Chapter 302: Drumming Up War
The army marched for two months! Half a year remained until the deadline Zhongshan had set.
In Daxuan City, within the lord's mansion, in King Daxuan's study.
All the strategists gathered, observing the letter Zhongshan had sent.
"Two months ago, Zhongshan mobilized his troops," King Daxuan began.
"Yes, Zhongshan is grateful to Your Majesty. The First Battalion of the Daxuan Army has been brought along to join the battle," one strategist remarked.
"Grateful? Not necessarily. What if Zhongshan's actions were deliberate? You know what kind of person Zhongshan is—meticulous and thorough. Perhaps he's trying to deceive us," another strategist speculated.
"No matter what Zhongshan's intentions are, he is aligning himself with us. Although he recently recruited soldiers to guard Wushuang City, he brought along the First Battalion to the battlefield," the previous strategist added.
At this moment, the chief strategist spoke up, "The crucial point is that this time, he only has 500,000 troops, yet he urged Your Majesty to swiftly prepare civilian officials to manage the twelve cities."
Hearing this, all the strategists frowned.
"Your Majesty, Zhongshan is really ambitious. 500,000 against 10 million? Moreover, these are the formidable Twelve Cities, and within half a year? Even if he just makes a circuit, it would take one or two months. Isn't he deceiving us?" the earlier skeptic questioned.
"To deceive or not, it depends on how Your Majesty sees it. How will Your Majesty proceed? Will you send civilian officials?" the chief strategist asked King Daxuan.
With a slight smile, King Daxuan replied, "Yes, we will send them. Why wouldn't we?"
In Qitian Hou's city, within the lord's mansion.
"Marshal, our troops are almost ready. Should we continue to attack the next city?" a general asked.
"Good, set out tomorrow," Qitian Hou replied.
"Yes!" the generals acknowledged.
"Marshal, two months ago, General Zhongshan already began marching to attack the cities," another general reported.
"He's targeting the Twelve Cities of Linhai, the formidable Twelve Cities. How many troops did he bring?" Qitian Hou asked.
"500,000!" the general replied.
"500,000? Only 500,000?" Qitian Hou frowned.
"Yes, and there's a rumor circulating in Wushuang City," the general continued.
"What rumor?" Qitian Hou frowned.
"General Zhongshan boasted during the oath ceremony that he would capture the Twelve Cities of Linhai this time," the general said.
"Such audacity!" Qitian Hou furrowed his brows.
"Yeah, is Zhongshan out of his mind?" the general chuckled.
"Send someone to investigate further about the Twelve Cities of Linhai," Qitian Hou ordered.
"Yes!" the general acknowledged.
In the city where Shuijing was stationed, within the lord's mansion.
Master Shuijing shook his feather fan as he listened to the generals' reports.
"Two months ago, General Zhongshan set out with 500,000 troops to prepare for the attack on the Twelve Cities of Linhai," a general reported.
Master Shuijing took a deep breath, closing his eyes slightly before saying, "He has finally started his campaign!"
"Marshal, is General Zhongshan being reckless? With 500,000 troops, he plans to attack the formidable Twelve Cities, each guarded by at least a million soldiers, meaning there are at least ten million defenders, not to mention the natural defenses. Is he just delivering himself to them?" a general frowned.
"Delivering himself? Haha, back then, with just a few people, he toyed with the 8 million soldiers of Dayu Army. Now, leading 500,000 troops, how could he be delivering himself?" Master Shuijing shook his fan and said.
"However...," the general appeared somewhat skeptical.
"Alright, watch closely. I'm not mistaken. He has taken down one city after another." Mr. Shuijing asserted.
"Yes!" The general responded, his expression confused.
Among the Twelve Cities of Linhai, counting from Unrivaled City, it was the territory of the third city.
Zhongshan led five hundred thousand troops, advancing mightily. They bypassed the first city, bypassed the second city, and headed directly towards the third, because Zhongshan believed this third city was the best target for conquest.
This third city was called 'Heavenfire City'. Among the Twelve Cities of Linhai, its defensive strength was moderate. But to take it was no easy task.
Zhongshan appeared in the distant east gate, standing on the highest peak. The flame of battle returned to his eyes, with the heads of various factions standing beside him.
"Let everyone climb the mountain. Prepare the war drums!" Zhongshan ordered.
"Yes!" The generals quickly relayed the command, though the army was deeply perplexed, they obediently climbed the surrounding peaks. The wolves followed suit.
Behind Zhongshan stood Nie Youyou, A Da, Zhihuo, Zhao Chuan, Shui Wuheng, and Liu Wushuang.
"Commander, are we not attacking the city?" Shui Wuheng frowned and asked.
"I'm waiting for reinforcements!" Zhongshan smiled.
Reinforcements? The generals exchanged looks, puzzled. They didn't understand what reinforcements Zhongshan was waiting for. Were there really reinforcements?
Just then, a dark spot flew in from the distance and arrived in an instant. It was Emperor Xidu.
"Elder!" Zhongshan smiled.
But Emperor Xidu had a stern face. He glanced around and then at Zhongshan. "Kid, you're really lucky."
