Slave Empire [Complete] - 17

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Volume 7 Who Rules the World, Chapter 136: Life is Like a Game of Chess.
December 3rd, 994 (Chinese calendar). Changlong City, Free Army Headquarters.
"According to Marshal Hua's orders, our army's troop deployment has undergone a major adjustment—" Strategist Ji Wumou's voice rang out in the council hall: "The newly established Fourth Army Corps, namely the Maoming Corps, will be led by Corps Commander Liu Litao and will be responsible for garrisoning Maoming Prefecture; Lieutenant General Feng Yanran's Third Army Corps and Lieutenant General Chang Shengqiu's Independent Cavalry Division will be responsible for garrisoning Changlong Prefecture and the southern part of Dongguan Prefecture; Lieutenant General Lin Zhi's Second Army Corps will remain garrisoned in Tianshui Prefecture, and Admiral Hai Tianqing's Naval Corps will remain garrisoned in Tenglong Port."
Those attending this meeting were all high-ranking officers of the Free Army's regular army, at the division commander level or above. Since there was currently almost no force capable of threatening the safety of Zhenbao Island, the four reserve divisions remaining on Zhenbao Island were again redeployed to the mainland and dispersed into various corps to fill the personnel gaps caused by the formation of the Maoming Corps. Meanwhile, Zhenbao Island recruited four more reserve divisions to defend the main island.
At this time, the Free Army had five major legions, including the navy, as well as independent cavalry divisions and special operations divisions, totaling 880,000 regular troops, plus 160,000 reservists, for a total strength of 1.04 million! This does not include personnel from the military intelligence system, the guards protecting important locations and personnel of the internal affairs department, etc.
The prevailing atmosphere on the Hua Long Continent, where "martial prowess is revered and literary talent is honored," has fostered a fierce and valiant populace. The Free Army's undefeated record since its uprising, its generous treatment, its promotion based on military merit, and the widespread dissemination of its profound martial arts fundamentals among the people made each expansion relatively easy for the Free Army. After all, establishing merit in a chaotic world is the dream of every passionate young man, and joining the Free Army allows one to learn higher levels of martial arts techniques based on their abilities. The slogan "Everyone can become a sword god" is also extremely tempting to many!
If a good balance must be struck between military strength, economic well-being, financial pressures, and local development, and if a balanced development is desired, then Hua Yinghong's numerous restrictions on the source of reserve troops and the basic qualities of soldiers would likely allow him to recruit two more legions without issue!
Hua Yinghong disdains the kind of frenzied military expansion that resembles "killing the goose that lays the golden eggs" or "burning the forest to hunt," as seen in the power struggles of the Sima princes: even if it brings temporary victory, it will only sow the seeds of greater disaster!
Quality over quantity is paramount in the military. Every time the Free Army expands a division, whether regular or reserve, it must draw upon a large number of experienced generals and veterans with extensive combat experience for training in discipline, tactics, and battle formations. These are then tested and refined through various levels of combat exercises before being deployed to the battlefield. In the eyes of Hua Yinghong and all levels of the Free Army, the life of every soldier willing to fight for the Free Alliance is extremely precious.
Large-scale military expansion requires a solid foundation. Zhenbao Island, dubbed a "paradise on earth," acted like a giant magnet, attracting a continuous influx of people seeking refuge from war. According to statistics from the Population Department of the Household Registration Office, from late November to early December, Zhenbao Island experienced another massive wave of immigration. Many people from newly occupied territories migrated to Zhenbao Island, leading to significant expansion of towns such as Keelung, Riyue, Donggang, Beigang, Xigang, Lingbao, Jubao, and Baonan. The island's population now exceeds six million!
Due to the greatly improved road conditions on Zhenbao Island, new towns emerged in many areas, including the Alang Mountains. The abundant mineral and natural resources of the mountains were exploited, creating one rags-to-riches story after another!
Everyone had the opportunity to learn advanced martial arts, and everyone could learn various production skills through short-term training courses organized by the Ministry of the Interior. The physical fitness and productivity of ordinary people improved across the board, and the economy and people's livelihoods on Zhenbao Island improved at an unbelievable pace!
In November, the household registration department under Liu Ju's control once again failed to achieve the expected basic balance of fiscal revenue and expenditure. The total revenue of the Free Army-controlled area reached an astonishing 4.2 million gold coins that month, but due to the surge in expenses for large-scale military expansion, war, compensation for the dead and wounded, and resettlement of refugees, the Free Alliance's expenditure reached 9.1 million gold coins!
However, the deficit of nearly 5 million gold coins did not make Liu Ju, the chief steward, feel distressed. Compared with the vast land and more than 7 million people in Tianshui Prefecture, southern Dongguan Prefecture, southern Changlong Prefecture, and Maoming Prefecture that the "Phoenix Rising from the Ashes" plan brought, such a price was really insignificant.
With the strong financial support of the "China Gold Exchange" and the newly established "China Industrial and Commercial Gold Exchange," jointly owned by more than a dozen large and small forces including Peach Blossom Palace, Nangong Family, Wanmei Manor, Ship Gang, and Treasure Merchant Guild, some of the new industries proposed by Hua Yinghong began to emerge.
As long as the Free Alliance could survive the first month or two, the auction of land, minerals, and a large amount of transaction taxes would gradually improve its financial situation—of course, all of this was still based on the myth that the Free Army would not be defeated!
"Strategist, what's my Special Forces Division doing?" Anyone who heard the loud voice shouting was definitely the still-rough-and-tumble Ba Tian.
In contrast, Ye Zhi Qiu, the commander of the First Legion, who had also not received any defense zone assignments, seemed much more composed and did not ask. He knew that his elder brother Hua Yinghong would definitely have a plan.
"Ba Tian, don't you love fighting the most? I said—there are plenty of good battles to fight!" Hua Yinghong continued, "This time, the target of the Special Forces Division and the First Legion is—the Baiyi Kingdom."
"Brother, why not take advantage of the current situation, with the Ding family embroiled in the power struggle for the Sima clan's throne and the civil war raging, to attack the Ding family's Jianghan Army in Beidong Prefecture? Or perhaps we should simply march west to Yulong County?" Ye Zhi Qiu couldn't help but ask.
In Ye Zhi Qiu's view, the most crucial element in dominating the world was controlling the economically developed and populous Central Plains region. At this time, Hua Ying Hong was not taking advantage of the chaos and turmoil among the Sima princes vying for the throne to seize the greatest benefits, but instead made the decision to attack the impoverished and barren Baiyi Mountains. This clearly deviated from the main objective and was inconsistent with his usual style—a sentiment shared by many.
"Zhiqiu, you must always remember one thing: war serves politics." Hua Yinghong never forgot to remind his clever and quick-witted third brother, and also gave a reminder to the senior generals of the Free Army attending the meeting:
"The purpose of our Free Alliance is to eliminate the political and economic privileges of any special class or aristocratic family, and to establish a new order and new rules of freedom and equality. If our army launches a general attack, regardless of whether it targets the Ding, Sima, or Qiu families, it will endanger the most fundamental ruling foundation of the aristocratic families, and will inevitably encounter the fiercest counterattack, even prompting the major forces within the Sima family to suspend their civil war and unite with the Ding and Qiu families to launch a counterattack against our Free Alliance!
"Even a centipede with a hundred legs will not fall down when dead. After all, Sima Yuan and Sima Cheng still have more than a million troops, and the Ding, Li, and Qiu families, along with their respective supported princes, each have nearly a million troops. What we need most right now is not to rush things, but to focus on strengthening ourselves, watching from the sidelines, observing the tigers fight, and waiting for the right opportunity to act." "Hua Yinghong explained patiently,
"According to intelligence, the Ding family has at least one legion of troops in Jianghan Prefecture as a reserve force that has not yet been mobilized. On the eastern front, the two major legions in Shunde Prefecture have reached a peace agreement with the Qiu family. If our army were to launch a rash attack, the newly integrated armies are not yet well-trained. They are capable in defensive operations, but have little chance of success in offensive operations.
"Director Mo, please introduce the situation of the Baiyi Kingdom!" Hua Yinghong had another reason he did not mention, for fear of dampening the morale of the generals—the formidable strength displayed by "Nine Lives" Long Ge during his rampage in the Jade Dragon Palace made him even more wary of the super power of the various families' masters of Saint-level or higher.
Before the Free Alliance has produced more masters of Saint-level or higher, and before a good way to deal with the powerful latent forces that might be drawn out by the Ding family's "Spring and Autumn Limitless Order," the Qiu family's "Ten Thousand Miles of Sorrowful Wind Order," and the Sima royal family's "Blood Dragon Order," Hua Yinghong did not want to gamble away all his chips.
The reason why we didn't launch a full-scale attack on Baiyang City during the "Blood Phoenix" plan was actually due to this concern: the clan protectors of those powerful families at the Saint Rank or above would not easily intervene in conventional wars under normal circumstances, but when faced with the danger of their families, who would care about any "unspoken rules"?
In a direct confrontation, without the restraint of a similarly skilled expert, a master of the Innate Saint rank could easily defeat hundreds, if not hundreds, of ordinary soldiers—at least Hua Yinghong himself possessed this strength. What about hundreds or thousands of Saint rank experts? The thought alone was chilling—
wiping out a powerful clan would require sacrificing over 100,000 soldiers just to deal with their Saint rank or higher guardians; the Free Alliance didn't have that kind of formidable resources! The Free Alliance needed time to accumulate strength, including Hua Yinghong himself, who also needed time to further improve…

Jianghan County. The Ding family's power center, the Star-Picking Tower.
"Baijian, the Free Army's First Legion and Special Forces Division are assembling in Tianshui Prefecture, with a force of 360,000 men. What are your thoughts on this?" At this moment, only Ding Zixing and his son Ding Baijian were present, making the atmosphere of the conversation much more relaxed and casual.
“Father, that Son of Freedom, Hua Yinghong, is a man whose military tactics are unpredictable,” Ding Baijian said. “His military strategies are wildly unpredictable, making it impossible to know his next move. Our family's intelligence network has investigated extensively but has been unable to ascertain his true background. Even the so-called top intelligence organization in the world, ‘Jieyulou,’ has doubled its 500,000 taels deposit, admitting they cannot uncover his true identity. Before the Free Army makes a clear move, our Jianghan Prefecture garrison should refrain from rash action.”
“Baijian, you’ve become more prudent,” Ding Zizhi nodded approvingly. “I agree. Currently, apart from Binjiang City, the entire Binjiang Prefecture is basically in our hands. Taking Binjiang City and controlling the entire prefecture is only a matter of time. While Wuling Prefecture is desirable, it’s not worth the risk for our clan to take it before the threat from the Free Army on the southern front is eliminated.”
"Once we capture Binjiang City and send away Yuwen Shang's Southwest Army, we will expand the pacification army again in Sima Tai's name. Whether we advance west to Changyin Prefecture or south to Wuling Prefecture, our clan will have the initiative." Ding Baijian's tiger-like eyes gleamed, as if he were imagining the day when the Ding family would rise to glory.
"I hope the Yinming Army can hold out a little longer. I hope the handsome young master Xu Shaopeng won't disappoint me." Ding Zixing said with a worried expression.
Looking at the map, after the fall of Yanmen Pass, the Yinming Army, which had initially been in a favorable position, found itself in a passive situation in Shiyan Prefecture: Sima Changhe's newly formed Jinling Army, after stabilizing the situation, could attack the Yinming Army in Shiyan Prefecture from the east through Yanmen Pass at any time. At that time, the hundreds of thousands of Yinming Army besieging Yulong City might face a pincer attack from both inside and outside, and be in danger of a complete rout!
Ding Zixing certainly didn't care about the victory or defeat of the Yinming Army; he only hoped that the Yinming Army could keep the Sima clan's most elite forces in Yulong City occupied for a little longer, giving the Ding family more time to implement the "Nestlé Plan."
"I heard that Xu Shaopeng, in a fit of rage, beheaded the garrison commander who fled back to Shiyan City after losing Yanmen Pass, as a way to enforce military discipline. He should be able to hold out for a while longer." The Ding family's intelligence network, aside from facing some difficulties operating in the Free Army-controlled areas with their strict household registration system, has been quite effective elsewhere.
"I hope so," Ding Zizhi nodded slightly, then suddenly remembered something and said, "I heard that many books bearing the Heaven and Earth Technique and the Void-Breaking Technique have appeared in Jianghan County recently. I wonder if these techniques are genuine?" "
I was just about to ask Father how to handle this matter. Not only under our clan's rule, but throughout the Jade Dragon Kingdom and even the Hualong Continent, the basic techniques of the Blade God and Sword God have begun to circulate, and they have been confirmed as genuine. Many people in my Jianghan County are overjoyed and have begun practicing them. If this continues, won't it greatly enhance the combat power of the entire continent's army? Hua Yinghong's actions are always unpredictable." Even with Ding Baijian's intelligence, he was somewhat puzzled by Hua Yinghong's actions.
"Life is like a game of chess, ever-changing; a casual move can have a long-term purpose. Hua Yinghong's actions clearly aim to overthrow the foundations of the entire aristocratic and privileged class. Just think, which aristocratic family today doesn't rely on unique martial arts techniques and years of accumulation to cultivate power and carve out their own territory? Once millions of people have mastered advanced martial arts, and heroes use their skills to break the law, who can tolerate the privileges of the aristocratic families?" Ding Zixing shook his head and sighed, "I wonder where Guan Shanyue and Lang Qingyun found such a terrifying figure, seemingly born specifically to oppose our aristocratic families."
"Then should we confiscate and prohibit the dissemination of martial arts techniques?" Ding Baijian asked.
"It's better to guide than to block. In this vast world, with hundreds of millions of people, how can my clan possibly restrain them? Going against the tide will only lead to self-destruction." Ding Zixing sighed again, "Order the first five techniques of my Ding clan's Northern Darkness Technique to be widely disseminated, and send specialists to guide their practice. Those who are loyal after examination, even those of different surnames, can learn higher-level techniques and be promoted to important military and political positions..."
Hua Yinghong's unintentional move broke the centuries-old tradition of keeping all kinds of martial arts secrets to themselves on the Hualong Continent! In order to compete for disciples with excellent aptitude, all martial arts sects, major forces, and major families... except for a very few stubborn and conservative forces, spread all kinds of extraordinary techniques and secrets to the world, bringing forward the glorious period of Hualong martial arts by at least a hundred years...

