Empire Calendar, Year 7743, November 4th, light snow.
There was no oath-taking ceremony, no departure ceremony. The armies of Yan Lan City left one after another, heading towards the East Sea along the routes of Cangnan Province and Lingdong Province.
Outside the north gate of Yanlan City, on the mountain ridge where the Eagle Nest Camp was located, Lin Muyu, Qin Yin, and Tang Xiaoxi stood on a high rock, looking at the endless stream of flags flying into the distance. The weather today was not bad, with light snow drifting in the air and thin dark clouds. It was as if the heavens were very kind to Yanlan City for sending out their troops.
The cold wind blew, and their cloaks fluttered.
Lin Muyu breathed out a white mist, and couldn't help but smile bitterly in her heart. She had almost lost the ability to breathe, and now she was not used to this mortal body.
The Eagle Nest Mountain was very high, and the field of vision was very broad. She could almost see the whole situation, and today, she would stay here for the whole day.
Behind her, the sound of hooves was getting closer and closer. It was Feng Jixing, Wei Chou, Zhang Wei, Situ Sen, and the others.
Holding the reins of the warhorses, Feng Jixing slowly walked over and said, "Your Highness, the three armies have all set off. The 180,000 Longdan Army Camp, 100,000 royal guards, 200,000 national army, and 80,000 navy troops stationed in Yan Lan City have gone to Lingdong in two routes: land and sea. Plus the armies from all provinces, 100,000 soldiers from the Seven Navies, 50,000 soldiers from the National Army, 120,000 soldiers from Mingshan Province, 150,000 soldiers from Ba Huang Province, 100,000 soldiers from the Monster Race, and 80,000 soldiers from the Iron Blade Army. The total number is 1.16 million. Plus the Dragon League and Gong Gong Navy, the total number is 1.26 million. I am here to inform Your Highness."
"Hmm, thanks for your hard work, General Feng." Qin Yin nodded and asked, "Are the provisions and weapons ready?"
"Yes."
Feng Jixing said, "This time, we have sent over 1,200 giant magic crystal cannons, 4,300 small magic crystal cannons, and 20,000 magic crystal crossbows. The total number of cavalrymen is as high as 250,000. Almost all the horses from the farms in the north and south of the empire have been gathered here. Almost every soldier has been given two sets of armors and weapons. That should be enough."
"Where's the medicine? How's the funding for the casualty camp? "Lin Muyu asked.
Chu Yao, who was standing beside Feng Jixing, smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, I've already sent out orders to the Elixir Division to select talents and send them to Ling Dong. I've also brought along a large amount of medicine. The total number of military doctors is more than fifty thousand, and we've prepared five thousand tents and ten thousand stretchers for the casualty barracks. I believe that's enough."
"Thank you, Sister Chu Yao." Lin Muyu smiled. "In terms of preparation, we have far surpassed Yangshang."
Feng Jixing said, "Yangshang is the marshal of the Northern God Realm. He has never fought in the mortal realm before, so I'm afraid that he isn't used to fighting in the mortal realm. Let's wait and see how Yangshang commands his 2.5 million troops. This is not a small number."
Lin Muyu coughed and said, "I'm not worried about what Yangshang can do. What I'm worried about is the people who have submitted to Yangshang. Chen Yu and Beiming Yuan. These two Prime Ministers of the Great Kingdom of Shang are not simple people. Moreover, Chen Yu has many strategists under his command. If Chen Yu advises Yangshang, then we might be in big trouble."
"There's one more problem."
Feng Jixing said in a low voice, "Even if we use the entire nation's ships and the fishermen's ships, we still can't transport a million troops across the sea in one go. At most, we can transport four hundred thousand people in three trips. But if the wind is favorable, it will take three to five days to reach the other side. If the wind is against it … even a ship with a steam engine will need at least seven days to reach the other side. Three trips back and forth would be equivalent to more than a month. If we launch a large-scale attack, I'm afraid that we can only delay the enemy for half a month with four hundred thousand people."
Lin Muyu felt a headache coming on. She felt that she was at her wit's end.
Wei Chou cupped his fists and said, "Your Highness, Lin General, it's actually not a problem to delay the enemy with four hundred thousand troops. Don't we have the West Mountain Province? With the West Mountain Province as a barrier, it won't be a problem to hold out for half a month. "
"Let's hope so, provided that Yangshang doesn't take the initiative to attack, and is willing to let go of Yao. But … Yao is in imminent danger. I've already ordered her to retreat." Lin Muyu frowned and said, "Besides, once Yangshang takes the initiative to attack, our entire plan will fail."
Feng Jixing narrowed his eyes and said, "According to the information I've sent out, the ports in the inland seas of the Tianji Empire, the Blackstone Empire and the Celestial Empire have a great number of warships. Added with the fact that the forests in the Greatest Heaven Land are abundant and easy to harvest, the number of warships possessed by the entire Kingdom of Shang is far greater than ours. Perhaps …"
"Perhaps what?"
"Perhaps Yangshang will give the order to build a million-strong navy and start a world-shaking water war against us in the East Sea!"
"That would be great."
Lin Muyu took a deep breath and said, "That's exactly what I want."
"Are you sure that Yangshang doesn't know about the existence of the Gonggong navy?"
"By the time the Gonggong navy arrived, the heavenly punishment had already descended. The senses of the gods have decreased, and Yangshang may not be able to sense the Gonggong navy from thousands of miles away. We can only take a gamble."
"If it's a naval war, QianFeng's 10,000-strong army might come in handy."
"Yes, I've already taken that into consideration."
