Chapter 1107: Divine Generals and Celestial Officials [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Scholars naturally have much larger appetites than ordinary people, not to mention that Cui Xiao had been starving for two whole days, his stomach burning with hunger and his eyes glowing green. He devoured the food that was brought to him in a whirlwind, chewing it a couple of times before swallowing it down, a stark contrast to his usual slow and deliberate eating habits.
They were afraid that if they were too slow, they wouldn't be able to pick up the food.
Qi Shan and the others watched in silence as he finished two buckets of wheat rice.
Are you really that hungry?
"I almost starved to death, what do you say?"
Choi Hyo almost had a heart attack from Ki Sun's question.
Does this guy even know how he's been getting by these past few days?
He was unconscious on the battlefield for half a day, dragging his wounds.
He woke up and fell into a coma repeatedly during this period.
The soldiers cleaning up the battlefield didn't even see him, and those heartless bastards like Qi Yuanliang had forgotten about him.
Cui Xiao lay amidst the ruins, waiting and waiting, but no one came looking for him. In desperation, he could only grit his teeth and endure the excruciating pain in his meridians, refining his spiritual energy to heal his vital injuries and regain his mobility. For the first two days, Cui Xiao shouted himself hoarse, but no one paid him any attention. He tried to grab people, but missed, watching helplessly as his hands passed right through living things. Fortunately, he could still find other inanimate objects. He went to the wounded soldiers' camp to find bandages and medicine to treat his wounds, enduring the worst days of the backlash.
As he recovered, he was able to encounter living things again.
Grabbing someone successfully alerts them to your presence, but unfortunately, this sense of presence is short-lived. Cui Xiao once asked a soldier to get him some food, and the soldier agreed readily, but as soon as he turned around, he scratched his head, confused, and forgot what he had asked for.
Cui Xiao: [……]
Even today, he can find a sense of presence when he speaks.
As for whether his colleagues could see his face, and what that face looked like, Cui Xiao didn't have the energy to care. Recalling the experiences of the past few days, he never wanted to go through them again. If he were to die in battle, his body would be crawling with maggots and no one would even know he was dead.
Cui Xiao finished his third bucket of wheat rice and half a bucket of meat broth.
He sighed contentedly, "A delicacy beyond compare."
He could have continued eating if he hadn't been so full.
He looked up and met Shen Tang's staring almond eyes. Suddenly remembering that she had seen him eating like a starving ghost, his old face flushed slightly: "Ahem, why is Your Majesty looking at me like that?"
Shen Tang said seriously, "Naturally, I'm afraid that if I look away, I'll overlook you. Shan Xiao, your current state is too dangerous."
The situation just now was clearly abnormal.
In the past, even if others didn't notice him, Shen Tang could always spot him at a glance. But just now, she only realized his presence when Cui Xiao spoke up. Besides her, Gong Xi Chou and Ji Mo Qiu were also present! Gong Xi Chou had also gained some of the Martial Courage Totem's abilities, allowing him to see people without relying on sight. This meant that Cui Xiao's presence was practically nonexistent!
Being less noticeable on a daily basis doesn't affect my normal life.
There are always exceptions, especially since Cui Xiao is going to the battlefield.
Cui Xiaodao: "There are gains and losses in everything."
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
This scholarly way of life can be incredibly detrimental at times, but it becomes a godsend on the battlefield, especially during marches. Cui Xiao could only console himself that one can't have it all.
Shen Tang disagreed: "You are a scholar with a literary heart."
You can't have your cake and eat it too!
Cui Xiao stroked his beard, which he hadn't had time to groom for several days, and said helplessly, "Yes, perhaps perfecting the way of the scholar can eliminate this drawback, but the perfection ceremony also depends on the right time, place, and people..."
He has never been very lucky.
Seeing the deep sorrow between Shen Tang's brows, Cui Xiao could only change the subject, saying that the way of a scholar is not something that can be perfected overnight, and that there was no rush to do this.
Shen Tang exhaled the stale air from his chest and could only comfort himself with the thought that "the three of them are in a terrible state, but thankfully they are all still alive."
“I know Wu Zhaode divided his forces to launch a surprise attack on Shangnan, but according to intelligence, this elite force should not be enough to give you such a headache, let alone make you suffer like this. Could it be that a Cheng Yaojin suddenly appeared out of nowhere?” This is also what puzzles Shen Tang the most. The influence of the Wenxin literati is limited and cannot determine a battle with a huge disparity in troop strength. However, when the difference in troop strength between the two sides is not significant, a powerful Wenxin literati can definitely make the final decision!
Qi Shan and his two companions are undoubtedly "powerful," Yun Ce, as a top-tier fighter, is also present, and Bei Qiu's Mohist faction from the Imperial Workshop is an ace not to be underestimated! With their command of troops and their strong defenses, they have a significant advantage as the defenders!
Even if they ultimately failed to hold on, they wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state.
Shen Tang had no doubt about their abilities.
