As soon as Beitang He put forward this argument, the mood in the hall shifted in an instant. Even the Sanshang Family Head Ding Xun, who had firmly opposed the formation of a Prefectural Army before, became uncertain, as though a chord in his heart had been struck.
Though armies and martial artists of the jianghu both possessed tremendous destructive power, there was a stark difference between them.
Martial artists of the jianghu excelled at fighting and dueling, but they mostly engaged in drawn-out, entangling battles—blow for blow, with ever-changing techniques. Even in chaotic group fights, they generally fought on their own, with little coordination to speak of. In some eyes, they were no different from a rabble.
Armies were different. Their martial arts emphasized fierce slaughter, forceful simplicity, and ruthless efficiency. Even without mentioning Battle Formation Power, when fighting purely through martial means, they could still slaughter enemies with coordination and tacit understanding far beyond the ordinary.
If ten soldiers fought ten jianghu martial artists at the same realm, the latter could massacre the former.
If a hundred soldiers fought a hundred jianghu martial artists at the same realm, the latter would still hold an overwhelming advantage, but they would already suffer considerable casualties.
But if countless soldiers fought an equally vast number of jianghu martial artists at the same realm, the former could sweep through the latter like fallen leaves, harvesting lives as easily as cutting grass and wheat.
That was the might of a great army. And once Battle Formation Power was added, those jianghu martial artists who excelled only at individual combat and knew nothing of cooperation would be even less capable of contending against an army.
Thus, forming a Prefectural Army truly meant integrating and enhancing Lingwu City's existing resources and manpower, drawing out their