Slave Empire [Complete] - 7

Volume 3, Chapter 37: Capturing Shui Bian
at Jubao Ferry. The battle ended before noon.
An hour earlier, Hua Yinghong, in the town mayor's mansion, used all his charm and sweetness to soothe Xue Qianqian, Miao Youlan, Liu Ju, and Liu Lan, who were experiencing their first sexual encounters after saving him. The erotic scenes were indescribable. Because of her eagerness for the battle, Xue Qianqian couldn't appear before the large number of Free Army soldiers and returned to Lichun Tower. Hua Yinghong, along with Liu Yufei, Miao Youlan, and eighteen elite cavalry guards including Fang Shiling, rushed to Jubao Ferry.
Fifty carriages accompanied them.
When Liu Yufei and Hua Yinghong appeared before the many Free Army soldiers, they were met with thunderous cheers—the Free Army soldiers knew that Hua Yinghong had been assassinated and wounded, only that his injuries were severe but not the details. Seeing Hua Yinghong so lively and energetic, someone shouted first, "Long live the Statue of Liberty! Long live the Son of Liberty!" This resonated with the soldiers, and the cheers echoed through the sky!
From then on, Liu Yufei—the Goddess of Liberty, and Hua Yinghong—the Son of Liberty—became famous throughout the Hualong Continent. Their unique nicknames, distinct from those of the various Hualong nations' governments and official circles, attracted the attention of many interested parties.
Qiu Shuibian and the besieged Yulong Army, hearing the deafening cheers, were bewildered by the identities of these "Goddess of Liberty" and "Son of Liberty," knowing only that the enemy's key figures were personally overseeing the battle, making a fierce fight inevitable.
To his further dismay, from the high platform of the iron chain bridge on the west bank of the river, he saw about five hundred cavalrymen who had arrived earlier downstream, actually alongside the Free Army's cavalry squad. Qiu Shuibian understood that You Kun's eight hundred elite Yulong cavalrymen had certainly been annihilated—
the horses were their only asset! Warhorses were the lifeblood of cavalrymen and could not be easily abandoned.
After You Kun died from the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain," the remaining hundreds of elite Yulong cavalrymen simply dismounted, abandoning their horses, and charged towards the Free Army ahead. The fishing net formation was largely ineffective against the Jade Dragon Army cavalrymen on foot, but the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains" were deadly arrows! Bystanders couldn't even see their techniques; they only saw arrows, imbued with powerful internal energy, soaring through the air. For every arrow fired by others, the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains" fired three!
Amidst the dense rain of arrows, the Jade Dragon elite cavalrymen, charging on dismount, shouted the slogan, "Glory! It is my life!" before falling tragically. More than two hundred men died from the arrows of the thirty "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains"! Only a few dozen elite warriors, relying on their superior martial arts, charged into the Free Army's ranks, instantly inflicting nearly a hundred casualties, truly demonstrating the formidable fighting power of the Jade Dragon elite cavalry!
Despite being outnumbered, the Free Army archers discarded their bows, drew their swords, and joined forces with the spearmen to attack. They quickly regained their footing. When Mu Shanzhu and his elite mountain warriors arrived to surround them, the Jade Dragon cavalry, unwilling to accept defeat, all perished!
The Jade Dragon army's escape route to the east bank of Jubao Ferry was already blocked. Whether they organized a charge with their remaining shield-and-sword infantry, sent elite assault teams to raid, or even had some of their best swimmers sneak across the river, every tactic they employed was thwarted by the Free Army special forces. The ten strange crossbows, two hundred archers, and master crossbowmen alone held the iron chain bridge impenetrable!
Following their victory at Kunlong Beach, a steady stream of Free Army soldiers arrived from afar, adding over two thousand men to each bank of Jubao Ferry. To besiege the Jade Dragon army, which numbered only two thousand, the Free Army mobilized a total of over ten thousand men!
After adjusting their formation, the more than 7,000 Free Army soldiers on the west bank of the river began to advance slowly towards the Jade Dragon Army's position, with shield-wielders in front, spearmen following closely behind, and archers at the rear. The battlefield fell silent for a moment, save for the somewhat disordered footsteps of the Free Army, carrying an air of killing intent.
At a distance of 120 paces from the Jade Dragon Army's archers, the Free Army halted. Fifty wagons that had accompanied Hua Yinghong drove to the center of the Free Army, and soon about two hundred men jumped down, taking ironwood, steel pipes, and other materials from the wagons and quickly assembling them!
On a high platform on the west bank of the river, more than two hundred paces away, Qiu Shuibian focused his eyes, and with his excellent vision, he only saw a few items the Free Army had taken from the wagons before his expression changed drastically!
Catapults! The Free Army was assembling catapults! Qiu Shuibian was extremely familiar with the Jade Dragon Army's standard catapults. Of the one hundred wagons of supplies he had left on the east bank, sixty contained thirty catapults disassembled into parts, originally intended for use in a siege. A standard small catapult can hurl stones weighing over ten kilograms several meters high and more than two hundred paces away on flat ground; at higher altitudes, it can reach nearly four hundred paces! However, due to its extreme weight and portability, and its slow rate of fire, it requires a relatively high density of stones to achieve optimal effect, and in open areas, sparsely packed stones are easily dodged. It is rarely used except for city defense and large-scale sieges and battles.
But in the current situation, the Jade Dragon Army has nowhere to retreat and is unable to retaliate with catapults, forced to watch helplessly as the Free Army uses them as live targets for training. One voice screams in their heart: Charge! Better to die than be taken prisoner, kill one to make it worthwhile! Another voice echoes: No! I still have a bright future ahead of me, I must save my life! The Free Army has few catapults, and their rate of fire is slow; they are willing to sacrifice soldiers as live targets to stall for time until reinforcements arrive. Qiu Shuibian is torn between his conscience and his decision.
The catapults are quickly assembled. "Jade Dragon Army soldiers, listen up!" Hua Yinghong's calm voice rang out above Jubao Ferry: "Those who surrender will not be killed!" His voice, infused with primordial energy, resonated deep within the hearts of every Jade Dragon Army soldier. Hua Yinghong immediately unleashed the "Mind-Bewitchment Technique" he had gained during his spiritual union with Xue Qianqian, causing the Jade Dragon Army, surrounded on all sides, to feel an urge to immediately lay down their weapons and surrender.
"Despicable villains! All you know is scheming and plotting, not heroism! Have the guts to form ranks and fight a real battle!" Qiu Shuibian, whose martial arts skills were also formidable, had reached the seventh level of the "Autumn Wind Technique," advancing to the seventh-rank master level. Gathering his true energy, he shouted loudly, waking the somewhat dazed Jade Dragon Army soldiers.
"Glory! That is our life!" The Jade Dragon Army, regaining their senses, shouted their slogan in unison.
The "Mind-Bewitchment Technique" was extremely taxing on the mind, and Hua Yinghong, still unfamiliar with its use, dared not use it too often. Seeing the ashamed expressions on the faces of Lü Jingwei and Mu Shanzhu after Qiu Shuibian's provocation, and their eagerness to try it out, he hesitated to speak, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly—after all, these people were too deeply influenced by the martial arts spirit of the Hua Long Continent, who valued honor above life. Although they had achieved great victories through their own "schemes and tricks," deep down they might not have truly accepted their war philosophy of "using any means to achieve victory." Hai Tianqing was like this, and so were Lü Jingwei and Mu Shanzhu. Especially now that the situation was so favorable, it was fortunate that he had arrived in time; otherwise, they might have actually set up a real battle and engaged the Jade Dragon Army in a fierce fight!
Clearing his throat, Hua Yinghong slowly said, "Brother Lü, Chief Mu, the way of war is to achieve victory with the least cost. Is the glory of heroes more important than the lives of warriors? More important than the plan to restore the nation and the revival of the Gaoshan people? How much can a beggar offer when comparing treasures with the Dragon King?"
Ignoring their reactions, he raised his voice and shouted at the Jade Dragon Army, "You are already at your wits' end, yet you still indulge in wishful thinking! When you slaughter unarmed civilians with your full armor, aren't you ..." "More despicable? Isn't it even more despicable to use steel swords and spears against wooden sticks and firewood? Isn't it even more despicable to use powerful bows and crossbows against earthen bows and wooden arrows? When have you ever given anyone a chance to fight with real swords
and spears? Enough nonsense, if you don't surrender within three shouts, you will all die without a burial place!" Lu Jingwei and Mu Shanzhu were struck dumb by Hua Yinghong's words, their faces turning red, especially the phrase "a beggar comparing treasures with the Dragon King," which vividly depicted the plight of the Restoration Society and the Gaoshan tribes and the power of the Jade Dragon Kingdom and the Jade Dragon Army. If they acted impulsively for the sake of honor, countless Free Army soldiers would die, and the hard-won favorable situation would likely be ruined! Both of them couldn't help but feel ashamed of their lack of consideration for the consequences.
Liu Yufei and Miao Youlan, seeing Lu Jingwei and Mu Shanzhu's embarrassed state, didn't say anything. Since their hearts were already with their lovers, they naturally wouldn't disagree with Hua Yinghong's statement. Moreover, Hua Yinghong's words were indeed all reasonable.
"One, two..." Hua Yinghong's counting echoed over Jubao Ferry. The Free Army soldiers prepared to attack, awaiting Hua Yinghong's command.
"Brothers, the Jade Dragon Army only has brave warriors who die in battle, not cowards who surrender!" Qiu Shuibian seemed determined, unmoved by Hua Yinghong's threats.
"Three! Launch the catapults!" With Hua Yinghong's command, fifteen pre-prepared catapults launched their scoops! But instead of stones, they carried fifteen black earthenware jars!
The fifteen jars, filled with cooking oil, arced through the air and landed near Qiu Shuibian's platform. "Clang!..." The shattered jars sprayed cooking oil, releasing a rich, enticing aroma. But for Qiu Shuibian and the Yulong Army, this aroma was undoubtedly the stench of death! A chill ran through Qiu Shuibian; under the increasingly intense and scorching sun, large, cold beads of sweat appeared on his forehead!
"Ignite them!" Hua Yuhong ordered.
The catapult launched another fifteen pottery jars. Twenty-five members of the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain" drew their powerful bows and, with lightning speed, released arrows with arrowheads wrapped in flaming, oil-soaked cloth. As the bowstrings twanged, the fifteen pottery jars flying above the platform exploded simultaneously in mid-air, scattering sparks that rained down upon the platform! The Jade Dragon Army's white dragon banner, its crooked claws raised high, was struck from head to tail by the arrows and instantly burst into flames!
"Excellent archery!" Hua Yinghong clapped his hands in admiration. Hitting the flying pottery jars from over two hundred paces away, one arrow hitting one jar with no repetition—such archery skill and the perfect coordination between the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain" were breathtaking.
Hua Yinghong had only intended to ask the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain" to demonstrate their power after hearing Liu Litao mention their arrows' prowess at Kunlongtan, but he hadn't expected the effect to be so astonishing. If it weren't "forty-eight arrows" but four hundred, four thousand, forty thousand arrows... a thought flashed through Hua Yinghong's mind. This single thought was the beginning of the "Sun-Shooting Legion," which would later dominate the Holy Continent.
