The 130,000 troops that had originally gathered outside, putting on a show of entering Qilin Mountain to attack Chunqiu Prefecture, suddenly changed direction. Their spearhead pointed straight at Yunzhou.
Outside Qilin Mountain, the vanguard troops set up a feint formation.
This so-called feint formation meant that amid the swirling heavy snow, several thousand people pushed carts back and forth along the plank road. It looked like more and more people were entering the mountain valley, but in reality, it was the same group going back and forth over and over.
As for Chen Sanshi himself, he selected 7,000 soldiers from the Hongze Battalion. Under cover of wind and snow, they quietly left Qilin Mountain and instead arrived at the foot of Yinping Mountain.
Since ancient times, marching and warfare have always relied on "transportation."
It was not that an army could go wherever people could walk.
Supplies, warhorses, weapons, armor, and so on…
Unless it was an elite forced march, even weapons and armor were usually only put on upon reaching the battlefield or before passing through dangerous terrain. This was why surprise troops often achieved miraculous results.
It was possible that the enemy soldiers were still traveling in plain clothes, bare-handed. At that moment, a fully armored cavalry unit suddenly charging out from behind, clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, would inevitably crush them.
Even the imperial guards within the palace did not normally carry many weapons. Throughout history, palace coups always required seizing the armory first before officially launching an uprising.
For this very reason, marching to war required mobilizing massive numbers of civilian laborers as logistics support. Countless carts and wagons were needed, and these could only travel on main roads.
But at this very moment.
Under Chen Sanshi's orders, all of that was abandoned.
"All personnel, discard long weapons!"
"Remove armor. Wear only plain clothes!"
"No riding warhorses. March on foot up the mountain!"
"Move out—"
The 7,000 Hongze Battalion soldiers removed their armor. Everyone carried a longsword on their back, with dry rations and water skins wrapped around their waists. They assembled at the foot of the mountain.
Before them stretched a desolate mountain range extending nearly 1,000 li. The paths were rugged and difficult. Poisonous miasma lingered everywhere. There was no food, only venomous insects and poisonous snakes.
Let alone marching an army—if an ordinary person wandered in by mistake, they might never come out again.
Yet on this day, a force with resolute expressions charged in without hesitation. They were soon completely swallowed by the dark green poisonous miasma.
Jade Land Prefecture, Youlan Prefecture.
With the help of Seeking Immortals Tower and immortal sects, Prince Cao Huan and Prince Cao Yan had risen in rebellion 0.5 year ago, quickly occupying three prefectures. This place was one of them and served as their "capital."
At the beginning, due to poor geography, those three prefectures quickly shrank to two.
But because Emperor Longqing had not shown himself for a long time,
And because Prince Cao Huan held a fake Imperial Jade Seal and a fake abdication edict, coupled with the many crimes of the Yan faction spreading across the realm, he soon gained massive support in the eastern Central Plains and the southern regions.
Moreover, not long ago, Prince Cao Huan issued proclamations to the world, declaring that the King of Northern Liang, the White Robe Chen Sanshi, was responding to the uprising with 150,000 iron cavalry. This attracted even more investors.
Because the White Robe had never been defeated!
From the very beginning, with just over 2,000 defeated remnants at Poyang, to the desperate battle at Guandu where death was turned into survival, he had never lost.
Great clans and sects across the land were investing in Prince Cao Huan, but even more so, they were investing in the White Robe.
Thus, after the King of Northern Liang emerged,
Prince Cao Huan's two prefectures quickly expanded to four. Only recently had things stalled. Once the Northern Liang Army successfully entered the passes, they could continue advancing.
Both sides were using each other.
Prince Cao Huan used the White Robe's reputation, while the White Robe used their "legitimacy."
Inside the prince's residence.
Clear, ringing flute music echoed endlessly through the vast estate.
That was Fang Qingyun, the green-robed scholar, seated in a wheelchair beneath a pavilion in the wind and snow, playing the tune "Northern Liang Breaks the Formation Music." When the piece ended, several cultivators clapped and praised him.
"Fang Daoist, you're skilled in all four arts—qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Your music is especially wonderful," a Guiyuan Sect cultivator joked. "Though your flute looks rather similar to one used by a fellow disciple of mine."
The green-robed scholar had his back to the cultivator.
So the cultivator did not see his expression. He only noticed that the arm holding the jade flute stiffened slightly, before Fang Qingyun spoke.
