Chapter 1 From Imagination to Reality

The power of thought became reality! The gods and ghosts from the books emerged into the real world, no different from those that already existed!

The armies of Monan and Mobei abruptly halted, seeing dragons roar across the sky and countless celestial soldiers and generals materialize out of thin air. Their expressions were filled with shock, and even the shaman priests, who had been performing spells with great power, were stunned.

"Kill!"

A voice erupted from the celestial soldiers and generals, not from any single individual, but the lines from the books themselves, now embodied by these illusory warriors. They appeared only to fight, devoid of any other thought!

The celestial soldiers swarmed forward, supported by the national fortune of a great nation. Shuntian Prefecture now had a million people, and the immense power of their collective will, like the Prince Lu's earlier manipulation, could, if gathered, directly give rise to an incense deity. It was more than enough to support the will-powered divine generals, below the level of true immortals, in battle!

They were written into books, forcefully spread through the court's promotion. The seven years of the Korean War were widely known. Coupled with the gradual manifestation of gods and demons in Shuntian Prefecture, vying for incense offerings, people began to have more choices in whom to believe. With the gods and demons as guarantors, some naturally began to believe in the divine generals from the books.

Auras manifested above the heads of the celestial generals, and thunder rumbled in the void. They bore the titles of the nation, and their actions were empowered by the nation's might!

At this moment, the advantage of a large nation was clearly displayed. Although the spells of the shaman priests were fierce and broke through the firearm formations, they were ineffective against these undying, unyielding will-powered celestial soldiers.

"Divine incantations counter firearms, will-power counters divine incantations, firearms counter will-power. I heard that Japan used similar methods on the Korean battlefield, killing many of our Ming soldiers, which was frustrating. But now that we have truly learned this technique, it feels really good to use!"

Even Li Chengliang, his hair white and nearing death, suddenly seemed invigorated, as if experiencing a final burst of vitality. These will-powered celestial soldiers and generals were truly effective, impossible to kill. One batch was scattered, and another emerged from the books, seemingly endless!

"Not quite,"

Feng Menglong, channeling his righteous qi, said to Li Chengliang, "The will-power techniques used by the Japanese seem different from ours. Our technique is inferior to theirs."

Liu Mengyin added, "The Japanese used techniques derived from the *Jinwu Yutu Ji* (Collection of the Golden Crow and Jade Rabbit) when they attacked our former state of Joseon. The way their will-powered demons are formed is not just different from ours, but completely different."

"Our celestial soldiers and generals may seem endless, but in fact, they are supported by the will-power of a million living beings, with the nation's fortune as their foundation. Once someone attacks our cities on a large scale, slaughters our people, and damages the nation's fortune, the will-power disappears, the national fortune declines, and they can no longer be summoned."

"The Japanese will-powered demons, on the other hand, were initially thought to be linked to national fortune, but later analysis of the intelligence we obtained revealed that they do not require the support of national fortune at all. Their origin lies solely in the *Jinwu Yutu Ji*!"

"With this divine book, combined with Japan's techniques for transforming souls in the Yomi (land of the dead), they can continuously create an undying army of demons. Anyone who dies will be taken into the Eastern Yomi, either to be transformed into national fortune, or into Yin soldiers to support the divine kingdom, or into demonic will-power, or into vengeful spirits."

Li Chengliang was somewhat confused, but he understood the gist. Seeing his expression, Liu Mengyin's eyes darted, and he simply pointed out:

"The source of the Japanese will-power lies in transformation."

"Ours, on the other hand, relies on dependence. In essence, it is no different from creating incense deities by attaching the thoughts of the people to clay statues. It's just that the object of attachment has been changed from a small temple to the entire nation."

With this explanation, Li Chengliang understood.

Although the outward appearances were almost identical, the essence of the two techniques was vastly different. Ultimately, the *Jinwu Yutu Ji* was more powerful. The Great Ming was simply using its powerful resources to imitate the techniques of the *Jinwu Yutu Ji*.

But it had to be said, the imitation was very successful!

"The celestial soldiers have driven back the shamans!"

The generals at the front saw the shaman priests retreating in defeat. The celestial soldiers, using a human-sea tactic of undying soldiers who couldn't be driven away, charged in front of the shaman priests and began to gang up on them. Soon, they killed several who couldn't escape in time. The beasts that had been driven forward, now devoid of reason and only acting on instinct, were also killed by the celestial soldiers' "divine-sea tactics."

