In ancient Chinese warfare, the number of people truly killed on the battlefield was not actually very large. Several thousand was considered quite a large figure, several tens of thousands was extremely rare.
The true battlefield meat grinder basically only truly appeared by the time of World War One.
And this war between Lanling and Nai Shu, especially when thirty thousand centaurs faced the Black Devil Banner’s million strong army, was a true meat grinder.
From arrow rain bursting forth to close quarters combat, in a short two hours, the Black Devil Banner army’s casualties were several hundred thousand.
Every second many people died.
The people of the barbaric world were much more fierce and blood brave. And the combat power of these centaur armies was also nearly like human shaped tanks.
These two conditions combined together, only then did such terrifying casualties appear!
As for the centaur army’s casualties, Lanling was extremely extremely fortunate.
These Black Devil Banner soldiers were too fierce and blood brave, completely unafraid of death. Once they were allowed to climb over the mammoth giants’ “corpse” city wall, the centaur army would suffer large casualties. Because before this, these Black Devil Banner armies were in a situation of passively being killed.
Although centaurs were very powerful, they were not invincible. Once the Black Devil Banner army surrounded them, several tens of barbarian soldiers surrounding and killing one centaur, they would still suffer heavy injuries, even death.
As a result, at this critical moment.
The commander in chief Nai Shu actually fled, the Black Devil Banner army suffered betrayal and deception, instantly morale completely collapsed, the entire battle situation instantly crumbled!
Truly one general incompetent, exhausts a thousand armies!
Normally Nai Shu appeared to be very capable, his martial dao talent completely worthy of being called genius. In other aspects he was also without exception excellent, except for being somewhat proud and arrogant, he had no other flaws.
Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, he was actually so worthless!
……
The great battle ended.
The several hundred thousand surviving Black Devil Banner troops put down the weapons in their hands, stopping battle.
Death Warrior Chi Yan Khan said in a stern voice: 「Put down your weapons, kneel to the ground, and I will spare your lives!」
But, these Black Devil Banner troops still stood in place, not moving.
The reason they threw down their weapons and were unwilling to fight was because they felt betrayed by Nai Shu, betrayed by the Black Devil Banner family, not because they feared death.
Letting them put down weapons was fine, but making them kneel they could not do.
Most Rakshasa Clan soldiers would rather die standing than live kneeling!
「Kneel, otherwise I will annihilate you completely!」 Chi Yan Khan said in a fury.
But, several hundred thousand Black Devil Banner troops still stood straight, unwilling to kneel!
At this time, Lanling was truly filled with emotion!
In the human kingdom, every time he achieved victory countless people surrendered, so his army continuously expanded, from a mere ten thousand Silver Wolf Legion, finally expanding to several hundred thousand troops.
Finally, the entire Furious Wave Kingdom’s million strong army surrendered to him.
But now……
Lanling had not yet successfully recruited a single Rakshasa Clan army, already experienced three great battles, killed several hundred thousand Rakshasa Clan troops, but not a single army surrendered.
Even, even ordinary Rakshasa Clan tribe people did not completely surrender. Just not long ago they had rebelled, twenty thousand were killed by Lanling, the Silver Alliance’s six to seven hundred thousand population was killed by Lanling until only one hundred thousand remained.
Whether barbarian people or demon race people, their bones were truly hard!
This was an advantage, and also a disadvantage.
At least now, Lanling could not make the several hundred thousand Black Devil Banner troops present surrender, unless he once again raised the butcher’s knife, killing these people who had abandoned their weapons completely clean.
But, should he kill them clean? Lanling fell into hesitation!
Rakshasa Clan tribe people could be made to fear and kneel in allegiance through slaughter, but they were only responsible for construction, having somewhat softer bones did not matter. But armies, once their bones softened it was finished.
This battle, the Black Devil Banner had already lost.
One question Lanling needed to consider was, how should the road ahead proceed?
Should he keep killing, kill all those unwilling to surrender completely clean? That would probably require killing all over ten million people in the entire Black Devil Banner territory.
If people were killed clean, what use was this over one million square kilometres?
The Flame Demon Empire that Lanling wanted to establish, people were far more important than land.
Of course, if there were over ten million near human race refugees, that would not matter, Lanling would immediately kill all the Rakshasa Clan on Black Devil Banner territory clean, then let over ten million near human race enter, directly establishing the Flame Demon Empire.