In Changlong City, the meeting at the Free Army headquarters was still ongoing.
"After more than two months of research, the situation of the Baiyi Kingdom is all contained in this document," Mo Yan, not one for words, distributed a prepared and printed confidential document to everyone. "Why does Commander Hua want to march into the Baiyi Kingdom? You'll know the answer after reading this."
To march into Baiyi, one must first know the "why." Every move Hua Yinghong makes is certainly not without reason!

Volume 7 Who Rules the World Chapter 137 Marching into Baiyi
The Baiyi Kingdom is located on the southwestern border of the Yulong Kingdom, named after the Baiyi Mountains south of the Yulong Mountains.
The Baiyi Kingdom is vast, with the maximum horizontal distance between the easternmost and westernmost inhabited areas being nearly 1,900 li, and the maximum vertical distance between the southernmost Devil's Sea and the northernmost Yulong Mountains being over 1,200 li, with an average north-south vertical distance of about 800 li. The winding Devil's Sea coastline stretches for over 3,000 li.
At the westernmost point of the Baiyi Kingdom, the towering mountains, known as the "Ten Thousand Mountains," meet the Sahara Desert, while at the easternmost point, there is a 100-li border with Tianshui Prefecture of Baiyang County. The Baiyi Kingdom is predominantly mountainous and semi-mountainous, accounting for about 80% of its area, while plains make up only about 20%. It
boasts the largest number of ethnic minorities on the Hualong Continent. Of its officially recorded population of over six million, the Yi and Bai are the most numerous, each numbering over one million. More than twenty other ethnic minorities, including the Hani, Zhuang, Dai, Miao, Hui, Wa, Naxi, Jingpo, Yao, Bulang, Achang, Nu, Pumi, Benglong, and Dulong, range in number from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, residing in the vast semi-mountainous and plain areas.
Due to its vast territory and complex terrain, the Baiyi Kingdom possesses a wide variety of ancient trees and rare animals, as well as abundant mineral resources such as copper, iron, coal, and manganese, and rich resources including spices, timber, tobacco, medicinal herbs, and fruits. Numerous rivers flow through the mountains, converging into the Nu River and the Xiang River, before emptying south into the Devil's Sea.
In terms of the variety and abundance of resources, the Baiyi Kingdom was actually far superior to Zhenbao Island, which was hailed as a "treasure of Hualong." However, due to the rugged mountain roads and extremely inconvenient transportation, many resources, after being transported out of the country with great time and effort, commanded prices several times, or even more than double, higher than those transported in large quantities by sea from Zhenbao Island. This resulted in the Baiyi Kingdom's impoverished and backward situation of "sitting on a mountain of treasures while holding a mud bowl."
Taking Chuxiong City, the royal city located on the shore of Erhai Lake in the heart of the Baiyi Kingdom, as an example: to transport goods from Chuxiong to Tianshui Prefecture, it was necessary to travel approximately 1,200 li (about 600 kilometers) along winding ancient mountain roads through the mountains. Assuming that a caravan traveling entirely on horseback would cover at least 200 li (about 100 kilometers) per day, it would take at least six to seven days. Walking would take even longer; heading north via the "Tea Horse Road" would lead to Jinling Prefecture in Luolan County and Longshan Prefecture in Yulong County, but this also involved a detour of over 900 li of mountain road, which is now almost completely cut off due to war; heading south along the mountain roads on both sides of the Nu River would take over 600 li to Zhangmukou, a small port on the Devil's Sea, but it would require transporting goods eastward by sea for over 500 li to reach the Tianshui Prefecture coast in Baiyang County.
The long transport journey consumed vast amounts of grain, supplies, manpower, and animal power, significantly increasing the cost of all kinds of goods. Apart from a few lightweight but valuable items like spices and tobacco, the vast majority of other products could only accumulate in the mountains like waste, unable to be transported to the Hualong Continent to bring back wealth for the Baiyi people and exchange for the various goods needed in the mountains.
The backwardness of the Baiyi Kingdom was also evident in its political and military aspects. For centuries, rulers of the Hualong Continent, including the "Great Emperor Liu Suifeng," viewed the Baiyi as a barbaric land and a vassal state, focusing only on acquiring vast amounts of gold, silver, refined copper, and iron—material wealth and resources—while showing little interest in promoting the political, economic, and social progress of the Baiyi Kingdom. Of the Baiyi Kingdom's more than six million people, the royal family—the Yi Duan clan—and the various chieftain nobles comprised about 10%, commoners about 20%, and the remaining 70% were serfs and miners, living a miserable and hopeless life.
Historically, the various ethnic groups of the Baiyi had launched numerous uprisings of varying scales. The Baiyi people are skilled in mountain climbing and river wading, and adept at swordsmanship and archery. However, due to their outdated weaponry and weak martial arts skills, they relied solely on their courage and valor to resist. Each uprising ended in failure and was brutally suppressed by the two Baiyi legions under King Duan Tiande and the Baiyi Special Division of the 80,000-strong Jade Dragon Army led by Sima Zhao
, the "Duke of Dingyi." "The Baiyi Holy Maiden Bai Sisi and her brother Bai Jingfei still lead a united army of various ethnic groups active in the Baiyi Mountains. I received their help when I was in the mountains before, and Sisi and I are like sisters."
After everyone had reviewed the information about the Baiyi Kingdom, Liu Yufei's beautiful and elegant voice rang out in the council hall. As the nominal supreme leader of the Freedom Alliance, her words could not be ignored: "For the past month or so, Sisi has written several times expressing the righteous army's willingness to join the Freedom Alliance and inviting our Free Army to overthrow the rule of the Baiyi King and the Sima clan. Whether for public or private reasons, rescuing the millions of slaves of the Baiyi Kingdom aligns with the principles of our alliance."
"The current chaotic situation in the Jade Dragon Kingdom provides our army with valuable time. In the name of the Free Army Marshal, I order—" Hua Yinghong's tiger-like eyes swept across the hall, seeing that all the generals were attentive and focused, and he continued with satisfaction:
"The First Legion and Special Operations Divisions shall immediately advance into Baiyi, and must join forces with the Baiyi rebels to take over the Baiyi Kingdom within a month and a half; all other units shall intensify training, enhance combat capabilities, fortify defenses, and ensure the safety of their respective territories. No one shall arbitrarily provoke war with any side. Director Lü of the Internal Affairs Department is requested to prepare a large number of internal affairs personnel..."
In fact, Hua Yinghong's order to advance into the Baiyi Kingdom was not merely about rescuing slaves and expanding his power, but he didn't need to reveal it to his generals.
On December 3rd, 994 of the Hualong Continent calendar, at noon, the Free Army once again made a move that baffled many leaders of various forces on the Hualong Continent, ultimately proving to be another far-sighted action—announcing the advance into the Baiyi Kingdom!

Night fell. At the power center of the Ding family, the Star-Picking Tower.
"Baijian, is the intelligence accurate?" Ding Zixing asked somewhat uneasily.
"Son of Freedom" Hua Yinghong's every move seemed destined to be unexpected. Even with Ding Zixing's resourcefulness, he couldn't fathom what benefit the Free Army could gain from marching into the Baiyi Kingdom deep in the mountains at this time. Although the Baiyi Kingdom could pay tribute to the Sima royal family annually with two to three million gold coins and some rare treasures, given the vast territory and economic and financial situation currently controlled by the Free Army, was it worthwhile to mobilize 200,000 of its most elite troops?
"The intelligence is absolutely true. The Free Army's First Legion and Special Operations Division have advanced more than sixty miles into the heart of Baiyi territory along the mountain roads in half a day. The vanguard has paused and set up camp in front of Loushan Pass in Baiyi Kingdom, issuing an ultimatum demanding that the garrison surrender the pass."
Ding Baijian's reply showed how concerned the Ding family was about the Free Army's movements: even when the Free Army's 200,000-strong army marched westward into the Baiyi Mountains, the family's experts were sent as spies to send back timely information.
"Loushan Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, known as 'one man can hold the pass against ten thousand.' I'm afraid the garrison there won't surrender easily." Ding Zixing was clearly familiar with the geography of the Baiyi Kingdom, casually mentioning the strategic importance of Loushan Pass.
"The garrison at Loushan Pass originally consisted of a Baiyi army regiment of ten thousand men. Recently, the Sima clan's Baiyi special division has reinforced it with a regiment of the Jade Dragon Army. The pass is well-stocked with rolling logs, stones, and various other weapons, and the terrain is treacherous. Naturally, they won't be intimidated into surrendering by a single word from the Free Army. Sima Yi, the commander of the Jade Dragon Army at the pass, has declared that he will end the Free Army's myth of invincibility at Loushan Pass." Ding Baijian smiled slightly, "Then Hua Yinghong, the son of the Free Army, has also gone head-to-head, declaring that if they don't voluntarily surrender the pass, the Free Army will not accept any more prisoners after conquering Loushan Pass."
“What brilliant psychological warfare!” Ding Zixing shook his head. “If the Free Army successfully captures Loushan Pass, which the Baiyi people regard as their eastern shield, and then marches straight towards Baoyi Prefecture and Tongzi County, I’m afraid the Baiyi Duan and Sima clans’ special divisions won’t be able to resist for long.”
Upon hearing this, Ding Baijian asked in surprise, “Father, you actually think the Free Army will win? King Duan Tiande of Baiyi has two fully-equipped legions under his command, and Sima Zhao’s Baiyi special division, though called a division, is actually a special division with 80,000 regular troops and another 80,000 in reserves. Although 40,000 were transferred to assist the Qiu clan in their previous battles, they still have 120,000 troops. Could it be that the 440,000 troops of Duan Shi and Sima Zhao, plus the hundreds of thousands of private soldiers from various local chieftains, are no match for the 200,000 Free Army who are unfamiliar with the land?”
In Ding Baijian’s view, the Free Army’s attack on the unfamiliar Baiyi Kingdom would most likely lead to a quagmire from which it could not extricate itself.
"Baijian, you must remember, war is not just a simple comparison of troop strength." Ding Zixing was somewhat dissatisfied with the future family successor's lack of vision and pointed out, "Don't forget how the Free Army started. On Treasure Island, a group of slaves at an extreme disadvantage, poorly equipped and weak in combat, were able to utterly defeat the Qiu Clan's Treasure Division. How could Hua Yinghong, the Son of Freedom, fight a battle he can't win? Now, the Free Army is advancing into Baiyi with its super-strong and well-equipped Special Forces Division and First Legion. The tens of thousands of Bai ethnic militia active in the Baiyi Mountains, as well as the more than four million slaves in the entire Baiyi Kingdom, could all become powerful allies for the Free Army—"
"Wait! Slaves! I understand—" Ding Zixing suddenly realized, "Hua Yinghong is eyeing those four million slaves! If these slaves could live like they did on Treasure Island, the entire Baiyi Kingdom would probably become a massive army absolutely loyal to the Free Alliance! Amazing! Amazing!"
"Then shouldn't we take advantage of their inability to succeed and instead attack the Free Alliance?" Ding Zixing's suggestion immediately made Ding Baijian realize how terrifying the Free Alliance would be in the future! Perhaps it was still possible to disrupt the Free Alliance's plans now?
"Impossible!" Ding Zixing decisively rejected Ding Baijian's idea. "Regardless of whether our clan can break through the Free Army's existing defenses alone, Hua Yinghong can withdraw the First Legion and Special Forces Divisions to join the battle at any time, leaving our clan facing a two-front war, making it difficult to gain an advantage. The only way forward is to take advantage of the Free Army's predicament—being bogged down in the Baiyi war and unable to attend to the Yulong war—to accelerate the implementation of the 'Nest's Nest' plan and race against time. As long as our clan's strength is sufficient, we will naturally not fear the Free Army's threat."
"Yes!" Hearing about the 'Nest's Nest' plan, Ding Baijian's eyes flashed with excitement…

