30: Winning hearts and minds is paramount; a righteous and benevolent army earns a good reputation (Part 1)

The dark red pillar of light shooting into the sky, along with that roar like grinding metal containing terrifying Divine Might, instantly caused the noisy battlefield to freeze. Both the Alliance forces bravely attacking the city and the Gray Dwarves relying on the strong fortress to defend could not help but feel a tremor from the depths of their Souls.

[Furnace Fortress Great Clan Chief · Grak Moltencore] (Estimated)

Rank: LV 35+ (Far exceeding any unit on the current battlefield)

Status: Extremely Enraged, Divine Power boiling, deeply connected to the Furnace Fortress core energy source (suspected to be a massive furnace).

Estimated Abilities: Controls powerful rules of fire and earth, can significantly strengthen defenders, or directly launch area-of-effect destructive attacks.

Threat Level: Extremely High!

“It's Great Clan Chief Grak!” The Furnace Fortress defenders on the walls were momentarily stunned before erupting in fanatical cheers. The morale, which had been low due to the weakening of the barrier and the bombardment of the catapults, instantly soared! “The Great Clan Chief has come out of seclusion! These invaders are dead!”

On the Alliance's side, they felt a heavy pressure rushing toward them. Bronzebeard Stonehammer and the Blackrock Clan Warriors in the front row felt their breathing hitch, as if pressed down by an invisible mountain. Even Elwin, commanding from a distance, changed expression slightly; she could feel that the opponent's existence had already surpassed the scope of what a regular army could handle.

“This is trouble...” Clan Chief Brook's face turned pale, his voice dry. “Grak... he hasn't personally taken action for decades... his power is unfathomable...”

The Underground Gnome Glick shrunk his neck in fear and squeaked, “W-will he... will he just burn us all to ashes?”

Floating in the air, Lin Zhou's consciousness clearly captured this majestic and tyrannical aura. He knew this was Furnace Fortress's final trump card and the ultimate test of this war of conquest. If they went head-to-head, with the Alliance's current strength, even if they won, it would certainly be a pyrrhic victory, and they might even be heavily damaged by the opponent's death throes.

“He cannot be defeated by force; we must win through strategy.” Lin Zhou's Divine Thought instantly connected with Elwin. “The School of Military says: Attacking the heart is supreme, attacking the city is inferior. Though Grak is strong, his tyranny has lost him the people's support. The interior of Furnace Fortress is by no means monolithic. The previous framing and Alliances have already sown the seeds of division; now is the time to make them sprout!”

Elwin understood immediately, grasping Lin Zhou's intention. Shift from a forceful assault to psychological warfare! They had to dismantle the enemy's will from within before Grak could crush them with absolute power!

“Pass the Order!” Elwin's voice rang through the Alliance via Communication Runestones and messengers. “The entire army retreat three hundred paces and regroup! Catapults, stop the bombardment! Rangers, cease fire!”

Once the Order was issued, although the Alliance was confused, their strict discipline led them to execute it quickly. The vanguard led by Bronzebeard stabilized their footing and slowly retreated, the elves put away their longbows, and even the massive Lu Gong Siege Towers stopped advancing.

This abnormal move also stunned the Furnace Fortress defenders who had just raised their morale. Were they afraid? Were they running?

At that moment, Elwin rode her horse to the front of the formation. Her clear voice contained a hint of Divine Power and the techniques of the Confucian 'Subtle Influence', spreading clearly across the battlefield, even drowning out the noise from the Furnace Fortress side:

“Warriors of Furnace Fortress! Compatriots of the Gray Dwarf race!”

Her voice was not loud, yet it possessed a strange penetrative and soothing power, causing the restless battlefield to gradually quiet down. Both the Alliance and the defenders instinctively looked toward that white figure.

“I am the commander of the Hundred Schools Temple Alliance, Elwin! Today, we stand before your city not for slaughter, nor for destruction, but to eradicate tyranny and uphold justice!”

Her words went straight to the point, directly defining the nature of the war.

