Following the activation of the Great Xia National Protection Grand Array, the war entered a new phase of stalemate.

What lay ahead was an inevitable, all-encompassing war, spreading across the vast territories of the Great Xia, characterized by confrontations between the forces of Qi and Xia around each vital node of the Grand Array.

At this juncture, few on the entire Qi-Xia battlefield possessed the foresight to anticipate this turning point.

Chong Xuan Sheng was one such individual.

The “opportunity” he spoke of lay precisely here!

No sooner had the flag bearer delivering the commander’s military orders departed than he selected his direction, leading the Victory Camp directly towards Linwu Prefecture. Occupying a position within the Autumn Kill Army’s multi-pronged ten-thousand-strong assault on the prefectures was no difficult feat for Chong Xuan Sheng. If even this were beyond Chong Xuan Chu Liang’s willingness to grant, it would signify not a fair competition between Chong Xuan Sheng and Chong Xuan Zun, but a deliberate effort to suppress him in favor of Chong Xuan Zun.

The general commanding the Autumn Kill Army’s ten thousand men, left with only seven thousand troops, harbored no dissatisfaction. Had Chong Xuan Chu Liang not forbidden it, he would have gladly ceded even more to Chong Xuan Sheng!

In short, with a fluttering banner proclaiming “Victory in Sight,” Chong Xuan Sheng marched without pause.

From the western suburbs of Linzi to Tongyang City, every place was his stage. He had been suppressed for too long, waited for too long.

In this sprawling, all-out war of invasion, Chong Xuan Zun, leading the vanguard camp, naturally also possessed considerable freedom of movement, and indeed, this was his time to unleash the army’s might. In terms of sheer military force, Chong Xuan Zun’s bravery was renowned across the three armies, and in terms of strategy, he was by no means lacking.

But Chong Xuan Sheng had already resolved—

To seize victory at this very stage, turning the tide of disadvantage!

He intended to teach Chong Xuan Zun a thorough lesson, to show that fellow that battle was not solely won by brawn!

As Si Jiao stood by the city wall of Tongyang City, the dukes and ministers gathered, and none spoke.

Within the luminous radiance of the National Protection Grand Array, only the revived Nine Streams of Fiery Dragons still roared, as if truly possessing sentience, venting the pain of their initial defeat.

With a casual press, he silenced them.

Purple Extreme Conquest Dragon!

Si Jiao sighed inwardly, almost involuntarily.

One could not fault the civil and military officials of Great Xia for their desperation.

Under the circumstances of Sword Front Mountain’s sudden fall and Fengjie Prefecture’s change of allegiance within three days, they had still managed to establish the Nine Dragons Fiery Array in a timely manner and, centered upon it, construct this northeast defense line intended to resist the enemy beyond Xiangyou Prefecture.

The price had been countless souls within the Ministry of Works who had toiled to death! Several array masters from the Tu family, clearly already spent, had not hesitated to sacrifice their very blood to complete their assigned tasks…

Long Jiao, moreover, had led the Town Country Army in a fierce cavalry charge, clashing head-on with the Qi Country’s Chasing Wind Army!

More than half of his army perished, yet the remnants did not collapse, and he successfully brought them back to Tongyang City.

Although the Chasing Wind Army still held the advantage, and though the Town Country Army had suffered tragic losses and casualties.

This battle at least served to demonstrate—the Xia Army could contend with the Qi Army, and even engage in field battles!

The Qi people were not immune to death in war, nor were they invincible.

But this defense line had still been breached…

It was not long after the Town Country Army had entered the city.

Si Jiao found it difficult to imagine the mood of those officers and soldiers.

To penetrate the “journey,” with national power traversing ten thousand li, striking from the Eastern Domain to the Southern Domain – such an unfathomable maneuver could only be executed by a country that occupied the position of an overlord.

He, too, was secretly alarmed!

Fifty thousand valiant Xia Army officers and soldiers had perished in battle; could this truly shore up the defense line in the hearts of the Xia Country people?

Si Jiao himself was uncertain!

