Not long after Zhou Yuji left the Linhu tribe, a team of thirty men, clad in iron armor and wielding long spears, riding warhorses, slowly approached!
At the front of the team was a man in white armor, standing on a Black Water Mysterious Tiger, leading the way.
This man was Che Ming, one of the twelve guards of Yizhou Prefecture, with a cultivation of the seventh level of Xiantian.
With a month still remaining until the gubernatorial contest, there was ample time. He decided to lead his small team along the Yizhou border for inspection.
On one hand, it was to understand the sentiments of the people, and on the other, with the nation in decline and bandits constantly plaguing the borders, this was an opportunity to clear out some rebels.
As the team traveled towards the Gobi desert outside Han Jia City in Shu Commandery, they suddenly sensed a surge of Yuan Li in the distance, indicating a battle between Xiantian experts, with great momentum.
Even from a dozen miles away, Che Ming felt waves of spear intent. He hurried to investigate the situation.
However, he was a step too late. By the time the team arrived, all that remained were scattered corpses and rivers of blood, a truly gruesome sight.
"Reporting to sir, there are no survivors here!"
A soldier galloped forward to report.
Che Ming walked slowly, looking at the Great Priest's shattered Tiger Fist and the wound on his chest. "This person's strength had reached the second level of Xiantian. In this region, he was undoubtedly an apex expert."
"The attack that inflicted this wound was so swift. If it were me, I might be able to resist, but to kill a second-level Xiantian expert in two or three moves… I'm comparable to that."
"But where did such a powerful expert come from in Shu Commandery?"
"Someone."
"Sir."
"Notify the team to assemble quickly and head to the commandery city of Shu."
"Yes, sir."
Che Ming mounted his Black Water Mysterious Tiger and galloped towards Shu Commandery.
Han Jia City
"Zhu Sheng, analyze the current situation for everyone."
With the fall of Tu Xian and the annihilation of the Linhu tribe, Yang Hao finally breathed a long sigh of relief. After two months of transmigrating to this other world, he had not only escaped danger but also carved out his own territory in this Martial Kingdom.
"Currently, although the Martial Kingdom's dynasty is in peril, a starving camel is still larger than a horse. My lord, you must develop your strength in secret and solidify your foundation. When the world descends into chaos, my lord, with an army of righteousness, will surely sweep across the land." Sudancal.com
Zhu Sheng's expression was solemn as he gazed at Yang Hao.
"The contest for the governorship is fast approaching. The three great families will undoubtedly fight tooth and nail. We must make good use of this time to develop, stabilize the hearts of the people in Tu Xian, recruit soldiers, and enhance our military strength."
"Good, excellent! Zhu Sheng, heed my command. You are to oversee the administrative affairs of both cities. Liao Hua will lead the vanguard camp and be stationed in Tu Xian. Yao Wen will be his deputy. Yang Si will handle all administrative matters in Tu Xian, only needing to coordinate with Zhu Sheng and not report to me. Zhou Yuji will form the Iron Cavalry Camp!"
"Yes! We accept the orders!"
Yao Wen and Yang Si were so excited they repeatedly knelt and bowed.
Everyone clasped their fists in a salute and went about their tasks.
"System, use three thousand Kill Points to summon Ningwu Iron Cavalry!"
"Ding! One hundred Ningwu Iron Cavalry summoned, their strength is at the first level of Nayuan!"
While there were Shu Han elite soldiers and Jingzhou soldiers at present, they were mostly infantry with poor mobility. The Ningwu Iron Cavalry now filled this gap!
"System, use two thousand Kill Points to summon Great Ming elite soldiers, use two thousand Kill Points to summon Shu Han soldiers, use three thousand Kill Points to summon Jingzhou soldiers!"
"Ding! A total of seven thousand Kill Points have been consumed, successfully summoning two hundred Great Ming elite soldiers, two hundred Shu Han soldiers, and one hundred Jingzhou soldiers!"
"Remaining Kill Points: six hundred."