“Ask yourselves! Since Grak Moltencore, the Great Clan Chief of Furnace Fortress, began ruling the Blackrock Mountain Range, has he ever treated you well? Has he ever distributed resources fairly? Has he ever seen you as blood compatriots?”

A series of questions struck the hearts of many low-ranking Gray Dwarf soldiers like a heavy hammer. They thought of their meager pay, the arrogance of the upper-ranking officers, and the tragic state of the vassal tribes like the Blackrock Clan being constantly exploited... “No! He hasn't!” Elwin's voice suddenly rose, filled with pity and indignation. “He views you as tools, as ants! He occupies the best mineral veins but makes your children labor in the most dangerous mines! He enjoys the richest outputs but leaves your tribes to struggle in poverty! Why did the Blackrock Clan rebel? Why are the Gnomes of the Deep Moss Tribe angry? It is all because your Great Clan Chief is tyrannical and devoid of virtue, harsh and ungrateful!”

On the walls, the eyes of some Gray Dwarf soldiers began to flicker, instinctively avoiding the gaze of their companions. It wasn't that they didn't know these things, but in the past, they were suppressed by powerful force and harsh discipline, and no one dared to speak.

“Now look at us!” Elwin shifted the topic, pointing to the Alliance behind her. “Look at this army! There are Elves and Dwarves from afar, there are your Blackrock Clan brothers who have always been oppressed by you, and there are the Underground Gnomes who have been your enemies for generations! Why can we fight side by side? Because we have a common enemy—tyranny! Because we pursue a common future—fairness and Order!”

Her words seemed to carry magic, painting a picture completely different from the dark rule of Furnace Fortress.

“My Lord Lin Zhou upholds the Way of Civilization and teaches all without discrimination! The Blackrock Clan has already formed a brotherhood Alliance with us and will share the resources of the Blackrock Mountain Range after the war! The Gnomes of the Deep Moss Tribe will also gain freedom and dignity, using their skills to create prosperity together!”

“And you!” Elwin's gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, seeing into the heart of every Gray Dwarf soldier. “As long as you lay down your weapons, open the city gates, and welcome the light of civilization, you will no longer be enemies, but our compatriots! You will be the builders of a new future Order! Your skills will be respected, and your efforts will be fairly rewarded! You no longer need to risk your lives for a tyrant, nor do you need to endure injustice and oppression!”

“If anyone can rise in rebellion before the battle and capture or kill the villain Grak, they will be a great hero who corrected the chaos! My Lord will certainly not be stingy with rewards!”

The art of attacking the heart: intimidation and enticement, dismantling the will to fight, and promising a future!

Elwin's words were like a gentle spring rain, yet also like a sharp blade piercing the heart, accurately stabbing into the most vulnerable parts of the Furnace Fortress defenders' hearts. Especially for those who were not Grak's direct descendants, those from other small tribes, or the long-exploited low-level soldiers, their hearts began to waver violently.

Seeing this, the officers on the wall were both shocked and enraged, shouting sternly, “Slanderous lies! Do not listen! The Clan Chief's Divine Might is invincible and will surely crush these invaders into dust! Anyone who wavers the army's morale will be executed without mercy!”

However, once the seeds of doubt and hope are planted, they are difficult to uproot.

Just then, from the Central Spire of Furnace Fortress, Grak's enraged voice exploded again like thunder, attempting to crush all hesitation with absolute power:

“How dare you ants speak such arrogant words! The Power of the Furnace shall incinerate all things! Guards, defend the glory of Furnace Fortress with your blood and fire! [Molten Lava Torrent]!”

Boom!!!

The ground in front of Furnace Fortress suddenly split open, and scorching, viscous lava gushed out like a river, carrying destructive high temperatures as it swept toward the Alliance positions! At the same time, under the coercion of the officers and Grak's Divine Might, the defenders on the walls launched a fierce attack once again!

The psychological warfare tactics seemed to have enraged Grak, drawing an even more ferocious counterattack!