Even having made ample preparations, put forth sufficient effort, people could only ever determine their own fate; the most difficult thing in the world to measure was the human heart…

But this surge of emotion, which for a moment could not be contained and seemed to connect with heaven and earth, was abruptly shattered by his own actions.

He stood atop the city wall, gazing afar at the hundred thousand Qi Army dividing and flowing in an orderly manner, sensing Cao Quan’s mastery of command.

Still majestic and calm.

He turned, looking back within Tongyang City, below the tall city tower, at the Town Country remnants, still mounted, still armored, still gripping their blades, their battle standards stained like blood.

These warriors still awaited orders, ready to face the next charge.

“Officers and soldiers, this battle was fought exceptionally well, demonstrating the blood and valor of our Great Xia soldiers!” Si Jiao’s voice boomed, “Let the Qi thieves know, our Xia Country people possess the will to defend our nation, the heart to protect our land!”

With the dignity of a Martial King, he bowed deeply to these soldiers.

For the vast majority of Xia Country people, Martial King Si Jiao was an almost godlike existence. Faced with the Martial King’s profound salute, few of the soldiers present did not feel a sense of alarm,

But without Long Jiao’s command, none moved a muscle.

At this moment, clad in their military uniforms, their will was solely dictated by the war banners. They stood mounted, gripping their blades, awaiting only the issuance of orders. To charge, or to die.

Si Jiao answered himself within his heart.

Answering that earlier uncertain question.

With such officers and soldiers, with such a populace, how could Xia Country not be defended, how could it not be possible to save the state and nation once more?

Si Jiao straightened his body, continuing, “No more empty words. All those in this battle will have their battle merits counted double. Those who died in battle will be richly compensated, and families with orphans and widows will be raised by the nation. The Ministry of Revenue must keep meticulous records, missing not a single person. After the war, if there are any insufficiencies, this king will empty his own household to make up the difference! If even emptying the household is insufficient, this king will conquer in the outer realms, fight to the death behind the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, pledging ten years, a hundred years to repay it all! General Long, please relay this order, so that our Great Xia officers and soldiers have no worries for the future!”

Long Jiao, seated upon his warhorse, merely removed his helmet, resting it upon his chest, and bowed his head in acknowledgment.

Such a large Tongyang City, the city tower above was silent, and the city tower below was also silent.

Only the wind rustled the battle banners!

“In this battle, the Qi Country’s most elite Chasing Wind Army suffered tens of thousands of dead and wounded; this is your merit. History will remember you, Xia Country will remember you… And this is only the beginning!”

Si Jiao raised his voice high, “The enemy and we are all flesh and blood; all will be wounded, all will die! Every officer and soldier of the Qi Country, every Dao Yuan Stone, must traverse ten thousand li to reach here. But we, the land beneath our feet is our territory, stepping out our door is the battlefield, behind us is our hometown. Billions of subjects against their hundred thousand strong army, what suspense is there! Even shouldering and carrying, even biting with teeth and tearing with claws, officers and soldiers, we shall certainly drive away the Qi thieves and restore Fengjie!”

“Drive away the Qi thieves, restore Fengjie!!!”

The officers and soldiers roared excitedly!

This roar spread throughout the city, stirring up wave after wave of sound.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Inside the city, within the Divine Martial Army’s barracks, war drums were also beaten, a magnificent display for a time.

“Officers and soldiers!” Si Jiao reached out and pressed down, smoothing the surging tide, saying, “Go and rest. The National Protection Grand Array is already activated and will not be closed. Tongyang City is as solid as gold, everyone can sleep peacefully!”

Only then did Long Jiao turn his horse and lead his army back to their camps.

Si Jiao watched the Town Country Army troops depart into the distance, then turned back to the civil and military officials on the city gate tower, saying, “Since the National Protection Grand Array is open, it will not be closed. Great Xia has encouraged cultivation and governance for thirty-two years, our national treasury is abundant, and Yuan Stones are plentiful. Yet we do not know how long the Qi thieves, having traveled far and wide, can sustain this hundred-thousand-strong army!”

Xi Meng Fu stood in a corner away from the crowd, gazing into the distance at the Qi Army, exceptionally silent.

In a great war, once the National Protection Grand Array is fully activated, there is no longer any reason to casually close it.

