When the fleet of the West Expedition Army approached the shore, almost everyone was stunned by the sight before them.
Originally, all the soldiers had prepared for a difficult landing battle.
In the end, everyone landed safely, and 'greeting' them was a group of enemies who had laid down their weapons, their expressions bewildered and fearful.
Of the 200,000 Alliance Army from the Seven Western Countries, over 60,000 died, more than 50,000 fled, and over 80,000 surrendered.
Among them were Viscounts and Transcendents of Earl Level.
This was already the result of Li Fei's deliberate control.
If he wanted to kill all 200,000 Alliance Army, the number of those who could ultimately escape would not exceed 30,000!
However, he brought over the West Expedition Army to conquer the Western Continent, not to destroy it.
If it was just for the latter, the Da Lan Dynasty wouldn't have needed to wait seven years.
After Li Fei ascended to be the number one in the world seven years ago, he could have crossed the sea alone, coming to the Western Continent, and swept through the lands!
He alone could destroy the Seven Western Countries.
But one person can't conquer the Western Continent.
The leaders of the Seven Western Countries just need to hide, turning their governance from overt to covert.
Unless Li Fei wants to conduct a 'mass extinction', killing all the people of the Western Continent.
Otherwise, endless slaughter would only yield a barren wasteland, with countless corpses and endless hatred.
The reason the Da Lan Dynasty sent the 400,000 West Expedition Army this time was to let these 400,000 men establish a 'basic ground' in the Western Continent.
40,000 may sound like a lot, but if they were to spread throughout the entire Western Continent, occupying all significant regions, the manpower would indeed be stretched thin.
After disembarking, the West Expedition Army began confiscating the weapons and equipment from the surrendered soldiers, gathering these over 80,000 people together.
Actually, before the fleet of the West Expedition Army arrived, these over 80,000 people were in a state of being unsupervised for over two days.
Yet not one person attempted to escape.
Everyone just needed to look up at the figure standing high in the sky, and immediately all courage and illusions were extinguished.
"How do you plan to deal with these over 80,000 captives?"
Wenren Zheng inquired of Li Fei.
...
As the sunset was about to disappear on the distant sea's surface, over 80,000 soldiers from the Seven Countries were gathered on a plain.
Everyone was anxious, not knowing what fate lay ahead.
When the figure, like a God in everyone's heart, appeared in the sky, there was a commotion among the crowd.
Some even knelt on the spot.
Li Fei gazed at the dense crowd below and slowly spoke.
His voice was not loud, yet it was clearly imprinted in everyone's consciousness!
This was a magic from the Nightmare Sect, Li Fei didn't need to be proficient in the language of the Western Continent, he could directly convey meaning at a subconscious level:
"I will not kill you."
The first sentence allowed over 80,000 people to breathe a sigh of relief, some even couldn't help shedding tears.
"Our arrival this time is not to destroy the Western Continent, but to conquer it!"
"Those who chose to oppose us, the devastation two days ago is the outcome!"
"Next, you all have two choices: one is to leave here, we will not stop you. You can return to your original forces and continue to fight against us."
"Or, you can choose to stay, truly join us, and become citizens of the Da Lan Dynasty."
After Li Fei finished speaking, he turned directly and left.
The soldiers stationed on the perimeter of the Da Lan Dynasty also retreated one after another, leaving over 80,000 people in confusion.
They thought of the worst outcome, thinking they might be forced to take up arms next, aiming at their former comrades.
But they never imagined they would be unconditionally released?
An unprecedented victory, capturing over 80,000 people, and in the end, releasing all the captives?
In the history of Western Continent wars, there has never been such a case.
Over 80,000 people remained in place for more than ten minutes, until someone tried to leave and encountered no resistance, causing the crowd to explode.
Until nightfall, when the Bright Moon hung high, over 80,000 captives had completely dispersed.
Very few chose to stay and join the West Expedition Army.
Within the West Expedition Army, a high-level meeting was underway—
Li Fei, Wenren Zheng, Wang Chengze, Ye Jingfu, and Luo Jing.
Commander of the Red Qilin Army Gu Ze, Vice Commander of the Western Garrison Army, former Forbidden Army Commander Han Mu.
Commander of the Savage Killing Army Li Tianyu.
Besides these senior military officers, there were also seven people of special status participating in the meeting:
Duke of Deni Country, Zeke.
Duke of Mei Jia Country, Zhan Jieshi.
Duke of Sefren Country, Miller.
...
These seven Dukes initially served as envoys to the Da Lan Dynasty, later their plans on the grasslands were exposed, and all seven along with the entire envoy were taken down, becoming prisoners.
The Da Lan Dynasty had been keeping these individuals alive just for this moment.
These seven Dukes were pivotal figures in their respective countries, with their families being top aristocratic families domestically.
Thus, they held great value.
After over eight years of imprisonment, psychological warfare.
Plus witnessing Li Fei's strength firsthand and seeing how the 200,000 Western Continent Alliance Army was easily defeated.
These seven Dukes expressed willingness to persuade their families to submit to the Da Lan Dynasty.
"The 200,000 Alliance Army of the Western Continent was defeated by us, making it difficult to reorganize a new Alliance Army in a short time, so our next plan is to split our forces into three."
Li Fei pointed at a map showing everyone:
"The Western Garrison Army, Red Qilin Army, combined with 60,000 combat troops and 60,000 auxiliary soldiers, forming the Left Army, with Wang Chengze as the Commander, Gu Ze and Han Mu as Deputy Commanders, advance southwest to attack Kalan Duchy."