"Out!"
With a wild roar, Zhang Wei raised the long saber that had been bent and stood imposingly on the steel wall. He stabbed the long saber into the bricks and took two flags, one red and one blue, from the hands of his attendants. When the red flag was waved, the battle drums thundered. Immediately, the tens of thousands of imperial guards who had already left the city to the north of the steel wall raised their spears, shields, bows and arrows and started moving. There were even warhorses in the formation. Clearly, this was still the Qiankun Tactic, but it was a modified version.
"Dong, dong, dong, dong …"
The war drums were very concentrated, as if they were pounding on everyone's heart. Su Yu, Zhen Yifan, Qu Chu, Tang Xiaoxi, and the others stood on the city wall, staring at the battle formation below. This battle was too important to Great Qin. If they could win this battle, there would still be room for negotiation. But if they lost this battle, the iron hooves of the Tianji Empire would trample over the steel wall and sweep across the whole of Middle Earth.
"Will it work?"
Su Yu pursed her red lips, and a strange light flickered in her eyes. She was Qin Yin's aunt, and also one of the few close relatives left in the Qin family. Naturally, she was very concerned about the outcome of this battle.
Zeng Yifan said calmly, "Don't worry. As long as Prince Xin Feng Jixing is still here, this battle will definitely not be lost. At least … it won't be a crushing defeat."
Su Yu looked back at the depths of the crowd. Under the strict protection of a group of Imperial Guards, a man covered in gauze and dressed like a scholar was sitting in the city tower. His five fingers were rhythmically tapping on the armrest of the wooden chair. Every time there was a need to change the formation, Zhang Wei would always turn back to look at her, and the rhythm of his fingers was the command to change the formation.
This battle seemed to be commanded by Zhang Wei, but in fact, it was still Feng Jixing who was personally commanding.
…
Three miles away from the city, a huge carriage was pulled by a huge beast with six legs. Beiming Huan, Gong Shangming, and the others were sitting in the carriage, as well as a group of high-ranking generals of the Flowing Spirit Corps.
"Hmph."
One of the nobles looked in the direction of the steel wall and laughed. "They're actually setting up a formation? I heard that the array formation of the Shattered Cauldron Realm is very mysterious. This time, I really want to see how powerful their array formation is. Is it really as powerful as the legends say? Is it really able to block the attacks of the Dragon Riders, Tiger Leopards, and the iron hooves of my Tianji Empire?! "
Gong Shangming held the palm-leaf fan in his hand and said with a faint smile, "Now that Feng Jixing is dead, they won't be able to stop our Empire of Tianji's attack anymore. However, for safety's sake, Marshal, I think it's better for you to only send the 50,000 soldiers of the vanguard to attack them. Order the vanguard to set up a pocket formation and destroy their formation. I'd like to see how powerful their formation is."
"Oh?"
Beiming Huan smiled. "Sir, are you going to set up the array yourself?"
"Yes, Marshal, please set up the formation platform for me."
"Alright!"
The horns of the Tianji Empire sounded one after another as the 50,000 soldiers marched out of the formation. They were all sword and shield soldiers and archers. The magic of the pocket formation was not the attack, but the suppression. Once the enemy entered the pocket formation, they would feel like they were trapped in a quagmire. Every attack would be very weak, and they would not be able to figure out what was going on.
A platform that had been prepared for a long time was slowly dragged to the front of the formation by many chariots. There were many flags around it, and two Dragon Riders were circling in the air to protect it. Gong Shangming rolled up his sleeves and walked onto the platform with his bare arms. He picked up two drumsticks and started beating the drums. In a blink of an eye, his forehead was covered in sweat. He was not a cultivator after all, and he did not have much physical strength. However, he still kept changing the rhythm of the drumming. The pocket formation of the Tianji Empire was different from the Heaven and Earth Battle Tactics. It did not rely on flags, but on the rhythm of the drums.
…
"They're here!"
Zhang Wei was even a little excited. The 50,000 soldiers of the Flowing Spirit Army had spread into the valley. The moment they entered the valley, they immediately spread out on both sides. It was as if they had spread out a large net to "eat" the 50,000 Imperial Guards who were in the Heaven and Earth Battle Tactics.
"What should we do?" Zhang Wei looked at Feng Jixing who was behind him.
Feng Jixing waved his hand lightly, and his voice was transmitted to Zhang Wei's ear: "Let them eat, and change the formation."
"Yes!"
The red and blue flags fell together, and with a "whoosh", it brought about a huge gust of wind. The Heaven and Earth Battle Tactics under the city walls quickly changed. The shields were on the outside, the archers were on the inside, and the cavalry was in between the two formations, waiting for an opportunity to attack.
Not long after, the pocket formation was completely formed, and it surrounded the Heaven and Earth Battle Tactics, and slowly approached.
…
"Is that person beating the drums Gong Shangming?" Zeng Yifan looked into the distance.
Zeng Fang cupped his fists: "Yes, father. That person is Gong Shangming. I have seen his portrait."
"What a clever commander. After seeing us setting up the Heaven and Earth Battle Tactics, he actually used the pocket formation to deal with it. Hmph, Gong Shangming is indeed a scheming person."
Su Yu did not understand, and the group of high-ranking officers of the Empire were also confused.