But, under the Demon Tuo Empire’s several decades of slaughter, how many near human race remained in the northern barbaric lands? And how many people successfully fled to the southern barbaric lands?
According to Lanling’s estimate, it should not exceed one million.
Therefore, completely relying on the near human race, the Flame Demon Tribe’s population had a bottleneck.
Relying purely on near human race population, the Flame Demon Empire could never be built, they must rely on Rakshasa Clan population.
Therefore, this army could not be killed, must be conquered, must obtain their allegiance!
Next, Lanling needed to slightly change strategy, completely occupy the entire Black Devil Banner, both people and land.
What he wanted was a powerful Flame Demon Empire!
……
Lanling riding the three headed Chimera beast circled above the several hundred thousand Black Devil Banner troops, shouting towards them.
「This time, to annihilate the Flame Demon Tribe, the Black Devil Banner came out in full force, one million two hundred thousand troops were all your elite! Now how many remain, six hundred thousand? Five hundred thousand?」 Lanling slowly said: 「But no matter what, as long as you are all killed, the entire Black Devil Banner will no longer have anyone who can block my iron hooves, I can easily occupy the entire Black Devil Banner territory!」
Hearing Lanling’s words, everyone present’s expression trembled.
Lanling said: 「You would rather die standing than live kneeling, this makes me greatly admire you. I will not kill you, I will subjugate you, I want you to willingly kneel before me and pledge allegiance!」
Once these words were spoken, fierce hostility appeared in the eyes of several hundred thousand Black Devil Banner troops.
Without doubt, they absolutely would not pledge allegiance to a lowly near human race. Even if they died, they would not kneel to pledge allegiance.
Lanling arrogantly said: 「I read your gazes, but I very much want to ask, are you as proud as centaurs? Are you as powerful as centaurs? They can pledge allegiance to me, what are you?」
Just as Lanling’s words fell.
All the centaur army neatly knelt, saying: 「Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!」
Lanling said: 「I do not want to tell you how the great centaur race pledged allegiance to me. I also do not want to tell you what kind of miracle I created. Because, centaurs are centaurs, and you…… are you!」
All centaurs hearing this sentence arrogantly raised their heads.
Lowly Rakshasa Clan, fundamentally unworthy of becoming the great Demon God’s people, you are only fit to be His Majesty’s slaves, we centaurs are the great whip of world destruction.
「Very soon, you will see, kneeling to me, pledging allegiance to me, is an incomparably glorious matter.」 Lanling slowly said: 「Very soon, you will willingly kneel before me, I believe this day will come very quickly! But before this day arrives, we are still enemies. Where are all the chiefs of the Black Devil Banner, stand forth for me!」
In this great battle, of the Black Devil Banner’s over one hundred and fifty tribe chiefs, a small portion died, only about eighty to ninety survivors remained.
Hearing Lanling’s sharp shout, these surviving chiefs could not help trembling.
「I can let you return home, but……」 Lanling said: 「You chiefs, and all Magic Martial Grandmaster level powerhouses must remain, as my hostages!」
Lanling’s gaze swept across the several hundred thousand Black Devil Banner troops like lightning, saying: 「You are all the Black Devil Banner’s powerhouses, you are the mainstay of all the Black Devil Banner troops. Then I ask you, are you willing to sacrifice your own freedom for several hundred thousand troops, remaining as my hostages?」
Lanling’s condition was already very simple.
He could spare these several hundred thousand defeated Black Devil Banner troops, could even let them return home, but all tribe chiefs, all Magic Martial Grandmaster level powerhouses, must remain.
Without doubt, Lanling was despicable!
The only purpose he kept these people was to absorb their bloodline power, forming a powerful Death Warrior legion.
The threshold for the Death Warrior regiment was Magic Martial Grandmaster!
In the barbaric world, powerful martial artists were all brave and fearless, people like Constantine who were sinister were a small minority.
After hearing Lanling’s words.
Immediately, one chief after another stepped forth, willing to use their own freedom in exchange for their tribe soldiers’ lives.
「Chi Yan, Chi Huo, Xie Li, if any chief is unwilling to step forth, then annihilate all the soldiers of his tribe completely!」 Lanling said.
「Yes!」 The three centaur powerhouses shouted.
Once these words were spoken, originally somewhat cowardly tribe chiefs also fiercely gritted their teeth and stepped forth.
