Chapter 368: Refugees and Bandits (Part 7) [Two-in-One]
"—Self-destruction!"
Although, but...
This...this seems to be...
This isn't the kind of opening a military advisor should have, is it?
On the surface, Kang Shi appeared as calm as a mountain, but in reality, his mind was in turmoil, his eyes glazed over, and he was questioning the meaning of life. This was especially true when he saw Chu Yao unleash two streams of literary energy that shot into the sky, instantly transforming into two giant dragons, each seven or eight zhang long, covered in black and white scales, charging towards the enemy's main force with a death-defying ferocity. The dragon scales unfurled, releasing a chilling aura.
It exudes a sinister and eerie atmosphere.
One glance at it gives you the illusion that your hair stands on end.
No, it's not an illusion!
His arm was indeed a little numb.
Before Kang Shi could remind Chu Yao to change his fighting style, they heard Gong Shuwu, who had already charged out of the enemy lines, roar: "Chu Wuhui! The five virtues of a general: self-preservation, being prepared for danger in times of peace, and moving firewood from the chimney... You better give me one of those!"
The angry roar even reached the neighboring lines.
The enemy warhorses that charged forward were so frightened that they stumbled and nearly threw their riders off.
He was also unlucky; Gong Shuwu pierced his breastplate with a long spear, and his body was lifted high into the air, half a zhang away. The gushing blood turned into warm blood rain, which splattered all over people's faces.
Gong Shuwu calmly took a life, then tossed aside the still-struggling corpse, which flew through the air in an arc, perhaps hitting some unfortunate soul.
In the instant the two armies clashed, Gong Shuwu's spear melted into a gelatinous black martial energy, which then transformed into a broadsword with a wide back. His warhorse galloped like the wind, and the blade shot towards the enemy's face. The enemy, in turn, unleashed his own martial energy to parry.
Clang!
Blades clashed!
Just as the enemy general was about to gloat, Gong Shuwu suddenly increased the strength in his hand several times over, and his martial energy surged, shattering his weapon with overwhelming force. The general was terrified and tried to avoid the attack, but his warhorse neighed and cried out in pain.
Suddenly, countless thorns sprouted from the ground, tightly binding the horse's hooves. Under normal circumstances, this level of obstruction would pose no threat at all; the horse could easily break free and crush them to dust with a little effort. But now, Gong Shuwu was blocking their path.
The battlefield situation changes rapidly.
Even the slightest hesitation could lead to death.
Not to mention that Gong Shuwu's strength far surpassed his.
Before he could even react, he felt a chill on his neck, and his head was thrown up by the rush of blood.
He saw the sky approach him by a foot, reach its highest point with all its might, and then quickly recede into the distance.
Before his vision went completely black, a jumble of human feet and horse hooves trampled over his head, and he lost consciousness.
Gong Shuwu felt the abundant martial energy surging out of his dantian, and his blood-stained face twisted into a cold, sinister smile—although Chu Wuhui was not a traditional scholar, he had mastered the "Five Virtues of a General" to perfection.
If I had to describe the user experience in one sentence, it would be this:
He can take on ten thousand men single-handedly!
Zhao Feng's battle line was also on Shen Tang's side. He acted faster than Gong Shuwu, but he couldn't keep up with the latter's superior speed. With the advantage of his long weapon, he killed one person, and then, after being awarded the "Five Virtues of a General," he killed another person without batting an eye.
Zhao Feng couldn't help but wonder.
I am, after all, a 12th-rank Left Guard. Wouldn't it be better to use the precious "Five Virtues of a General" on him?
While inwardly cursing, he seized upon a daring martial artist and smashed him halfway through his body with a single bronze mace. The man only had time to let out a scream before falling from his horse. In the ensuing melee, he was then trampled into a bloody pulp by someone coming from behind.
To his relief, Kang Shi still remembered him.
He also received the same "Five Virtues of a General," plus the additional "Be Prepared for Danger in Times of Peace." Hmph, this is better than Gong Shuwu's treatment; Gong Shuwu, despite his wailing and howling on the battlefield, didn't even receive one.
