Secretly Weaving Schemes, Hiding Distant Power; Even a Broken Army of Ninety Thousand Can Devour a Dragon

Below the high platform, at the positions of each camp.

The soldiers stood behind the fortifications, gripping their weapons tightly.

That dark tide in the distance drew ever closer, the thunder of hooves ever louder, and the earth trembled beneath them.

Many faces were etched with grim resolve.

But others had lost hope, their faces written over with fear.

"Two hundred thousand... that's two hundred thousand..."

A young Yan surrender soldier muttered to himself, his voice trembling.

His face was pale, and the spear in his hands shook without pause, as though he could barely hold it.

"Can we really stop them?"

No one beside him answered.

Because no one knew the answer.

Similar whispers spread everywhere, like a plague silently gnawing away at the army's morale.

"Ninety thousand against two hundred thousand—how are we supposed to fight this battle..."

"One charge from the Xiongnu cavalry will tear through our defensive line..."

"Are we going to die here..."

The murmurs grew louder and louder. Some soldiers began to retreat unconsciously, their feet edging back behind the fortifications.

It was instinct. Their bodies sensed the danger before their minds did.

Meng Wu's gaze swept over those wavering positions, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Send the order. The enforcement squad."

A Command Officer accepted the order and left.

A short while later, more than a dozen soldiers were escorted onto the high platform.

Some had legs so weak that two men had to support them as they walked.

Others were gray as ashes, their lips trembling too hard to form words.

Still others had collapsed onto the ground, unable even to stand.

They had shown cowardice before battle.

Some had loudly spread defeatist words before the lines. Some had tried to flee to the rear. Some had simply thrown down their weapons