"Your Highness, we respectfully bid farewell, long live, long live, long live!"
In the imperial study, Yang Hao, gazing at the map of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, reviewed the main quest. Quest Two required him to march north to Bei You, south to Nan Ze, and east to Dong Yao. However, it did not specify occupying cities or overthrowing specific factions within Bei You, Nan Ze, and Dong Yao.
If interpreted literally, he only needed to lead his armies into these three regions for the quest to be considered complete.
His northward advance into Bei You was already accomplished. The Yun Clan Immortal Dynasty had become part of the Great Han Divine Dynasty's territory, though it currently maintained the guise of the Yun Clan Immortal Dynasty, biding its time to develop.
Currently, Xian Zhen, leading the Xuanwu Legion, and Geng Yan, commanding the Yun Clan's forces, were preparing to march south to Nan Ze and east to Dong Yao. Upon completion of Main Quest Two, he would receive two chances to summon heroes, unlocking the ninth level of Fortune and Virtue, enabling the host to use Fortune and Virtue points to step into the realm of Great Celestial Venerable!
"Let us begin!"
Yang Hao’s fist struck the map of the Nan Ze Black Water Immortal Dynasty!
...
"Commander, General Wen Yuan of the Azure Dragon Legion requests an audience outside the tent!"
At the southern border fortress of the Great Han Divine Dynasty – Nanshan City.
"Oh?"
Xian Zhen was poring over the maps, analyzing the border terrain and the deployment and marching routes of the Black Water Immortal Dynasty's five million strong army.
Upon hearing the soldier's words, he looked up with a hint of excitement and hastily said, "Quickly, invite him in!"
Wen Yuan, a fiercely brave general, was someone he had petitioned Yang Hao for before leaving Chang'an City to assist in crushing the Black Water Immortal Dynasty.
However, he hadn't expected him to arrive at Nanshan City so soon.
"General Wen Yuan pays his respects to the Commander!"
Wen Yuan, clad in Vermilion Bird armor, entered the hall and bowed respectfully.
"General Wen, there's no need for such formality!"
"It is truly because the strength of my Xuanwu Legion is not yet sufficient to swallow this army of five million in one gulp that I requested the Divine Emperor to send General Wen to provide support."
Xian Zhen pulled Wen Yuan over and said, "General Wen, please take a look!"
"This is our Nanshan City, and further south lies the Black Water Immortal Dynasty's border fortress – Shuiyun Pass!"
"Between our Nanshan City and Shuiyun Pass, this fifty-mile stretch is a small mountain range, known as the Nan Shui Mountain Range. Spanning fifty miles north to south and over a hundred miles east to west, it is an ideal location for an ambush!"
"Commander, please speak freely. If you require my assistance, just give the command!"
Wen Yuan’s expression was solemn, and he spoke respectfully. He held genuine admiration for the Xian Zhen before him. This was the man who had altered the established formation warfare of Huaxia, pioneering the strategy of annihilation! He had defeated the State of Chu, solidifying the State of Jin's hegemonic position. He had also ambushed the Qin army, capturing three of their generals and thwarting Qin's strategic ambition to control Jin and advance into the Central Plains, striking awe throughout the land!
"According to secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the commander of the Black Water Immortal Dynasty's army this time is the First Rank Great General Ge Lian, who is highly valued by the Black Water Immortal Emperor. He is at the peak Great Celestial Venerable realm. His three deputies are all at the Great Celestial Venerable realm. In addition to them, there is also a peak Great Celestial Venerable from an Imperial Bloodline clan. This being is extremely mysterious and is likely a powerhouse from the Hong family, the Jiang Zuo noble families, or one of the four great clans. He might even be a Supreme Profound Venerable!"
"The five million troops cannot possibly all emerge from Shuiyun City. I estimate that at most three million will be deployed. I intend to set up an ambush force in this Nan Shui Mountain Range, establish an anti-air formation, and annihilate these three million troops in one fell swoop. I have reviewed the entire legion, and Tian Dan's strength is passable, but the Black Water army has many powerful individuals. Tian Dan is currently at the peak Supreme realm and lacks confidence against Great Celestial Venerables, hence the need for..."
