In the 3921st year of the Dao Calendar, on the fourth day of the first month, Beigong Nantu, the Grand Priest of the Divine Mian Ministry of the State of Mu, fell in battle amidst a sea of a million soldiers.
The people of Xia rejoiced, while the people of Qi were shocked.
All under heaven trembled!
According to the Great Qi Daily Records, on that day, the Qi Emperor was reviewing memorials when he heard the news of the battle. His “face was as usual, and he still inquired whether there was fish for the noon meal.” Casually dipping his brush in ink, he wrote a letter by hand and ordered it sent to the front line.
The letter contained only eight characters:
“Vassal Xia matter, you all self decide.”
Here, the Emperor also played a small linguistic game. Because “All” is Cao All’s name, the latter half of the sentence could mean, “You entirely, all of you, decide for yourselves.” Or, it could be a very intimate address, “You, my dear Cao All, you decide for yourself.”
These eight short characters fully displayed the monarch’s heart and perfectly expressed his composure!
The scribe of the Daily Records attached a note that read: Great matters under heaven are no more than ordinary matters. To grasp heaven and earth without intending auspiciousness or inauspiciousness, this truly is the heart of a holy emperor!
When Cao All on the front line received the Emperor’s handwritten edict, his reaction was equally calm. There was neither the generosity of a “scholar willing to die for a trusted master” nor the tragedy of “I should risk my life for the Emperor to pacify Xia.” He merely, on a tranquil afternoon, issued an order to the three Nine Ranks commanders:
“The weather is good today. Put a little more pressure on Tongyang City.”
Cao All seemed unhurried, his tone exceedingly calm. He appeared to possess sufficient patience to face this war.
But the garrison of Tongyang City had to show, after great sorrow and great joy, whether they still possessed their original tenacity.
And at this time, the entire war in Vassal Xia was still operating under its own inertia.
The northern line fought fiercely, while the eastern line continued to attack cities and seize territory.
Huyang Pass, stretching between the two prefectures of Linwu and Huiming, stood firm as a rock. The defenders vowed to fight to the death and refused to surrender. The Qi army attacked vigorously without success and also surrounded but did not attack, scattering their main forces to sweep other easier-to-break places.
The protective city great array of Wuyang City was extinguished, and the flags just erected in Huiming Prefecture were cut down again.
Fan Ao had also already abandoned Tianfeng Ranch, fleeing everywhere.
The border army of Jin’an Prefecture was not weak in fighting strength. They locked down the border, deterring the Liang soldiers to the south and resisting the Qi army coming from Fengli and Huiming prefectures to the north. For a time, they actually became a fortress in themselves.
It was also during this period that Chong Xuan Sheng’s messenger galloped to Linwu.
And the two generals, “victory in sight,” were also leading their horses towards Shaokang.
The Xia side drawing a large amount of high-level fighting strength to the eastern line could of course not be hidden from Xie Huaian.
On one hand, he quickly reported to Cao All, reminding the northern line to pay more attention. On the other hand, he also suspected that Zhou Ying was deliberately mystifying things, playing some trick. After obtaining Chong Xuan Sheng’s transmission letter, he mobilized his army in a more aggressive manner and quickly verified the truth. Thus, he launched an attack and, at the first opportunity, cut off the battlefield, surrounding Fu’an City with his soldiers!
To better restrain the Qi army on the eastern line, the Fengguo Duke of Great Xia, Zhou Ying, was personally guarding this city.
This was also the last large city within the entire Linwu Prefecture still in the hands of the people of Xia.
The attack and defense unfolding around Fu’an City could almost be seen as the final story of the entire eastern line battlefield. But because the eastern line had already been completely abandoned by the high-level of Xia Country, this last lingering sound thus appeared not so important.
Whether it was generous or desolate.
When Fengli was already fully occupied, Linwu had only an isolated city remaining, Huiming was shaky, and Jin’an was in fierce battle, there was such a cavalry army galloping in the southern part of Xia Country.
They did not enter cities they encountered, and the entire way was almost without obstruction.
Baojia Road is an official road that passes through Shaokang Prefecture, Huaiqing Prefecture, and Sang Prefecture. It is also the most famous merchant road in southern Xia Country.
Chong Xuan Sheng’s choice to go to Guiyi via this road had quite the sense of a great army wanting to pay respects to the imperial city.
The entire marching process emphasized one character: “fast.”
So fast that the eastern line defense network of the Xia army, which had already lost key nodes, could not react at all. So fast that the Xia army along the way still did not understand what was happening, and the sound of hooves was already like thunder, rolling up dust and moving on.
Truth be told, the millions of Xia Country army and people on the entire eastern line fundamentally did not know that they had already been abandoned. Of course, it was also difficult to imagine that a mere army of several thousand people actually dared to march their soldiers directly towards Guiyi. That they could, surrounded by city passes and layers of garrisons, drive straight into the capital!
The predecessor of Desheng Camp was a world-class elite troop, and the current status of Desheng Camp is that it is completely equipped with military equipment.