With the blessing of the "Five Virtues of a General," his martial energy surged, his fighting spirit soared, and the pair of four-sided bronze maces in his hands seemed to spew evil and bloody light. The ferocious ghost patterns engraved on the maces seemed to come alive, ghostly shadows appeared, and the spikes on the handles were like the claws of ghostly shadows, greedily seizing something as Zhao Feng raised and lowered his maces.
Zhao Feng's martial aura was originally a dazzling crimson red, and this sight appeared to the enemy as if a demon had emerged from its lair.
His warhorse galloped like the wind and traversed the clouds.
Zhao Feng, carrying a shadowy figure, charged towards the enemy's fierce warriors. His subordinates and lieutenants followed closely behind, clearing away the bandits who tried to surge forward. Several of the warriors, like sharp knives, viciously stabbed into the enemy's heart, tearing open a gap.
None of Zhao Feng's men died intact.
Or rather, it was just a jumble of corpses with their heads smashed open.
"Thieves, stop your arrogance!"
The warriors who attacked were like rats crawling out of their holes before Zhao Feng's bronze mace; they were smashed one by one. Even with everyone working together, their weapons could hardly harm him. This was because there was always a wisp of spiritual energy that would flash at the crucial moment, blocking the attack for Zhao Feng. Zhao Feng, however, neither dodged nor evaded, wielding both maces simultaneously, while his lieutenant wielded both spears, and for a time, he was invincible.
As for commanding a large army?
This task falls to the military advisors and commanders. Zhao Feng and Gong Shuwu's current role is to lead troops into battle and kill or cripple the enemy's brave warriors as much as possible.
This prevents them from rallying and posing a threat to the main army.
However, Commander Chen Tang is also currently in the formation.
Command then fell into Kang Shi's hands.
Yes, it's Kang Shi, not Chu Yao.
What is Chu Yao doing right now?
Kang Shi had just watched as this gray-haired old man used the move "Submerging in Water and Fire, Seeking Self-Destruction" to shake the enemy's will, and casually added the "Five Virtues of a General" to Gong Shuwu's list.
After that, I just let myself go.
【Three Hearts and Two Minds】He manifests as two people outside his body, with two additional streams of literary energy outside his body, each in charge of a different area, and goes berserk.
Kang Shi: "..."
Kang Shi: "???"
Kang Shi: "!!!"
Look at the commander-in-chief who is even more eager and aggressive than Gongshu Wu, and then look at the gray-haired colleague beside him who can't wait to roll up his sleeves and use his literary skills to kill the enemy's central army.
Kang Shi belatedly realized that he had discovered something.
However, before he could ponder it, Xianyu Jian, who was seeing such a large-scale melee for the first time, asked him a question.
"Strategist, what should we do now?"
Kang Shi was inexplicably gratified to find that only Xianyu Jian, one of his most capable high-ranking combatants, was still awaiting orders.
He said, "Zigu, enter the battle and lead the troops!"
"W-Can this really work?" Xianyu Jian was terrified. He was a complete newcomer, an inexperienced greenhorn, and he was being given such an important role in his very first battle. If he messed it up, he would be held responsible to the death.
Kang Shi replied decisively: "Yes, you go!"
The enemy also has scholars and intellectuals, so they don't seem to be just simple lackeys. The power of [Scattered Stars] is enough to rival our own, which alone tells us that the forces behind these outlaws are well-prepared.
The "Literary Mind and Spiritual Words" [Scattered Like Stars] creates a special realm that is conducive to the "game" between literary minds and scholars.
The chessboard is the battlefield.
On the battlefield, soldiers are merely chess pieces.
Literary figures can use the "scattered stars" to deploy troops and employ military strategy and rhetoric to gradually erode the enemy's forces and expand the battlefield situation in their favor.
Ordinary soldiers are limited in the game, and powerful warriors are needed as the "generals" of both sides to hold the fort and play a decisive role in the battle at critical moments, as well as to boost the morale of the soldiers.
The morale of a single soldier may not matter, but the combined morale of thousands of soldiers can even kill a high-level martial arts master.
Warriors with courage, scholars with literary talent, and ordinary soldiers can all influence the outcome of a war; none of the three can be missing.
Xianyu Jian gritted his teeth.
He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general will certainly not fail the strategist's trust."
Snowflakes were falling heavily from the sky.
