Chapter 614: Strike at the Heart
Seeing that all the reserve squad captains were looking at Ling Zhan, neither General Li nor the national commanders felt any surprise.
After all, Ling Zhan's combat prowess during the deathmatch tournament was clear for all to see.
Adding to that, Ling Zhan's battlefield record was already extremely distinguished.
His squad, Dragon Kingdom's Squad Nine, had undertaken three missions in total.
The first was to jointly suppress members of the Demon Arrival Organization within Fusang, in collaboration with the Free Federation's squad.
The second was to defend Glazed City in Zone S-4.
The third was to participate in the reclamation of Hakata City.
In these three missions.
Under Ling Zhan's leadership, Squad Nine had suffered no injuries or deaths; they returned safe and sound each time.
Just for this level of tactical acumen and decision-making, who would dare challenge his authority?
At this moment.
Even though everyone had not officially acknowledged it, and the national commanders had not explicitly stated it.
Ling Zhan already seemed like the de facto commander of all reserve squads in the Fusang warzone.
Under these circumstances.
Asking the reserve squads was essentially the same as directly consulting Ling Zhan.
Hence, General Li didn't hesitate and turned directly to Ling Zhan.
"I need a detailed report on the situation in the Blazing Heart Empire."
Despite the attention, Ling Zhan's expression remained calm, showing no signs of arrogance, as he simply said this.
The national commanders, seeing this, nodded in satisfaction and gestured for their aides to present a detailed holographic report on the Blazing Heart Empire's current situation.
Ling Zhan studied the report for around ten minutes, gaining a thorough understanding of the empire's predicament.
Currently...
The situation in the Blazing Heart Empire was dire.
The dukes, marquises, earls, and other nobles, along with influential ministers, had all carved out their territories, ruling over different parts of the nation.
On the surface, they maintained a semblance of harmony, but in reality, the undercurrents were strong, and the internal power struggles were fierce.
The previous king's princes and princesses were all being controlled by these nobles and ministers.
In any nation, ascending to the throne required legitimacy.
Without legitimacy, even if one managed to ascend, the people would not acknowledge the ruler.
Unless...
The military strength was overwhelming enough to ignore public sentiment.
In other words, power alone could force the masses into submission.
In this transfer world, such feats were entirely feasible.
Right now.
Duke Assad held the greatest power in the Blazing Heart Empire, followed by a few other dukes and earls.
Duke Assad supported the eldest princess for the throne.
If everything went as planned, once the eldest princess became the empress, Duke Assad would undoubtedly usurp her authority.
And once she was rendered a figurehead, Duke Assad would take the throne himself.
The reason Duke Assad had not yet succeeded was the ghostly chaos coming from the east.
A massive ghostly rift had appeared in the eastern Delta Highlands, and dozens of cities in the east had fallen to the ghosts, transforming into lairs.
Within these ghostly lairs, the people of the Blazing Heart Empire were being raised like livestock—it was a living hell.
More importantly...
This ghostly havoc was led by a top-ranked Heavenly Ghost General known as the 'Slaughtering God.'
The Heavenly Ghost General called Slaughtering God was Level 142, a genuine red-named monster from the Takamagahara Forbidden Zone, far stronger than the Earthly Ghost General they had previously encountered.
Under its command, the ghost army had effortlessly overrun the Blazing Heart Empire.
Due to the Blazing Heart Empire's resistance against allowing the corps to station troops, they had missed many opportunities, resulting in the loss of more than half of their territory.
Now that they had sent an envoy to demand troop withdrawal, they were well aware that the national corps would not comply.
Because if they did, the Blazing Heart Empire would undoubtedly fall to the ghosts of Takamagahara.
Given the strategic importance of the Blazing Heart Empire, there was no way it could be handed over to the Forbidden Zone.
Knowing that the corps would never withdraw, the Blazing Heart Empire had come here to get a promise.
The envoy had probably already contacted international media, ready to broadcast the national commanders' promises.
In the future, if the corps wanted to continue stationing troops in the Blazing Heart Empire, they'd face intense public pressure.
As for the battlefield situation.
The entire eastern region of the Blazing Heart Empire had fallen.
The northern, southern, and central regions were slowly being eroded.
After thoroughly examining the situation.
Ling Zhan finally spoke: "General Li, this Slaughtering God..."
"Don't worry, we match soldiers with soldiers and generals with generals."
Before Ling Zhan could finish, General Li smiled and said, "Although the Slaughtering God is formidable, we are no pushovers. When the time comes, you focus on the other issues; we'll handle anything above Level 100."
Hearing this.
Ling Zhan nodded and said, "If that's the case, then my suggestion is..."
Under everyone's gaze, his finger pointed directly at several of the core ghost lairs in the eastern region of the Blazing Heart Empire.
His cold, indifferent voice rang out calmly: "Strike at the heart!!"
As soon as he said this.
Hiss!!
Many reserve squad captains couldn't help but gasp, their expressions filled with shock.
Even the national commanders exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of surprise in the other's eyes.
Strike at the heart!!
This kid!
He really dared to think big!
At the very least, none of the national commanders had considered this strategy!
"Ling Zhan, war is not child's play. The four words you just uttered—if truly acted upon—will cost countless soldiers' lives!"
"Can you explain why you chose this strategy?"
General Li suppressed the shock in his eyes and asked with a frown.
Clearly.
He too was taken aback by Ling Zhan's suggestion to 'Strike at the heart.'
The most crucial point was...
Even as a commander, he couldn't fathom why Ling Zhan would choose such a...
Well, reckless strategy.
To the other commanders, it indeed seemed like an extremely reckless approach.
The eastern region of the Blazing Heart Empire had become the main base for these ghosts.
Whether it was the stationed ghost troops or the Earthly Ghost Generals guarding it, their numbers were vast.
The reason the northern, central, and southern regions were being slowly eroded was due, first, to the intervention of the national corps and, second, to the Slaughtering God's caution in not dividing his eastern forces.
Now...
No one expected Ling Zhan's strategy to be a direct assault on the most difficult eastern region.
It was hard for anyone to understand.