The raging flames forced the Jade Dragon Army's formation, which was like a trapped beast, to crumble. The catapults adjusted their angles, slowly hurling pottery jars into the Jade Dragon Army's ranks. Some unfortunate Jade Dragon soldiers, their bodies doused with vegetable oil and engulfed in flames, let out pitiful screams. Although only a hundred or two pottery jars were thrown into the formation, the Jade Dragon soldiers seemed to see the fate of the shield-wielders who had attacked the Free Army's defenses about to be repeated—that hellish scene was about to reappear.
"Captain! Let's charge! It's better than waiting here to be burned to death. If we're going to die, let's die gloriously!" Qiu Shuibian's direct subordinate company commander urged him anxiously.
Qiu Shuibian, looking at the flames burning everywhere, helplessly waved his hand, gesturing for a charge.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The war drums sounded, their beat filled with a breathtaking, irreversible momentum. The Jade Dragon Army soldiers felt a chill run down their spines. The "Drum of Desperation" sounded, a fight to the death!
"Glory! Is my life!" The Jade Dragon Army archers and spearmen, along with their few shield-wielding swordsmen, who had virtually no means of defense, launched a suicidal charge against the Free Army's defensive line of over seven thousand men with a death-defying spirit!
This was precisely what Hua Yinghong intended to achieve with the catapults—fifteen catapults were too few, and even using oil-filled earthenware pots would have limited effectiveness. But Hua Yinghong was certain that the Jade Dragon Army would not tolerate being attacked without being able to retaliate, waiting to die. Once they charged out, the battle would be in the Free Army's best interest.
Over three thousand archers fired in two waves, countless arrows raining down on a narrow area of only a few dozen feet in radius. Each volley claimed the lives of two to three hundred Jade Dragon Army soldiers. The arrows hastily fired by the Jade Dragon Army archers during the charge caused negligible damage to the Free Army soldiers hiding behind their shield-wielders.
"Those who surrender will not be killed! Do you truly not care about your parents, wives, and children? Is death the end for all, but what about the living? Do you have no more attachment to this world?" Hua Yinghong's tempting voice rang out again. He was still persistent, and when only two or three hundred Jade Dragon soldiers remained, he attempted to sway their spirits with his "mind-swaying technique." Once a precedent of surrender was set, the Jade Dragon Army would no longer be a monolithic force. No matter how the Jade Dragon Army dealt with these surrendered soldiers, there would be a second, a third… The Free Army would then be less likely to exterminate the Jade Dragon Army in every battle, and their own casualties would be greatly reduced.
The remaining two hundred-plus men were almost all elite experts of the third or fourth rank from the two battalions brought by Qiu Shui-bian. The dense rain of arrows posed little threat to these experts. When Hua Ying-hong tried to persuade them to surrender again, Qiu Shui-bian and his men had already rushed to within forty paces of the Free Army's front line!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!..." The "Forty-Eight Arrows of High Mountain," which had previously disdained to fight ordinary soldiers, began to attack!
Before the arrows even arrived, the powerful arrow energy and the killing intent that pierced through everything had already broken through the air! Seeing that the situation was not good, Qiu Shui-bian, who was at the forefront, unleashed the "Autumn Wind Falling Leaves Blade Technique" at full power. The hundred-refined steel blade in his hand brought with it immense and unparalleled blade energy, wildly slashing at the five powerful arrows that were heading straight for his vitals like lightning! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! With each arrow he deflected, Qiu Shui-bian felt his arm tremble. At a distance of forty paces, the long arrows fired by a fifth-rank expert with true energy were too much for even a seventh-rank expert like him. He was greatly alarmed and his forward-leaning figure stopped abruptly.
The remaining elite warriors did not possess the skill and cultivation of Qiu Shuibian, and more than forty of them were killed by sharp arrows!
Qiu Shuibian felt an unprecedented threat of death—the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain" had only been fired by five people at once, yet it was already difficult for him to cope. After barely blocking them, he clearly sensed ten sharp gazes locking onto him, preventing him from making any rash moves. Hua Yinghong's urging him to surrender stirred a thousand thoughts through his already despairing mind—
his beautiful and gentle wife at home… his lovely, toddler daughter Qiu Xingyu, just over a year old and barely speaking… Li Xiulian, the alluring and captivating courtesan of Tianxiang Tower… Each face he longed for shattered his will to die, and a crack appeared in his mind. Hua Yinghong's "mind-swaying technique" seized the opportunity—
"Enough!" Qiu Shuibian threw down his sword and turned to his remaining two hundred or so subordinates, ordering, "Brothers! I, Shuibian, am incompetent, leaving you all in a hopeless situation. Please lay down your weapons; there is no need for further pointless fighting. I, Shuibian, will bear the responsibility for this defeat alone!"
"Clang!—" The Jade Dragon Army's weapons scattered everywhere. Qiu Shuibian, as the highest-ranking officer, was the first to surrender, setting an example for the others. Life is precious, and if one can survive, not everyone is willing to die a noble death.

Hua Yinghong watched as Qiu Shuibian, disarmed and with his meridians sealed, was brought over. Despite being forced by circumstances to surrender with the remaining two hundred or so men of the Eastern Route Jade Dragon Army, becoming the first to break the Jade Dragon Army's record of never surrendering, Qiu Shuibian's somewhat refined and handsome face was still full of resentment as he silently sized up Hua Yinghong, Liu Lüjingwei, and the others. His gaze only blazed with intense light when it swept over the stunningly beautiful faces of Liu Yufei, Miao Youlan, and the other three women, before dimming again.
Hua Yinghong observed all of this, pondering how to deal with this cowardly fellow. Although he already knew Qiu Shuibian's name from intelligence and harbored extreme resentment, wishing he could behead him quickly—because it reminded him of that extremely unpleasant politician—"not killing prisoners" was an ironclad military rule he had established, which he could not violate. Moreover, Qiu Shuibian's role as the first to lead the Jade Dragon Army soldiers in surrendering was significant and of immeasurable value, so he suppressed his urge to kill.
"Report! Three thousand Jade Dragon soldiers are twenty li from Lingbao." A Free Army messenger hurriedly reported.
"General Qiu, indeed, a wise man knows when to yield. Please calm down and allow us to properly entertain you after this battle." Hua Yinghong said to Qiu Shuibian with a pleasant expression, then called over the messenger and said, "Pass on my order—no one is allowed to beat, scold, or mistreat those who surrender; those who disobey will be punished according to military law!"

Panlong Ridge.
Pang Yi, who remained at Xigang, dispatched a thousand reserve soldiers to escort fifty wagons carrying large quantities of meat, grain, fresh water, cooking utensils, and other supplies to Hai Tianqing and Ye Zhiqiu. Soon, the enticing aroma of meat and vegetables wafted from Panlong Ridge. Occasionally, a gentle breeze carried the fragrance to Qiu Lei's army, making some Jade Dragon Army soldiers drool.
Hunger wasn't the worst part, after all, each soldier in the Jade Dragon Army carried a day's worth of rations. But the lack of water was truly unbearable. Since the start of the march the previous night, the sweltering heat, coupled with the marching and fierce fighting, had emptied their canteens. The midday sun beat down relentlessly, and some soldiers had blisters on their lips.
Qiu Lei anxiously awaited news from Jubao Ferry. Two urgent letters from Qiu Shuibian, both containing identical messages, filled him with unease. The elite Yulong Army of the Second Regiment, numbering six thousand, had been forced into such a predicament; where did the Free Army find such manpower and strength?
Eagle's Sorrow Ridge! Qiu Lei finally remembered the key to the battle—Xie Zhan hadn't sent any signals for a long time; something must have happened. Only if the Gaoshan people crossed Eagle's Sorrow Ridge and joined forces with the blocking Free Army to return to Jubao Town could they possibly besiege Qiu Shuibian.
"Xie Zhan!" Qiu Lei gritted his teeth. He didn't examine his own major strategic errors, but he hated Xie Zhan's repeated defeats to the core. If Xie Zhan were here, he would probably want to tear him to pieces to vent his anger. If Xie Zhan, who had already fought to the death and died under Miao Youlan's sword, knew this, he would probably break out in a cold sweat in the afterlife.
"Send the order! The Lingye Navy and the Keelung reinforcements are moving at full speed to aid Jubao Ferry for the decisive battle!" Qiu Lei issued the order using two carrier pigeons sent by Qiu Shuibian.
At this point in the battle, the Yulong Army, the Free Army, and the Gaoshan tribe's allied forces were unable to withdraw. Qiu Haoran's previous plan to encircle and annihilate the Free Army had been hampered by three additional variables: the Gaoshan tribe, the Demonic Cult, and the loss of Xigang. A local defeat at Yingchou Ridge had left Panlong Ridge in a passive position. But like a high-stakes gamble, no matter how many losses were incurred before, the decisive battle at Jubao Ferry was still the key to victory.
Qiu Lei's 15,000 elite Yulong Army troops, including Qiu Shuibian's army, Keelung reinforcements, and Ling Ye's navy, faced off against the Free Army and the Gaoshan tribe's combined forces of just over 10,000. Qiu Lei seemed to see a glimmer of hope for a major turnaround, not only to extinguish the raging fire of the Free Army but also to eliminate the malignant tumor of the Gaoshan tribes. In this way, the previous defeats could be disregarded, even beautified as a cleverly orchestrated trap—though the price was undeniably high.
"Kill a few wounded horses!" Qiu Lei ordered.
Ensuring the soldiers were well-fed and in good spirits was crucial for the upcoming battle, and Qiu Lei disregarded the soldiers' usual practice of not eating warhorses. Soon, the aroma of boiled and roasted horse meat filled Panlong Ridge…

From Pearl Field to Jubao Ferry, it was only about twenty li.
Guided by signals from scouts stationed at Pearl Field, Lingye's navy advanced rapidly along the Wanquan River towards Jubao Ferry. The riverbank was flat and easy for the army to move. The 5,400 naval troops formed four long columns of ten men each, spaced half a mile apart, creating a formidable sight.
The vanguard reached Kunlong Beach. There, they saw the corpses of hundreds of Jade Dragon elite cavalrymen from the Second Regiment and two or three hundred warhorses lying haphazardly in the fishing net formation. Apart from weapons and arrows, the Free Army had not yet had time to properly clean up the battlefield, indicating the intensity and urgency of the battle.
Lingye recognized the ingenious use of the fishing net formation at a glance and inwardly admired the Free Army's mastermind for his clever use of resources. Not daring to underestimate the enemy, he gestured, and a 1,000-man naval squadron crossed Kunlong Beach, heading towards Jubao Ferry from the east bank of the Wanquan River.
Faintly, the sounds of war drums, shouts of battle, and screams echoed from the direction of Jubao Ferry, reaching Ling Ye even from Kunlong Beach, ten miles away...

Volume 3, Chapter 38: The Meat Grinder,
Pearl Field Beach.
A mile away, wisps of smoke rose from the slave camp at Pearl Field. The unpredictable sea breeze carried the enticing aroma to the Jade Dragon Navy warships. The naval personnel responsible for the garrison had been subsisting on dried meat on board for the past two days, their mouths practically tasteless. The aroma of freshly cooked meat made their mouths water.
"Hey you... come here!" The naval captain on Ling Ye's flagship waved and shouted to the guard captain on the beach, several dozen feet away. Both were captains, but the guard captain was nothing more than someone to be ordered around.
"What are your orders, sir?" The guard captain rushed across the wooden bridge to the ship, bowing and scraping, displaying the utmost humility and obsequiousness. Just now, Ling Ye disliked him and didn't take him along, only leaving him to serve on the beach and obey the warship's orders, which felt like a great relief to him. While
Ling Ye's sharp, tiger-like eyes frightened him, he was even more concerned about his parents, children, wife, and concubines at home. If his plans were to be exposed, he had no doubt that the cool-looking young general of the Free Army, Yun Shalang, would behead his entire family without batting an eye. From the moment he surrendered Pearl Field, he had only one mind: to serve the Free Army.
