57: Chapter 57 Triumphant Return

1. Heavy casualties. 37 dead, 62 severely injured. These nearly a hundred casualties are a severe blow to the fledgling Panshi Stockade. These people were the elites he trained himself, the seeds of Panshi Stockade! Each one is priceless.

2. Lack of high-end combat power. This is the most fatal problem exposed in this battle! If not for Big Fool's fearlessness in the face of death, and if not for his own desperate gamble at the end, a Tier 4 Bear Overlord would have nearly caused his total collapse!

He had underestimated the destructive power of absolute force on the battlefield. If one Bear Overlord could do this, what about encountering Tier 5 or even Tier 6 experts in the future?

3. Single troop type, rigid tactics. Apart from the ranged suppression of the archers, the infantry of Panshi Stockade became living targets when facing top experts like Bear Overlord. The so-called military formation was shattered in one blow. How to train special troops capable of effectively containing or even surrounding and killing experts is an urgent problem.

4. Hidden dangers brought by population explosion. Nearly two thousand mouths to feed means the daily consumption of grain is an astronomical figure. Although there is a lot of captured grain, living off savings, it can only last for three to five months at most. Liu Chengfeng going to take Dushan Stronghold only temporarily alleviates it. For long-term sustainability, there must be a stable, high-yield grain base!

5. Technical Bottleneck. Although there is a lot of captured armor and weapons, the quality is worrying. Wanting to arm all 1,200 newly recruited soldiers and reach the original equipment level of the Panshi Stockade elites is nothing but a pipe dream with the current iron smelting and forging capabilities of the stockade.

6. Deterioration of the external environment. The news of the destruction of Dushan Stronghold will soon spread throughout Ghost Sees Sorrow and even to the county town outside the mountains. A powerful force that has risen suddenly will inevitably attract the vigilance, covetousness, and even joint extermination of all surrounding forces!

The real test has just begun.

One by one, item by item, calmly and objectively listed on the parchment.

The heroism at the celebration banquet just now has completely settled down, turning into heavy pressure and sober cognition.

Gao Feng put down the charcoal pen and rubbed his eyebrows.

He knew that victory is never the end, but only the starting point of the next more difficult war.

"Brother Peak, drink some water." Su Yue walked to his side at some point and handed over a warm cup of water.

Gao Feng took the cup and drank it in one gulp. The warm spiritual spring water slid into his belly, dispelling the fatigue of his body and making his thoughts clearer.

Looking at this gentle and quiet girl beside him, the hostility and pressure in his heart couldn't help but dissipate a lot.

"What are you thinking about? You won such a big victory, yet you are still frowning."

Su Yue asked softly, stretching out her soft little hand, wanting to smooth out his tightly locked eyebrows.

"I'm thinking that our road is still very long." Gao Feng held her hand and sighed slightly.

"In the past, we only had a small Panshi Fortress, with dozens of people, only needing to think about how to fill our stomachs and how to guard against wild beasts."

"Now, we have nearly two thousand people and our own territory. What I have to think about is how these two thousand people can always eat their fill, how they can wear warm clothes, and how they can live with dignity in this chaotic world without being bullied by others."

"The burden on my shoulders is heavier."

Su Yue listened quietly; she didn't fully understand, but she could feel the weight in Gao Feng's words.

She didn't say any great truths, just used her other hand to gently cover the back of Gao Feng's hand and said in the gentlest voice:

"No matter how heavy the burden is, I will accompany Brother Peak to carry it together."

A simple sentence, but it could comfort people's hearts more than any heroic words.

Gao Feng felt warm in his heart and held her soft little hand tightly in his palm with his backhand.

Yes, he is not fighting alone.

He has Su Yue, the four sisters of Luo Qin, and those more than a thousand brothers willing to bleed and fight for him.

He raised his head, the confusion and pressure in his eyes had been swept away, replaced by a more firm and profound light.

Problems are meant to be solved.

He picked up the charcoal pen again and began to write corresponding solutions behind each "loss".

Heavy casualties? Then increase the pension, let the living be carefree, the dead rest in peace, and use the System to unite people's hearts!

Lack of high-end combat power? He must break through to Tier 4 as soon as possible!

At the same time, discover more potential people from the army, and use the spiritual spring water and the System's training methods to cultivate his own core strength!

