The army of Jizhou marched under royal decree, ordered to suppress rebels. Within a day, they swept through the five commanderies of Youzhou, and the governor of Youzhou met his end at Yanmen Pass!
This sudden outbreak of war shocked the entire Wu Kingdom.
A master, seemingly descended from the heavens, suddenly appeared in Jizhou, unified the chaotic province, and, with thunderous might, compelled King Ji Fa of Wu to appoint him governor of a province, granting him full military and political authority.
Subsequently, the new governor of Jizhou, Shan Xiongxin, acting on royal orders, pacified the rebels of Youzhou with astonishing speed.
For a time, all eyes shifted from Yanzhou to the northeast, to this enigmatic man!
Since the uprising at Tianmen, local powers across the Wu Kingdom had responded. An alliance of insurgents, led by the Tiangang Sect, had set the nation ablaze.
But with the pacification of Youzhou, all thirteen provinces of the realm, save for the chaotic Bingzhou, were left with only the Tiangang Sect occupying Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou.
The flames of war, which had just ignited, suddenly dwindled into a calm.
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The capital of the Wu Kingdom.
King Ji Fa of Wu sat upon his throne.
"Long live the King!"
The court officials bowed and shouted.
Ji Fa glared at the civil and military officials, "Long live? What long live! Do you think I expended so much energy, resources, and wealth just for these chaotic mountains and rivers?"
Ji Fa's gaze was icy as he looked upon the officials kneeling on the ground.
The officials' legs trembled, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger, Your Majesty, calm your anger!"
Ji Fa descended step by step, his expression shifting, his face calm, "What, Chief Steward Zhang, is there no news from Yanzhou?"
"Your Majesty, the old general Ji Hu has already contacted the governor of Yizhou, Ji Shu, to find a suitable opportunity to attack together and quell the Tiangang rebels in one fell swoop!"
Zhang Yan said respectfully.
"Does my uncle really have such good intentions?"
"Mm!"
Ji Fa sneered.
"Your Majesty, as the King's uncle, the governor of Yizhou should indeed share your burdens!"
A minister whispered.
"Share burdens? Hmph, he probably doesn't care about me, but about this!"
Ji Fa sneered, pointing his finger at the throne.
As Ji Fa's voice fell, the entire hall became terrifyingly silent.
"What do you think should be done with Youzhou?"
Ji Fa's voice, hollow and chilling, echoed through the hall.
"Your Majesty, based on the information from Youzhou, Shan Xiongxin is likely at the fourth level of Master. Your Majesty!"
Zhang Yan said, looking up slightly at Ji Fa.
"Your Majesty, Youzhou can be placated for now. We can only appease them and wait until the Yanzhou conflict is resolved and Tiangang is put down before taking action!"
The Grand Tutor whispered with his head bowed.
Ji Fa smiled wryly, "Good, good. I am truly a pathetic King. You all want to kill me, to destroy me. Do you think I am made of clay?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger, Your Majesty, calm your anger!"
The officials' faces turned pale, and their bodies trembled. "We implore Your Majesty to consider the larger picture!"
Ji Fa's eyes, filled with cold light, seemed to bleed. How laughable, how laughable, that among all the civil and military officials, not a single one was willing to share his burdens.
Fine, fine!
Ji Fa turned and walked out of the hall, his voice quietly echoing, "Issue an order for Shan Xiongxin to temporarily govern Youzhou!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The civil and military officials hurriedly shouted.
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The provincial capital of Jingzhou.
Ji Fa held a portrait of Shan Xiongxin, "So it was him!"
Looking at Shan Xiongxin in the portrait, Ji Shu's killing intent surged. Wasn't this the person who discovered his secret at the ruins of the Soul Refining Hall in the Wuling Mountains!
Since Shan Xiongxin escaped in the Wuling Mountains, Ji Shu had spent immense effort searching for him, but to no avail.
Yet, this man in the portrait suddenly appeared in Jizhou and now governed Youzhou, having transformed himself to stand on equal footing with him in the Wu Kingdom's official hierarchy.
"Ji Shu, this person must be eliminated. He discovered our secret!"
A faint red light pulsed on Ji Shu's chest, and a voice emanated from his chest.
"Hahahaha, don't worry, he won't escape. I had only just received the power last time and hadn't fully absorbed it, which is why he managed to escape!"
"Once I defeat Chen Taisheng, I will retrieve his heart's blood for you!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
Two voices erupted in mad laughter.
The provincial capital of Liangzhou.
"My Lord, we have received news from General Gao Shun from the north. The fortresses on the northern border are enveloped in dust every day, and warhorses are neighing. It seems the Jin Kingdom is preparing to mobilize!"
Yang Hao and Chen Gong were looking at a map of the northern border when Zhu Sheng's voice came from outside.
"Haha, Zhu Sheng, I was just speculating with Gongtai about when the Jin Kingdom would make a move. Aren't they afraid of fanning the flames too fiercely!"
Yang Hao teased as he looked at Zhu Sheng entering from outside.
"Zhu Sheng, is this information reliable?"
Yang Hao asked.
"It is reliable. Generals Gao Shun and Zhou Yuji have infiltrated enemy territory and discovered that fifty thousand additional troops have been stationed at the border."
Zhu Sheng said seriously.
"This matter is likely not that simple!"
Chen Gong said with a deep voice, looking at the map.
Yang Hao turned to Chen Gong, "Gongtai, could there be a conspiracy involved?"
Chen Gong meticulously examined the map and suddenly said with a deep voice, "My Lord, please look. Liangzhou and Bingzhou are both excellent routes for attacking the capital. But why are they only increasing troops on the Liangzhou border, while Bingzhou is peaceful?"
"Yes, my Lord, if the Jin soldiers enter our Liangzhou, then our previous plans would be..."
Zhu Sheng worried.
Yang Hao was also anxious. The Jin soldiers entering Liangzhou would deviate from their previous plans. According to the analysis, the planned route was Bingzhou, not Liangzhou.
Chen Gong carefully studied the map, pondered for a long time, and suddenly his face lit up with a smile, "My Lord, our opportunity has arrived!"
Yang Hao frowned, "Gongtai, stop speaking in riddles!"
It was truly frustrating when one spoke words that others couldn't understand.
"My Lord, if my guess is correct, Liangzhou is merely a diversion to confuse us. The Jin Kingdom's true intention is to enter Bingzhou and strike directly at the capital."
Chen Gong spoke eloquently.
"How can you be so sure?"
Yang Hao looked at Chen Gong.
"These Jin soldiers have been continuously reinforcing and training on the Liangzhou border, but they show no intention of advancing. This is the Jin Kingdom's way of drawing our attention, making us neglect Bingzhou."
"Bingzhou is chaotic and lacks unified strength. If Jin soldiers enter Bingzhou, they only need to dispatch a cavalry force, and within a short period, they can traverse thousands of miles and head straight for the capital."
Chen Gong's words struck at the heart of the matter, dispelling the layers of fog. With cavalry penetrating, Bingzhou was flat terrain, and they could reach the city gates within days!
As Yang Hao was about to speak, the system's voice sounded in his mind.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for conquering Youzhou. You have gained ninety thousand faith points and thirty thousand slaughter points!"
Hearing the system's prompt, Yang Hao, unable to contain his excitement, blurted out, "Hahaha, Zhu Sheng, Gongtai, the court has already appointed General Shan Xiongxin as the governor of Youzhou."
Yang Hao said with joy.
"Congratulations, my Lord."
The two men hastily bowed in congratulation.