A flash of golden light, and the blade fell toward the wrist.
when!
A pebble struck the blade, causing it to deflect slightly and slide off Wen Hu's palm.
Luo Ying said, "You don't need to do that."
As she spoke, Luo Ying glanced at the mountain lord and said to Wen Hu, "Since he is unwilling to come down from the mountain to help you, he won't help anyone else either. There's no need to cut off your own arm to beg him."
Wen Hu let out a long breath and plunged the golden knife into the ground, a burst of sword power erupting from beneath his feet.
Suddenly, pebbles flew everywhere, and leaves rustled in the distance.
"Hahaha--"
The mountain lord in front of the cave entrance burst into laughter.
"You are capable of making Wen Tai's master, dare to kill the emperor, and even cut off your own arm to seek out talent. No wonder the Sword Monk refused to take you as his disciple. You and he are on completely different paths. He can only be a reclusive monk in the snowy mountains. But you have the potential to become a dragon."
"Help me down."
Upon hearing this, Hei Tong and Bai Wa grabbed the wheelchair and carried the Mountain Lord down from above to Wen Hu and Luo Ying.
"Isn't the scenery outside beautiful?"
Wen Hu was overjoyed to learn that the mountain lord had agreed, saying, "It will naturally be more colorful and diverse than this Black Mountain!"
The mountain lord sneered and said, "So what? Once I get out, there will be rivers of blood. What scenery will there be then?"
Wen Hu remained silent, unsure how to respond.
"Dragon Slayer, don't disappoint this old man!"
The mountain lord patted Wen Hu's arm, stroked his beard, and said, "Having lived in seclusion my whole life, those who know of this Black Mountain only know me as the mountain lord. From now on, they will know..."
"I am the Imperial Preceptor of Xijing."
"Luo Wushan".
...
The sky over Yunjing County was covered with dark clouds.
The rainy season has arrived.
A fierce argument was taking place inside the Southern Zhou army's command camp, the sounds of debate and shouting drowning out the rain outside.
"Zhao Huan is the best defender in Jingguo, but Zhao Cheng is not! I don't know what you're waiting for. We need to attack the city as soon as possible. Nantong City is already ours!"
He Biao said angrily, "I can sign a military pledge to climb the walls of Nantong within three days!"
Li Yunqing said, "Old He, calm down. Since we entered Jingdi, when has the strategist ever made a mistake? Let's listen to the strategist and wait a little longer."
The other generals also began to argue.
"Young Commander, you are the head of the army, so you don't necessarily have to listen to the strategist completely, do you?"
"I think attacking the city now is too reckless. How many of our scouts have died? We know nothing about the situation in Nantong City!"
"Then let's just withdraw the troops, what's the point of fighting anymore!"
"How dare you talk like that?"
Another heated argument ensued, just as a soldier with blood-stained armor ran in.
Upon seeing this person, Yang Qingzhi and the gray-robed man both moved forward slightly.
Yang Qingzhi asked, "Where are the others?"
The soldier lowered his head and said sadly, "He couldn't come back."
"hateful!"
Yang Qingzhi clenched his fist and said, "The Yiwen Flying Team is not only good at gathering military intelligence, but now they are also so good at counter-espionage."
The man in the grey robe said, "Don't forget, Zhao Cheng is the Southern Spy Star."
Yang Qingzhi looked at the soldier in front of him, patted him heavily on the shoulder, and said, "Of the hundred men who went out, you are the first to come back. You've worked hard."
The soldier knelt down on one knee and said, "We've made a gain."
Yang Qingzhi's eyes lit up, and he nodded to the soldier.
The soldier then leaned close to the man in the gray robe and whispered something in his ear.
The generals were puzzled, but they all stopped arguing.
The man in the gray robe nodded, gestured for the soldiers to go and rest, and then walked to the sand table.
After a while, the man in the gray robe said, "We can move out now."
He Biao exclaimed happily, "Are we going to attack the city? I'll lead the vanguard!"
Li Yunqing said, "Old He, let me go instead."
"Give way my ass!"
He Biao shoved Li Yunqing and said angrily, "You were the vanguard when we fought Feng Jing and Xiao Luofeng, you stole all the limelight, now it's my turn!"
Li Yunqing said, "Zhao Cheng is cunning. You have an impatient nature and are easily deceived."
He Biao shouted, "Go to hell! I may be hot-tempered, but I'm not stupid!"
The man in the grey robe said, "Generals, did I say I wanted to attack the city?"
He Biao and Li Yunqing, who were arguing, were stunned.
"Why aren't you attacking the city yet??"
Yang Qingzhi smiled and said, "Generals, please be patient. In the past few days, the strategist has sent out a hundred scouts to gather intelligence, all in order to be more confident in taking Nantong City. We must trust the strategist's arrangements."
Upon hearing this, all the generals looked toward the gray-robed man.
The man in the gray robe stretched out his withered hand and gestured on the sand table, his hoarse voice echoing in the tent.
"The purpose of sending out scouts is to find out the situation around Nantong City, because I do not intend to attack the city, but to besiege it."
"A besieged city?" He Biao asked doubtfully.
"It has been discovered that there are no troops stationed in Dongjing between Jiangxia Pass and Nantong, and the terrain around Nantong City is open, making it difficult to set up an ambush. Besieging the city is feasible."
Why surround them instead of attacking?
"Because Zhao Cheng will definitely retreat, we will be able to take Nantong City without bloodshed."
Li Yunqing had always supported the gray-robed man, but this time he was also somewhat puzzled. He said, "Strategist, Nantong City is a transportation hub in central Yunjing and a strategic location. Why would Zhao Cheng hand it over so easily?"
The man in the grey robe said firmly, “Zhao Cheng is extremely afraid of death. He is good at devising unconventional strategies, but they are all based on a solid foundation. He will never put himself in danger. Compared to Nantong City, Jiangxia Pass is more suitable for defense, and the grain and fodder from Changsui and Jiangyang are easier to replenish. Once he sees that we are not attacking the city but besieging it, he will definitely retreat before we besiege it.”
The man in the grey robe tapped on the city of Nantong on the sand table and continued, "Once we take Nantong, we can transport all the grain supplies from the three cities of Yunmeng here, and use Nantong as our base to launch a full-scale attack on Jiangxia Pass. At that time, the real decisive battle will begin."
"If we can't break through Jiangxia Pass, we'll have to retreat once our supplies run out."
"With the fall of Jiangxia Pass, the gateway to Jiangyang County is wide open, and half of Dongjing's territory will fall into the hands of Southern Zhou!"
Yang Qingzhi nodded in satisfaction and said, "The strategist's insight is brilliant."
He Biao scratched his head and asked, "What if Zhao Cheng doesn't back down?"
The man in the grey robe said, "If we launch a full-scale attack, he will surely retreat. Since we have adopted a posture of decisive battle, Zhao Cheng will choose a location more advantageous to him."
"Even if he doesn't back down this time, what's wrong with a decisive battle in Nantong? Nantong is easier to take than Jiangxia Pass, and we can also divide our forces to occupy Jiangxia Pass first, which would be the most fatal blow to Zhao Cheng."
The man in the gray robe walked away from the sand table, shrank back to a corner, and said, "The Dongjing Army retreated in a hurry, and it is impossible for them to take all their food, supplies, and weapons with them. After we enter Nantong City, we may have some unexpected gains."
He Biao said, "Since the strategist is so confident, I will accept the order."
The man in the gray robe nodded to Yang Qingzhi.
Yang Qingzhi's expression immediately turned serious. He slammed his hand heavily on the sand table and shouted, "All generals, listen to my command!!"
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