"Daoist Qian, have you brought the items?"
"Brought them, brought them," Qian Qiren said, handing over several talismans. "These talismans can be activated using a cultivator's essence blood."
The green-robed scholar had originally been a Qi Refining cultivator. He had merely been crippled later and could no longer condense mana.
"In truth, there's no need to be so cautious," Qian Qiren said. "Even if people from Shengyun Sect really attack, we'll be there to hold them back."
"All right, come with me. They're about to discuss military affairs with you."
The main hall of the prince's residence had long been converted into a central command tent. Sand tables, maps, and everything else were in place.
Prince Cao Huan, Prince Cao Yan, former Minister of War Ming Qingfeng, former Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Changsun Xusheng, and other officials aligned with Prince Cao Huan were all gathered there.
"The Northern Liang Army has moved," Changsun Xusheng said, holding intelligence as he hurried into the hall. "One month ago, Chen Sanshi led 150,000 troops to array themselves at Qilin Mountain. Acting as the vanguard, he began attacking Chunqiu Prefecture!"
"Good. He's finally moved," Minister of War Ming Qingfeng said halfway, then suddenly realized something. "150,000 troops. All of them attacking Chunqiu Prefecture?"
A more reasonable tactic
Would be to leave 30,000 to 40,000 troops to block the plank road outside Qilin Mountain, then split forces to attack Yunzhou. After driving out the Qing troops in Yunzhou, they could circle south to the eastern side of Chunqiu Prefecture and advance steadily.
This approach was slow and steady. It wouldn't bring miracles, but it should still be much faster than stubbornly attacking Chunqiu Prefecture head-on.
"What?" Prince Cao Huan walked to the sand table. "General Chen's arrangement—could it be that he cannot successfully enter the passes?"
"To break through Chunqiu Prefecture would take at least more than 2 years," Ming Qingfeng said. "During that time, there's a strong chance of being ambushed by Qing troops. Total annihilation is even possible. And what we lack most right now is time."
Time.
Time stood on the side of the capital, Chang'an.
Prince Cao Huan and the others held a fake abdication edict, claiming rightful succession and Heaven's mandate. That was why more and more people came to join them. But all of this only worked because Emperor Longqing had not shown himself, leaving governance in the hands of the Prince of Qin and the Yan faction.
Once Emperor Longqing emerged from seclusion, all the rumors they had spread would collapse on their own. Worse still, they might have to face the emperor's personal campaign. After reaching Foundation Establishment, and with the boost of powerful treasures, no one in the Eastern Divine Continent would be able to escape his grasp.
"General Fang!"
When Ming Qingfeng saw the green-robed scholar arrive, he hurried over and asked, "You understand General Chen the best. Help us take a look—what exactly is his intent with this move? Is there anything we can do to assist?"
Times had changed.
There were no eternal enemies.
In the current situation, Northern Liang was their only ally.
Fang Qingyun stared at the sand table. After a long silence, he gave his answer.
"He's gambling with his life."
"So even General Fang doesn't have much confidence?"
Prince Cao Huan felt deeply uneasy.
"Mobilize 40,000 troops and gather them along our Jade Land Prefecture border," Fang Qingyun said calmly. "If anything happens to Northern Liang, head north immediately and try to provide support."
Ming Qingfeng and the others carried out the order at once.
Prince Cao Huan grew even more unsettled. After arranging the military matters, he went behind a screen and found Prince Cao Zhi eating hotpot.
"Twelfth Brother, how can you still have the mood to eat and drink?" he said. "Last time you mentioned inviting a high-realm immortal master. Have you managed to bring them over?"
"Still waiting for word," Cao Zhi replied while eating. "Getting them isn't the problem. The problem is how to let a high-realm cultivator enter our Eastern Divine Continent while enduring the sealing suppression. We can only wait. They might not arrive in time."
"So in the end, we still have to rely on General Chen."
Prince Cao Huan looked deeply worried.
If Northern Liang fell, they too would be pushed into an extremely difficult position.
Chunqiu Prefecture.
Since the brief clash with the Northern Liang Army, 60 days had already passed.
During this time,
The Northern Liang Army had only stationed itself at Qilin Mountain and had not attacked again.
Transporting troops, equipment, and supplies for over 100,000 soldiers across the narrow plank road truly took a long time. But normally, 70 days should have been more than enough. No one knew why they still had not attacked the city.
