To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

But similarly, these millions of captives also represented a huge force that everyone overlooked.

Previously, the Chu people had forgotten this force, and the Zhao people had likewise neglected it.

Now, if this force were suddenly mobilized, it could catch everyone off guard and have an unimaginably surprising effect.

The Zhao presence in Watign City was weak, with not too many troops stationed there.

This was not due to any oversight on their part, but rather a calculated belief that even if the Chu army wanted to execute a surprise attack, it would be almost impossible to conquer Watign City in a short time.

Even if the Chu were ruthless enough to take the city regardless of losses, the Chu army that remained, after the brutalities of a siege, would be exhausted and demoralized, utterly incapable of executing any further surprise tactics.

At that point, the Zhao could then adjust their troop deployments at leisure to contend with the Chu’s unexpected move.

From this perspective, the arrangements of the Zhao people were sound.

They had considered all aspects and maximized their limited strength.

But who could have known that the Chu army would suddenly stop playing by the rules, or rather, would suddenly discard the facade they had maintained all along?

They began to utilize prisoners of war on a large scale!

As an important stronghold on the southeastern defensive line, Watign County indeed wasn’t easy to capture. It would be impossible to break through quickly without suffering heavy losses.

With the limited resources of the Chu army, they could not sustain such casualties.

But what if it wasn’t the Chu army that had to pay this price?

With those captives taking the brunt, the Chu elite forces naturally didn’t have to worry about a drop in morale.

And with the elite troops’ morale and strength ensured, they could in turn firmly suppress any captives who, because of massive casualties, started to become unsettled and thought of rebellion.

The two complemented each other, combining flawlessly.

A hundred thousand people forced their way into Watign City, thereafter leaving the southeastern defensive line wide open.

Once it came to Liang City, Huang Lin did not hesitate.

Also at the cost of huge casualties, he used over one hundred thousand lives to breach the city in just four days, before the Zhao Army could react.

The fifty thousand Zhao troops stationed in the city perished alongside the captives and the city itself.

Thus, Liang City, Zhao’s most important north-south transport hub, fell under the control of the Chu army.

It wasn’t until this point that the Zhao troops in the eastern commanderies realized that a massive Chu force had encircled them, hitting their ’Old Nest.’

Instantly, the main force of the Zhao Army in Baima County was thrown into panic.

The capital at Nan Du’s Emperor Hill was also deeply shaken.

Between these two crucial cities of the eastern commanderies, a Chu force had now positioned itself, severing the Zhao main force from their capital, not only capturing their logistics base but also splitting the two apart.

The situation in Diqiu City, to the rear, was slightly better; being close to the southern capital of Zhao, there were several ports of varying sizes available to receive supplies from the North, so logistics wasn’t an immediate concern.

But Baima County, having lost Liang City, was completely isolated and without help.

To its east was the Chu main force, with millions watching it like tigers waiting to pounce.

To its south was Watign City, which had been overrun by the Chu forces. The current situation there was unclear, but it certainly wasn’t good.

And to the west, mainly Liang City, now in Chu hands, was said to be guarded by hundreds of thousands of Chu troops—their escape route was completely cut off.

The only somewhat favorable direction was the North, where across the river lay Ji Province, the stronghold of Zhao.

Yet, even the North did not offer much of a lifeline for the Zhao forces in Baima County.

The reason was simple.

In the Baima County region, there were no proper ferry crossings available for the Zhao troops to cross the river northward or to receive supplies from the North.

In the past, Liang City, with its better conditions and safer location, had handled this critical task.

Now that Liang City was lost, the Zhao forces in Baima County naturally had no access to a ferry crossing.

At present, they could still communicate with the North, but only to the extent of a few dozen small boats.

At that meager transport capacity, they might send a few thousand people at most in one trip, and tens of thousands in a day.

However, including civilian workers, the Zhao forces in Baima County numbered up to a million.

To move that many people with such limited capacity would take at least half a month, or even a month—it could not be done sooner.

And that was the best-case scenario, without any interference, allowing the Zhao to board and transport freely.

But now, with Chu forces keeping watch on three sides, how could they possibly allow the Zhao to escape so easily?

So it was certain that any attempt by the Zhao to flee would be intercepted by the Chu army.

Just how many could escape under such hindrance was hard to say.

The situation became even worse.

The logistics base of Liang City was compromised, and the frontline supply lines of the Zhao’s main camp were also cut.

In the camp, although there was some stockpile of food and fodder, it was hardly sufficient, nowhere near the endless supply from the rear.

Depending on these reserve supplies, the Zhao forces at the Watign frontline could last a month at most.

Beyond a month, even if the Chu didn’t attack them, they would starve to death.

So when the news of Liang City’s fall came, the entire Zhao force at the Watign front was plunged into unprecedented panic.

No one knew better than they did what the loss of Liang City meant for them.