**Unlocking the Gates of Xia: A Tale of Tenacity and Treachery**

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The realm of Xia, a formidable adversary indeed. Though Cao Ji’s million-strong army swept eastward, from Sword Edge Mountain all the way to Tong Yang City, their advance was swift and decisive, resembling a bamboo stalk snapping cleanly. Yet, this merely attested to the Qi army’s might and Cao Ji’s military brilliance, not to Xia’s being a mere bone to be gnawed upon.

Be it the Marquis Jing An of Great Xia, Hua Hong Zhao, who met his end upon Sword Edge Mountain, or the myriad cavalry of the Chase Wind Army who bravely confronted the Town State Army on Jiang Yin Plain – all bore testament to the tenacity of the Xia populace.

And with the activation of the Great Array of Protector Country, as Cao Ji chose to unleash the flames of war upon every inch of Xia’s soil, the Qi army finally felt the unwavering resistance of this realm. The two great armies, one in You Ping Prefecture and the other in Lin Wu Prefecture, though pressing forward with resolute determination, had to expend tremendous effort for every inch of ground gained. The scenario of cities surrendering at the mere sight of the wind, as seen in Feng Jie Prefecture, was a rarity now. No longer was it a matter of an inch of mud for an inch of blood.

Yet, during the campaign at Sword Edge Mountain, Chong Xuan Sheng had not spoken of Xia’s difficulty. Nor had he when the cavalry clashed outside Tong Yang City. Even as he traversed Lin Wu Prefecture, witnessing the fierce resistance of its cities, he remained silent on the matter. It was a seemingly insignificant Liu Family Village, untouched by any extraordinary martial force, that finally elicited a sigh from him.

“Remember how we attacked the realm of Yang?” Chong Xuan Sheng mused. “In Rizhao County, a few leaders were slain, the routed soldiers scattered, and the army collapsed instantly.” He paused, then continued, “The people of Xia will not behave in such a manner. So long as they are not abandoned by the higher echelons of Xia, as Feng Jie Prefecture was, they will not easily yield… Today, I understand more deeply the ferocity of Yan Xiang’s strategy of annihilation.”

Annihilation of the text, destruction of the law, decay of ruler and minister, and the rise of self-interest… The collapse of the Yang realm was indeed a natural consequence. But the realm of Xia today was different. Xia’s glory still resided deep within the hearts of its people.

After departing Liu Family Village, Jiang Wang, who had been lost in thought, finally spoke. “This is a realm with a strong will, and it possesses a truly great populace… I have witnessed their unwavering determination to protect their homeland.”

He had once planted a banner in the realm of Yang, safeguarding a region and sparing Qing Yang Town from turmoil. He had personally witnessed the corruption of Yang officials and seen the festering sores that plagued that realm. The Qi army, having swallowed Yang and governed it for two years, had gained the hearts of the populace, who now perceived them as the king’s army, the so-called ‘punishers of the unjust’.

But what of Xia today? Within its borders, he saw its greatest strength. It compelled him, a general of Qi with a military rank and bound by the realm’s laws and military regulations, to inevitably reflect upon himself.

Had he lost his way?

Chong Xuan Sheng cast a profound gaze upon Jiang Wang, acknowledging the weight of this question. Such confusion had plagued many since ancient times, and Jiang Wang was not alone in his battlefield-induced uncertainty regarding his Dao. War was a brutal affair, the battlefield an environment that tested human nature to its limits.

A poem spoke of crows pecking at human entrails, carrying them aloft to hang upon withered branches. Soldiers smeared with grass, generals rendered meaningless. It declared war a fierce weapon, one that sages would only employ as a last resort. Had not the famed leader of the Yellow River in the Jing realm, once hailed as the figure who would lead Jing’s prodigies to a century of supremacy, questioned his own Dao after witnessing the most brutal aspects of war during a foreign conquest, leading to the collapse of his Dao heart and rendering him a废人 (wasted person)? To display his might and awe all sides, the Jing commander in that war had chosen to construct a monument of skulls, slaughtering a great city, killing until rivers ran red and plateau flooded with blood…

Having pondered these matters extensively in an instant, Chong Xuan Sheng slowly began to speak. “Xia naturally has millions upon millions of people who protect their realm. I do not deny this; I have witnessed it myself. But behind us, within the realm of Qi, there are even more people, numbering in the hundreds of millions. Their interests must be upheld, their support acknowledged, and their glory embodied. They seek to be well-fed, warmly clad, and to live with dignity. A self-imposed isolation cannot guarantee these things. The competition among realms is inherently a matter of advancing or retreating.”