Baiyi Kingdom, capital city of Chuxiong. Inside the Yi King's palace, lights shone brightly, and music and dance filled the air.
Dozens of fair-skinned, beautiful, and shapely Bai ethnic female slaves, dressed only in sheer, transparent dresses, sang and danced, their hips swaying and twisting energetically. Their breasts, barely concealed, trembled rhythmically with each movement, while their alluring, snow-white thighs and the ever-present allure of their private parts radiated an irresistible heat, teasing the many guests at the banquet. Many with weaker self-control stared wide-eyed, drooling…
The slightly bloated Baiyi King, Duan Tiande, however, had no interest in appreciating this erotic scene. Raising his cup with concern, he said to Sima Zhao, the commander of the Jade Dragon Special Division beside him, “Lord Dingyi, the Free Army has launched a major offensive and is already at Loushan Pass. We must devise a countermeasure as soon as possible.”
Sima Zhao appeared to be in his forties, with a square face, large ears, thick eyebrows, and fierce eyes, exuding a certain domineering aura.
In terms of status, Sima Zhao was a descendant of a branch of the Sima royal family, of the same generation as Sima Yuan, the Prince of Yulong. He inherited the title of "Duke of Dingyi" from his ancestors, a hereditary title. Although nominally the commander of the Baiyi Special Division, the "special division" actually had 80,000 regular troops and 80,000 reservists year-round, making him no different from a legion commander.
The Baiyi Kingdom was far from the emperor's reach, and the Sima Zhao clan was ordered to monitor the Baiyi Kingdom and make it a vassal of the Yulong Dynasty, paying tribute every year. They were practically the emperors-in-chief of the Baiyi Kingdom, no different from local tyrants.
"Lord Duan...no need to worry, I've already dispatched a detachment...to reinforce...Lou...Shan Pass, we'll definitely hold it...defend it like a fortress, and teach those...slave...army...to suffer a crushing defeat...and be utterly humiliated...uh!" Sima Zhao, seemingly drunk, hiccuped and slurred, "Don't underestimate...my men...hundreds of thousands...each one is...an elite force...that little beauty...is really something...?"
Following Sima Zhao's finger, Duan Tiande saw one of the most beautiful and alluring Bai ethnic minority dancing slaves, a woman of exceptional looks and figure, whose movements were incredibly seductive. Helpless, he said, "It's fortunate that Duke Dingyi has taken a liking to her. I'll have someone send her to your residence later. But should we send reinforcements to Lou Shan Pass and Tongzi County for safety?"
"Thank you, Prince Duan, for your generosity in gifting me this beauty," Sima Zhao said, tilting his head back and
downing a large cup of strong liquor in one gulp. "Very well, tomorrow... send another reserve division... to assemble and go... to reinforce..." Looking at the drunken "Duke Dingyi" Sima Zhao, who seemed to disregard the Free Army's invasion, Duan Tiande, the King of Baiyi, couldn't shake the lingering shadow in his heart. After all, the Free Army's past achievements and rapid rise were astonishing, and their deeds were widely circulated even in the remote Baiyi Kingdom nestled deep in the mountains. The Duan clan was a branch of the Yi people, and the Yi's archenemy, the Bai, along with some minority rebel armies and slaves, were eager to make their move. The
Baiyi Kingdom had six prefectures, but its territory was vast. The Duan royal family only controlled a few plains and semi-mountainous areas centered around Chuxiong, where the population was relatively concentrated. The rest relied on local chieftains and nobles of various ethnic groups to maintain a slave system. Therefore, the Sima clan only needed a few hundred thousand elite troops to intimidate the entire kingdom.
Duan Tiande knew perfectly well that while the Baiyi Army was capable of dealing with slave rebellions, they were no match for the well-trained and well-equipped Yulong Army! What would happen if they encountered the Free Army, which had repeatedly defeated even the Yulong Army?
The answer would soon be revealed at Loushan Pass…

Volume 7, Chapter 138: A Majestic Pass
. Sixty-five li west of Tianshui Prefecture lies Loushan Pass, a place described in ancient poems as "Ten thousand horses gallop from the west, men and horses vie for the Tiger and Leopard Gate."
Loushan Pass is situated between two hundred-zhang peaks in the Dalou Mountains, a branch of the Yulong Mountains, rising five hundred zhang above the Devil's Sea level. Historically, it has been a vital strategic pass between Tianshui Prefecture and the Baiyi Kingdom.
Known as the most dangerous pass in northern Yi, the ancient Tea Horse Road winds its way through the peaks, passing through Loushan Pass, making it a strategic location fought over by military strategists throughout history. Guannan is the flat mountain basin of Baoyi Prefecture. Taking Baoyi Prefecture would leave the entire Tongzi County, spanning over 600 li and with an official population of over one million, with few defensible strategic points.
The most breathtaking scenery is found on the most dangerous peaks. Loushan Pass boasts thousands of peaks, towering cliffs, and sheer precipices that resemble axes and halberds piercing the sky. The peaks vie for attention, shrouded in mist and drizzling rain, with the ancient Tea Horse Road winding its way through the mountains like a flying dragon or a flowing jade ribbon.
"Sister Qian, Youlan, look at this: Loushan Pass has a treacherous terrain, truly easy to defend and difficult to attack. Without the support of the righteous army, a direct assault on this pass would result in considerable losses!"
As dawn broke, Hua Yinghong stood atop a mountain, gazing at the Loushan Pass walls built between two towering peaks in the distance. He said with some emotion to Xue Qianqian and Miao Youlan beside him, "Compared to the clever capture of Lingbao Pass, taking Loushan Pass is far more difficult."
The Loushan Pass walls are only about fifty zhang wide and over eight zhang high, with a steep slope in front. If one were to attack from below, the rolling stones and logs falling from above would be unbearable, even for someone with the strongest bones!
"I thought Brother Hong already had a plan! I didn't expect you to still be so clueless!" Xue Qianqian's beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at her young lover with a smile, teasingly saying, "Has it been because Sister Youlan and I have been away these past few days, and Sister Yufei, Lan'er, and Ju'er have been bewitching us so much that our brains aren't working properly?"
A dozen days ago, because Fuqing Prefecture in Wuyi County of the Great Liang Kingdom was invaded by the Japanese, Hua Yinghong judged that the Japanese invasion would be extraordinary. Xue Qianqian personally went to the Great Liang Kingdom to handle the planned infiltration or large-scale retreat of the Peach Blossom Palace forces, only returning to Loushan Pass last night. Miao Youlan, on the other hand, had been busy with the affairs of Wanmei Manor since taking over, and only arrived at Loushan Pass yesterday to reunite with her beloved.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. It goes without saying that the two beauties had a wild night with Hua Yinghong. The ambiguous "flowery" words uttered by "Peach Blossom Fairy" Xue Qianqian subtly alluded to the passionate encounter in the tent the previous night, where Hua Yinghong had used every trick in the book.
Miao Youlan, being rather shy, blushed and remained silent upon hearing the teasing in Xue Qianqian's words.
"Sister Qian, Youlan, I've missed you both terribly these past few days," Hua Yinghong said, looking at the two stunning beauties.
Although he had spent almost every night in passionate lovemaking with the three beauties Yufei, Liulan, and Liuju, enjoying endless pleasure in their intimate moments, the sudden absence of the alluring Xue Qianqian and the exquisitely beautiful Miao Youlan was truly unsettling for him.
As the Sea Dragon Elixir within his body continued to refine, his power rapidly increased, and Hua Yinghong's physique became noticeably stronger. His desire for intimacy also grew stronger, and the Sea Dragon Elixir seemed to have the effect of activating the remaining poison of the Iron Wire Serpent within him, causing Liu Yufei and the other two women to find it difficult to withstand. Last night, with Xue Qianqian, whose bedroom arts had reached the Grandmaster level, and the deeply affectionate and powerful Miao Youlan, whose Xuan Tian True Qi had greatly improved, Hua Yinghong truly enjoyed the most fulfilling night in many days.
"Brother Hong, Sister Qianqian missed you terribly too," Xue Qianqian said sweetly—women, after all, love to hear sweet words.
"Hua Lang, this time, with hundreds of thousands of troops and a large number of civilians building roads and bridges along the way, it doesn't seem like a military campaign, but rather like an engineering team. What is the meaning of this?" Miao Youlan, unlike Xue Qianqian, didn't have the habit of such explicit confessions, but instead changed the subject.
Last night, the soldiers of the Free Army rushed from Tianshui Prefecture to Loushan Pass. Along the way, they were filled with Free Army soldiers wielding steel chisels and shovels, cutting through mountains and building bridges over rivers, widening the ancient Tea Horse Road, which was originally less than ten feet wide, to more than thirty feet. This morning, the Free Army soldiers started construction early again, making clanging noises.
What's truly laughable is that the "Breaking Void Technique" passed down by "Sword God" Guan Shanyue, due to its indestructible nature, was being used by a large number of Free Army soldiers and road construction laborers to cut down giant trees, break through rocks, and level the ground. Some highly skilled regimental commanders, division commanders, and even corps commanders like Ye Zhi Qiu were enjoying themselves, completely unlike an invincible and mighty army, but more like a group of road construction laborers—what would "Sword God" Guan Shanyue think if he knew that the world-renowned Breaking Void Technique was being used for such purposes?
"After the Free Alliance pacifies the Baiyi, the first thing to do will be to build a main road to facilitate the movement of the army and its people, as well as to ensure smooth logistics, so that the rich resources of the Baiyi Mountains can be used by our alliance. If we were to have the Ministry of the Interior organize the people to do this, it would be time-consuming and laborious. Anyway, we are waiting for news from the Baiyi rebels, and these soldiers are idle anyway, so they can take this opportunity to warm up and practice their skills. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"
Hua Yinghong recalled the scene when he first met "Knife God" Guan Shanyue on Lonely Star Island, when Guan Shanyue used his finger knife to make a drinking stone cup, and couldn't help but smile as he said, "Who says that martial arts can only be used for fighting and killing, and can't be used to open roads, build bridges, and benefit the people? The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."
“Sister Youlan, Brother Hong always does things so unexpectedly. He’s always thinking about the origin of all things. He uses road construction and martial arts training as opportunities to comprehend the Dao, and even sleeping is a form of enlightenment,” Xue Qianqian smiled radiantly, and couldn’t help but tease her again, “Youlan, Brother Hong is constantly comprehending the Dao, day and night, in every action, at all times!”
Miao Youlan heard Xue Qianqian bring up the topic back to their private matters, and lightly spat, “Sister Qianqian always speaks with such double meanings, she’s so lecherous.” The last few words were barely audible with embarrassment.
"Brother Hong, it's just Sister Youlan overthinking things. I didn't say anything!" Xue Qianqian laughed radiantly, her silvery voice captivating. Her Nine Revolutions Peach Blossom Seduction Technique was already highly refined, and she was always straightforward, unrestrained, and free-spirited. Every gesture and word exuded the deadly allure of the Peach Blossom Seduction Technique. Even with Hua Yinghong's current level of skill, he couldn't help but be moved.
"By the way, Youlan, you have a butterfly tattoo on your vest. Do all mountain girls have such tattoos?" During his intimate moments with Miao Youlan, Hua Yinghong had noticed a lifelike, multicolored butterfly tattoo the size of a copper coin on her vest. It was extremely beautiful, and he had been intrigued at the time, but in the heat of passion, he wouldn't spoil the moment. Now, remembering it, he asked.
"Gaoshan girls are tattooed with a butterfly pattern at birth, which is then soaked in a special medicinal solution and will never fade. However, the swallowtail butterfly is the king of butterflies, and only members of the royal family can have it tattooed," Miao Youlan said. "The elders will use this swallowtail butterfly pattern and my age to confirm my status as a princess. Hua Lang, do you not think it looks good?"
"No, it looks very beautiful. I'm just a little curious." Hua Yinghong said, then pretended to be thoughtful. Just as he was about to ask what pattern would be tattooed on a boy, he heard the voice of the guard captain, Fang Shiling, coming from twenty feet away—
"Marshal! The rebels are coming!"
Because the mountains and fields were guarded by Free Army soldiers, and Hua, Xue, and Miao were all top-level experts who had advanced to the Saint rank, an ordinary Saint rank expert might not be a match for any of them in a one-on-one fight. When they were chatting and laughing together, there was no need for guards to stand too close to protect them. The innermost protective line formed by Fang Shiling and the others was already set up more than twenty feet away.
"Sister Qian, Youlan, let's go." Hua Yinghong stopped himself from speaking, took the two beauties' smooth hands, and lightly floated down the mountain towards the commander's camp.

