The Xuanji Pavilion is like a bug in this world, and Emperor Xiu is rarely at a disadvantage in the battle of information—at least in terms of real-time information.
His actions and intentions might be able to deceive the emperor and the others, but they were almost transparent to the Xuanji Pavilion. Yanling knew exactly who his people were and what he had done, but for some unknown reason, he had never revealed it.
—Take the statement that Xuanji Pavilion does not interfere in the politics of other countries as just a formality.
Di Xiu remained suspicious and could not fully trust him.
If the main altar of Xuanji Pavilion weren't located in a secluded place, he would have tried to destroy it first.
001 commented: "Maybe he's just a hopeless romantic."
This is less convincing than the idea that there was a conspiracy in Yanling.
"In the timeline, after his identity was exposed, he was willing to hand over military power in order to regain the emperor's trust. Why can't he be a lazy bum now just to be with Mu Ruoyin?"
Emperor Xiu thought it was nonsense.
After conquering Wandan, Emperor Xiu received an imperial edict from Zhaodu, praising him to the skies as if he were a reincarnation of the Martial Star, and then promoted him directly to the fifth rank.
In Zhaodu, someone suggested that the emperor's youthful ambitions had resurfaced, and he issued an edict ordering Yanling to lead the army to attack Ningguo.
The world is currently divided into five parts. Tian Sheng and Dong Qing are on par, Ning Kingdom is the weakest, Lan Cang Kingdom and Yan Kingdom are in the middle, there is also the independent Mechanical City, which is a tough nut to crack, and then there is the Fangwai Land, where powerful people are as numerous as clouds - roughly equivalent to the martial arts world of some worlds.
This time, Yanling is in command.
Emperor Xiu led the vanguard troops to charge ahead. The vanguard members were all incredibly brave and fierce, and they forcefully tore apart Ningguo's formation.
This battlefield is different from the one against the Zerg in interstellar space. It emphasizes strategic deployment and teamwork. With a shield in one hand and a sword in the other, Emperor Xiu had to slow down his pace.
As arrows rained down, the vanguard raised their shields, forming an impenetrable wall.
As the rain stopped, a dense drumbeat came from behind, and shouts of battle rang out all around. The two torrents collided with a deafening roar.
Yanling personally led troops to intercept the enemy's request for reinforcements, and then led his elite forces to encircle them.
Caught off guard, the Tian Sheng army launched an attack. Ning Guo hastily responded, but suffered a defeat on the battlefield and returned to defend the city. The general commanded the defense from the city wall, but was struck by two arrows and died.
Without a leader, the other generals were unable to coordinate, the city gates were breached, and the generals either died for their cause or were taken prisoner.
Yanling issued an order forbidding rape, plunder, and trampling of fertile fields. He incorporated the surrendered soldiers into his own ranks, reorganized the grain and fodder, and assigned a trusted confidant to appease the people.
He summoned Di Xiu to see him, and Di Xiu smiled and said, "Your archery skills are quite good."
"Likewise."
"Next, I plan to divide my forces into two groups. I will give you a force of ten thousand men. Within seven days, you will pass through Tongcheng and take Pucheng."
After a moment's thought, Emperor Xiu nodded and agreed.
He had learned about the situation of the five major powers in advance. As the front line, Tongcheng had neither a particularly advantageous nor disadvantageous terrain. With proper command, 10,000 men would be sufficient.
Pucheng is a well-connected city, and reinforcements can arrive in as little as one day, so a blitzkrieg is necessary.
The statement said that it would be captured within seven days, but the best strategy was to finish it on the sixth or seventh day. Emperor Xiu speculated that the main force should attack Guancheng, taking advantage of the trouble in Pucheng to divert some of Guancheng's fighting force. At that time, he would most likely have to switch to a defensive battle.
Yanling smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
While the soldiers outside were celebrating that night, he organized the defenses and summoned all the generals to the city lord's mansion to discuss the capture of the pass.
Emperor Xiu also participated, becoming the lowest-ranking person present. In the army, strength determines merit, and since he had performed well previously, no one made things difficult for him.
But when Yanling told him to go and attack Pucheng, everyone else tried to dissuade him, but they couldn't go against their commander Yanling's wishes.
Guancheng is a fortress of Ningguo. Geographically, it is surrounded by mountains on one side and an inland sea on the other, both of which are natural barriers. The only way to attack it is to go head-to-head.
Once this city is breached, we can advance unimpeded and attack the capital of Ningguo. Furthermore, three days' walk southwest of the pass lies Mincheng, known as the granary of Ningguo.
Supplying provisions for a long-distance campaign is a major challenge. This battle cannot be dragged out for too long. They are determined to capture both Guancheng and Mincheng.
Yanling took charge of the overall situation, rendering the strategist virtually useless. Seeing this, Di Xiu pondered, thinking that replacing Yanling and gaining military power would be troublesome, but it was a hurdle that had to be overcome.
From a military perspective, he was a qualified general, and Emperor Xiu did not want to come to the point of fighting with him.
After agreeing on the battle plan, Yanling took Dixiu out for drinks. The latter eventually got a drink and soon felt the person in front of him start swaying from side to side.
Yanling didn't notice at first, until he challenged him to a fight and found that he didn't make any demands and was extremely ruthless.
Those gathered here were all Yanling's personal guards. They knew He Ming was powerful, but this was the first time they had witnessed just how powerful he was. Even a general who was invincible in the entire army was beaten without any chance to fight back.
"Good, Brother He, well done."
Yan Ling suddenly felt a sharp pain on his face, and then heard his underlings shouting even more excitedly at the sight of him being beaten. He stepped back and shouted to stop: "You don't hit a person in the face, you bastard, you don't even give me any face."
After saying that, he waved his fist at his personal guards, and knowing there was no more excitement to be had, the group scattered.
After watching the excitement, 001 pulled Di Xiu towards the camp outside the city. Yan Ling followed and asked him, "Are you really drunk? Your alcohol tolerance is terrible."
Yan Ling supported him, compared their heights, and found that he was actually an inch taller than him, which immediately made him happy.
"He Ming? Brother Wei?"
Di Xiu stared at him intently.
Yanling saw a large rock and pulled him over to sit down: "I'm actually a little drunk right now. If there's anything you want to know, I might tell you."
Di Xiu remained silent for a long time, rubbed his forehead, and put a distance between himself and the other man.
"I'm not taking advantage of you. I'm asking you questions, and you can ask me questions too, but you must tell me the truth."
"This is a good idea. You can ask first."
Di Xiu didn't mince words. He turned his head to look at him and asked, "Why did you help me?"
“I’ve realized I’m leading Xuanji Pavilion down a dangerous path. I need to break free from my identity in Tiansheng and find someone to take my place.”
This doesn't exist in any other timeline. In his first life, he was a regent; in his second, he became a wise and benevolent ruler who unified the world.
Di Xiu frowned slightly, observing his eyes and aura, but found nothing unusual.
"Why not renounce your identity as a member of the Xuanji Pavilion?"
"That's the second question. Because I am first and foremost the Pavilion Master, and only then General Yan."
When it was Yanling's turn to ask, he didn't hesitate and asked, "Which school of thought did you follow?"
"..."
"How so?" Di Xiu honestly replied, "My basic internal energy cultivation comes from the Xuanji Pavilion. The one I'm practicing now is one I improved myself. My swordsmanship is a combination of the strengths of many schools."
Yanling remained stunned for a long time, then pointed at him and said in a trembling voice, "You are not human."
"Your second question."
What is your relationship with Yin'er?
“Cooperation,” Di Xiu paused, then said, “I’m all set.”
"...You must have a problem."
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