“From a historical perspective, when Emperor Xia Xiang led his army eastward to establish Xia’s hegemony, had Qi lost that war, it would have ceased to exist. After that conflict, Xia, during the Shen Wu era, never forgot its eastward expansion. Who can evade the century-long, millennium-long enmity between our realms? Last year, Xia colluded with the Realm of Equality, stirring up internal discord, first assassinating the monarch and then weeping before the shrine. Was that an act of benevolence? Had we not responded appropriately then, our realm might have fallen into turmoil.”

“From the perspective of the world’s grand trend, should we one day contend with the Jing realm, Xia will undoubtedly be the first to charge forth. Xia to Qi is like Sheng to Mu – a festering wound, both serving as blades in the hand of Jing. Jing wields its blade to drive the world, heroes gaze upon the six directions. If these blades are not broken, Jing’s hegemony will endure forever. If this blade is not severed, once Qi weakens, it will surely be pierced through the abdomen!”

“From my personal perspective, I am a person of Qi, born into a prominent family within Qi. I seek to achieve merit for Qi, and this is only natural. I aspire to the position of family head, and I require sufficient merit from this war. For both public and private reasons, how can I avoid this conflict?”

“From the perspective of friendship, you lead the army with me, enduring hardship, to help me earn merit. Just as you have always done. This is the deepest bond between us.”

“And from your own perspective. You, Jiang Wang, have received titles and positions from Qi, enjoying its emoluments. You are a person of Qi! Qi has shielded you from hardship, Qi has bravely stood against Jing for you, Qi has brought the Prime Minister of the Zhuang realm to Jade Capital Mountain to suffer the lash for you… When Qi is at war, you cannot refrain from fighting.”

“Now, I shall speak of grander matters.”

“Unifying the world and seizing control of the tide of human Dao. For the emperors of the various realms, this is a path to transcending the peak, one they cannot evade. Which heroic lord of the world would willingly relinquish it? Before that day arrives, war is unavoidable. If the world returns to unity sooner, its people will suffer the chaos of war for one less day. What do you think?”

“I shall reiterate!”

“In the current world, the Sea Race resides in the east, the Abyss of Yu in the west, the Demon Race in the north, and the Fallen Immortal Forest in the south. Following the Myriad Demon Gate incident, the demon army is relentless. To thoroughly eliminate external threats and ensure the perpetual peace of the human race, it is essential to first consolidate the strength of all humanity. This is a merit spanning a thousand autumns, an honor lasting ten thousand years. This great unification exists for the sake of great righteousness! Under this great righteousness of the human race for ten thousand years, minor benevolence and petty righteousness need not be mentioned.”

Having spoken thus far, Chong Xuan Sheng spread his hands wide. “You see, I have given you so many reasons. Regarding the necessity of this war, and the necessity of your and my participation. I could provide even more reasons, but I believe you already understand… So why do you now feel confused?”

Jiang Wang remained silent. He had many words he wished to speak, but he knew not how. Chong Xuan Sheng’s words offered some answers, but not all.

Chong Xuan Sheng spoke again. “During the time in Yang, you were far more decisive than you are now. Was it because the Yang court was utterly corrupt and beyond salvation, or because the hearts of the people there leaned towards Qi… And is the realm of Xia now united, military and civilian? But even Yang had loyal ministers and good generals like Ji Cheng. To speak brutally, had it not been for the suppression by our Great Qi, Yang Jian De could have become a wise monarch, governing the realm exceptionally well, and Ji Cheng could have achieved Divine Arrival, protecting the realm and its people for another hundred years…”

These words were like knives, scraping open Jiang Wang’s silence and forcing him to examine himself.

“Perhaps it is my Dao path,” Jiang Wang admitted. “It is my cultivation.” He sighed. “Faith, sincerity, benevolence, and martial virtue. I bind myself with these four virtues, and I constantly question myself, asking if I am worthy. Jiang Wang, do you have faith? Are you sincere? Are you benevolent? Do you possess martial virtue?”

The Dao path, the Dao path. The closer one approached, the more confused one became. The further one walked, the greater the ignorance that arose. The more one gained awareness, the more one realized their own ignorance! Those who had not yet reached the Dao path experienced no such confusion, for they were inherently unable to walk this far!

At this moment, Chong Xuan Sheng instead laughed. He laughed and asked, “Who are you?”

