"Report! Urgent report from the border! Urgent report from the border!"
In the Hengtian Immortal Dynasty's Hengtian Palace, the Hengtian Immortal Emperor was convening his ministers to discuss the situation on the northern and southern battlefields when a soldier holding a military report rushed in, shouting anxiously.
"What causes such panic?"
Crown Prince Miao Yang first glanced at the grim-faced Immortal Emperor, then looked at the officials below the hall and raised an eyebrow.
"Reporting to the Immortal Emperor! Your Highness! The Great Han Divine Dynasty has openly torn up the truce agreement. Yesterday, Er Zhu Rong, Tian Dan, Fu Cun Shen, and Wei Xiao Kuan of the Great Han led four major legions, invading our Immortal Dynasty's border. In one night, over three hundred cities were captured, and the four armies are heading straight for our Water Moon Pass!"
The soldier trembled as he knelt on the ground, his voice quivering, sweat soaking through his back.
"What?"
Officials of the Hengtian Immortal Dynasty were astonished. The Great Han Divine Dynasty, a mere ant-like force that could be destroyed with a flip of a hand. The truce was merely to free up their hands to completely annihilate the Qingxuan Immortal Dynasty and the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty. Now, they had openly torn the agreement and were pressing their armies against the border!
"Report! Urgent report from the northern border!"
While the officials in the hall were still analyzing, another soldier hurried in from outside the hall.
The officials looked up, their gazes fixed on the soldier who entered the hall and knelt on the ground.
"Reporting to the Immortal Emperor! Your Highness! Yesterday, King Sheng Xiao of the Qingxuan Immortal Dynasty, Qing Han, and Grand General Qing Hao Cang led five million troops and attacked our North Gorge Pass at midnight. King Sheng Rong, Miao Zi Mo, and Grand Censor Guan Chong led troops to intercept. After several hours of fierce battle, King Sheng Rong, Miao Zi Mo, was killed in action. The enemy's King Sheng Xiao, Qing Han, was heavily wounded and his fate is unknown. Grand Censor Guan Chong, leading less than a million remaining troops, retreated south!"
Boom!
This military report shook the hall violently. Countless officials turned pale. The death of a commanding general was far more terrifying than losing a city. No one had expected the entire Western Frontier forces to collude and attack Hengtian in unison.
Cold sweat beaded on the forehead of the Hengtian Immortal Emperor. The death of King Sheng Rong, Miao Zi Mo, was of immense importance to the army. He was of the Imperial Bloodline and the commander of the northern front! With his death, the northern front would collapse, morale would plummet, and it would be difficult to resist Qingxuan from the north.
"Report! Urgent report from the border! Urgent report from the border!"
Before everyone in the hall could recover, another soldier rushed in, his face bloodless and pale.
"Read it."
The Hengtian Immortal Emperor suppressed his anger. He could not panic; he had to be a pillar of support.
"Reporting to the Immortal Emperor! Your Highness! Great Marshal Lan Yu of the Qingxuan Immortal Dynasty, leading a million troops, swept through the northern border. All twenty-five Dao prefectures in the north have fallen. At Mao hour today, Lan Yu led his army into North Gorge Pass!"
The north had completely fallen!!
Silence descended upon the hall. No one could have imagined the situation would develop to this point. The commander of the northern front was killed on the battlefield, the north successively fell and became Qingxuan territory, and in the west, the ant-like Great Han Divine Dynasty had openly torn up the truce, resulting in the loss of three hundred cities. This series of blows had greatly shocked the officials in the hall!
With the north fallen and the Qingxuan Immortal Dynasty's army converging, the next step would be to march towards the northern gate of Hengtian Palace. If this city fell, the Qingxuan army could drive south and directly into Hengtian Palace.
"Report! Great victory on the southern border! Great victory on the southern border!"