Yang Hao looked at this scene. His top-tier strength now included Liao Hua, Zhu Sheng, and Zhou Yuji. The emergence of these hundreds of soldiers had transformed Han Jia City's power.
Liao Hua led the vanguard camp of eight hundred men, slowly moving towards Tu Xian. About ten miles from Han Jia, they encountered Che Ming's entourage.
A banner embroidered with the character "Che" fluttered in the wind. Liao Hua immediately spotted Che Ming, clad in white armor.
"As Zhu Sheng said, it must be one of the twelve guards from the prefecture inspecting the gubernatorial contest. His strength is beyond my comprehension."
However, before departing, Zhu Sheng had repeatedly emphasized the importance of showing respect to the twelve guards.
With this in mind, Liao Hua cupped his fists and saluted, "Han Jia's Liao Hua greets General."
"Oh! You know me?" Che Ming looked at Liao Hua. His cultivation of the fourth level of Xiantian was deeply rooted. The eight hundred soldiers behind him, especially those three hundred and sixty men, possessed a morale no weaker than his own guards. When had this Yang family recruited such elite soldiers and fierce generals?
"My lord, you jest. Who in Yizhou doesn't know of the twelve guards of the prefecture!" Liao Hua replied, looking at Che Ming.
Che Ming observed Liao Hua. This man was not the one he was looking for, but Liao Hua possessed a similar aura to that person. It was highly likely that the one who annihilated the entire Linhu tribe was also from the Yang family of Han Jia.
The Yang family, having lain dormant for three hundred years, was once again displaying its fangs, which remained as sharp as ever after a millennium.
Considering the aggressive stance of Jianmen in this gubernatorial contest, even the Li and Zhang families of Shu Commandery found it difficult to cope.
This Yang family of Han Jia could be wooed. Even if they couldn't secure Shu Commandery, they could at least inflict some damage on Jianmen.
"General, I trouble you to inform your lord that for the gubernatorial contest a month from now, I, Che Ming, welcome the Yang family to participate."
As soon as he finished speaking, Che Ming led his men and turned south, heading straight for the commandery city of Shu.
What did this mean? Liao Hua couldn't understand. The gubernatorial contest was an agreement between the prefecture and the three great families of Shu Commandery. Why was their lord suddenly being pulled into it?
Li Family, Shu Commandery City.
"Puff!"
"Second Elder, quickly! Go fetch a physician!"
Li Si, the patriarch of the Li family, gazed at the long sword gash on the Second Elder's body. The sword intent was fierce, cutting through flesh and reaching the bone.
The Second Elder's strength was rarely matched in Shu Commandery. Under that single blow from the Yang family's retainer, he had barely escaped death!
"Patriarch, this Yang family brat completely disregards our Li family. Hmph, now that the Xue family is destroyed, and our Li family has lost the resources of one city, what will our Li family use to contend for the position of governor with the Zhang and Wang families in three months?"
The Third Elder, Li He, said anxiously.
The position of governor of Shu Commandery was decided through a competition among the three great families. In recent years, the Zhang family had controlled Yandao City, and the Wang family had controlled Maoniu City. The Li family had intended to use the Xue family to control Han Jia City, but they had suffered a great loss.
"Why are you panicking? I'm not dead yet, it's not your turn to worry!"
Li Si berated, looking at the third elder, Li He, who had lost his composure and spoken without thinking.
"Patriarch, judging by the sword momentum from the Second Elder's injuries, Liao Hua's strength is not to be underestimated. Patriarch, I've heard from the Zhang family that the twelve guard, Che Ming, Lord Che, has arrived!"
"Patriarch, the current situation is not optimistic. For our Li family, it is a crisis of annihilation. We must not offend this Yang family, nor should we make any more enemies!"
The First Elder, Li Yuan, mused with a trembling voice.
"First Elder, what's wrong?"
Li Si looked at the weak, breathy old man, his heart sinking.
"Patriarch, this old man failed his breakthrough and has little time left. I beg the Patriarch to look after my lineage in the future!"