"Quickly prepare sixty tables of good wine and food and send them aboard. And prepare even more, so we can celebrate properly after General Ling's victory! ... Hmm, no need for wine." The naval captain didn't even glance at the guard captain, otherwise he would have noticed the fleeting joy on his face.
"Yes! Yes! We'll get it done right away. Everything's ready and will be delivered soon." The guard captain meekly stepped back, disembarked, and, ignoring the scorching sun, rushed to the beach, leading his guards towards the pearl farm!

Ling Ye's vanguard arrived at Jubao Ferry two and a half li away and saw, several hundred paces away, a simple long trench and fortifications behind which stood the Free Army, clad in black armor and red robes, ready for battle. Shield-wielders, spearmen, archers… a full six thousand men formed a defensive line about two li long, displaying considerable military might.
In the distance, near the high platform on the west bank of Jubao Ferry, about two thousand Free Army soldiers in black armor and red robes surrounded the Jade Dragon Army, numbering only three or four hundred in black armor and robes, and they were locked in a fierce battle.
The air was filled with the aroma of smoke from fire and vegetable oil, mixed with the smell of roasted meat. However, the aroma was tainted by the overwhelming smell of roasted human flesh, making it somewhat strange. Dozens of Yulong Army-standard catapults were positioned about a hundred paces behind the Free Army's defensive line, facing downstream, ready to fire.
A thousand-strong Yulong naval squadron on the east bank advanced to a point two hundred paces from the high platform on the east bank, where they also encountered a defensive line of nearly two thousand Free Army soldiers and halted.
Ling Ao, the commander of the First Battalion in charge of the naval vanguard, dared not act rashly and ordered his vanguard to stop two hundred paces from the Free Army's defensive line, sending a messenger to report to Ling Ye, the commander of the central army.
******** ****
When Hua Yinghong received news of Ling Ye's naval landing, he was directing the Free Army and the combined forces of the Gaoshan tribes to encircle and annihilate the Third Battalion of the First Regiment of the Yulong Army, which had come to Keelung's aid.
Among the captured supplies of Qiu Shuibian, thirty catapults delighted Hua Yinghong, greatly increasing his ambition. His original plan was merely to let a portion of the Keelung reinforcements cross the iron chain bridge, then cut them off in half, crippling their main fighting force, before confronting Ling Ye's naval forces and seeking another opportunity to destroy their aircraft. However, the appearance of the catapults, coupled with the remaining three thousand-plus oil jars, led Hua Yinghong to make the impromptu decision to annihilate the entire Keelung reinforcement force. His
spiritual and physical connection with Xue Qianqian had revealed much about the inner workings of the Demonic Cult. He didn't find much of the Demonic Cult's doctrine objectionable. Xue Qianqian's sacrifice of her virginity to save him, for example, instilled in him a sense of responsibility for her. Moreover, annihilating the Keelung reinforcements would reduce the resistance to the Demonic Cult's uprising, increase the chaos, and lessen the pressure on the Free Army from the Jade Dragon Army. If the Demonic Cult's vast power could be effectively utilized, it would further reduce obstacles for the Free Army's future campaigns.
For both personal and public reasons, Hua Yinghong decided to take this risk. With twelve thousand Free Army soldiers, whose individual combat strength was far inferior to the Jade Dragon Army, and the combined forces of the Gaoshan tribes, he aimed to annihilate the nine thousand elite Jade Dragon Army soldiers. Like playing Go, attempting to destroy the enemy's large group when your own position is weak will result in utter defeat if you fail to capture the enemy's group.
Hua Yinghong's trump card was the time difference—the impatient Keelung Yulong army was less than twenty miles away, and if they acted quickly, they could reach Jubao Ferry in no more than 45 minutes. They would not wait for the navy to arrive before launching their "relief" attack, giving the Free Army the opportunity to concentrate their superior forces and defeat them one by one. By dealing with the Keelung reinforcements first, the Yulong navy would be left isolated and helpless. Moreover, Hua Yinghong had prepared an unexpected "feast" for the Yulong navy. Sure enough,
the battle unfolded exactly as Hua Yinghong had planned—when the Keelung reinforcements arrived at the east bank of Jubao Ferry, they saw nearly two thousand Yulong soldiers in black robes and armor on the west bank surrounded by six or seven thousand enemy soldiers in black armor and red robes, fighting desperately amidst deafening battle cries. They also saw only three hundred enemy soldiers guarding the high platform of the iron chain bridge on the east bank, and immediately launched an attack!
The Free Army squad guarding the east bank fired only two arrows, and before the Yulong Army could even get close, chaos erupted as they scattered and fled. Some fled downstream to Jubao Ferry, while others escaped across the iron chain bridge to the other side, disrupting the formation of a small Free Army squad guarding the high ground on the west bank.
The Yulong Army did not pursue the enemy fleeing downstream of the Wanquan River, but instead quickly followed along the iron chain bridge. The vanguard assault team, suffering only a dozen casualties, stormed the high ground on the west bank, scattering the Free Army. The main force swiftly passed through, attacking the Free Army encirclement from behind.
The fate of the Keelung Yulong Army contingent was almost identical to that of Qiu Shui-bian—the only difference being that Qiu Shui-bian was eager to annihilate the Free Army, while the Keelung contingent was there to rescue the "Yulong Army" trapped in the encirclement!
Unable to withstand the pincer attack, the Free Army split to the sides, quickly tearing a gap in the encirclement, which then widened. Six or seven hundred Free Army soldiers in black armor and red robes were now cut off between the encircled "Jade Dragon Army" and the upstream mountains! Seeing reinforcements arrive, the "Jade Dragon Army" inside the encirclement cheered and charged back towards Jubao Town, instantly pushing back the Free Army's defensive line by dozens of feet!
The Keelung reinforcements left two squads of six hundred men from the Third Company to guard the high platforms on both sides of the river and the iron chain bridge passage, while the remaining two thousand four hundred ignored the six or seven hundred Free Army soldiers in the encirclement and followed the previously trapped "Jade Dragon Army" in their counterattack against the Free Army! —Once the Free Army's frontal defenses were breached, they would not escape the fate of being divided and slaughtered!
Just as nearly two thousand "Jade Dragon Army" soldiers had charged to within fifty paces of the Free Army's last line of defense, about to plunge into the trebuchet-equipped formation, and the Keelung reinforcements were no more than thirty paces away, a sudden change occurred—
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The powerful, heavy sound of war drums rang out. Seeing that the plan to lure the enemy into an ambush had succeeded, Hua Yinghong issued the order to encircle them!
The "fierce" battle at the point where the two thousand Free Army soldiers, disguised as the besieged "Jade Dragon Army," clashed with the defenses formed by the Gaoshan tribes immediately subsided. All the soldiers turned to face the Keelung reinforcements in unison, ready for battle!
At the sound of the war drums, the more than six hundred elite Gaoshan warriors within the encirclement immediately launched their attack! Lu Jingwei's blazing palm strikes, flashing with fire, were unstoppable! Mu Shanzhu's longsword swept through, breaking bones and maiming limbs of the Jade Dragon Army soldiers, leaving them either dead or wounded, forcing them to retreat! The "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain" were even more terrifying—thirty archers, even in the midst of the melee, could distinguish friend from foe, each arrow a deadly strike, claiming the lives of over a hundred Jade Dragon soldiers in mere moments!
On the east bank of the river, Ba Tian's five hundred special forces soldiers and Zhang Qunfeng's Free Army squad launched a simultaneous attack on the high platform east of the river after the war drums sounded! The other eighteen members of the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain" killed the Keelung Jade Dragon Army squad leader left on the platform with a single volley of arrows! Under the cover of the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountain," along with bows and crossbows, the special forces soldiers quickly rushed towards the high platform east of the river and engaged in melee combat!
"Quick! First and second companies, charge up and engage the enemy in melee! Third company, retake the platform!" Qiu Sizhong, the captain of the Keelung reinforcements, heard the war drums and saw the previously surrounded "Jade Dragon Army" turn against them, realizing he had fallen into a trap. Seeing that their forces were within the maximum range of the Free Army's dozens of catapults and arrows, the most sensible order was immediately given! Only when the battle was fiercely contested, and the Free Army hesitated to use their catapults and arrows, could the Jade Dragon Army's formidable fighting power be unleashed.
"Cavalry, attack! Separate the enemy and our forces! Catapults, fire at the enemy's center and rear!" Hua Yinghong ordered again—
the forty-five catapults, already prepared, hurled forty-five oil-filled earthenware jars at the Keelung reinforcements' center and rear, while thousands of arrows rained down simultaneously on the Keelung Jade Dragon Army. The rockets ignited the straw and other debris scattered everywhere, and the fire instantly roared into flames!
Suddenly, the encirclement around Jubao Town parted, creating a passage. Chang Shengqiu led his direct battalion of 300 cavalrymen in ten-man formations, charging out horizontally towards the front lines where the Yulong Army and the Free Army were about to clash. Before the Yulong Army archers could react, their longswords swept across a path more than ten zhang wide, paved with the corpses of hundreds of Yulong Army shield-wielders, before speeding away towards the Wanquan River!
In the blink of an eye, the Keelung Yulong Army suffered a heavy blow! —
On the east bank of the river, Batian's special forces, aided by the long-range attacks of eighteen "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains" archers and crossbowmen, quickly recaptured the high platform on the east bank, annihilating the remaining Yulong Army squad. Only a dozen or so of Batian's own men were hit by crossbow bolts or killed in close combat, while more than twenty special forces members were wounded.
On the high platform on the west bank of the river, Lü Jingwei and Mu Shanzhu led over six hundred elite Gaoshan warriors, simultaneously attacked from both sides by the Yulong Army remaining on the platform and the Third Company of over four hundred men attempting to retake it. In the initial skirmish, the Yulong Army's fighting prowess was fully displayed—the two hundred Gaoshan warriors responsible for providing cover quickly found themselves in a fierce battle. Under the Yulong Army's exquisite formations and seamless coordination, the elite Gaoshan warriors fell one by one!
Fortunately, Lü Jingwei, Mu Shanzhu, and the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the Mountains" didn't waste much time. When less than fifty of the two hundred Gaoshan warriors were left to cover the platform and unable to hold off the Third Company, they annihilated the remaining Yulong Army squad and turned back to reinforce. Lü Jingwei's Fiery Palm, Mu Shanzhu's longsword, and the arrows of the thirty archers immediately stabilized the situation—over three hundred Yulong soldiers from the Third Company couldn't advance an inch, and instead, they were constantly being killed by the powerful arrows raining down from the platform!
"Kill!" The hundreds of archers and crossbowmen of the Jade Dragon Army who had survived the Free Army's rain of arrows quickly returned fire. The remaining hundreds of shield-wielding swordsmen at the front were already engaged in fierce combat with the Free Army soldiers who had previously disguised themselves as the "Jade Dragon Army." The surviving spearmen in the center also launched a rapid assault!
War drums thundered. The Free Army's catapults continuously hurled oil canisters, and the resulting fires shattered the Jade Dragon Army's central formation. Waves of arrows rained down on the Jade Dragon Army! The battle reached a fever pitch.