Especially now that the Qi Army was launching a comprehensive invasion, sending troops along multiple routes, Xia Country had even less qualification to close the National Protection Grand Array.

Of course, “not closed” and “cannot be closed” are indeed nuances that substantially affect morale.

Although those present were all high-level figures in Xia Country, shrewd individuals, the Martial King still paid great attention to his words… Why such attention to these details?

The King of Min on the city tower had not spoken the entire time.

The Martial King continued to speak, likely discussing the next deployment, which prefectures needed key defense, which roles within the Qi Army required focused attention…

As he listened, Xi Meng Fu’s gaze drifted farther and farther…

Outside Tongyang City, the Qi Army’s camp had already been formally erected.

Short walls, deer antlers, arrow towers, great crossbows… Military array disks, one by one, supported temporary grand array defenses.

Military tents stretched out, resembling another city on the Jiangyin Plain.

Of course, this temporarily erected military camp, no matter how grand its scale appeared, could not compare in defense to Tongyang City.

But the Qi Army fundamentally did not fear field battles; instead, they hoped the Xia Army would sortie from the city to raid the camp.

Night had already fallen, huge bright lamps hung, illuminating the area as if it were daylight.

The frozen Lianjiang’s East Bank was also camped.

The Autumn Kill Army, which had breached Sword Front Mountain, and the Chasing Wind Army, which had just concluded a tragic battle, were all on the East Bank of the Lianjiang, guarding the frozen river alongside the Spring Death Army.

The battlefield had been cleared.

Cartload after cartload of Qi Army corpses were transported back to the East Bank.

Identities were confirmed one by one by military records, and merits recorded—those truly unrecognizable due to being a blur of flesh and blood were identified by cross-referencing missing officers and soldiers from each team; even this could provide recognition.

At this moment, a large expanse of open ground on the East Bank of the Lianjiang had been cleared.

Everything collected from the battlefield, all the Qi Army corpses, were piled up here.

When attacking Sword Front Mountain, it was not as if there had been no deaths. The three days it took to make the entire Fengjie Prefecture change banners also cost the lives of not a few comrades.

But not as many had died as today.

Tens of thousands of corpses piled together—what kind of scene was that?

It was simply a silent mountain!

It was a mountain of flesh and blood, yet it could also be a mountain of mud and stone.

They were the Great Qi Empire’s great swords and long spears, and they were also the Great Qi Empire’s high walls and thick shields. Why was this empire able to achieve such greatness, to possess such glory? It was because they had dedicated themselves.

They had used their own flesh and blood to pave a thick foundation, upon which ten thousand zhang tall buildings could then rise from the ground.

Li Zhengyan stood fully armored, behind him a crowd of main generals, vice generals, and capital commanders of the Chasing Wind Army…

Including Li Fengyao, including Li Longchuan, all with solemn expressions.

The surviving officers and soldiers of the Chasing Wind Army silently encircled the area outside this pile of corpses, many times over.

The crowd opened a path.

Accompanied by Yan Ping, Cao Quan, clad in armor, arrived.

That path slowly closed once more.

The commander of the three armies leading this campaign against Xia walked with firm steps, yet very slowly.

He walked to Li Zhengyan’s side, stopped, and bowed deeply towards this mountain of Qi Army officers and soldiers. Representing the will of the entire army headquarters for the campaign against Xia, he pledged not to forget the sacrifice of these officers and soldiers.

The time had come…

Li Zhengyan raised his palm, pushing it forward gently, as if in farewell.

Fierce flames ignited on the mountain of corpses, and he turned his head away, looking towards the distant sky.

This man, who had remained expressionless during the cavalry charge and was the first soldier to enter the battlefield, could not bear to look at this moment.

Tens of thousands of people were burning.

What was burning were their corpses. What was lit up was the night sky of a foreign land.

All were people who had conquered for their country, all were people who had striven for the families behind them.

Their bone ash would be brought back to their hometowns, providing a point of remembrance for those who had lost their loved ones.

The fierce fire blazed.

Li Fengyao, always cold as an ice mountain, this time opened her mouth and began to sing a war song.

