Warhammer Fantasy: I Have Total War System

What is the "Heavenly Covering Formation"?

Li Lin racked his brains to search for the original owner's memories, but he only had some vague impressions of ancient texts, and he couldn't remember the specific details of the formation at all.

Ultimately, he was just a Total War player; he knew how to play the game but knew nothing about traditional military strategy.

"I don't understand the Heavenly Covering Formation," he said truthfully.

"Oh?" Qian Tang's lips curled up slightly. "Then what kind of formation does Brother Li intend to use?"

"Without a formation, if you're ambushed, have your melee units group together, and have the other units move closer to encircle the supply wagons into a closed space. Then, use every means to maintain the line and slowly launch counterattacks with magic and ranged attacks."

A few restrained chuckles echoed from inside the tent.

If this bandit-like rhetoric can be considered military strategy, then all those years of studying military texts have been for nothing.

Qian Tang stopped just in time, avoiding putting the two of them in an awkward position. He bowed to Li Lin and said, "Brother Li, you have a brilliant insight," before sitting back down.

At this moment, most people in the tent had reached a conclusion about Li Lin:

He does have some ability to adapt to changing circumstances, after all, he managed to save the goods, but the core reason is that he had the Dragonborn as a backup. His own military skills are probably only at the level of Lushun.

Seeing this, Gu Ying shook her head inwardly.

This situation is unlike any other; we are surrounded by powerful enemies on the outside and riddled with internal factions.

No one knows how long this war will last. Once the situation deteriorates, other people's impressions of you can be enough to determine your life or death.

About half an hour later, the high-level meeting ended, and a military advisor entered the tent to convey the results.

The allied forces will break out towards Nanli, bypass Nanli, and rendezvous with the main force of Biaolong Miaoying.

Upon arrival, each family can choose to remain in the safe main city of Nangao or follow the Dragon Prince to fight and redress the injustice.

Everyone nodded in praise of the commander and the generals, and were very satisfied with the outcome of the military council.

Next, the military dispatch was reported to each of the commanders, and most of the commanders and their troops were incorporated into the vanguard, central army, and rearguard armies organized by several General Haotian.

When it was Li Lin's turn, the military advisor glanced through the roster and said:

"Young Master Li's troops consist of 36 remaining elite Jade Warriors, two squads of 240 peasant spearmen, 90 Jade Warrior crossbowmen, and approximately 500 disarmed stragglers."

"Given the special circumstances of your unit, the commanders have decided not to include you in the main force. Young Master Li is requested to serve as the libero, directing the attack independently, but generally following General Zhao's orders."

He paused, then added, "Since your unit is not part of the main force and is not within the scope of unified supply, please prepare your own food and military supplies."

The people inside the tent cast glances at him with a mixture of sympathy and schadenfreude.

The libero position sounds like a sinecure, with no one overseeing it.

But now we are in the desert, and our number one enemy is food and supplies. The enemy may not appear for several weeks, but going without food and water for three or four days is enough to cause a commotion.

"Understood." Li Lin nodded, his face expressionless, making it impossible to discern his true intentions.

Actually, he was looking at the finance section above the system panel.

The column showed that he was carrying a huge sum of 5,500 taels of gold, as well as three cartloads of goods of considerable value.

But what about the money?

Where is the money?

Military flags and equipment can be moved between the equipment panel, troop panel, and character panel at any time to test their effectiveness.

But apart from this simple financial data column, there's nothing else about the money.

Damn it, system, please don't do anything stupid like Bitcoin!

This could really kill someone!

After the meeting ended, everyone hurried back to their respective tents.

Before leaving, Li Lin, Tian Liang, Tian Tong, and Tian Ji went to Gu Ying's camp for a chat as agreed.

Gu Ying's camp was like another world.

The tent was made of the finest Shu brocade fabric, with bright colors. The top of the tent was embroidered with the Gu family's business logo, and the four corners were secured with copper nails. The tent fabric was stretched taut, with hardly any creases.