Prince of Zhen'nan Cao Rong stood with his hands behind his back. Hearing footsteps approach from behind, he asked without turning his head, "What's the situation?"
"Reporting to Your Highness," the scout said with a clenched fist. "The Northern Liang Army is still camped in the same place. The plank road is still continuously transporting troops and supplies."
"Still not finished?"
Cao Rong frowned.
"How about…" Ling Yun, who had been wasting away here day and night, grew anxious. "Give me a unit. Let me go test them?"
"Absolutely not!"
Daoist Xuan admonished him. "This man is extremely cunning. He's very likely deliberately staying motionless, using over 100,000 troops to set an ambush in advance, just waiting for us to leave the city and die. Since they want to drag things out, there's no harm in dragging it out with them.
"First, time is on our side.
"Second, it also gives me more time to make formation flags."
Prince Cao Rong fell silent.
He knew time was on his side.
But the more that was the case, the stranger it felt. Chen Sanshi would never be foolish enough to wait here to die. What exactly was he planning?
"Someone come," Cao Rong ordered. "Gather intelligence again. Include the movements of Yan Prefecture, Liangzhou, Youzhou, Yunzhou, and the Qing Kingdom's armies. I want to know what everyone is doing."
In the blink of an eye, another 7 days passed.
Qilin Mountain remained deathly silent.
Until a shout shattered the calm.
"Your Highness!"
"Yunzhou! The Northern Liang Army is in Yunzhou!"
"30 days ago, over 100,000 Northern Liang troops were already fighting Eastern Qing in Yunzhou!"
"Nonsense!"
Li He rebuked sharply. "Isn't the Northern Liang Army right in front of us? How could they suddenly be in Yunzhou?"
"Exactly," Ling Yun said in disbelief. "We even fought Chen Sanshi not long ago."
"Li He!"
Cao Rong had no choice but to order, "You lead a few cultivators and approach the enemy camp by air. On the condition that you survive, you must find out the truth!"
"This should've been done long ago!"
Li He immediately left with 2 cultivators.
Only 0.5 hour later,
He returned with barely restrained fury. "Bad news. It's empty. The Northern Liang camp is empty—there isn't a single person left. Not only is the camp empty, they even destroyed the Qilin Mountain plank road themselves.
"They…
"They really did mobilize the entire army to attack Yunzhou!"
Upon hearing this,
Everyone's pupils shrank violently.
If
The front was empty,
Then what exactly had they been standing guard against all this time?
But Chen Sanshi had clearly appeared before.
Scouts had also seen supplies being transported on the plank road day and night!
"It was a feint."
Cao Rong suddenly realized. "He never intended to forcefully attack Chunqiu Prefecture. Everything before was meant to deceive us. The real target was Yunzhou."
He had long felt something was off. As expected, there was a trick hidden inside!
"You mortals spend all day scheming against each other," Li He said coldly. In over 70 years of cultivation, he had never seen so many twists and turns.
"Still not right."
Daoist Xuan took out the map.
As a formation master, he had a natural talent for military formations and strategy. Coupled with his past reading of military texts, he could clearly see the overall situation.
Pointing at Yunzhou, he said, "Even if the one surnamed Chen goes to Yunzhou, and even if he drives out the Qing troops there in a short time, he still won't get past us in the end. As long as Chunqiu Prefecture stands, their supply line for marching south will always be a major problem. It's like a blade constantly hanging behind their back.
"Unless…
"Chen Sanshi's march south into the Central Plains is a feint, and taking the entire northern border is the real goal?
"After taking the whole northern border, he recruits troops, builds strength, and recuperates?"
"Heh."
Li He sneered after hearing the analysis. "So you're saying he wants to compete with your emperor in cultivation speed?"
He had read this man's records and naturally knew that the White Robe's cultivation speed was terrifyingly fast.
In just 5 to 6 short years, he had gone from a hunter to an Early Stage True Force martial artist. Such martial talent—placed in any martial sect or clan in the cultivation world—would absolutely receive top-tier resources and careful nurturing.
But this struggle over the ancestral vein was not that simple!
If things dragged on,
That kid would only have one ending—death.
"Brother Cao," Ling Yun asked, "what should we do next?"
"Report—"
Cao Rong was still deep in thought.
Another soldier rushed in.
He presented a sealed letter with both hands. "A letter from Lord Mu Fengchun in the capital. He urges Your Highness to take this seriously!"
"Him?"
Cao Rong took the letter.
