CHAPTER 278: CHAPTER 275: DEPLOYING TROOPS _1

Atop the raised platform, Qin Wudao and the civil and military officials watched the vigorous momentum of the four armies and nodded in satisfaction. To train the new army to such strength in just four months was undoubtedly a testament to the skill of top-ranking generals.

"Send word! The army led by Guan Yu is to be named the ’Prison Fan Army’! They shall sweep through the battlefields, unstoppable!" Qin Wudao proclaimed loudly, holding up an imperial edict.

Zhao Yun, standing to the side, took out a military banner and personally handed it to Guan Yu.

"Heavenly Dragon! Heavenly Dragon! Heavenly Dragon..." the 300,000 Heavenly Dragon troops roared with excitement. To become an army with its own designation meant they were the primary fighting forces of the Qin Dynasty, an unparalleled honor for every soldier.

"Send word! The army led by Zhang Fei is to be named the ’Chang Ban Army’! One man standing guard is enough to hold off ten thousand!"

"Send word! The army led by Ma Chao is to be named the ’Blood Fight Army’! Their charge is relentless; there is only advance, no retreat!"

"Send word! The army led by Huang Zhong is to be named the ’Ding Yang Army’! They will stabilize the frontiers and bring glory to the Qin Country!"

Qin Wudao continued to pull out imperial edicts and read them aloud. After each edict was announced, Zhao Yun would present a banner. When all the edicts had been read, four banners stood before the four armies, waving in the wind.

’Prison Fan’!

’Long Plank’!

’Blood Fight’!

’Ding Yang’!

The eight golden characters on the four banners fluttered in the wind, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight. In the near future, these four armies would carry the will of the Qin Dynasty and conquer the world.

"Gentlemen, four months ago, the Ancient Court launched a sneak attack on the Qin Dynasty, and the Langya Sect secretly provided assistance. Five months ago, the Xuan Serpent Clan rebelled, and the Langya Sect secretly incited it. Faced with such neighbors, what do you say we should do?" Qin Wudao asked solemnly, his voice devoid of emotion, yet it echoed in everyone’s ears.

"Kill! Kill! Kill..." the crowd roared, their shouts like a mountain collapsing or a tsunami crashing. Their eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and a faint bloody aura suffused the air, tinging even the Void red.

"Issue the order! The ’Prison Fan Army’ and the ’Long Plank Army’ will attack the Langya Sect, then sweep through the surrounding forces!"

"The ’Blood Fight Army’ shall attack the Divine Court of Thunder, then sweep through the surrounding minor forces!"

"The ’Ding Yang Army’ shall attack the Divine Court of Wind and Flower..."

Qin Wudao commanded with regal authority, issuing the orders for invasion in his capacity as the monarch of the Qin Dynasty. This expedition was for both revenge and expansion of power. He was unlike other factions; the more Dao Domains he occupied, the more system rewards he would receive, the stronger he would become, and the faster his rise would be. This destined the Divine Court of the Qin Dynasty to a path of continuous expansion and conquest.

"Your subordinates accept the command!" The four generals stepped forward and saluted respectfully. A palpable battle intent emanated from each of them. As warriors, they all craved battle, yearned to wield their weapons, and achieve peerless merit.

That day, an army of 1,200,000 men, burning with the conviction of victory, departed from the Imperial Capital. Countless citizens saw them off, their eyes red with tears. Since ancient times, how many who go to war ever return? Yet, for the sake of their country, for the sake of the future, these simple, honest people resolutely sent their children into the army. They stood in the distance, gazing as the yellow leaves fell in the increasingly chill autumn wind.

The Qin Dynasty’s armies are on the march!

This news, like a fierce gale, swept through the surrounding territories, causing an uproar. Many were struck with fear and hurriedly summoned their subordinates to discuss countermeasures.

「The Divine Court of Thunder, Great Hall!」

"Esteemed ministers, a great calamity is upon us. I implore you to devise a plan to preserve the millennia-old foundation of our Divine Court of Thunder!" the Divine Emperor of Thunder, seated on his throne, asked with grave concern.

