CHAPTER 361: CHAPTER 319 BLACK KAZE REBELS_1

Yan Xing announced the operation orders against the Heize Werewolf Tribe at the meeting.

Duan’er, who had been responsible for monitoring the Heize Werewolves, stood up. Holding a command rod, he began to explain the topography of the Heize region on the sand table to the meeting attendees.

Heize is a famously perilous area within the Thunderous Swamp, known for its blackwater sprays that can instantly decompose a person. Moreover, this blackwater typically lies hidden underground. It only sprays out when a heavy object steps on the ground above, at which point it erupts suddenly. If even a small amount touches someone’s skin, it rapidly rots. This decay produces more blackwater, reducing a person to a pile of skeletons in an extremely short time. The land, almost as if alive, then devours the remaining skeletons.

There are rumors that beneath Heize, the ultimate creature protecting the Swamp Tribe—the Nine-Headed Dragon—lies dormant. This blackwater, with its super-corrosive effect, is said to be the toxic venom of the Nine-Headed Dragon.

Of course, all well-known places in the swamp have legends about the Nine-Headed Dragon, but the Swamp Tribe doesn’t pay them much mind. The Lizardmen even claim that Blood Crown Mountain is the crest of the ultimate Nine-Headed Dragon, yet they still mine for gemstones there with great enthusiasm.

The werewolves of the Eternal Domain paid no heed to rumors of a Nine-Headed Dragon beneath Heize, listening carefully to Duan’er’s topographical explanation of the region instead.

The interior of Heize is relatively safe, and the usual swamp environment poses little problem for werewolves. The key challenge is how the army can safely cross the Blackwater District. Duan’er had identified several routes leading into Heize’s interior. However, if the Heize Werewolves were to use magic to block these narrow paths, it would be difficult for the Eternal Domain’s army to advance without incurring significant losses.

Yan Xing decided to attack Heize not only to make an example of them and eliminate this internal tumor but also with the intention of training his troops. Since it was a training exercise, significant losses were unacceptable. Only by crushing Heize with overwhelming force and achieving a perfect victory with minimal casualties could the Eternal Domain Soldiers’ confidence in their brand-new weapons be established. If they struggled even against Heize, how could the Eternal Domain maintain morale when facing the Wildwind Highlands Legion, armed by the Cloud Tower? That war would be even more difficult.

After explaining the terrain of Heize, Duan’er said to Yan Xing, "Master, past the Blackwater District lies Heize City, newly constructed by Ironhead. It’s called a city, but its construction is worse than our latrines. As long as we can break through the blackwater-infested region, your personal forces won’t even need to act. My Southern Camp can effortlessly wipe out the rebels."

After Duan’er finished speaking, Yan Xing asked him, "Do the Heize Werewolves know about our rearmament?"

Duan’er replied, "Ironhead is very strict with his pups. They basically don’t interact with us aside from working. Managing Thundering Avenue, guarding Blood Crown Mountain City, and protecting your holdings in the Thunderous Swamp are all handled by the Southern Camp. My troops are still equipped as before. Ironhead certainly doesn’t know about the rearmament of your personal forces yet."

The experiments with the Flintlock Guns were conducted using the Guild’s Mercenaries, and the cannons have only been demonstrated in Nuta City. The standardized weaponry of the Eternal Domain had only just begun production, and Yan Xing’s personal forces had not yet completed their rearmament. Hence, the other affiliated troops were still using their old armor and weapons.

This was also why Ironhead, after acquiring a batch of armor, weapons, and slingshots, had begun to somewhat disregard the Eternal Domain. In his eyes, Yan Xing was merely his personal supply officer. Once his own power grew a little more, he believed he could lead his troops out of Heize and seize everything the Eternal Domain possessed.

Knowing that Ironhead was unaware of the Eternal Domain’s equipment upgrade, Yan Xing had a rich array of tactics at his disposal. He decided to use the Heize campaign as a testing ground for both existing equipment and those still in the experimental phase.

Under Yan Xing’s command, Chui Chui created a tactical template for the offensive on Heize City. Yan Xing and his generals conducted wargame simulations on the sand table, testing various new weapons in turn. They devised a battle plan designed to minimize their own losses, serve as a training exercise, and utilize a variety of weapons.

The military council met consecutively for three days. To ensure an initial victory, Yan Xing approached the task with the thoroughness of a lion hunting a rabbit.

Under the command of their respective officers, the troops entered a state of war. The army set out for Blood Crown Mountain City in batches, advancing along Thundering Avenue. The main force of the Eternal Domain would assemble at Blood Crown Mountain City, where Yan Xing would deliver the final war mobilization speech.

Duan’er led the conscripted soldiers of the Southern Camp, approaching the Heize region with the assistance of Werewolf Tribes loyal to the Eternal Domain. The Southern Camp was tasked with first constructing a temporary airfield, military barracks, an assault staging area, and artillery positions. They also had to establish an information blockade, capturing Heize Werewolf Scouts and preventing Ironhead from obtaining intelligence about the impending attack.

For this purpose, Yan Xing urgently reinforced the Southern Camp. He not only provided Duan’er with a large number of Carnivorous Birds and Chocobos but also assigned the newly formed special forces unit, to be commanded by Donna, to assist the Southern Camp in its operations.

During this period, Chui Chui would use drones and Beak Eagle Transport Planes to establish a battlefield information network. Chui Chui would also provide timely updates to the reconnaissance data on the Heize Werewolf Tribe.

Meanwhile, the news of Yan Xing’s announced campaign against the Heize Werewolf rebels spread rapidly throughout the Thunderous Swamp. The Swamp Tribe had long anticipated a battle between Heize and the Eternal Domain, but they were surprised by Yan Xing’s decisiveness.

War clouds gathered over the ancient region as the Eternal Domain’s troops entered the Thunderous Swamp in large numbers. The Clan Leaders of the Swamp Tribe pondered the possible outcomes of this war.

While the Eternal Domain remained strong, possessing nearly endless wealth and a well-equipped army, Clan Leader Ironhead was no longer the figure he once was. The Heize Werewolves had 40,000 soldiers. They consumed the Eternal Domain’s food, wielded its weapons, were protected by the blackwater, and held a terrain advantage.

The Eternal Domain’s army had traveled a long distance and was fighting on unfamiliar ground. If the battle turned unfavorable, they could find themselves at a disadvantage. It was also uncertain whether the Lizardmen, under the leadership of Red Eye and Green Tail, would seize the opportunity to attack Blood Crown Mountain. "When a wall is falling, everyone gives it a push"—those Werewolves and Lizardmen watching from the sidelines would surely join in attacking the Eternal Domain.

On the other hand, the reason the Werewolves and Lizardmen deep within the Thunderous Swamp harbored such thoughts was Yan Xing’s unstable foundation there. During his initial foray into the Thunderous Swamp, his own limited strength had forced him to act opportunistically. Later, to cope with the war against the Wildwind Highlands, he had adopted a conciliatory policy within the Swamp.

He was still one war away from truly controlling the Thunderous Swamp—a war to eradicate all the rebellious notions of the Swamp Tribe. Now, the time was ripe. The Eternal Domain’s military strength had been significantly enhanced. It now possessed not only the capability to conduct deep operations within the Swamp but also the power to easily defeat any opponent. Moreover, this coincided with a precious window of opportunity, as the offensive from the three tribes on the Wildwind Highlands was faltering. It was the perfect opportunity to eliminate Ironhead and set the stage for the Eternal Domain’s next major campaign!