78: Chapter 78 Natural Disaster

As Liu Chengfeng's voice faded, the entire meeting hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's face was etched with horror and disbelief.

Two thousand fearless barbarian warriors, the mysterious and unpredictable Snake Shaman, plus dozens of giant python Yao Beasts that were like moving fortresses...

This force, let alone their small Panshi Stockade, could likely easily trample even a major prefecture like Hanyang City!

This was no longer a battle between evenly matched opponents; it was a total natural disaster!

Facing this impending doom that felt like Mount Tai pressing down upon them, the upper echelons of Panshi Stockade inevitably split into two distinct voices.

The radical faction, led by the newly appointed commander of the Tiger Guard Battalion, Du Wei, still upheld his fearless fighting style.

He slammed the table and stood up, his voice, like a booming bell, emanating from beneath his iron mask: "This Panshi Stockade is the home we built brick by brick with our own hands! Behind us are our wives and children! We have nowhere left to retreat!"

"I advocate relying on our sturdy city defenses and geographical advantages to fight these barbarians to the death! My Tiger Guard Battalion is willing to be the vanguard and will fight to the death without retreating!"

His words were filled with iron-blooded resolve, making many of the young officers present feel their blood boil, and they rose one after another to echo him: "Right! Let's fight them to the end!"

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"

However, on the other side, the moderate faction led by the strategist Liu Chengfeng shook their heads calmly.

"General Du, I, Liu Chengfeng, admire your courage."

Liu Chengfeng stood up, his voice not loud but clearly overpowering all the clamor, "However, wars cannot be won by courage and blood alone. The disparity between our strength and the enemy's is too great. A direct confrontation is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock; it's gambling with the lives of all our brothers!"

His gaze swept across the blood-colored area on the sand table that was constantly encroaching, his eyes filled with reason and calmness: "In my opinion, the top priority is not a decisive battle, but to avoid their momentum."

"I suggest we immediately adopt a scorched-earth policy, abandoning all outer strongholds and villages like Three-Forked Crossing, and withdrawing all people and supplies back into Panshi Valley."

"Then, we lure the enemy deep, using the terrain we are familiar with and various traps and mechanisms to constantly consume and harass them, letting them fall into the vast ocean of people's war! When they are exhausted and have lost their sharp edge, we will then plan our next move!"

Liu Chengfeng's strategy was undoubtedly the most secure and most in line with conventional military tactics.

Most of the experienced people present who had weathered storms subconsciously nodded in agreement.

For a time, the entire meeting hall was divided into two factions, arguing endlessly; one side advocated for war, the other for defense, and neither could convince the other.

Everyone's gaze finally converged on that young figure who had been silent from beginning to end, just quietly watching the sand table.

They were waiting for their Stockade Master to make the final decision.

Gao Feng did not speak; his fingers slowly traced across the cold sand table, from the southern plains to the mountains of Ghost Sees Sorrow, and then to the easily defended but hard-to-attack valley entrance of Panshi Stockade.

In his mind, countless tactical plans were rapidly being simulated and colliding.

Abandon strongholds? Scorched-earth policy? Lure the enemy deep? These were all correct, but they were also passive.

He did not like being passive. Because being passive meant handing the initiative of the war and his own fate into the hands of the enemy.

What he wanted was to firmly grasp the dominance of the battlefield in his own hands!

He wanted to make the enemy follow the script he designed, walking step by step onto the death stage he had prepared for them!

After a long time, Gao Feng finally raised his head.

In his deep eyes, there was not a trace of panic or hesitation, only calmness and resolve like ten-thousand-year-old ice.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it exploded in everyone's ears like a thunderclap!

"Du Wei, Liu Chengfeng, what you both said is right, and also, not quite right. Today, I will tell you my decision."

His finger suddenly lifted from the sand table and then heavily pointed at a desolate wilderness a hundred miles away from Panshi Stockade!

"We will not defend, and we will not retreat."

"We will take the initiative and attack!"

"We will repel the enemy outside our borders!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was shocked!

Everyone looked at Gao Feng with the eyes of someone looking at a madman.

Using less than a thousand troops to actively attack a terrifying army composed of two thousand barbarian elites and dozens of Yao Beasts? This was no longer madness; this was simply seeking one's own death!

"Stockade Master! Please think twice!" Liu Chengfeng was the first to urgently advise against it, "This move is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock!"

"That's right, Stockade Master!" Du Wei also rarely stood on the same side as Liu Chengfeng, "In a head-on field battle, we have no chance of winning!"

"Who said I wanted to fight them in a head-on field battle?"

The corners of Gao Feng's mouth curled into an arc full of confidence and mystery.

He walked to the huge map, his gaze like the sharpest hawk, sweeping over everyone present.