The only thing Hua Yinghong hadn't anticipated was the Jade Dragon Army's close-quarters combat ability—after fire attacks, arrow barrages, cavalry charges, and the annihilation of two Jade Dragon Army squads left to defend the high ground, the Keelung Jade Dragon Army battalion was reduced to just over a thousand men. However, in the chaotic battle that ensued after reaching the Free Army's defensive line, the Free Army, with its overwhelming numerical advantage, often had two or three soldiers attacking a single Jade Dragon Army soldier simultaneously. Yet, the casualty ratio in the fierce fighting was still an astonishing one to one!
"Report! Over 5,000 men of the Yulong Navy have crossed Kunlongtan! 1,000 of them are advancing upstream from the opposite bank." Hua Yinghong received the naval intelligence again, secretly surprised by its speed—the Free Army had completely gained the upper hand, forcing the less than 500 remaining Keelung Yulong Army to retreat steadily towards the high ground on the west bank of the river. The remaining Yulong Army consisted of the elite of the elite, and they still hadn't been completely annihilated. At the speed of the navy's advance, they would arrive within a quarter of an hour, covering a distance of less than ten miles.
"Liu Litao, lead 2,000 men to join Mu Shanzhu's troops in continuing the siege! Order the eighteen archers from Hedong to join the encirclement! The remaining Lin Zhi and Gaoshan tribes, Hedong Batian, Zhang Qunfeng, and other units should set up defensive lines facing Kunlongtan! Turn the catapults towards Kunlongtan..." Hua Yinghong rapidly issued a series of orders.
Four women, Liu Yufei, Miao Youlan, Liu Lan, and Liu Ju, stood by, their beautiful eyes sparkling with captivating charm, all fixed on Hua Yinghong's square face. His focused, commanding expression, his confident composure as if everything was under control, imbued the ordinary-looking Hua Yinghong with an indescribable allure, creating a magnetic attraction.
"This is a man who makes me feel safe," thought Miao Youlan, who had entrusted her virginity to Hua Yinghong in a strange and inexplicable state of mind. Although Hua Yinghong's martial arts skills might not be as good as hers at this moment, she felt a strange urge to accept his protection and tenderness.
Hua Yinghong, sensing the four women's gazes, turned his head and smiled gently, continuing to issue orders.

Pearl Beach.
The captain of the guards respectfully led three hundred guards, each carrying two food boxes, to deliver various delicacies to the warship. Each table was set with ten dishes prepared by the Yulong Navy soldiers. There were chickens, ducks, and fish, all prepared in various ways, including boiling, stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming, and roasting. The dishes were beautiful in color and aroma, and one could tell from the smell and sight that they must taste delicious. There was also a vegetable soup that everyone who had stayed on the ship loved. It was clear that the guard captain had put a lot of thought into currying favor with the naval captain on duty, which greatly pleased him.
The cooks on each ship, without any hesitation, took silver needles and tasted each dish and broth. Once they confirmed it was safe, the Jade Dragon Navy sailors, whose stomachs were already rumbling and mouths were watering, devoured the food like starving ghosts.
Ten guards on each warship obediently waited for the sailors to finish eating and drinking, then cleaned up the leftovers and disembarked.
"Ugh! My stomach!" A moment later, a Jade Dragon Navy sailor clutched his stomach and rushed to the latrine. Soon after, sailors on every ship followed suit, clutching their stomachs and rushing to the latrines, making them all overcrowded. Some men, unable to bear it any longer, abandoned all decorum and relieved themselves wherever they could find a container…
The naval captain left behind also felt unwell, experiencing excruciating abdominal pain and an uncontrollable urge to defecate. Since there were no latrines available, regardless of rank, he hastily rushed into General Lingye's bedroom, squatted down, and unleashed a torrent of urination, letting out a sigh of relief.
At this moment, no one noticed that on Pearl Beach, Yun Shalang led a company of Free Army soldiers and over a thousand strong slaves, armed with various weapons and still dressed in their original attire, charging towards the warships from the wooden bridge in two directions…
The battle was a foregone conclusion—the six hundred Yulong naval soldiers, weakened by the excessive amount of croton in their food and soup, barely able to stand, despite mustering their fighting spirit and managing to resist with swords and spears, were completely wiped out by the vigorous Free Army!
Croton is not a poison, and silver needles cannot detect it. However, its effects are absolutely no less potent than those of a poison!
Thirty warships fell into the control of the Yunshalang Squadron in the blink of an eye. Under the control of newly released slaves from Pearl Farm, the warships quickly weighed anchor and sailed away from the wooden bridge, monitoring the shore from a distance on the sea.
A victory signal soared into the sky!
******** ****
Jubao Ferry.
Ling Ye arrived at the vanguard and briefly observed the situation—the Keelung Jade Dragon Army in the encirclement had less than three hundred men left, engaged in a fierce battle with six or seven times their number of Free Army soldiers. The Free Army's defensive line was clearly hastily erected, and the formation and troop deployment still appeared somewhat chaotic.
"Beat the drums and charge! Fight to the death!" Ling Ye, a veteran of countless battles, immediately saw the key—they had to break through the defensive line before the Free Army annihilated the Jade Dragon Army in the encirclement; otherwise, once the Free Army was free to attack, the outcome of this battle would be uncertain, relying solely on their numerical superiority and the long-range advantage of catapults.
As an important long-range weapon in naval warfare, the navy's warships were equipped with a large number of catapults, but due to time constraints and transportation difficulties, they had not been brought to the front lines.
"Kill!" Accompanied by deafening shouts and the rapid beat of war drums, the Lingye Navy began its charge towards the Free Army's defensive line!
"Kill!" Hearing the naval war drums, the besieged Keelung Army soldiers were greatly encouraged. More than two hundred men turned around and charged towards the Navy, intending to cut a bloody path and penetrate the Free Army's defensive line from the rear. Qiu Sizhong's swordsmanship was astonishing. With each stroke of his longsword, energy radiated in all directions, creating a fierce wind and revealing boundless killing intent. Free Army soldiers who faced him were either killed or wounded. No one in Liu Litao's army could stop him. The encirclement was about to be torn apart, and the situation was extremely precarious!
"Fei'er, Youlan, Lanmei, Jumei, are you alright?" In this critical situation, Hua Yinghong saw the four women eager to try. He was reluctant to send these beautiful women into battle, but at this moment, he had no other experts at his disposal and had no choice but to let them fight. He still asked with concern.
"No problem!" The four women replied almost simultaneously in sweet voices. Despite their frantic efforts to save Hua Yinghong, the primordial energy he channeled into them was incredibly powerful. After a period of recuperation, the four women felt refreshed, and their skills seemed to have even improved significantly.
"Order Military Advisor Lü and Chieftain Mu to ambush from the rear! Fang Shiling and the eighteen riders, protect the Alliance Leader, and Youlan, leading the Gaoshan tribe's guards, make sure to seal the encirclement and end the battle as quickly as possible!" Hua Yinghong ordered, adding softly to the four women, "Be careful!"
"Yes!" Fang Shiling replied resolutely. The assassination attempt on Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei that morning was a great humiliation for him. Now, entrusted with this important mission, he was determined to protect them to the death.
"Kill!" Liu Yufei and Miao Youlan shouted, charging forward on horseback. The "Iron-Blooded Beauties" and the eighteen iron riders followed closely, along with a hundred carefully selected Gaoshan warriors specifically chosen to protect Miao Youlan, rushing towards the Free Army's defenses that were about to be breached!
"Kill!" From the high platform, Lü Jingwei and Mu Shanzhu, seeing their respective princesses and noblewomen personally taking action, hastily led their men to charge towards the rear of the besieged Keelung Jade Dragon Army! Lü Jingwei held nothing back; his blazing palm strike enveloped everything within a three-zhang radius. Those Jade Dragon soldiers touched by it died instantly, none daring to challenge its power! "Forty-odd arrows from the high mountains!" Bowstrings twanged, arrows flew in rapid succession, three arrows each, almost simultaneously hurtling into the Jade Dragon Army's ranks—dozens of elite Jade Dragon soldiers fell dead beneath the arrows!
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Qiu Sizhong, seeing Liu Yufei and her three companions charging forward first, thought to himself that the Free Army had no one else to rely on; even such stunning beauties were being sent to their deaths. If he could capture one or two of them, he wasn't afraid the Free Army wouldn't submit! Gathering his inner energy, he cleaved back the dozen or so Free Army soldiers blocking his path with a series of strikes, then leaped out of the encirclement, soaring over three zhang high into the air before attacking Liu and Miao, who were charging towards him from four zhang away!
The Keelung Jade Dragon Army cheered in unison, their morale soaring once more!
Miao Youlan turned to Liu Yufei with a charming smile, saying, "No need for you to lift a finger, sister. Watch me crush their arrogance!" Without a sound, her graceful and alluring figure rose more than three zhang high from her horse, ethereal and otherworldly. Her longsword was drawn, bursting forth with a thousand dazzling plum blossoms, which descended upon Qiu Sizhong from mid-air!
Qiu Sizhong saw that the thousand plum blossoms were unpredictable, unable to discern the sword's trajectory, yet each blossom concealed deadly intent and possessed astonishing power. Even his renowned "Autumn Wind Falling Leaves Blade" technique couldn't stop them! "Ten Thousand Plum Blossom Sword!" Remembering this legendary martial art, he was utterly terrified. This young woman possesses unfathomable skill, and may even represent a powerful sect in the martial arts world! In a flash of inspiration, he drew his sword to protect his neck!
"Clang!" A soft sound rang out, and the thousand red plum blossoms vanished. Qiu Sizhong barely managed to block Miao Youlan's sword tip an inch from his neck, but his skill was far inferior to Miao Youlan's, and his hasty block was no match for the powerful force of the profound true energy infused in Miao Youlan's sword! His meridians were instantly injured, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string!
Miao Youlan's aura had already firmly locked onto Qiu Sizhong. Her incomparably beautiful body didn't stop; she lunged forward like lightning, and with a flick of her wrist, another thousand plum blossoms rained down upon him!
"Good!" From the moment Qiu Sizhong and Miao Youlan floated into the air to the moment Qiu Sizhong was injured and forced to retreat, only a flash of lightning passed. Both the Free Army and the Jade Dragon Army cheered. The Jade Dragon Army, who had originally intended to cheer for Qiu Sizhong, seemed to be applauding Miao Youlan's astonishing swordsmanship.
Liu Yufei, Liu Lan, and Liu Ju also took to the air, unleashing the deadly "Blood Rain and Whirlwind" technique of the "Startling Wind and Weeping Rain Sword," forcefully sealing the breach! Fang Shiling, along with eighteen iron cavalry and over a hundred Gaoshan tribe experts, followed closely, joining the battle and immediately stabilizing the situation.
Over there—Ling Ye's navy had advanced to within 150 paces of the Free Army's defensive line, within the optimal range of the army's catapults. At Hua Yinghong's command, the catapults launched dozens of ceramic oil jars!
Jubao Ferry had become a giant meat grinder, churning the flesh and blood of both sides together—

Volume 3, Chapter 39: Shocking the Royal Court.
The smoke from Jubao Ferry finally dissipated, and the largest battle since the founding of the Free Army ended in a complete victory for both the Free Army and the Gaoshan tribe—
Ling Ye truly lived up to his title as the "Mad Tiger" among the "Four Tigers of the Qiu Clan"—more than 5,000 naval troops launched a tireless attack from both banks of the Wanquan River, showing no sign of stopping despite the raging fire and the rain of arrows. After suffering more than 1,000 casualties, the remaining 3,000-plus naval troops on the west bank, led by Ling Ye, approached the Free Army's defensive line and engaged in close combat!
