Azure Heaven Saber
Chapter 870 - 870 298 Do You Want to Place a Bet

Chapter 870: Chapter 298: Do You Want to Place a Bet? Chapter 870: Chapter 298: Do You Want to Place a Bet? Halfway up the mountain.

Bai Yihwen and his group had long noticed the three people who seemed to be out for a leisurely stroll.

“Could they be enemy scouts?”

Someone asked.

“Don’t worry about them.”

Bai Yihwen quickly put a stop to any rash actions from his own group.

“People like this either have some skills or methods at their disposal or they’re just passing by. Real scouts don’t act like this.”

“Oh.”

Watching Feng Yin and his two companions walk past them with an air of nonchalance, nobody made a move.

Jiao Sansheng spoke jovially, “I didn’t expect the person in charge here to be able to keep their composure; indeed, they are quite perceptive.”

If those men had charged out, Jiao Sansheng could have simply waved his hand… and probably would have been able to send a bunch of kites flying into the sky.

But since they didn’t come out, there was no opportunity to show off, and all they could do was feel disappointed.

“We are taking a mountain path, and it’s a narrow one at that.”

“Once we cross this range of hills and reach the summit, we should be able to get a better view of the battlefield’s movements.”

Jiao Sansheng indicated a peak in front of them that wasn’t too far away.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Does Divine Healer want to take a look from afar or get a bit closer?”

Jiao Sansheng asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Clashes between armies aren’t pleasant to watch.”

It was only upon reaching the summit that Feng Yin finally understood why it was said to be so unpleasant.

Gazing down from the mountaintop, it became clear why this area was the battlefield, with mountains on three sides and extremely intricate terrain.

All around them, the central area was a vast plain.

Though it was a plain, it was not entirely flat but had many irregularities in height; it just didn’t have the elevation differences that form ridges and valleys.

It seemed like troops could be ambushed at any location.

And between the mountains, there lay countless paths.

Entering any one from the plain battlefield could lead to an ambush.

Similarly, the enemy could also suddenly surge out of any mountain path, resulting in a surprise attack.

Cooking smoke was rising everywhere. The Yan State and Qi State armies, at the furthest distance, appeared as mere black dots against the white snow, while the Qin country’s army was the closest.

They were busy setting up camp.

Digging traps, clearing snow, erecting fences, caltrops, pits, and so on—all the preparations before battle.

Although they could not see more, they assumed the enemy was probably doing something similar.

On the adjacent peaks, similar scenes were unfolding.

The commanding heights in all directions were already occupied by their respective armies, with thick smoke rising to the sky where soldiers warmed themselves by the fire.

“We’ve arrived too early,” Jiao Sansheng said with a wry smile. “Given the current situation, although it’s on a knife-edge, it will still be some time before the real fighting begins.”

Feng Yin hadn’t expected that coming to watch the great battle would mean witnessing the combined armies of three nations, numbering over half a million, cleaning up and preparing for the fight.

“Why haven’t they started fighting?”

Dong Xiaoyan asked curiously.

“Wars aren’t so easily sparked,” Feng Yin shook his head and said, “It seems we’ve come too early.”

“Why?”

Dong Xiaoyan asked in confusion. “All three nation’s armies are here. If they’re not going to fight, what are they doing? I’ve heard storytellers say that it all starts when a general issues a challenge, then another great general from this side goes out to fight. They duel for dozens of rounds… then one side retreats, and the other pursues them…”

“It’s not the same as what we’re seeing now,” Feng Yin said, dumbfounded.

“You simpleton… you should listen less to those storytellers and read fewer novels and biographies. Your brain isn’t that good in the first place… ah, if you continue to indulge in them, what will become of you?”

Dong Xiaoyan retorted angrily, “So it’s not true?”

“Of course, it’s not true!” Feng Yin exhaled, “War is not as simple as storytellers flapping their gums.”

“There are several ways wars are waged, but the kind you’re talking about rarely happens, if ever.”

“Then how does it…” Dong Xiaoyan was stunned.

“One way is called ‘in narrow paths, the brave meet and the braver wins.’ For example, if the troops of two nations happen to travel this way and suddenly come face-to-face; it’s extremely unlikely. But if it happens, it goes like this. You might think ‘the brave meet and the braver wins’ is some kind of philosophy, but in fact… if you encounter the enemy and you’re not brave, you’ll die for sure, and if you are brave, you might not die. Because if you turn around and run, the rest of your own troops are right behind you. Your retreat causes chaos and leaves your back exposed to the enemy. You couldn’t even flee effectively because some of your own soldiers wouldn’t have yet realized and would still be marching forward… Understand?”

“So, the only way to survive is to break through the enemy’s ranks.”

“That’s why this is, in a sense, ‘in narrow paths, the brave meet and the braver wins’; it’s actually a type of wartime situation.”

Jiao Sansheng listened to Feng Yin’s explanation with a faint smile and remained silent.

This was naturally reasonable.

However, it was also limited to Feng Yin’s personal understanding.

It was not comprehensive.

But Jiao Sansheng clearly had no intention of correcting anything.

“Another kind is when two nations directly confront each other with their full forces and banners aloft—like the situation at hand. What matters then is the combined qualities of the generals, their leadership ability, logistical support, personal charisma… and so on.”

“Such a war, unless one side’s leadership goes insane and makes a serious mistake, will generally drag on indefinitely. Simply put, if both commanders are evenly matched in every respect, it comes down to attrition.”

“It’s a matter of who can’t hold out first! Often in these situations, cutting off supply lines, using espionage, various ways to demoralize the troops, and countless other tactics come into play. There’s a saying that ‘war is about logistics,’ and it’s said for a reason.”