On the morning of the 14th, at daybreak, the reports from the four armies arrived at Xiping Prefecture.
Wei Chou led thirty thousand troops and took down Jiaoyuan Prefecture in half a day.
Xiang Yu led twenty thousand garrison troops and took down Shangchong Prefecture in one day.
Tang Zhen led thirty thousand troops and took down Xie Zhong Prefecture in one day.
And for the most remote Nan Lu County, a letter was sent over in the afternoon. Feng Jixing personally led ten thousand cavalry and similarly took down this county city.
The Shang Empire actually gave up on these four prefectures. After all, they were remote and it was inconvenient to deploy the troops. Moreover, they were all prefectures in Xishan Province. Even if they wanted to defend them, they couldn't.
… …
In the meeting hall, the glass lamp shone brightly. Lin Muyu read through the battle reports one by one and then handed them to Qin Yin and Tang Xiaoxi beside him.
He stood up and his finger moved across the map of Xishan Province, marking the positions of the four major prefectures.
Qin Yan asked suspiciously, "Big Brother, why are you so depressed when the four armies are invincible?"
Lin Muyu smiled, "Even though we have taken down four important towns, it also means that our troops are no longer concentrated. It is very easy for us to be defeated one by one. This is extremely disadvantageous for us."
"Yes." Xu Jiantao said, "We are facing enemies on three sides and our military strength has to be doubled to ensure there is no worry. Now, we only have three hundred thousand troops but we have to face enemies three times our number. Moreover, the Magic Crystal Cannons have been severely damaged and the ammunition reserves are less than ten to twenty percent of what we had when we came. Once the war starts, we have no chance of winning."
QianFeng smiled slightly, "If we include the possible disturbances from the sea, Xiping City can be said to be a battlefield on all sides. There are strong enemies on all sides and it is equivalent to sending ourselves into someone else's trap."
"The most important thing is still food."
Lin Muyu took a deep breath and said, "Pass down the order, order General Feng, Wei Chou, Xiang Yu and Tang Zhen to immediately escort most of the rations in the prefectures to Xiping City. Only one thousand troops will be left in each prefecture city. Appoint a new prefect and let the locals guard the prefectures to minimize our losses."
"Yes!"
At this time, Qin Yin put down the last letter and said, "Before the second batch of troops arrive, I'm afraid that even if we were to defend West Mountain Province, it would be somewhat stretched …"
"Yes, this is our current situation." Lin Muyu furrowed her brows and said: "The crux of the situation is that the terrain of Xishan Province is very flat, it is a plain, there is no place to defend, the border passes are also useless, we can only be in a passive position."
Chen Xiaoli's eyes lit up. "The Marshal must have an idea, right?"
"Haha …"
Lin Muyu couldn't help but smile as she said, "In terms of strategic position, we currently have three directions to attack. The first is the north, but the north is the Tianji Province, Yang Shang's lair. Even if we attack the Tianji Province, we'll suffer great losses. The other direction is the east, but Chen Yu is guarding there. It's best not to provoke that crafty fellow. Then, the only option left is the south. The south is the original territory of the Darkstone Empire, mainly guarded by Long Xi's three hundred thousand Darkstone Army. These three hundred thousand troops are basically the original troops of the Darkstone Empire, so their combat strength can only be considered average. As long as we attack the Lieshan Province, it'll be equivalent to removing the threat from the south. With the Lieshan Province as our backing, it won't be a problem for us to strategically extend our territory to the north and east."
"The Marshal wants to take down Lieshan Province?"
QianFeng was somewhat stunned, he didn't think that Lin Muyu would take this step.
"Yes." Lin Muyu nodded. "Longxi was originally the leader of the Thunder Blaze Sect of the Blackstone Empire. Although his cultivation is unfathomable, his intelligence is only average. Yangshang made a mistake by letting Longxi lead the 300,000 soldiers. Since this is the case, we should cherish this rare opportunity."
QianFeng muttered. "Even so, our military strength is limited. If we attack Lieshan Province, it means that we have to divide our forces. At least 150,000 soldiers are needed to defend Xiping City. After such a long time, only 150,000 soldiers are left to attack Lieshan Province. Does the Marshal think that 150,000 soldiers can defeat Longxi's 300,000 Blackstone soldiers?"
"Where there is a will, there is a will." Lin Muyu said, "Pass down my order. The three armies are to rest and reorganize. Sister Chu Yao, the Elixir Department is to quickly treat the wounded soldiers. How many of the wounded soldiers can recover in half a month?"
Chu Yao was startled. She bit her red lips and said, "Some of the injuries are too serious and won't be able to recover in half a year. Those with light injuries can go to war. About … half of the wounded soldiers can recover, but … many of them have frostbite and won't recover in a short period of time. Yu, do you really want to start a second war immediately?"
"Yes, if our soldiers have frostbite, the enemy's soldiers will also have frostbite. Therefore, we must fight fast and not give the enemy too much time to prepare."
Lin Muyu thought for a while and said, "I will personally lead the army to attack Lieshan Province. The defense of Xishan Province will be handed over to General Feng. When the time comes, leave most of the wounded soldiers to defend Xishan Province. The rest of the elite soldiers will attack. In addition, I will bring along the Winged people, the giant flying snakes, the Xingtian Heavenly Army, and the Dragon Cavalry Regiment."
Chen Xiaoli was stunned. "But the Marshal, Xiping City will have no air power. What should we do if the Shang army's Dragon Cavalry Regiment descends from the sky?"
"Don't worry."
