yet these three camps represent all of the Third Awakening power of the Qilin Corps. Bringing Second Awakening Cultivators over would be utterly ineffective.

"Zhimen, do you have any ideas?" Chen Guan glanced at the usually quiet Shi Zhimen.

"The disparity is too vast. A frontal attack is inadvisable," Shi Zhimen stated.

The three — Bai Yueguang included — were not surprised because, given the current situation, anyone would think the same.

Their only remaining option seemed to be to request support from headquarters. This scale of Secret Spirit Tide requires combined operations from multiple corps to possibly fend it off.

However, even if reported, the timing of the arrival of reinforcements is uncertain.

Besides the Blazing Fire Corps being relatively close, other corps are quite a distance away, and it would take time for orders to be transmitted and for them to arrive, leaving their timeliness in question.

This is not what Chen Guan desired, for having other corps come to assist means dividing the resources of these Secret Spirits.

Seeing Chen Guan still looking at him, Shi Zhimen felt a vague excitement rising in his heart.

Clearly, Chen Guan did not intend to request support, or he wouldn’t be looking at him this way.

Shi Zhimen also wanted to fight this battle. Although previous intelligence reports didn’t mention this many Secret Spirits, the types of Secret Spirits were roughly outlined.

Before coming, Shi Zhimen had already detailed deductions and devised strategies for various possible scenarios.

He had indeed anticipated the possibility of this surge in Secret Spirits and had contemplated counter strategies.

"We can combine Commander Zhang’s lure tactic and Commander Bai’s stratagem of encircling Wei to save Zhao, employing a two-pronged approach. Using smoke and mirrors to segment the battlefield, we can defeat them part by part," Shi Zhimen proposed.

"It’s already been said that we don’t know where those Secret Spirits’ lairs are. Finding them one by one would waste too much time. And with such a huge disparity in forces for luring the enemy deep, we fear it might be us who get trapped," Zhu Hongzhi added.

"I previously studied intelligence on Phoenix Forest and drew a new map. Commanders, please take a look," Shi Zhimen placed a map on the table.

The map depicted territories and topographies previously explored by the Qilin Corps, with additional markings noted.

"Based on prior intelligence and analysis of Secret Spirits now in the River of Flames area, we can roughly deduce their direction of origin and estimate their lair regions," Shi Zhimen pointed at the marked areas on the map, "These Secret Spirits are linked to specific zones, marked on this map. Their lairs should be within this range."

"How can you be certain their lairs are in this range? Just because they came from that direction? Could they not have come from even farther?" Bai Yueguang asked.

"Certainly, that possibility exists. However, in theory, it’s unlikely. For example, the Demon-toothed Crocodile, while amphibious, moves slowly on land and dislikes long journeys on foot, so they should come through the river paths. There are three branches leading to the River of Flames. The main one from Yellow Springs River runs too deep, an uncomfortable area for Demon-toothed Crocodiles..." Shi Zhimen explained analytically.

At first, the others seemed skeptical, but as Shi Zhimen continued, Bai Yueguang and the others looked both surprised and impressed.

Shi Zhimen’s analytical and logical ability was indeed astonishing.

"We can dispatch small teams to harass their lairs, without truly attacking. Secret Spirits have their communication methods; we only need them to realize their lairs are threatened. Then here, we lure them along this route. The Sharp-toothed Beast moves slowly on mountain roads... This forest will separate the Vajra Giant Ape from the Giant Demon Python..."

Shi Zhimen continued with his analysis, going through various plans and possibilities.

Bai Yueguang and the others raised numerous questions, which Shi Zhimen answered one by one, not a single question proving too difficult for him.

"What do you think?" Chen Guan asked once they had all fallen silent.

"Theoretically feasible... but executing it perfectly is another matter..." Zhang Yujian said.

He understood that a plan is one thing; its practical execution can be entirely different. With so many people involved, unforeseen circumstances are likely.

"Perfect execution isn’t necessary... I’ve prepared contingency plans... if the scheme falls apart... when it becomes unmanageable... we can withdraw here..." Shi Zhimen continued marking on the map.

Zhang Yujian was left speechless, acknowledging Shi Zhimen’s thoroughness.

"Gentlemen, a million Secret Spirit horde, with our less than seven thousand men, if we can crush them, this one battle will earn eternal glory in the annals of the Celestial Court Army. Even if we do request reinforcements, their arrival time is uncertain. We cannot gamble our base and Qilin City, so we must only win, not lose..." Chen Guan spoke slowly, his gaze sweeping across their faces.

All felt a shiver in their hearts, understanding the truth in Chen Guan’s words.

Most of their soldiers’ families reside in Qilin City, so indeed, they cannot gamble nor afford to lose.

"The message must be sent back, and reinforcements requested, but before that, we must give our all for our corps and our loved ones. Are you ready to fight?" Chen Guan asked calmly.

"The Ink Qilin Camp is always ready for battle." Zhu Hongzhi saluted formally.

"The Jade Qilin Camp has never been defeated," Bai Yueguang added.

Though hesitant, Zhang Yujian knew there was no other choice and could only agree.