The tendency to forget past defeats isn't unique to the chimpanzee tribe; the monkey tribe is the same. A month after their initial defeat of 500,000, a million-strong army attacked again. The result, of course, was no better. The Tang Dynasty had countless talented generals capable of commanding small armies. Spread out over a battlefield of more than ten miles, they supported each other, launching a pincer attack on the monkey tribe. After a day and a night of fierce fighting, the monkey tribe's million-strong army was nearly annihilated.
Here we must mention the powerful families of Jiangnan. The success of the war made them incredibly wealthy—wealthy in a way that inspired envy. After all, in that monkey-infested region, even a commoner might wear silver ornaments around their neck. Their houses might have doors and furniture made of precious woods like sandalwood. This drove them almost mad!
More manpower has been mobilized, all under the guise of a caravan, and now it's almost as many as the main army at the front.
Qin Mu agreed to give them a portion of the slaves on the condition that they participate in the war as a reserve force, helping to transport arrows and make defensive equipment. It should be noted that in the Tang Dynasty, almost all the men participated in the military training, and individually, they were no less capable than the monkey tribe.
With an additional 100,000 men to help, things are completely different. Overnight, tens of thousands more barricades and javelins can be added, allowing the main force to fully commit to the attack. Wounded soldiers can also receive faster medical treatment, which is the reason why they can swallow up a million-strong army in one fell swoop.
They might be lacking in tough battles, but they're definitely not a problem in winning battles; they can just swing their weapons and follow the enemy.
The Triangular Bull heavy infantry, cavalry, and the Chimpanzee tribe, used as mobile forces, breaking through enemy lines point by point and gradually expanding their gains. The main force held the line at the front, while the rear-guard legions followed to pick off any remaining enemies. For a day and a night, they surrounded and pursued! The entire battlefield stretched for dozens of miles, and apart from the Tang Dynasty, no other race could easily command and control it.
This expedition didn't have a top-tier commander, but its members were all seasoned veterans. Their individual combat skills, command abilities, and ability to seize opportunities were all quite good. Even facing an enemy several times their size, they compensated for the disparity with superior equipment, gradually gained control of the battle, and ultimately launched a counter-offensive.
For dozens of miles, the flames of war raged, and corpses lay everywhere in clearings and forests. Cavalrymen were mopping up the remaining survivors, infantrymen were searching for their wounded comrades, and logistics personnel were clearing the battlefield. Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion!
So much time has passed since the war started that even the worst logistics personnel have become accustomed to the mutilated limbs and can endure the disgust while scavenging for spoils of war.
What Qin Mu disdained was still quite valuable to the logistics personnel; they wouldn't let anything with even a modicum of value slip by. They truly ensured the monkeys arrived in this world clean and tidy, and left clean and tidy as well. Except for those creatures wearing leaves.
“We also suffered considerable losses in this battle! The key issue is our arrows. Will we have enough for the next major battle?” Li Shenfu asked.
Initially, he didn't support sending troops proactively; it was Qin Mu who persuaded him under the guise of supervising the battle, since he was worried about only a million wolf and chimpanzee tribe members. After easily capturing two cities, he also realized the monkey tribe's weakness. Therefore, he launched two major battles without reservation.
He didn't really care much about the losses; the spoils and achievements were enough to satisfy the court. Defeating an enemy force of 1.5 million, even in two separate battles, was a feat rarely seen in the entire Tang Dynasty! It brought him both fame and fortune, so he was actually in a wonderful mood.
Li Shenfu asked Qin Mu, also wanting to remind him to quit while he was ahead, since losing would greatly diminish the value of his previous two victories.
"Uncle, rest assured, the monkey tribe has been defeated this time and can no longer cause much trouble. Our next step is to capture Wufen City ahead and deliver the final blow, completely shattering their morale! If the monkey tribe is really so tenacious and launches another large-scale attack, then we will defend the city," Qin Mu explained.
"Hmm! You're right, let's do it that way. But how far do you want to go? We don't have enough manpower to occupy these places. The battle lines are too long, making it difficult to provide support from the rear, and the front lines are vulnerable to attack." Li Shenfu's expression relaxed when he heard that Qin Mu was no longer going to fight the monkey tribe in the open, and he stroked his beard as he asked.
"Last year, the Monkey Clan attacked Lingnan, suffering many casualties. This year, they were attacked by us again. In total, the casualties should be over three million. Even our Great Tang would be severely weakened by so many people, let alone them. Uncle, you should have noticed that the Monkey Clan that came this time are dressed and armed in much simpler clothes, which shows that they have run out of reserves."
"I want them to cede territory, pay reparations, and bow down to the Tang Dynasty!" Qin Mu confidently pointed into the distance and said decisively.
"Great! If we can really achieve this, the South will be safe, and His Majesty will have more energy to deal with the North," Li Shenfu said excitedly.
"Hehe, even if the monkey tribe doesn't submit, they won't have the strength to advance eastward within twenty years," Qin Mu said with a smile.
"I'm afraid the monkey tribe won't accept defeat and will break up into smaller groups to harass Lingnan," Li Shenfu said hesitantly.
"That's why I arranged for the White-Eyed Wolf Clan to kill those tribes! I want to terrify them so that they'll feel cold and fearful whenever they hear the name of the Tang Dynasty!" Qin Mu said menacingly.
Li Shenfu didn't care about the White-Eyed Wolf Clan. He thought that the group of dwarfs with wooden guns were cannon fodder thrown out by Qin Mu, so he didn't bother to ask them anything.
“I believe that. The name of the Bull Demon King can stop children from crying at night on the grasslands,” Li Shenfu said with a smile.
Qin Mu rolled his eyes, ignoring Li Shenfu's teasing.
To be fair, he really came with a bloodbath mentality this time, intending to kill and plunder everything. He just didn't expect the monkey tribe to be so reckless, not defending the city but instead charging out to fight in the open. Although some experts caused a lot of trouble, the Tang army was not lacking in top experts, not to mention the support of Qin Mu, a Confucian scholar.
After advancing to the rank of Great Confucian Scholar, Qin Mu comprehended a divine power that allowed his words to become law. Previously learned techniques, which only required a thought to mobilize his righteous energy and speak, were now readily available. Crucially, the Great Confucian Scholar's divine power not only utilized the righteous energy within his body but also that in the air, thus greatly amplifying its power.
Qin Mu guessed that if one mastered the Six Arts and Eight Refined Arts and became a great Confucian scholar, one would likely possess other supernatural abilities. However, he was quite content. Although he had named the ability "Words Become Law," it was extremely practical, ensuring his safety at least until his righteous energy was depleted. He was no longer afraid of encountering top-tier masters alone.
His divine sense broke through his sea of consciousness, greatly increasing his spiritual power. This allowed him to easily use the secret techniques of the Ghost Valley lineage, which became a trump card. Putting aside everything else, at least in terms of troop deployment, he was much more adept than before. Although he was still not as good as a professional strategist.
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