At this point, even someone as selfish and sinister as Constantine could only step forth.
Stepping forth might not mean death, and could exchange for a good reputation, obtaining the gratitude of countless tribe soldiers and people. Not stepping forth meant certain death!
A quarter hour later!
Ninety tribe chiefs stepped forth.
Ninety five Magic Martial Grandmaster level powerhouses stepped forth.
Truly a pity, originally there were one hundred and fifty chiefs, over one hundred Magic Martial Grandmasters.
But, these people were too brave, during the great battle they led from the front, so most were killed by thirteen Death Warriors and centaur powerhouses.
But, altogether one hundred and eighty five Magic Martial Grandmaster level powerhouses was also an incomparably huge harvest.
Thus, Lanling would possess two hundred Death Warriors!
Moreover, after devouring these people’s bloodline power, what kind of breakthrough would his cultivation have? Completely unimaginable!
Lanling’s gaze was still calm, but Gou Li’s gaze towards these chiefs, these Magic Martial Grandmasters, was already very evil.
……
Nai Shu fled frantically with several tens of trusted warriors!
He simply did not know, Lanling would not chase him at all, at least for now would not kill him.
Right now, Nai Shu alive was more useful than dead.
Fleeing all the way to Black Devil City, charging towards the mountaintop castle.
In the past several hours, over two hundred li away there were bursts of thunderous noise, even Black Devil City faintly heard it.
But no one took it seriously, all feeling it was Nai Shu’s million strong army displaying divine might, annihilating Lanling’s army.
As for Nai Shu losing?
Whether the Black Devil Banner Lord or other people of Black Devil City, none had ever thought of it.
How could he possibly lose?
How many nobodies did Lanling’s Flame Demon Tribe have? Nai Shu had a full million strong army, three thousand five hundred aerial legion, two thousand mammoth army!
Even fighting with eyes closed, he would not lose.
There was only one result, a great victory, annihilating the Flame Demon Tribe completely!
At this time, many people saw Prince Consort Nai Shu charge into Black Devil City, everyone shocked?
The battle ended so quickly, why was Nai Shu’s expression so ugly?
Nai Shu ignored everyone’s puzzled gazes, charging towards the mountaintop castle at the fastest speed.
Inside the castle, the Black Devil Banner Lord was drinking by himself.
Regarding the battle situation over two hundred li away, he did not care in the slightest, because this great battle was only a game, an insignificant game.
Only to display the Rakshasa Royal Clan dignity, a grand play being performed.
As for the war’s result? Was there even need to say?
Was there even a little possibility of losing?
Even, the Black Devil Banner Lord felt somewhat displeased in his heart.
Because his son Nai Shu, since becoming Princess Sha Yan’s fiance, repeatedly regarded himself as Rakshasa Royal Clan, faintly somewhat looking down on his own Black Devil family identity.
In his heart, the Rakshasa Royal Clan’s weight far exceeded the Black Devil family!
This made him extremely unhappy, almost wanting to change heirs.
But, he could not do this!
Once he changed heirs, it would be a slap to the Rakshasa Royal Clan’s face, a slap to the great Rakshasa King’s face.
Therefore, he could only secretly admonish this somewhat complacent son.
「Bang!」 A sound, Nai Shu suddenly charged in, directly kneeling before the Black Devil Banner Lord, kowtowing and wailing: 「Father!」
The Black Devil Banner Lord trembled, frowning: 「What is it? The great battle is over, you should conveniently go flatten the Flame Demon Tribe, only then can dignity be restored, only then can you give an account to Rakshasa City.」
At this time, Nai Shu could endure no more, wailing: 「Father, I lost, we lost!」
Once these words were spoken, the Black Devil Banner Lord’s hand trembled, the wine cup falling to the ground.
「Dang!」
The precious jade wine cup shattered to pieces.
Next, the Black Devil Banner Lord only felt a burst of thunder in his head!
Everything outside seemed inaudible, only feeling everything around him became very unreal.
This…… this was fundamentally no longer a bolt from the blue, this was fundamentally a subversive nightmare.
A good while later, the Black Devil Banner Lord finally felt his body gradually warming.
Lost? How was that possible?
Even if a pig served as commander, it would not be possible to lose!
His son Nai Shu, although very arrogant, was not a pig, on the contrary he was considered very excellent.
