None of the candidates present had expected this outcome. Now, they were all terrified. They were also thankful they hadn't offended Long Junhai, otherwise they would have suffered the same fate! They would never offend Long Junhai again, no matter what. This kind of person was truly terrifying! The emperor actually gave him such a big favor!
In this way, the next things became much clearer. No one cared about the top spot anymore. Everyone wanted to settle for the second best. It would be great to get the second or third place.
Next came the third question. Although it was the third question, everyone knew that the top scorer would be Long Junhai, so there was basically no suspense.
The third question was about strategy. Gao Lishi brought out a palm-sized crystal ball and placed it in front of everyone. Then a vast map appeared in the air, which looked a bit like a three-dimensional projection.
At this time, Xue Rengui stepped forward and said, "The last question requires strategy. This map shows the terrain of a fortress in the Immortal-Demon Battlefield. The defenses, traps, mechanisms, formations, and other details are clearly marked. Within one stick of incense, I will give you 10,000 elite celestial immortals. You must break through the enemy camp. Who will try first?"
The final question was unexpectedly military-related, catching many off guard. After all, leading troops into battle was the domain of military commanders, while the civil officials were responsible for governing the Tang Dynasty. In the past, the third question had typically involved Emperor Xuanzong improvising a poem or song as a topic. Why was there such a dramatic change this year? Could it be that the war situation at the border was getting tense?
Seeing everyone's hesitation, Xue Rengui smiled and said, "The Immortal Demon Battlefield is now fraught with danger. If we lose, the surrounding weak empires will fall, and there's a high possibility they might even invade the Tang Empire. Therefore, I've asked the Emperor for permission to put the Tang Empire on emergency war footing, mobilizing all its citizens!"
Everyone was extremely nervous when they heard this, and only a few people who had read military books were a little relaxed.
After a while, one of them stepped forward tentatively and said, "Marshal Xue, could you let me try?"
"Of course, please." Xue Rengui smiled and waved his hand, signaling this person to command the virtual army in the air to fight.
These palm-sized virtual soldiers are all set at the level of celestial beings, and the formation mechanisms are marked with the highest level of lethality. Some traps are located in dangerous locations. It is really difficult to let 10,000 troops pass through these layers of obstacles and then enter the enemy to seize the base camp. Moreover, the enemy army is not standing still and is completely controlled by Xue Rengui. This means that one must have a strategy that surpasses Xue Rengui in order to win.
Long Junhai watched this game, which was similar to advanced military chess, and wondered if he would have a chance of winning if it were him.
At this moment, the candidate had already set out on his march. He first sent a hundred spies to investigate the unknown paths ahead to ensure that he had more safe marching routes.
Xue Rengui kept his troops in place and remained in a defensive state. However, because the area he was in represented the demon world, it was always shrouded in black fog. Except for him, no one else knew what the situation was in the black fog. This was also to simulate the most realistic state of the battlefield between immortals and demons as realistically as possible.
Everyone present was looking at the virtual battlefield above their heads. When the one hundred spies entered the enemy area, the black fog immediately disappeared, revealing the real terrain. The candidate deployed his troops according to the terrain and pushed his army forward little by little.
However, just a moment later, more than ninety of the one hundred spies suddenly died, and the area where only a few of them were still safe!
The candidate immediately judged that the western area where these spies were located was relatively safe. It was also close to the plains, which was conducive to the advance of the army. There were no high mountains or obstacles to block the view, so he quickly accelerated the marching pace, and the army soon reached the enemy's border area.
After entering the border, the candidate did not risk a sudden advance, but continued to send a hundred spies to investigate the enemy situation ahead.
However, the more troublesome thing this time was that these spies disappeared instantly after entering the enemy area, and the candidates did not get any useful information about the enemy.
The candidates felt the pressure doubled. In an instant, more than a hundred spies disappeared from all directions. Does this mean that they have fallen into the enemy's trap?
Just when the candidate was hesitating, a team of a thousand enemy soldiers appeared at the border of the Tang Dynasty. They easily bypassed the traps, broke through various defenses, and headed straight for the Tang Dynasty fortress headquarters!
"Oops! I forgot to defend myself!"
The candidate suddenly panicked, remembering that he only had 10,000 men, and he hadn't even sent his men to defend, instead sending them all directly to the enemy's border! This made a quick retreat much more difficult!
The candidate didn't have time to think about anything else, and quickly ordered his troops to withdraw to rescue the base camp. But at this moment, three thousand enemy troops appeared at the border, biting the rear troops like wolves, nibbling away at them bit by bit. In a short while, the candidate lost nearly half of his troops!
Although the candidate flew people all the way back to the base camp at all costs, more than 5,000 people were killed in the round trip, and he didn't even find out where the enemy's base camp was!
"This is unfair! I can't see your terrain and troop deployment, Marshal, but you know the situation here very well! If this goes on, I will definitely lose!" said the candidate very unhappily.
Xue Rengui chuckled and said, "I defended myself. Of course, you don't know my situation, and you didn't defend yourself. I know your situation is also very normal."
The candidate had nothing to say, so he immediately covered his territory with white mist, and then divided his troops into three groups, one for defense, one for dispatch, and one for attack. The situation improved slightly, at least he would not be used as a target by the enemy.
Now the battlefield above everyone's heads has turned black and white. Except for some mountains and rivers that are not covered by fog, other places cannot be seen clearly.
"Is it my turn to attack now?"
Xue Rengui smiled, then commanded three thousand soldiers into the river, obviously intending to attack by water.
The candidate was somewhat nervous and secretly dispatched 3,000 troops to defend around the river.
However, at this moment, three thousand enemy troops rushed out from the flank, two thousand of them entangled the candidate's defense troops, and the remaining one thousand soldiers headed towards the fortress base camp, and captured the base camp in a moment.
"Why is it this trick again! I've been fooled again!" The candidate beat his chest and wailed. No matter whether it was attacking or defending, he failed so completely, and was defeated by the same trick!
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