"Reporting to the Immortal Emperor! Your Highness! Grand General Yin Ze led his army and annihilated three million elite troops of the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty at Fengyue City. Grand Preceptor Zuo Yun Heng of the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty was slain by the Grand General. The enemy retreated, and King Sheng Shuo pursued and recaptured five Dao prefectures!"
"Excellent!"
The Hengtian Immortal Emperor rejoiced, slamming the table. It was truly exhilarating. The continuous barrage of military reports had plunged the entire hall into a state of confusion. Now, the great victory in the south could compensate for the losses in the north.
"Immortal Emperor!"
"King Sheng Rong is dead, the northern front has collapsed, retreating for a thousand miles, and Qingxuan's army of millions is pressing towards the northern gate. Your humble servant believes that the current situation requires a decisive blow with both fists!" Prime Minister Gongsun said calmly and indifferently.
"What is a decisive blow with both fists?"
The Hengtian Immortal Emperor asked faintly.
"I request to lead the northern front, gather another million troops, and block the Qingxuan army. The south is guaranteed to be secure with King Sheng Shuo and the Grand General stationed there. As for the west, I believe that most of the generals at the Small Heavenly Venerate realm have fallen. A capable general to lead one side would be able to suppress the Great Han!" Gongsun said loudly, kneeling and requesting the Emperor's decree.
"Immortal Emperor, this minister agrees!"
Officials with solemn expressions stepped forward, knelt, and agreed with Prime Minister Gongsun.
"The Great Han in the west is but a petty force that can be suppressed by just a general? Prime Minister, esteemed ministers, do you have any suitable candidates?"
The Hengtian Immortal Emperor scanned the officials. There were truly few beings capable of leading an army. The war had dragged on, and not only Hengtian, but Qingxuan and Zhulu had also suffered heavy losses. They were now in a desperate struggle, seeing who would break first.
Gongsun lowered his head, his expression grave. At this point, where could they find any generals worthy of such trust? Grand Marshal and King Sheng Rong were both killed, and Grand General, Grand Censor, and King Sheng Shuo were all indispensable.
"Immortal Emperor, this son is willing to go!"
Crown Prince Miao Yang stepped forward, kneeling. No one else in the court could be sent; all were tied down by Qingxuan and Zhulu.
"Hear my decree, all ministers!"
The Hengtian Immortal Emperor had no choice. At this juncture, he could not avoid the blame from the Hong family. He could only send troops to continuously attack. Only by attacking might there be a way out.
"Order Prime Minister Gongsun to lead three million elite troops of Hengtian Palace to immediately proceed to the northern border, take command of the northern defense forces, guard the northern gate, and resist the southward advance of the Qingxuan Immortal Dynasty!"
"Order Crown Prince Miao Yang to lead two million Imperial Guards to immediately proceed to the western border, assume overall command of the western frontier troops, and shatter the Great Han Divine Dynasty's eastward expansion!"
As the Hengtian Immortal Emperor's voice echoed, two military tokens fell into the hands of Prime Minister Gongsun and Crown Prince Miao Yang. These two decrees made the civil and military officials in the hall hold their breath. The Hengtian Immortal Dynasty, having grown and prospered under the favor of the Hong family, had long harbored ambitions to annex the Western Frontier. Before the opening of Undying City, they had frequently mobilized troops, intending to sweep through the Qingxuan Immortal Dynasty and the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty. No one had foreseen that the Great Han Divine Dynasty, a nation they had overlooked, would be so powerful! It far exceeded their imagination! The loss of the western frontier had thrown the entire Immortal Dynasty into a panic. To stabilize the western border, they had continuously deployed troops, leading to frenzied invasions by the Qingxuan and Zhulu dynasties in the north and south. In just over ten days, forty Dao prefectures had been lost. One move ruined! The entire chessboard situation had become extremely passive! Sudanshuwang.
"Your humble servant receives the decree!"
Prime Minister Gongsun and Crown Prince Miao Yang stepped forward, holding their military tokens with grave expressions. Their mission was vital to the future and destiny of the entire Hengtian.