The Hongyi cannons fired again, with earth-shattering force. The shamans suffered heavy losses, and the Mobei and Monan armies began to retreat. This was the nature of nomadic soldiers. When most tribes did not follow an absolutely strong king, but formed a loose alliance fighting independently, once the collapse rate at the front exceeded ten percent, they faced a major rout!

The leaders of the various tribes blamed each other for incompetence. The leaders of the large tribes placed the people of the small tribes behind them to provide cover. Horses trampled each other, and the cavalry became severely detached from the rear. The Mongol warriors fell into chaos. Accompanied by the explosions of firearms and thunder, they completely lost control of the front lines.

The army of one hundred thousand was on the verge of collapse. The leader of Monan Mongol stood up and demanded that Mobei Mongol listen to their unified command!

"I am Chelike, Namudai Sechen Khan! I am the leader of Monan, the grandson of Altan Khan, the third-generation Shunyi Wang (King Who Submits to Righteousness)! You must listen to our command if we are to win this battle!"

The Khan of Monan Mongol possessed a powerful appeal, and quickly stabilized the retreating Monan Mongol soldiers. However, the various tribes of Mobei were still on the verge of collapse. The sounds of firearms at the front gradually approached. The shaman priests had also been defeated and began to flee. The tide of celestial soldiers and generals surged forward, carrying with it a surge of vast, billowing aura!

It was the nation's battle aura!

When the nation had great affairs, in sacrifice and in war, the nation's fortune gathered. If it persisted for a long time, it would transform into a battle aura! Soldiers under the battle aura possessed powerful combat capabilities. Only powerful legions filled with elite soldiers and strong generals, blessed by the nation's fortune, would produce a battle aura!

"What is the origin of these celestial soldiers? Aren't they fictional things! How can they have the nation's battle aura! It's been so many years since I've seen this!"

Beside the Khan of Monan, an old soldier looked terrified. In the past, he had served in the Eastern Wang Ting (Royal Court) and had the honor of witnessing the Qi Jiguang's army. A similar battle aura had appeared at that time!

But apart from that, military preparations in other parts of the Ming Dynasty had fallen into disrepair. Most of the legions could not condense this kind of battle aura. In fact, not to mention the Ming Dynasty, even the Mongols were the same. Even in the era of Altan Khan in the south and Tumen Khan in the east, it could only be said that the military strength of the Mongols had slightly improved, completely incomparable to the legions of the Yuan Dynasty. Such a thing as battle aura was only possessed by those legions during the founding of a country or in times of chaos.

Even the Ming side was shocked. The soldiers looked in surprise at the battle aura gathering above their heads. It was the first time they had seen the nation's fortune transformed into this form. Even Li Chengliang widened his dim, old eyes.

"Qi Jiguang!"

A name that had disappeared for many years returned to his mind. In those days, the Li family army and the Qi family army competed for merit, but whether in prestige or combat capability, the Li family army was slightly inferior. At that time, he had seen this kind of condensed battle aura.

The nation's battle aura, a cloud of national fortune condensed by the elite of the elite, meant that the existence of this legion was as indestructible as the pillars of the country. Similarly, the country would give them the maximum feedback and blessing.

When elite soldiers were defeated and died, the country was on the verge of collapse and destruction.

Namudai Sechen Khan's expression also became solemn. Even if he had never seen this thing, he knew that it was not easy to deal with. At this time, the leaders of Mobei Mongol began to make a fuss:

"Chelike! Stop issuing orders from on high! Who doesn't know that you have had multiple trade relations with the Ming Dynasty, flirting with each other in private. Your younger brother, Namuer, the Five Baturu Tabunang, is even a Dragon and Tiger General of the Ming Dynasty, a high-ranking official of the second rank. Only the leaders of the sides under the rule of the Ming Dynasty are qualified to receive such a position. In the vicinity of the Ming Dynasty, only Nurhaci of the Jianzhou Guard is on the same level as your brother!"

"Now that Mobei is collapsing, you still want our command. I'm afraid that when you reach the point where you can't win, you'll directly offer us up to rebuild relations with the Ming Dynasty and show friendship!"

The leaders of Mobei did not trust the Khan of Monan. In the end, they were afraid of being unified or eliminated by him!

Namudai Sechen Khan's face was extremely gloomy, and he rebuked:

"Even if I wanted to eliminate you, I wouldn't need to use such despicable means at this time! Besides, I, as the Khan of Monan, have personally taken the field. Where is your Mobei Khan, Abadai!"