Single troop type? The formation of cavalry must be put on the agenda immediately!

Also, form a heavy armored squad specifically targeting experts, with Big Fool as the core, equipped with the finest armor and heavy blunt weapons!

Grain problem? Once Liu Chengfeng takes Dushan Stronghold, organize manpower immediately to expand cultivated land! Promote high-yield crops comprehensively!

Technical Bottleneck? This is the top priority! Must find ways to find more and better craftsmen! Especially talent in iron smelting and forging!

Deterioration of external environment? Then speed up the pace of development! Before the enemy reacts, raise his strength to a height where they dare not act rashly!

One plan after another, one scheme after another, took shape in his mind and was quickly recorded on the parchment.

His train of thought was clearer than ever before.

The night passed quietly in silent thinking and planning.

When the first touch of fish-belly white appeared in the eastern sky, Gao Feng finally put down the charcoal pen in his hand and let out a long breath of turbid air.

He stood up, moved his somewhat stiff body, and only felt that his thoughts were clear and his whole body was full of endless energy.

Looking at Su Yue, who was sleeping at the table, a gentle smile appeared on Gao Feng's face.

He took off his coat, gently draped it over her, and then walked out of the cave silently.

The canyon in the early morning was filled with light mist and the smell of a hangover.

Most of the soldiers were still sleeping, only the patrol teams responsible for vigilance were walking back and forth faithfully.

Gao Feng did not disturb anyone and went straight to the area where the wounded were settled.

Big Fool's snoring was like thunder, his chest heaving powerfully, obviously there was no major problem.

And Du Wei was still lying on the stretcher, eyes closed, but his complexion was much better than yesterday, and his originally blue-black lips had regained a trace of blood color.

A surrendered soldier responsible for nursing him stood up nervously when he saw Gao Feng approaching.

"Stockade... Stockade Master."

"How was his condition last night?" Gao Feng asked.

"Reporting to Stockade Master, Third-in-Command Du Wei... oh no, Du Wei... he had a high fever several times last night, but it subsided later, and his breathing has been stable."

Gao Feng nodded; this is a normal phenomenon of poison and injury fighting in the body.

He squatted down again, took out a water bag from his arms, carefully pried open Du Wei's mouth, and fed him a few more sips of diluted spiritual spring water.

After doing all this, he did not leave immediately, but sat quietly beside the stretcher, waiting.

About the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.

Perhaps the spiritual spring water played a role again, and Du Wei's eyelids began to tremble violently.

He let out a painful groan in his throat, and then slowly opened his eyes.

What caught his eyes was the gray sky of the early morning and a young, calm, yet undeniably majestic face.

His pupils shrank suddenly.

"High... Peak..."

His voice was extremely hoarse, as if two pieces of sandpaper were rubbing against each other.

Memories flooded into his mind like a broken levee—the disastrous battlefield, Nie Kong's backstab, the death of Bear Overlord...

A huge sense of grief and despair gripped him again.

"I... am not dead?" He muttered in disbelief.

"You have a big life." Gao Feng said calmly, "You should also thank Liu Chengfeng; it was he who carried you in front of me and begged me to save you."

"Liu Chengfeng..." Du Wei's eyes became extremely complicated.

He struggled to sit up, but was stimulated by the severe pain from his waist and ribs, and he gasped, his forehead instantly covered with cold sweat.

"Don't move around."

Gao Feng held down his shoulder, "That knife from Nie Kong was poisoned and also injured your kidney. Although the poison has been neutralized, your Foundation is half ruined. You won't be able to get out of bed for three months. Even if you recover, your strength will be greatly discounted in the future."

This remark was like a basin of ice water poured over Du Wei's heart.

For a martial artist, a great loss of strength is more uncomfortable than killing him!

The blood on his face instantly vanished, turning into a dead gray.

"You... why... do you want to tell me this?"

Du Wei's voice was full of resentment, "Saved me, and then told me I'm already a cripple? Gao Feng! You are humiliating me!"

"Humiliating you?"

Gao Feng laughed, his laughter carrying a hint of disdain, "Du Wei, you think too highly of yourself. What do you have now that is worth my humiliation?"

"You!"

Du Wei was shaking with anger, but unable to refute.

