Wang Xuchu quickly sent back the news: the red dot to the southwest was a reconnaissance squad from Country H.
After confirming the situation here, they swiftly withdrew from Huaxia's territory.
Xuan Yuan Zhen and the others immediately convened an emergency meeting.
"Country H has already discovered our location. I don't know if, after they return, they'll prepare to launch an attack against us," Zhang Xuan said with a frown.
After thinking for a long while, Xuan Yuan Zhen spoke, "We must strengthen the defenses in the southwest direction. Zhang Xuan, you take the Ninth Army and temporarily station yourselves at the second defensive line, ready to provide support at any time."
"Understood."
"There's another matter. Our reconnaissance squad has made gains. We've also discovered the positions of Country H and the Island Nation. From here, they're about three hours' march away," Zhang Xuan said. "Additionally, Country M is in the north, about seven hours' march from us."
"Also, Country F is to the west, about fourteen hours' march away."
Xuan Yuan Zhen furrowed his brows. "What, Country M, Country F, Country H, and the Island Nation are all near us?"
Zhang Xuan nodded gravely. "Yes, our situation is extremely dangerous."
Xuan Yuan Zhen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Anything more than five hours' march carries great risk for them to attack us. Right now, the ones we most need to guard against are Country H and the Island Nation."
"Closely monitor these two nations. If someone attacks them, or if they send troops out, we must seize the opportunity."
Zhang Xuan nodded. "Exactly. If we just keep defending, sooner or later we'll be surrounded and attacked."
After speaking, Xuan Yuan Zhen stood up, frowning as he looked toward the direction of the red flag.
At present, Huaxia's situation was extremely dire. Surrounded on all sides, without a National Soul, never mind attacking other countries, even defending themselves was very difficult.
......…
The third day of the national war began. The teleportation gates of the various nations were one after another closing—only Huaxia's gate had not yet closed.
The soldiers standing before the teleportation gate received the system's prompt.
Because Huaxia was short one participant, the system asked whether they would forfeit this slot.
Luo Chen got the news and immediately rushed to the teleportation gate. He also received the system prompt.
"May I ask, can we reserve this slot?" Luo Chen asked anxiously.
[To ensure fairness in the national war and equal numbers of participants for each country, you may reserve this slot. However, you must provide the information of the player in question, and the personnel cannot be changed.]
Luo Chen let out a breath of relief. "Jiang Kai, president of the Eighteenth District's Main God Guild."
[Data has been recorded. The teleportation gate will close as normal. Only that player has the right to enter the national war zone.]
"Thank you…"
Although Jiang Kai had yet to appear, and forcibly stuffing someone in wasn't very meaningful, as the holder of the National Soul, this spot had to be reserved for Jiang Kai.
For now, Huaxia's warzone was relatively stable. Under Xuan Yuan Zhen's command, Huaxia had already mapped out the positions of the seven surrounding countries.
The closest to Huaxia was Country H, followed by the Island Nation, then Country M and Country F, and farther out, Country E and Country B.
But that very night, Huaxia's war situation suddenly changed!
A 100-person reconnaissance squad, while scouting outside, encountered the main army of Country H. That country's army was marching straight toward Huaxia.
When the squad tried to withdraw, they were discovered by the enemy and directly wiped out!
With the sacrifice of this reconnaissance squad, inside each of the main cities, 5,000 players instantly died and logged out.
Everyone had already mentally prepared themselves—after all, in a national war, casualties were inevitable. But seeing how the affected players suffered the same pain as the combatants before dying made people realize the cruel methods of Country H.
These 5,000 people died without their bodies intact, their deaths excruciating!
Seeing this, the others instantly burst into fury.
"They actually used such cruel methods to kill the enemy? In a national war, normal killing is one thing, but to capture a 100-man squad and carry out torture—that's too much!"
"Damn it, are they even human! People of Huaxia, avenge our compatriots!"
"As expected, the moment they saw we had no National Soul, they chose to attack us first. Too despicable!"
Yet, another reconnaissance squad simultaneously reported that the Island Nation was advancing from the northeast, gathering its army to rush over!
