Chapter 528: Wuchuan’s Dead End, Cai Qiuhu Visits Again |
The twelfth year of Great Xia, which was the beginning of last year, Madam, in order to search for supplementary herbs to refine the Sun Ascension Pill, led all the Sun Manifestation Level cultivators of the entire camp deep into the interior of Mo'ao Mountain. Naturally, they encountered many dangers along the way, but the most perilous one should still be that Thunder Mist Nightmare Abomination...
Under the walls of Pass City, inside the main tent of the Xia army, as Xu Ning recounted everything that happened in Donggu City truthfully and in detail, the sky had completely brightened.
Daybreak meant the twelfth year of Great Xia had completely turned the page.
"That Abomination's true form was a blue lightning arc, capable of creating large areas of miasma out of thin air. It could not only block human vision and hearing but also shield against the aura perception of Sun Manifestation Level cultivators. The situation was quite dangerous at the time, but we had the advantage of ample manpower. Plus, with Madam, the Department Chancellor, and Department Head Yu Wen directing appropriately, and all of us carrying Yellow Candles and Suppress Specter Jade, although it took some effort, we eventually killed that Nightmare Abomination.
This Nightmare Abomination could unleash strength at the Sun Manifestation Level at its peak, so naturally, it was classified as a high-level Abomination. After being recorded into the Treasury, its price was set at 12 million Contribution Points. Director Luo, with his great wealth, exchanged for it in January this year. However, he has never displayed the miasma mist technique in front of others..."
"Qin Feng falling for it is not unjustified!"
Only after listening to Xu Ning's account did Xia Hong, sitting upright in the main seat, speak with a face full of smiles. He then turned his head to look at his wife beside him and said softly, "You've worked hard these three years!"
Xu Ning's telling might have been brief, but the Abominations of the Ice Abyss are never simple. One could easily imagine that the situation when they encountered that Thunder Mist Nightmare Abomination deep within Mo'ao Mountain must have been extremely perilous.
As an old married couple, Li Xuanling shouldn't have had much of a reaction, but perhaps because they hadn't seen each other for three years, hearing Xia Hong's words of comfort, she actually blushed slightly.
Thinking of the name Luo Yuan that Xu Ning just mentioned, Xia Hong asked with a smile, "Mist-Hidden Thunder Blade, that's a good title. Who came up with it?"
"Haha..."
Hearing this question, the generals in the tent immediately burst into laughter.
After the laughter gradually subsided, Xu Ning explained, "This is something Lord Luo came up with himself. He practiced the Thunder Extreme Blade from the Martial Arts Pavilion. Combined with the concealment methods of this miasma mist Abomination technique, hiding within the mist, his strikes are as swift and fierce as thunder. The nickname Mist-Hidden Thunder Blade really does suit him..."
Everyone has nicknames now!
A smile appeared on Xia Hong's face. If he remembered correctly, Lu Yang also had the nickname Beishuo Sword Chief. He had just returned, and without a doubt, these pillars of Great Xia before him should all have their own nicknames now.
Looking back, Redwood Ridge was actually only about fifteen or sixteen years ago. Over these years, not only have Xia Chuan, Yuwen Tao, Yuan Cheng, and others grown, but Luo Yuan and the others have also been improving frantically, having long since grown into important figures capable of standing on their own.
"What happened to Wuchuan's fifty-thousand army afterwards?"
Xu Ning had only mentioned up to Luo Yuan leading the army to capture Donggu City, then closing the city gates before Qin Feng could react, blocking Wuchuan's fifty-thousand army outside the gates. He didn't say what happened next, hence Xia Hong's question.
The others also looked at Xu Ning upon hearing this.
Xu Ning cupped his hands and replied, "Lord Luo never intended to engage Qin Feng's fifty-thousand army in battle. Therefore, leading the troops to strike within the miasma mist was only to buy time, with no actual gains. Qin Feng's reaction time was quite fast. After seeing through the miasma mist, although he was so angry he vomited blood, he immediately ordered the army to turn around and counterattack. Unfortunately, their speed was a bit too slow. In the end, they only caught up with a small portion of the Town Garrison Army. After a brief skirmish, all of us entered the city..."