"What is important in large-scale group warfare?" He did not directly announce his plan but instead asked a question.

Everyone looked at each other.

Liu Chengfeng thought for a moment and replied: "The Art of War says, before troops and horses move, provisions must come first. Large-scale group warfare is about logistics and supplies."

"Well said," Gao Feng nodded, "but not entirely correct."

"In my opinion," he said, enunciating every word, "it's about information, about mobility, and about delivering the most fatal blow at a time the enemy least expects, at a location they least expect, and in a way they least expect!"

"And this is called asymmetric warfare!"

In his mind emerged those classic special operations cases from his past life; exchanging the minimum cost for the maximum result, this was the art of war!

"Today, I announce that Panshi Stockade's 'Weaken, Lure, Annihilate' three-step strategy is officially launched!"

His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty, "From this moment on, all departments and all personnel of the entire Panshi Stockade will be like a precise war machine, providing the most comprehensive support for this active attack!"

"Pass on my orders!"

"Luo Qin! You are responsible for coordinating logistics! I want you to prepare all the supplies sufficient for five hundred people to fight outside for half a month within three days! Including dry rations, fresh water, medicine, arrows, and..."

A cold and stern light flashed in his eyes, "A hundred catties of the newly refined black powder!"

"Du Wei! Liu Chengfeng! You two are responsible for guarding the stockade! Strengthen city defenses, appease the people's hearts, and train new recruits! While I am away, if there is the slightest mistake in the stockade, I will hold you accountable!"

"King Tiger! Zhao Iron Pillar! Li Four!"

"Here!"

"You three, immediately select one hundred brothers from the entire army who are the most agile, have the best swimming skills, the strongest psychological quality, and preferably bachelors with no parents and no burdens! Assemble at the parade ground tomorrow morning!"

Orders were issued in an orderly manner.

Although the entire meeting hall was still filled with great uncertainty about the future, under the influence of Gao Feng's powerful aura of confidence, the panic caused by fear in everyone's hearts miraculously calmed down.

They began to believe unconditionally, believing that their Stockade Master would definitely be able to lead them once again to create a miracle!

The next morning, before dawn, the thin mist shrouding the valley had not yet dissipated.

On the central parade ground of Panshi Stockade, the cold was biting, but it was already filled with a hundred burly men.

They were the elites selected from fifteen hundred combat soldiers according to Gao Feng's strict standards, one in a hundred.

Each of them was agile, with eyes as sharp as hawks, and possessed a sense of untamed and fierce courage that ordinary soldiers did not have.

They stood silently in the cold wind, like a hundred stone statues ready to go, waiting for the man who would give them new life and a mission.

Gao Feng, dressed in black, easy-to-move-in attire, carrying the three-pointed, double-edged blade wrapped in thick black cloth on his back, walked slowly onto the reviewing stand.

Behind him followed the scout captain Stone, also dressed in the same attire, with a look of mixed excitement and nervousness on his face.

Gao Feng's gaze was like two sharp swords, slowly sweeping over everyone under the stage.

Everyone swept by his gaze felt an invisible pressure rushing towards them, subconsciously straightening their chests and holding their breath.

"Brothers."

Gao Feng spoke, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the morning cold wind, "I know many of you are thinking, has the Stockade Master gone mad? Using our mere one hundred people to actively attack that barbarian army of several thousand?"

He paused, his voice suddenly rising, like a thunderclap: "Today, I tell you, I am not mad! Because we are not going to die; we are going to create a miracle!"

"From today on, you will no longer be ordinary combat soldiers of Panshi Stockade! You will have a new codename!"

He said, enunciating every word, and shouted in a deep voice: "Ghosts!"

"We have only one mission! That is to be like ghosts hovering around the enemy, delivering the most fatal blow at the time they least expect! We are a sharp knife plunged into the enemy's heart! We are a raging fire that ignites their granary! We are the key to deciding the outcome of this war!"

"Now, I ask you! Do you have the guts to follow me and do this great deed that will go down in history?!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

The one hundred elites were completely ignited by Gao Feng's inflammatory words!

They raised their weapons high and let out a heaven-shaking roar!

That soaring Battle Intent seemed to want to tear the clouds in the sky apart!

"Good!" Gao Feng nodded with satisfaction.

"Now, I officially appoint! Stone, as the deputy commander of the 'Ghost' task force, responsible for assisting me in commanding operations! Everyone immediately receive equipment and check supplies! We depart in one incense stick of time!"

"Target!"

His gaze looked towards the south, that vast world shrouded in the clouds of war, his eyes shining with a sharp light like a hunting hawk.

"Wuhui Tribe main camp!"

"..."

Night, like spilled thick ink, shrouded the whole earth in deep darkness.

