Chapter 308: Entering Da Guang
Dachi City, City Lord's Mansion!
The central hall was tightly closed, with only Zhongshan inside, as seen by everyone.
Inside the hall, a feast was laid out.
Zhongshan sat at the main seat, with a figure in black robes kneeling before him.
"Congratulations, Master, on your hundredth birthday!" the figure in black robes said.
"Dark Emperor, your skill in covert operations has become more formidable. In just these few years, you've undergone a transformation," Zhongshan helped up the Dark Emperor and smiled.
"Shenzhou is a good place. Master's reputation will soon spread throughout the world, and I've had some fortunate encounters myself," the Dark Emperor chuckled.
"On my hundredth birthday, I didn't expect you to be the only one here to offer congratulations from Shenzhou," Zhongshan sighed softly.
"And what about the Political Crown Prince?" the Dark Emperor asked.
"I've sent him to handle some matters," Zhongshan said.
"I see," the Dark Emperor nodded.
"Come, regardless, there's still you and me," Zhongshan invited the Dark Emperor to sit down.
"Thank you, Master!" the Dark Emperor respectfully replied.
On a commercial street, in the Daron Merchants Association, a shop closed its doors today. Inside, Zhong Zheng arranged a banquet, celebrating with others, though only he knew what was being celebrated.
In a place filled with Buddhist chants, within a mountain valley, Zhong Tian personally set up a table of wine and began drinking alone.
Inside a bamboo forest, Bei Qingsi made a pot of fish soup. The kind of fish soup Zhongshan made for him was placed on the stone table, one bowl for himself and another across from him.
The hundredth birthday celebration was not grand, but it was very warm. Whether in seclusion or in his original place, Zhongshan had company.
After the banquet, with a wave of his hand, the gates opened.
As soon as the central hall doors opened, A Da rushed in at high speed.
A figure in black robes? When did he come in? If it weren't for the master's opening the door to attract his attention, he wouldn't have noticed at all, who is he?
At this moment, the Dark Emperor was once again wrapped in black robes, with even his head completely covered.
Although A Da couldn't see his face, he could perceive with his 'divine sense' that he hadn't reached the Golden Core stage? Not even the Nascent Soul stage, how did he deceive his own eyes? When did he come in?
The Dark Emperor respectfully bowed to Zhongshan and then silently withdrew from the main hall.
Zhongshan was here, and A Da couldn't stop him to ask, but everything was too strange.
The Dark Emperor left. A Da immediately looked at Zhongshan and said, "Sir, who was that just now?"
"A friend of mine," Zhongshan said—
Five months later. Inside the territory of the Da Guang Emperor Dynasty! At the summit of a mountain peak.
Zhongshan, accompanied by his generals, looked at the distant mountains and rivers. In the valley below, there were a million troops hidden, with the First Battalion of the Da Xuan Army still at two hundred thousand, the Lone Double Wolf Cavalry still at fifty thousand, and Water Trace's army, along with those summoned and recruited later, already totaling seventy-five thousand.
A million troops, under the command of the Da Xuan King, marched into the territory of the Da Guang Emperor Dynasty to assist in capturing it.
"General, what should we do next?" Water Trace asked.
"First, seize a city as our foothold, and then plan our next move," Zhongshan said confidently.
"Which city do you plan to capture?" Water Trace asked.
"We need to have the potential for alliance with other Da Luo military forces. Also, we can't be too far from the heartland of the Da Guang Emperor Dynasty!" Zhongshan thought for a moment.
"In accordance with our assigned territories, it should be either 'Daye City' or 'White Emperor City'," Shui Wuheng pondered aloud.
"Exactly, these two cities are crucial military strongholds," Zhongshan chuckled.
"Once we capture one, the other will become even harder to take. Which shall we attack? Daye City was the former capital of the Daye Dynasty, while White Emperor City, though weaker like Wushuang City, should be easier to conquer," Shui Wuheng suggested.
"We take Daye City!" Zhongshan affirmed decisively.
"Daye City? Its defenses are formidable. If we attack now, can we breach its walls?" Shui Wuheng voiced his concern.
"If we don't act now, it will only get harder in the future. Daye City it is. Notify the troops, prepare to march!" Zhongshan ordered.
"Yes!" the generals responded in unison—
At the Grand Emperor Camp of the Daye Dynasty, within the central tent of the main army.
Generals stood on either side, Xiāo Wàng donned a plain linen robe, hair tied behind, sitting at the command table, clutching a sealed letter.
"Zhongshan is coming," Xiāo Wàng took a deep breath.
"The Grand Commander, is it Zhongshan who's conquered twelve cities of the Great Yu Coast in five months?" a commander asked.
"Yes, it is him," Xiāo Wàng nodded.
Restlessness swept through the generals; Zhongshan's reputation extended even into the Grand Light Realm.
"Commander, where is Zhongshan now?" a general inquired.
"I don't know where exactly, but I know where he intends to go," Xiāo Wàng spoke in a solemn tone.