On Loushan Pass, Duan Zhengming, the commander of the Baiyi garrison, looked at the Free Army's phoenix flags flying across the mountains in the distance, unable to hide his worry. The Free Army's undefeated record and the murderous aura emanating from the camp terrified him.
If it weren't for the arrival of 10,000 elite Jade Dragon Army soldiers from the Sima clan as reinforcements, and the fact that the pass was so treacherous, Duan Zhengming probably would have surrendered. The Free Alliance never killed those who surrendered, and unlike the Hualong Continent and the Baiyi Kingdom, they never treated those who surrendered as slaves, sending them to Treasure Island for a month of labor before letting them choose their fate. They had an excellent reputation in this regard. The one
who refused to surrender and instead clamored to end the Free Army's undefeated myth was the Jade Dragon Army commander beside him—Sima Yi.
Sima Yi, around thirty years old, was tall and imposing, with a fair complexion and no beard. His eyes were piercing and sharp, and his entire being exuded explosive power, clearly indicating that his martial arts skills had reached an extremely high level.
Sima Yi was the nephew of Sima Zhao, the "Duke of Dingyi." He could have easily secured a high position in the army through family connections, but instead, he voluntarily started as a common platoon leader in the Baiyi Special Division. Over the past ten years, through dozens of battles, large and small, suppressing slave rebellions and ethnic minority resistance fighters, he accumulated military merits and rose step by step to the undisputed position of regimental commander. His ten thousand Jade Dragon Army soldiers were all exceptionally brave, and even his ten thousand reserve soldiers were almost indistinguishable from regular troops in terms of combat strength. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to speak so arrogantly.
"General Sima, the Free Army isn't launching an attack but rather seems to be building roads. Is there some kind of conspiracy?" Duan Zhengming asked somewhat guiltily.
As the saying goes, "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix." In fact, none of the Baiyi kings throughout history had been in a hurry to improve transportation and road conditions. Because of the extremely poor road conditions, regardless of which family held power on the Hua Long Continent, they could only rule indirectly through the Bai Yi royal family. However, if the roads were repaired, allowing armies to move freely, any major power could potentially invade, rendering the original royal family and nobles unnecessary.
Living off the exploitation of millions of slaves, the Bai Yi royal family and nobles lived lives of extreme luxury, perhaps even surpassing the emperors of the continent—if the Free Army widened and repaired the roads, regardless of ultimate victory or defeat, these good days would be gone forever.
As for waging war to conquer the continent, no Bai Yi king had ever entertained such an unwise idea—the Hua Long Continent was teeming with powerful figures and rulers; the Duan family was already content to be kings in the mountains, living a peaceful life in a secluded corner.
"The Free Army is just putting on a show, trying to repeat their old tricks. Loushan Pass is not Lingbao Pass on Zhenbao Island. They think they can take it from me so easily!" Sima Yi sneered. "There are only eight places to climb within a radius of dozens of miles, and I have stationed hundreds of soldiers and martial arts masters at each of these strategic points. No matter how powerful the Free Army's special forces are, they can't possibly outflank us."
From this alone, it's clear that Sima Yi is a shrewd individual, well-versed in the Free Army and Hua Yinghong's usual tactics, and his defenses are watertight. Climbing high mountains and cliffs is the specialty of the Free Army's special forces. But if there are guards on the peaks or other high points, even with hundreds of soldiers and martial arts masters stationed there, just a few dozen or a hundred men at each point cutting ropes or throwing rocks and trees to block their advance, even a million-strong army would be helpless!
"I've heard that there have been Bai ethnic rebels active in the Dalou Mountains recently. Could they be colluding with the Free Army?" Duan Zhengming asked, still uneasy. "If the rebels attack from the rear, we must be on guard."
Attacking Loushan Pass from the north is extremely difficult, requiring an uphill assault. However, attacking from the south is almost a direct assault, as the city walls are 300 zhang long and no more than 7 zhang high, making it relatively easier. In recent years, a young Bai general named Bai Jingfei has risen to prominence. He is quite resourceful and has gathered 30,000 righteous troops. Although poorly equipped and less powerful than the Baiyi Army or the Yulong Army, they have repeatedly thwarted the Baiyi and Yulong armies' attacks through strategy and the mountain terrain. If they were to disrupt the Free Army's attack from the rear at a crucial moment, it would be extremely troublesome.
"General Duan, there's no need to worry. If the Bai rebels dare to come, I have preparations to ensure Bai Jingfei's demise," Sima Yi said confidently.
"Oh? Everything depends on General Sima." Duan Zhengming seemed thoughtful. He wasn't stupid; he knew there was more to this than met the eye.
Others might not know, but Duan Zhengming, as a nobleman of the Duan family and nephew of King Duan Tiande of Baiyi, was well aware that since the Hualong Continent fell into chaos, the seemingly unambitious and pleasure-seeking "Duke Dingyi" Sima Zhao had secretly recruited over 160,000 reservists from the hundreds of thousands of Han Chinese in the Baiyi Kingdom, as well as some local nobles and Yi people who had submitted to the Sima family. These reservists were secretly trained and distributed among the six prefectures of Baiyi.
Sima Yi nominally had only one regiment of regular troops and one regiment of reserves. In reality, besides the 10,000 regular troops stationed at Loushan Pass, there were at least 30,000 Jade Dragon Army reserves under his command in Baoyi Prefecture, and tens of thousands of Baiyi troops were under Sima Yi's unified command. Duan Zhengming had been puzzled as to why Sima Yi hadn't deployed more troops to such a crucial pass as Loushan Pass, especially given the cunning and powerful Free Army. Now he realized that Sima Yi had included the Bai tribe's rebel army in his calculations—and which member of the Sima clan was easy to deal with?
"Fog is rising!" Just as Duan Zhengming was slightly relieved, a hint of worry appeared in Sima Yi's eyes.
The Baiyi region is mountainous, with unpredictable weather, and the fog and rain are hard to discern. However, at this critical juncture, the fog had come at an inopportune time—for the defensive side, failing to assess the situation is a major taboo in military strategy!

Volume 7 Who Will Prevail Chapter 139 Open Attack and Covert War
"How did Brother Bai manage to cross the enemy's defenses?" Hua Yinghong asked after confirming Bai Jingfei's identity.
Since Bai Jingfei and several of his close Bai ethnic followers were able to bypass the defenses of the Baiyi Army and the Yulong Army to reach them, Batian's special forces division and the elite warriors from various alliance factions accompanying him could do the same. If they could circle around to the rear of Loushan Pass, they would have a 99% chance of winning this battle with minimal losses.
Bai Jingfei, known as the "Number One Warrior of the Bai Ethnic Group," appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. He wore standard Bai ethnic attire, with an octagonal scarf and a black collared jacket. His clothing was simple, unpretentious, and dignified. While not exceptionally handsome, he was pleasing to the eye, and his face showed no trace of arrogance or frivolity.
Upon seeing the two stunning beauties, Xue Qianqian and Miao Youlan, Bai Jingfei's expression only showed a fleeting look of amazement. With Hua Yinghong's current cultivation level, he could tell that their skills were already extraordinary, probably only slightly inferior to his own.
"Marshal, Sima Yi has deployed a small squad of Jade Dragon Army to guard eight locations within dozens of miles of Dajianshan, Jizhaolong, Heishenfeng, Xiaojianshan, Jiulongshan Yakoushan, Xianrenshan, and Jindingshan, which are usually accessible to our rebel army. There are also many martial arts masters bribed by the Sima family assisting us. We only managed to sneak down the cliffs of Sunzishan, circling around for over thirty miles."
Bai Jingfei hesitated, then said, "The cliffs of Sunzishan are over three hundred zhang high. The Jade Dragon Army and Baiyi Army didn't send anyone to defend it, but the mountain is too steep; even monkeys can't climb it. Even I and a few of my close followers, who are experienced in traversing mountains year-round, find it difficult. A large army simply cannot climb it."
"Brother Bai, don't worry. Wherever people can go, the Special Operations Division can go." Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. The Free Army Special Forces Division's reputation had long been known throughout the Hua Long Continent, but Hua Yinghong knew Bai Jingfei must have some doubts, so he continued, "In terms of martial arts, the special forces members may not be as good as Brother Bai and the other experts, but in terms of traversing mountains and rivers, they are probably not much worse. However, a large force is not like a mere few people. If they are unfortunately discovered by the Jade Dragon Army's garrison and ambushed from their natural defenses, it will be extremely troublesome."
Just then, Fang Shiling entered the tent and reported, "Marshal, a thick fog has suddenly risen in the mountains, and visibility is reduced to within five zhang."
Bai Jingfei said, "Once fog rises in the mountains, it may take half a day to dissipate, and sometimes it may not dissipate for several days. If your army can really climb to the summit of Sunflower Mountain, then we don't need to worry about being discovered by the enemy."
Hua Yinghong was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Truly, heaven is helping me!"
*********
The fog grew thicker and thicker, and everything was a vast expanse of white.
Looking from the Lou Shan Pass tower, the Free Army camp two miles away had already disappeared into the thick fog. Even with Sima Yi's superhuman eyesight and keen senses, he could only see figures about thirty feet away. An ordinary soldier would be lucky to see anything more than ten feet away. Such weather conditions naturally presented an excellent opportunity for the attacking side to launch a surprise attack.
"Order all units to strengthen their defenses! Attack immediately with crossbows and catapults upon any unusual activity, and be vigilant against enemy attacks! Order the squads stationed at strategic points to closely monitor and prevent the enemy from scaling the mountain walls..." Sima Yi carefully reviewed the overall defensive deployment, feeling it was now flawless. However, he vaguely felt something was amiss, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"General Sima's military tactics are cautious and meticulous, his discipline strict; I deeply admire him," Duan Zhengming sincerely praised from the side. "Unless the Free Army sprouts wings, they will have a hard time getting away with this."
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!..." In the thick fog more than forty feet away, figures flashed, and hundreds of powerful arrows flew towards Loushan Pass.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!..." Cries of agony rang out as soldiers were struck by the "Sun-Shooting Arrows."
These powerful arrows, fired with the "Sun-Shooting Technique," were imbued with potent true energy. Even ordinary soldiers' steel shields were shattered by just one or two arrows, and the subsequent rain of arrows could not withstand them. Dozens of Baiyi and Yulong soldiers were instantly killed or wounded! "
Enemy attack! Counterattack!" Sima Yi pushed aside the shield blocking his path and grasped a powerful arrow. Even with his profound cultivation, the impact caused a slight
pain in his hand—such power! Such a terrifying attack! "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whew
...
"Ah! Ah! Ah!..." A series of extremely shrill screams echoed from the thick fog in the distance! The defending troops at the pass were greatly encouraged, and a rain of arrows, stones, and logs poured down from above!
"Stop!" After a while, Sima Yi noticed that the Free Army had only fired one volley of arrows and then fell silent, while the defending troops' attack was extremely frightening. He knew that they had fallen for the Free Army's trick of using up the defenders' arrows, stones, and logs, and hurriedly ordered a halt. Many archers had already emptied half their quivers, and each catapult had fired six rounds of stones! Hundreds of logs had been used!
Faintly, laughter, "Hehehe, hahaha," could be heard in the distance...
"What a cunning tactic!" Sima Yi began to feel a headache coming on—the Free Army's tactic of using skilled fighters to launch a surprise attack in the thick fog and then retreating immediately was clearly a way of using the fog to toy with the defenders. When the arrows, stones, and logs at the pass are nearly exhausted, a strong attack will be launched. By then, the defenders' advantage in terrain will be minimized, turning it into a fierce battle!
"Son of Freedom" Hua Yinghong is indeed no ordinary cunning man!
Forty feet away, figures flashed, and hundreds more powerful arrows from the Free Army whistled through the air!

Sunzi Mountain is the main peak of the Dalou Mountain range, its absolute elevation about 550 feet above the Devil's Sea level. It is named for its abundant production of fresh, tender, and fragrant square bamboo shoots, and for its uniquely steep peaks resembling bamboo shoots piercing the sky. The vertical cliffs rising from the foot of the peak alone exceed 300 feet high, truly a pillar supporting the heavens, startling even eagles and monkeys! At this moment, clouds and mist shrouded the mountain, making the summit completely invisible from the foot.
Hua Yinghong, Xue Qianqian, Miao Youlan, Ba Tian, along with 40,000 special forces soldiers, 3,000 Freedom Iron Guards, and over a thousand elite martial arts masters from various factions within the Freedom Alliance, stood silently at the foot of Bamboo Shoot Mountain, utterly awestruck by this natural wonder.
No wonder Sima Yi and the Baiyi Army hadn't sent anyone to defend Bamboo Shoot Mountain; with such treacherous terrain, even monkeys would find it extremely difficult to climb, let alone humans. Within dozens of miles, there were only sheer cliffs and deep valleys. Wherever there was a chance to climb, Sima Yi had stationed the Jade Dragon Army and martial arts masters. Even experts like Hua, Xue, and Miao, who had already reached the Innate Saint Rank, might not be able to succeed in a direct assault from above—if a giant boulder were to fall from a height of tens or hundreds of feet, the earth-shattering force would be beyond human capability!
Bai Jingfei cupped his hands to Hua Yinghong and said, "Marshal, let my few close followers make a fool of themselves first!"
"Good! I'm just about to witness the prowess of the Bai warriors. Brother Bai, please!" Hua Yinghong nodded with a slight smile.
Hua Yinghong knew perfectly well that although the rebel army, including Bai Jingfei, had invited the Free Army to help them, they were not necessarily convinced that outsiders were ruling over the Bai tribes. They were suspicious at every turn and inevitably wanted to demonstrate their strength. The six close followers that Bai Jingfei brought were clearly carefully selected, each possessing skills of the eighth or ninth rank. If such experts could only serve as followers, even if the rebel army had a large number of them, they wouldn't have been reduced to seeking outside help. But he didn't say it outright—only by demonstrating sufficient strength could these proud and arrogant minority men be truly convinced.
"Jingxiang, you go first!" Bai Jingfei said to one of the Bai youths who looked very much like him, "Wu Xiao, be careful."
"Don't worry, Brother Fei!" The six men responded in unison and then darted towards the foot of the peak. In a flash, the six men leaped over five zhang (approximately 10 meters) into the air, drew two-foot-long short swords from their backs, and plunged them deep into the hard granite. After regaining their footing, Bai Jingxiang flicked his wrist, sending out a three-zhang (approximately 10 meters) long rope with claws. With a "clang," it grabbed a protruding granite rock, secured itself, tested the rope's stability, and then, pulling out his short sword, soared straight upwards. Another man followed suit, also sending out a rope with claws… The six men worked in perfect unison, and in the blink of an eye, they had ascended dozens of zhang (approximately 33 meters)!
"The Bai warriors truly live up to their reputation!" Hua Yinghong clapped his hands lightly and said, "Without extraordinary skill, such a method of mountain climbing is indeed difficult. Second brother, now let's see how your special forces division performs."
"Don't worry, big brother, no mountain is too high for my brothers." Ba Tian was somewhat displeased with the Bai warriors' show of force and said gruffly, "Zhang Heigou, you lead the mountaineering team! If you lose face in front of my big brother, you'll all be sent to the reserves!"
"Don't worry, boss Ba, what's a little hill? Brothers, let's go!" Zhang Heigou, who had fought alongside Ba Tian against Qiu Shuibian in the Battle of Jubao, had become a regimental commander but still maintained his carefree demeanor.
Ten squads, comprising three thousand special forces soldiers, rushed to the foot of Sunflower Mountain. Each soldier took out a three-foot-long, yellowish, fluorescent iron rod-like object and a hammer from their backpacks. One hundred of them leaped over ten feet into the air, still managing to control their movements mid-air. Holding the iron rod firmly in their left hand and the hammer in their right, they easily hammered one end of the slightly pointed iron rod into the rock, driving it a foot deep! Then, they flew another ten feet into the air and hammered another row... After countless training sessions, the special forces soldiers' movements were incredibly skillful. In the blink of an eye, they had hammered six or seven rows, reaching a height of six or seven feet!
"I've made a fool of myself!" Hua Yinghong said to Bai Jingfei with a smile.
Bai Jingfei remained silent. His eyesight was exceptional; he could see that on the cliff face, about fifty zhang wide, there were neat rows of iron rods gleaming yellow, spaced about ten zhang apart. Each group of four rods formed a foothold, creating twenty-five zigzag staircases, clearly visible even in the thick fog. The climbers below quickly wrapped thin chains around the rods for easy footholds during leaps—
the special forces division's method, though not as aesthetically pleasing or fast as the Bai warriors' climbing techniques, was undeniably more practical, safer, and suitable for large-scale troop ascents. Once the iron rod staircase reached the summit, judging from the special forces division's recent rapid march of dozens of miles without breaking a sweat, these rods would indeed form twenty-five pathways to the top of Sunzi Mountain!
"The Marshal's invincible army commands my utmost respect!" Bai Jingfei's face beamed with joy—with such a powerful army, what did the Bai rebels have to fear in achieving their goal?