The Khan of Mobei had not appeared in this battle, and the leaders of Mobei suddenly fell silent. Namudai Sechen Khan sneered, "This attack by you Mobei, wasn't it ordered by Abadai!"

"So that's it, leading the army deep, wanting to take the lead in occupying the place where the Eastern Wang Ting was established. After Buyan disappeared, some of you wanted to establish yourselves as kings!"

"The Seven Outer Khalkha tribes, with trash like you, are not worth me using any small tricks to kill you! If you don't want to die, follow me!"

Seeing that the battle situation had completely turned towards the Ming Dynasty, Namudai Sechen Khan decisively pulled on the reins and roared:

"Retreat, retreat! Regroup and fight again!"

In an instant, ten thousand horses galloped. The cavalry covering the left and right wings began to turn their horses and retreat. The Monan army did not linger, returning to reorganize their forces. They had completely given up on this battle!

The remnants of Mobei, seeing that the situation was irreversible, could only tuck their tails and follow the Monan army to retreat. But soon, the speed of the celestial soldiers' pursuit turned this retreat into a great escape!

The Ming army fired cannons from behind, chasing for dozens of miles, firmly occupying the place where the Eastern Wang Ting was established. But the Mobei and Monan armies had not completely withdrawn from this area. The area controlled by the Eastern Wang Ting was very large, with 300,000 square kilometers. This battle was destined to be a long war of attrition.

"This battle will not end until the Mongols completely withdraw from the Eastern Wang Ting, but we don't have the luxury of constantly probing back and forth with them."

Li Chengliang looked half-dead, but his orders were extremely firm. Every day the battle in the Eastern Wang Ting was prolonged, the burden on the nation's strength would increase by one day. The war had to be ended as soon as possible, and this land had to be firmly grasped.

"They retreated to a valley, the former site of the Fuyu Guard during the Hongwu era. It has long been abandoned and occupied by the Eastern Wang Ting as their court tent for many years. Organize those Mongol cavalry that have been incorporated, at least three legions of three thousand men each, plus five thousand Liaodong iron cavalry, carry the Frankish cannons, and prepare to flank and attack tonight."

More than ten thousand cavalry, in coordination with the celestial soldier legions and fierce firearms, as long as they could encircle the enemy at the first moment, they could completely annihilate them in the valley!

That night, dark clouds covered the sky, without a trace of starlight. The earth-shattering shouts of killing suddenly appeared at the site of the Fuyu Guard. Blood flowed like rivers on the Tongliao land, and smoke and gunpowder covered the heavens and earth. Namudai Sechen Khan, who was preparing to rest, woke up in the deafening sound of artillery fire and began to organize his army to break out!

However, on the retreat route, tens of thousands of cavalry suddenly appeared, carrying small Frankish cannons, completely blocking the retreat route!

......

Several days later, in Shuntian Prefecture, the Liaodong cavalry brought a tall Mongol man to the outside of the Forbidden City. When he saw the Forbidden City fly into the sky and become a Heavenly City, he was stunned.

In these short few years, what incredible things had happened on this land?

The transformation of the heavens and earth was beyond his comprehension. When the Wanli Emperor received him in the new hall, Namudai Sechen Khan could only smile bitterly.

The Khan of Monan Mongol was captured alive, the Khan of the Eastern Wang Ting disappeared without a trace, and even the country collapsed. Two-thirds of the Eastern Wang Ting fell into the hands of the Ming Dynasty, and the remaining one-third was occupied by the Mobei Mongol, who had arrived late.

"Now, the Mongol Khans are only Abadai and Khotogoidiin Altan Khan left in Mobei. It's a pity that he didn't lead a large army to seize my old homeland, otherwise he could have kept you company today."

The Wanli Emperor was in excellent spirits. Namudai Sechen Khan sighed, "Although two of the three Khans are gone, Mobei is the origin of our Mongols. You will not be able to eliminate them so easily. On the contrary, they will soon become your scourge."

"Are you referring to the Tibetan monks? They can't make a move now, someone has ordered them."

The Wanli Emperor put his hands behind his back: "The country really doesn't have the extra energy to deal with Mobei now, but that's not important. It's enough to have taken back my old Tang homeland."

Namudai Sechen Khan's face changed drastically: "Did you do it? The esoteric Dharma masters dare not advance eastward.... But what did you do?"