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Chapter 465: The First Step of the Grand Plan
Whoosh!
The devastating flames sealed thousands of wolf riders within the valley.
The previously high-spirited wolf riders were now frantically trying to calm their trembling mounts lying flat on the ground.
Many orcs also felt fear.
Though they hadn't perished under Yaya's destructive flames, they now found themselves trapped in the valley.
There was no way out!
What did this mean?
It meant the enemy had a big appetite and planned to devour them completely!
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
A dense rain of crossbow bolts and jars of flaming oil flew toward the wolf riders near the valley.
If any wolf riders among them had participated in defending the warehouse last night,
They would have recognized the attackers as the same group that had withdrawn from the warehouse area.
That's right—Bay Territory believed in maximizing every resource.
With limited manpower, they had to leverage everyone to achieve optimal strategic results.
Rows of wolf riders fell, stunned by the sudden onslaught. Only after losing nearly one-fifth of their force did they snap back to their senses.
They couldn't afford to "zone out" any longer.
If they couldn't retreat, they would take as many enemies as possible with them!
Enraged, the wolf riders urged their trembling mounts forward and charged at the cavalry.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
One fiery explosion after another tore into the wolf riders' ranks.
Each fireball carried immense destructive power, claiming dozens of wolf riders with every blast.
The once unified wolf riders saw their morale plummet, and their ranks fell into chaos under the barrage of fireballs, rendering them unable to form any coherent formation.
Sensing the opportunity, Jifan decisively tore open two spell scrolls, casting combat-enhancing spells on himself and the surrounding cavalry.
The cavalry formed a wedge formation and plunged directly into the disordered ranks of the wolf riders.
Leading the charge were 20 newly "promoted" Modified Warrior cavalrymen.
They were the sharpest spearheads of the formation and its most unyielding defense.
With just one collision, the wolf riders were utterly crushed.
The wedge formation was unstoppable!
The entire wolf rider force was cleaved into two, split right down the middle.
Being defeated in their strongest domain crushed the wolf riders' last vestiges of fighting spirit, sending them fleeing in all directions.
But one by one, they fell under the cavalry's relentless pursuit and volleys of bolts.
As Matthew continued casting fireballs, he nodded in satisfaction at the cavalry's increasingly mature tactical formations.
With the experience gained from this battle, every cavalryman would see a noticeable improvement in their abilities.
His meticulous planning had not been in vain; it had all been to ensure they got a solid "training session."
If the retreating wolf riders realized they were mere pawns for honing Matthew's soldiers, they would have fled even faster.
Unfortunately for them, the initiative had never been in their hands, and their fear was justified.
The slaughter of the wolf riders lasted a full 20 minutes.
Nearly 6,000 wolf riders perished in the massacre.
Their own damage was negligible.
The heavily armed cavalry lost only around a dozen men.
Around a thousand wolf riders, taking advantage of gaps in the flames, fled through a storm of crossbow bolts.
Wiping sweat off her brow and massaging her sore wrist, Feili watched the scattered wolf riders and curiously asked:
"Why didn't we finish them all?"
"It's simple. The Lord once said that the best way to win is to subdue the enemy without fighting."
"Of course, such situations are rare, so we aim for the next best thing—to instill fear in the enemy."
Seeing Feili's slightly puzzled expression, Elio gave orders to clean up the battlefield, organized the retreat, and explained further:
"Think about your past experiences. When you're scared, your hands tremble."
"Even if you have ten parts of strength, you can only use five or six. How could you possibly defeat your opponent?"
Feili, quick to grasp the underlying point, suddenly understood and exclaimed:
"Oh… I see! We want to make the orcs afraid of Bay Territory."
"That way, we'll gain an even greater advantage in the next ambush."
Elio didn't bother correcting her that "this wasn't an ambush," as it was all part of Bay Territory's larger plan.
This was a grand plan!
If successful, it could alter the course of the entire campaign.
"Let the cavalry rest here, and Jifan, you're in charge of the adventurers in this area."
After handing over responsibilities to Jifan, Elio swiftly reorganized the troops.
When she returned to the Scarlet Pass, she saw adventurers pouring out of the teleportation array.
Most of these adventurers were injured.
Yet nearly every one of them wore expressions of contentment and carefree joy.
It was clear they had come to enjoy completing tasks for Bay Territory.
Elio approached Lord Matthew to report what had happened after he and Yaya left the battlefield.
With 1.5 million additional Fate Power, Matthew wore an elated smile. He motioned for Elio to relax and patiently explained:
"After last night's battle, the orcs will undoubtedly recognize our strength."
"They will increase defenses at their strongholds and supply depots."
"So, our goal is to avoid their traps while also putting pressure on their supply lines."
Taking the advice to heart, Elio didn't make any rash decisions. Instead, she sought guidance from other Bay Territory commanders as usual.
Drawing on collective wisdom, Elio launched a unique series of ambushes.
She used their intelligence and mobility advantage to establish hidden outposts in various locations.
With patience, she selected targets and conducted a few obvious probes.
Once she had drawn the orcs' attention, she decisively executed a strategy of diversion and surprise attacks.
She annihilated a crucial orc supply convoy.
The supplies were all burned, enraging the orcs, who mobilized elite forces to hunt her down.
But Elio, exploiting the orcs' impatience, orchestrated an ambush in turn.
The orcs lost nearly 4,000 soldiers, retreating in disarray.
Elio's outstanding performance inspired Bay Territory's forces.
Everyone seized the opportunity to train by fighting the orcs.
This sharpening of skills was just the first step in Matthew's grand plan.