Poison Strategist Mu Fengchun was famous across the land for using schemes that were 'poisonous' and 'ruthless.'
Many of the victories Sun Xiangzong had achieved in the past could not be separated from this man's involvement. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, the two later went their separate ways and stopped contacting each other.
If one had to name the top military strategist in today's Great Sheng court,
Mu Fengchun deserved the title without question.
Cao Rong opened the letter.
The contents were simple—only 4 characters.
"Beware the supply route!"
Hongdu Prefecture.
This city was sturdy but not large. It lay across the main road linking the Central Plains to the northern border and served as a transfer hub for troops and provisions. One could say it directly controlled the life and death of Chunqiu Prefecture.
Yet its location was extremely safe. On all sides were major imperial passes and steep mountain ranges. The only direction that might face a Northern Liang threat was due north, and even there Chunqiu Prefecture acted as a shield. It could truly be said to be worry-free.
Because of this,
Only 1 Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator and 1 Middle Stage Qi Refining cultivator—both unaffiliated—were stationed here.
They were biological brothers.
The elder was named Xu Fu.
The younger was named Xu Shou.
Of the two brothers, the elder was at Late Stage Qi Refining but had mediocre aptitude and no hope of Foundation Establishment.
The younger was only 23 years old and already at Middle Stage Qi Refining. His aptitude was good, but he lacked resources.
That was why the elder had taken the risk of accepting a Shengyun Sect bounty mission and come to the Eastern Divine Continent to participate in this war—to secure cultivation resources for his younger brother.
If one day his brother succeeded in Foundation Establishment,
The Xu family might be able to lease a low-grade spirit vein on Heavenly Water Isle and establish a cultivation family of their own. They would no longer have to live the rootless, nerve-wracking life of rogue cultivators.
"Xu Shou!"
The elder brother Xu Fu came up onto the city wall. Seeing his younger brother yawning while sitting on the battlements, he said, "You shouldn't have come. You didn't sign a blood contract. If you leave now, it's still not too late."
Ever since the Guandu incident,
The cultivation level requirements for bounty missions had increased significantly. Especially for rogue cultivators, they were basically only hiring Late Stage Qi Refining and above. Moreover, since the Mang Mountain ancestral vein had already been secured, the rewards were far inferior to before.
His younger brother Xu Shou had run out on his own.
He would receive no reward at all.
"It's too late," Xu Shou said. "There's a Shengyun Sect supervision team near the teleportation array. Before the ancestral vein struggle ends, no one can leave without sect approval. Brother, what are you nervous about? We've been stuck in this lousy place for months. Other than a poisonous wasteland mountain nearby, there isn't even a ghost around. What danger could there be?"
"That's true," Xu Fu admitted.
Before coming, he had thought it would be a deadly mission with little chance of survival. Instead, he had been assigned such an easy task—just guarding supplies. Actual fighting had nothing to do with him.
And the city he was responsible for had an extremely favorable position. Chunqiu Prefecture blocked the front, allies were everywhere in the rear, and even the skies were guarded by cultivators. It was protected layer upon layer. An enemy attack was practically impossible.
At this rate, all he had to do was stay here a few more months, then return to claim the bounty reward. It was effortless.
Thinking this way,
Xu Fu sat down beside his brother, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly, "I know you came because you were worried and wanted to help. Let it go this time. But don't do this again in the future. Our Xu family is counting on you to take root and grow on Heavenly Water Isle."
As the two spoke,
Under the brilliant sunset filled with glowing clouds, a cultivator hurried over, his expression serious. "Has anything unusual happened here recently?"
"So it's Daoist Zhao," Xu Fu stood up and clasped his fists. "Everything is normal. The next batch of supplies should arrive in about 1 month. It definitely won't delay Chunqiu Prefecture's provisions."
Hearing this, the arriving cultivator relaxed a little, but still said solemnly, "Chunqiu Prefecture received word that someone might attack the supply route, so they specifically sent me to check.
"You can rest assured," Xu Fu said, patting his chest. "Every day I take time to patrol from the air. I have a clear grasp of everything within 100 li. I've absolutely seen no sign of enemy forces."
"Mhm."
The cultivator surnamed Zhao nodded slightly.
On his way here, he had also deliberately checked. For several thousand li in every direction, it was all Right Army territory. In theory, it was impossible for enemy troops to appear here. He had no idea why that prince of the Cao family was so nervous. It was probably excessive caution.
