CHAPTER 399: CHAPTER 345 ETERNAL DOMAIN MILITARY READINESS STATUS_2

It was clearly visible that the main forces of the Wildwind Highlands Legion and the Eternal Domain were concentrated on the western border of the Eternal Domain. Both sides, using Outpost Fort and Riftfort as their respective base points, had established a military standoff line extending fifty kilometers north and south. The closest points along this line were less than thirty kilometers apart.

According to the intelligence Arlanda had just provided, Marquis Anderson had deployed seven airships within Riftfort, with an additional eight airships scattered along their own battle lines. Storm City had five airships. As for other hidden airships, none had been detected for the time being.

To counter the rifles fielded by the Eternal Domain, Cloud Tower had provided the Wildwind Highlands Legion with Charged Magic Wands. These alchemical weapons, powered by Rare Alchemical Resources, could fire magic beams. Although the effective range of the magic beams was 400 meters, less than that of the rifles equipped by the Eternal Domain, most battles were generally fought within 400 meters. Moreover, the Charged Magic Wand could also release magic shields to provide a certain level of protection, although deploying the shields consumed a significant amount of magic energy.

In addition, the Wildwind Highlands Legion possessed long-range heavy magic projectile weapons. Heavy magic launchers could hurl spells prepared by Mages several kilometers, even over ten kilometers away. There were also various types of alchemical equipment and Alchemical Weapons, which Cloud Tower had generously provided to Anderson to help him defeat Thunderous Swamp.

It could be said that the Eternal Domain did not possess an advantage in terms of weapons and equipment and even faced a significant disadvantage in the application of magic. What was reassuring was that the morale of both officers and soldiers in the Eternal Domain’s army was very high. As the war was defensive, the soldiers and officers were ready to fight the invaders to the death to protect their homeland.

It was Yan Xing’s turn to speak. Instead of first discussing his military ideas, he casually chatted with his heroes about how the Eternal Domain had developed.

"We developed the domain to this scale in less than a year, starting from just three people and two pitchforks. It’s a miracle, but it couldn’t have happened without the hard work of every subject in our domain.

Our sweat has soaked into this land, and that’s why we now enjoy such a prosperous life.

I can boldly say that the most ordinary person here lives a life far better than ordinary people elsewhere, and such a life is bound to attract the covetous eyes of some.

When you return, make sure your soldiers understand why this war started and what outcome they will face if we lose.

Most of the subjects of the Eternal Domain are refugees who came here seeking a stable life. Think about what it was like before you came to the Eternal Domain and what it’s like now.

Is such a life worth defending with our lives? Is such a homeland worth defending with our lives?

To everyone present... some of you might not be here one day to attend these meetings, but your names will surely be eternally inscribed on the monument of honor, just like the name of this domain."

Yan Xing’s words brought silence to the meeting.

As Yan Xing had just said, the Eternal Domain was a city of immigrants. In less than a year, few subjects could be recruited via the designated structures, and the second-generation subjects were still infants. In the domain, humans, Werewolves, Lizardmen, Elves... all had migrated from other places. They knew what life was like for ordinary people elsewhere. After suffering exploitation from other lords, merely having enough food and warmth meant one was fortunate enough to be in a benevolent domain. Yet the most merciful lord in the world could not compare to a fraction of Lord Yan Xing’s kindness. Not a single person had died from the cold this winter, something unimaginable in other places.

Should the Eternal Domain be breached, everything here would vanish.

The heroes of the Eternal Domain all looked toward the map in the center of the conference table. The Eternal Domain was less than sixty kilometers away from Outpost Fort. Outpost Fort was only thirty kilometers away from Riftfort.

Suddenly, Eddie stood up and said loudly to Yan Xing, "Please rest assured, my lord! I will convey what you just said to every soldier. Let them know... behind us lies the Eternal Domain! If we retreat a single step, we shall lose everything we possess.

Unless we are all dead, we will not let a single enemy through Outpost Fort!"

Following Eddie, all the other heroes stood up.

"Please rest assured, my lord, we will not let a single enemy through Outpost Fort!"

Yan Xing gestured with his hand, asking his heroes to sit down.