Without catapults and long-range arrow attacks, the Free Army fully experienced the formidable fighting power of the Jade Dragon Army's navy! In the initial battle between more than 6,000 and more than 3,000, the Jade Dragon Army was the one that drove the Free Army and the Gaoshan tribe's allied forces into a retreat, and the defensive line was on the verge of collapse.
At the critical moment, Hua Yinghong deployed the Ever-Victorious Autumn Cavalry, which he had previously been reluctant to use when besieging Qiu Sizhong. They charged into the Yulong Navy's formation, inflicting over four hundred casualties and stabilizing the situation. However, "Mad Tiger's" men were also a group of "madmen," often willing to fight to the death! The Ever-Victorious Autumn Cavalry, with their overwhelming force against infantry, suffered over fifty casualties in the back-and-forth attacks, with the remaining riders all bearing varying degrees of injury.
This made Hua Yinghong hesitant to send his newly captured four hundred-plus warhorses into battle. Cavalry was powerful, but its effectiveness was greatly diminished without proper coordination and training. The hard-won warhorses could not be easily lost.
The decisive moment was the complete annihilation of the besieged Keelung army. Despite the desperate attempts of Qiu Sizhong's elite warriors to intercept them, they could not withstand the powerful attack of Miao Youlan's "Ten Thousand Plum Blossom Sword." More than ten warriors died under the beautiful Jade Maiden's sword, and the wounded Qiu Sizhong also succumbed, dying from a sword wound to the throat.
Killing is a simple matter, and Miao Youlan could have just killed Qiu Sizhong with her sword. However, Fang Shiling showed no mercy, beheading Qiu Sizhong and hoisting his head onto a spear. Standing on her horse, she shouted, "The commander is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed! The commander is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!"
Upon seeing their commander's head, the Keelung army's morale collapsed. Although they fought desperately, under the combined attack of several top warriors including Lü Jingwei, Mu Shanzhu, Liu Yufei, Miao Youlan, the "Iron-Blooded Beauties," two elite forces, and numerous Free Army soldiers, they could no longer hold out and all perished.
The arrival of over two thousand elite Free Army and Gaoshan warriors, fresh from their victory, and especially the freeing up of several top fighters, completely reversed the Free Army's previous disadvantage. "Mad Tiger" Ling Ye, leading several hundred elite Yulong naval troops, was invincible. Hua Yinghong, forced to command the overall situation and unable to personally intervene, had the Free Army and Gaoshan warriors rely solely on their numerical superiority to maintain their defensive line. Lü Jingwei, Mu Shanzhu, along with Liu Yufei, Miao Youlan, and the "Iron-Blooded Beauties," led their elite forces to halt Ling Ye's momentum. The "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains" archery technique was divine, quickly killing or wounding dozens of Ling Ye's elite guards, who had suffered almost no casualties since the start of the battle!
"Roar!" Ling Ye's roar was like a raging tiger. His domineering "Autumn Wind Falling Leaves Blade" swept up a torrent of energy, knocking everyone within a three-zhang radius off balance. But Lü Jingwei stood firm as a mountain, deflecting dozens of his wild blows. The previous battle had depleted Lü Jingwei's true energy, but fortunately, thanks to the exercise techniques taught by Hua Yinghong, his energy recovered rapidly. In the standoff with Ling Ye, they were temporarily evenly matched. The
elite guards and captains around Ling Ye, though of sixth or seventh rank, were far inferior to Liu Yufei and Miao Youlan. The "Startling Wind and Weeping Rain Sword" and the "Ten Thousand Plum Blossom Sword" were sword techniques that feared no group battles, and the number of experts dying at the hands of these two peerless beauties continued to rise!
To die beneath the peony blossoms, even as a ghost, is a romantic end. At this moment, in the eyes of the Jade Dragon Navy, the two beauties, Liu and Miao, who were as beautiful as celestial beings, along with Liu Lan and Liu Ju, had all become female demons, relentlessly reaping the lives of the Jade Dragon Navy soldiers! Liu
Yufei was not originally so ruthless, but during her spiritual union with Hua Yinghong, she almost completely absorbed some of his ideas. After several close calls and even Hua Yinghong's near-death experience, she became utterly merciless towards her enemies.
Miao Youlan, however, harbored resentment due to the blood feud of her clan's extermination and witnessing the tragic lives of her people. She showed no mercy in her attacks, each move deadly!
Seeing that the situation was under control, Hua Yinghong commanded the Free Army to launch a pincer attack from both sides. With over seven thousand troops remaining on the west bank, he intended to encircle and annihilate the remaining less than two thousand members of the Lingye Jade Dragon Navy!
On the east bank of the river, the Jade Dragon Navy's charge was like hitting a brick wall—Ba Tian's special forces, armed with powerful crossbows, led the charge, followed by Zhang Qunfeng's squadron and reserves. From their elevated position, the dense rain of arrows pinned down the Jade Dragon Navy squadron, making it difficult for them to advance. Those few who managed to dodge the arrows and reach the front were instantly surrounded and killed by Ba Tian and his special forces. The Jade Dragon Navy's several charges were repelled, resulting in over three hundred unnecessary deaths and injuries. With their shield-bearers almost wiped out, they retreated far away to regroup, daring not to attack again.
From the direction of Pearl Field, the signal arrived that Yun Shalang had successfully ambushed the naval warships. Hua Yinghong was overjoyed and shouted, "General Ling Ye! Thank you for the generous gift of the ships! Our retreat is cut off; why fight like cornered beasts?" As he raised his voice, he once again used the "Mind-Bending Technique."
Ling Ye, nicknamed "Mad Tiger," unleashed dozens of powerful strikes, but to no avail against Lü Jingwei. His true energy was no longer as abundant as before, while Lü Jingwei grew stronger with each battle, his blazing palm strikes incredibly powerful, gradually gaining the upper hand. Hearing Hua Yinghong's words, Ling Ye was taken aback, his hand momentarily slowing down, only to be struck firmly by Lü Jingwei's blade—the raging wind suddenly ceased, and Ling Ye was forced back two zhang. The blazing palm strike followed the blade up his arm, but he quickly used the Autumn Wind Technique to deflect it, suffering a minor injury!
"Kill!" With their commander repelled, the Free Army's morale soared, while the Jade Dragon Navy's morale collapsed, gradually being pushed back.
Seeing that the enemy had annihilated the Jade Dragon Army within their encirclement, greatly increasing their strength, and with a skilled commander at their disposal, Ling Ye realized that his own navy had only a little over a thousand men left, and even with the troops on the east bank of the river, they probably wouldn't have more than two thousand. Even with his reputation as "Mad Tiger," Ling Ye knew the situation was hopeless. Regardless of whether Hua Yinghong's words were true or false, the Free Army had already formed a pincer movement, and if they were encircled, they feared total annihilation!
"Sound the retreat! Leave a small squad to cover the rear, and retreat to the beach with all your might!" Ling Ye, with tears in his eyes, issued the order to retreat. The sound of gongs rang out. The majority of the Jade Dragon Navy on both banks quickly retreated towards the beach.
"All troops, pursue!" Hua Yinghong's war drums sounded again, issuing the order for a full-scale pursuit. The signal was raised, and the order was also issued to the Yun Shalang unit towards the beach. The three hundred men left to provide cover desperately tried to block the Free Army's wave, but they only managed to hold them off for a moment before being quickly swallowed by the torrent! On
the east bank, the remaining six hundred men of the Jade Dragon Navy did not leave anyone to cover the rear, and turned to flee towards Kunlong Beach. Ba Tian and Zhang Qunfeng, hearing the order from the war drums, directed the special forces and the Free Army squadron to give chase!
The Jade Dragon Navy, as expected of an elite force, marched swiftly and fled just as quickly. Over six hundred men on the east bank of the river quickly crossed the river at Kunlongtan to join Ling Ye's troops. The remaining fifteen hundred, pursued by nearly nine thousand men, fled in panic towards Pearl Beach. Ling Ye still couldn't believe that the Free Army, having deployed so many troops at Jubao Ferry, still had the strength to attack the six hundred Jade Dragon Navy soldiers remaining on the warships and seize them.
Chang Shengqiu's cavalry once again displayed their prowess during the pursuit. Despite following Hua Yinghong's orders to only attack the rear of the Jade Dragon Navy, they still reaped hundreds more lives in several engagements—if the Qiu family had had foresight, they would surely have deeply regretted burying such a valiant general by a mere taboo name!
"Mad Tiger" Ling Ye, seeing from afar that the warships at the wooden bridge had already weighed anchor and were six or seven miles away, changed to the Free Army flag, and that the three thousand Free Army soldiers in the direction of the Pearl Farm slave camp were on high alert, finally gave up hope—
"Glory! It is my life!" Ling Ye led the remaining thousand or so Jade Dragon Navy soldiers like mad tigers charging towards the Free Army soldiers who had cut off his retreat!
Arrows rained
down like locusts! After Yun Shalang's squadron captured Pearl Farm, Ye Shouxin's squadron and a thousand reserves went to assist in the ship-seizing operation as planned. Even Hua Yinghong had not expected that Yun Shalang would use the trick of adding croton seeds to the food to easily seize the ship, and his troops suffered no losses! Now, with the Jade Dragon Army rested and ready, although fierce, they were at their last gasp, and their efforts were in vain.
The army surrounded them, and a hail of arrows was fired, instantly staining Pearl Beach and the seawater along the shore red with the blood of the Jade Dragon Navy soldiers...

Dusk fell, the setting sun shone in the west, and Panlong Ridge...
The two thousand elite soldiers of the Jade Dragon Army from the Third Regiment's directly subordinate battalion and the First Company were parched and hungry, utterly exhausted. They had no water to drink, and the little dry rations they had left were inedible. Qiu Lei anxiously awaited news of the Battle of Jubao Ferry, and had already dispatched several scouts to the direction of "One Line Sky" to gather intelligence.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!" A group of ten scouts galloped up from the direction of "One Line Sky," shouting, "Report!—" One of them held up a package from a distance, relaying the message loudly.
"Report quickly!" Qiu Lei couldn't wait any longer and went down to the main road.
"My lord, please see what the Free Army has sent!" The scout leader rolled off his horse, presented the package with both hands, turned his face away, and wept uncontrollably!
Qiu Lei felt a sense of foreboding. He hurriedly opened the package, and inside was a blood-written letter with the words "I have been captured by Shui-bian," two flags, and a head with glaring eyes!
Qiu Lei recognized the blood-written letter from Qiu Shui-bian as the same one on the carrier pigeon earlier. The two flags were the Ling Ye Navy's command flag and the Keelung First Regiment's military flag! Qiu Lei recognized the head even more—Qiu Sizhong was a brave general under the First Regiment, a member of a collateral branch of the family, and had even drunk and laughed with Qiu Lei in Keelung!
With the flags and the man, the Free Army's move undoubtedly declared that all reinforcements had been defeated or even annihilated! Qiu Lei felt the sky darken, and any lingering hope he had had vanished. He waved his hand and ordered, "Pass on the order! Fight to the death!"
Rather die of hunger and thirst, it was better to fight to the death. In recent years, Qiu Lei had indulged in wine and women, making no progress in either martial arts or strategy, and had long since lost his reputation as a "rising star." However, the indomitable spirit of the Qiu family still flowed in his blood, and he never considered surrendering .