Loushan Pass. Even the usually composed and resolute Sima Yi was beginning to lose his composure!
It was already noon, and the thick fog showed no signs of dissipating. The hundreds of skilled archers dispatched by the Free Army had launched dozens of raids, each inflicting minor casualties on the defending soldiers. Although the casualties were few due to their preparedness, the occasional screams of pain from those struck by arrows dealt a fatal blow to their morale!
The defending soldiers' counterattacks against the fog-shrouded enemy were merely a waste of arrows, stones, and logs. The screams emanating from the Free Army within the thick fog were clearly feigned, intended to disrupt the morale of the defending soldiers! For after each scream, a burst of laughter from the Free Army soldiers echoed from the distant fog!
However, not retaliating was not an option—several times, the defenders at the pass thought it was just a bluff and didn't retaliate. But the experts from the Free Army would quietly infiltrate within thirty feet, unleashing hundreds of powerful arrows, dozens of which were infused with potent internal energy and possessed immense power. Even Sima Yi himself was nearly wounded, and ordinary soldiers' shields would be pierced and killed! This must be the masterpiece of the renowned "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain"!
Even more terrifying, on one occasion, a rumbling sound was heard from the hillside sixty or seventy feet away. Sima Yi thought it was another feint by the Free Army and ordered his men to ignore it. Unexpectedly, more than twenty flaming spheres flew into the sky from the thick fog, landing at the pass and exploding, igniting a raging fire. The unsuspecting defenders screamed in agony, for their shields offered no protection against the "Dragon Blood Bullets"! —Between deception and reality, the Free Army gave the defenders at the pass a small taste of the terrifying power of the "Dragon Blood Bullets"!
If the dense fog continued like this, Sima Yi had lost all confidence in holding Loushan Pass. When morale plummeted to a critical point, if the Free Army sent out skilled fighters to launch a surprise attack under the cover of fog, the losses wouldn't be too great.
"Why not just open the gates wide and lead the elite troops into the fog to wipe out the Free Army's sneak attack!" This thought flashed through Sima Yi's mind—the cunning Free Army might have already laid a trap, waiting for the defenders to fall in!
Fortunately, the outline of the sun faintly appeared in the sky, causing Sima Yi and the even more tense Duan Zhengming to relax slightly—the annoying fog was finally about to dissipate. Once the fog cleared and the sun shone, the Free Army in front of the pass would have nowhere to hide!
"Report! Xiaojianshan to the west has been captured by the Bai tribe's rebel army under the cover of fog!" Just as Sima Yi and Duan Zhengming breathed a sigh of relief that the seemingly endless torment was about to end because the fog was about to dissipate, a shocking piece of news suddenly arrived!
Strangely, upon hearing this news, Sima Yi revealed a smug, cold smile!
(Unless there are special circumstances, I will continue to update daily. Thank you for your support!)

Volume 7 Who Rules the World, Chapter 140: A Counter-Plot.
Xiaojianshan is located twenty li west of Loushan Pass and seven li east of Sunzishan. Its summit is about fifty zhang lower than Sunzishan, covering an area of about three and a half li in circumference. It is named for its cone-shaped summit. Because people frequently pass through here to gather bamboo shoots, herbs, and hunt, although the terrain is treacherous, there is a small path leading through. Passing Xiaojianshan and heading southeast, one can detour to the south of Loushan Pass. Along the way, there are still continuous mountains, but they are not particularly treacherous, offering many opportunities for detours.
It can be said that if Xiaojianshan is lost, Sima Yi's defensive line will have a major flaw. The Free Army will have many options for flanking attacks, and with their overwhelming numerical superiority, the defensive line constructed by the Yulong Army and the Baiyi Army will be riddled with holes!
The thick fog gradually dissipated around noon. Golden rays of sunlight illuminated the area stretching for miles before Loushan Pass, revealing every detail.
Looking out from the pass, Sima Yi, Duan Zhengming, and the guards witnessed a breathtaking scene—the slopes within a radius of twenty to a hundred zhang in front of the pass were littered with arrows, stones, and logs fired by the defenders in retaliation against the Free Army's sneak attack, along with several burning flames.
Not a single Free Army corpse was to be seen! Only hundreds of straw and wooden effigies, riddled with arrows, lay scattered across the slope, some with grinning faces painted on their "heads," seemingly mocking something… Meanwhile, in the distance, Free Army soldiers jokingly and playfully removed arrows from the thousands of straw and wooden effigies, as if collecting weapons!
From afar, Sima Yi saw a Free Army breaking camp and marching towards Xiaojianshan. His expression changed drastically. Upon receiving news that Xiaojianshan had been captured by nearly ten thousand Bai rebels under cover of fog, he had already ordered the twenty thousand Yulong Army reserves, secretly hidden south of Loushan Pass, to retake it. With the Yulong Army's fighting strength, and given that the terrain on the southern slope of Xiaojianshan was not particularly treacherous, he believed they could retake it soon and take the opportunity to annihilate the Bai rebels. However, if the Free Army reached the summit before the Yulong Army recaptured Xiaojianshan, even if Sima Yi sent the remaining ten thousand Yulong Army reserves and thirty thousand Baiyi soldiers hidden nearby, it would likely be too late!
Under the leadership of Bai Yi's holy maiden Bai Sisi and "First Warrior" Bai Jingfei, the Bai rebel army grew stronger with each battle, snowballing from less than two thousand to over thirty thousand. Like maggots clinging to bones, they caused headaches for the Baiyi royal families, the Duan and Sima clans, who intensified their encirclement and blockade. However, the rebels were adept at traversing mountains and rivers, their movements unpredictable. Encircling and annihilating them in the mountains was like finding a needle in a haystack—extremely difficult.
Sima Yi painstakingly concealed 60,000 troops, deploying only small detachments at strategic points, intending to lure the Bai rebels out during the Free Army's attack and then encircle and annihilate them. Normally, relying on the rugged terrain, several hundred Jade Dragon soldiers and dozens of martial arts masters should have been able to hold out for some time. However, the rebels inexplicably captured the mountain in a very short time, giving the concealed Jade Dragon army no time to encircle and attack.
But as soon as Xiaojian Mountain fell, 20,000 Jade Dragon soldiers hidden nearby arrived in the shortest possible time and launched an attack on the Bai rebels! As for the remaining 40,000 troops, the plan was to use the remaining 20,000 Bai rebels to come to their rescue, then encircle and attack from the rear, hoping to wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop!
Sima Yi's plan was undeniably ruthless: if the Bai ethnic rebels were wiped out, the Free Army, unfamiliar with the terrain, even if they managed to breach Loushan Pass, would likely become bogged down in their campaign against the Baiyi Kingdom, unable to extricate themselves, and ultimately forced to retreat in disgrace!
"Order the reserves to launch a full-scale attack! We must recapture Xiaojianshan before the Free Army arrives!" Having received no signal of Xiaojianshan's recapture for a long time, Sima Yi finally lost patience—the risks of continuing to wait and lure the majority of the Bai ethnic rebels out were far too great. If the Free Army climbed Xiaojianshan, they would be far more formidable than the Bai ethnic rebels!
"Urgent report from Xiaojianshan! Over 20,000 Bai rebels are heading west to reinforce!" Just as Sima Yi was feeling somewhat regretful, the smoke signals and urgent report that shot into the sky filled him with elation—the main force of the Bai rebel army had finally set out!
If he could annihilate the main force of the Bai rebel army in this battle, and capture Bai Sisi, the "most beautiful woman of the Baiyi," and present her to his uncle Sima Zhao, coupled with his merit in blocking the Free Army at Loushan Pass, in his uncle's upcoming large-scale military expansion plan, the position of division commander would probably be too small for Sima Yi...
"Order! All reserve troops to surround and attack the rebels from the rear, and fight a decisive battle at Xiaojianshan!" Sima Yi stared at the Free Army, which remained motionless in the distance before Loushan Pass, still not launching a strong attack, and secretly sneered: After the rebels are all wiped out, large numbers of troops will be stationed on various strategic mountain peaks, making it impossible for the Free Army to cross!
In his turbulent state of mind and somewhat smug, Sima Yi had completely forgotten why the Bai ethnic rebels dared to so recklessly commit their forces to a direct confrontation with the Yulong Army and the Baiyi Army, and had forgotten the slight apprehension he had previously harbored…