Considering the frequent interference from the Gods' Guild and other national forces, Shen Tang guessed—could it be that the enemy has substitutes among them?
That's not impossible.
Yun Dagongcheng, who aided the Northern Desert; Wei Lou and Wei Cheng, who assisted the Gao Kingdom; and Mei Jinghe, who secretly stirred up trouble—these people, each with their own ulterior motives, also reached a tacit agreement—to make things difficult for Shen Tang! As a crucial battlefield, the appearance of a mysterious substitute fighter in Shangnan County seemed perfectly reasonable! Shen Tang's deduction was logical, but reality is the least logical thing to do. She was wrong.
Cui Xiao looked at Qi Shan.
He tried to communicate with the latter through eye contact.
result--
Qi Shan was so lost in thought that she overlooked Cui Xiao.
Cui Xiao: "..."
He coughed loudly before Qi Shan could speak, enjoying Qi Shan's shock at discovering his presence: "Your Majesty, this is a long story... There was no Cheng Yaojin, only He Shu."
Wu Xian placed high hopes on this elite force, hoping it could be the key to breaking the stalemate and helping Gao Guo reverse its disadvantage. Therefore, he was quite willing to invest heavily in its lineup. The generals were capable, and the soldiers were all good and elite troops. Whether in terms of combat power, morale, or mobility, they were all above average.
Up to this point, it's been fairly average.
If Shangnan County is caught off guard, it will definitely be stunned.
The fact that Shangnan County, despite being well-prepared, was still so badly defeated is all because of He Shu! Just mentioning He Shu still gives Cui Xiao a headache. There's a saying that perfectly describes him—the ruthless fear the reckless, and the reckless fear the fearless. He Shu not only fears no one, but he can also get others to fight desperately with him!
Shen Tang frowned and asked, "He Shu?"
Cui Xiao sighed deeply: "Yes, it's him."
That day, Yun Ce forcibly froze the sky full of lightning with his martial energy, thinking that this would suppress He Shu's scholarly way, damage the enemy's morale, and repel the enemy soldiers. Little did he know that they had underestimated this scholarly way. He Shu's use of the scholarly way was not only to attract lightning for destruction, but his ultimate goal was to borrow the power of lightning.
The soldiers within the "Great Fortune Awakens the World" area entered a state of frenzy. First, their bodies swelled, their muscles hardened like iron, they felt no pain, and their strength became boundless. Lightning surged through their bodies, transforming into wondrous armor that made them impervious to swords and spears. And it wasn't just one or two, or even a couple hundred, but thousands! The congratulatory message called them "divine generals and celestial officials"!
Shen Tang frowned and asked, "Divine generals and celestial officials?"
She vaguely felt that the name sounded familiar, and after thinking carefully, she realized, "Judging from the description, it sounds similar to the strongmen under Huang Lie's command."
Back then, Huang Lie also used Gu worms to create a large number of heavy shield warriors.
These heavily shielded warriors are like that.
The only difference is that Huang Lie used Gu worms to forge the heavy shield warrior, a method with a very low success rate; any failed attempt would inevitably result in death. He Shu, on the other hand, could achieve a similar effect simply by using the perfected Scholar's Way [Great Fortune Under Heaven]. Although the latter's duration was short, its advantage lay in its non-one-time nature; as long as the thunderclouds persisted, it would continuously recharge the "Divine General and Celestial Official"! Shen Tang paused, then added, "It's also like the legendary 'Yellow Turban Warrior,' and paired with He Shu's Scholar's Way, it complements each other perfectly..."
After speaking, Shen Tang pulled her wandering thoughts back.
Mentally assess the disparity between the enemy and ourselves.
"...Just now, upon entering the city, we discovered many lightning rods bearing the Zhoukou mark on the battlefield outside the city. These lightning rods must have been competing with those 'divine generals and immortal officials' for lightning, right?" Shen Tang initially thought that the lightning rods were to protect the buildings and the living, but she didn't expect them to be used to cut off the supplies of the "divine generals and immortal officials".
Cui Xiao nodded: "The master craftsman from Peking University has made a great contribution."
As long as the thunderclouds persist, He Shu can harness the power of natural lightning to create a tireless and incredibly powerful elite army! Based on Cui Xiao's description, Shen Tang mentally reconstructed the battle situation: "Even so..."
The defenses of Shangnan County were built with great effort. Gu Ren laid a solid foundation back then, and Shen Tang allocated a considerable budget after taking office, making the city walls as impregnable as a rock. It is no exaggeration to say that even a sudden earthquake could not leave a crack in the city walls!
Cui Xiao: "Disorder has broken out in the city."
Shen Tang's expression darkened: "You mean the inner city..."
Indeed, if they were attacked from both sides, even with all their military tactics, Qi Shan and her companions would be powerless to turn the tide. A fierce killing intent flashed in her eyes: "...Is it an enemy infiltrating secretly, or have our own people been turned against us, or some other situation?"
Cui Xiao glanced at Qi Shan again.
He shook his head and said, "Neither."
Shen Tang was taken aback: "Neither?"