"Glory! Is my life!" Qiu Lei led the last remaining Jade Dragon Army of the Third Regiment in a final, desperate attack on Panlong Ridge...
Rolling stones and powerful arrows rained down like a storm!

As night fell, Jubao Town was brightly lit.
Hua Yinghong leaned comfortably against his armchair. A thrilling and intense battle had passed, and his tense nerves could finally relax. The recent battle report left him very satisfied—
the entire Third Regiment of the Jade Dragon Army's Treasure Division was annihilated; Qiu Lei and Qiu Changzheng died at the hands of Hai Tianqing and Mo Yan, respectively; the Beigang Naval Regiment lost 7,000 men, and "Mad Tiger" Ling Ye fell into the sea wounded, his fate unknown; the Second Regiment of the Treasure Division lost two battalions, totaling 6,000 men, with the Second Battalion Commander Qiu Shuibian and over 200 elite soldiers surrendering; the Third Battalion of the First Regiment of the Treasure Division, totaling 3,000 men, was completely wiped out, with Battalion Commander Qiu Sizhong dying at the hands of Miao Youlan. This heavy loss of 26,000 men would render the Jade Dragon Army incapable of launching an offensive against the Free Army for the foreseeable future.
Jubao Town and Xigang, west of the Wanquan River, were now completely under the control of the Free Army. The 35 captured naval warships and over 1,000 warhorses, though few in number, were invaluable. Combined with a large quantity of shields, swords, spears, bows and arrows, crossbows, and catapults, the Free Army's forces were more complete and mobile. Even more gratifying was that the 1.2 million gold coins due to be handed over in Sihanoukville, the existing 200,000 gold coins in stock, plus the "autumn pay" of at least five gold coins per soldier of the annihilated Jade Dragon Army, had not yet been used. The Free Army made a fortune, seizing a total of 1.7 million gold coins!
War is ultimately a contest of economic strength. Hua Yinghong understood this very well. With these gold coins as a foundation, the path to conquering the world had a solid basis.
Killing ten thousand enemies, losing three thousand of your own. The losses on both the Free Army and the indigenous people were also considerable: in a series of battles including the capture of the iron mine camp, the annihilation of Xie Zhan, the capture of Xigang, the encirclement and annihilation of Qiu Shuibian and Qiu Sizhong, and the complete annihilation of the Lingye Navy and Qiu Lei, despite having all the advantages of timing, terrain, and manpower, and employing various ingenious tactics such as incense, fishing nets, vegetable oil fire attacks, and catapults, the Free Army still suffered over 2,000 dead and over 2,000 wounded. Over 1,000 reservists were killed and over 2,000 wounded. The indigenous soldiers also suffered over 1,000 dead and over 1,000 wounded. Of the over 4,000 soldiers killed, most died in close combat with the Yulong Army, demonstrating that the individual combat capabilities of the Free Army and the indigenous people were still significantly inferior to those of the Yulong Army.
This thrilling battle was largely a fluke victory for the Free Army—if not for Qiu Lei's impulsiveness, if not for the Jade Dragon Army's overconfidence in combat power, if not for the Free Army's clever use of time differences to defeat the outnumbered, if not for the Free Army's series of ingenious plans, if not for the experts like Lü Jingwei, Miao Youlan, and the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains"... countless coincidences, both planned and unplanned, enabled Hua Yinghong to achieve the remarkable feat of annihilating 26,000 elite Jade Dragon soldiers with 11,000 newly trained Free Army soldiers, 9,000 untrained reservists, and over 5,000 Gaoshan warriors!
After cleaning up the battlefield and returning in triumph, the Free Army and Gaoshan warriors returned to the South Gate camp of Jubao Town via the East and North Gates, shocking the well-informed forces. Carrier pigeons took flight after nightfall, sending out messages—all of this was observed by the intelligence team.
Upon hearing the report, Hua Yinghong simply said, "Let them be!" The Free Army was just using them as a pretext to spread their power throughout the Hua Long Continent!
Hua Yinghong got up and went to Liu Yufei's room, where his beloved Fei'er would spend a night of endless tenderness waiting for him...
******** ****
Keelung City.
Qiu Haoran received an urgent report from the Keelung headquarters of the Jade Dragon secret service to the secret liaison office in Xigang regarding the complete failure of "Operation Fishnet" and the annihilation of the entire Jade Dragon army. He slumped into a chair, his usually resolute face suddenly looking much older. Despite his extreme caution, he still couldn't avoid a crushing defeat. Was it because his opponent was too clever, or was he truly getting old?
One move affects everything. Qiu Haoran already sensed an even greater storm brewing.
After a long while, Qiu Haoran picked up his pen and wrote furiously—three of his finest carrier pigeons, "Thousand-Mile Shadows," carrying the same message, flew to the Jade Dragon Eastern Legion headquarters!

Jade Dragon Royal Court, morning court session.
On the desk of King Sima Yuan of Jade Dragon lay two urgent military reports, one from Jade Dragon's secret agents and the other from the Qiu Clan's army headquarters—within days, the western part of Treasure Island had been occupied by mutinous slaves calling themselves the "Free Army," and all 26,000 elite Jade Dragon soldiers sent to suppress them had been annihilated! In the past two years, in several small-scale skirmishes with the Great Liang army, the Jade Dragon Kingdom had never suffered such a heavy loss!
Sima Yuan was fifty-five years old, possessing a tall and strong physique, seemingly with inexhaustible energy. He had a short, wiry beard, sideburns that reached his lips, a high nose, and deep-set eyes, making him strikingly handsome. However, due to his cultivation of his family's Jade Seed Profound Technique, his face was as white as jade, and sitting on the throne, he exuded an aura of supreme authority. At this moment, his gaze was fixed on the assembled ministers, gleaming brightly. He remained silent, yet the ministers felt an invisible pressure, daring not to utter a sound.
"My esteemed ministers, please feel free to offer your opinions without restraint." After reading the military report, Sima Yuan tried his best to calm his anger. The sudden and urgent military report had severely impacted a major plan he was about to implement, catching him off guard.
Left Chancellor Murong Ming stepped forward and reported, "Your Highness, I am not well-versed in military affairs and dare not speak presumptuously. However, the treasures of the west have been lost, and the 1.2 million gold coins that should have been handed over have all fallen into enemy hands. Numerous weapons and warships have also been lost. I fear the kingdom's finances will be greatly affected."
Murong Ming was the Left Chancellor of the kingdom, fifty-two years old this year. With the Right Chancellor position temporarily vacant, he was truly the most influential civil official in the Jade Dragon Dynasty court. In terms of appearance, he was far inferior to Sima Yuan, slightly short and stout, with somewhat gray hair. He often wore a smile, had a soft and pleasant voice, and a thick chin. While stout, he was not obese, possessing the confidence and affability of a noble family, and was not disliked. He did not know Sima Yuan's intentions, and simply stated the facts.
Minister of Revenue Lin Tanzhi echoed, "This year's domestic harvest was poor, and several disasters have incurred considerable expenses. 1.2 million gold coins are enough to supply a legion's annual military pay, but it will be difficult to replenish."
Minister of War Sima Cheng said, "The Treasure Division and the Navy are renowned for their elite and valiant fighting. This time, they were instigated by the Restoration Society and the remnants of the Gaoshan tribe to mutiny, resulting in the loss of troops and territory. I believe there must be other reasons behind this. Perhaps someone is acting in secret, and the subsequent orders will be even more ruthless. I urge my brother, Your Highness, to investigate thoroughly."
Sima Cheng was the younger brother of Prince Yulong, Sima Yuan, and they had always had a very good relationship. He was granted the title of Duke Protector of the State and was widely regarded as the most talented member of the royal family. His martial arts skills were unfathomable. Currently holding the position of Minister of War, his power was sufficient to restrain the Left Chancellor, Murong Ming, making him one of the core figures in the Sima clan's power system. He was mature and prudent, remaining impartial and neutral in the open and covert struggles among the princes.
"Duke Protector of the State, please elaborate," Sima Yuan said, having never doubted his younger brother. Sima Cheng was fifty-two years old and held a high position in the court. For decades, he and his brothers had worked together to make the Jade Dragon Kingdom impregnable amidst powerful enemies. He might believe that his sons would rebel, but he would never believe that Sima Cheng would betray him.
"Treasure Island is rich in resources and has always been one of the kingdom's treasuries and granaries. Its importance to the kingdom is self-evident," Sima Cheng slowly analyzed. "Currently, the situation on the continent is complex. All countries are honing their military skills and training their soldiers, waiting for an opportunity to unify the world. Our Jade Dragon Kingdom is threatened by the tribes of the grasslands to the west, the Golden Dragon and the Later Tang to the north, the Baiyi tribes to the southwest, and the Great Liang to the east, which is constantly trying to cause trouble. Externally, there are raids by the Japanese pirates, and internally, the Restoration Society and the Demonic Cult are stirring up trouble. Therefore, although it appears to be stable, it is actually beset by internal and external troubles, and there is always the risk of collapse. No matter which force it is, attacking Treasure Island is an excellent choice that will have far-reaching consequences. Even without this slave mutiny, some forces with ulterior motives would have tried to push it forward. It's just that the speed of the attack was unexpected. Now that things have come to this, the key is not to assign blame, but to..." " How should we respond?"
Anyone else would have dared to utter words like "a single misstep could lead to utter ruin," but Prince Sima Yuan of the Jade Dragon Kingdom did not consider Sima Cheng's analysis alarmist. He immediately asked, "What does Minister Murong think we should do?"
Seeing that he could not avoid the question, Murong Ming could only reply, "Your Highness, I believe there are three urgent matters: First, send envoys to establish friendly relations with various countries, stabilize their minds and prevent them from taking advantage of the situation, maintaining a relaxed exterior but a tight interior, and preparing for war; second, blockade the western part of the treasure trove, cutting off their external support and turning them into a caged beast; third, dispatch a large army from the eastern legion to advance by land and sea, striving to annihilate them in the shortest possible time." Having stood the test of time in officialdom for many years, Murong Ming possessed exceptional abilities. Although he secretly wished to hold the Qiu family accountable for their defeat and to curb their arrogance, he remained silent, trusting that Sima Yuan had his own plan. Moreover, Qiu Haoyu's eldest daughter, Qiu Shuiyun, ranked third among the "Ten Beauties of the Continent," was married to the Seventh Prince, Sima Lang, and also had an ambiguous relationship with the Jade Dragon King, making him hesitant to speak lightly.
"However, the responsibility for the defeat cannot be ignored, to demonstrate the royal court's clear distinction between reward and punishment." The speaker was Ding Zili, Minister of Personnel—the younger brother of Ding Zixing, the head of the Ding family, and the Ding family's representative in the Jade Dragon court. The Ding family had close ties with the First Prince, Sima Tai, and would not easily let go of any opportunity to suppress the Qiu family and the Seventh Prince. The Ding family commanded the Northern Army and the specially organized Huaiyin Naval Division, which resisted the powerful pressure from the Later Tang Empire across the river, giving them considerable influence in the court; the Jade Dragon King had to give their opinions serious consideration.
