"Since you’ve chosen your camps, Generals, please take your seats."
Han Li waved his hand, and two soldiers in black iron armor appeared, each carrying a small box, approaching Ling Feng and Wu Kui respectively.
Inside those boxes were small flags marked with the words "Yang" and "White", representing the Tianyang Army and Sky White Army.
"Each flag represents the power of ten thousand troops, with different colors indicating different types of soldiers..."
The soldier next to Ling Feng explained in detail the troop types of the Tianyang Army before placing the box at the edge of the table on Ling Feng’s right hand side and then retreated.
Instantly, the command tent fell silent, with all eyes focused on Ling Feng and Wu Kui. Even those not interested in military affairs, like Tuoba Yan and Mu Qianxue, were paying attention.
"The sand table exercise officially begins, both sides may place their flags now," Han Li said in a solemn tone.
For the military personnel, each sand table exercise is a duel of wisdom and strategy and a perfect way to discuss battle plans. This exercise might even provide some tactical solutions for future wars.
"General Ling, I won’t bully you. I’ll place my pieces first in this exercise to demonstrate!"
Wu Kui smiled confidently, "Watch closely."
Wu Kui flicked his wrist, and all the flags flew out. Wherever the flags landed, the soldiers represented by his grains of sand quickly moved to the flag’s location, just like commanding an actual army.
After placing all his flags, Wu Kui became motionless, as if he had turned into a wooden sculpture, losing his spirit.
Ling Feng raised an eyebrow, not bothering to observe Wu Kui’s troop layout. Hastily, even if he memorized Wu Kui’s arrangement, he couldn’t decipher the tactics behind it. Rather than spending time studying the opponent’s strategy, he preferred considering how to crush the enemy using his own substantial troop advantage.
The opponent had his strengths, notably rich experience in killing, but Ling Feng also had his trump card.
A powerful ability of memory and learning is his greatest reliance!
After contemplating for a while, Ling Feng astonishingly placed all his flags in the same location, under countless surprised gazes. This spot was flat, neither close to mountains nor rivers, merely a plain.
Five million troops camped on this plain, constructing defenses.
Although the terrain lacked ingenuity, it was stable, eliminating concerns of surprise attacks by fire or water.
"A rookie! Definitely a rookie!"
The generals shook their heads; this was a beginner’s setup, essentially no setup at all.
After Ling Feng completed his layout, he discovered that his Divine Sense seemed "absorbed" into the sand table, with seemingly five million soldiers behind him.
No wonder Wu Kui turned into that state after placing his flags; this sand table had such an extraordinary function.
The feeling was like truly being on the battlefield.
In the tent, troops moved, the three armies drilled, the atmosphere was immersive.
Ling Feng nodded, looking around to see flags everywhere, war cries shaking the sky, five million Tianyang troops compressed like dark clouds, covering the plain completely.
Inside the command tent, everyone nodded. As Ling Feng finished placing his flags, a golden beam shot skyward from the sand table, and a rotating light curtain transformed into a virtual projection, bursting forth.
Within the illumination, forests, hills, plains, and canyons emerged, portraying a complex terrain where two fierce armies, full of killing intent, were poised for action.
Under everyone’s gaze, Wu Kui’s 2.5 million force arranged patterned across this intricate terrain, hidden with endless lethal threats.
In contrast, Ling Feng’s 5 million troops crowded together on the plain, appearing more like a motley crowd.
"Though this strategy is stable, it lacks any tactical element, exposing oneself thoroughly in the opponent’s view and allowing the enemy full play. Although the numerical advantage can block temporarily, it’s not a long-term plan."
Jia Wenhe sighed, "General Ling is undeniably clever, but in military campaigns, he’s evidently just a pure beginner."
"Military Counsellor Jia speaks wisely. In this round, General Ling will undoubtedly lose!"
"Wu Kui may seem rough, but he’s a seasoned veteran with over twenty years of military array experience, full of cunning. Ling Feng’s kid is surely losing this time."
Despicable Donkey, uninterested in this so-called contest, sat at the wine table, gobbling, and upon hearing that Ling Feng would lose, immediately grabbed a wine jar and cursed, "Nonsense, this kid is under my Divine Beast’s protection, and he would lose?"
Everyone rolled their eyes; this black donkey and its owner knew nothing about troop movements, which is why it uttered such ignorant remarks.
Lee Bufan, observing the situation on the field, couldn’t help but feel anxious. Though only at an entry-level, he understood Ling Feng intended to overwhelm the opponent with sheer numbers.
But real battlefield dynamics changed rapidly, victory couldn’t be achieved solely by numerical superiority.
War is the art of deception!
Campaigning battle is not like street fighting, if winning could depend solely on number, what’s the point of strategists and smart generals? It’d be better for everyone to go home and plant sweet potatoes.
The thoughts of many officers varied, but none of them had high hopes for Ling Feng; his formation was overly rigid.
"Responding to change with constancy..."
Only Han Li, the Three Armies Grand Commander, softly remarked, "This kid is intriguing!"
Inside the sand table’s virtual world, Ling Feng felt everything around him, each soldier under his control, maneuvering with ease; this was truly a divine perspective!
"Regarding troop arrangement, I can’t compare to Wu Kui, so..."
Ling Feng rubbed his nose and furrowed his brow, a plan forming in his mind.
"First, I’ll simply control these troops, familiarize myself with command techniques."
Ling Feng expanded his thoughts, immediately commanding his 5 million troops to set camp, forming a phalanx, and arranging forces on the plain.
His sole advantage now was having twice Wu Kui’s forces. With no experience and lacking tactical skills, the only strategy was to withstand several waves of Wu Kui’s attacks, discern his strategy, gradually familiarize with combat techniques, and then seek a breakthrough.
Thus, Ling Feng wasn’t in haste but controlled his troops, conducting training on-site.
Almost simultaneously, Wu Kui’s forces started moving, arrayed like a sharp blade, aimed directly at Ling Feng’s camp.
Inside the command tent, everyone was roused; troop deployment is a basic skill of a general, and one can gauge the command abilities by the formations.
"Swift like the wind, steady like a forest, invasive like fire, motionless like a mountain."
A lean general smiled, "Old Wu Kui indeed has some skills."
In the tent, the generals observed the current of light; Wu Kui’s 2.5 million force under his command advanced as a tide, sweeping over half the map, unstoppable!