He reminded them, "Within 30 days, Chunqiu Prefecture will deploy 40,000 troops to reinforce the city's defenses. In short, act carefully. Since there's nothing unusual, I'll head back to report."
With that,
The cultivator prepared to leave.
But at that very moment,
Xu Shou, who had been sitting on the battlements, suddenly stood up. Narrowing his eyes toward the eastern wasteland mountains, he said in a daze, "Look. Are there people in Yinping Mountain?"
"How is that possible," Xu Fu said at once. "I specifically surveyed that mountain. It's filled with miasma. Not to mention mortals—even cultivators like us would be affected if we stayed too long. Most importantly, the terrain is rugged and hard to traverse. Or rather, there's basically no path at all. There's no way an army could pass through."
"Brother!"
Xu Shou said firmly, "Look again carefully. There really are people!"
Xu Fu and the cultivator surnamed Zhao both turned serious. Only then did they focus their gaze to the east.
Yinping Mountain.
This mountain was a terminal branch of the Luotian Mountain Range. The peaks rose and fell, cliffs were steep, and not a blade of grass could grow. Pitch-black trees stood densely packed like ghostly silhouettes, as if they were the spectral guards of this dead land. Dark green miasma drifted through the mountains, coiling like serpents around every rock and tree trunk. It was thick as ink, blocking out all outside light.
Beneath this sky-covering miasma, vague black shadows could be seen moving back and forth. They looked like mountain demons or ghostly apparitions, or like a surging tide of beasts. Their forms overlapped and blurred, making it impossible to tell their number, or even whether they were human or ghost. All that could be seen was that "they" were rushing straight toward the mountain exit.
Only when the first wave of shadows burst out of the cloud-like miasma did the people on Hongdu Prefecture's walls finally see clearly.
They were soldiers dressed in red robes.
They wore no armor and rode no warhorses.
In a daze, it seemed someone among them gave an order.
"Clang—"
And so,
Under the setting sun,
Within the mountain forest,
The sound of swords being drawn rang out again and again.
The people on Hongdu Prefecture's walls suddenly realized.
This was an army.
An army that had abruptly emerged from the mountains.
Like divine soldiers descending from the heavens!!!
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!"
Xu Fu's voice boomed like a great bell, echoing throughout all of Hongdu Prefecture and jolting the drowsy defenders awake.
There were only 5,000 troops in the city, and all of them were completely unprepared. It was dinner time. Most of them were gathered in the barracks, holding bowls and waiting for millet porridge. The sudden sound of assembly horns and war drums sent terror through their hearts.
At the foot of Yinping Mountain.
Chen Sanshi was the first to step out of the forest and onto the flat muddy ground.
Behind him, the brothers of the Hongze Battalion all let out long breaths.
"Damn it, we finally made it out!"
"80 days!"
"We drilled through that damned forest for a full 80 days!"
"Lived like wild men for 80 days!"
After finally seeing daylight again, Zhuang Yi, Zhu Tong, and the others were visibly excited.
If the people of Hongdu Prefecture could observe up close, they would realize that these so-called "divine soldiers" were actually in miserable condition.
Day and night trekking through the mountains, their battle robes were torn beyond recognition and covered in dead leaves and wood chips. Every one of them was disheveled, filthy, and ragged, looking just like beggars—beggars who happened to each be holding a long sword.
Only the white-robed figure at the very front, protected by True Force, was completely untouched by dust or grime.
"Hongze Battalion!"
"Charge—"
"Kill—"
With a single order,
7,000 Hongze Battalion soldiers roared as one and charged straight at the city, lightly equipped and dressed in plain clothes.
Chen Sanshi summoned the White Swan horse from his storage bag and surged forward at the lead. In just a few breaths, he closed to less than 1 li from the city wall. A golden great bow suddenly appeared in his hands, aimed upward at the wall as he slowly drew the bowstring.
"It's Chen Sanshi!"
In the air,
That cultivator surnamed Zhao had seen portraits of the White Robe before. Upon recognizing him, his face drained of color in shock. He never imagined that this man was neither at Qilin Mountain nor on the main battlefield in Yunzhou, but had instead led several thousand men across mountains to this place.
"Hum—"
The bowstring sang.
A Vermilion Bird bathed in flame burst forth, beating its wings as it arrived in an instant. Almost immediately, it engulfed the cultivator surnamed Zhao and burned him to ashes.
The Golden Bow and Silver Arrow were drawn again.
