Spring passed and winter came. Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
In the first month of the 7734 year of the empire, Tang Lan and Su Muyun led 400,000 troops to cross the mountains and attack Lingkong Province. They were defeated by Long Qianlin, one of the Seven Marshals of Lingnan, using a delaying tactic. A heavy snowstorm caused the imperial army to lose all supplies and suffer a large-scale attack from the Yihe Kingdom. They lost more than 200,000 men. Lingdong Province and Tongtian Province were seized by the Yihe Kingdom. Corpses littered the Qinling Mountains for thousands of miles. This was the empire's first crushing defeat since its reconstruction. Even Xiang Yu and the other generals were injured.
In the third month, the army returned to the imperial capital.
In the Zetian Hall, Qin Yin's beautiful face had lost some of its tenderness after the baptism of wind and frost, but it now had a mature charm. She pressed her hand on the hilt of the Ziyin sword and stood majestically in front of the throne. She looked coldly at the people in the hall and said, "Grandfather, Your Highness the Seven Seas King, give me a reason why we lost this time!"
Tang Lan and Su Muyun knelt before the palace in silence.
Feng Jixing stood at the side with his hand on the hilt of his sword. He suddenly walked out and cupped his fists. "Your Highness, we didn't lose this battle. Our every move was under the enemy's control. Most of our supplies were intercepted and burned. That's why the 400,000 troops lost their supplies on the Qinling Mountains. Moreover, they were delayed for too long and didn't have enough clothes. The heavy snowstorm completely lost the empire's combat power."
"What's going on?" Qin Yin asked.
Feng Jixing said, "In these three years, Ling Nan has once again built close to a hundred new House of Chivalry in the Northern Mountain Ridge. We have tried many times to encircle and annihilate them but to no avail. They are hidden deep in the mountains and are too cunning. Furthermore, those Chivalrous Rangers have been constantly reporting our military intelligence to the Yihe Kingdom. This is also the biggest reason for our defeat.
Qin Yin heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Xiang Yu, send troops to guard the borders of Tianshu Province and Cangnan Province. Don't let the Yihe Kingdom attack again. Commander Feng, you're in charge of destroying the House of Chivalry. I don't want the House of Chivalry to exist within the borders of the Empire within half a year."
"Your Highness, this …"
"What, is there a problem?"
"Yes." Feng Jixing cupped his fists and said, "Does Your Highness know of the seven Saint realm experts of the Yihe Country? Han Jun, Lu Zhan, Fan Yun, Duanmu Fang, Xiahou Zhu, Yan Li, and Bu Hai are all disciples of Luo Lan. Now, three of them have entered the Northern Mountain Ridge. They are hiding in the House of Chivalry in the forest. This is the reason why we have failed to conquer the House of Chivalry. "
"Are we just going to let them continue like this?"
Qin Yin's eyes were filled with determination. She said, "Wei Chou, bring the Longdan Army Camp to assist General Feng. You must uproot the House of Chivalry in Lingbei Province and Cangnan Province!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Wei Chou cupped his fists and said. Beside him, Qin Yan, Luo Yu, and Fengxi also looked eager. The Longdan Army Camp had not made a move for a long time. This was an opportunity.
As for killing a Saint realm expert, it was not too difficult. After all, Lin Muyu had left behind a hundred thousand white diamond arrows, which were the trump card of the Longdan Army Camp.
"Your Highness!"
Su Muyun cupped his fists and said with a cold expression, "In the battle of Lingkong Province, the Empire lost many soldiers and generals. It is all my fault. I ask for punishment, and I am willing to strip the title of King of Yun Zhong."
"It is rare for Grandfather to be so righteous."
Qin Yin smiled and said, "Approved. Men, strip Su Muyun of his title of King of Yun Zhong and restore his title of Duke of Muyun to show that there is a clear distinction between punishment and reward. Grandfather, you don't have to take it to heart. Victory and defeat are common in war. We just have to win it back next time. We have the Seven Seas Province, Cloud Province, Lingbei Province, Cangnan Province, and Tianshu Province, a total of five rich and fertile lands. Yihe Country will not be able to hold on for long."
"Yes, Your Highness is wise!" Su Muyun knelt on the ground again.
At the side, Tang Lan frowned and finally knelt down slowly. He said, "Your Highness, since Duke Yun has resigned from his title of King, Tang Lan should also resign from his title of Duke and restore his title of Duke Lan."
"Approved." Qin Yin was very happy.
…
In the afternoon, five thousand Imperial Guards left the city under the leadership of Feng Jixing, followed by one thousand elites from the Longdan Army Camp. Due to Tang Lan and Su Muyun's repeated obstructions, the Longdan Army Camp was unable to expand to more than one thousand men. Fortunately, Wei Chou led the troops well. These one thousand men were all elites, skilled in archery and horsemanship. Their combat strength was far superior to any army of the same size within the Empire.
"Commander Wei Chou."
Feng Jixing held the reins and said, "Which mountain do you think we should attack first?"
"Dragon-rocky Mountain!"
Wei Chou's expression was not very good. He said, "Those bastards from the Hall of Chivalry re-occupied Dragon-rocky Mountain a year ago. This is a disgrace to our Longdan Army Camp. I have long wanted to attack Dragon-rocky Mountain."
"Alright then …"
The corner of Feng Jixing's mouth rose. He said, "However, Dragon-rocky Mountain is currently guarded by the headquarters of the Hall of Chivalry in Lanyan City. It is said that there is a Saint realm expert living on the mountain called Bu Hai. Half a year ago, when Xiang Yu went to attack Dragon-rocky Mountain, he was rebuffed and almost lost his life there."