"Your Highness! Regarding the slave mutiny on Treasure Island, the Treasure Army and Navy acted cautiously and their response was appropriate. As the Duke of Protectorate said, there must be forces secretly manipulating things. Before the situation is clear, it is not appropriate to punish them, otherwise it will discourage the soldiers who fought to the death for their country!" Stepping forward to kneel was Qiu Haocang, the Minister of Works and the representative of the Qiu family in the court. His words were a mix of offense and defense, using Sima Cheng, the Duke of Protectorate, as a shield and subtly shifting the blame for the defeat to the merit of martyrdom, demonstrating his eloquence. With
the two major families clashing in court, the other ministers remained silent. Regardless of who prevailed, the various factions representing the other princes could benefit from the situation and were happy to watch the tigers fight. Those of lower rank dared not speak easily, and for a moment, the hall was silent.
"As the Left Chancellor has suggested, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War will devise strategies, and we will discuss them again tomorrow." Sima Yuan paused slightly, then added, "Regarding the defeat at Zhenbao Island, I will consider it carefully before making a decision. Court adjourned!" Sima Yuan felt inexplicably annoyed. With the kingdom beset by internal and external troubles, the princes were forming factions and engaging in endless open and covert struggles for the right of succession, which greatly disappointed him. He was still in his prime and could still manage to suppress them, but if…
Zhenbao Island had become a thorn in the side of the Jade Dragon Kingdom.

Volume Four, Chapter Forty: The Alluring Beauty and the Charm of the Water Gathering
Treasure Town South Gate Camp.
Hua Yinghong slept comfortably until past Chenshi (7-9 AM) before getting up. The sounds of the Free Army's drills from the parade ground outside had already reached his room.
The gentle embrace of a hero is a graveyard. However, anyone with such alluring beauties as Liu Yufei and Miao Youlan in their arms would likely be reluctant to rise early.
After two passionate encounters with Liu Yufei last night, Hua Yinghong still felt unsatisfied. Whether it was the wondrous effect of his Hunyuan True Qi or the lingering poison of the lustful snake, his desire for sexual relations was much stronger. Liu Yufei, however, directed him to the next room to comfort the innocent and virginal Miao Youlan, who was experiencing her first sexual encounter.
Under the lamplight, Miao Youlan appeared exceptionally ethereal and captivating. She had an oval face, a forehead as smooth as jade, skin as white as snow, and delicate eyebrows like spring mountains. Her deep, mysterious eyes held a hint of shyness, her nose was slender and straight like a finely sculpted masterpiece, and her lips were beautifully curved, red, tender, and moist. Her pointed yet rounded chin added infinite charm to her aloof and unapproachable beauty. At night, Miao Youlan lacked the untouchable aura of the daytime, appearing alluring and captivating. Under Hua Yinghong's passionate kisses and teasing, this peerless beauty, seemingly resisting yet welcoming, allowed him to take liberties with her, and they shared the joy of love...
The jade maiden Miao Youlan, whose desires were aroused, was sent to the peak of ecstasy by Hua Yinghong four times. Receiving the nourishment of the rain and dew, she couldn't help but let out soft, delicate cries, as if she had forgotten everything...
By the light filtering through the window paper, Hua Yinghong gazed at the jade maiden, naked and curled up in his arms, her body incredibly smooth—Miao Youlan's soft, flowing hair was scattered, and her pretty face still had a hint of the flush from the passion. Her entire body was crystal white, her figure slender, her bones and flesh perfectly proportioned, her lines graceful, as if meticulously sculpted. A pair of snow-white, pinkish-white breasts stood proudly atop her chest, full and perfectly pointed, their pale pink buds like two tempting cherries. Her slender waist, easily encircled by a hand, extended downwards, forming two beautiful arcs with her tender, full, fragrant buttocks. A lovely navel nestled on her smooth abdomen, her long, shapely legs were round and well-proportioned, and her round, beautiful buttocks were pert and white. The alluring petals of her breasts were faintly visible amidst the lush grass, her entire being exuding an irresistible allure that made one's blood boil…
Driven by desire, Hua Yinghong's manhood hardened once more, and he gently kissed Miao Youlan's alluring lips, his left hand lightly caressing her smooth, long, slender legs, gradually probing towards the peach blossom garden—
"Mmm!" Miao Youlan, with her profound skill, was actually already awake, but she was still craving the warmth of her lover's embrace and the sensation of their intertwined bodies, so she closed her eyes and feigned sleep. Seeing her lover about to misbehave again, she quickly rolled over and clung to Hua Yinghong, clinging tightly to him, moaning, "Brother! No..." The four passionate encounters of the previous night left her both loving and afraid. Now, with the sky bright, the girl's shyness took over again.
Hua Yinghong held the beautiful woman's body tightly, his erect member pressing against her lower abdomen, rubbing against her delicate petals, arousing Miao Youlan greatly. He then lightly licked her earlobe and chuckled, "Call me 'husband,' and I'll forgive you."
Miao Youlan trembled, whispering shyly, "Husband..." before burying her face in Hua Yinghong's chest, her cheeks flushed. After all, she was still a young woman, unmarried, and although her heart belonged to him, and they had already shared the most intimate contact, calling him "husband" was still extremely shameful.
"My dear sister! I'm absolutely smitten with you!" Hua Yinghong, as if his kisses weren't enough, captured Miao Youlan's fragrant lips and tongue, their tongues entwined...
"Brother Hua! It's time to go to the town mayor's mansion for a meeting..." Liu Ju's soft voice rang out from outside the window, startling the two from their passionate kiss.
"It's all your fault!" Miao Youlan's beautiful eyes were hazy as she playfully scolded him, her pretty face turning even redder.
******** ****
Lichun Tower.
Xue Qianqian's cultivation was complete, her stunningly beautiful face radiating a holy light that dared not be profaned, truly like a celestial being. Driven by the peach pit in her dantian, the Nine Revolutions Peach Blossom Charm Technique, which she had cultivated for over ten years by constantly absorbing male essence, had broken through to a new level. The primordial energy of heaven and earth flowed continuously into her body, supplemented by the exercise techniques she had acquired during her spiritual union with Hua Yinghong. Her cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds, not only reaching the Innate Saint-grade realm but also advancing rapidly every moment!
Thinking of Hua Yinghong brought to mind that wondrous feeling of spiritual and physical intimacy. She knew she was seven years older than Hua Yinghong, and she also knew he came from another strange world and wouldn't care about her somewhat dishonorable past. But how to handle their ill-fated relationship remained uncertain. Especially with the Demonic Sect's uprising imminent, it was difficult to discern whether they would be friends or enemies in the future.
"Let fate decide!" Xue Qianqian was a free-spirited and extraordinary woman, and after her cultivation level improved, she became even more open-minded.
"Reporting to the fairy, a letter has arrived by carrier pigeon from Young Master Xu of the Yinming Sect in Keelung City," Xinru, one of the Five Beauties of Peach Blossom, reported from outside the door.
"Xu Xiaoyao?" Xue Qianqian frowned slightly. The Yinming Sect was the most powerful faction within the Demonic Cult. Its leader, Xu Ling, known as the "Yinming Divine Fist," possessed unfathomable Yinming demonic arts, no less powerful than Ren Tianxing, the former leader of the Demonic Cult who had fought the Sword God Lang Qingyun for a hundred moves before being defeated ten years prior. His only son, the "Amorous Young Master" Xu Xiaoyao, was thirty years old. His Yinming demonic arts were extremely powerful, and he was known for his womanizing ways. He had repeatedly harassed Xue Qianqian, the Peach Blossom Fairy, seeking to seduce her. However, since his martial arts were only slightly superior to hers, and Xue Qianqian, as the head of a palace, had powerful protectors secretly protecting her, she couldn't do anything to him. However, Xue Qianqian was wary of Xu Ling's exceptional skill and the power of the Yinming Sect, and didn't want to offend him too much, sometimes feigning compliance.
"What is in the letter? Read it," Xue Qianqian asked from inside the room without leaving.
"Brother, having been ordered to oversee the overall situation, has arrived in Keelung. I hope my sister-in-law will finish her business at Jubao and come to discuss important matters as soon as possible. A day apart feels like three months." Xinru read Xu Xiaoyao's letter aloud from outside the door. Xu Xiaoyao, oblivious to the cheesiness of addressing her as "brother" and "sister," made sure the first few sentences were serious, but the last was full of tender affection. If Xue Qianqian hadn't known his ruthless and lewd nature, treating women as playthings, she might have been swayed by him.
"Please ask Young Hero Hua to come before noon," Xue Qianqian hesitated before speaking. Hua Yinghong, as the leader of the Free Army, would undoubtedly be overwhelmed with affairs after the great victory and might not have the time, but this matter was crucial, and a face-to-face meeting was absolutely necessary.
**** ********
Town Mayor's Office Council Hall.
Liu Yufei sat in the center, with Hua Yinghong, Lü Jingwei, Hai Tianqing, Ye Zhiqi, Lin Zhi, Liu Litao, Ba Tian, and other Free Army generals to her left, and Miao Youlan, Mu Shanzhu, and Qin Tiezhu to her right.
The Gaoshan tribe's representatives were significantly fewer in number than the Free Army, but Miao Youlan showed no displeasure. Firstly, her heart was already with Hua Yinghong, and she believed that Liu Yufei and Hua Yinghong would fulfill their previous promise and provide the Gaoshan tribe with the treatment they deserved. Secondly, in terms of strength, the Gaoshan tribe was much weaker than the Free Army; their soldiers were hastily recruited before the battle, lacking any established organization or outstanding generals. As for Qin Tiezhu, he was the leader of the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the Gaoshan," who had distinguished himself in the Battle of Jubao Ferry, and had received a special invitation from Hua Yinghong.
The core issues of the meeting were military reorganization, internal affairs, and the relocation of the Gaoshan people from the Alang Mountains. If the Free Alliance wishes to conquer the world, it must seize this rare opportunity to lay a solid foundation for its future.
The relocation of the Gaoshan people from the Alang Mountains is not difficult. Previously, they were primarily suppressed by the Yulong government, which deprived them of their means of survival. Hua Yinghong proposes that a radius of several dozen miles east of Kunlongtan be designated as a resettlement area for over 30,000 households, totaling 150,000 Gaoshan people. Each household should be provided with free housing, a year's worth of rations, various farming tools, and seeds. Reclaimed land will be exempt from land tax for two years, after which a uniform tax rate will apply. Gaoshan casualties will receive a one-time compensation of ten gold coins each, with the disabled receiving half that amount. Those with family members and the disabled will also receive a monthly living allowance of five silver coins. From now on, within the Free Army's controlled area, Gaoshan people will receive the same treatment as other civilians.
This proposal far exceeded the expectations of Miao Youlan, Mu Shanzhu, and Qin Tiezhu. Their constant struggle against the Yulong government was solely for the right to live and the same living conditions as everyone else. Given the Gaoshan people's renowned diligence and resilience, as long as the Free Army remained undefeated, Hua Yinghong's proposal would bring about a true revival for the Gaoshan people! Aside from being overjoyed, they had no reason to object.
This seemingly entirely advantageous proposal for the Gaoshan people was actually the result of discussions between Liu Yufei, Hua Yinghong, and Lü Jingwei. Sixty to seventy percent of the Free Army were descendants of the Gaoshan people. Such a generous proposal not only won the favor of Miao Youlan, Mu Shanzhu, and others, but also effectively tied the survival of the Gaoshan people to that of the Free Army. Simultaneously, it added hundreds of thousands of valuable manpower to the newly established Free Army-controlled areas—after the liberation of slaves, various industries would face a severe shortage of manpower, and the relocation of the Gaoshan people would, in fact, greatly benefit the Free Army. The Free Alliance's contribution was merely a few dozen miles of wasteland and a total of about 400,000 gold coins in resettlement fees.