This time,
Fire-element True Force fused with the silver bullet and transformed into a Black Tortoise, its target being Xu Fu on the city wall.
"Run!"
Xu Fu's eyes split open in fury. A golden flying blade quietly appeared in his hand as he roared and charged forward. Yet it was like paper before fire. The instant it made contact, the flying blade lost control, and under the Black Tortoise's suppression, Xu Fu's body shattered and collapsed into a puddle of flesh.
"Brother!!!"
Everything happened too suddenly.
Xu Shou could not accept it. It felt like a nightmare.
Before he could react further, Chen Sanshi had already flown onto the city wall. Silver light flashed as he thrust his spear straight through Xu Shou's heart, lifted his corpse high, and then burned it from the inside out with blazing fire-element True Force until it became a charred body.
With 3 guarding cultivators dead,
How could the remaining ordinary soldiers resist?
Very quickly, the Hongze Battalion soldiers stormed into the city. Half the defenders died, half fled. Hongdu Prefecture fell almost effortlessly, without a single casualty on their side.
After entering the city, Chen Sanshi immediately led his men into the barracks to don brand-new armor, re-equip weapons, and select warhorses from the stables.
Hongdu Prefecture was originally a transfer hub. Supplies were complete in variety. Though quantities were not large, they were sufficient for the 7,000 men of the Hongze Battalion.
Moreover, the court and Northern Liang had once been one family. Even the armor and standard-issue weapons were identical. There was no need to adapt—everything could be used immediately. They took over the city's defenses at top speed and firmly secured control of Hongdu Prefecture.
At the same time, however, there was one piece of bad news—exactly as expected.
Food was insufficient.
The garrison in Hongdu Prefecture was small to begin with, and as a transfer point, it did not store large amounts of grain.
"Commander,"
After counting supplies, Feng Yong came to report. "The provisions will only last 80 days."
"We have no food. Neither do they,"
Chen Sanshi said, gazing toward the direction of Chunqiu Prefecture. "After 80 days, we starve together."
The grand plan was complete!
Now,
They only needed to hold.
Once Xu Wencai marched south and arrived, they could annihilate Chunqiu Prefecture's 200,000 troops in one stroke.
While arranging military affairs, Chen Sanshi also ordered his men to leave the city and uproot spiritual grain from the surrounding fields.
Inside and outside the city, the common people were initially thrown into panic upon hearing that the city had suddenly been captured by enemy forces. Fearing a massacre to vent anger, some hid in cellars, others hid their grain.
But very soon,
They realized something was off.
Because once the warhorses entered the fields, they neither looted grain nor burned, killed, or slaughtered. Instead, they uprooted the spiritual grain from the fields. The poisonous plants that had plagued the people for many years were completely wiped out in just half a day.
"What—what is going on here?!"
In the villages, many people began asking around.
"Didn't they say rebel troops attacked and took the prefectural city?"
"What rebels? That's the King of Northern Liang!"
"Which King of Northern Liang?"
Someone who was "well-informed" explained.
"Who else could it be? White-Robed Chen Sanshi!"
"You still don't know? The real rebels are in the capital, Chang'an!"
"Prince Jin is the legitimate court. The King of Northern Liang rose in response to Prince Jin to 'purge the treacherous ministers'!"
"Is that true?"
"Nonsense—look, the 'poison grass' in the fields has all been cleared out. How could the King of Northern Liang be a bad person?"
"I've heard it too. Liangzhou stopped planting poison grass long ago. Next year everyone will finally be able to eat their fill!"
"They've gathered all the poison grass in the prefectural city. The Northern Liang army says they're going to burn it!"
"Should we go take a look?"
"Let's go!"
After entering the city, the Northern Liang army not only refrained from harming the people in the slightest, but their actions of clearing poisonous plants from the fields spread rapidly. One person told ten, ten told a hundred, and soon everyone in Hongdu Prefecture knew.
At dawn the next day, more and more people gathered toward the north city gate to see if it was true.
Under the rising sun, bundles upon bundles of spiritual grain were piled outside the city gate like mountains. People kept bringing more, until all the poisonous plants from inside and outside the city were gathered there. Torches then fell from the sky, igniting this "mountain of poison" and turning it into a blazing inferno.
"Good!"
"They burned it—really burned it!"
"Fellow villagers!"
A white-robed figure appeared on the city wall. He spoke slowly. His voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly in everyone's ears.
"From this day onward!