Gao Feng put away his smile and said in a calm tone: "I'm just telling you a fact. The Third-in-Command Du Wei, who was previously at the Peak of Tier 3 and incredibly brave, is already dead. He died under Nie Kong's backstab, died under Bear Overlord's stubbornness."

"The one who is alive now is just a... cripple who needs to lie on a stretcher and needs someone to serve him even for peeing."

Every word was like a knife, stabbing fiercely into Du Wei's heart.

His eyes were red, staring at Gao Feng, his teeth chattering, wishing he could pounce and tear this hateful face in front of him to pieces.

Gao Feng ignored his anger and said to himself: "However, I do have a way here that might let you stand up again. Not only stand up, but perhaps even stronger than before."

Du Wei was stunned, the anger in his eyes replaced by a trace of unbelievable desire.

"What... what way?"

He asked eagerly, not even realizing that his tone already carried a hint of begging.

Gao Feng looked at him, the corner of his mouth curling into an unfathomable arc.

"Why should I tell you this method?"

After speaking, he ignored Du Wei, stood up, dusted off his robes, and turned to leave.

"Stop! Gao Feng! You stop for me!"

Du Wei roared hoarsely behind him, struggling to climb up, but it affected his wound, hurting him so much that his eyes went black, and he fell down powerlessly again.

He could only watch Gao Feng's back walk further and further away, finally disappearing into the morning mist.

Hope shone in front of him, and then was ruthlessly extinguished.

This kind of torture of falling from the clouds to Hell, seeing a glimmer of heaven from Hell, and then being kicked back into the abyss, is more cruel than any torture!

"Ah—!!"

Du Wei let out an unwilling and desperate roar, his fists slamming hard on the stretcher beneath him, and for the first time, tears of humiliation flowed from his eyes.

And Gao Feng heard the roar behind him, with no expression on his face.

Dealing with a stubborn and fierce general like Du Wei cannot be done by just granting favors.

He must first completely shatter all his pride and dignity, grind them into powder, and let him fall into the deepest despair.

Then, give him a rope to the light.

Only in this way will he wholeheartedly regard that rope as his only faith.

Gao Feng left the wounded camp and walked straight to the center of the canyon.

At this time, the sky was bright, and the hungover soldiers, under the scolding and urging of the leaders at all levels, rubbed their dizzy heads and began to assemble.

"All of you, cheer up! Sleeping like dead pigs!"

The newly promoted First Qu Commander King Tiger was kicking his soldiers' butts with full energy, "The Stockade Master is already up to patrol the camp, and you are still playing dead! Pack up your things quickly and prepare to go home!"

The two words "go home" made all the soldiers energetic instantly.

Yes, it's time to go home.

Return to that home that, although simple, belongs to them—Panshi Stockade.

Gao Feng looked at this slightly scattered but vibrant team and gave the order to depart.

"The whole army orders! Pack up, count the supplies, and set off to return to Panshi Stockade in two quarters of an hour!"

"Yes!"

The response of nearly a thousand people gathered into a torrent, echoing in the canyon.

The whole camp immediately became busy and orderly.

The soldiers bundled up the captured weapons, leather armor, grain bags, and other supplies, either carrying them on their backs or tying them to horses.

Those hundred or so warhorses became the main means of transport.

They were not only carrying heavy supplies but also carrying those wounded who were slightly injured and could barely move.

As for the seriously wounded like Du Wei, there were special soldiers carrying them carefully on stretchers.

The whole team stretched into a long dragon, winding in the canyon of A Thread of Sky.

Walking at the very front was Gao Feng.

He put on a piece of well-made black leather armor captured from Bear Overlord, which made his figure even more straight.

He did not ride a horse, but like all infantry, walked on foot at the very front of the team.

Behind him were the most elite veterans of Panshi Stockade, holding high a large flag temporarily made of bear skin, with two large characters written in white dye, scribbled but full of power—Panshi!

In the middle of the team were the newly surrendered soldiers, who were intentionally dispersed and mixed among the veterans of Panshi Stockade.

They carried large and small bags of spoils, and although there was fatigue on their faces, there was a trace of stability and expectation in their eyes.

At the very back of the team, Third Qu Commander Li Four led the scout team to cover the rear, always vigilant against possible dangers.

"Set off!"

With Gao Feng's order, this long dragon composed of victors, surrendered soldiers, wounded, and endless spoils embarked on the journey home.