"Commander, rest assured, I, Wen Yuan, will handle this. We will definitely capture these three million troops and assist you!"
Wen Yuan clenched his fists and bowed.
"General Wen, do you truly mean it!"
Xian Zhen was moved. "Three million troops, three or four Great Celestial Venerable beings, and possibly even a Supreme Profound Venerable lurking. This is no small matter. Do you understand that this ambush site is crucial to the implementation of our entire strategy?"
"I wish to sign a military oath!"
Wen Yuan's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. In his previous life, with just his twin maces, he could charge into enemy formations, fighting his way through six times. Now that he had stepped into the Great Celestial Venerable realm, what were a million troops? Even if he were to charge into the Black Water Immortal Dynasty's imperial capital, the Black Water Palace, he was confident of fighting his way through seven times!
"Good!"
Xian Zhen nodded with satisfaction, took a token from his adjutant, and handed it to Wen Yuan, saying softly, "I shall entrust you with thirty thousand soldiers. Combined with the fifty thousand troops you brought, that makes a total of eighty thousand elite soldiers. Remember, an ambush excels at catching the enemy off guard. To capture the king, first capture the leader!"
"Commander, rest assured!"
Wen Yuan solemnly accepted the token, stood up respectfully, and looked at the map, saying in a deep voice, "Commander, if my guess is correct, you will certainly lead the remaining army in a full-scale assault, bypassing this Nan Shui Mountain Range and heading straight for Shuiyun City!"
"Your analysis is astute!"
"Once the three million troops of the Black Water Immortal Dynasty are deployed, Ge Lian will undoubtedly lead them into battle. Shuiyun City will only have two million troops left. Why not capture it? In my opinion, this city will have at most that mysterious expert remaining. Once this city is taken, I will lead my troops back, and we will join forces to fight."
"The Black Water Immortal Dynasty has overestimated its strength by leading its troops to invade our Great Han. This battle, I want to utterly cripple the Black Water Immortal Dynasty!"
"Look!"
Xian Zhen said, pointing to the border between the Black Water Immortal Dynasty and the Hun Clan, that is, to the north of the Black Water Immortal Dynasty. "At that time, you and I will lead our armies to advance southeast, like a dagger deeply plunged into the heart of the Black Water Immortal Dynasty."
"At that time, the Black Water Immortal Dynasty will undoubtedly be in turmoil. The Black Water Emperor will certainly withdraw troops from the north, east, and south to stop our southeastern advance. Once the north is empty, we merely need to order the Qilin Legion stationed at Houshan City to dispatch a general, and they can sweep down!"
"At that point, two of the Black Water Immortal Dynasty's four fronts will be under the control of our Great Han. They will either fight to the death or be forced to retreat eastward, migrating into the territory of the Fallen Immortal Dynasty!"
"Whether the Black Water Immortal Dynasty fights or not, I will conquer its hundred or so Dao Provinces in this one battle!"
...
Shuiyun City, Black Water Immortal Dynasty.
"My lord, we have gathered clear intelligence. The one guarding Nanshan City is a being at the first level of the Great Celestial Venerable realm, recently promoted by Yang Hao, named Xian Zhen!"
In the grand hall, Ge Lian, the First Rank Great General of the Black Water Immortal Dynasty, knelt on one knee and reported respectfully. Seated before him was an elder in black imperial robes, his eyes closed.
"Oh?"
"Recently promoted, and Yang Hao of the Great Han trusts him so much as to entrust him with an army and have him guard the crucial Nanshan City?"
The elder opened his eyes and moved his lips slightly.
"My lord, the Great Han Divine Dynasty has only risen in recent years. How many Great Celestial Venerable realm beings can they have? Moreover, having just annihilated the Hengtian and overturned the Zhulu two dynasties, what strength do they truly possess!"