Hua Yinghong, Xue Qianqian, and Miao Youlan sat leisurely atop a large tree atop Xiaojian Mountain, calmly overlooking the entire battlefield.
Xue Qianqian released a pink "Peach Blossom Mist," concealing the three of them within it. Those outside couldn't see what they were doing in the mist—in fact, they weren't doing anything. Hua Yinghong, however, was rather affectionate, embracing the two beauties on either side of him, occasionally making small, suggestive gestures, teasing them until they were breathless and their cheeks flushed. Meanwhile,
several lines of defense, composed of three thousand special forces soldiers, five thousand Bai ethnic rebels, and two hundred martial arts masters, were engaged in fierce combat with the Yulong Army, relying on the mountain's terrain. The final line of defense consisted of two thousand Freedom Guards specifically tasked with protecting the marshal. Such a defensive line, let alone 20,000 Jade Dragon Army soldiers, even a full-scale Jade Dragon Army division, would not be able to recapture Xiaojianshan in a day or two!
After the special forces team set up the ladders, Hua Yinghong and others led the Free Guards, martial arts masters, and the special forces division, taking advantage of the thick fog, to successively cross the undefended Sunflower Mountain. Hua Yinghong, Xue Qianqian, and Miao Youlan personally led 200 martial arts masters and 500 Free Guards to rush straight towards Xiaojianshan while the fog had not yet dissipated, quietly advancing from the rear.
Along the way, although the Jade Dragon Army had set up many visible and hidden sentries in the fog, they were all detected by Hua Yinghong and others' extraordinary senses and
were quietly eliminated one by one. The Jade Dragon Army squad responsible for defending Xiaojianshan and dozens of martial arts masters hired by the Sima family were all focused on the north, and were almost completely unaware when they were attacked by the Sun-Shooting Arrows and Divine Crossbows, leaving only about a hundred masters!
The remaining Jade Dragon Army and Baiyi martial arts masters fought desperately, but the difference in strength was too great, and they were all killed in the melee. Surprisingly, among those martial arts masters were two fierce warriors who had just advanced to the Innate Saint Rank. Their swordsmanship was extremely domineering, and they killed and wounded several Free Guards. However, they were no match for Hua Yinghong, Xue Qianqian, and Miao Youlan. The three were of one mind and did not follow the rules of the martial arts world. They cooperated perfectly and quickly surrounded and killed the two!
The Jade Dragon Army squad leader in charge of defense was also at the eighth rank, which made people secretly amazed at how powerful the Jade Dragon Army trained by Sima Yi was. But he was quickly surrounded and killed after giving the signal!
According to the intelligence collected by the former Baiyi branch of the Restoration Society and the Military Intelligence Division: Since the outbreak of the war on the Hualong Continent, Baiyi King Duan Tiande and "Duke Dingyi" Sima Zhao have successively sent batches of troops to Tongjun County, which borders Tianshui Prefecture, and recruited a large number of reservists to train in various places. Sima Yi, the regimental commander stationed in Baoyi Prefecture, commanded no fewer than 40,000 Jade Dragon Army soldiers, and the Duan family also stationed no fewer than 40,000 Baiyi regular troops.
Faced with the overwhelming force of 200,000 Free Army soldiers pressing in, Sima Yi only led 10,000 Jade Dragon Army soldiers to reinforce Loushan Pass, and stationed only a small squad and a few dozen martial arts experts at various strategic locations. This was clearly unusual.
If Sima Yi intended to keep the Free Army out of Loushan Pass, he only needed to send a large battalion to each of the treacherous mountain peaks. Even with support from the Bai ethnic rebels, and even if the Special Operations Division and the Free Iron Guard scaled the cliffs of Sunzi Mountain, opening a passage for a large army would not be easy! After all, the First Army Corps didn't have many men with the specialized mountain-climbing skills of the Special Operations Division!
After harboring doubts and confirming the information obtained from meeting with Bai Jingfei, Hua Yinghong was over 90% certain that Sima Yi's true target was the Bai ethnic rebels. Therefore, he devised a plan to lure the enemy into a trap by first capturing Xiaojianshan. The area
within several miles of Xiaojianshan had become a bloodbath—20,000 Yulong soldiers desperately charged up the southern slope against the combined defenses of the Bai ethnic rebels and 5,000 special forces soldiers disguised as Bai ethnic rebels. However, they suffered heavy casualties time and again under the dense barrage of arrows from the high ground and the powerful crossbows. Any progress the Yulong army made was only the result of Hua Yinghong's orders for the special forces divisions and rebel soldiers to retreat in an organized manner. They needed to give the Yulong army some hope of capturing the hill, so they wouldn't immediately realize their mistake and flee.
Thousands of corpses lay at the foot of the southern slope of Xiaojianshan, the rocks and soil soaked crimson with blood…
“Kill!” Ten thousand soldiers of the Special Operations Division in black armor and red uniforms, along with ten thousand Bai ethnic minority militia soldiers wearing white turbans, launched a surprise attack from the rear of the Jade Dragon Army attacking the mountain. The Jade Dragon Army, prepared in advance by order of Sima Yi, had established a strong defensive line on several unnamed peaks south of Xiaojianshan, a strategically advantageous location. A hail of arrows and flying stones felled large numbers of the eager Bai ethnic minority militia soldiers rushing to the front like straw!
“Stop! Stop! Construct a defensive line!” Of the original regimental commanders of the Special Operations Division, Gu Tianfang and Qu Qingbo, who had been promoted to commanders of the 14th and 15th Divisions respectively, and Zeng Guozhong, who had been promoted to deputy division commander and first regimental commander of the Special Operations Division with the rank of Major General Pei, saw the situation was dire and hurriedly shouted, channeling their inner energy!
The loud, rough voice boomed like thunder, echoing for miles amidst the clamor and shouts of tens of thousands of people, demonstrating Zeng Guozhong's rapid improvement in skill—the special operations division was well-trained, stopping abruptly and quickly ascending several unnamed hills to construct a defensive line against the escape of the inner Yulong army and attacks from the outer Yulong army!
The Bai ethnic rebels, lacking proper training, saw some attempting to continue their assault on the Yulong army's lines, while others tried to follow the special operations division soldiers to form a counter-encirclement. In the chaos, the rebels suffered over a thousand casualties at the hands of the Yulong army before finally returning to the defensive line constructed by the special operations division—Hua Yinghong watched from the treetop atop Xiaojian Mountain, shaking his head in disbelief!
"Kill! Annihilate the rebel army!" Ten thousand Yulong Army reserves and thirty thousand Baiyi Army soldiers shouted, dividing into eight routes to attack the defensive line that Zeng Guozhong had just erected from the southern perimeter. Amidst the deafening shouts of tens of thousands of people, even the Yulong Army generals in command overlooked a glaring fact: when did the Bai ethnic rebels become uniformed in black armor and red robes?
Encirclement—counter-encirclement—encirclement again… Xiaojianshan became the first decisive battlefield for the Free Army's conquest of the Yi!
The price of misjudging the situation was heavy—the Yulong Army and Baiyi Army were still clinging to the familiar advantage in weaponry and combat power they had gained from previous battles against the Bai ethnic rebels. Relying on their sturdy steel shields and armor, they ignored the arrows scattered and falling from the sky by the Bai ethnic rebels and forcibly advanced to within eighty paces of the Special Operations Division's defensive line!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!..." With Zeng Guozhong's command, thousands of arrows, their shafts made of fine steel and imbued with powerful true energy, unleashed a terrifying whistle as they hurtled towards the Jade Dragon Army and Baiyi Army at the forefront!
"Ah! Ah! Ah!..." Heart-wrenching screams rose and fell. Ordinary steel shields and armor, accustomed to raising their shields diagonally upwards to block the rain of arrows, could not withstand the powerful Sun-Shooting Arrows! The powerful first wave of arrows blasted away the steel shields, and the subsequent continuous rain of arrows felled more than three thousand Jade Dragon Army and Baiyi Army soldiers like straw being cut down! The Jade Dragon
Army and Baiyi Army soldiers who "luckily" made it within fifty paces of the Special Forces Division's defensive line were once again met with a rapid-fire volley from two thousand divine crossbows, and almost none of them were able to reach the front line!
Hundreds of Jade Dragon Army experts and Baiyi martial arts masters, relying on their profound skills, used steel shields and weapons to force back the rain of arrows. After expending a large amount of true energy, they charged into the special operations division's defensive line with their formidable strength, only to find that they were surrounded and attacked by hundreds of experts whose skills were no less than their own...
In less than a quarter of an hour, the 10,000 Yulong Army and 30,000 Baiyi Army soldiers on the outer perimeter, who had been overjoyed at finally annihilating the Bai rebels and had made a great contribution, had two battalions of 6,000 men shot down by the powerful attack of the special forces division! The archers deployed by the attacking side only caused slight chaos in the enemy's defensive line, killing some Bai warriors with insufficient defensive experience. The originally overwhelming offensive was immediately halted!
"Free Army!" Awakened by the bloody reality, the soldiers of the Yulong Army and Baiyi Army finally recognized that the black-armored and red-clad warriors who had built an impenetrable defensive line were the world-renowned Free Army. They were stunned by the Free Army's sudden appearance!
"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!" Six combined smoke signals rose from the positions of the Yulong Army and Baiyi Army respectively, urgently reporting the latest battle situation to Sima Yi at Loushan Pass!
"Sister Qian, Youlan, this is the last scene!" Judging that Batian, who had taken a roundabout route to ambush them, had reached his designated position, Hua Yinghong embraced "Peach Blossom Fairy" Xue Qianqian and "Peerless Jade Maiden" Miao Youlan, their slender waists easily encircled, and kissed each of their delicate, smooth faces.
"Hua Lang!—" Miao Youlan's cheeks flushed crimson, infinitely shy. Even with the cover of the Peach Blossom Miasma, she was still somewhat unaccustomed to such intimacy under the bright bright sky.
"Mmm!" Peach Blossom Fairy Xue Qianqian, however, thoroughly enjoyed her young lover's straightforward and bold actions.
Hua Yinghong brought many familiar behaviors and mannerisms from another world, which seemed remarkably similar to the unrestrained doctrines of the Holy Church. This made Xue Qianqian, who dared to love and hate, even more enamored with him. Therefore, she responded to Hua Yinghong's affection with fiery passion, offering him a sweet kiss and lingeringly sucking on his lips...

Volume 7 Who Rules the World Chapter 141 Blood-Red Sunset
"Brother Duan, Loushan Pass depends entirely on you!" One urgent report after another made Sima Yi no longer able to sit and wait for victory at Loushan Pass with peace of mind: First, the 20,000 Jade Dragon Army attacking Xiaojianshan was counter-encircled, and surprisingly, 10,000 Free Army soldiers appeared among them! Then, the 40,000 troops that launched another encirclement and
attack from the outside were thwarted and were counter-encircled again by 30,000 Free Army soldiers and the Bai ethnic allied forces who detoured from the direction of Sunzishan! Sunzishan! Sima Yi was very familiar with the terrain of Sunzishan. In his deployment, he never thought that the hundreds of feet of extremely steep cliffs on the north side could be climbed and crossed by the Free Army! This oversight caused a fatal error in his otherwise perfect plan. He only now realized that the lingering unease in his heart stemmed from the seemingly impregnable Sunzi Mountain—but it was too late!
However, at this moment, on the Xiaojianshan battlefield, the Yulong Army and the Baiyi Army had committed a total of 60,000 troops, while the Bai tribe rebels and the Free Army also numbered 60,000. Whichever side could gain more reinforcements would likely achieve a decisive victory; this was a battle with no room for retreat! Sima
Yi's 10,000 troops stationed at Loushan Pass were his strongest force prepared to counter the Free Army's strong attack. If they were deployed to the Xiaojianshan battlefield now, they would be a vital force capable of breaking the balance of power, and perhaps even offering a chance to turn the tide of battle.
"General Sima, rest assured, with this formidable pass, these ten thousand soldiers, and ample defensive weaponry, even though I am not capable, I can hold out for a day or two." Duan Zhengming said with conviction, "I wish you a resounding victory and that you will lead your troops to our aid."
Duan Zhengming was also an extremely shrewd man, knowing that Xiaojianshan had now become the main battlefield for both sides: the Free Army, having found a breakthrough, would certainly not be foolish enough to launch a strong attack on the formidable Loushan Pass, only to suffer unnecessary losses. Therefore, he readily agreed.
"Order full speed ahead to reinforce Xiaojianshan!" Sima Yi, seeing the urgent signal rising again in the west, led his 10,000 Jade Dragon Army out of the south gate of Loushan Pass, rushing towards the Xiaojianshan battlefield in the west...

"It's time to end this!" Hua Yinghong, watching the smoke signal rising in the direction of Loushan Pass, said to Xue Qianqian and Miao Youlan, whose cheeks were flushed and who were even more radiant after a passionate kiss, "Tonight we finally won't have to sleep in the wilderness!"
The signal indicated that Ba Tian had personally led 10,000 special forces soldiers, 1,000 Free Guards, and nearly 1,000 martial arts masters to ambush between Loushan Pass and Xiaojianshan, successfully surrounding Sima Yi's Jade Dragon Army regiment and hundreds of Baiyi martial arts masters recruited by "Duke Dingyi" Sima Zhao, who were rushing to reinforce. This cut off the Jade Dragon Army and the Baiyi Army's escape route back to Loushan Pass and Baoyi Prefecture, and also meant that it was time for the final assault.
From the beginning, Hua Yinghong had no intention of launching a full-scale attack on the extremely treacherous Loushan Pass.
Regardless of the overwhelming numerical advantage, Hua Yinghong always considered a direct assault on fortified cities and strategic passes a last resort. His core military strategy was to use every means possible to attack where the enemy was forced to defend, to lure them away from their strongholds, and to engage in a decisive battle while on the move and in a favorable position.
Of course, while this strategy sounded simple, it was extremely difficult to execute. For example, if it weren't for the Bai ethnic minority rebels, whom both the Sima and Duan families were determined to capture, acting as bait to lure the 30,000 Yulong Army and 30,000 Baiyi Army under Sima Yi's command into a perilous situation at Xiaojianshan, Sima Yi might not have easily left Loushan Pass to reinforce them. However
, a large army campaigning against the Yi, heavy weaponry, and large quantities of supplies couldn't be transported via side roads, and Loushan Pass was a place that absolutely had to be captured. In this way, even if the main force of the Free Army crossed Xiaojianshan and launched a strong attack from the relatively flat south, Loushan Pass, guarded by 20,000 elite enemy troops and well-supplied with provisions and weapons, would not be easily captured by the Free Army. Especially with the extremely experienced Sima Yi and the elite Yulong Army, renowned for their fearlessness, the cost of a strong attack on this formidable pass would be incalculable!
"Brother, we've won again!" Miao Youlan gazed at Hua Yinghong's resolute face with her phoenix eyes, deeply captivated by the intelligent light shining in them. She recalled how she had initially been moved by his profound gaze and had hastily offered herself to save him when he was poisoned by the venomous snake, thus forging a wondrous bond. She was somewhat lost in thought.
"Brother Hong, who is Wuzhu? It's truly a tragedy to be your enemy." Xue Qianqian smiled faintly, also recalling her first encounter with Hua Yinghong.
Xue Qianqian was also confident in her intelligence. Over the years, before she broke through the bottleneck of her Nine Revolutions Peach Blossom Charm Technique, she was able to control the Peach Blossom Palace, which had numerous experts and businesses all over the world, with only the peak of the ninth rank. This was not only due to the support of the Holy Maiden Ji Xiuqing and the "Two Beauties of Peach Blossom," but more importantly, it was due to her meticulous mind and political skills.
In Jubao Town, because she exposed Hua Yinghong's plan to retreat from Alang Mountain and secretly seize Xigang, Xue Qianqian, Liu Yufei, and Hua Yinghong almost became mortal enemies! If it weren't for the venom of the lustful snake, and if the "Amorous Young Master" Xu Xiaoyao hadn't been so disappointing, Xue Qianqian and the Peach Blossom Palace might have followed the Yinming Sect on the path of opposing Hua Yinghong's Free Army...
The world is so strange. Between enemy and friend, love and hatred, it turns out that there is only a fine line, or it is due to a little bit of chance!
"Order the general offensive!" Hua Yinghong's voice accurately reached the ears of the messenger waiting dozens of feet away. "Whoosh!" The waiting messenger fired a signal arrow, which soared into the sky and exploded into a dazzling firework...
"Toot toot toot... Beep beep beep... Toot toot toot... Beep beep beep..." Hua Yinghong ingeniously used a specially made horn as a bugle call, replacing the cumbersome war drums, and used it for the first time in the advance on the Baiyi Kingdom.
"Kill!—" Hua Yinghong, Xue, and Miao personally led the Free Guards, special forces members, and martial arts masters to charge towards the foot of the mountain, where the remaining ten thousand-plus Jade Dragon Army soldiers, who had failed to capture the mountain after several unsuccessful attacks, were trapped! Thousands of Bai ethnic militia, their morale greatly boosted, followed suit in a fierce charge...
"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!..." On the rugged path north of Xiaojian Mountain, Qin Zhong, the usually composed commander of the First Division, was now constantly urging his 40,000 soldiers to quickly climb Xiaojian Mountain—the order for the general offensive had been issued, and if they were late to the battlefield, it wasn't that he was afraid of missing opportunities, but rather that the already extremely powerful special forces and Freedom Guards, coupled with the encouragement of the Marshal's personal intervention, might get so caught up in the fighting that the First Division would only be left to clean up the battlefield...

