Chen Ping's Sword

Over at Yan Beifei’s side.

The situation was entirely different; wherever they went, they were praised. Their identity was even more prestigious as they were the Imperial Forest Grand Governor sent by the Great Li Court, akin to a celestial messenger.

With the court’s righteousness bestowed upon them, coupled with the gentry and clan and gang vigorously praising them...

Ordinary people could hardly discern right from wrong and naturally offered full assistance, viewing Chen Ping as a bandit.

Therefore, in terms of "Popular Sentiment," we have thoroughly lost our base.

Of course, given some time, with prolonged confrontation across the river, this situation could be reversed.

Regardless of strengthening the navy or reversing public opinion, it is not impossible.

However, Feng Yuantu oddly felt that His Highness King Ping seemed quite unwilling to let the war drag on.

It seemed as if a whip was striking from behind, wanting to pacify the South in the shortest time possible.

This was very troubling.

"A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Since the opposing side is confident of winning this cross-river battle, then one must not enter their predetermined battlefield and must seek another way."

Feng Yuantu explained his starting point for devising strategies.

"The opposing side has deployed legitimate troops and formed inviolable great formations, so there’s no point in employing small tricks to catch them by surprise. Not only would they be ineffective, but they might also be detected by the opponent, leading to a catastrophic defeat."

As he spoke, Feng Yuantu openly looked at Zhang Yuanhe, causing him to feel guilty and his gaze to flicker.

Everyone is a strategist, and there are levels of proficiency.

In the matter of devising strategies, who can deceive whom?

The plan of "Iron Locks Cross the River, gathering ships as a fortress" — whether there’s anything fishy about it — can’t be seen right now.

But judging from the presence of exotic practitioners in the opposing army, matters like southeast winds and northwest winds are not issues.

Hence, this strategy carries significant risks.

The proposer of the suggestion may have shallow intelligence or a mind that warrants condemnation.

"Both geographical advantage and popular sentiment aren’t with us, so there’s no need for ingenious stratagems. Our army’s sole advantage is the soldiers’ dedication and strong combat power; we must make good use of these strengths."

It is advisable to divide the troops into seven routes, attacking simultaneously along the Wenjiang River.

In this manner, regardless of how Yan Beifei’s Imperial Forest Brave Cavalry responds, they can only save one route. The remaining six routes face potential annihilation."

"Brilliant."

"Indeed, attacking with seven routes, using solid and respectable military might, aside from the Imperial Army, which other forces can withstand our blade?"

"As long as a single troop crosses the river and forms a great formation immediately, defending vigorously, bringing the main army across, how could Yan Beifei be a match for His Highness King Ping?"

Upon Feng Yuantu’s strategy, the generals instantly understood its intricacy.

The challenge of this battle lies in our need to attack aggressively, to cross the river, and to guard against the opponent’s counterattack midway.

The opposing side can wait effortlessly, casually forming formations and increasing their combat power.

Yet when we cross the river, we are at our most vulnerable, easily caught off guard by the opponent, led by the Imperial Cavalry.

However, if divided into seven, attacking simultaneously.

Without the Imperial Cavalry leading, the other clans and noble families’ troops, along with the gathered rebel forces, cannot withstand the strong soldiers cultivated in Xingqing Prefecture without sparing expense through widespread teaching of the Primordial Golden Body Technique.

Indeed, after Chen Ping became the Sect Leader of the Primordial Sect, he accomplished two profoundly impactful tasks.

The first task was to transform the Three Yang Heart-Burning Technique into a Dao Seed, implanting it in the consciousness of disciples and elders within the Primordial Sect.

With the Seven Stars Gathering Essence Technique, dozens to hundreds of Innate Realm experts and three Unity Realm Grandmasters were rapidly cultivated.

The second task was to make the cultivation technique of the Iron Body Realm of the Primordial Golden Body Technique public, selecting elites in the army to practice.

Provisioning meat and rations was generously supplied.

The elite soldiers trained under these conditions were expected to be exceptionally strong.

