Chapter 242 - Within Three Months, The Rise and Fall of All Nations? The Golden Ranking Reappears

"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Yue Fei of the Vast Sea Dynasty has already broken through the central region of the Southern Song Dynasty. The Yuan Dynasty general Chilaun has been killed!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Han Xin of the Vast Sea Dynasty has broken through the eastern region of the Southern Song Dynasty. The Yuan Dynasty general Boorchu has been killed!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Generals Yue Fei and Han Xin joined forces to set a trap, luring the central army of Temujin into their scheme and dealing a devastating blow to the Yuan Dynasty forces. Temujin lost 300,000 troops and, under the protection of Phagpa, fled in disgrace."

Zhu Houzhao and Mei Yingxue were traveling the world, and every so often, Dark One, the Dark Guard Leader, would report the state of war within the Southern Song Dynasty.

Even Zhu Houzhao hadn't expected that, under the strategies of these two legendary marshals, Yue Fei and Han Xin, Temujin would suffer such a catastrophic defeat.

Among Temujin's Four Heroes, Muqali and Boroqul had already died earlier at the hands of Yue Fei and Han Xin.

Now, the remaining two, Chilaun and Boorchu, were also quickly slain.

Even the once peerless Genghis Khan Temujin had suffered heavy losses under the layers of stratagems laid by Yue Fei and Han Xin.

If not for Phagpa's rescue, he would have likely died on the spot.

But losing 300,000 troops was a crippling blow.

Seven out of ten of the main invasion force had perished.

What remained was no longer enough to withstand the Vast Sea Dynasty's army.

Yet, if they did not resist, would they simply hand over the hard-won lands of the Southern Song Dynasty?

Even in death, he could not give up so easily.

The path forward was now clear.

There would be no end unless one side was annihilated.

There was no room for negotiation.

Of course, the Vast Sea Dynasty never intended to negotiate.

Whether it was Yue Fei or Han Xin, their goal from the beginning was to annihilate the entire Yuan Dynasty force.

Including Temujin himself.

Temujin choosing to resist rather than flee only made the two marshals even more excited!

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"Dark One, aside from the war in the Southern Song Dynasty, how are the other dynasties faring?"

"What of Qin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty?"

"And Han Dynasty and Sui Dynasty?"

"I heard Yang Guang has sent Yuwen Chengdu to attack the Tang Dynasty?"

"He didn't use King Kaoshan, Yang Lin? Now that's interesting!"

"Yang Guang's antics are still as ridiculous as ever!"

As he flipped through the battle reports from both the Vast Sea Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao was not surprised.

The only thing he didn't anticipate was that Temujin would lose so quickly.

Yue Fei and Han Xin truly were extraordinary.

Fortunately, he had recruited these two long ago.

Otherwise, if they had become his enemies, they wouldn't have been a threat, but they would've been very troublesome.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this time the Sui Emperor Yang Guang appointed Yuwen Chengdu as the main marshal to attack the Tang Dynasty, mobilizing a total of 300,000 troops!"

"But under the counterattack of Tang Dynasty's Li Xiaogong, in less than three months, over 150,000 soldiers were killed or injured."

"Even the main marshal, Yuwen Chengdu, was struck down on the spot by the Tang Dynasty's Li Yuanba."

"Of the remaining 150,000, 60,000 were captured and 40,000 fled."

"In other words, this Sui-Tang War completely crippled the Sui Dynasty."

"In the future, the Sui Dynasty will likely never again gather enough strength to attack the Tang Dynasty."

"From now on, only the Tang Dynasty will invade the Sui Dynasty, while the Sui Dynasty has no strength left to fight back!"

Dark One recounted the details of the Sui-Tang War.

Even with Zhu Houzhao's foresight, he was still dumbfounded.

With the crushing defeat of this 300,000 strong army, the fate of the Sui Dynasty was sealed.

Once the news spread within the Sui Dynasty Territory, all those ambitious schemers would likely rise from the ashes.

Even more frenzied than before.

"Wait, what about the remaining 50,000 troops?"

"Your Majesty, the Sui Dynasty did manage to gain something this time."

"Do you still remember the Twin Dragons from the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

"In this battle, the only troops from the Sui Dynasty who performed remarkably were the 50,000 strong vanguard led by those two."

"They shocked everyone."

"The Twin Dragons? Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling? The Young Marshal Army?!"

"Yes, Your Majesty. This time the two of them led the Young Marshal Army and dealt a heavy blow to the Tang Dynasty."

"They nearly broke through the central army of the Tang Dynasty. If Yuwen Chengdu hadn't been so incompetent, the outcome of the war would have been uncertain!"

"Even main marshal Li Xiaogong nearly died at the hands of the Twin Dragons."

"In the future, as long as they are given opportunities, the Twin Dragons will definitely become top-tier marshals in the entire land of Nine Provinces!"

Dark One rarely praised others.

But this time, he spoke highly of the Twin Dragons.

The Twin Dragons, huh?

From the information he had received, those two were not actually Yang Guang's men.

They were disciples and close confidants of Empress Xiao Meiniang.

The Twin Dragons even regarded Empress Xiao as the most important person in their lives.

To win over the Twin Dragons, he would first have to win over Xiao Meiniang.

Thinking of Xiao Meiniang, Zhu Houzhao's expression turned bitter.

This woman was anything but simple.

He had crossed paths with her before.

Even her Longevity Art was obtained because of him.

But the relationship between them was complicated.

Unless absolutely necessary, Zhu Houzhao didn't want to deal with her again.