At this point, he paused, a smile appearing on his face as he said, "Qin Feng is now in a dilemma. Counterattacking Donggu City is definitely not feasible, but continuing north to reinforce the town city is also a dead end. He's now stuck in place. Before I came, that fifty-thousand army directly set up camp outside Donggu City!"
The generals burst into laughter upon hearing this, and even Xia Hong couldn't help but shake his head with a light chuckle.
No wonder he vomited blood...
Qin Feng was really tricked too hard this time.
Taking fifty-thousand troops out of the city was a risky move to begin with, and an extremely risky one at that. After all, originally staying in the city facing the Xia army meant being on the defensive, with a great advantage. But leaving the city turned it into an even fight.
The key point is that the strength of the Xia army is well-known throughout the Southern Foothills. Leaving the city meant there was a very high probability they couldn't win.
Qin Feng was also forced into a corner. Twenty-thousand elite Xia troops surrounding the town city, even if they only surrounded without attacking, was a huge problem. He keenly realized that if he didn't force a decisive battle with Luo Yuan's central route army, once the military supplies from Donggu City were cut off, his fifty-thousand army would have no choice but to surrender.
Thus, he took a risky move, deciding to leave the city to lure Luo Yuan into a decisive battle.
Xia Hong could roughly guess that Qin Feng's reliance for luring Luo Yuan into battle was probably Caiqiu's assistance. He could guess it, and Luo Yuan naturally could too. So, avoiding a decisive battle with his fifty-thousand army was the best choice.
We won't fight your fifty-thousand, but attacking Donggu City is fine!
With Donggu City occupied by Luo Yuan, if Qin Feng were to order his army to attack Donggu City again, that would be pure foolishness. Not to mention he himself couldn't give such a military order, even if he gritted his teeth and ordered it, those fifty-thousand soldiers would probably curse him to death in their hearts.
If not attacking Donggu City, the only place he can go now is Wuchuan Town City.
It's the same problem again: Luo Yuan won't just watch him leave.
The twenty-thousand elite Xia troops around Wuchuan Town City won't sit idly by and wait for him either.
The moment his fifty-thousand army moves north, the twenty-thousand elite Xia troops will immediately head south, and Luo Yuan's forty-thousand army will also swarm out. At that time, Qin Feng's fifty-thousand army will find itself in the difficult situation of being attacked from both north and south.
A homeless stray dog couldn't be worse off than this!
"Caiqiu has sent over a hundred Sun Manifestation Level cultivators. Although we don't know how many are left here at Pass City, it certainly won't be few. Since Cao Qianyang has decided to abandon Yangju Town City, what Caiqiu needs to manage now are only the two towns of Jinshan and Wuchuan. Qin Feng's situation isn't that dire. Without a doubt, Cai Qiuhu will soon go to give him advice."
Hearing Xia Hong's words, everyone below nodded.
Xia Chuan continued his line of thought, "What advice can he give? Qin Feng has no choice now. The fifty-thousand soldiers under his command are all from Wuchuan Town City. Besides reinforcing the town city, they have nowhere else to go."
Xia Hong was actually reminded by these words. He had unconsciously treated Qin Feng's fifty-thousand army as mere tools. As Xia Chuan said, Qin Feng currently has no other choice. If he dares to lead those fifty-thousand soldiers to run elsewhere instead of reinforcing the town city, he will only fail even faster.
He suddenly thought of something and turned to ask Yuwen Tao, "Have you sent anyone to keep an eye on the Bone-Erosion Path?"
Yuwen Tao was seated to his lower right. Upon hearing this, he immediately nodded and cupped his hands, "Lord Leader, rest assured. Before the battle, I dispatched a large number of scouts to the exit of the Bone-Erosion Path. It was they who reported to me when Cai Qiuhu brought over a hundred Sun Manifestation cultivators.
The scouts reported that the flesh-stripping winds in the Bone-Erosion Path have stopped. I have already ordered people to begin exploring inside. If Caiqiu sends a large army south, I will definitely receive the news."
Indeed, the miasma in the Nine-Bend Blood Corridor has receded, and the flesh-stripping winds here at the Bone-Erosion Path are gone too. Those Abominations from the Blood Mire Plains acted simultaneously.
"Not likely..."
