CHAPTER 1187: CHAPTER 64: FIGHTING ALONE, CROSSING THE WESTERN REGIONS

Became a lone army.

Deep into enemy territory as a lone army is a major taboo for the Military School.

If the strategic objective cannot be achieved, this seven thousand strong combat unit will inevitably be doomed in this vast desert, eventually collapsing under the pressure of enemy forces, hunger, and extreme cold.

Even for the top elite troops, the soldiers are very formidable, yet finding themselves in such a situation makes them feel bewildered and forlorn, their expressions inevitably changing.

Li Guanyi spoke:

"I have always said that the Wolf King’s strategy is adventurous. He uses five hundred thousand troops to swiftly annex the Western Regions, and ultimately capture the Dangxiang Kingdom’s Royal City and its secrets. He relies on continuous expansion, military achievements, gains, and spoils to maintain the existence of his massive army."

"How are we any different now?"

"We too have abandoned logistics, relying solely on our entire army to gallop across the battlefield. If we cannot quickly overcome the enemy and obtain supplies, we too will collapse."

Li Guanyi took a sip of mutton soup and said: "It’s the same for everyone; racing against time."

Qibi Li, Fan Qing, Ling Pingyang, and Wang Shunchen remained composed.

Suddenly, they heard Li Guanyi shout.

The four were slightly startled, thinking something had happened, and saw Li Guanyi take a packet of seasoning from a small bag nearby, toss a handful into the pot, and said earnestly: "I see the meat is done. If we keep going like this, it’s going to get overcooked."

"Never mind, since we’re here, let’s eat the meat first."

The generals: "..."

Only Fan Qing nodded, sat there, took out a knife to slice the meat, and started eating it hotpot style.

The other soldiers also shared the pot and meat.

With so many people and such little time, Li Guanyi successfully introduced the concept of hot pot to these hardy cavalry soldiers. Not much is needed, just a pot, some mutton, and the unique marching flatbread from the Western Regions, making it easy to prepare a meal.

Supplies were replenished here, and those who surrendered were granted amnesty.

The nobles who went to the Holy Mountain for ancestral worship also received something to eat; after surrendering, Li Guanyi did not make things difficult for them, as he was not someone who enjoyed senseless killing. Those surviving Western nobles bowed their heads to eat meat, not daring to speak, showing increasing respect.

They could not help but be afraid.

Having just spoken of the wrath of Longevity Heaven, suddenly this army appeared.

It indeed inspired awe.

Li Guanyi exhaled a puff of white breath, his pot in front bubbling with beef and mutton. He accepted the steamed bun handed to him by Shaking Light, letting the steam warm and soften it before giving it back to Shaking Light.

He also served a bowl of meat soup to the young girl.

The Qilin happily ate meat as well.

The seven thousand people dined here, eating many of the nobles’ cattle and sheep.

They took the good horses from this encampment to prevent message running and, before leaving, Li Guanyi told those Westerners: "I know your intentions, but the current situation is uncertain. Why not wait a few days?"

They all nodded in agreement, not daring to say more.

After Li Guanyi and his contingent left, the surviving Western nobles breathed a sigh of relief, looking at each other and seeing pallor on each other’s faces, their previous composure gone.

"...Directly abandoned logistics, bypassed our vanguard, and charged over a thousand miles here. Truly madmen."

"The Central Plains madmen are causing trouble in our Western Regions again."

"Hush, silence!"

"Aren’t you afraid they’ll turn their forces back and come again?"

After completing the first strategic objective, Li Guanyi’s forces resupplied their provisions to a safe level and continued to advance into even broader territories.

In this desert, the land is vast yet sparsely populated, its winter bitterly cold and expansive, evoking a deeper sense of loneliness. The group galloped continuously, sometimes for several consecutive hours with no change in the landscape seen, growing ever more desolate.

Under Shaking Light’s Stargazing Skills to determine direction and with the aid of the geographical map documents seized from the Prime Minister of Shatuo, Li Guanyi’s forces penetrated deep into the Western Regions, traversing Wuli, Tasipur, Shehunu, crossing five countries within seven days.

And met a Western Region army heading to the royal court under the mountains.

Fighting from daylight till dusk, they captured the prince of Beilu Hou Country, dispersed his coalition, and once again confirmed their position, obtaining supplies from these Western troops and dispersing the defeated army, swiftly crossing the mountains.

Then immediately made a sharp turn, bypassing several royal cities.

Sent the prince of Beilu Hou Country to invite several tribal kings for a trip.

A conflict occurred.

Qibi Li, Fan Qing, Wang Shunchen, Ling Pingyang led the troops in suppression, marching hundreds of miles within a few days, fighting eight battles, Western Khans and Kings, some submitted, some did not, this time Li Guanyi demonstrated unprecedented decisiveness.

On the path, they fought and killed King Dan Huan, King of Pulie, Khan of Xiqemi, annihilating their elite forces, capturing the Hun Xie Prince, the Prime Minister, Capital Commandant, among others.

Of the seven thousand troops, some were injured or fell despite being led by famed generals and being formidable warriors. Even with Li Guanyi’s learned Imperial Pole Worldly Scripture healing, casualties occurred. In battle, they couldn’t take their fallen comrades’ bodies, only burying them on the spot.

Planting their swords into this piece of land.

Li Guanyi personally dipped in blood to write a prayer text, pinning it with his arrow on a nearby large tree, declaring that it was left by the City Lord of Anxi, warning any thieves attempting to steal these swords that he’d personally hunt them down.

He paused, but still wrote: "If it’s for self-preservation or aiding others, then these swords can be taken."