Gu Yun: "Just as you said, in case it does not work out in the end, we will shrink our forces and slowly come up with a plan. That is the most rational solution. But it may not turn out the way we want.”

“It was alright for the Black Iron Camp to retreat to Jiayu Gate. Although it is usually bustling outside the gate, most of the people are merchants settling down temporarily. The Silk Road has only been open for several years, it was not enough for them to stay permanently, moreover, the situation there has tensed up near the end of the year, once the passage is closed, no business can be done. I can estimate that they have all left already.”

“But it is not possible within the gate. There are thousands of villages and hundreds of millions of civilians still inside. Even if He Rong Hui were to perish, he cannot retreat any further.”

The Black Iron Camp was the belief of the people and even the pillar of Great Liang. Once this pillar collapsed, there was no need to battle any longer. It would be faster for the nation to change its name directly.

Chang Geng was silent for a long moment. "What I said was a last resort."

"No last resort." Gu Yun shook his head. "You have talents. You know how to manage the country, but you have never fought in a war. Aside from favorable weather and geographical conditions, there are two more points: one is the equipment of steel armors and machines, the other is the courage of the human heart.

“For equipment, it has already come to this, there is no other option... but I believe that for the foreigners, even if they are strong, they are not much better than us, let alone those country bumpkin barbarians. Even if someone handed them an explosive, they would still use it like a stick.

“Subordinates are not chess pieces, they are all human beings, they can be courageous, but there is no one who doesn't fear death. Do you remember what I said to you last time we suppressed the bandits in the southwest?”

Chang Geng: “I do. On the battlefield, who doesn't want to die, will die first'."

Gu Yun made an ‘Mm’ sound. Even when the country was in danger, it still could not delay his meal. In a few words, a bowl of noodles had been eaten to the bottom. He finally pinched his nose, drinking the rest of the damn green vegetables mixed in the broth. He did not bother to chew either and put the bowl on the table: "Is there more?"