The Wuhui Tribe army's campsite stretched for more than ten miles, like an ancient giant beast crouching in the darkness, piles of bonfires like the blood-colored pupils flashing on the giant beast's body, emitting a palpitating light.

The patrolling Wuhui Tribe warriors walked in groups of three or five, lazily moving around the camp, occasionally making unintelligible barbarian curses in their mouths.

Days of rapid marches and previous inexplicable harassment had long left them exhausted.

They could never have imagined that right above them, on the upper reaches of the river they deemed absolutely safe, pitch-black figures were moving like true, incorporeal ghosts.

They silently bypassed the lax sentries they had posted and arrived at the riverbank.

Leading them was Gao Feng, carrying several heavy, enormous burlap sacks in his hands.

He gestured to Stone and the dozen or so "Ghost" team members with the best swimming skills behind him: "This is the place. Proceed according to the plan."

The team members nodded silently and quickly opened the burlap sacks.

Inside were not lethal poisons that kill instantly upon contact, but a pitch-black herbal powder that emitted a strange, pungent odor.

This was a potent "laxative" that Gao Feng had personally concocted, based on the properties of certain special medicinal herbs within the spirit spring space and combined with Uncle Sun's pharmacological knowledge.

This powder was colorless and odorless; once mixed into the water, humans and livestock would feel nothing for a short time after drinking it.

But two hours later, the drug's effects would strike violently, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea and weakness at best, or severe dehydration and unconsciousness at worst.

This was more vicious than any lethal poison because it would not kill the enemy immediately; instead, it would silently and completely dismantle all of the enemy's combat effectiveness.

"Splash..."

Bag after bag of the specially prepared powder was silently poured into the icy river water, where it quickly dissolved and vanished.

After completing this, Gao Feng did not linger for a second and immediately led his team members away, disappearing into the vast night.

Two hours later, in the Wuhui Tribe camp, a series of painful groans and suppressed curses suddenly rang out.

"Oh no! My stomach... my stomach hurts so much!"

"Ah! Me too... me too..."

"Latrine! Quick! Where is the latrine!"

One, two, ten, a hundred...

More and more Wuhui Tribe warriors clutched their stomachs, their faces turning pale as cold sweat poured down, rushing frantically toward the few crude latrines in the camp.

For a time, the entire camp was in complete chaos, reeking with a foul stench.

Even the livestock and giant pythons that they used as mounts and food were not spared; they lay listlessly on the ground, excreting continuously and emitting painful cries.

The combat effectiveness of the entire Wuhui Tribe camp had plummeted by at least half in a single night!

But this was merely an appetizer that Gao Feng had prepared for them.

On another night perfect for arson, another "Ghost" squad, personally led by Stone, quietly snuck near the grain and fodder camp, where the Wuhui army's defenses were most lax.

Each of them carried specially made, highly flammable "Black Powder" ignition packs provided by Gao Feng.

"Now! Do it!"

Following Stone's order, dozens of black figures darted out from the darkness like phantoms.

They threw the ignition packs in their hands at the mountains of grain and fodder with lightning speed, then turned and retreated without the slightest hesitation!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Accompanied by a series of muffled explosions, orange-red flames shot into the sky!

The dry grain and fodder met the open flame and instantly erupted into a raging inferno!

The fire borrowed the wind's momentum, and the wind fueled the fire's might!

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the entire grain and fodder camp had completely turned into a sea of fire!

"Fire! Fire! Hurry and put it out!"

The Wuhui Tribe camp fell into massive chaos once again.

Although they eventually exhausted themselves to extinguish most of the flames, nearly half of the army's provisions were still burned into a pile of black ash by this sudden and inexplicable fire.

Military morale was completely shaken.

And Gao Feng's psychological warfare reached its peak at this moment.

He ordered the members of the "Ghost" squad to set up simple alarm traps all around the Wuhui Tribe camp that would emit a piercing sound when stepped on.

At the same time, they imitated various sounds of ghosts weeping and wolves howling, which echoed through the forest all night long.

Even worse, they would use cold arrows dipped in anesthetic to snipe at the isolated sentries.

They would kill without dealing a finishing blow, letting them die slowly while wailing in pain and terror.

After a few days, a terrifying atmosphere that "there are ghosts in the forest" completely shrouded the entire Wuhui Tribe camp.

All the Wuhui Tribe warriors became paranoid, their nerves highly strained, unable to sleep at night.

Both their bodies and minds were enduring immense dual torture, and morale had dropped to freezing point.

However, the Wuhui Tribe was, after all, a battle-hardened force that had fought its way out of that land of blood and cruel competition known as the Million Mountains; they were not fools.

After suffering this series of inconceivable blows, even the dullest person knew that they had provoked an extremely terrifying and difficult opponent.

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was suffocating.

Chief Blackwood's face, covered in hideous scars, was now livid, his chest heaving violently like an injured beast about to go berserk.

