Although the vanguard consisted of only a few hundred Orcs, they were all elites among elites, capable of taking on ten opponents at once. Even if all the disciples of the Shado-Pan Monastery came out to fight, they might not be able to gain the upper hand.
In Nazgrim's view, if Taran Zhu were smart, he should have surrendered to the vanguard and offered up the flesh and blood of his disciples.
The assassination of a general is an intolerable disgrace.
Nazgrim knew that while there were martial arts masters among the Pandaren, they were useless in large-scale wars. Infiltrating enemy territory alone to assassinate someone would be tantamount to suicide.
The corpses of five Orcs generals were brought into the main tent. They were all warriors from the Warsong Clan. Nazgrim's face was terribly gloomy, as if he were about to devour them at any moment.
Nazgrim surveyed the generals in the tent and asked:
"I want to know if the murderer has been found. To dare kill a noble Orcs is to be an enemy of Azeroth, and their soul will never find peace."
The generals looked at each other, and one of them clasped his hands in a fist salute and said:
"My lord, please forgive me, but the murderer has not yet been found. The assassins at the Ravenholdt Manor examined the scene but found no clues, no signs of a struggle, and no wounds on the body. The cause of death remains unknown."
Nazgrim, his face hard and contorted with rage, asked, "Did they die on their own? You bunch of useless trash, what use are you if you can't find out the truth?"
A general cautiously reported, "General, the Shado-Pan Monastery has declared itself responsible. They've posted a death list at their gate; anyone whose name appears on it will inevitably die mysteriously that night. The Pandaren claim it's fate, and they also say..."
The Orcs general hesitated, but Nazgrim grew impatient and roared, "What's with all this stammering? Just speak!"
The general whispered, "The Pandaren declare that if you dare approach Shado-Pan Monastery, your name will appear on the death list, and you will not escape assassination by the Pandaren."
Nazgrim laughed heartily:
"We Orcs are known for our bravery, how could we fear such a small threat? A bunch of cowardly Pandaren dare to threaten us noble Orcs? What a joke!"
The generals immediately praised, "The Great General's bravery is unparalleled in Azeroth, a model for all Orcs. The Pandaren, with the light of fireflies, dare to rival the moon? They are truly overestimating themselves."
Nazgrim changed the subject, deliberately making it difficult for her to say:
"I received news this morning that the Mantid Grand Empress Shek'zeer has led a large army out of the Dread Wastes, threatening our rear. I was just about to lead an elite force to intercept them, to prevent our army from being attacked from two sides. If we leave Kun-Lai Summit like this, wouldn't we be ridiculed by the Pandaren?"
A general to Nazgrim's right muttered to himself:
"Why didn't I receive any intelligence? The Mantid and the Pandaren sworn enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle. Why would they help each other? Shek'zeer would never send troops unless he's lost his mind."
Nazgrim was enraged upon hearing this, grabbed his one-handed axe, and made as if to chop.
Suddenly remembering that this was Garrosh's new concubine's brother, he realized he couldn't kill him, so he turned his axe around and swung it at a Frostwolf Clan general on his left.
Caught completely off guard, the Frostwolf Clan's head rolled off.
During Thrall's tenure as Warchief, the members of the Frostwolf Clan held a position of great prestige and were considered to have absolute authority.
Now that Garrosh has become Warchief, the Frostwolf Clan has suffered a heavy blow, and the Warsong Clan's generals have gradually taken up important positions in the army.
Nazgrim stepped forward, crushed the still-unwilling head with a single stomp, and shouted a warning:
"Military law is merciless. Before military law, everyone is equal. Anyone who dares to spread rumors and undermine morale will be a disgrace."
Faced with the pile of brains and blood, the generals in the tent were all filled with fear.
A general from the Warsong Clan said with a cautious smile:
"General, the bravery of us Orcs is beyond the comprehension of mere Pandaren. You led a small force to hold off hundreds of thousands of Mantid in the rear, wielding your Battle Axe with overwhelming power. Who in Azeroth can match your courage? You are truly a model for Orcs."
Nazgrim's expression softened slightly, and the generals, noticing the shift in the wind, offered their advice:
"The Pandaren's tricks are mere trifles, nothing to fear. Compared to the Grand Empress Shek'zeer's masterful methods, they are nothing but insects. I've heard that even the August Celestials are no match for the Great Queen; only the Great General can contend with Shek'zeer. We greatly admire the General's bravery."
"Throughout the history of Azeroth, no one can match the bravery of this general, leading from the front without fear. Why should we Orcs care about the reputation of the Pandaren? The Shado-Pan Monastery will surely pay the price for their arrogance."
Nazgrim nodded slightly.
"I am very pleased that you all understand me. The greater good is at stake; what is a small threat from the Pandaren? However, once I leave, this position of commander-in-chief must be handed over to a reliable person. Who among you is willing to take on the role of commander-in-chief and lead the army to attack the Shado-Pan Monastery?"
Upon hearing this, the generals in the tent began to discuss it animatedly, each eager to try their hand at it.
A general from the Warsong Clan was the first to volunteer for battle:
"General, this important task must be entrusted to me. I am willing to overcome all obstacles for the Orcs. Although I have recently caught a cold, the Orcs' courage is unparalleled in Azeroth. What difficulty is there in going into battle while ill?"
Upon seeing that it was one of his trusted confidants, Nazgrim chuckled and said, "I am aware of the general's courage. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to make meritorious contributions. I will remember your merits for now, so you won't need to trouble yourself this time."
Another Warsong Clan said, "General, my wife has just given birth, but I have always disregarded life and death. I will take command."
Nazgrim waved his hand and said, "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? This battle is quite easy. You go and take care of your wife and children. Let others have this opportunity."
The Warsong Clan Commanders all volunteered, but Nazgrim politely declined. Finally, he looked at a Frostwolf Clan general on his left and asked, "General Garik, a seasoned warrior and one of the best among the Orcs, would you be willing to accept this honor?"
Garik Drek'Thar, the youngest son of Thrall's mentor Drek'Thar.
Nazgrim personally appointed him, Garik, seeing the brains and blood on the ground, knew he couldn't refuse and could only helplessly say:
"I do."
After the military conference, Nazgrim led a small number of Orcs to retreat to the Townlong Steppes, while the newly appointed commander Garik, led a large army to attack the Shado-Pan Monastery.
The five commanders of the vanguard died mysteriously, and Garik was terrified. He tried every means to delay, so much so that by nightfall, the army had only traveled a little over ten miles.
The bad news came that the name of the commander Garik, had appeared on the death list of the Shado-Pan Monastery. Garik was terrified. He was a Shaman and stubbornly believed that the Pandaren had used magic, so he invited dozens of Shaman to sing and dance in the tent to exorcise evil spirits.
Even so, Garik was still uneasy.
The tent was brightly lit, and dozens of strong Orcs soldiers were brought in. They sat back to back, surrounding Garik in the center, making it impossible to move.
Garik couldn't sleep, so he just stared wide-eyed.
The night passed peacefully, and nothing happened. The Orcs soldiers, who had been tense all night, smiled. But when they looked at Garik in the center, their faces lit up with terror.
Garik stared wide-eyed, then collapsed limply, dying with his eyes wide open.