Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1270 - 1263: Internal Division

Chapter 1270: Chapter 1263: Internal Division

"Today’s siege battle inflicted great damage on the Dongsheng army, but if it continues like this, they will eventually be unable to hold out. So I don’t think they’ll keep up this kind of attack on the city," Linglan, the Qingqiu Clan leader who was relatively calm, voiced her concerns in front of everyone.

"That’s the cost of a siege. If not this way, then how should they attack?" Tuya shrugged his shoulders and surveyed those present before asking.

"The best method would naturally be to find a way to destroy the city walls. Our walls are built of wood, a temporary construction. If the enemy were to use fire, we’d be at a disadvantage, but obviously, they’re currently unable to do so," said Linglan, looking towards Reimer, and spoke with gratitude, "We must thank Captain Reimer for his support here. Without you, we would truly be unable to cope with the trebuchets outside the city."

After hearing the translated summary, Reimer waved his hand dismissively, "We just did what we had to do. In any case, we wouldn’t let the Dongsheng army organize effective artillery support. But as you can see, our ammunition is very limited, so we can’t effectively support your battle."

"No matter," Linglan gestured, saying, "For Captain Reimer to do this much, we’re already very grateful."

"The battle has progressed to this point, but Dongsheng’s general has yet to make a move, which makes me very uneasy," Yunji, the reserved leader of the Jin Qian Clan, suddenly spoke up.

"Yes," Luwu Clan Leader Bai Po nodded, his voice somber, "In previous battles, Dongsheng’s general would certainly have taken the lead. Yet today we see no trace of them, just ordinary soldiers attacking, which is why the Dongsheng troops have suffered such heavy casualties."

"Does the general’s participation make a big difference in a siege battle?" Luo’er curiously asked.

"Very much so, extremely so," Zisu, who was nearby, volunteered to explain, "You haven’t seen Dongsheng’s generals assault a city with all their might. The towering walls are like doorsteps to them. Once they scale the ramparts, we must pay a severe price to recapture them. The fall of Lingyuan City was to the generals’ credit."

"So you’re saying, if Dongsheng’s generals had launched an all-out attack in today’s battle, we definitely couldn’t have held the walls, is that right?" Luo’er continued to ask.

"Not necessarily so. To say that would be to undervalue our capabilities," Tuya glanced at Zhuyan and Bai Po, then shrugged it off, "We have the ability to repel, even kill these people. They aren’t scary, just slightly stronger than the average person, that’s all."

"In fact," Linglan cleared her throat slightly and then explained seriously, "If Dongsheng’s generals were to partake in this siege battle, their soldiers’ losses surely wouldn’t be as great as today, and correspondingly, our casualties would increase. But it’s not a certainty that the ramparts would fall immediately."

"So, where on earth did their generals go?" Luo’er fell into silence.

"Shouldn’t someone be responsible for this sort of thing?" Tuya cast a casual glance at Zisu, then said lightly, "The Maoyou Clan can’t confront the Dongsheng army, and can’t even perform basic reconnaissance?"

"What do you mean?" Zisu stared at Tuya and asked coldly.

"You know perfectly well what I mean. In today’s battle, we of the Xiaotian Clan lost dozens of brothers, all to protect your useless tribespeople," Tuya stated unabashedly.

"Did you say we’re useless?" Zisu abruptly stood up, pointing at Tuya and hissed through clenched teeth.

"Sit down, Zisu," Linglan commanded, her face expressionless.

"Tuya, shut your mouth," Bai Po said coldly.

"Everyone, calm down," said the leader of the Zilu Clan with a slight cough as he took the initiative to mediate. "We’re all here for the sake of West Outer Heaven, for the sake of Abisien. Our fates are intertwined—prosperity for one is prosperity for all, just as a loss for one is a loss for all. With such a formidable enemy before us, there’s really no need to create strife within our own ranks."

"Hmph," Zisu glared fiercely at Tuya, then sat down huffily and said with a stern face, "From the south to Lingyuan City, how many of our Maoyou Clan have died at the hands of those from Dongsheng? Although the Maoyou Clan excels as scouts, the Dongsheng General is too perceptive. We simply can’t conduct effective reconnaissance and surveillance on them."