For this army, the vast land of Xia now spread out in front of them was almost undefended.
Several times, similar-sized Xia armies that were not mobilized in time were absolutely unable to block this branch army.
More importantly, except for the few who accompanied Zhou Ying to feign resistance and create the illusion of a desperate fight, there were no Shen Lin level strong ones left on the entire eastern line…
So in this once-in-a-thousand-years gap, Desheng Camp, like an arrow released from the string, pierced the void and broke through the clouds, continuously advancing, advancing, advancing, almost without hindrance!
They assaulted for two days and two nights, without leaving the saddle, without stopping their hooves. They plundered over Shaokang Prefecture, passed through Huaiqing Prefecture, and the sound of their horse hooves already resounded across the land of Sang Prefecture.
This prosperous prefecture, which provided over half of Xia Country’s silk products, once again faced the knives and swords of the Qi people after thirty-three years.
The so-called “silk wipes the edge, blood dyes the brocade” is a pain branded in the history books of Xia Country that has never disappeared, and it is even more the eternal sorrow of Sang Prefecture.
But truth be told, when Xia Country initially invaded the Eastern Domain and struck Qi Country’s young men, who did not hesitate to mutilate themselves to escape the Xia Country military front, it was no more than a story before a national war happened.
In some sense, the essence of war is no more than the re-distribution of resources. And the cruel process in the middle is often ignored by the chess players.
Of course, the victor owns everything, and the loser loses everything. This is also the true face of war.
By now, every person in Desheng Camp could not suppress their excitement.
Under the lead of General Chong Xuan Sheng and General Jiang Wang, they had actually truly done it!
With a single isolated army of three thousand people, they had penetrated the vast inland of Xia Country, traversing thousands of li, their military front pointed directly at the Xia Capital!
Past Sang Prefecture… was Guiyi.
The glory and wealth of three thousand people were already within reach.
The glory, enough to be recorded in the history books, was close at hand.
Who could be indifferent?
“Brother Wang, ah, Brother Wang! When you go back, you should find a wife!” Chong Xuan Sheng galloped on his horse, laughing loudly.
Although these words were to liven the atmosphere and encourage the subordinate soldiers, allowing the army to always maintain a good state, his laughter after was truly light and unrestrained.
This time, breaking out from the battle group in Huiming Prefecture and leading the army straight towards the Xia Capital, the movement of the soldiers was like a divine hand. This decision seemed extremely dangerous, but in his judgment, it was actually ninety percent certain to succeed.
The biggest risk of this action lay in whether the strategic judgment of the high-level of Xia Country was accurate. But as they led the army to this point, the process of going all the way without surprise or danger itself already verified his judgment.
As long as there was one extra Shen Lin level strong one, the people of Xia Country would absolutely not fail to grasp the movements of this branch of the Qi army, and even more so, they would not stand by and watch such a three-thousand-strong cavalry army insert itself towards the Xia Capital!
Precise judgment of the situation was the premise for the success of this action.
And the second danger lay in the final step of this action.
As a country’s capital, the guard forces of Guiyi City were absolutely not weak. At least several contemporary True Persons would exist, and there would be no shortage of elite soldiers and strong generals.
If they, with these three thousand soldiers, ran over with their small arms and small legs, ran to the outside of the city and planted a flag, it would be very easy to be completely wiped out.
But in Chong Xuan Sheng’s judgment, this kind of danger still had a very high probability of being avoided.
Their march this time abandoned the soldiers from Xinrong Camp, Zhenwu Camp, and other various parts. They only brought the three thousand most elite soldiers of Desheng Camp, seeking one character: “fast.”
So fast that the various cities along the way could not react at all. So fast that the side of Guiyi City was still unable to figure out the situation.
So fast that many high-level forces on the eastern line of Xia Country might still be on their way to the northern line, and they had already inserted themselves here!
Chong Xuan Sheng’s move was inspired solely by seeing Zhou Xiong in the Minxi Corridor.
After a great battle ended, and without even finishing sweeping the battlefield, he had already led his army to set off. How decisive was that?
So they galloped all the way, rushing to the front of Guiyi City, inserting their flag with fierce momentum and leaving. Would the strong ones inside Guiyi City truly dare to abandon the city defense and rush out to chase and kill?
Aren’t they afraid it’s a scheme to lure the enemy?
As long as one is a little rational, they must observe for a while before speaking. Especially within Xia Country’s strategic plan at this time, Guiyi City should have already made good preparations to resist Qi as an isolated city. Since it is an isolated city, how dare they act rashly?
By the time they investigated the virtual and real, Desheng Camp would have already escaped far away!
Chong Xuan Sheng’s bravery was absolutely not suicidal, but after deep thought and maturation, he moved forward with extremely great certainty.
Jiang Wang glanced at him sideways. Even if it was a wind-stepping demon horse, carrying this fat general was quite strenuous.
“General Chong Xuan is so worried about the brothers! After this war ends, the important matters of these three thousand brothers’ lives will all be handed over to you! If you dare to shirk even one family, Jiang’s fist will not agree!”