Waging war...

The so-called glory and incentives could only inspire temporary courage. If there wasn’t a belief in "why we fight" to sustain it, all sorts of war-weariness would eventually arise.

Yan Xing waited a moment before saying, "Facing the imminent war, we must clearly understand that our army is at a disadvantage in many respects.

Lack of training, unfamiliarity with new equipment, no experience in large-scale legion combat... and many, many more.

Therefore, in the first phase of the war, we can only defend passively.

We must rely on dug trenches, barbed wire, pillbox clusters, and fortresses to fight a positional defensive war against our enemies. Leveraging our well-established fortifications, we will compete in attrition, willpower, and war potential.

Especially when at a disadvantage, the conviction to hold on is often more important than personal bravery or superior weaponry.

Victory in such a battle often depends on who, even in the toughest moments, can still organize their soldiers to resolutely execute combat commands.

This is why I have always emphasized that we must let our soldiers know why they are fighting and why they must win. Only by knowing there’s no retreat can they be nailed to their positions!

Of course, we have disadvantages, but we also have advantages.

Time is our greatest ally.

We have the Thunderous Swamp at our back, with a population of two million, while the Wildwind Highlands Legion only has fifty thousand troops available for frontline combat. They will not receive any reinforcements from the Silvermane Principality, and soon, we will have control over the supply line from Nuta City.

Cloud Tower can supply Marquis Anderson with Alchemical Weapons, but it will not give him too many soldiers.

As long as we hold out until the rainy season arrives, the Wildwind Highlands Legion will face major supply problems.

Meanwhile, our production of materials can be increased several-fold, allowing us to arm a hundred thousand troops.

After the rainy season, the Wildwind Highlands Legion will be our prey!

Storm City will be our greatest war trophy in this campaign!"

Yan Xing then laid out the strategy for confronting the Wildwind Highlands Legion. The initial phase mandated a staunch defense: training the army, integrating new weaponry, and boosting the domain’s material production capacity. Concurrently, the objective was to attrit the Wildwind Highlands Legion’s forces, supplies, and morale.

Furthermore, at this current stage, it was also unwise to be too conspicuous. Appearing passive on the battlefield could lull Cloud Tower into complacency, letting them think that with a little more assistance to the Wildwind Highlands Legion, they could defeat Thunderous Swamp. If Cloud Tower didn’t enter the fray personally, the Eternal Domain would gain more time to develop.

Give the Eternal Domain Alchemy Laboratory another six months, and many technologies would yield results. By then, even if Cloud Tower entered the battle, the Eternal Domain would have measures to cope. Moreover, other conflicts would likely erupt elsewhere during this time, preventing Cloud Tower from concentrating its attention solely on the Eternal Domain.

If only we can hold out until the rainy season arrives...

Yan Xing established the overarching strategy, while Chui Chui conducted specific military deployments on the virtual sand table.

Two infantry divisions were to be placed at the main positions of Outpost Fort: the First Human Division and the First Werewolf Division, which were the first to be fully reorganized. These two divisions, being the strongest in combat, would defend the most critical positions.

A division was to be positioned on each rear flank of Outpost Fort to prevent the enemy from outflanking the Eternal Domain.

A division was to be positioned in the second line at the rear to serve as a reserve force for battlefield support.

The Southern Camp was to establish a security perimeter along the third line, responsible for the domain’s internal defense.

The air forces were to be deployed in five frontline airfields and seven rear airfields, each responsible for their designated defense airspace, with Battlefield Liaison Officer Chui Chui coordinating joint operations.

Ground combat on the frontline would be under the command of the five division commanders: Eddie, Olaf, Gangya, Qiao She, and Lianzu.

The Eternal Domain would establish an Operations Command Headquarters, with Yan Xing as Supreme Commander, responsible for overseeing its functions. Special operations units such as the airborne brigade, heavy artillery brigade, and special operations regiment would be under the direct command of the Operations Command Headquarters.

The meeting concluded, and the main force of the Eternal Domain entered combat readiness...

An invitation from Nuta City also arrived in Yan Xing’s hands at this time.