The Elf Troops, attacked from both front and back, fell into even more desperate chaos. Felix received the news early the next morning: about 100,000 of his troops had already beco captives.
This situation was like a domino effect; once one falls, it triggers a chain reaction. The surrendering troops induced more troops to surrender, and the collapse of the defense positions of the Elf Troops was inevitable.
Felix hurriedly reported the disaster unfolding on his side to Poplar The First, but unexpectedly, Poplar The First was already too overwheld to bla him for incompetence.
Because the entire front line had basically already collapsed: not just the Hotwind Port line Felix was responsible for, but the entire northern border defense line had problems.
The troops of General Feng Kezhi, Ying An, and Strauss... had all broken through the Coalition Forces’ defenses within these two days and launched a pursuit of the defeated Coalition Forces.
Relying on exaggerated mobility advantages, the Tang Army divided and encircled the collapsing Coalition Forces, forming encirclent circles of varying sizes. Supplies within these circles were cut off, forcing the Coalition Forces to quickly choose surrender.
Compared to the complete collapse of the northern defense line, the situation around Hotwind Port seed more normal: at least the frontline managed by Laines and Suthers had not had problems, right?
The Elves reaped the bitter fruit of their arrangents: due to distrust of other nations, they stationed their allies’ troops in less important positions. Now, the critical positions guarded by them beca key targets for the Tang Army’s offensive, naturally leading to heavy losses and maximum casualties for the Elf Race’s soldiers.
Even more embarrassing was that it was the Elf Troops’ defense lines that were breached, and now most surrounded are the troops of allies like the Suthers Empire and the Laines Empire... the Poplar Empire probably owes these countries a reasonable explanation.
Actually, there’s no need to explain anything, because these countries probably have no mood to listen to the Poplar Empire’s explanation anymore: nearly a million troops have been divided and encircled; the situation within the Elf Territory is completely chaotic and collapsing... Who even needs an explanation?
Seeing that the elves were almost unable to hold on, after losing them, how would the remaining three empires fight against the southward advancing army of the Tang Empire?
At this mont, Poplar The First was as anxious as ants on a hot pan in his Imperial Palace. He paced back and forth in front of his throne, his complexion looking extrely grim.
Now, he didn’t know how to handle those frontline generals: he had invested countless wealth, expended massive amounts of resources, mobilized nearly a million laborers... The so-called unbreakable defense line built had been breached in just fifteen days.
The generals previously assured him confidently that the line could hold for at least several months; for the Tang Army to break through, they’d estimate paying the price of tens of thousands of soldiers dead.
But reality slapped them harshly: the Tang Army easily breached the line in just 15 days, and the lost troops were far fewer than 10,000.
"Your Majesty. The troops of the Suthers Empire are retreating to Osa; there’s news that Toril was lost..." An officer entered the great hall, bringing less-than-good news.
The retreat of the Suthers troops to Osa ant the Coalition Forces’ defense line near Hotwind Port had completely collapsed. The Tang Army could advance southward and eastward as they pleased from Hotwind Port, with no one able to stop them anymore.
Toril was a major city in the Elf Race’s western region; controlling it equaled controlling hundreds of kiloters of the Poplar Empire’s territory.
It’s a railway hub, and highways are well developed. An endless number of traffic lines converged here, and the Tang Army occupying this place ant they held absolute leverage for subsequent offensives.
"Wasn’t there a garrison force of 40,000 in Toril? Couldn’t they even hold for a day before it was lost?" Poplar The First angrily questioned.
In truth, he knew that under these circumstances, there’d be hardly any City Defense Army determined enough to resist to the very end. The frontline troops had already collapsed; could he really expect the newly recruited City Defense Forces to stop the Tang Army?
Most of these troops were newly recruited soldiers whose training wasn’t even completed, primarily ant to maintain order and guard against Tang Country’s Paratroopers... They probably couldn’t even guard against the Tang Army’s Paratroopers. Having them face the Tang Army’s Tanks indeed seed excessively demanding.
"Your Majesty, they didn’t resist; they surrendered their weapons." The officer awkwardly explained with a lowered head. Actually, before surrendering, Toril’s garrison troops also sent back a telegram, explaining why they chose surrender.
They felt turning Toril into ruins and destroying the city built over centuries was a cri, so to preserve it, they chose dignified surrender.
Positioning large numbers of troops at the border revealed flaws: Poplar The First really had no troops left to defend his Imperial Capital.
The troops deployed at the border couldn’t retreat back; they were already divided and encircled, trapped waiting for death.
"How many troops are left in the Imperial Capital?" The desperate Emperor looked at the general standing beside him, who sowhat nervously offered a comforting number: "Counting the troops being assembled outside the city, there are about 300,000 left."
That said, even as he answered, he calculated that among the 300,000, which seed considerable, roughly only 50,000 were actually capable of fighting.
The remaining 250,000 were newly ford forces temporarily recruited; only part of the commanders were drawn from other troops, while most of the infantry were only at the level of marching in step.
Whether these soldiers had even touched guns was unknown; they lacked heavy artillery and tanks, most were rely light infantry. Expecting them to defend the Imperial Capital was practically a joke.
In reality, these troops were recruited as reinforcents for the frontline, originally planned for training in the outskirts of the Imperial Capital for about ten days. While advancing to the frontline, they’d undergo supplentary training in practical subjects, making them barely usable upon arrival.
But plans couldn’t keep up with changes; before these new recruits completed basic training or learned useful combat experiences underway, the Tang Army was already at the door.
Thus, this general decided to present the best option to His Majesty The Emperor: "However, Your Majesty... you should consider leaving the Imperial Capital."
"Can’t 300,000 troops fend off the Tang Army’s advance?" Poplar The First stared with dissatisfaction, questioning.
The general lowered his head and carefully explained after deliberating his tone: "Your Majesty, so many troops at the frontline only held for fifteen days. These 300,000 new recruits... I’m afraid..."
He really wished to explain to His Majesty The Emperor that even if all these 300,000 were elite of the elites, they couldn’t hold the suburban defense lines of the Imperial Capital. Once the Tang Army started encircling the Imperial Capital, even if these 300,000 were extrely capable fighters, they wouldn’t last for many days.
"Enough! I understand." Poplar The First cut him off, sighed and ordered: "Find a way to stall the Tang Army at Martes! Gain so ti! Whether it’s negotiating peace or holding the Imperial Capital... ti is needed!"
At this mont, his luxurious palace seed so empty, you could even hear his echo. The ministers all kept their heads down without speaking, not even whispering among themselves. At this mont, his luxurious palace seed so empty, you could even hear his echo. The ministers all kept their heads down without speaking, not even whispering among themselves. At this mont, his luxurious palace seed so empty, you could even hear his echo. The ministers all kept their heads down without speaking, not even whispering among themselves. At this mont, his luxurious palace seed so empty, you could even hear his echo. The ministers all kept their heads down without speaking, not even whispering among themselves.
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