"The efforts of the incompetent, no matter how many times you speak of hardships, are just a joke," Tuya retorted coldly.

"You..." Furious, Zisu almost exploded, but this time she was held back by Luo’er, who grabbed her arm and prevented her from standing up.

"Tuya, what exactly are you trying to say?" Linglan looked at Tuya, her expression emotionless as she asked.

"I’ve been wondering what’s the point in stubbornly defending Lingyuan City. We keep pouring in heavy forces for its defense, but once the city falls, Abisien’s elite forces will be wiped out. Who can bear the costs of such a sacrifice?"

Pausing to look around at everyone, Tuya continued, "North of West Outer Heaven, resources are scarce, and the paths are treacherous. Even if the Dongsheng Empire were to take Lingyuan City, they’re unlikely to push north. With this in mind, the areas north of West Outer Heaven could remain peaceful. Wouldn’t that be better? To resist in vain would only lead to the fate of the Laurel Family—we survive by a thread while they’ve been annihilated."

"Are you suggesting that we should not defend it?" Linglan asked.

"If the situation remains as it is today, we would be quite willing to defend. However, if the situation suddenly changes and the enemy launches a fierce offensive, causing our casualties to surge, then we all need to reconsider the necessity of holding on to Lingyuan City. With all of Abisien’s last elite gathered there, if we lose them all, what do you plan to do to resist?" Tuya asked calmly.

"Hasn’t today’s situation already made everything clear?" Linglan asked.

"Hehe, as for today’s situation, the Dongsheng General hasn’t even made a move. It was only the ordinary soldiers. Are you all really just afraid of Dongsheng’s hundred thousand troops, or is it the thousand officers of its generals? There’s no need for me to spell it out—aren’t self-deceiving words simply laughable when spoken aloud?" Tuya said with a sneer.

"This is surrender without a fight..." Luo’er and Zhuyan Yu exchanged glances, shaking their heads with a wry smile.

"Tuya is being disingenuous; he’s solely looking out for his own interests while trying to sound noble," Zhuyan Yu chuckled and said to Luo’er in Chinese.

"How so?" Luo’er raised his eyebrows, curiously asking.

"In the past few days, I’ve investigated the backgrounds of the major clans of the Demon Clan," Zhuyan Yu explained, "West Outer Heaven should really be divided into Northern West Outer Heaven and Southern West Outer Heaven. The Northern part is mainly the domain of the Beast Head Tribe, while the Southern part is predominantly the territory of the Beast-Ear Race. The Dongsheng army’s main offensive direction has always been the south, hence the Beast-Ear Race bears the brunt and is forced into a hasty retreat, having to retreat north, thereby encroaching upon the Beast Head Tribe’s lands."

"West Outer Heaven is so vast, the population of the Demon Clan is only so large; whether they encroach upon each other’s territory or not shouldn’t matter, right?" Luo’er said, shaking his head.

"There’s actually a deeper level of conflict," Zhuyan Yu continued, "these past days I’ve talked to many of the Demon Clan, and I’ve gathered a lot of useful information from their accounts. Generally speaking, the Beast-Ear Race and the Beast Head Tribe don’t get along well on a daily basis because the former is predominantly matrilineal while the latter is mostly patrilineal. This also involves the issue of how benefits are distributed."

"More importantly, Tuya said it himself, the Magic Crystal Veins are mostly concentrated in Southern West Outer Heaven, which is the territory of the Beast-Ear Race. Without warfare, the Beast-Ear Race could live quite comfortably off of these veins, while Northern West Outer Heaven would be much worse off, basically barren and inhospitable land. It’s for this reason that when there’s no war, there’s quite a division within West Outer Heaven internally, with the Beast-Ear Race and the Beast Head Tribe looking down on each other. It’s only because of Abisien’s loose tribal alliance that they’ve been able to unite against the Dongsheng army."

"Now, with the Dongsheng army invading, defeatism is widespread within Abisien. This forces the Beast Head Tribe to reconsider their interests. Their only concern is whether the Dongsheng army, after taking Lingyuan City, will continue to advance north, invading their territory. If the Dongsheng army can guarantee to stop after taking Lingyuan City, they would withdraw their troops immediately," Zhuyan Yu explained.

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