Now, six months have passed.

The first batch of fifty thousand elites, more than half have cultivated to Great Success in the Iron Body Realm. The rest are either proficient or have achieved mastery.

Not only is their strength dozens or even ten times greater than ordinary soldiers, but their physiques stronger and more resilient, almost as if clad in three layers of thick iron armor.

Even second-tier martial artists in the Jianghu can’t easily defeat them in a short time.

This force, numbering fifty thousand strong.

Spread across the seven routes of the army, serving as blades.

How can the opposing scattered troops withstand them?

Of course, the Imperial Forest Brave Cavalry, each are elite, could resist.

But they are cavalry, excelling in mounted combat. Would they split into seven routes to intercept? Whether they can intercept at all is a question.

The opponent uses open tactics, ten-mile joint defense, invincible.

Our side also employs open tactics, dividing into seven routes, irresistible.

"Good, indeed Yuantu is my left and right arm, this strategy is excellent. Ensure no information about the military council leaks, generals heed orders..."

Chen Ping assigned each general to lead their troops, advancing to the seven large crossings along the two hundred miles on the upper and lower reaches.

He himself led ten thousand elite cavalry, transforming clarity into obscurity, ready to join one of the seven routes at any moment.

"Seven routes of overt attack, one route of covert assault."

This was the full scope of Feng Yuantu’s strategy.

The reason for not fully disclosing it in the military tent is that no matter how covert the strategy or ingenious the plan, there is no guarantee against someone leaking information. People’s hearts are separated by bellies, countless bitter battles, many surrendered, strategists attached...

On the surface, they all appear loyal, but secretly, who knows whom their hearts favor.

It’s worth noting that Zhang Ce and Zhang Yuanhe were discreetly monitored after the military council.

Chen Ping always felt that their strategy to connect boats was too ruthless and venomous.

This point haunted a certain Prime Minister deeply.

Chen Ping won’t feel secure using this person until everything is thoroughly investigated.

...

Along the river’s opposite bank.

Seventy Li away from Yan Beifei’s army, downstream of the Wenjiang River, emerging from the slanted forest, a troop thundered forth.

Leading a figure as majestic as a mountain, with a neck as thick as a water barrel.

Riding atop a tall black horse, with a black shield in the left hand and a silver hammer in the right, sweeping through the winds, roaring ahead.

The eyes revealed traces of cold light, rushing forth like an ancient fierce beast.

Even from afar, it made people feel breathless.

...

A hundred zhang ahead stood a woman clad in a pale yellow silk dress, as beautiful and elegant as True Immortal, standing on a mound.

Beside her was a round-faced, charming little maid.

Beneath the feet of these two women, dozens of elite soldiers lay prostrate, motionless, surrounding them in a circle as if in worship.

The robust figure whose width matched his height, straining the horse, suddenly halted his sweeping shield and hammer.

Seeing these two women before him, and the faintly emerging three-colored light flow enveloping thirty some zhang around them, he was greatly shocked, "Is Fairy Qingzhu before me? I have not wronged you; why injure my soldiers?"

As one of the Four Spirits and Eight Generals of the East Wood Army, Black Tortoise General Gui Yun, leading the remnants blood-soaked to carve out a path, had not even Yan Beifei’s Imperial Forest Brave Cavalry keeping him.

He was not one to flee cowardly.

Yet, the person before him was rumored to have a close connection with the cross-river army’s leader, His Highness King Ping, and was herself a Unity Realm Grandmaster, with a background big enough to scare one to death.

She was the new-generation worldly wanderer from one of the Three Immortal Islands, South Sea Purple Bamboo Forest.

Hence, he didn’t rush to clamor for battle or kill.

Listen to what she says?

"I have come to save the general’s life and offer you a promising future."

Fang Qingzhu smiled, like snow and ice melting, making the sky seem three points brighter.

Whether it was General Gui Yun or the more than six thousand elite soldiers behind him, at that moment, even their hearts melted.

No trace of doubt arose.

...

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