Internal affairs are a headache; the generals are good at fighting, but when it comes to internal affairs, they're clueless—a complete novice. But knowing only how to fight and not how to build is pointless, no matter how many victories one wins. While Lü Jingwei is an expert in internal affairs, that's based on the existing foundations of the Tang Empire and the Jade Dragon Kingdom. Now, to build a new regime from scratch, without capable subordinates, the difficulties are immense.
Fortunately, Hua Yinghong had a broad understanding of everything related to military affairs. Military affairs are an extension of politics, and while he wasn't an expert in politics, he had a general grasp of the basics and offered many constructive suggestions. Combining this with Lü Jingwei's experience, a general plan was formed:
establish a new regime in the area currently controlled by the Free Alliance, temporarily setting up an Internal Affairs Department, headed by Lü Jingwei, with four subordinate departments: the Department of Rites and Education (responsible for etiquette and education), the Department of Personnel Administration (responsible for official evaluation and promotion), the Department of Criminal Law (responsible for laws and punishments), and the Department of Household Registration (responsible for finance and household registration). A Military Affairs Department was also established, headed by Hua Yinghong, with three subordinate departments: the Department of Military Affairs (responsible for military operations), the Department of Engineering and Weapons (responsible for arms construction), and the Department of Military Intelligence (responsible for intelligence gathering). Liu Yufei, Lü Jingwei, Hua Yinghong, Miao Youlan, and Hai Tianqing formed the highest power center, collectively deciding on major decisions and laws of the Free Alliance. The heads of each department were nominated by the department head and decided by the five-person meeting.
The biggest point of contention was the issue of troop reorganization.
Almost all the military commanders, including Hai Tianqing, Lin Zhi, Liu Litao, and Mu Shanzhu, unanimously believed that the Free Army should be significantly expanded, ideally into a full-fledged corps. Their reasons were compelling: after suffering heavy losses, the Jade Dragon Army would undoubtedly launch a major counterattack, and the Free Army, lacking sufficient manpower, would likely be unable to cope with the impending war. Furthermore, the entire area around Xigang and Jubao Town was under the Free Army's control, with approximately 150,000 freed government and private slaves, plus a significant number of civilians and mountain people who had migrated elsewhere; manpower was not a problem. Of course, the commanders weren't without their own self-interest—the larger the Free Army, the higher their ranks would be; current battalion commanders could potentially be promoted directly to regimental commanders or even division commanders.
However, Lü Jingwei, taking on the role of Director of the Interior, held a different opinion: even with the Gaoshan people migrating, the Free Army's current controlled area only had a population of around 500,000. Based on the military practices of various countries on the Hualong Continent, it typically required 15 to 20 men to support one regular soldier, and financial resources were strained. Even though Xigang and Jubao Town are rich in resources and tax revenue, with 60% of their annual income of 1.2 million gold coins allocated to military expenses, they could only support a maximum of 60,000 Free Army soldiers, and this was only because most of their weaponry had already been captured and deployed. Therefore, Lü Jingwei proposed that quality over quantity in the military, suggesting an expansion to a division plus a naval regiment.
Both factions had their reasons. Miao Youlan was basically ignorant of military matters, and Liu Yufei, through their spiritual union that night, had almost completely absorbed Hua Yinghong's memories, but had no time to digest them. The two women's beautiful eyes flickered as they looked at the silent Hua Yinghong.
Hua Yinghong didn't speak immediately. He knew that Yufei and Youlan would definitely support him; once he opened his mouth, a conclusion would essentially be reached. Allowing everyone to fully express their opinions was both to train them to use their brains and to provide him with more comprehensive considerations.
Until Ba Tian's booming voice shouted, "Everyone stop arguing! Listen to my elder brother, you can't go wrong!"
Hua Yinghong smiled at Ba Tian, secretly admiring his straightforward sworn brother. With everyone's attention focused on him, and Yu Fei and You Lan's beautiful eyes brimming with anticipation as they clung to him, he then presented his carefully considered military reorganization plan—
"Expanding the army must consider both the needs of the upcoming great war and the capacity of domestic affairs," Hua Yinghong explained. "Too few troops, and if we are utterly defeated by the Jade Dragon Army's counterattack, even the longest-term plans will be useless; too many troops, like draining a pond to catch fish, even if we win temporarily, will cripple our domestic finances, ultimately leading to defeat—"
"My suggestion is to expand the entire army into a single legion," Hua Yinghong deliberately paused, seeing the joy on Hai Tianqing and the others' faces, but not Lu Jingwei's puzzled expression, before continuing—
"However, it has only one regular division under its command, with an organization of 40,000 men, comprising a directly subordinate regiment and three regiments, each with 10,000 men. It also has a naval regiment of 10,000 men, a special operations regiment of 3,000 men, and a women's regiment of 3,000 men, for a total regular army strength of 56,000 men. Simultaneously, it has one reserve division of 40,000 men and one naval reserve regiment of 10,000 men. Reserve troops spend half a day training and half a day participating in local construction, with half their pay, otherwise the same as the regular army. Commanders of the reserve division and naval reserve regiment are selected from among the Free Army generals, and may be transferred to the regular army if needed for a major battle or if they perform outstandingly in training exercises.
A strong competitive atmosphere must be fostered throughout the army: those who train poorly or are ineffective in combat may be demoted to reserves; those who train well and achieve outstanding combat results may be transferred to the regular army. In short, the primary goal is to build a strong and efficient army."
"The Free Army's future goal is not just Zhenbao Island, but the entire Hualong Continent! From now on, it won't be just one legion, but many legions. Among you all, there will be many legion commanders, even generals and marshals..."
Hua Yinghong's words gradually became more persuasive, as if a bright future awaited them, instantly igniting the passion of the officers.
Lu Jingwei, Hai Tianqing, and others carefully weighed Hua Yinghong's plan, finding it balanced and acceptable to both the military and the domestic administration, and unanimously agreed.
With the general strategy set, the details were left for implementation.
Everyone waited for Hua Yinghong to propose personnel arrangements for the military commanders. Just as Hua Yinghong was about to speak, Liu Lan hurried in, a slightly mocking smile on her pretty face, handing over a note with a line of elegant handwriting: "Please come to Lichun Tower before noon." The note was unsigned, but the signature was a blooming peach blossom, faintly carrying a familiar and alluring fragrance.
Seeing that noon was approaching, Hua Yinghong casually handed a note to Liu Yufei, saying, "There's an urgent matter right now. We'll discuss it again after noon. Fei'er, Youlan, I'll be right back."
Liu Yufei glanced at it, then passed it to Miao Youlan, saying, "Go quickly, don't keep Sister Xue waiting."
Miao Youlan blushed deeply when Hua Yinghong publicly "asked for leave," her heart filled with sweetness. She didn't say anything, only nodded.
Amidst the envious gazes of the men, Hua Yinghong hurriedly left.
******** ****
At the Jade Dragon Palace, despite it being daytime, the gates of the Jiaotai Hall remained tightly closed. Those familiar with the Jade Dragon King's eunuchs knew that he was inside "summoning" the Seventh Prince's Consort.
Lying on her side on the bed was a stunningly beautiful woman, dressed in palace attire, with a breathtakingly alluring figure—a beauty that could captivate anyone at first glance. She possessed a full bust and curvaceous hips, a wasp waist, and a captivating smile as enchanting as peach blossoms in March, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who beheld her. A faint smile graced her jade-like face, initially appearing as a seductive laugh, yet also like a flirtatious glance. A subtle, alluring charm lingered between her brows, stirring the heart with every glance.
Her figure was voluptuous yet perfectly proportioned, never appearing slender or overweight. Her low-cut palace dress revealed half of her rounded, snow-white breasts, while her slender waist, full hips, and long, bare legs that reached her thighs outlined a captivatingly voluptuous figure. Her devilish body inspired fantasies, an urge to ravage her flesh.
Sima Yuan, the Jade Dragon King, stood before the bed, gazing at Qiu Shuiyun, a stunning beauty ranked among the top three of the "Ten Most Beautiful Women on the Continent." Despite countless nights of passionate lovemaking with her over the past three years, he couldn't resist a strange urge each time, his manhood involuntarily hardening. Qiu Shuiyun
knew Sima Yuan well and understood his desires. She slowly sat up, extending her slender left hand to gently caress his lower abdomen, lightly grasping and kneading his member. Her right hand loosened the sash of his golden dragon robe…
Due to her practice of the Sima family's unique "Jade Planting Technique," his member was entirely white like jade, with only a few veins tinged with crimson blood. Since Sima Yuan first took her virginity three years ago, Qiu Shuiyun had forgotten that he was her husband—the father of the Seventh Prince, Sima Lang—and forgotten all moral principles, captivated only by the Jade Dragon King's strength and masterful lovemaking.
Recalling her status as the third most beautiful woman on the "Top Ten Beauties of Hualong," the esteemed eldest daughter of the Qiu family head, and her marriage to Sima Lang, hailed as the most handsome man in Hualong, everyone thought they were a match made in heaven. However, on their wedding night, Sima Lang's performance utterly disappointed her. No matter how much she provoked and teased him, even abandoning her feminine dignity and shyness, using the alluring techniques she had learned from practicing the "Charming Maiden Skill," it had no effect whatsoever.
On the third day after their marriage, after paying respects to the Jade Dragon Princess at the palace, and then to the Hall of Union to see the Jade Dragon King Sima Yuan, Qiu Shuiyun was stunned by the Jade Dragon King's beauty and transformed into a true woman. For the next three years, the Jade Dragon King would summon or "visit" her every few days, each time bringing her to waves of ecstatic, heart-pounding pleasure... When it ravaged her body, Qiu Shuiyun completely forgot everything...
The Seventh Prince Sima Lang, hailed as "the most handsome man in Hualong," for some reason, could not fulfill his duties as a husband in the face of the stunningly beautiful Qiu Shuiyun, yet he could display his prowess with the maids. The ambiguous relationship between Qiu Shuiyun and the Jade Dragon King gradually became an open secret inside and outside the Jade Dragon Palace.
Looking at the familiar figure before her, Qiu Shuiyun couldn't help but open her rosy, moist lips... The intense masculine aura stirred within her a woman's innate desire for submission and conquest... Sima Yuan gazed at the stunning beauty's soft, rosy lips... Her beautiful eyes, brimming with spring-like passion, cast pitiful glances at him, and a wave of unparalleled pleasure surged through his
body, making him want to groan aloud—he loved the feeling of Qiu Shuiyun abandoning everything to perform the seductive actions only courtesans would perform, the submissive beauty giving him a conquering thrill, a feeling that his virility hadn't diminished...
After a moment of dizziness, Sima Yuan could no longer restrain himself. He swiftly laid the beauty down on the dragon bed, mounted his horse, and thrust his spear deep into her mysterious flower path… The velvety, warm, and smooth sensation overwhelmed the Jade Dragon King's senses like a tidal wave… With each rapid thrust, soft, melodious moans echoed through the vast palace… Even the most mighty hero, tempered steel, would be melted into tenderness…
At this moment, Jade Dragon King Sima Yuan forgot the identity of the beauty beneath him, forgot the Jade Dragon Army's crushing defeat on Treasure Island, forgot the vast lands of the Hua Long Continent…
He loved his country, but loved the beauty even more.
******** ****
The ancient sages of the Hua Long Continent said it well: Men conquer women by conquering the world, and women conquer the world by conquering men. On the distant Treasure Island's Li Chun Pavilion, a scene almost identical to the one in the Jade Dragon King's palace was unfolding…

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