However, hearing Yuwen Tao's last sentence, a smile slowly appeared on Xia Hong's face. He shook his head with a light chuckle, paused for a moment, and then continued, "Caiqiu is not particularly strong in the Mo'ao Chuan region. With Great Xia finally emerging in the Southern Foothills to contend with Chencang, they won't escalate things to the point of armed conflict with us. Besides, sending a large army south carries too much risk. Caiqiu probably doesn't have the courage for that!"
If the miasma in the Nine-Bend Blood Corridor has receded, couldn't it come back?
If the wind flow in the Bone-Erosion Path has disappeared, who knows when it might return?
The methods those Abominations from the Blood Mire Plains use to stir up trouble are too crude. Since he could see through it, there's no reason the two Fang Bos of Caiqiu and Chencang couldn't see it.
Without determining the true situation of the Abominations, rashly sending a large-scale army south could be a fatal blow if anything goes wrong.
Although the Feudal Towns are strong, Warmth Realm soldiers are not endless. Moreover, with the current strength of the Xia army, the two major Feudal Towns sending down a few people casually wouldn't solve any problems.
"Continue digging the tunnel at the current speed, no need to go too fast to avoid alerting Jinshan. Cao Qianyang hasn't completely withdrawn from Yangju Town City yet, so we're not in a hurry either. Cai Qiuhu is probably giving Qin Feng advice right now. Let's just wait here peacefully and see what Caiqiu plans to use to protect..."
"Report!"
Xia Hong's words were cut off by a voice from outside the tent.
"Enter!"
Soldiers usually don't barge into the main military tent unless it's a particularly urgent situation. Knowing this, Xia Hong didn't continue speaking, just signaled for the soldier outside to enter.
"Greetings, Lord Leader, esteemed lords. Someone is requesting an audience outside the camp. The leader calls himself Cai Qiuhu and says he has important matters to discuss with the Lord Leader."
"He's here again..."
Xia Hong raised an eyebrow. Beishuo was breached during the day on the 30th, and Cai Qiuhu was present at the time. Now it's just dawn, so at most only about ten hours have passed since their last meeting.
He just pleaded for Cao Qianyang less than ten hours ago, and now he's chasing after us again?
"Bring... invite him in!"
The reporting soldier looked troubled and continued, "Lord Leader, that Cai Qiuhu has brought many people with him. Commander-in-Chief Hou is in charge of guarding the camp's outer perimeter today. He said he cannot see through the strength of any of those people."
The expressions of everyone in the tent changed slightly upon hearing this.
Yuwen Tao's right route army totals forty-thousand men. Forty military tents spread out cover an area of hundreds of thousands of square meters. The outer perimeter is assigned dedicated duty troops every day, led personally by the main generals of the army.
Hou Quan is already at the Sun Manifestation Level cultivation. If even he cannot see through them, the strength of those people goes without saying—they are naturally all at the Sun Manifestation Level.
Xia Hong's pupils also contracted slightly. He asked with a smile, "How many came?"
"Fifty!"
He brought half directly...
The smile on Xia Hong's face slowly faded. He had probably already guessed Cai Qiuhu's intention.
"He brought half directly!"
"Is he planning to intimidate us?"
"Definitely!"
"Even Chu Tianxu was scared off, what gives him the right?"
………………
If Xia Hong could guess, the others in the tent could naturally guess as well.
Hong Guang, Hong Gang, Zou Yuankai, and Jiang Yuanlong all spoke up with sarcastic remarks.
Xia Hong's expression also turned somber. After thinking for a moment, he sneered, "It seems the face given at Beishuo City has created a problem..."
After saying this, he didn't get up, simply waving his hand to the soldier, "Just bring them in."
"Understood!"
The soldier, hearing the order, cupped his hands and retreated.
There weren't many people in the main tent at the moment. Besides Xia Hong, there were only ten others. Li Xuanling and the two children sat beside him, while Xia Chuan, Yuwen Tao, Xu Ning, Hong Guang, Hong Gang, Zou Yuankai, and Jiang Yuanlong stood divided on the left and right.
Xia Hong waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit properly. He himself sat upright in the main seat, closing his eyes to wait for Cai Qiuhu and the others to arrive.
In less than thirty breaths, a rustling sound of footsteps came from outside.
Huu...
Although Pass City is located in the fault zone of Mo'ao Mountain, the area on both sides here happens to be bare rocky mountains with few trees. When Yuwen Tao set up camp, he directly used military tents, including the main tent.
