CHAPTER 1929: CHAPTER 1922: THE DUTY OF A KING

The artillery bombardment never ceased from the beginning to the end of the war, with the Aud Army almost constantly under fire.

Yet, despite the intensity of Lipei’s defensive artillery fire, the casualties inflicted on the Aud Army began to significantly decrease.

On the fifth day of combat, Aud Army casualties suddenly plummeted from more than two thousand to just over three hundred.

The direct reason for this was the Aud Army’s discovery of a method to cope with the artillery strikes.

They identified a series of connected hilly terrains and began digging fortifications on the reverse slopes.

Tens of thousands of soldiers frantically dug under the cover of night, connecting dots into lines, lines into faces, ultimately excavating over ten kilometers of trenches within three days, constantly deepening and improving them to form semi-permanent fortifications.

Thanks to the shelter of these fortifications, the Aud Army’s casualty rate rapidly decreased. Though still bombarded by Lipei’s artillery, they were no longer as incapacitated as they initially were.

Brolan never expected his army’s desperate survival would withstand Lipei’s formidable artillery bombardment.

With delight, he began ordering the subsequent forces forward, and various support weapons also moved in under the cover of night to deploy onto the positions.

Simultaneously, the advancing troops began digging communication trenches, constructing network-like trench positions every two kilometers as they pushed forward.

From high above, reconnaissance aircraft provided a view of the once-flat ground now crisscrossed by Aud Army trenches, resembling a spider web, and still extending forward.

Lipei’s reconnaissance force, realizing the unusual situation, rushed to report to Headquarters, requesting measures to curb the Aud Army’s advance.

Actually, the Aud Army’s strategy was nothing novel; it was the typical trench advance, using the spider-like trenches to minimize casualties while progressing.

This approach, though time-consuming and labor-intensive, allowed them to minimize casualties. As the Aud Army fully entered the trench fortifications, Lipei’s artillery damage was reduced to less than two hundred casualties daily.

The more fatal issue was that the Aud Army’s cavalry was rapidly maneuvering within Lipei’s territory, seizing opportunities to harass Lipei’s army’s weaknesses.

These cavalry units generally comprised more than a hundred men, maneuvering quickly using warhorses, making it virtually impossible for artillery to harm them.

Under such circumstances, Luo’er’s deployment revealed significant flaws.

He overly contracted the front line, sending only several five-man Advance Teams for patrol reconnaissance, but these teams were limited in number, capable only of reconnaissance and guidance tasks. When encountering enemy units, even small ones, they could only turn and flee, unable to confront them.

This resulted in the Aud Army cavalry roaming freely outside Lipei’s defensive perimeter, leaving Lipei’s forces unable to effectively counter them, apart from artillery strikes.

With the Aud Army establishing itself and continuously increasing its forces, the situation abruptly became tense.

Even Oklo Laf began to waver, considering whether to join forces with Brolan, leading twenty thousand troops directly to Lipei.

He admitted that at the start of the war, Lipei had indeed managed to deceive him, making him genuinely believe that starting a war would be disadvantageous, only causing significant casualties.

Yet Brolan’s recklessness amazed everyone, revealing that Lipei’s allegedly formidable firepower could not effectively repel the invading enemy.

In this context, concerns began to arise, and Oklo Laf seriously considered whether maintaining peace with Lipei’s forces was preferable.

Of course, with the situation developing to this point, it was not the Aud Army but Lipei’s Headquarters that felt the greatest urgency.

Cheng Ziang had always believed that Luo’er’s measures were too conservative, constrained by favorable prior circumstances, he had refrained from speaking up. Now, with the Aud Army firmly rooted within Lipei’s territory and gradually encroaching, Cheng Ziang could remain silent no longer.

"Commander!"

Accompanied by a dozen staff officers, Cheng Ziang approached Luo’er, soberly expressing his thoughts:

"I think we can no longer passively defend; we must take the initiative to attack. The army cramped within the front line, daring only to suppress the enemy with artillery, can ultimately lead to the enemy laying siege."

"Let me consider it." Luo’er replied, lowering his head.

"We don’t have time to consider it," Cheng Ziang urged urgently, "Commander, Lipei’s forces must take the initiative to attack. Even if we have home advantage, even if we have artillery dominance, we must act proactively to defeat the invaders; this is the correct defensive strategy."

"Give me more time to think."

Luo’er took a deep breath, seeming outwardly calm, but internally he was actually deeply troubled.

"Luo’er!"

Cheng Ziang raised his voice, drawing the attention of everyone in command.

Under the gaze of all, he took a deep breath and then solemnly declared:

"I know your intention; you aim to win the war without sacrificing a single soldier, is that not correct?"

"From the beginning, I sensed that every step you took tried desperately to prevent warfare, to avoid bloody conflict. But now that war has broken out, such an idea can only be seen as weak..."

"Luo’er, war cannot occur without loss of life. Lipei’s soldiers, they are firstly military personnel and then members of Lipei. They have the ability and duty to fight for Lipei, even if it requires sacrificing their lives..."

"Soldiers enlist for the sake of fame and success, to die with honor in battle, don’t they? If the army is fearful of the battle and refuses to advance, then why retain these soldiers? Wouldn’t it be better to have them retire?"

"Therefore, Luo’er, I implore you, command the defensive forces to attack. Casualties are inevitable, but at least, we can minimize them. Yet, if we keep passively defending, the final result will be worse. When the enemy lays siege, how many lives will it take to drive them back?"

Cheng Ziang’s words touched Luo’er’s heart.

He slowly raised his head, facing the eager eyes of the crowd surrounding him, all waiting for Luo’er’s response.

"Do you all think this way?" Luo’er asked after taking a deep breath.

Faces exchanged glances, a staff officer stepped forward cautiously and replied:

"We have always felt the defensive strategy was too conservative. Of course, we acknowledge the Commander’s efforts to avoid war. But now that war has erupted, there’s no need for further passive defense; attacking might be the optimal solution."

"The Commander’s plans make everyone feel... frustrated..." another officer replied nervously.

"I want to listen to the opinions of the lower soldiers." Hesitating, Luo’er said.

"That’s unnecessary!"

For some reason, Luo’er’s words seemed to irritate Cheng Ziang. He shouted again and then looked at Luo’er, somewhat aggravated:

"As a leader, why let the soldiers’ words decide outcomes? If the general sentiment among soldiers is to avoid attacking, to fear death, to refuse the battle with Aud Army, should we disband all the troops and open the doors to welcome the Aud Army?"

"Luo’er, you are a General; you have the authority to command the soldiers to fight. Right now, you’re actually trying to get their opinions, asking if they wish to fight. What are you planning to plead for their engagement, who indeed is the General here?"

"I understand your thinking; you were once an Advance Team Captain, hence you care deeply about your members’ safety. You advised in wars across East Continent, yet those soldiers weren’t under your direct command, sparing you the concern for their fate..."

"However, Luo’er, now you are the General, the supreme leader of Lipei’s defense forces. You can’t be as meticulous as before, nor stand aloof any longer."

"Whether war causes death is not your concern. Whether war has victory is your task, understand?"

Cheng Ziang’s extended speech left Luo’er speechless and silenced everyone in Headquarters.

Although aware of the close relationship between Cheng Ziang and Luo’er, no one expected him to dare publicly confront Luo’er for mistakes and demand a change.

All were silent, intently waiting to see what kind of reaction Luo’er would have.