"Bang!"

He slammed his fist down, smashing the heavy table made of a single piece of giant wood in front of him to pieces!

Wood splinters flew everywhere!

"Ghosts! Ghosts! Ghosts! It's ghosts again!!"

He roared, his voice filled with endless rage and a trace of fear he hadn't even realized himself. "Snake Shaman!"

He turned his head sharply, his blood-red eyes staring fixedly at the withered old man who was still sitting cross-legged in the shadows of the corner, as if nothing had anything to do with him.

"Didn't you say that you Snake Shamans can communicate with all snakes and perceive every movement in the world?! Tell me! What on earth is going on?!"

"Why are our warriors vomiting and suffering from diarrhea for no reason?! Why did our impregnable grain and fodder camp suddenly catch fire?! Why did my sentries die so bizarrely?!"

"Tell me! What the hell is that damned thing!!"

His interrogation was like a barrage of cannon fire, each shout louder than the last.

The Snake Shaman slowly opened his murky eyes, which resembled those of a venomous snake, his face devoid of any ripple.

He only spoke slowly in a hoarse and icy voice: "Clan Chief, calm down. There are no ghosts in this world; what are called ghosts are merely the fears in people's hearts. This is not ghosts causing trouble; this is military strategy."

"What kind of bullshit military strategy is that!" Chief Blackwood was even more furious.

"The water was poisoned with a potent laxative I have never seen before."

The Snake Shaman said calmly, "The grain and fodder were ignited by a black powder that can ignite instantly. As for your sentries..."

A cold, intrigued glint flashed in the Snake Shaman's eyes. "They were killed by a weapon called 'psychology.' Among this group of Qian people, there has emerged a master who truly understands war. He is using his own way to tell us that he is the master of this land. Interesting, it is truly too interesting."

The corner of the Snake Shaman's mouth slowly curled into a strange and cruel smile. He stood up slowly, and his withered body, which seemed as if it could be blown over by a gust of wind, suddenly emitted a heart-palpitating, vast, and evil aura.

"It seems that if this old man doesn't make a move, I will be looked down upon."

He tapped his snake-bone staff lightly on the ground, and a visible black ripple spread out. "Pass on my order: tonight, within a ten-mile radius around the camp, sprinkle all the woodlands with 'Snake-Attracting Incense.' Then, just wait and watch a good show."

Amidst a chilling and eerie laughter, the Snake Shaman's figure slowly walked out of the command tent and disappeared into the vast night.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

An elite squad composed of twenty "Ghost" team members was executing the last harassment mission of the night.

Their target was the most important giant python breeding area of the Wuhui Tribe camp, and the captain was none other than the First Qu Commander, King Tiger.

He lay in a dense thicket, observing the distant camp carefully with binoculars, and soon discovered that something was wrong.

"Strange... why is the Wuhui Tribe camp so quiet tonight?"

It was excessively quiet; there were no curses from patrols, no wails from the wounded, and even the venomous snakes on guard were nowhere to be seen.

"Boss, something isn't right," a veteran beside him lowered his voice. "I keep feeling like there's an indescribable strange smell in this forest, like something burnt, but also cloyingly sweet."

King Tiger nodded, the feeling of unease in his heart growing stronger.

"When things are abnormal, there must be demons," he recalled Gao Feng's instructions before departure. "Safety first; once you discover any abnormality, retreat immediately! Do not linger in battle!"

He made a decisive decision: "Retreat! Everyone, return the way you came immediately!"

However, the moment he gave the order, two dim green lights suddenly lit up in the dark forest they had come from.

Following that were four, eight, sixteen... dense and numerous!

Thousands of dim green light points, like fireflies on a summer night, lit up simultaneously from all the dark corners in every direction!

An icy, viscous, and fishy stench instantly shrouded the entire woodland.

"Hiss—hiss—hiss—"

A series of dense, hair-raising sounds of snake tongues flicking resounded from all directions.

"No... oh no! It's snakes! It's a snake swarm!!"

A young team member let out a shrill scream full of terror!

These venomous snakes seemed to have been summoned by some mysterious power, forming an airtight, surging wall of snakes, surrounding the twenty of them in the center!

"Don't panic! Back to back! Form a circle! Use the torches!"

King Tiger forced down the fear in his heart, drew the steel saber from his waist, and shouted loudly.

The team members immediately acted according to his instructions, waving their torches in an attempt to force the snake swarm back.

However, these venomous snakes seemed completely unafraid of fire, charging at the wall of fire without fear of death; even when burned charred black and emitting a "sizzling" sound, they still frantically continued to attack.

"Boss! It's no use! There are too many snakes! We can't kill them all!"

"My torch is about to go out!"

Under the endless assault of the snake swarm, the circular formation became tottering and precarious.