Sima Yi never expected that leading 10,000 Jade Dragon soldiers and 600 Baiyi martial arts masters to reinforce Xiaojianshan would lead him into a carefully laid trap by the Free Army! Under the relentless barrage of arrows and crossbow bolts, his 10,000 elite Jade Dragon soldiers, whom he had painstakingly trained, became the targets of a brutal massacre!
Upon discovering the ambush, Sima Yi immediately ordered a concentrated charge towards Xiaojianshan, but the vast majority of the Jade Dragon soldiers fell before even reaching within twenty zhang of the Free Army's lines. Hundreds of highly skilled soldiers, armed with shields, finally reached the Free Army's position, hoping to disrupt the archers' positions, but they were surprised to find the Free Army teeming with experts. A single encirclement and attack swiftly killed these fighters, who were usually capable of taking on ten or even a hundred Baiyi rebels—ranged attacks only increased casualties, and close combat offered no advantage! What was the point of fighting like this?
Left with no other choice, Sima Yi led 300 of his most elite personal guards and 600 martial arts masters in a charge alongside the Jade Dragon Army. After losing over 300 men to the Sun-Shooting Arrows and Divine Crossbows, over 500 masters finally broke into the Free Army's position!
They were met with a deadly trap formed by the imposing, godlike Ba Tian, 300 elite special forces guards, 1,000 Free Army Iron Guards, and 1,000 martial arts masters—who,
chanting "Glory is my life!", died one by one in the encirclement, unwilling to accept their fate! The martial arts masters, hired at great expense by "Duke Dingyi" Sima Zhao, were already in disarray under the Free Army's long-range and close-range attacks. Each tried to escape using their superior martial arts, but were mercilessly shot down by the Free Army! Thirty-six members of the renowned archer "Forty-Eight Arrows of Gaoshan" from the Free Army had arrived here. Even dozens of ninth-rank and a dozen newly promoted Saint-rank martial arts masters, with their wills broken, could not escape being shot and surrounded... In the midst of a large army, with the overwhelming numbers, even the strongest individual martial arts proved limited.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!" After a series of fierce strikes, true energy scattered violently. Ba Tian and Sima Yi each flew back two zhang, standing opposite each other!
Sima Yi and Ba Tian had exchanged one hundred and sixty-nine blows, each a hard-fought clash without any fancy moves. This had consumed too much of his true energy and internal energy, causing even his newly promoted Saint-rank cultivation to become somewhat depleted. He frantically absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish his depleted true energy.
Although the Sima family's unique "Jade Planting Technique" was originally best suited for swordsmanship, Sima Yi had been obsessed with the saber since childhood, forging his own path and creating a fierce, ruthless, and domineering saber technique through actual combat. He honed his skills in real battles, and today he finally met a formidable opponent!
Ba Tian stood casually, exuding an aura of dominance. He stared at Sima Yi's long saber, "Wind Slash," for a long time, then laughed loudly, "That was truly a satisfying fight! The saber is the courage of all weapons; this saber is excellent, and the saber technique is superb. It's a pity you met me, Ba Tian!"
Ba Tian's laughter grew louder, and a strong killing intent rose with it. After his battle with Ding Baiqiang at Pumpkin Hill, Ba Tian's understanding of the saber had reached a new level. Furthermore, Hua Yinghong, out of love for his sworn brother, selflessly channeled a large amount of Primordial True Qi and Sea Dragon Pill Qi into him, helping him break through the bottleneck of the Innate Saint Rank!
Ba Tian actually greatly admired Sima Yi's saber technique and skill, and they shared a mutual respect. However, his elder brother had given the order to take Sima Yi's head at all costs, to benefit the entire future battle. He might disregard everyone else's authority, but he dared not disobey the order of his revered elder brother, Hua Yinghong!
Sima Yi felt Ba Tian's overwhelming domineering and heroic aura. He gripped his Zhanfeng Blade tightly, forgetting his perilous situation, facing a highly skilled opponent alone amidst millions of enemy soldiers, forgetting that his opponent showed no signs of fatigue after a hard-fought battle and was clearly stronger than him... He focused his mind on the long blade in his hand, activating the "Jade Planting Technique" at full power. The gray and dull Zhanfeng Blade suddenly emitted a flowing jade-white light, and the Jade Planting True Qi unleashed a blade beam four feet long!
"Born for the blade, die for the blade!" In an instant, Sima Yi's gaze sharpened like a blade, his body and blade merging into one, shooting straight at Ba Tian two zhang away. The Zhanfeng Blade in his hand followed his gaze and slashed towards Ba Tian with lightning speed.
"Clang!" Ba Tian had already unleashed his full power, wielding "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies," one of the "Three Styles of Breaking the Sky ." The blades clashed, sparks flying in a sea of blue and white light, like a fierce tiger and a blue dragon locked in a fierce battle—
a continuous, deafening roar filled the air as the two exchanged thirty-six blows in an instant! Both their sword techniques were based on raw power and ferocity. Their surging true energy caused powerful air currents to ripple outwards within a ten-foot radius, sending rocks and soil flying and forcing the Freedom Guards and Special Forces members watching to retreat. Within the aura of two masters clashing, unless one's own power could withstand their combined attack, or at least be equal, it was best to retreat to avoid being caught in the crossfire and suffering undeserved harm!
Sima Yi was enveloped in "Jade Seed True Qi," his eyes seemingly dripping with blood. Ignoring the chaotic true qi within his body, before even landing, he merged body and blade, unleashing his desperate attack, "Jade and Stone Burn Together," at Ba Tian. His Wind-Slaying Blade and himself transformed into a fierce beam of light, attacking Ba Tian with unparalleled momentum!
Life or death hinged on this one move!
Ba Tianhu's eyes revealed admiration and solemnity. His left hand, wielding his scabbard, flashed horizontally, while his right hand, filled with the True Qi of Breaking Void, wielded the Hundred-Refined Battle Blade, unleashing the final move of the Three Clans of Breaking Heaven, "Unstoppable Advance," with lightning speed! When
two strong forces clash, the brave prevail! Sima Yi disregarded Ba Tian's sharp blade, capable of piercing metal and stone. His Wind-Slaying Blade showed no hesitation or pause—Ba Tian, with only his left hand scabbard, could not possibly block this strike imbued with his full power! In any case, being surrounded by countless experts meant certain death; exchanging life for life with the enemy commander was the best possible outcome!
Seeing that the inevitable mutual destruction was inevitable as both men pierced each other's hearts—
"Boss Ba!" The special forces members watching from afar were shocked that Ba Tian would resort to such a suicidal tactic when he had the upper hand in both the overall battlefield situation and the one-on-one duel!
Sima Yi felt his Wind-Slaying Blade being parried by its sheath, which dissipated much of its force. After breaking through Ba Tian's protective aura and armor, the Wind-Slaying Blade, which was originally meant to pierce through the chest, suddenly seemed to have struck something extremely soft, slippery, and elastic. Instead of piercing through the left chest, it passed under Ba Tian's left armpit, without causing fatal damage—almost simultaneously, Sima Yi felt a sharp pain in his left chest as Ba Tian's blade pierced his heart!
Ba Tian's formidable external martial arts prowess increased with his own growing strength, making this exchange of blows between experts of the same level a close call!
"...Miao... Clan... Jade Embracing... Skill!..." Sima Yi's eyes widened, his internal organs and meridians shattered by the overwhelming Void-Breaking True Qi. He coughed up blood, managing only a few words before dying instantly!
"What is that?" Ba Tian was utterly bewildered, stunned by Sima Yi's inexplicable dying words...

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but we stride forward anew. Anew, the mountains are like a sea, the setting sun like blood." Hua Yinghong gazed at the rolling mountains and the blood-red setting sun, casually reciting a plagiarized line.
The poem, filled with both heroic spirit and poignant sorrow, captivated those around him, leaving a lingering aftertaste. From then on, no one dared to sway their heads and recite poems before the majestic Loushan Pass!
After Sima Yi's death, the Yulong Army and Baiyi Army, already at a disadvantage on the Xiaojianshan battlefield and further weakened by Qin Zhong's First Division of the Free Army joining the battle, lost all morale and the will to fight to the death. Apart from the more than two thousand die-hards loyal to "Duke Dingyi" Sima Zhao and "King Baiyi" Duan Tiande who resisted to the end and were killed, the remaining forty thousand were divided and surrounded, and surrendered one after another.
When Duan Zhengming, the commander of the Baiyi Army at Loushan Pass, saw tens of thousands of troops approaching the southern city wall of Loushan Pass and saw Sima Yi's head hanging high in front of the battle lines, he knew that the situation was hopeless. After receiving a guarantee of safety, he had no choice but to lead his troops to surrender the pass. The gate to the Baiyi Kingdom was thus opened to the Free Army...
On the same evening, thousands of miles away in the central prefecture of the distant Great Liang Kingdom, the setting sun in the eyes of countless Great Liang people was also filled with endless bloodstains—the
Wa Nu Kingdom, which had long coveted and plotted against the Hua Long Continent, finally launched a massive landing of a million troops in the central prefecture of the Great Liang Kingdom!

Volume 8, Chapter 142: The Enchanting Beauty Cheng
Yuanyuan. December 5th, 994th year of the Hualong Calendar, approaching Chen Shi (7-9 AM). In the capital city of Yajing, at the Great Liang Palace.
On the dragon bed, King Zhu Wen of Great Liang lay half-asleep, uttering low moans. The faint, alluring fragrance emanating from the beautiful Cheng Yuanyuan was the perfect aphrodisiac, stirring lustful thoughts within him.
Cheng Yuanyuan's smooth, pink tongue slid down Zhu Wen's chest, finally stopping at his lower abdomen, gently licking and kissing it.
A wave of pleasurable trembling pleasure rose from his lower abdomen. The beauty's rosy lips formed a round "O" shape, tightly sucking on his dragon root, swallowing and releasing it with just the right amount of pressure. The soft, slippery, and dizzying sensation washed over Zhu Wen's mind like a tidal wave, and his dragon root swelled rapidly, as hard as metal.
"Your Majesty, let Yuanyuan serve you!" Cheng Yuanyuan straightened her delicate body, straddling Zhu Wen's body with extremely seductive movements, taking his dragon root in—
"Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!" Just as Zhu Wen and the beauty were about to engage in a three thousand rounds of battle, nine earth-shattering drumbeats resounded through the sky.

The nine drumbeats almost woke up the millions of people in the capital city from their sweet dreams!
"Are they crazy?" many people muttered curses under their blankets, continuing their spring and autumn dreams.
The winter night was long, and it was still dark. Apart from the officials who had to attend the morning court and the guards on night patrol, most people were sound asleep. To wake someone at this time would be utterly rude and invite trouble!
"Nine slaps of the golden drum, shaking heaven and earth." The golden drum before the royal palace was set up by Zhu Hongwu, the grandfather of Zhu Wen, the King of Liang and the founder of the Liang Dynasty. It was specifically for use in cases of petitions to the emperor or in the event of a momentous event that would lead to the destruction of the kingdom or clan.
Normally, the drum should not be sounded lightly. According to the rules set by King Hongwu, if a commoner wanted to petition the emperor, they had to first roll over a ten-zhang-long, six-chi-wide iron nail board laid out beforehand outside the palace, wearing only their undergarments, and only if they survived could they strike the drum three times! However, this required the King of Liang to personally review the petition, investigate the injustice, and handle the matter impartially.
Each nail on the nail board was eight inches long, with its sharp points pointing upwards. An ordinary person would usually die before rolling more than three zhang (approximately 10 meters). At the beginning of its construction, dozens of people who felt wronged and had nowhere to turn died on the nail board. In the decades that followed, no one died needlessly.
However, there was one exception: fifteen years ago, an old woman miraculously survived rolling over the nail board. She struck the gong three times, accusing her daughter-in-law of adultery, murdering her husband, seizing the family fortune, and bribing officials to cover up the truth! She had nowhere to turn but heaven and earth to appeal to. At that time, the current King Zhu Wen of Liang was in his prime and personally tried the case. He not only beheaded the adulterous couple but also imprisoned and punished the implicated officials, earning a great reputation! From then on, the officialdom of the Liang Kingdom was quite clean for several years.
The gong struck six times, however, when court officials wanted to report important matters to the King of Liang but could not obtain an audience. There's no need to roll on a bed of nails beforehand, but disturbing the king usually results in punishments ranging from dismissal and salary reduction to a hundred strokes of the cane and permanent banishment, depending on the severity!
As for striking the drum nine times, this has never happened since its inception—only a first-rank official, a minister of one of the six ministries, or a first-class duke can strike it. The act must be a momentous event that threatens the very survival of the nation and its people, and the current King of Liang must be incompetent and corrupt, allowing for a court debate to depose him and save the dynasty from ruin!
Zhu Hongwu established this drum to warn his descendants that whoever ascends the throne must not neglect state affairs. However, if the person striking the drum nine times fails, they face the wrath of having their family and property confiscated, serving as a warning against reckless actions!
"Who is so bold as to strike the drum nine times?" In the capital city, civil and military officials rushed to the court hall, speculating wildly.
For ten consecutive days, Zhu Wen, the Prince of Liang, had not attended the morning court session. Every day, his most trusted eunuch, Gao Zhongxian, would announce in his androgynous voice, "If there's anything to report, report it; otherwise, court is adjourned." The civil and military officials, accustomed to this, had become much less enthusiastic about the morning court. However, no one expected that someone would dare risk the annihilation of their family and clan by striking the nine-beat drum—whoever it was, including Zhu Wen himself, even if they were in the latrine, had to immediately obey the rules set by Zhu Hongwu and arrive at court on time!