After the main tent's curtain was opened from outside by a soldier, Cai Qiuhu was the first to enter, followed by a noisily crowded group of people.
It really was fifty!
Xia Hong sat above, slightly lifting his eyelids to sweep his gaze over the crowd behind Cai Qiuhu. He even spotted over a dozen familiar faces among them.
He had been to Caiqiu. If he remembered correctly, those familiar faces were some he had seen in Qinghua City of Whitewater Commandery, and others he had seen in the Linchu Commandery Governor's Mansion.
Of course, he could recognize these people, but they couldn't recognize him.
To this day, Xia Hong still hadn't revealed his true appearance.
Cai Qiuhu's demeanor was clearly more unrestrained and bold than last night. From the moment he entered the tent, his gaze kept scrutinizing, from Xia Chuan and Yuwen Tao on both sides all the way to Li Xuanling and the two children beside Xia Hong on the main seat, without the slightest restraint from start to finish.
"Young Fang Bo Cai, we just met yesterday. Why have you come knocking again today?"
Xia Hong's eyes narrowed slightly, not hiding the displeasure in his tone.
"Bold Xia Hong! With Young Fang Bo present, how dare you remain seated?"
Before Cai Qiuhu could speak, a young man behind him stepped forward and spoke first. And with his very first words, it was a furious reprimand. Not to mention Xia Chuan and the others in the tent, even Xia Hong, the Lord Leader, was clearly not in his eyes.
Thud...
"Who do you think you..."
As soon as the young man spoke, Xia Chuan, Yuwen Tao, and the other seven immediately stood up from their seats. The hot-tempered Hong Gang even slammed the table in front of him with a palm, shattering it, opening his mouth to retort.
However, Xia Hong suddenly raised his hand to stop him.
Seeing this, Hong Gang immediately closed his mouth, but his gaze burned as he stared at the young man, not concealing the killing intent in his pupils in the slightest.
The atmosphere in the tent instantly froze.
Xia Hong didn't look at Cai Qiuhu but directly stared at the young man. After staring at him for three or four breaths, he suddenly laughed.
He laughed a few times, then turned his head to ask his wife beside him, "Xuanling, during the Chuishan Rift two years ago, that Caiqiu prince who spoke disrespectfully to you, it was this person, right?"
Li Xuanling directly nodded.
So, the young man was none other than the little prince of Caiqiu's Whitewater Commandery, Cai Shiqi, who had been used as a pawn by Great Xia during the Chuishan Rift two years ago.
Xia Hong and Cai Shiqi had met twice in total.
The first time he met Cai Shiqi was three years ago when he traveled from Yinhe Valley through the Bone-Erosion Path to Caiqiu. At that time, Cai Shiqi was only at the Warmth Realm cultivation, having just set foot in the Southern Foothills under the escort of that Military Adviser Zhu Yan.
The second time was at the library of the Linchu Commandery Governor's Mansion in Caiqiu, before the trial of the two Feudal Towns in the Blood Mire Plains began. Cai Shiqi came to Linchu Commandery with a group of young nobles and happened to cross paths with him at the library entrance.
During that encounter, the two had some unpleasantness.
If Xia Hong remembered correctly, because his wife severed Cai Shiqi's index finger, Cai Shiqi held a deep hatred for Great Xia. At the entrance of the library in the Linchu Commandery Governor's Mansion, he had even said that he would capture all the upper and lower echelons of Great Xia and take them back to Caiqiu, with the men serving as dogs in the Whitewater Commandery Governor's Mansion for generations and all the women sent to the army to serve as camp prostitutes.
Back then, Xia Hong had sentenced this person to death. However, with the Blood Mire Plains trial starting afterward and many events happening one after another, he had forgotten about this person.
Who would have thought that after so long, this Cai Shiqi would actually deliver himself to their doorstep again.
And, he's courting death once more...
Xia Hong shook his head, no longer interested in looking at Cai Shiqi. He directly shifted his gaze to Cai Qiuhu, the smile still on his face, and asked slowly, "Young Fang Bo Cai, bringing just this many people won't intimidate this Lord Leader. Your Caiqiu army won't arrive south so quickly. How do you plan to protect the two towns of Jinshan and Wuchuan? Speak!"