Seemingly gentle and harmless, but actually exuding a chilling and sinister aura.
It lands on the body and penetrates the skin.
A powerful sense of despondency seeps through the cracks in one's heart, reaching the most vulnerable corners of one's spirit.
A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood; a living hell on earth.
Countless wronged souls crawled out of the pool of blood.
He muttered that they should pay for their crimes in blood!
Give me back my life!
Give me back my life!
Give me back my life!!!
These were all ordinary people who had been beaten to death with carrying poles and hoes; only by killing them could their grain be plundered.
Screams echoed across the battlefield.
The unusual sight of snowflakes drew attention.
The three scholars from Shangnan, Tianhai, and Yiru who were accompanying the army couldn't help but mutter to themselves: "The River Magistrate, Lord Shen, is kind, lenient, and upright, so how come his subordinates are all so cunning? The literary aura contained in this 'snowflake' is far too poisonous..."
"Poison" and "yin" are not derogatory terms for literary scholars, but when it comes to military campaigns, one must consider the overall situation. The strategy is mostly defensive, or a combination of offense and defense, or slightly offensive. But there is no such pure offensive strategy, which is even more reckless than a martial artist!
Shao Chong even wanted to run over and take a piece.
Unfortunately, there are far too many stumbling blocks on the path.
This is his first time leading troops out of his home province, so he cannot act recklessly.
He caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and was furious.
He yelled, "How dare you cross the line again!"
These military achievements all belong to their family!
The owner of the twin swords ignored him completely, changing from white robes to red armor. Not far from the battlefield where Bai Su was active, Lü Jue, relying on his imposing physique, led a small squad of soldiers.
He led the way, wielding a broadsword that was sixty percent as tall as him, charging left and right.
Or they would raise their arms and grab the incoming weapons, using the power from their backs to their shoulders and arms to throw the weapons and their owners away, forming a human pyramid with the other bandits, while their guards and deputies provided support from both flanks.
Unlike Gong Shuwu and his group, whose attacks were so large and sweeping that heads and bodies flew everywhere, Shen Tang's group made much less noise, but their efficiency was in no way inferior to the two of them.
She immediately chose the burly man with the scarred face who was the leader.
The scarred, burly man also noticed a striking white figure in the chaotic crowd—a snow-white mule.
Although it is called a mule, its size is comparable to that of an ordinary warhorse, with strong and powerful hooves and a robust and sturdy body.
Despite lacking the heavy protective armor of a horse, it did not diminish its fierce and fearless spirit.
It bumps into anyone who comes.
It neither flinched nor dodged when swords, spears, and halberds were thrust at it.
Seeing that the boy riding the pathetic mule was after him, Scarface snorted coldly, drew his weapon, spurred his horse, and charged forward. He roared, "Pretty boy, prepare to die!"
An invisible shockwave exploded, causing blood to trickle from the ears and noses of the surrounding soldiers. The ambushers, who had been stunned by the chaotic killing, regained some of their senses. However, the soldiers outside the vicinity were still under Chu Yao's spell, going mad and mutilating themselves.
Shen Tang laughed and said, "Oh, the filial son has come to pay his respects?"
Scarface's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"court death!"
——————
"Qi Yuanliang, you're asking for death!"
(╰_╯)#
Residences near the official residence of the River Governor.
An uncontrollable roar of rage erupted from the beam, startling the cat, Su Shang, who let out a sharp cry, arching its back, bristling its tail, and hissing threateningly at the source of the sound. Just as Su Shang was about to jump down, a piece of jerky was tossed up.
Su Shang tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and grabbed the meat. He then lay down on the beam and began to happily gnaw on the jerky with his paws.
Qi Shan did this not only to appease her own cat, but also because she was worried that Qin Gongsu would get into trouble with the cat.
After dealing with Su Shang, he turned his attention to Qin Li.
Qin Gongsu did not give him a chance to speak.
He shouted, "That's wishful thinking!"
Qi Shan calmly retorted, "How is that wishful thinking?"
Qin Li was so angry that his head was practically steaming.
He settled his soldiers yesterday and received an invitation from Qi Shan today, hoping he would come over for a chat to discuss some matters. Qin Li sneered upon seeing the invitation. What kind of relationship could he possibly have with such a wicked person? This man is wicked; he'd better not keep anything to himself!