…
By dusk, more than half of the Longdan Army Camp and the Imperial Army had already left Lanyan City. Lin Muyu and the others rode down Eagle Nest Mountain and officially left the city.
The horses' hooves stepped on the snow, making rustling sounds. A layer of ice had already formed on Tang Xiaoxi and Qin Yin's shoulder armor, which couldn't be wiped off. The two girls' faces were also red from the cold. It was really hard on them.
Outside the city, under the leadership of Qin Yan, a group of imperial guards raised the empress's flag and escorted Qin Yin out of Lanyan City.
The cold wind was bleak, and everyone's faces were more or less filled with reluctance. They didn't know when they would be able to return after leaving the capital. The mountains were high and the rivers were long, and the journey was long. They didn't know if they could survive until the end of the war. The soldiers inevitably looked perturbed. The imperial guards were slightly better. Their cultivation was considered high, and they were less perturbed and more confident than ordinary soldiers. Moreover, they were the empress's guards, and this sense of honor was very strong.
"Your Highness … Your Highness, wait a minute!"
A person's shout came from within the city. He was wearing the armor of a second rank military general and was a vice commander.
Lin Muyu, Qin Yin, Tang Xiaoxi, and Feng Jixing all reined in their horses and turned to look. That person galloped in the wind and snow. His face was ashen from the cold. It was Zeng Fang, Zeng Yifan's son and Zeng Xiang's younger brother.
Zeng Fang dismounted and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Father is here to send you off …"
"Oh, Deity Hou is here?"
"Yes."
In the distance, the sound of galloping horses could be heard. The old official, Zeng Yifan, was galloping over under the protection of the God Might Battalion's cavalry. His face looked very weathered. Perhaps it was because he had lost his divine power, but he seemed to have aged a lot. After dismounting from his horse, he knelt on the snowy ground beside the road, cupped his fists, looked up at Qin Yin, and said, "Your Highness, you … you really don't want to bring me along for the expedition?"
Qin Yin pursed her red lips and said, "Deity Hou, you're old, and I don't want you to suffer the pain of the bumpy journey."
"This old subject … This old subject thanks Your Highness for your concern, but …" Zeng Yi Fan frowned and said, "Even if Your Highness doesn't bring this old subject along, at least bring this old subject's eight thousand soldiers from the Divine Might Battalion with me. The soldiers all look forward to the day when they can serve the Empire, slay the enemy, and make contributions!"
Qin Yin shook her head, "Deity Hou, the imperial capital needs the protection of you and the God Might Battalion. Aunt Lian's Zither Dragon Army is far from enough, so please leave the God Might Battalion behind and replace the Imperial Guards to protect the imperial capital."
"Your Highness, you're assured to let me guard Lanyan City?" Zeng Yifan seemed a little surprised.
"Why wouldn't I be assured?"
Qin Yin smiled faintly. Her beautiful smile was like a wisp of spring wind in the cold winter, and it warmed people's hearts.
"I thank Your Highness for your trust."
Zeng Yifan knelt on the ground and bowed, then said respectfully, "I will definitely wish Your Highness and Lin General victory in the imperial capital. I hope that you can unify the Celestial Pole as soon as possible, and let the banner of Great Qin spread throughout the world!"
"Yes, you will. The weather is cold, Deity Hou should go back and rest early."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Zeng Yifan slowly stood up, and he didn't bother to wipe the snow on his knees and pants. He just watched as Qin Yin and the others left and disappeared into the curtain of snow.
"Father."
Zeng Fang was now a middle-aged man with a mustache. He said, "Is Your Highness really willing to hand over the defense of Lanyan City to the Zeng family?"
Zeng Yifan's old eyes shone brightly. He said, "After so many years, Your Highness is finally willing to believe in the loyalty of the Divine Marquis Residence …"
"Then we …"
"We will do our best to serve the empire and defend Lanyan City. As long as the imperial capital exists, we will exist. If the imperial capital falls, the Zeng family will also fall!"
"Yes, Father!"
…
Two days later, Lin Muyu, Qin Yin, and Feng Jixing were in the command center of the empire's army. They had already arrived at the outskirts of Five Valleys City. Tents had already been set up outside the city. They immediately fed the horses, ate their meals, and took a short rest.
In order to avoid arousing suspicion, Lin Muyu had a tent alone and didn't stay with Qin Yin and Tang Xiaoxi. After all, in the eyes of the empire's soldiers, Qin Yin was still the empress, and Lin Muyu was still the marshal. Even though they were a couple, people would gossip about them if they stayed together. No one knew about the deep palace of Ze Tian Palace, but it was different when they were on the march.
The body of an ordinary person would be exhausted after running for two days and two nights.
The moment Lin Muyu touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep. Even the sound of snow falling on the tent and the guards sweeping away the snow on the tent could barely be heard.
…
The next day, the half-asleep Lin Muyu was awakened by the cheers outside. He got up, put on his armor, and walked out of the tent. He heard the cheers of the soldiers —
"The snow has stopped … the sun is out, that's great!"
The sun is out?
Lin Muyu turned around, and a ray of golden light shone on his face. Oh, the sun is really out …
…
The heavenly punishment had ended, and the purpose of punishment had been achieved. However, everyone had become ordinary people. What was the next step of the heavens?
Lin Muyu looked up at the sky and frowned. He could no longer sense the aura of the Heavenly Realm, and he didn't know how the situation of the Seven Luminaries Demon Emperor and Ziyao was. He was full of worry, but there was nothing he could do. This feeling was simply hopeless.
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