The clash between charging formations and large formations is the most enduring battlefield topic on the Central Plains battlefield.
Not only in the human era, but also in the demon era, such battles were still common when the two top forces engaged in a battlefield duel.
After all, not all forces can have a large number of low-level soldiers to serve as support; they can only pool resources to cultivate a small number of elites with noble bloodlines. Therefore, overall, the side with the large formation actually has the initiative.
Warfare is all about resources. You were forced to build your elite forces out of necessity, while I could easily preserve my elite troops and use lower-level forces to wear you down first, couldn't I?
Normally, that's true. Large formations have a higher error rate. Even if some areas are breached by a charge, as long as the strategist controlling the formation is good enough, the maximum loss can be reduced by making temporary changes. With ten times the troops, to completely collapse, it would be impossible to break through five key nodes in a row.
However, if only one or two array nodes are broken through, although it will cause the overall qi and blood to decline and thus retreat, the losses will not be too high.
Conversely, elite charge formations cannot withstand losses; once surrounded, they face total annihilation.
This is also why the Northern Wasteland could never conquer the Central Plains. Resources were scarce, and a single defeat would cripple them, while the other side could afford to lose ten times. That was the key.
But things are different now.
Looking at the fierce battlefield in the distance, Deputy General Tian Yu quickly analyzed, "For the formation to remain stable, in addition to a large number of soldiers, the generals guarding the nodes also need to be strong enough. Otherwise, if the leading general is too strong, it is very likely that a node will be breached quickly. If too many nodes are breached, the entire formation will be in disarray, and no matter how the formation is changed, it will be ineffective."
"The reason Murong Yunji became famous back then was because of her terrifying speed and the Wind Wolf Guard under her command who could keep up with her. She could often take down the defending general in one or two moves. By the time the cumbersome formation changed its formation to allow generals from other nodes to come out, Murong Yunji had already changed direction and attacked the next place. It was practically like she had destroyed us."
Chen Baifeng smiled bitterly upon hearing this. Back then, when the Sixteen Cities of Youyun were lost, His Majesty was furious, but there was really nothing that could be done at the time. Lu Ming and the Emperor did not easily go on expeditions, and none of the remaining generals could guarantee that they could defend Murong Yunji. At that time, Yuchi Peng was still just a child.
"The current situation is very similar," Tian Yu said in a low voice, " The Four Saints Guard clearly have more experts on their side!"
Chen Baifeng nodded. His eyesight was also good. The Four Saints Guard split into four teams for a quick attack. Each team then split into four smaller teams once inside the formation, making about a thousand men per team. This kind of dispersed attack was the standard tactic for elite assault teams, but the generals leading those teams were all frighteningly strong.
Leading the charge with overwhelming momentum, he could easily take the lives of four or five Transcendent soldiers with a single blow. With that overwhelming power and momentum, even my True Dragon Body would probably be smashed to pieces in just a few moves against him!
"The imperial army's garrison commanders are not weak, and their deputy commanders seem stronger than me, but they can't withstand the superior strength of the opposing side. The leading generals of the Four Saints Guard are all at the same level as those who kidnapped Laoda Laoda back then—almost on par with him!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Baifeng frowned. The Ancient Demon Clan was indeed powerful. A figure like Tian Heng would be at least in the top three in Chen Qing's forces, but here, any general charging into battle could be on par with him. No wonder they dared to directly charge into the Xiao Household's powerful Ghost Army.
"Logically speaking, the Four Saints Guard are almost ten times stronger than the Ghost Army, and their commanders are far more capable than the imperial generals. This battle should almost certainly be lost. No matter what formation you use, you can't defeat such an absolutely dominant force. But..."
There's another oddball over there!
He'd lived most of his life, and this was the first time he'd ever seen anything like it...
Isn't this guy a bit too troublesome?
At this moment, Zhang Xiaoyun, who didn't even dare to enter the formation, looked frighteningly pale.
He was of royal blood, but now that he had lost Fei Jun's body, it was impossible for him to be reborn into the body of one of the Four Saints Guard. He could only watch from a safe place.
But at this moment, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, because launching a large-scale attack was risky. Although he had left two thousand of the Four Saints Guard behind, no one could say for sure whether others would be eyeing their side.
I originally thought that with the quality of the Four Saints Guard and the overwhelming quality of their generals, it would be a piece of cake to capture the emperor and empress after both of them were deposed.
But things weren't that simple!
The enemy's only remaining high-end combatant was able to achieve that level of skill!
At this moment, not only him, but even the war priests who were present were extremely surprised.
He had already tried his best to overestimate that guy, but he didn't expect the other party to be even more exaggerated than he thought, actually able to hold back the generals of sixteen routes all by himself!
Yes, Route 16!
Everyone says that being in two places at once is impossible, but this guy is different. He has extremely terrifying speed and assassination skills that even he himself is wary of.
The sixteen generals leading the charge on their side were all nobles of the Ancient Demon Clan. Although their strength was not comparable to that of the priests, it was very close, at least on par with Tian Heng.
Logically, one should be able to take down the enemy's key point guard in a single encounter, but a quarter of an hour has passed and they still haven't lost a single point!
Because of him alone!
Its incredible speed and top-notch assassination skills made it a shadow that no one dared to risk.
Anyone who has the chance to kill an enemy general will feel a chilling aura creeping up behind them. At that moment, everyone knows that if they don't stop and defend, they will surely die!
But once you stop, the opposing general will regroup, and finding another opportunity will require a lot of preparation.
Unfortunately, these Ghost General were all seasoned veterans with rich combat experience, and none of them could be quickly and easily killed by them.
This has led to a very awkward stalemate.
It takes at least ten rounds to defeat an enemy general, and this timeframe increases as the opponent becomes more familiar with your moves.
And every time he was about to kill the enemy, that chill would come from behind, making him just one breath short each time.
But we are the ones charging into battle; if this goes on for too long, our morale will be lost, and we'll be the ones who die!
But they were helpless. That guy, that effeminate guy, was like a ghost, and the entire battlefield seemed to be within his support range!
In the past, they would never have imagined that the outcome of a battle could be decided by an assassin!
Even the priest, whose name was synonymous with war, was somewhat stunned. He had inherited countless battlefield skills in his bloodline, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a fighting style. He had truly broadened his horizons!
"Priest, we are now..."
The adjutant beside him also had a gloomy expression, clearly not expecting things to develop this way!
The priest remained silent. He knew the abilities of the Quefeng. The only one who could stop him was himself, but... he was the priest, the commander-in-chief. If he were to fight the Quefeng alone, it would be to entrust the outcome of the war to personal bravery, which is a cardinal sin in warfare!
But if we don't take action ourselves, the stamina of our soldiers will likely deteriorate...
To fight or not to fight?
He had always considered himself a decisive general, but now it seemed that wasn't the case at all...