The young man walking beside him, who had traveled ten thousand li from Tai Xu Illusion Realm to Qi based on an agreement there and had now grown to his current state, answered with his inherent tone, “Jiang Wang.”

Chong Xuan Sheng shook his head and said, “You are a core figure in the Victory Camp of Great Qi’s attacking army against Xia. You are Qing Yang Zi of Great Qi, a third-rank Golden Melon Warrior, a fourth-rank Blue Card Capturer… Jiang Wang.”

“War is the most cruel and dangerous of things. On the battlefield, your identity is your greatest self, and your victory is your sole pursuit. Benevolence in war means not engaging in meaningless slaughter, achieving the greatest victory with the fewest casualties. Martial virtue on the battlefield lies in helping your comrades and protecting the people behind you. You are a hero on our side; you must slay the heroes on the enemy’s side. This is the heroism of the battlefield.”

Chong Xuan Sheng concluded, “I do not understand your Dao path. As for my own Dao path, I am still observing it. With your talent and sentiment, in terms of cultivation, I truly have no suggestions to offer you. But I believe your Dao path is using a cage to bind the road, not the cage itself!”

These words were truly like a flash of lightning across the sky, instantly piercing the fog in Jiang Wang’s mind. Within his four seas of the human body, the fog of ignorance that had grown thicker and thicker after his Dao path became clear was instantly washed away!

My Dao path is using a cage to bind the road, not the cage itself. The demon cage was cast to allow me to grasp and avoid straying onto the wrong path. But if I transform this cage into the Dao path itself, measuring every word and action by the strictest standards, how is that not another kind of ‘wrong path’? Though binding myself with the four virtues seems like a righteous path, how is it not another ‘wrong path’?

Chong Xuan Sheng today was truly a mentor in a single word!

Enlightenment in an instant granted Jiang Wang a clearer understanding of his Dao path. He couldn’t help but exclaim, “The Master said, ‘I examine my body three times daily’… It is indeed like this!”

The Victory Camp arrived at Xi Ming City at dusk, a time when people were drowsy. Arriving too early or too late would actually increase vigilance. Within the normal hours of a day, this period was the most easily overlooked. The control of marching speed also demonstrated a mastery of timing. Like Cao Ji, like Li Zheng Yan, and like Chong Xuan Sheng now. Of course, the difficulty of commanding their armies was incomparable.

The setting sun dipped in the distant sky, Xi Ming City stood silently, its city gates tightly shut. The northern part of Lin Wu Prefecture was already in chaos, and though the flames of war had not yet reached here, a solemn atmosphere had already spread. The city guard army stood on the city tower, clad in armor and wielding spears, carrying knives and drawing bows. Crossbow carts were lined up, their arrows gleaming menacingly towards the outside of the city. The faint flow of the city protection great array was also visible, clearly activated and ready to be unleashed at any moment.

With the Great Array of Protector Country of Great Xia operating at full efficiency, how many times had the defense capability of Xi Ming City’s city protection great array increased compared to the past? Once activated, it could withstand tens of thousands of troops without a problem. However, with the Qi army still far away, Xi Ming City was reluctant to consume the power of the Great Array of Protector Country prematurely, considering long-term defense. This was also a transportation hub, with friendly forces often passing through. Opening and closing the array would simply waste its lifespan. Maintaining an activated state, combining decision and order seals, allowed for immediate activation, ensuring no delay.

The approach of a three-thousand-strong army naturally caused vigilance among the guard army. “Halt, comers! What side’s soldiers? Do you possess credentials?” a soldier who seemed to be a team leader shouted loudly.

Chong Xuan Sheng waved his hand, halting the army at a safe distance. He then walked a few steps forward alone, raised his head, and asked, “Why are the city gates closed at this hour? Has Lin Wu Prefecture already fallen?”

Jiang Wang, having cultivated the Mindful Ear, possessed heightened sensitivity, surpassing his previous abilities. He clearly heard a stern voice from behind the city wall: “Tell him not to waste words, answer what is asked, otherwise shoot him dead.” He thought to himself, the incident at Sword Edge Mountain where Hua Fang Yu’s array was breached without even being activated has taught the Xia generals a profound lesson; these individuals are now extremely vigilant… Even though Xi Ming City had not yet been affected by the war, and even though Chong Xuan Sheng’s flag and accent were flawless, the other side showed no hint of relaxation. They wouldn’t even show their faces, only conveying messages through this team leader.

He heard the shouting team leader indeed raise his voice: “Answer what you are asked! Move any closer, and the great crossbows will fire!”