The key problem lies with those lightning bolts!
The city's defensive barriers didn't hold out for long under the onslaught of thunderclouds, collapsing in less than fifteen minutes. If the lightning were allowed to continue its relentless bombardment of the city, the casualties, given the inner city's population density, would be incalculable. Qi Shan immediately ordered the mobilization of troops within the city, arranged for civilians to flee through another city gate, and deployed personnel to intercept the lightning. Even with these efforts, some managed to escape.
A bolt of lightning struck a commoner.
The common people did not die, but became "divine generals and immortal officials"!
Shen Tang's pupils suddenly contracted: "What?"
Cui Xiao gets a headache just thinking about it.
He later learned that these lightning bolts weren't striking randomly; they all followed a certain pattern! These "divine generals and celestial officials" within the city didn't immediately join the battle; instead, they engaged in slaughter!
It may sound contradictory at first glance, but that's the truth.
However, their targets weren't ordinary people or the city's guards, but rather the powerful families within the city. Regardless of their family affiliation, whether male or female, they were killed on sight! The areas where local powerful families gathered were piled high with corpses, their homes completely deserted.
After killing these people, the "divine generals and immortal officials" then attacked the city's defenses.
These strange lightning bolts wouldn't directly kill ordinary people, but they could cause devastating damage to buildings, igniting subterranean fires that would burn anyone trapped inside. In the chaos, half the city perished. Qi Shan and the others were forced to be distracted, having to deal with the ferocious enemy while also ensuring the safety of the retreating troops. Cui Xiao, in particular, had his scholarly pursuits severely depleted at this time.
Fortunately, He Shu's focus was on the front lines of the two armies, not on the inner city of the capital. Cui Xiao, who had already suffered the backlash of the scholar's way once, gritted his teeth and managed to apply its effects to the evacuated commoners. The evacuation of ordinary people was lengthy and chaotic, putting Cui Xiao under immense pressure. He was oblivious to his own predicament and didn't notice that his guards had neglected him. Without their help, he was inevitably caught in the crossfire.
This directly resulted in him lying on the battlefield for half a day.
Having a low profile also has its advantages.
His own people don't notice him, and neither do the enemy.
Yun Ce fought against many enemies single-handedly, restraining the enemy generals. Bei Qiu, on the other hand, had a quick idea and led 80% of the Mohists to place 108 lightning rods on the battlefield, while the remaining 20% of the Mohists placed 36 in the inner city.
Only by curbing the problem at its root could the tide of the war be barely turned around.
Of course, the real reason is not just that. Another major reason is that He Xin's intervention in the struggle with He Shu led to the latter being attacked.
Although Cui Xiao's explanation was brief, Shen Tang could still deduce most of it. She closed her eyes to suppress her chaotic thoughts, and when she opened them again, she looked straight at Cui Xiao: "Thank you for your hard work in this battle."
Cui Xiao looked ashamed.
He asked himself honestly if he had done his best, but the result was still unsatisfactory. Scholars and intellectuals alike possessed pride, and Cui Xiao was no exception. Did he not know the true nature of Wu Xian's troops?
Just the addition of He Shu, along with a perfect "Great Fortune Under Heaven," was enough to make his side look utterly humiliated and suffer a crushing defeat! How could he possibly swallow this insult?
The difference between the ways of scholars and the ways of scholars is actually so great!
Looking back on the past few days of danger, it feels like a barrage of arrows piercing my heart.
He survived entirely by luck, but luck is elusive and unpredictable!
He was unwilling to accept defeat, but even more unwilling to accept victory!
Shen Tang saw through Cui Xiao's inner turmoil, but she also knew that he needed to process this himself. Her attempts to comfort him would only be an insult and a blow to his pride. Shen Tang could only pretend not to know and asked about He Shu's whereabouts: "Is he dead?"
Cui Xiao looked at Qi Shan, indicating that he needed to answer this question.
Qi Shan replied, "He is not dead."
Not only were the powerful clans in the inner city massacred, but nearly 90% of the major clans in Shangnan County suffered heavy losses. After He Xin's successful contest, He Shu was captured. How to deal with him depends on Shen Tang's decision.
He Shu's situation is too special to handle.
Shen Tang: "..."
She looked at Qi Shan with a resentful gaze.
Knowing it would be difficult to handle, why leave it to her to deal with?
She pondered for a moment, then changed the subject: "What are the casualty statistics? How many disaster victims are there in the city? How many people are needed and how long will it take to settle them? Gao Guo is already a dead man; taking him down is only a matter of time. We can take advantage of this lull to free up manpower to clean up Shangnan. Get the statistics to me as soon as possible."
Shen Tang can't stay outside for too long this time since she slipped away.
No matter how unwilling I am, I must resolve the matter of He Shu before leaving.
Before meeting He Shu, she needed to understand some things.
"Yuanliang, do you know why he massacred the powerful clans in the city?"
Judging from the intelligence presented to her, He Shu also had dealings with these families; he himself came from a prominent family!
|ω`)
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