"Your Majesty, again!..." The stunningly beautiful, naked Cheng Yuanyuan, on the dragon bed, was engrossed in her passionate lovemaking with Zhu Wen when the drumbeat interrupted her. Extremely displeased, she pleaded in a coquettish voice.
A year ago, the eunuch Gao Zhongxian had presented Cheng Yuanyuan to Zhu Wen. This woman seemed to possess a naturally alluring body, supple and boneless, with a subtle, exotic fragrance. She was also highly skilled in seductive arts, employing a myriad of techniques in bed, captivating the Great Liang King Zhu Wen to the point of oblivion. He longed to hold her in his arms and indulge in sensual pleasures every moment. Had Zhu Wen not been ambitious and capable in his youth, possessing a highly refined family-inherited martial art, he would likely have long since been drained of his vitality by Cheng Yuanyuan. Even so, Zhu Wen's indulgence in pleasure made it commonplace for him to skip morning court sessions.
For the past ten days or so, he hadn't attended a single morning court session, leaving all matters, large and small, to the officials to handle at their discretion, while important matters were relayed to him by Gao Zhongxian.
"My beauty, the drums are beating nine times, how can I not go?" Although Zhu Wen's mind was somewhat muddled, no matter how incompetent he was, he dared not forget the teachings of his ancestors.
In Gao Zhongxian's daily report, it was reported that the Great Liang Dynasty was currently enjoying favorable weather and peace. Although the Long family had suffered defeats in Yunyuan and Nanhai counties, the main forces of their two legions had safely withdrawn and were preparing to retake the four lost prefectures. As for the invasion of the small Japanese kingdom, the main forces of the Wuyi Legion and the Imperial Guard Legion had already gone to eliminate it. He didn't understand why the gongs and drums, which hadn't sounded nine times in decades, were being played now. Even if he was somewhat greedy and lustful, neglecting state affairs, surely it wouldn't warrant a high-ranking official risking the extermination of his clan to propose his removal from office?
"Your Majesty! Minister of War Yu Chenglong has struck the gongs and drums before the palace, disturbing the royal procession. Please punish him severely!" The high-pitched, ambiguous voice of the Grand Eunuch Gao Zhongxian came from outside the tent.
"Yu Chenglong?" Zhu Wen's mind jolted, and he broke out in a cold sweat, becoming much more sober!
Minister of War Yu Chenglong was known for his integrity, and the Yu family of Wuyi County was always loyal to the Zhu royal family, a fact known throughout the country. King Zhu Wen of Liang had always trusted Yu Chenglong to control the Ministry of War and directly command the Imperial Guard. Now, however, Yu Chenglong had struck the gong, a grave matter indeed!

In the reception hall of the Minister of War's residence, a man and two women stood facing each other. The man was dressed in snow-white robes, while the two women wore white and red dresses, both with their faces veiled, concealing their true appearances.
"Junior Sister," said Yu Chenglong's son, Yu Jiuzhou, "my father ignored my advice and struck the gong, his death imminent. Out of familial affection, I, his foolish senior brother, have no choice but to intervene. I humbly request your permission."
Yu Jiuzhou wore a spotless long robe, its material as smooth and silky as silk, naturally pleasing to the eye. His exceptionally handsome face exuded a unique, innate charm. His tall, muscular physique was without an ounce of excess fat. His thick, dark eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, his gentle, watery eyes, and his flawless face were enough to make any young woman's heart flutter!
Yu Chenglong had two sons and a daughter; Yu Jiuzhou was the third. His eldest son, Yu Sihai, was currently the commander of the Great Liang Kingdom's Imperial Guard, commanding the Imperial Guard and its three reserve divisions, totaling 320,000 men. A few days ago, he dispatched two divisions to reinforce Fuqing Prefecture in Wuyi County, but due to the continuous reinforcements of the Japanese pirates—reportedly now four legions totaling 640,000 men—the Great Liang Kingdom's Wuyi Army had suffered heavy casualties after several battles, with its total strength, including reserves, barely exceeding 200,000, and was frequently in dire need of reinforcements. Yu Sihai, acting on orders from his father, Minister of War Yu Chenglong, had personally led the remaining Imperial Guard division to Wuyi County three days prior to provide reinforcements.
In the eyes of everyone in the Yu household, Yu Jiuzhou had always been a scholar who disliked military affairs, preferring instead to indulge in poetry, literature, and painting amidst nature. It was rumored that his painting skills had been honed under the tutelage of the renowned master painter Dan Qingsheng, achieving a transcendent and masterful level, unparalleled in the Liang Dynasty's art scene. While many said Yu Chenglong had raised a worthless son, Yu Jiuzhou simply laughed it off.
"Senior Brother Yu, the sect doesn't restrict the disciples' daily conduct. We only accord with the will of Heaven, follow the will of the people, and act in accordance with the prevailing trend." The white-clad girl spoke calmly, her voice like celestial music. "Didn't Uncle Long do something that shook the world a few days ago? Master sent a message but didn't reprimand him; instead, he instructed disciples everywhere to take good care of him."
"Thank you for your permission, Junior Sister!" Yu Jiuzhou stood up straight and respectfully bowed.
"Senior Sister, I implore you to go with Senior Brother Yu to rescue Uncle Yu." The white-clad girl said calmly, "Zhu Wen is incompetent, eunuchs have ruined the country, and the fate of the Great Liang is sealed. With Uncle Yu here, we can preserve some of its vitality and spare the people from disaster."
"Alright! Senior Brother Yu, let's go together!" The red-clad girl's face lit up with joy, her eyes revealing her deep affection for Yu Jiuzhou.
Two figures, one in red and one in white, flashed through the hall!

"Minister Yu! Is what you've reported true?" King Zhu Wen of Liang, seated high on his dragon throne, was utterly shocked by Yu Chenglong's report. His legs nearly gave way, and he almost fell from his throne!
For the past ten days or so, King Zhu Wen had neither attended morning court nor received any officials. His most favored eunuch, Gao Zhongxian, had consistently declared, "There are no major events in court," and thus he had been content to indulge in pleasure with his concubine, Cheng Yuanyuan. Unexpectedly, Yu Chenglong had risked the wrath of having his family and clan wiped out by striking the drum nine times, merely to inform him of the truth—
the situation in Wuyi County had deteriorated rapidly over the past ten days: the Japanese pirate army in Fuqing Prefecture had increased its forces to 640,000, and had dispatched a large number of highly skilled ninjas to assassinate high-ranking Liang generals; over a dozen regimental commanders and a divisional commander had already been killed. Meanwhile, the Jinyiwei and Dongchang agents under Gao Zhongxian's control had remained inactive. If it weren't for the assistance of the martial arts community of the Great Liang Kingdom organized by the Wenjian Pavilion, and the spontaneous formation of righteous armies by the people of various regions to resist foreign enemies, the neighboring prefectures of Fu'an, Yongding, and Yong'an in Wuyi County would likely have fallen into the hands of the Japanese pirates...
But what is even more shocking is that yesterday evening: a large number of Japanese pirates landed in Jianning Prefecture, which is located on the coast of the Central County. Two reserve divisions of the Central Army Corps and one reserve division of the Imperial Guard, which were dispatched by Yu Chenglong to guard the coast against the Japanese pirates' sneak attacks, were sent to intercept them. However, they were routed by the Japanese pirates and only managed to hold their ground after retreating into the well-fortified city of Jianning!
The Central County comprises four prefectures: Jianning Prefecture is located on the southeast coast, Shunchang Prefecture is to the west, Shouning Prefecture is adjacent to the north of the two prefectures, and north of Shouning Prefecture is Nanping Prefecture, where the capital city of Yajing is located. The four prefectures of the Central County are the fundamental strongholds of the Zhu family's rule, with each prefecture having a population of over four million according to official statistics. In addition to the prefectural cities and the capital, there are hundreds of small and medium-sized towns scattered throughout the area.
Reports indicate that the Japanese army, numbering over a million, is landing on the coast of Jianning Prefecture overnight. Meanwhile, the central prefecture, including the three reserve divisions besieged in Jianning City and the Imperial Guard, numbers only 320,000. The main forces of the Liang central army, the Imperial Guard, and the Eastern Navy are all too far away to reach them. It is feared that Shouning Prefecture to the north and Shunchang Prefecture to the west will soon fall into the hands of the Japanese army! Nanping Prefecture, where the capital city of Yajing is located, is also in grave danger. The Liang Kingdom faces imminent annihilation!
"Your Majesty, everything I have said is true, absolutely true. I risked my life to beat the drum because Your Majesty has not attended court for many days. I have repeatedly requested an audience, but Gao Zhongxian has obstructed me in every way. I had no choice but to beat the drum and resort to this desperate measure. I do not regret my death, but I fear that if these treacherous villains are not eliminated, the Great Liang Dynasty will perish, and millions of people will suffer. I will be ashamed before the late king and the people!" Yu Chenglong kowtowed to the ground, not even using his internal energy to protect himself, and blood flowed profusely!
"Gao Zhongxian! How could I have known nothing of such a great matter?" Zhu Wen was furious, completely forgetting that he had just held an emergency secret meeting with Gao Zhongxian, ordering him to urgently mobilize the Jinyiwei and Dongchang experts to deal with the situation and prevent the court from pushing him off the throne. At this moment, Gao Zhongxian was not in the hall.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Gao Zhongxian, accompanied by eight imperial guards and elite Jinyiwei officers, rushed in through a side door of the main hall. He calmly reported,
"Lord Yu is merely exaggerating and spreading rumors! We just received a secret report that the Wuyi Army fought a fierce battle with the Japanese yesterday, killing 40,000 enemies and advancing twenty li towards Fuqing City. The Japanese are a tiny country; they lost over 200,000 men to the Free Army when they attacked Zhenbao Island. Wuyi County currently has hundreds of thousands of troops advancing; how could they possibly have a million-strong army landing in Jianning Prefecture? According to the Jinyiwei's secret report, only 200,000 to 300,000 troops are attacking Jianning Prefecture. It seems the military is afraid of taking responsibility for the defeat and is giving Lord Yu a false report."
"Who is telling the truth?" Zhu Wen, already somewhat confused, was perplexed. On one side was a loyal minister who had risked his life to beat the drum nine times; on the other was his most trusted inner court official. Neither should dare to lie to him on such a matter of national survival.
"Your Majesty! I swear on my life, how dare I lie and deceive the Emperor!" Yu Chenglong kowtowed again, his body no longer protected by any internal energy, his face covered in blood, his appearance utterly wretched!
"Lord Yu is loyal to the country and has never spoken falsely. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!" Several ministers who supported Yu Chenglong and were concerned about the affairs of the country knelt down and kowtowed, pleading in unison.
"Nine drumbeats resound, the whole city knows. If Your Majesty believes Yu Chenglong's words, wouldn't you admit your mistake and abdicate in favor of a more worthy successor? Hesitation will surely bring harm..." Gao Zhongxian stood only a few feet away from the dragon throne, his voice as thin as a thread, yet it secretly reached the ears of Zhu Wen, the King of Liang. A faint fragrance wafted towards Zhu Wen's nose, a scent remarkably similar to the natural fragrance of Consort Cheng…
“How dare you, Yu Chenglong! To abandon public duty for private gain, to fabricate military intelligence, to beat the drums erratically, to deceive the emperor!” Zhu Wen, his mind reeling from the strange fragrance, inexplicably obeyed Gao Zhongxian's telepathic message, uttering a series of shocking pronouncements: “Take him to the Meridian Gate and behead him as a warning to others; order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to confiscate his property and exterminate his entire clan!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Eight imperial guards and Embroidered Uniform Guard experts suddenly unleashed a powerful aura, binding Yu Chenglong tightly, rendering him, despite his profound martial arts skills, unable to move…
Outside the hall, thousands of imperial guards, Embroidered Uniform Guards, Eastern Depot experts, and Imperial Guards roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens!
Yu Chenglong, the Minister of War who had always been regarded as the pillar of the Great Liang Kingdom and the Great Wall of solid defense, was about to die because of the golden words of Zhu Wen, the King of Great Liang!

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