And Chong Xuan Sheng’s face suddenly contorted, and he began to curse vehemently. “Damn your mother! This old man didn’t eat good food or tend to his beautiful concubines, and worked his ass off to bring people to support Lin Wu, and you turtle eggs are acting up? Is this your attitude?” He cursed and walked forward, his momentum fierce. “Who in the hell are you! Get your ass down here!”

The shouting team leader was stunned by the cursing and dared not retort. At this moment, a hand pushed him aside, and the expressionless face of the Xi Ming City guard general appeared behind the city wall. Faced with Chong Xuan Sheng’s stream of vulgarities, he simply raised a hand.

*Bang! Bang!* Several great crossbows on the city tower were already strung!

The guard general said coldly, “The court has already issued military orders to all prefectures, calling for martial law in all cities and full-scale resistance against the invaders. Better to kill the wrong person than to let anyone through! Today, even if the old man of the Heavenly King comes, without credentials, if you dare take another step forward, I will shoot him into a hedgehog! Don’t believe me, try it!”

“Damn your mother! What the hell are you, daring to threaten me here?! When this old man was bathing in blood on the battlefield, you were still drinking milk!” Chong Xuan Sheng stomped his feet and cursed loudly. But his feet were rooted to the ground, not moving forward a single step. He perfectly demonstrated what it meant to be fierce in appearance but weak in reality. He was still two hundred steps away from the city wall at this time.

At this moment, Qing Zhuan once again rushed out of the formation, urgently approaching, and tightly pulling him. “General! Military orders are important, you mustn’t be impatient!” As he spoke, his accent was also genuinely from Shao Kang Prefecture, with a slight northern bias. Chong Xuan Sheng had clearly prepared for this attack on Xia for a long time, not just for a day or two.

Pulled in this manner, the fat general from Shao Kang Prefecture cursed even more vigorously, spewing out Shao Kang Prefecture slang like “old mother upside down onion” and other vulgarities… Of course, his mouth was already digging up people’s ancestral graves, but his feet remained rooted to the spot.

The Xi Ming City guard general’s posture on the city tower remained unchanged, but his tone was significantly softer. “This brother, you needn’t curse here. It is my duty, and I dare not be lax. Please understand. You appear to be a reasonable person, and you all wish to enter the city to rest. Don’t I need to verify your identities?”

Chong Xuan Sheng continued to curse and swear, saying things like his army had never seen anyone who didn’t recognize this old man, the descending tiger, and that this was some nameless junior. Qing Zhuan, however, interjected repeatedly. “Yes, yes, yes, we have flag orders, seals, and documents. What do you wish to check?”

“Just send up the flag, order, seal, and documents!” said the guard general on Xi Ming City. As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a basket was lowered from the city tower. He was truly cautious to the extreme, unwilling to let anyone in first.

Qing Zhuan beckoned without hesitation. “Send everything over!”

Jiang Wang, dressed as a minor officer, walked forward, carrying a stack of flag orders, seals, and documents. As he walked, he estimated the distance between both sides and couldn’t help but praise in his heart, this city guard is a good general! Truly airtight. These flag orders, seals, and documents definitely couldn’t be faked… Although Chong Xuan Sheng had prepared for a long time for today, the flags and orders were authentic. However, the seals and documents were impossible to forge perfectly. Because once the war began, military-related seals and documents would all be newly initiated. The top figures in the various war zones would also add their own private seals—who could have foreseen everything before the war? For example, army movements, entry and exit passes for cities, all needed to match. To truly match them precisely, unless they were genuine personnel!

However, neither Chong Xuan Sheng nor Qing Zhuan showed any hint of nervousness. From the perspective of the Xi Ming City guard general, the minor officer holding the seals was walking very slowly from a great distance, seemingly afraid and trying to appear harmless. Perhaps it was a slight misunderstanding; this young man had just been scolded and was naturally nervous. The Xi Ming City guard general intended to ease the tension somewhat. After all, they were all clad in the robes of Great Xia, and their bones were connected. Now was precisely the time to join hands against the external enemy.

Thus, he said to the extremely foul-mouthed fat man in a half-joking, half-warning tone, “It is not my intention to make things difficult for you, brother. It is my duty, and I must check. Please forgive me! My humble name is Jiang Chang Yong. After we repel the Qi thieves, I will personally set out wine to apologize! May I know your esteemed name, brother?”

