174: Instigating cannon fodder

Time passed in a strange stalemate for another half a month. The 120,000-strong main force of the Lord of Star Sea Territory was stationed outside Blackstone Canyon, practicing daily, reinforcing the camp, and sending out small units for tentative attacks or harassment, but they never launched a large-scale general offensive. The Orc Coalition Army on the opposite side seemed content with the leisure; besides strengthening patrols and alerts, they also showed no signs of taking the initiative to attack.

This "tacit" tranquility finally made Garnett, who was ordered to "supervise the battle," unable to sit still. On this day, he burst straight into the central command tent and questioned Yilman with a displeased expression: "General Yilman, the army has been gathered here for over half a month, consuming countless rations daily. Why haven't we seen a general offensive against the Blackstone Defense Line? Is the General going to sit by and let the opportunity slip away, or are you nurturing the enemy to enhance your own importance?"

Facing Garnett's sharp questioning, Yilman put on a perfectly timed expression of "difficulty" and "helplessness." He quickly stood up to invite Garnett to sit, personally poured a cup of hot tea, and said with a compensatory smile: "General Garnett, please calm your anger. There is something you do not know. It is not that I am cowardly or intentionally delaying, but that I am waiting for the best opportunity."

He lowered his voice as if revealing a major secret: "General must know that half a month ago, General Evan led the Dragon Scale Knights deep into enemy territory alone, striking directly into the heart of the Werewolf Royal Court. According to the latest messages, they successfully arrived at the designated area several days ago and began harassing the outskirts of the Royal Court, successfully drawing the attention of the Werewolf Royal Court's defenders."

Yilman's finger tapped the location of the Royal Court on the map, then moved back to Blackstone Canyon: "We are staying put here, firstly, to maximize the effect of General Evan's actions, letting the Werewolf Royal Court feel real pressure. Ideally, it will force Jokic to draw troops from the second or even third defense lines to reinforce the Royal Court, weakening the enemy forces on our front."

He paused, his tone becoming "tragic" and "determined": "Secondly, it is also to buy more time for General Evan and his men... Those ten thousand brothers went with the heart of certain death. Every moment they pin down the enemy, the pressure on our main frontal force decreases, and our certainty of victory increases. I will use them as the sharpest blade to cut through the Orc Coalition Army's defense network! I will use their sacrifice to exchange for the Kingdom's (he deliberately emphasized the word 'Kingdom') absolute control over this land!"

Yilman's "explanation" was reasonable and even filled with the "pathos" of "considering the big picture" and "empathizing with subordinates." He also elevated the final goal to the level of "expanding territory for the Kingdom," leaving Garnett unable to find any obvious fault for a moment. Garnett frowned; although he suspected Yilman of preserving his strength and exaggerating the enemy's situation, the tactical logic the other party spoke of had no major issues. Moreover, the "sacrifice of elites for a surprise attack" was a strategy Yilman had set by overriding all objections, so waiting for the effect of the surprise attack was also justifiable.

"Even so, it should not be delayed for long." Garnett's tone softened slightly, but still carried a sense of urgency. "The morale of the army tends to weary with long delays. Logistics and supplies are also not inexhaustible. I ask the General to make a decision as soon as possible."

"The General is absolutely right!" Yilman immediately stated, a look of "finally making up his mind" appearing on his face. "The time is ripe! I have decided that tomorrow at dawn will be the time for our army's decisive battle with the Orc Coalition Army! We will storm Blackstone Canyon at all costs and must crush these two hundred thousand enemy troops in one go, clearing the road to the Royal Court! At that time, I will need the General to supervise the battle nearby and witness the loyalty and courage of my Star Sea lads as they die for the Kingdom!"

"Good! I shall wait and see!" Seeing that Yilman had finally given a clear time for the attack, Garnett's expression cleared slightly as he nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, at the camp of the Orc Coalition Army in Blackstone Canyon.

Unlike the chilling tension of the Star Sea Territory's military camp, the Orc Coalition Army's camp had been filled with a strange sense of ease over the past half month, or even a pre-revelry atmosphere.

Inside the central command tent, a grand feast was currently being held. The host was the supreme commander stationed at the second defense line, the Werewolf General Wade. After years of following Jokic in southern and northern campaigns, along with the resources provided by Linn, Wade had already reached the Sky Peak, just a step away from comprehending the Legendary Law. His aura was majestic and powerful, and sitting in the main seat, he naturally possessed a commanding presence.

Below sat over a dozen orc leaders of various appearances, including tall Ogres with exposed tusks, cunning and lean Gnoll leaders, stout and strong Bugbear chiefs, and that previously mentioned Peak Gold Goblin Great Boss. They commanded the 170,000-strong coalition of various races, in addition to the 30,000 werewolf elites.