Zeng Yifan looked at everyone's confusion, and explained with a smile: "It's very simple. The Heaven and Earth Battle Tactics has both offensive and defensive capabilities, but it lacks mobility. The entire formation is too large and cumbersome, so it can easily be swallowed up by the pocket formation. In addition … Gong Shangming probably used the pocket formation as a precautionary measure."
Zeng Fang was startled: "Alright, why do you say that?"
"Foolish boy, do you still remember how Xu Jiantao achieved victory in Cangnan?"
"He used the Underground Chain Cannon Formation."
"That's right!" Zeng Yifan stroked his white beard and said: "How could a smart person like Gong Shangming not learn the lesson of the Blackstone Empire's crushing defeat? Look, when Duke Wei built the steel protective wall, he chose the Luo River Estuary as a fortress for a reason. The Luo River Estuary itself is a huge basin and valley, easy to defend and hard to attack. Tens of thousands of people can come in at most, but it's very difficult to get out. Once the valley entrance is sealed, it's like catching a turtle in a jar. If we set up the Chain Cannon Formation in advance in the valley of the Luo River Estuary, they will die no matter how many people come in. Therefore, Gong Shangming is not that stupid. He used the pocket formation and surrounded fifty thousand Imperial Guards in the middle. As long as we detonate the Chain Cannon Formation, the ones who die will be the Imperial Guards and not the soldiers of the Flowing Spirit Corps. "
Everyone was stunned.
This was not only a decisive battle between two great empires, but also a game between the wise men!
The Great Qin Empire had wise men like Feng Jixing and Zeng Yifan, while the Tianji Empire also had people like Gong Shangming, who was exceptionally resourceful. Therefore, this was destined to be an unprecedented battle.
… …
The sound of the war drums suddenly stopped. Gong Shangming was changing his formation.
As expected, the pocket formation shrank one by one. The shieldbearers were at the front, and the archers were at the back. When the distance was less than fifty meters, a round of arrows was fired. At the same time, a dozen Dragon Knights slowly descended from the sky, in order to defend against the magic crystal crossbows carried by the Imperial Guards. Gong Shangming was meticulous, he had already thought of everything.
"Dang dang dang dang … …"
Sparks flew continuously as the arrows hit the shields, but there was always a part that could not be defended. In the blink of an eye, many of the Imperial Guards were injured by the arrows. What's worse was that the enemy's Dragon Knights were circling in the sky. They were like tigers eyeing their prey, making it impossible for them to defend.
Zhang Wei's face was ashen as he turned around and asked.
Feng Jixing said indifferently: "Four Corners Charging Form!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Wei quickly waved the two flags. The sound of the war drums on the city walls also started to thunder. The four corners of the Universe Formation started to separate. The shields moved aside, and a group of Imperial Guards wielding their swords and spears charged out. They went straight for the four corners of the pocket formation. At the same time, the shieldbearers and spearmen crowded around like a tide, covering the cavalry's charge.
"Hmm?"
Gong Shangming glanced at them and couldn't help but smile. The war drums started to change. After three rapid strikes, they would strike once, repeatedly.
"Loosen the pocket!"
The Captaincy in the formation quickly shouted out the order.
The pocket formation slowly retreated, like flowing water meeting a boulder. This caused the Universe Formation's charging form to be ineffective. Instead, the Dragon Knights' Dragon Breaths burned the pocket formation a few times. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of Imperial Guards were buried in the sea of fire.
"Formation Defense Form!"
Feng Jixing said in a low voice.
Zhang Wei then gave the order to continue defending, and the entire Universe Formation shrunk once more.
Feng Jixing's countenance grew increasingly grim. This Gong Shangming was far more formidable than he had imagined.
"What should we do next, Your Highness?" Zhang Wei was at a loss.
"Wait."
"Wait?"
"That's right. Just continue defending with the Formation Defense Form. I'll tell you when it's time to change the formation."
"Yes!"
…
In the blink of an eye, the dusty valley became peaceful again. Groups of Imperial Guards stood still with their blades in their hands, as if they had turned into statues.
"What's going on?!"
After almost an hour, there was still no movement. Beiming Huan was getting impatient. "Why aren't they changing the formation? Is this the limit of the Qin Empire's formation?"
Xu Chuan sneered. "The Shattered Realm army is a bunch of trash. We were right."
"I'm afraid not."
Beiming Huan said indifferently. "Let's see how Gong Shangming handles it."
"Hmm."
On the platform, Gong Shangming's expression was calm. He raised his head to look at the people of the Qin Empire on top of the metal protective wall. Just how powerful was this person hidden among the generals and nobles that he could actually use formations to such an unclear extent? Although the Universe Formation looked ordinary and just a defensive formation, Gong Shangming could feel the threat deep in his heart. He could feel the invisible killing intent hidden in it.
"Strategist, what are you waiting for?"
Caster, the commander of the Flowing Spirit Army, said in a low voice. "If not now, when? Do you want to wait until the day our food runs out? Don't forget that the Sky Connecting Province is already lacking in resources, and many of the granaries have been burned. Our 300,000 soldiers can't hold on for more than a few days. "
Gong Shangming frowned. He knew that if he lost this battle, his position as the chief strategist of the Tianji Empire would probably be lost.
"Attack!"
This time, Gong Shangming shouted his orders and waved the drumsticks to hit the war drums with all his might. It was incomparably dense.
…
The Pocket Formation quickly closed. The battle was coming.
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