For now, he would put this matter aside.

In the future, perhaps she would have something to ask of him.

By then, it wouldn't be too late.

The Twin Dragons did have potential, but nothing more for now.

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"What about within the Tang Dynasty?"

"How are the non-imperial member vassal kings?"

"And their relationship with the Turkic Kingdom?"

Zhu Houzhao asked again.

"Your Majesty, under the ruthless methods of the Bad Marshal Yuan Tiangang, the non-imperial member vassal kings of Tang Dynasty are either dead or have surrendered. They are no longer a threat to Li Shimin."

"Some have even become Li Shimin's most loyal lackeys."

"As for the Turkic Kingdom, they may appear powerful on the surface, but when war broke out, they were swiftly defeated by the renowned marshal Li Ji."

"In the end, the Turkic Kingdom was reduced to a fragile state."

"Under Li Ji's strategies, not only did the Turkic Kingdom suffer massive losses, but internal strife was also ignited."

"It's unlikely they'll pose a threat to the Tang Dynasty anytime soon."

"In just a few months of war, the Tang Dynasty has completely purged its internal troubles."

"Give them a bit more time, and they will surely solidify their foundations and become one of Your Majesty's greatest rivals in the future."

Zhu Houzhao showed no expression.

As expected of Li Shimin, ruthless and sharp.

When he became ruthless, he surpassed everyone.

Compared to him, Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty was utterly laughable.

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"Now, tell me about the Han Dynasty."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The wars in the Han Dynasty have become increasingly frequent."

"According to Your Majesty's orders, I investigated thoroughly and indeed discovered a terrifying force manipulating the wars behind the scenes through the various warlords, noble families, and ambitious figures."

"In fact, these forces have become mere pawns."

"They cannot escape the chessboard."

"It is likely the group Your Majesty mentioned before, the Stitched Cloth Guard."

"But their ultimate goal remains unknown."

Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao frowned.

The Yellow Turban Army had yet to be destroyed. On the contrary, they were growing stronger.

Various forces within the Han Dynasty were rising as well.

Their armies no longer held the Imperial Court in any regard.

They obeyed orders in name only.

Emperor Liu Hong had already been bewitched by Jiang Yuyan.

He was nothing more than a puppet.

He had long since abandoned concern for the nation's affairs.

Even so, the Han Dynasty was not to be underestimated.

No force dared to casually offend the Han Imperial Court.

Any force that tried was swiftly assassinated or destroyed by mysterious forces.

This caused the Han Imperial Court to remain detached, observing the chaos unfold.

What exactly was Jiang Yuyan's aim?

Why were the Stitched Cloth Guard doing this?

No answers yet.

As he listened, an idea faintly formed in Zhu Houzhao's mind.

But he needed further confirmation.

If it was truly as he suspected, then this situation was far more troublesome than imagined.

In the end, even the Ming Dynasty, and every dynasty and power in Nine Provinces, might be dragged into it.

Even Zhu Houzhao himself had to be extremely cautious.

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"What of the Qin Dynasty?"

"Reporting, Your Majesty, there have not been any major changes within the Qin Dynasty."

"General Bai Qi continues to lead troops in eradicating the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, and the results are remarkable."

"In just a few short months, those remnants have been severely weakened."

"If this continues, they will soon face complete annihilation."

"As for Xiong Qi's force, it is being fiercely attacked by General Wang Jian's forces."

"However, Xiong Qi himself has not been seen."

"General Wang Jian's victory over Xiong Qi's force is only a matter of time."

"If nothing unexpected occurs, within a few months, both Xiong Qi and the Six Kingdom remnants will cease to exist."

"Even the Hundred Schools of Thought might all submit to the Qin Dynasty."

"The Qin Dynasty's momentum is unstoppable."

As he listened and flipped through the secret reports Dark One handed over, one plan after another surfaced in Zhu Houzhao's mind.

How to resolve these matters?

What actions would benefit the Ming Dynasty the most?

Everything flashed through his thoughts.

Which plans were useful, which ones weren't?

Which ones could be implemented soon, and which needed to be kept hidden?

Zhu Houzhao's unparalleled strategic mind revealed itself once more.

The entire land of Nine Provinces had become a grand chessboard in his mind.

Including himself, all of Nine Provinces's figures were pieces on this board.

Whether it was Ying Zheng of Qin Dynasty, Li Shimin of Tang Dynasty, or the reclusive supreme cultivators, none were exceptions.

In the end, whoever was most skilled would win this game of Nine Provinces's heavenly chessboard.

"Dark One, continue monitoring the situation in every dynasty across Nine Provinces."

"The storm is approaching. The days of peace will soon be gone."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

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"Huh? Three months have already passed?"

"In the blink of an eye, a new ranking has appeared!"

While Zhu Houzhao and Mei Yingxue were touring the Northern Song Capital, the skies suddenly erupted with wind and clouds, thunder and lightning.

Purple aura stretched thirty thousand li across the sky.

Everyone was awakened, staring up at the newly emerging ranking.

"What ranking is it this time?"

"I really hope it's the Blade Immortal Ranking!"

"As a top-tier blade cultivator in the Martial World, I must have the right to be ranked!"

"Yeah! The Sword Immortal Ranking was released already. Us blade cultivators are no worse than them!"

"Nine Provinces Golden Ranking, don't be so biased!"

Even before the ranking was revealed, the people of Nine Provinces were already buzzing.

Especially those who had not been ranked, they were filled with anticipation.

They wished that the very next moment, they could see their names.

And be renowned across Nine Provinces!

Famous all over the world!