"Wherever my Northern Liang iron cavalry passes, there will never again be a single stalk of spiritual grain in the fields. Under the heavens, there will also never again be allowed a single immortal!"
"Heaven has eyes—Heaven truly has eyes!"
When the people heard this,
Not a single one failed to feel stirred to the core.
From now on, Hongdu Prefecture would no longer have to plant spiritual grain!
Compared to those immortals who forced them to hand over spiritual grain, the Northern Liang army were the true heavenly soldiers!
"Everyone, listen to me finish,"
Chen Sanshi gestured for calm and continued.
"Next, fighting will soon break out!
"Fellow villagers have two choices.
"First, take your families and property and go seek refuge with relatives in other cities. My Northern Liang army will absolutely not block you, nor will we force you to stay and help defend the city.
"Second, those living outside the city who fear being caught up in the flames of war may move into the military camps inside the city. As long as my Northern Liang army has even one person left alive, no one will be allowed to harm a single hair on your heads. But there is one condition—do not leave a single grain of food outside the city for the enemy!
"Time is short. Two days from now, the city gates will be sealed shut. Please make your decisions quickly."
Hearing this,
Most of the people living in the surrounding villages outside the city immediately returned home to pack up. They brought what little grain they had left into the city. A small number truly did have relatives in neighboring prefectures or counties, so they led their families away from this war-torn land, spreading along the way the good news of "welcoming Northern Liang and refusing to provide grain."
Two days later,
The city gates closed on schedule.
The atmosphere in Hongdu Prefecture grew heavy and oppressive.
Chunqiu Prefecture.
After receiving a letter from the court, Prince of Zhen'nan Cao Rong fell into deep anxiety.
Beware the supply route!
It was obvious.
Minister of War Mu Fengchun was warning him to ensure the safety of Hongdu Prefecture.
But Hongdu Prefecture was clearly behind them, and the main force of the Northern Liang army was attacking Yunzhou. In theory, nothing should have gone wrong. Still, out of caution, Cao Rong immediately sent cultivators flying on swords to warn them and also dispatched additional troops to reinforce the city's defenses.
Unfortunately…
It was already too late!
Because he saw several disheveled soldiers riding fast horses, galloping in from the direction of Hongdu Prefecture!
"Boom!"
Cao Rong leapt straight down from the city wall. With a thunderous crash, he landed on the ground, blocking the messengers. His voice trembled as he demanded, "Speak!"
"Your Highness!"
One of the soldiers immediately tumbled off his horse. Struggling to his feet, his face pale with terror, he said, "Hongdu Prefecture—Hongdu Prefecture is gone!"
"Absurd!"
Li He sensed the disturbance and flew over on his sword. He scolded them harshly. "Hongdu Prefecture is behind us! There are even patrols in the skies above Chunqiu Prefecture day and night. How could anyone possibly bypass us and appear in Hongdu Prefecture?!"
"Seven days ago!"
The soldier spoke incoherently. "From the mountains! They came out from the mountains!"
"And Chen Sanshi!"
"Chen Sanshi personally led them!"
"Chen Sanshi isn't in Yunzhou!"
"In the mountains?!"
Hearing this, Cao Rong felt as if enlightenment struck him like a thunderbolt.
Yinping Mountain!
Openly repairing the plank roads, secretly crossing Yinping!
That Chen repairing the plank roads was a feint. Attacking Yunzhou was also a feint. His true goal was to slip through Yinping while no one was watching, cross the mountains, and directly circle to the rear of Chunqiu Prefecture—cutting off their supply route!
As long as Hongdu was firmly held and they waited for the Northern Liang main force to march south from Yunzhou, Chunqiu Prefecture's 200,000 troops would not even have a chance to escape!
"What?!"
When Ling Yun and the other three noticed the disturbance, they rushed over as well. After hearing the news, they were all shocked.
"Hongdu Prefecture has fallen?! What are we supposed to do now?!"
"Why don't we withdraw?"
Daoist Dao Xuan said worriedly.
"If we really wait until the Northern Liang main force comes from Yunzhou to encircle us, our army won't even have a retreat route left. If we pull back now, we can preserve our strength and set up defenses at the several passes behind Hongdu Prefecture."
"No!"
Prince of Zhen'nan Cao Rong suddenly realized something.
There was still a key issue here.
Yinping Mountain was treacherous and difficult to traverse, and it was shrouded in poisonous miasma.