Bullies always pick the soft target. Huaxia was now that soft persimmon. Once the Island Nation and Country H discovered Huaxia's location, they made the same decision!
On receiving the news, Ouyang Zhen immediately transferred elite forces from the other eight armies, rushing to reinforce the Third and Fourth Army stations.
By then it was already evening, but no one in Huaxia slept. Everyone was focused on the imminent battle.
Huaxia was already at a disadvantage, and now they had to face one against two. Every Huaxia player understood: this battle might be exceptionally tragic!
......…
Huang Jianguo and Liu Yuanxiang were meeting in a cave within a known area north of Huaxia's territory.
Both of them looked in quite good spirits.
"Judging from the progress of the two countries, around 8 p.m. they'll attack the northeast and southeast points at the same time. By then, Huaxia definitely won't be able to hold on," Liu Yuanxiang said leisurely, sipping tea.
Huang Jianguo was eating Ghost Star fruit, laughing. "At first, the Island Nation didn't even know where we were. Fortunately, our people notified them in time."
"A pincer attack from two sides—soon Huaxia's defeat in the national war will be inevitable."
Liu Yuanxiang sneered. "Don't underestimate Huaxia's combat power. This national war must end in their defeat, so I've already had people notify Country M and Country F."
"In that case, even if Huaxia manages to block Country H and the Island Nation, when Country M and Country F arrive, let's see how they hold out."
Huang Jianguo's eyes widened at once. "You really think ahead! With this, it's truly foolproof."
"It's Heaven helping us too. Huaxia's position is too perfect. The four closest countries don't have good relations with them, and they've long wanted to crush Huaxia. We're just giving the push along the current."
"Hey." Liu Yuanxiang cut him off. "What are you saying? We don't like those four nations either. Plenty of people have long wanted to hit them. We're just helping our own people."
Huang Jianguo immediately understood, nodding like a pecking hen. "Right, right, right, we're Huaxia people. Of course we help our own. Old Liu, you're brilliant! Hahahaha!"
At 8 p.m., on the Third Army's front, the mountaintop opposite was ablaze with lights, figures densely packed like a sea of people. The numbers were impossible to count.
Wang Xusheng's expression was grave. The enemy's gathered forces numbered at least 3.5 million!
Meanwhile, though reinforcements had come, other defensive lines still needed troops to hold them.
Of the eight reinforcement corps, the Tenth Army's 500,000 all stayed behind to protect the national flag, while the other seven armies each left 100,000 troops.
Half of those were sent to aid the Fourth Army, leaving only 1.9 million troops on this front.
The enemy had double their numbers.
Though Huaxia's defensive zone provided rapid recovery, the Island Nation also had the augmentation of their National Soul.
Besides enhanced attributes, the Island Nation gained increased attack speed—a key stat. Which meant Huaxia might still be at a disadvantage.
However, this battle could not be lost. If they lost, the Island Nation's army might surge straight through and seize Huaxia's national flag!
Thinking of this, Wang Xusheng felt immense pressure.
The enemy had finished assembling, glaring fiercely at Huaxia's territory.
Huaxia's forces had also assembled. The 1.9 million troops stood ready.
The two armies stared across the distance, on the brink of war.
Wang Xusheng turned to look at Huaxia's army. He walked to the front, stood atop a mound, pulled out the yellow regional flag, and waved it strongly.
Then Wang Xusheng stabbed the battle flag into the high ground, turned around, and shouted loudly to everyone, "Comrades! I believe you all understand Huaxia's situation. This battle, we can only win—we cannot lose!"
"Comrades, our Huaxia army has never been defeated in past battles. Today, the glorious tradition of Huaxia's army must never be lost in our hands."
"Even without the support of the National Soul, even if the enemy outnumbers us, we children of Huaxia will never cower!"
"So what if Jiang Kai isn't here? So what if we lack attribute boosts?"
"Brothers and sisters, we Huaxia sons and daughters must show the world…"
"Huaxia, majestic for a thousand years—the National Soul is already in my heart!"
Wang Xusheng's words filled the nearly two million troops with fighting spirit.
The million-strong army shouted in unison, "Huaxia's National Soul, already in my heart!"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.