But Qin Li still came.
He wanted to see what Qi Shan was up to!
As a result, Qi Shan pretended to be poor and complained to him, and the sarcastic tone that came over Qin Li made him want to draw his sword.
At worst, a scholar's anger could lead to the deaths of two people!
Qi Shan's abnormal behavior did not last long.
Seeing that pleading poverty was ineffective, he spoke frankly and openly.
In Qin Li's view, this was a case of revealing one's true intentions.
In short, Qi Shan wanted to use the men Qin Li brought to dig waterways; if he wasn't willing, he could build reservoirs or dig ditches and canals. This impudent request was naturally rejected by Qin Li.
He calmed down for a moment, then sneered.
"Do you think we're all as easy to bully as Zhao Dayi?" The people of Tianhai had heard about Zhao Feng's life in He Yin.
It wasn't that Xu Jie and Wu Xian were big mouths, but rather that as the economy and people's livelihoods in Heyin recovered and exchanges with surrounding counties became more frequent, Zhao Feng's deeds spread widely among the common people—which farmer didn't worship the god who could cultivate more than 200 mu of land in a day?
No one in the Tianhai government office dared to discuss it.
But there was something different in his gaze toward Qin Li—Zhao Feng had followed Qin Li to seek refuge with Wu Xian. Their homeland had been destroyed, and they had wandered together with their families, supporting each other.
Qin Lili appears to have been born into royal nobility.
The martial arts expert he brought was so skilled in farming, yet he showed no arrogance whatsoever. What difference was there between him and a mud-covered peasant rolling in the fields? He shouldn't lead troops to fight enemies anymore; he should just stay in the rear and be a peaceful farmer.
If Zhao Feng is like this, then what about Qin Li?
Although Qin Li didn't care about these voices, it didn't mean that Qi Shan could bring them up openly.
Do you really think he's easy to bully?
Qi Shan replied, "I have discussed this matter with Duke Zhaode."
Qin Li categorically denied it: "Impossible!"
Qi Shan remained calm: "This action will benefit the common people, sparing them from the suffering of hunger and cold..."
Qin Li said, "Those are your He Yin commoners."
"If the reservoir is completed, the people of Heyin will benefit far more than just the people of Heyin, given how close the Heyin Tianhai is to the reservoir. This matter has already been entrusted to Xu Wenzhu to inform Duke Zhaode. If Luxia County had not suddenly requested assistance, construction would have started long ago, and perhaps it could have been completed in time for next year's spring planting."
Qin Li pursed his lips and remained silent.
Qi Shan was not surprised at all.
After all, Qin Li was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and was born into the royal family. Although he was not qualified to inherit the throne, his branch of the family was highly regarded and he lacked nothing.
Even during the years he spent cultivating with his hair intact, the son of a nobleman, who was high above and valued by the emperor, lived a life of exquisite comfort and carefree happiness.
Whether it was a year of plenty or a year of famine, the common people's food, clothing, and daily necessities were not affected. Even after the country was destroyed, he was well protected by people like Zhao Feng. He was also recruited as a confidant by Wu Xian.
How could they truly understand the catastrophic devastation that natural disasters and famines inflict on ordinary people! What utterly despicable martial arts pride!
Qi Shan's eyes suddenly darkened.
"When you're well-fed, pride is worthless!"
(￣ェ￣;)
Haha, the chapters I edited and blocked last night were all reverted this morning.
Do you guys remember the first episode where the old ghost drove a taxi in the underworld, just to catch one more glimpse of the prosperous world? That scene was highlighted in red...
The female ghost joined the team rescuing abducted children, saying something like "It's our duty to combat XX and protect children," and that was also highlighted in red...
The underworld lawyer's attack on the wicked grandmother who encouraged her granddaughter to commit suicide was also highlighted in red.
I don't want to delete or change these.
I'd rather be locked up in a dark room, damn it.
The whistleblower, haha.
P.S.: I've been catching up on the Records of the Three Kingdoms and taking notes lately. Sigh, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is still the best... Just organizing the notes for the Records of the Three Kingdoms is making my head spin.
(End of this chapter)
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