Zhang Yang and the others had run less than two kilometers when they stopped, because the Orc army had ceased its pursuit. Instead, it had formed ranks where it stood to prevent them from reentering the battlefield.
"Village Chief, how about we make another rapid charge?"
"Yeah, we haven't had our fill of killing yet."
The various captains were all brimming with morale and battle intent. Those two brief clashes had been far too satisfying, yet also far too unsatisfying—they hadn't been able to unleash their true combat strength.
But Zhang Yang ignored the soldiers' requests to fight. He merely watched the Orc army a kilometer away in silence, as well as the battle at Jackalman Castle farther off.
There was no doubt about it. The Jackalmen were already beyond saving. Their destruction was only a matter of time.
"Village Chief, should we send someone back to summon Song Dachui and the others? The Orcs on the other side are fully prepared now, so they won't be easy to deal with."
Wu Yuan asked this at that moment. He was still being cautious and hadn't let the previous battle go to his head. He knew that with only their current twenty-five people, they could no longer accomplish much.
"No need. I have no intention of locking horns with these Orcs again. I'm just confirming one thing: is the Orc Village Chief on the other side playing the Rush Strategy?"
Zhang Yang explained calmly. Wu Yuan was destined to become a hero unit in the future, so Zhang Yang would usually explain these things to him.
"Do you know what the Rush Strategy is?"
Wu Yuan shook his head, then nodded. "Meeting force with force, subduing the enemy without fighting?"
"More or less. But most of the time, the Rush Strategy is just playing dirty. You compress every resource, squeeze every last drop out of your population, and throw everything forward in one breath, giving your opponent no chance to catch their breath. That's how you win—assuming this game is a single round to the death."
At this, Zhang Yang sighed. If it was only a matter of life and death in one round, the Rush Strategy was undoubtedly excellent. But if that one game had to be extended for three hundred years, then the Rush Strategy would no longer be suitable.
So, never mind that he didn't have enough people. Even if he did, he wouldn't dare use the Rush Strategy.
Wu Yuan said nothing, seemingly mulling it over.
Zhang Yang continued, "So, Wu Yuan, and all of you as well, listen carefully. If you ever need to lead troops into battle alone, remember this: the outcome of one battle isn't important, but you must preserve as many soldiers' lives as possible. Don't fight recklessly. It doesn't matter if you lose one opportunity. We can continue to lie low—keep lying low. If we can endure until the very end, then we'll have won."
"Don't think that's dishonorable. Look at the Jackalmen before us and the deer demon from back then—they're the best examples. That deer demon considered itself unmatched in martial strength. Even after throwing away its greatest trump card, it still dared to personally put itself in danger. In the end, we wiped it out."
"And these Jackalmen, after already losing four soldiers, still dared to send out their main force to attack us despite knowing the situation had changed. That led to today's defeat. If they hadn't lost more than a hundred soldiers, those Orcs would never have dared attack them so easily today."
"Hey, what are you all looking at me like that for? Yes, I'm taking a risk personally right now as well, but have I ever gone alone? Have I exposed my trump cards? Besides, don't you know how powerful our group's combat strength is? Up to now, have any of you fought with everything you have? I haven't even used my own trump cards."
"The reason I keep bringing up the deer demon and these Jackalmen is so we can learn from them. It's to tell you—and to remind myself—that in this world, we have neither the right nor the conditions to make mistakes. The slightest error could lead to our ultimate destruction."
"Fine, you still don't believe me? Then, everyone, let's make a bet. I'll bet that if we stay here and hold our ground, that Orc army won't come over to attack us on its own. Don't be fooled by the fact that it still has nearly three hundred soldiers. Are you betting or not? If I lose, I'll whittle ten wooden spears for each of you. But if I win, you'll all remember to act cautiously from now on."
Zhang Yang chuckled.
"That's impossible, Village Chief. Those Orcs have ten times our numbers. How could they not come after us?" one of the captains said, utterly unconvinced.
"I'm in, Village Chief."
"I'm in too. A chance to beat the Village Chief might be the only one we ever get in this lifetime. We can't miss it."
The group of captains laughed and joked, not taking the bet seriously.
"Fine, I'll bet too—but I'm betting that the Village Chief will win." Wu Yuan suddenly spoke with complete solemnity. He was immediately met with a chorus of jeers. This fellow was quite the troublemaker.
Zhang Yang laughed as well and asked, "Why?"
Wu Yuan said, "It should have something to do with the Rush Strategy you mentioned earlier. The Orcs can't recruit soldiers without limit, either. If we hadn't wiped out sixty of their soldiers in one breath just now, they would definitely have pursued us. But now, they might be able to surround and destroy us, yet the price would be terrifying—at least a hundred Orc soldiers would have to die."
"So rather than that, they'd prefer to retreat for the time being, slowly figure out our capabilities, and let time work in their favor. That's better than indulging in a moment of satisfaction and losing another hundred soldiers. After all, population is what matters most."
"This is exactly what you said earlier. The true reason the deer demon of the past and the Jackalmen of today failed lies right there."
Zhang Yang neither agreed nor disagreed with Wu Yuan's answer. He simply continued observing the battlefield opposite them. In truth, he hoped the Orc hero would order an attack. That way, he could withdraw calmly. Go ahead and pursue us if you have the ability. At worst, I'll retreat to the fortress and fight another defensive battle.
By then, if I don't leave two hundred Orc heads behind, I'll write my name backward.
However, considering the Orc commander's steady command earlier, Zhang Yang felt that was probably impossible. The other side clearly wouldn't give him that opportunity. This was definitely a formidable enemy!
Half an hour later, the smoke signals in Jackalman Castle went out. The battle had ended, and the Jackalman village had been utterly destroyed, with no survivors.
The Orcs had suffered little loss—only several dozen dead.
Yet, just as Zhang Yang had predicted, the Orcs made no attempt to circle around and pursue them. Instead, they assembled their ranks, looted all the supplies from the Jackalman village, and even solemnly took away several Imprisonment Spears that had been left behind on the battlefield. They also carefully studied the traces left by the out-of-control fireball, which seemed to have been cast by an Orc Mage. Only then did they depart steadily, without leaving the slightest opening.
The captains beside Zhang Yang were utterly baffled by what they had seen.
But Zhang Yang's expression had grown extremely grave.
"Let's go back. The Orcs won't come looking for trouble with us for the next twenty days to a month. But after a month, they'll definitely bring a cracked version of the Imprisonment Spear, at least ten Orc Mages, and a large number of archers to launch a true war against us—a war of subduing the enemy without fighting."
"If we don't do something, the village will be wiped out without a doubt. Because this will be an open and crushing battle, with no room for luck. Any little tricks will be useless."
"After we return, Wu Yuan, I'll immediately take you to begin the Hero's Trial."
Before you continue