Vertical alliances unite the weak to attack the strong; horizontal alliances serve the strong to attack the weak. The former primarily focuses on alliances, thus demonstrating how to use diplomatic means to unite and unite—a strategy with more overt than covert tactics. The latter primarily focuses on disruption, thus demonstrating how to exploit contradictions and interests to create rifts—a strategy with more covert than overt tactics.
The two claimed that the fictitious Wang Xu lived in seclusion in Guigu Valley of Yunmeng Marsh for many years and rarely went out. He was like a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail. Therefore, people respectfully called Wang Xu, who passed down the lineage of the School of Diplomacy, Guiguzi!
Military strategists focused on using warfare to achieve military victory; strategists advocated using tactics and rhetoric to achieve diplomatic victory.
Although their focuses differ, they are fundamentally the same. The saying "plan before you act" applies here; strategy is the means to strategize, and tactics are the means to execute; they complement each other and are indispensable. A strategist who doesn't understand tactics is merely a talker; a general who doesn't understand strategy is nothing but a reckless fool!
Later generations combined the two, calling it "military, political, and diplomatic affairs." But who knew that the founders of the two factions, Liao Zhen and Lu Ya, were mortal enemies with an irreconcilable feud? Leaving aside Xuan Tian's hatred for Lu Ya's father's murder, there was also the fact that during the Investiture of the Gods war, Lu Ya was tricked by Xuan Tian, and the three from Penglai Island joined forces to pressure him into destroying the magical artifact, the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife. This enmity was truly immense.
Time flies like an arrow. A few decades is but a drop in the ocean in the long river of history. It's barely enough time to savor it. Yet, the seven warring states of the Western Zhou Dynasty have already undergone earth-shattering changes.
Far away in the Western Qin Kingdom, four geniuses emerged. There was the great general Bai Qi, invincible in battle, conquering territories with ease and killing without hesitation; there was the great general Wang Jian, resolute and courageous, skilled in both military and civil affairs, unmatched on the battlefield; there was the prime minister Li Si, adept at internal affairs and shrewd in strategy, governing a large country with ease; and there was the Grand Commandant Wei Liao, who oversaw the entire military and political situation, strategizing from within the command tent and securing victory from afar.
Bai Qi and Wang Jian were both reincarnations of the Great Shaman's bloodline; Li Si was one of the four disciples of the Legalist school; and Wei Liao was a disciple of the Military school!
After the great war between the Lich King and the Demon King, the Wu Clan split into three branches. One branch was located in Beiju Luzhou, primarily responsible for guarding the Pangu Palace; another branch was located in the Underworld, with a small number of members; and the third branch consisted of those who survived the war. Unlike other races, the Wu Clan did not possess a true spirit after their deaths and could not reincarnate. Their bodies dissipated into the world, thus returning to the natural order. However, some Wu Clan members, for various reasons, had their bloodline flow underground after death. Those who were fortunate enough to be reincarnated among the human race, acquiring the body of a Wu Clan member. Bai Qi and Wang Jian were reincarnations of Wu Clan members.
General Bai Qi first led his army to conquer Ba and Shu, slaughtering the enemy and causing rivers of blood to flow. At the same time, General Wang Jian led his army down the Yangtze River, directly attacking thirty-two cities of Chu, forcing King Huai of Chu to move the capital and sue for peace.
Bai Qi once again mobilized a large army and marched east out of Hangu Pass to attack the equally powerful Zhao state. The Zhao ruler was incompetent and sent Zhao Kuo, who was only good at theoretical warfare, to lead the army to meet the enemy. As a result, Zhao Kuo fell into Bai Qi's trap of luring the enemy deep into his territory. The Zhao army of 400,000 was surrounded at Changping and all of them were buried alive.
Four hundred thousand wronged souls surged toward the "Seven Killing Stars" in the sky. The "Seven Killing Stars" quickly moved toward the "Purple Emperor Star" in the center of the northern sky. Stimulated by this, the "Purple Emperor Star" emitted a dazzling light. It was as if two suns were shining brightly in the sky.
After shining brightly in the sky for a day and a night, the star Wei Di transformed into a purple beam of light and fell directly towards the western Qin territory. A day later, news spread among the various states that King Zhuangxiang of Qin had given birth to a son, named Ying Zheng.
Meanwhile, Bai Qi led the Qin army to besiege the Zhao state. Seeing that Zhao was on the verge of destruction, all the other states were filled with apprehension. The ruler of Zhao sent envoys to the five states east of the pass (Qi, Chu, Han, Wei, and Yan) seeking help.
The Thirty-One Heavenly Court summons
Outside Penglai Island, a celestial official in splendid robes arrived. He rode on clouds, his appearance exuding an otherworldly air, exactly what mortals would consider an enlightened immortal. Gazing at the misty sea before him, he muttered to himself, "This should be it! Why don't I see any islands? Damn it, is the Dragon King of the East Sea playing a joke on me?"
He was a celestial official summoned by the Jade Emperor to summon Yunxiao, one of the Three Immortal Maidens of the Three Immortal Realms, to the Heavenly Court for a meeting. However, there was a problem: no one knew the exact location of Penglai Island, where Yunxiao resided, in the East Sea. Fortunately, this official was quick-witted; he went to the East Sea Dragon Palace and inquired with the Dragon King Guangde, Ao Guang, before finally finding Penglai Island. But Penglai Island was protected by a magical array, making it impossible for anyone without great supernatural powers, perseverance, wisdom, and a special destiny to see its true nature. It was a test set up by Xuantian to select disciples with good aptitude and potential, and the official possessed none of these qualities, so naturally, he couldn't understand the situation.
Huixin was on duty today. Since severing her two corpses, her cultivation had advanced significantly, and her supernatural powers were among the best in the Three Realms. She knew the celestial official's purpose as soon as he arrived outside. So she summoned her acolyte and asked him to go outside the island to welcome the celestial official in. When the acolyte arrived outside, he indeed saw a person with flowing sleeves resting on a cloud, looking around. He then said, "The person on the cloud, my lady invites you."
The celestial official was surveying his surroundings when he suddenly heard someone call out. Startled, he hurriedly asked, "Young Daoist, are you speaking to me? And who is your mistress?"
The young Taoist was already seething with anger at being summoned by Huixin to fetch someone, and hearing this only made him more displeased. He said, "Hey, it's just the two of us here, so I'll naturally tell you what's going on. Listen carefully."
The celestial official nodded blankly, and then heard the young Taoist chant: "My lady is: the boundless and limitless, the heavens hear and the earth understands, naturally beautiful, so beautiful that one cannot see it, exceptionally intelligent, possessing both beauty and wisdom, invincible in the world, with limitless supernatural powers, the virtuous and wise holy lady, the Lady of Moral Wisdom. Did you hear me clearly?"
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