"Even Xiang Yu was not a match for Bu Hai?" Wei Chou couldn't help but be speechless.
"That's not it …" Feng Jixing's eyes turned cold. He said, "Xiang Yu had already stepped into the Saint realm a year ago. In terms of strength, he should be on par with Bu Hai. It was just that he received a secret order from Duke Lan to withdraw his troops and return to Lanyan City."
"Hmph."
Wei Chou said coldly, "Presumably, Tang Lan doesn't want Bu Hai to die?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Feng Jixing placed his hand on the hilt of his saber. With a warm spring breeze on his face, he said, "I guess Tang Lan is worried that Xiang Yu, a valiant general, will be killed, so … he is waiting for other imperial troops to attack Dragon-rocky Mountain. You should also understand that among all the major legions in the empire, only the imperial guards and the Longdan Army Camp are directly under the command of the empress."
"Hmm."
Wei Chou smiled meaningfully. "Unfortunately, the Longdan Army Camp is limited to less than 1,000 people, and the imperial guards are limited to less than 20,000 people. Otherwise …"
"Don't think so much." Feng Jixing tightened the belt of his cloak and said, "Let's take one step at a time. As long as we are here, no one will dare to touch Her Highness. That is enough."
"Yes."
Wei Qiu's eyes flickered with light as he muttered, "It's a pity … Commander is no longer around. Otherwise, he would also be someone who could make decisions. At the very least, he would not let Her Highness suffer so much humiliation."
Feng Jixing raised his head to look at the clear sky and said unhurriedly, "That fellow Yu … is indeed a rare talent for a general, but it's a pity …"
"Let's not talk about it anymore. Tonight, we will station our troops at the foot of Dragon-rocky Mountain and attack it tomorrow."
"Hmm!"
…
In Lanyan City, in the Spiritual Medicine Department, birds were chirping and flowers were fragrant. Butterflies were fluttering in the air.
Chu Yao slowly opened one of her hands and slowly extracted the essence of the herbs. Her beautiful eyes were very calm. Beside her, the Pear Blossom Sword was swaying slowly in the air as if accompanying its mistress.
"Great Deacon, you are still refining the medicine yourself …" An old man dressed in a deacon's attire laughed.
"Yes." Chu Yao nodded lightly and said, "If I let myself calm down, I really don't know what to do. So … when I have nothing to do, I will refine more medicine. Deacon Li, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes."
Deacon Li cupped his hands and said, "The Divine Temple needs a few bottles of anti-aging medicine. However, this anti-aging medicine is a level-8 formula. We old fellows are helpless, so we can only trouble Great Deacon to personally refine the medicine."
"I see …" Chu Yao blinked and asked, "Is the Divine Temple's Great Deacon Ge Yang sick again?"
"Yes." Deacon Li said respectfully, "After Great Deacon Ge Yang regained control of the Divine Temple, his health has not improved. You also know that Great Deacon Ge Yang has not stepped into the Sanctuary-realm, so time is taking away his life. He is already more than 90 years old, so I'm afraid he will not be able to reach the Sanctuary-realm in his lifetime. He can only rely on anti-aging medicine to maintain his life force."
"I understand." Chu Yao pursed her red lips and said, "The level-8 formula needs some time to be refined. Come back to collect it at dusk."
"Yes."
Deacon Li looked to the side and saw a black pearl hanging on the bracket of Chu Yao's desk, swaying gently. This was what Qin Yin got from Lin Muyu and passed to Chu Yao.
"Great Deacon, this pearl … Who are the people carved on it?" He suddenly asked.
Chu Yao was stunned. Her graceful body stood there for a long time. After a long silence, she murmured, "They are … they are the people I yearn for day and night. They are the people I only see in my dreams …"
Deacon Li was taken aback. He cupped his fists respectfully and bowed to Ling Longzhu, "Lord Chu Huaiying and Lord Lin Muyu's spirits in heaven will definitely bless the empire's prosperity. Great Deacon, please don't be too sad. Oh right, about the marriage proposal from Marquis Lingbei a few days ago …"
Chu Yao said indifferently, "Don't bother me with such matters. I will not marry anyone."
"Yes!"
…
The Divine Temple, the temple in the hearts of the empire's warriors, had been rebuilt. However, the black ashes on the walls had not been completely cleaned up. It was as if to remind the world of the humiliation and hatred.
In the Great Deacon's office, Ge Yang's silver-haired hand was holding a pen shakily. He was replying page by page on the file. A young Silver Star instructor said with a smile, "Great Deacon, your hand holding the pen is trembling more and more."
Ge Yang glanced at him and said, "You are so meddlesome. I know …"
He suddenly put down the pen and leaned back in the chair. He said with a smile, "I'm old. This should have been done by the younger generation. Unfortunately … the talents in the Holy Sanctum of the Empire have withered. Many geniuses lost their precious lives in the chaos of Lanyan City three years ago. Alas …"
The young instructor smiled. "Great Deacon, are you talking about Deacon Lin Muyu? Although I have not seen him before, everyone in the Divine Temple remembers him. He is the youngest person in the empire to have the strength of a Heavenly King. "
"Not only the strength of a Heavenly King …" Ge Yang's eyes flickered with a faint light. He said, "If Yu did not die, with his speed of advancement, I am afraid he would have already stepped into the Holy Region."
"Great Deacon's resignation request to His Highness was rejected … His Highness said that the Longdan Army Camp also needs people. No matter what, Qin Yan cannot return to the Divine Temple as the Great Deacon."
"Yes, they all need people …"
Ge Yang heaved a long sigh and picked up his brush once again.
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