"Hmm?" confusion rippled among the generals.
"In the Grand Light battlefield, the various divisions of the Da Luo Army keep shifting directions. Only the center has a gap now. Grand Xuan King won't allow us a direct route into the Grand Luo Empire, so another army is bound to fill that gap. And there, in these crucial military positions, lie two cities: Daye City and White Emperor City. White Emperor City is weaker, but Zhongshan, with his arrogance, will never choose the weaker option. He will undoubtedly attack Daye City! Within half a month, he will be at Daye City," Xiāo Wàng affirmed with absolute certainty.
If Zhongshan were here, he would surely marvel at Xiāo Wàng's analytical prowess—so precise!
"Commander, the current garrison at Daye City is led by the Young Prince, with a million troops. But Zhongshan is a military genius. I request permission to lead troops to assist the Young Prince, to coordinate and annihilate Zhongshan," a general immediately requested.
"Heh heh, there's no need for you to go!" Xiāo Wàng chuckled.
"But!" the general looked puzzled.
"Not only you, Yuan Deng should withdraw from Daye City immediately," Xiāo Wàng took a deep breath.
"Commander, withdraw Daye City to Zhongshan? It's a fortress, a rich land!" the general objected reluctantly.
"Let him have it. Fortress? Rich land? It will soon become a graveyard!" Xiāo Wàng's face turned stern.
"Hmm?" the generals were perplexed. But Commander Xiāo Wàng's reputation was unquestionable—
Daye City, a massive fortress, its grandeur not quite like the Sky City but larger than Wushuang City.
Daye City, gleaming white throughout, strikingly beautiful.
Within the former imperial palace, inside a grand hall.
Here knelt the generals who once stood alongside Xiāo Yuanfeng, the Lord of the Azure Cloud Sect, before the Millennium Ghost. Xiāo Wàng's second adopted son, Xiāo Yuandeng.
Xiāo Yuandeng held a letter in his hand, a military order from Xiāo Wàng. As he finished reading, his eyes widened. Swiftly leaving the imperial palace, he ascended to a high vantage point and surveyed the city below. After a thorough look, Xiāo Yuandeng sharply drew in a breath, his eyes filled with shock.
The contents of Xiāo Wàng's letter were astonishing!
"Come, quickly!" Xiāo Yuandeng shouted.
Several generals swiftly approached.
"Commander!" the generals questioned.
"Prepare the troops, all troops, ready to leave the city!" Xiāo Yuandeng commanded.
"Commander?" the generals looked puzzled. All troops? Ready to leave the city? Abandon Daye City?
"Hurry!" Xiāo Yuandeng urged.
"Yes!" the generals responded.
Soon after, Xiāo Yuandeng led the generals, swiftly exiting the city.
As Xiāo Yuandeng left, the city's residents were filled with confusion. What was happening? In such turbulent times, was the city being abandoned? The citizens were perplexed, and some astute ones sensed something unusual and quietly followed the departing troops—
Three days later, Zhongshan led his army to a halt some distance from Daye City. Instead of advancing immediately, Zhongshan paused. Suddenly, he felt something amiss.
"The Red Phoenix, Blue Lotus, has it turned ominous?" Zhongshan furrowed his brow deeply, puzzled. Just then, a scout rushed over.
"Reporting, General!" the scout bowed.
"Speak!" Zhongshan immediately focused on him.
"Daye City has withdrawn all defenses. There is not a single soldier left inside, only countless civilians," the scout reported.
"Impossible! How could this be? Are the soldiers disguised as civilians?" Shui Wuheng immediately queried.
"No, four days ago, all military forces withdrew from the city. They have all left the city. Daye City is defenseless now, ripe for the taking," the scout replied promptly.
"Send out more scouts!" Zhongshan ordered.
"Yes!" the scout hurried away.
"Zhao Chuan, dispatch more men to Daye City. Investigate thoroughly and station more scouts in all directions. This is unusual!" Zhongshan frowned.
"Yes," Zhao Chuan acknowledged.
"Wuheng, notify the troops to prepare for a retreat!" Zhongshan looked at Shui Wuheng.
"R-retreat?" Shui Wuheng looked puzzled.
"Retreat!" Zhongshan asserted firmly.
"Yes!" Shui Wuheng could only comply.
The army retreated for a day before stopping in another valley. Another day passed, and the scouts returned with the same report: Daye City was completely defenseless, all defenses had been withdrawn.
"Is Xiāo Wàng out of his mind?" Zhao Chuan remarked strangely.
"General, regardless of Xiāo Wàng's intentions, we must take Daye City. If not now, then when?" Shui Wuheng immediately exclaimed.
"Shui Wuheng, stay behind and lead the troops. I will go see for myself!" Zhongshan decided after a moment's thought.
"Yes!" Shui Wuheng promptly responded.
Subsequently, Zhongshan, accompanied by Ā Dà, Zhì Huǒ, and Niàn Yōuyōu, hurried towards Daye City.