While easing the situation, he did not forget to continue probing. Chong Xuan Sheng assumed the air of “this old man is famous, why haven’t you boy bowed down?” and snorted. “Jiang Sheng!”

Jiang Chang Yong subtly remarked, “Perhaps there are not many people surnamed Jiang in our realm of Xia.”

“Perhaps not! Us old Jiangs are also famous figures in Shao Kang Prefecture, with brothers and friends all over the military prefectures!” Chong Xuan Sheng’s anger seemed unquenched, and he said in a gruff voice, “Li Chun Yang of Feng Li Prefecture, do you know him? He’s also my little brother! He just fought his way here!”

Jiang Chang Yong had naturally never heard of this so-called “famous figure,” but a branch of the Feng Li Prefecture army had indeed arrived here earlier for supplies, and their leader was indeed named Li Chun Yang—that one seemed much more honest. He immediately laughed heartily, “Brother Jiang, please don’t blame me. I didn’t know before, but now I do!”

“It’s not necessary to know me,” Chong Xuan Sheng snorted coldly. “Do you know that you people of Lin Wu Prefecture are something else! You don’t even see your own robes and armor as your own, defending against them like thieves! Your Lin Wu Prefecture army is truly interesting! You have a Liu Family Village here. You must know it, right? It should be your own territory, your own people?” He turned back and beckoned. “Da Yong, Da Yong! Didn’t you say you admired the military lord of Xi Ming City the most? Come over, quickly come and meet him. This is the general you admire who wants to shoot us into a hedgehog!”

Liu Da Yong excitedly ran closer to the front. Hearing the latter half of the sentence, his legs also softened, and he slowed down. Jiang Chang Yong, however, did not get angry. Instead, he became interested and approached, beckoning to Liu Da Yong. “Come closer and speak! Are you from Liu Family Village near the gate? Do you know Liu Yong Qi?”

Liu Da Yong hesitated and looked back at Chong Xuan Sheng. In his heart, this fat general was much more亲切 (intimate, friendly).

Chong Xuan Sheng pushed him forward. “Go, go, go, just go when I tell you to, what are you afraid of! Will they really shoot you?”

Liu Da Yong gathered his courage and walked forward, saying loudly as he went, “That’s a big figure from my grandfather’s generation, the head of the ten-li, eight-village area! I heard he went to the imperial city to be a big official!”

Jiang Chang Yong smiled inwardly. What kind of big official was Liu Yong Qi? But this simple young man undoubtedly evoked a sense of hometown feeling in him. At this time, the minor officer of this Shao Kang Prefecture army branch had already placed the credentials into the basket. And the fat general who had pushed Liu Da Yong forward had also walked to a dangerous distance.

Although he already believed the identities of these people in his heart, rules were rules. King Wu’s old man had repeatedly warned that the army’s rules were always paramount. He said in a half-joking, half-warning tone, “Brother! You cannot walk any further—”

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a terrifying suction force! That power enveloped his entire body, surging out in an instant, pulling him directly towards the city tower! He immediately circulated his Dao Yuan and infused his Qi and blood, not focusing on self-defense, but attempting to hold the order to open the city protection great array—

But a sword light surged into the sky, already sweeping across his neck! That… minor officer! With the last thought of regret in his life, Jiang Chang Yong fell from the city tower.

And following him was Jiang Wang’s figure, flying like a flood dragon. He casually took Jiang Chang Yong’s city defense order, leaped onto the city tower, and his sword unleashed millions of snowflakes, an infinite, endless bright white sword energy that instantly cleared the guard soldiers on the city tower! With a flip and a leap, he had already landed in the city gate tunnel. A powerful pressure instantly descended.

“Lay down your arms and live!”

With a precise sword thrust, the city gate was opened! The crisp sound of drawn knives. The Victory Camp soldiers, who had been accumulating their strength and waiting, drew their knives from their sheaths. Their soldier evil surged, like arrows leaving the string, they rushed into Xi Ming City!

Liu Da Yong stared at all of this in a daze, feeling the world was incredibly absurd. In front of him was the already opened city gate of Xi Ming City, and the swiftly, orderly charging “Shao Kang Prefecture army” like a pack of wolves. The majestic Xi Ming City guard general was at this moment a corpse lying face down on the ground. The basket containing the order flag, seal, and other items awaiting verification was still swaying on the outer city wall.

*Zhi ya, zhi ya.* It emitted such a lonely sound.

Beside him was that very, very fat general. The very, very fat general pulled him towards the city. He only said to him—

“War is just like this.”

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