"Your Majesty, I volunteer for battle! The invading Qin army numbers only three hundred thousand. I am confident I can defend our borders!" Great General Wang Jiannan stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and declared, his aged voice echoing through the great hall.

"Minister Wang, your health..." the Divine Emperor of Thunder asked with concern.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty! Though I am old, I can still ride a horse and wield a sword!" Wang Jiannan replied with a laugh. His white hair, though there was no wind, stirred on its own, and he radiated vigor. However, the aura he exuded was one of impending death, like the fading light of dusk.

The civil and military officials gazed at Wang Jiannan’s gaunt figure with complex emotions, a sense of unreality washing over them. As the oldest Great General of the Divine Court of Thunder, Wang Jiannan had fought countless battles in his life. He had been severely injured many times, and his cultivation had stalled at the Supreme Saint Realm, preventing him from reaching the Saint King Realm. His lifespan was also greatly reduced, and he was often bedridden. This respected Great General had not attended court assemblies for a long time. His presence in the main hall this time was solely due to the Divine Court of the Qin Dynasty.

"Old General, the soldiers and horses of the Divine Court are at your disposal!" The Divine Emperor of Thunder looked at Wang Jiannan. He understood this old general, who had dedicated his entire life to the country; if the Emperor did not consent to his request, Wang Jiannan would absolutely not leave. Most importantly, the Divine Court of Thunder lacked a general capable of holding the line independently.

"Your subordinate accepts the command!" Wang Jiannan saluted respectfully and then, under the watchful eyes of all present, strode out of the great hall with firm, resounding steps.

"Old General, you must return alive!" The Divine Emperor of Thunder murmured to himself. His fists, hidden in his sleeves, were clenched tightly. His weary eyes revealed deep worry, yet also a flicker of hope. Perhaps this old general, who had weathered half a lifetime of tribulations, could bring back a surprise.

The Divine Court of Wind and Flower, a long-time ally of the Divine Court of Thunder, also dispatched a general to lead their troops. However, it was not an old veteran but a high-spirited young general.

***

「The Langya Sect!」

Among the three great king-level powers, the Langya Sect was undoubtedly under the most pressure. They had to face attacks from two Qin Dynasty armies.

"Ancestor, the Qin invasion is imminent! What should we do?" Yang Andao, dressed in a golden scholar’s robe, asked in a panic in the main hall.

"When soldiers come, we’ll use generals to block them; when floods come, we’ll use earth to contain them. What else can we do?" Wen Chuanxue, seated to the side, said solemnly.

"But... Ancestor, the Divine Court of Qin is immensely powerful! It has a Semi-Emperor expert. Should we... surrender? As the old saying goes, as long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about a lack of firewood!" Yang Andao suggested cautiously. The thought of the Divine Court of Qin’s terrifying strength extinguished any fighting spirit within him, leaving only endless fear.

"You have repeatedly offended the Divine Court of Qin. Even if you surrender now, do you think Qin will spare you?" Wen Chuanxue sneered, utterly disappointed in Yang Andao.

A scholar without a shred of backbone. I must have been blind to let such a coward become the Sect Master.

Yang Andao lowered his head and said nothing, but the fear in his heart did not lessen in the slightest.

"Issue the order! All disciples of the Langya Sect are to form battle arrays and prepare for combat!" Wen Chuanxue commanded in a deep voice. His powerful words echoed in the ears of every Langya Sect disciple, leaving them all dumbfounded.

What? Fight a battle? They were capable of reading books and reciting poems, and more than willing to dally with women. But forming battle arrays and fighting? They had never learned that!

"Fight? Who are we fighting against?" a Langya Sect disciple, with his arm around a beautiful woman, asked with a puzzled expression. He reluctantly stood up and smiled lecherously, "My little beauty, wait for this young master to come and dote on you later!"

He had no idea that disaster was about to strike.