A bonfire blazed in the center of the tent, roasting whole unknown beasts. Grease dripped into the fire with a sizzling sound, and the aroma mingled with the scent of wine. The orcs drank from large bowls and ate large chunks of meat, shouting and clamoring, making it very lively.

After three rounds of drinks, the Gold Goblin leader wiped his greasy mouth and couldn't help but speak again, his voice sounding somewhat shrill amidst the clamor: "Lord Wade, we still don't understand. We have two hundred thousand brothers here, and there are four hundred thousand more at the Royal Court behind us, totaling six hundred thousand! Why not just crush those hundred thousand plus humans directly? Why must we split our forces to guard here... Our tribal warriors fight with their lives, but the humans opposite have magic crystal cannons; one blast kills a whole group, and we really have no confidence in our hearts."

The other leaders also stopped eating and drinking, looking expectantly at Wade; clearly, this was their common doubt. Although these lower-order orcs were subdued by the Werewolves' martial might, they were not completely brainless and had an instinctive fear of the Star Sea Territory's magic crystal cannons and elite troops.

Wade put down the huge wooden wine cup in his hand, wiped his beard stained with wine foam, and laughed heartily, his voice like a booming bell: "Brothers, set your hearts at ease! I naturally know of your concerns."

He stood up, walked to the center of the tent, and announced with a tone full of confidence: "Do you think we really only have these two hundred thousand troops holding out here? Wrong! I'll tell you some great news—our King, the great Legendary Werewolf King Jokic Your Majesty, has personally led three hundred and fifty thousand elite troops from the main force, traveling day and night from the Royal Court to support us! In three days at most—no, perhaps two days later—Your Majesty's royal banner will appear in Blackstone Canyon!"

"Three hundred and fifty thousand elites?" "King Jokic is coming personally?!" The tent was suddenly in an uproar, the leaders both surprised and delighted. The fame of the Legendary Werewolf King plus the three hundred and fifty thousand werewolf main force acted like a shot of adrenaline for all the orcs.

"Not only that!" Wade struck while the iron was hot, waving his hand. "Your Majesty empathizes with the hard work of the frontline soldiers and has specially allocated a large amount of fine food and wine from the Royal Court, which has already arrived at the camp! Tonight is the time to reward the three armies! Let us eat and drink our fill, recharge our energy, and once Your Majesty arrives, we will attack from inside and out, ensuring those damned humans never return, and twist their heads off to use as wine flasks!"

A Pig-Headed People leader shook his large head and stood up somewhat cautiously: "Lord Wade, King Jokic's imminent arrival is naturally a great joy. However... with the battle looming, is it... somewhat inappropriate for the whole army to drink and revel tonight? Wouldn't it be better to celebrate after we have crushed the humans?"

Wade walked over and heavily patted the Pig-Headed People leader's thick shoulder, almost knocking him down, and laughed: "Old Pig, you worry too much! I have already sent scouts to investigate thoroughly. The humans opposite are having internal conflicts, and their commander is eager for quick success, having sent their most powerful Heavy Cavalry to their deaths in a sneak attack on the Royal Court. Now their morale is unstable, and they simply don't dare to attack in the short term! We just happen to take this opportunity to let the brothers relax and boost morale! When the King arrives, with an army of six hundred thousand whose morale is like a rainbow, are you still afraid of not crushing those hundred thousand plus panicked humans?"

He looked around at the leaders, his eyes burning: "Trust me, this is the King's command and the prelude to victory! Tonight, we drink until we're drunk!"

Wade's words, combined with the "good news" that Jokic was personally leading the army and the mountain of fine wine and food, completely dispelled the last trace of doubt in most of the orc leaders. Fear was replaced by greed and excitement, and the desire for victory overwhelmed the caution toward war.

"Good! Let's drink until we're drunk!"

"For King Jokic!"

"Kill the humans!"

Fanatical shouts rang out, and the atmosphere of the banquet was pushed to a climax. Soon, the news that "King Jokic is arriving within three days with three hundred and fifty thousand elites" and "the whole army is reveling to wait for the King to join forces and defeat the enemy" spread through the entire camp of the second defense line like wildfire.

Thus, on this eve of the decisive battle, the Orc Coalition Army's camp at the Blackstone Defense Line fell into an unprecedented and unrestrained revelry. The lower-order orcs cast aside their last bits of discipline and vigilance, immersing themselves in the extreme excitement brought by alcohol, food, and the promise of a false victory. The bonfires illuminated one hideous and intoxicated face after another, the clamor, roars, and strange laughter piercing the Sky, contrasting with the chillingly quiet atmosphere of battle preparation in the Star Sea Territory's camp on the other side of the canyon as if they were two different worlds.

They did not know that this revelry was a feast sending them to their true end; the "soon-to-arrive" three hundred and fifty thousand reinforcements were a castle in the air that could never be realized; while across the canyon, the silent blades were already unsheathed, waiting only for dawn to deliver the most fatal blow to this army of two hundred thousand lost in their dreams.