A good while later, the Black Devil Banner Lord said in a cold voice: 「Do not play this kind of joke with me, even if a pig went to fight, it would win!」
Nai Shu coughed, again vomiting a mouthful of blood, crying loudly: 「Father, it…… it is truly lost.」
「Has water entered your brain? How could you possibly lose?」 The Black Devil Banner Lord staggered: 「You have a million strong army, what does Lanling have? Wasn’t his Flame Demon Tribe destroyed by the three headed Chimera beast? Weren’t his centaur reinforcements already killed clean? Didn’t you use a scheme to make the centaurs fight among themselves?」
Nai Shu cried loudly: 「That lowly dog Lanling, I don’t know what scheme he used, actually making the three headed Chimera beast become his mount. Chi Yan Khan was originally supposed to lead over twenty thousand centaur allied troops to annihilate the Xie Li Tribe, to annihilate Lanling. But…… but I don’t know what scheme Lanling used, actually making all centaurs acknowledge him as master, all centaur races pledge allegiance to him. This time, he brought a full thirty thousand centaur army!」
The Black Devil Banner Lord sucked in a cold breath.
How powerful thirty thousand centaur army was, he knew all too clearly.
「Even if Lanling had thirty thousand centaur army, they would also perish together with two thousand mammoth army, how could you lose?」 The Black Devil Banner Lord said: 「Could it be the mammoth army betrayed the contract, leaving without fighting?」
Speaking to this point, Nai Shu could endure no more, almost crying: 「No, the mammoth army had already transformed into killing state, charging frantically. But…… I don’t know what sorcery Lanling used, shooting out a kind of arrow that emitted light, faster than lightning. After the mammoth army was hit by arrows they were fine at first, but after several seconds they fell to the ground and died one after another!」
Only now did the Black Devil Banner Lord feel that his million strong army had truly suffered a great defeat, immediately his mind went dizzy wave after wave.
「Then, then what about your three thousand five hundred aerial legion?」 The Black Devil Banner Lord said.
Nai Shu said: 「Lanling’s archery was incomparably astonishing, his three headed Chimera beast madly sprayed fire, detonating the fish oil bombs on our Griffins’ backs. Therefore…… our aerial legion was nearly completely annihilated.」
The Black Devil Banner Lord also felt a burst of churning in his chest, hissing: 「Then, then what about the one million two hundred thousand army you led?」
Nai Shu said: 「Those two thousand damned mammoth giants, after falling, just happened to become a huge city wall. The centaur army hid behind this mammoth corpse city wall, from a commanding height, madly shooting arrows, madly massacring. I…… when I ran back, it was completely one sided slaughter, our army suffered countless casualties!」
「Then…… you, you just ran?」 The Black Devil Banner Lord roared.
Nai Shu said: 「If I did not run it would be too late, once I fall into Lanling’s hands, it would be our Black Devil family’s huge shame!」
The Black Devil Banner Lord could endure no more, a mouthful of blood wildly sprayed out.
This bastard son, if he had not run, the battle situation still had a thread of hope. Once Rakshasa Clan troops entered a bloodthirsty state they were fundamentally unafraid of death, as long as they charged through the city wall composed of mammoth corpses, the battle situation would change. Even if they ultimately could not win, they could still bring huge casualties to the centaur army.
Thus, the Black Devil Banner Lord could once again assemble several hundred thousand troops, still able to salvage the entire battle situation, still able to annihilate the Flame Demon Tribe.
And with Nai Shu’s flight, those several hundred thousand Black Devil Banner troops currently fighting bloodthirstily would feel they had been deceived and betrayed, unable to find a reason to continue fighting, morale would instantly collapse.
By then not only would they suffer a crushing defeat, but the centaur army’s casualties would also be minimal.
This bastard son Nai Shu truly knew how to run, at the moment when the battle situation’s scales were about to change, when the centaur army was about to suffer large casualties, he ran, causing the entire battle situation to completely collapse!
The Black Devil Banner Lord sprayed another mouthful of blood. At this time no words could describe the anger and disappointment in his heart!
He suddenly extended his large hand, gripping Nai Shu’s neck, roaring in anger: 「Unfilial son, you deserve ten thousand deaths, I will kill you, I will kill you!」
He used all his strength, wanting to strangle his biological son Nai Shu to death!