Lin Muyu smiled and said, "I brought back a few wind-type raw stones from the 64 domains. They can be used to launch powerful wind saws. They can't be used when the warships are bumpy at sea. Now, they can be used. I will ask Senior Luo Tianji to find a suitable place to place the raw stones and form a protective boundary over the entire Xiping City. When the time comes, the Dragon Cavalry Regiment will be sent to their deaths."
Chen Xiaoli couldn't help but smile. "The Marshal already has an idea."
"Go back and prepare. We will set off in half a month."
"Yes!"
Three days later, Feng Jixing, Tang Zhen, Xiang Yu, and Wei Chou returned to Xiping City with a large amount of rations. There were almost two million dans of rations. This way, they would have enough rations for the expedition to the south. They would not have to worry about the rear.
…
18th day, Tianji Palace.
Letters of military intelligence flew to Emperor Shang Yangshang and piled up on his table. There were two extra seats beside the dragon table. Two strategists were helping Yangshang to look through the military intelligence. One was Xun Xi, and the other was Zhou Ziyang, Gong Shangming's junior.
In the main hall, the civil and military officials stood silently in their seats, motionless.
Yang Shang, on the other hand, leaned on the Dragon Throne and rubbed his temples. Battles in the Heaven Realm had never been so complicated, and they had never considered the weather or the geography. A large group of Gods would just fly over and beat them up. Whoever was stronger would win. How was it like a battle between mortals? There were many factors that had to be considered, and it was simply too troublesome.
Xun Xi flipped through the military intelligence and said in a low voice —
"Your Majesty, Jiaoyuan Prefecture and Shangchong Prefecture have been conquered."
"Feng Jixing, Wei Chou, and the others have gathered a large amount of rations from various prefectures. They have already been sent to Xiping City."
"Lin Muyu and Jingyuan Merchant Association have made many transactions regarding rations and armaments."
…
"Jingyuan Merchant Association?" Yangshang narrowed his eyes and said, "They must have eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall. They actually dare to trade with the enemy?"
"Hmph, these merchants only care about profit. They are just some mediocre people. Are we going to attack Jingyuan Merchant Association?" Xun Xi's eyes were filled with ruthlessness. He said, "Jingyuan Merchant Association has a branch in Tianji City. There are about five hundred people."
"Capture them all and behead them in public." Yangshang said casually. He did not take the lives of five hundred people seriously.
"Yes, I will order people to carry it out."
Xun Xi continued to flip through the military intelligence. Suddenly, he picked up one of them and said, "Your Majesty, Marshal Chen Yu sent a memorial from Huoyuan Province."
"Oh? Read it! "
"Yes."
Xun Xi opened the memorial and said, "Respectfully, Your Majesty, your subject Chen Yu has stationed troops in Huoyuan Province to guard a corner in the east. I hope Your Majesty will investigate carefully. Recently, the Qin Army has been preparing rations and fodder. Lin Muyu must have a new target to attack. In my humble opinion, Tianji Province and Huoyuan Province are not on the list of targets to attack. Tianji Province is defended by a strong military force and it is difficult for the Qin thieves to conquer it. Huoyuan Province is a land of war, so there is no need to attack it. Therefore, Lin Muyu will definitely attack the Lieshan Province in the south. I hope Your Majesty can make a plan early. Although Commander Longxi of the Black Lava Army is brave and fierce, but Lin Muyu, Feng Jixing, QianFeng and the others are all intelligent people. I beg Your Majesty to send an advisor to Lieshan Province at night to assist Commander Longxi to protect Lieshan Province."
"That's all?" Yangshang opened his eyes.
"Yes, that's all."
"What does Lord Xun Xi think?" Yangshang asked.
Xun Xi's eyes were solemn as he said, "Marshal Chen Yu's considerations are very thorough. Lin Muyu is indeed the most likely to attack Lieshan Province, and Lord Longxi … is indeed not as intelligent as Lin Muyu."
"Then let's do as you say. Is that advisor willing to go to Lieshan Province to make a contribution?"
Xun Xi was silent.
Gong Bujin hid among the civil officials, his expression unchanged.
Only Zhou Ziyang bowed his head and said, "Since none of you are willing to meet this Lin Muyu, then I, Zhou Ziyang, will go!"
Yangshang couldn't help but smile, "It would be best if Lord Ziyang goes, but … your senior apprentice-brother Gong Shangming was defeated by Lin Muyu. What does Lord Ziyang think of his chances?"
"Heaven disposes, but man disposes. How can we know who is stronger if we don't compete?" Zhou Ziyang raised his head. Even though he had a refined and delicate appearance, he was the same as Gong Shangming. Between his brows, there was an aura of a genius that could seize the heavens and earth.
Yangshang smiled, "That would be best. We will immediately promote you to the position of advisor of the Central Protectorate Army, with the rank of major second-rank. We will also send five Dragon Knights to escort you to Lieshan Province. What do you think?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
… …
Zhou Ziyang turned and left.
After a while, Yangshang looked at Xun Xi and said, "Lord Xun, what do you think of Zhou Ziyang's chances?"
Xun Xi's expression was calm as he said, "Lord Zhou Ziyang is a natural genius. If he calmly confronts Lin Muyu, he will definitely not be at a disadvantage. Add to that Lord Longxi's strength, and it is very likely that he will defeat Lin Muyu. This subject's only worry is that Lord Zhou Ziyang is too eager to make a contribution and will instead become a fatal weakness for Lin Muyu."
Yangshang, "…"
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