Scattered bloodstains could not diminish her beauty; the firelight reflected her stunning face, blossoming like a frost flower in this place of buried comrades.

Her voice, cold as frost, floated beneath the night sky.

The sorrow that even ice and frost could not freeze was so deeply moving.

Including Cao Quan, including Yan Ping, including Li Zhengyan, who strained to look at the night sky, including all the Chasing Wind Army officers and soldiers present, all involuntarily opened their mouths…

With tens of thousands, with hundreds of thousands, the soldiers sang together—

“Alas!
Great man goes east, no need to return!
If the vast sea wants to bury me, then bury me.
Today I go forth to war,
Tomorrow I am buried bone,
How, how, again how?
Where in this world can only heroes sing long?
I was born, cannot see my old father sad!
I die after, hope my hometown sheds empty tears!
Horse leather wrapped corpse, not a good death.
White hair knows it has already become yesterday.
How, how, again how?
Where in this world can only heroes sing long?”

Their voices were majestic, their voices were sorrowful.

The song floated across the East Bank of the Lianjiang, and soon, within the Autumn Kill Army’s camp, the sound of a war song also arose.

“Today I go forth to war,
Tomorrow I am buried bone,
How, how, again how?
Where in this world can only heroes sing long?”

The song floated over the Lianjiang, then echoed throughout the vast Jiangyin Plain.

On such a night.

The Great Qi war song surrounded Tongyang City.

On the city tower of Tongyang City, the remaining people had all dispersed.

After the National Protection Grand Array was activated, there were too many things that needed to be handled. The transport of Yuan Stones, the stationing of defenses in each area…

Youping, Yuxi, Linwu, Fengli, everywhere needed people…

Even within Tongyang City itself, strong armies and fierce generals were indispensable for defense. The morale of the officers and soldiers had to be soothed and comforted, and the city defenses still needed to be continuously repaired and constructed…

Only Liu Xiyi and Xi Mengfu remained here, one holding the Prime Minister’s seal, the other holding the National Teacher’s order, thus being at the key locations of the National Protection Grand Array… Unable to leave.

Only in this massive city tower, which was clearly already extremely empty, one stood on the north side and one stood on the south side, creating a natural divide.

The two had long held a deep-seated animosity, having had numerous major arguments.

The last time they discussed matters in court was simply more intense than usual…

Last year, Xi Mengfu led a team to the Yellow River meeting and was immediately scolded by Liu Xiyi upon his return, who claimed he lacked guidance and damaged national prestige. This angered Xi Mengfu, who on the spot declared that next time Liu Xiyi should attend the meeting, and then they would see what guided merit this old man possessed!

A hazy, clear light halo surrounded his hand; Liu Xiyi suddenly snorted from his nostril, “To you.”

Covering the entire city with a sound isolation array also consumed no small amount of resources.

Xi Mengfu did not speak, only extended his hand in the same manner, taking over the sound isolation array.

He also wondered how long the Qi Army’s war song would continue.

Liu Xiyi sat down ungracefully, leaning against the north wall corner and squinting for a while.

But this old man, who could even snore and sleep during the defense of Guiyi City that year, was unable to sleep tonight.

He glanced at Xi Mengfu, then suddenly said, “Hey!”

Xi Mengfu, expressionless, turned his head to look at him.

This Prime Minister, who often rolled up his sleeves and fought with people in court, said with a stern face, “You apologize to this old man, and then our matters will end.”

Xi Meng Fu looked at him quietly for a moment, then spat out a single word—

“Scram!”

Liu Xiyi jumped up at once, cursing, “You little bastard, how dare you speak to this old man like that!? Showing no respect! When this old man was wearing blue and purple robes, you were still playing in the mud!”

Xi Meng Fu, however, completely ignored him, only looking outside Tongyang City, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

Liu Xiyi, after cursing for a while, also looked outside, murmuring, “What are they doing?”

Xi Meng Fu let out a long sigh, the depression in the air lingering for a long time, “They are… burying corpses.”

The Qi Army outside Tongyang City was burying the corpses of the Xia Army officers and soldiers.

Allowing them to return to the earth for peace…

If the dead could find eternal peace, how could the living purchase courage?