Having slaughtered on the battlefield for so many days, the friendship built up through shared life and death was extraordinary.
At this moment, some soldiers laughed: “Duke Jiang, what if they are already married? Isn’t that missing a good thing?!”
“Yes, ah, that won’t do, that won’t do!” A group of people followed, making noise.
“Easy to handle!” Jiang Wang said: “Convert it into present money and give the married brothers a supplementary betrothal gift!”
“What is this big matter? Hand it all over to me!” Chong Xuan Sheng said with a smile: “Instead, Brother Wang, you will at least be promoted to Earl when you go back. With such a large family, how can there be no principal wife?”
This group, whose eyes lit up at the sight of money, quickly turned their spears again, helping Chong Xuan Sheng make noise. The team was noisy, and it was delightful!
Merit and fame are seized on horseback, glory and wealth are taken at the point of a knife.
They hung their bows and held their knives, traveling ten thousand li. In addition to for their home and country, wasn’t it just to earn a good future?
Now everything was in front of them.
Truly inspiring!
Voices heard in the Immortal State cannot always be open, but in a battlefield environment, constantly collecting intelligence with the five senses is already a habit.
Thus, Jiang Wang was the first, amidst the sounds of the brothers’ laughter, to hear distant sharp sounds.
He looked up into the distance and saw, in the northeast direction of Sang Prefecture, a huge knife mark sweeping through the void, cutting open ten thousand zhang of flowing clouds!
Jiang Wang suddenly pulled the reins!
He recognized it.
That was…
The Sun, Moon, and Star Three Wheels Cut False Knife!
Not long ago, the heaven’s pride of Qi Country who attacked and broke the Great Xia Imperial Tomb, Chong Xuan Zun, who served as the vanguard of Vassal Xia! How could he be here?
As the flag bearer of Desheng Camp, Jiang Wang’s action instantly caused the entire army to follow.
The entire Desheng Camp, three thousand people, neatly and uniformly pulled the reins, their war horses raising their hooves and neighing!
“What happened?” Chong Xuan Sheng asked, already following Jiang Wang’s line of sight…
He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes!
Jiang Wang’s Qianyang Red Pupils could see even more—
A white-clothed figure crossed the long empty space, his posture completely lacking the previous ease. He was clearly fleeing for his life.
And behind that white-clothed figure was a huge red bat beast. Its fleshy wings spread horizontally, and its speed was extremely fast, just pursuing relentlessly.
The bat beast’s blood energy was surging, completely not inferior to the strange beasts Jiang Wang had seen in the mountain and sea realm. It was absolutely a proper Shen Lin level fighting strength. And on top of the bat beast stood a red-robed figure. With a casual move, countless blue, cold fire lines penetrated the long empty space, just frantically blocking Chong Xuan Zun’s path.
Jiang Wang’s battle experience was so rich that he saw at a glance that Chong Xuan Zun’s situation was very bad.
Looking at the direction Chong Xuan Zun was fleeing at this moment, it was towards Daye Prefecture. But combined with his shocking actions before, he should have just escaped from Daye Prefecture not long ago!
This explained that the strong ones pursuing and killing Chong Xuan Zun were definitely not just this one driving the red bat beast.
If Chong Xuan Zun could escape, he should go to Linwu, go to Huiming. Flying towards Daye Prefecture at this moment was clearly also a path taken out of necessity.
Other directions were necessarily already locked down!
“Indeed, we overlooked this one!” Chong Xuan Sheng said: “Since the strong ones on the eastern line of Xia Country were all drawn to the northern line, it’s perfectly reasonable to send a few people casually along the way to the northern line to conveniently deal with the bold madman who blasphemed the imperial tomb!”
Jiang Wang said nothing, only released the reins. His body already soared into the empty space, stepping on the green cloud mark as if ascending heavenly stairs, directly chasing towards the distant empty space where Chong Xuan Zun had disappeared!
His back was like a blue bird, his tied hair hanging down his spine, also like an upright sword general!
“You didn’t even ask for my opinion! Do you know what it means to be wise, ah?!”
Chong Xuan Sheng’s angry shout could not possibly catch up with Jiang Wang’s receding figure.
And after his indignant injustice, he also fiercely pulled the reins and turned his horse’s head.
“Brothers!”
He said: “Honestly, I don’t want to save that little white face. He’s ugly, dresses gaudily, and postures all day, stealing the old man’s spotlight!”
“But who are we?”
“We are the invincible Desheng Camp!”
“We are soldiers of the Great Qi Empire!”
“On the battlefield, we are warriors—”
He raised his right fist high and roared: “Comrades must be saved!”
The three thousand people of Desheng Camp drank together: “Comrades must be saved!”
The sound of horse hooves stepping on the ground was like thunder, rumbling towards the northeast.
At this time, the straight-line distance to Guiyi was already less than three hundred li. This Qi army, which had traversed thousands of li across the land of Xia and was invincible wherever it went, could plant its flag outside the Xia Capital and establish eternal merit in less than three hours—
As long as they continued forward.
But three thousand people turned their horses around and did not turn back!