Even if Chen Sanshi could get through, his supplies and provisions could not possibly keep up.
Thinking of this, Cao Rong calmed himself and asked coldly,
"How many men do they have?"
"More than six thousand, around seven thousand!"
The soldier replied in panic.
"Do they have baggage trains?"
"They came straight out of the deep mountains. No baggage at all. Even their battle robes are torn to shreds."
"Just seven thousand men, and they dare to hold Hongdu?!"
Prince of Zhen'nan Cao Rong's eyes filled with bloodshot fury.
"Pass down the order. The entire army leaves the city and marches to Hongdu Prefecture!"
"The entire army?"
"The entire army! Two hundred thousand troops!"
Hongdu Prefecture — outside the city tower
Chen Sanshi held a pill in his hand that looked like a tiny star.
Taiqing Pill!
It was already a second-tier pill, and an extremely rare treasure on the market, specially refined for True Force martial artists.
He swallowed it in one gulp. The pill instantly turned into flowing light and drilled into his body. He could clearly feel heat rising from his abdomen, changing from warmth to scorching, then to searing pain, as if a ball of fire was burning inside him.
This was the first time since taking "immortal pills" that Chen Sanshi had felt such obvious pain.
But after years of martial training, this level of pain was nothing. He quickly adapted, lifted the Dragon Gall Bright Silver Spear, and began circulating the Fire-Element Breathing Method. With spiritual energy surging and his special spear techniques, he continuously tempered his body.
Unlike the pills he had taken before, the medicinal power of the Taiqing Pill did not disperse into his limbs and bones. Instead, it was as if it had life of its own. It chose the shortest path through his meridians and slammed straight into his heart.
Boom!
The heart, suddenly burdened with massive medicinal force, began to pound violently. Even sentries several zhang away could hear it, like war drums or thunder. The temperature kept rising, as if it might ignite at any moment.
At the same time,
The long-slumbering shrine within his heart was stimulated into awakening. Blood-red light burst forth through the white robe, as if a blazing crimson sun were hidden beneath Chen Sanshi's chest.
Heart Deity!
Name: Huan Yangchang, Courtesy Name: Daoming, nine inches tall, clad in red!
Cultivation Method: Dragon Scripture (Early True Force)
Progress: 188/500
Middle Eight Scenic Deities: three opened.
The medicinal power of this second-tier pill was indeed terrifying.
Chen Sanshi estimated it would shorten his cultivation time by at least one-third.
And,
With every Scenic Deity opened, his strength increased another step.
Before, facing the combined assault of four people had been extremely difficult.
But now, that might not be the case.
If he opened one or two more Scenic Deities, it might not be impossible to slaughter all four of them together!
"Commander!"
"Enemy forces!"
Feng Yong climbed onto the city wall and reported urgently.
"Scouts up ahead report that the two hundred thousand troops from Chunqiu Prefecture have poured out in full force and have already set up camp fifty li away!"
Not long after the report arrived,
The entire city began to tremble. Thunderous war drums boomed across the land.
Like mountain floods and ocean tides, the Central Plains army appeared at the edge of the horizon and rapidly closed in.
Unlike the lightly equipped Northern Liang army,
The Central Plains troops were fully supplied, with baggage trains and siege equipment complete.
Rows of siege towers looked like moving mountains. Behind them were dense ladders, not to mention battering rams and covered assault carts.
"Soldiers of the Hongze Battalion!"
Chen Sanshi stepped onto the city wall and raised his arm, shouting loudly.
"Do not panic!
"We are not fighting alone!
"Our brothers of the Northern Liang army are also fighting for their lives in Yunzhou!
"Before long!
"They will charge all the way to Hongdu Prefecture!
"When that happens, the enemy's two hundred thousand troops will be wiped out in the blink of an eye!
"Our Hongze Battalion! Our Northern Liang army! We have never lost a battle!
"Not in the past!
"Not now!
"Grip your weapons!
"Follow me—kill the enemy!"
Light flashed from the storage ring.
A set of pitch-black, ancient armor instantly clad Chen Sanshi, covering the white robe beneath. On the ferocious mask, only a pair of sharp, ruthless eyes were visible.
"Fire Element!!!"
Boom!
Flames erupted violently from the eyes beneath the mask, instantly engulfing his entire body. In his hands, the Dragon Gall Bright Silver Spear transformed into a fire dragon, coiling around him.
"Kill the enemy—"
The great battle erupted at once.