While the Lizardmen were conducting aerial reconnaissance on Yan Xing’s troops, Yan Xing was also observing the Lizardman army lying in ambush ahead through his phone.
In the midst of a series of muddy water pools lay a relatively narrow strip of forest.
To pass through this area of muddy pools, one had to traverse this forest strip.
The forest was perfect for setting up an ambush.
Even though Yan Xing couldn’t see how the Lizardmen were positioned in the forest, it was likely a matter of... having the Poison Flies hide in the bushes and treetops, and allowing the monstrous lizards to lurk in the muddy waters. Once his troops entered the forest, the Poison Flies would attack from the center, monstrous lizards would emerge from the water on both sides to encircle them, and finally, the Lizardmen would lead the Snakehide Buffaloes in a full-scale assault to end the battle.
Over the past few days, Yan Xing had seen many battles between Werewolves and Lizardmen; they mostly fought this way.
Using the complex terrain of the swamp for ambushes and sneak attacks was a tactic the Swamp Tribe employed repeatedly. While not novel, it was certainly effective.
However, sneak attacks inherently relied on the element of surprise as a fundamental premise.
Once exposed, all prior arrangements would become chains, binding one’s own hands and feet.
After the Bipedal Flying Dragon overhead departed, apparently satisfied, Yan Xing immediately ordered his troops to halt and summoned all off-duty Werewolf Heroes to his side.
Under a dense tree, the Werewolf Heroes stood around an unfolded tactical table. Yan Xing retrieved a map of the area from his map case and spread it on the table.
Yan Xing drew a circle around the Lizardmen’s ambush area on the map, then said to the Werewolf Heroes beside him, "According to intelligence, a Lizardman army has set up an ambush here, waiting to launch a surprise attack on us as we pass through.
The enemy forces ambushing us include 500 Lizardmen, 30 Ninth Order Snakehide Buffaloes, and about 100 Seventh Order magical Lizard beasts. There are also a small number of Eighth Order Giant Lizards and Tenth Order Snakehide Bulls.
The number of Poison Flies is unknown.
There is only one Bipedal Flying Dragon.
Taking a detour would be too far and would increase our logistical pressure. Therefore, we must eliminate the enemies blocking our path ahead and carve out a passage.
Does anyone have any suggestions?"
Yan Xing queried his subordinates.
When fighting in the swamp, it’s best to listen to the Swamp Tribe’s advice before making a decision.
However, even with training in the Stenchwater Forest, most Werewolves found it difficult to break away from conventional thinking and fight an asymmetrical battle with the asymmetrical equipment at their disposal.
Only Steel Fang was seriously contemplating.
Then, pointing at the map, he said, "Lord... this stretch of water pools is somewhat narrow; Poison Flies and Carnivorous Birds can fly over it. We only need a few Werewolf Beast Tamers, under magical protection, to swim across the water pools. They can then circle around to the other end of the forest strip and set up a reverse ambush against the enemy hiding inside.
This is the grand flanking tactic you taught us, Lord.
Then, using drones, we can scatter gasoline into the marshy areas on both sides of the forest strip. By igniting the gasoline during our attack, we can drive the lizards lurking in the water away from the shore.
At that moment, before the Lizardman Beast Tamers can use magic to extinguish the flames, we launch a rapid assault into the forest.
The Carnivorous Birds will clear out the ambushing Poison Flies, and Combat Werewolves will cover the Crossbowmen as they shoot down the Snakehide Buffaloes.
The Lizardmen, focused on ambushing us, won’t be densely packed within the forest. If we decisively concentrate our forces and push forward, we can force the Lizardmen to retreat in disarray,
eventually falling into the ambush circle we’ve prepared.
This is the rolling drum tactic you taught us, Lord."
After listening to Steel Fang’s analysis, Yan Xing couldn’t help but see him in a new light.
He immediately had Chui Chui simulate the battle plan proposed by Steel Fang.
Chui Chui conducted a more detailed reconnaissance of the flanking route Steel Fang had suggested.
The simulation showed that Steel Fang’s battle plan could indeed achieve the complete annihilation of the enemy forces with only minimal losses to their own.
Very well, they would follow Steel Fang’s plan.
Yan Xing issued the combat orders:
Steel Fang will lead four Werewolf Beast Tamers with 80 Poison Flies and 100 Carnivorous Birds. They will swim through the water pool area to set up an ambush circle behind the enemy.
The tactical bomber drone squadron will deploy incendiary zones overnight in the marshy areas flanking both sides of the enemy.
All other troops, prepare for battle.
Once Steel Fang’s flanking unit reaches its position, it will immediately attack the enemy.
All Carnivorous Birds will advance into the forest to hunt down the hidden Poison Flies. Combat Werewolves will follow. If they encounter enemy forces, they are to leave a detachment to engage and pin them down while the main group continues to advance.
Crossbowmen and Werewolf Archers will enter the forest as the third wave.
Crossbowmen will accompany the Combat Werewolves, focusing on killing the Snakehide Buffaloes. Archers will eliminate any surrounded enemies.
For this operation, I have only one requirement: speed!
Give the enemy no time to regroup or react. Push them northward, out of the forest area, and right into Steel Fang’s ambush circle.
Do you all understand?"
Similar tactics had been practiced many times by the Peacekeeping Forces during their training in Stenchwater Forest.
Yan Xing had named it the rolling drum tactic. The tactic involved using relentless and decisive attacks to prevent the enemy from regrouping or catching their breath, forcing them into a continuous retreat.
Slower enemy units would be continuously overwhelmed by this ’rolling drum,’ isolated, and then eliminated by follow-up forces.
The tactic was clear, and the Werewolf Heroes responded in unison, "Understood!"
Steel Fang’s voice was particularly loud.
Having his battle plan fully adopted by the Lord was undoubtedly a great honor for him. Now, he was again entrusted with such an important task: to lead a detachment far from the main force to execute flanking and ambush maneuvers. What incredible trust and recognition of merit this was!
Although this maneuver across the water pools was fraught with danger, Steel Fang was filled with fighting spirit. I’ll use this battle to prove my worth to the Lord!
Seeing that his commanders had understood their respective tasks, Yan Xing extended his wrist, revealing his watch, and said, "To prevent communication disruptions or other unforeseen incidents, we will set the final deadline for the general offensive at 4 a.m.
When the time comes, regardless of whether we have received a signal confirming Steel Fang’s Troop is in position, the entire army will immediately launch an assault on the enemy.
Synchronize watches now!"
All the Werewolf Heroes extended their wrists and synchronized their watches with the time on Yan Xing’s watch.
The meeting then adjourned, and the various units began their battle preparations.
The entire force continued its advance toward the water pool area.
As night fell, Steel Fang quietly led the flanking unit away, rushing towards the crossing point at full speed.
At the same time, a large number of tactical bomber drones from the Eternal Domain arrived above the water pool area. Under Chui Chui’s control, they flew at low altitude along both sides of the forest strip, dropping their payload of incendiary bottles.
Between the woodland and the water pools was a narrow strip of mudflat; the incendiary bottles lodged themselves in the mud and wouldn’t be carried away by the water.
When Steel Fang had formulated the tactic, he hadn’t known that gasoline evaporates very quickly. If they were to spread raw gasoline, it would likely evaporate before the battle even began.
Therefore, Chui Chui had modified this step.
She had previously embedded a large number of incendiary bottles into the mudflat. When the battle commenced, drones would fly at low altitude, sprinkling gasoline to ignite these bottles. This would set both banks of the forest strip ablaze, preventing the lizards in the water from coming ashore.