"Elder is jesting." Zhongshan shook his head.
"I'm not joking. No one has dared to negotiate with Mei Li before, you're the first, and there's nothing to it." Emperor Xidu shook his head.
"Hehe, Elder, do you know why?" Zhongshan whispered to Emperor Xidu.
"Why?" Emperor Xidu was very curious.
"Although negotiating with Mei Li, Zhongshan deeply respects Mei Li in his heart." Zhongshan whispered to Emperor Xidu.
Respect? Emperor Xidu's eyes nearly gouged out Zhongshan. The way he spoke that day, respect? Go to hell, respect?
"Elder's wish has come true, and it should be a happy thing." Zhongshan smiled.
"Well, I suppose so. Mei Li is finally my disciple." Emperor Xidu said.
"How much longer until they arrive?" Zhongshan asked.
"At most an hour. Kid, your move is quite poisonous!" Emperor Xidu said to Zhongshan.
"Poisonous? How can it be more poisonous than Elder's?" Zhongshan shook his head modestly.
"This poison is different!" Emperor Xidu shook his head.
"Beat the war drums!" Zhongshan suddenly ordered.
"Yes!" Shui Wuheng responded.
In Shui Wuheng's hands, a small red flag was raised.
At the summit of the surrounding mountains, massive war drums were quickly arranged, totaling a thousand.
In the instant the flag fell from Shui Wuheng's hand.
"Dong~~~~~"
Three thousand war drums thundered in unison, a single superlative roar that shook the heavens. The sound dispersed the clouds in the sky. From where the army stood, it sent out a massive shockwave in all directions.
When the five hundred thousand troops suddenly appeared in the distance east of the city, a general on the city's tower spotted them.
"Damn it, the first battle has come to our Heavenfire City," the general cursed angrily.
"So what if they're here? There are only five hundred thousand of them. Even if they have cavalry, what good would it do? This isn't a plain battlefield, it's a fortified city," another general beside him remarked.
"No, I'll go report to the city lord. You guys watch closely. Don't let them breach the defenses, or we'll all be living with our heads between our legs in the future," the general said.
"Yes!" The other commanders chuckled.
When the general rushed to the city lord's residence, a grand feast was underway inside. There was music and dance, with many palace maidens performing graceful dances. The city lord sat at the head, with numerous guests enthralled and watching.
"City Lord, the troops of the Great Luo Empire are attacking," the general immediately announced upon entering the grand hall.
"Wait until the dance is over to talk... What? The troops of the Great Luo Empire are attacking?" The initial impatience of the Heavenfire City Lord turned to a sudden realization. He promptly overturned the wine cup in his hand.
The grand hall erupted into chaos. The guests exchanged worried looks.
"Quickly, quickly, stop the dance and go," the Heavenfire City Lord shouted urgently.
The palace maidens swiftly retreated.
"City Lord, there's no need to worry too much. The Great Luo Empire's troops this time number only five hundred thousand, nothing to fear," the general reassured.
"What? Five, five hundred thousand?" The Heavenfire City Lord was slightly taken aback. Just this much?
"Absolutely true!" the general smiled.
Upon hearing this, the Heavenfire City Lord felt somewhat relieved.
"Who is their commander?" the Heavenfire City Lord asked after a moment.
"The commander's flag bears the character 'Zhong'," the general replied.
"Zhong? Zhongshan?" The Heavenfire City Lord suddenly exclaimed.
"City Lord, what's wrong?" the general asked in confusion.
"Quick, quick, quick, highest alert! Take me to see!" The Heavenfire City Lord panicked.
"City Lord, Zhongshan is just a person after all," the general puzzled.
"What do you know? Last time, he evaded an army of eight million from Dayu and defeated the garrison of 1.5 million from Wuan. The King of Julu specifically warned to be cautious of Zhongshan. Now that Zhongshan is here, we must be on the highest alert," the Heavenfire City Lord said.
As soon as the Heavenfire City Lord finished speaking...
"Dong~~~~~"
The sound of war drums echoed into the city, reaching directly to the City Lord's residence.
"Dong~~~~~ Dong Dong~~~~~ Dong~~~~~"
A continuous series of drum beats rang out, ear-splitting and heart-pounding. For a moment, the entire Heavenfire City fell silent. The city gates were tightly closed, and all heads turned eastward, outside the city.
The relentless beating of the war drums seemed to strike directly at the hearts of everyone, weighing heavily on them.
"Go!" The Heavenfire City Lord immediately dismissed everyone and the general.
"Yes!" The general responded promptly.
Before long, the Heavenfire City Lord arrived at the eastern city tower.
From a far distance, the Heavenfire City Lord gazed at the Zhongshan army on the summit of the distant mountains.
"Should we summon troops from the other city towers?" the general suggested.
"No, last time when Zhongshan took Unrivaled City, it was because of this mistake. All four city gates must be manned, and they must support each other. Keep watch outside the city in all directions for any suspicious figures. Be on high alert," the Heavenfire City Lord instructed.
"Yes!" The general responded immediately.