Several plates of snacks were laid out in the tent. Shen Du, Ma Mingyuan, and Yue Pengrui took their seats in turn, and Gu Ying busied herself pouring tea. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than during the military council.

Li Lin sat in the corner near the tent entrance, holding a teacup, without saying a word.

The group chatted enthusiastically, starting with their past experiences of practicing martial arts together, then moving on to their achievements after leaving their sect, and finally discussing the current chaotic situation outside.

"On the way to the camp just now, General Zhao transferred me from Lushun to the rank of Guoyi Duwei and kept me in the military headquarters." Shen Du's tone was calm, but there was an uncontrollable sharpness in his eyes.

"Good heavens," Ma Mingyuan slapped his thigh, "once the armies merge, you'll probably be in charge of an entire Zhechong Prefecture."

Gu Ying laughed and said, "What's so strange about that? Tianliang has been smart since he was little. My dad always tells me that he could recite the entire 'Battle Records' when he was seven, and that he could give advice to the army when he went to war with his father at the age of twelve, and that advice actually came in handy. As for me, all I do is blow snot bubbles all day."

"Children say the darndest things; it's all just my dad spreading rumors to save face." Shen Du picked up his tea, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Yue Pengrui, who had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes half-closed, suddenly interjected, "Last month at the Shangyang Martial Arts Tournament, Tianliang's spear technique had already reached the 'Inner Strength' realm. Uncle Pei said on the spot that among the Six Young Masters of Nandou, he was very likely to be the first to achieve the Grandmaster level."

Shen Du waved his hand: "Senior brother, you flatter me. I've only mastered that one spear technique to some extent. If you and I were to compete on stage, I'm afraid I wouldn't last ten moves."

"Two different things." Yue Pengrui opened his eyes, his gaze calm. "A fight is a fight, and cultivation level is cultivation level. If you and I were to fight to the death, the difference in cultivation level would be the key, and the outcome would be uncertain."

Ma Mingyuan smacked his lips and spat the sunflower seed shells into the dish: "Come on, Tianji. Half a year ago, you defeated the Northern general at Ashxia Tower and thwarted Qingbao Tianzun's attack. Even Uncle Pei said that if you trained for another two years, you would be qualified to join his personal guard and serve Binlong. What are you pretending for with us brothers?"

Laughter immediately filled the tent.

Gu Ying poured tea for everyone, and the conversation naturally turned to the other two Sixth Young Masters who were not present.

"I wonder how Tianxiang and Tiansha are doing now." Gu Ying sighed. "Tianxiang told me last time that he was with his family's caravan, passing through Weibei on his way to Pomei, but then the rebellion broke out and he lost contact with them. Alas, that's the stronghold of the traitorous king Han Cheng!"

Shen Du frowned: "Where's Tian Sha? I heard he went to work for the Wei Jing Long Ting. He should be safe, right?"

"Damn it—" Ma Mingyuan said casually, cracking sunflower seeds. "He's fine, it's just a pity. He gave up a perfectly good high-ranking official position in the Dragon Court to become a garrison captain in Xiuyan City. Even the chickens in the sheds there have dragon blood, what could possibly happen to them?"

"Huh?" Gu Ying raised an eyebrow. "With his personality, would he really be willing to be a city-defense general?"

"Hey, didn't you guys know?" Ma Mingyuan lowered his voice, waved for everyone to come over, and looked excited to share a secret. "He has dragon blood, right? When he was learning martial arts, his family wanted him to become the Xiuyanqing. They sent him to Xiuyanqing City for a few months, but then they felt the competition was too fierce, so they brought him back to Shangyang."

"He told me that he met a remarkable woman from the Wu family of Nanli in Xiuyanqing City. What was her name again? Wu Taming? He was so devoted to her! Back when we all slept in a dormitory, he would tell me and Tianxiang every night that no matter the cost, he wanted to go back to Xiuyanqing City to see that woman surnamed Wu again—"

The teacup in Gu Ying's hand suddenly slammed to the ground with a "crack," interrupting Ma Mingyuan's gossip.