291: Chapter 291 Yang Tian Wants to Seek Refuge

To accelerate the growth of his underlings.

Chen Hu immediately ordered announcements to be posted across the two prefectures and eleven commanderies, initiating tax and grain refunds.

He had used this tactic many times before.

But the results were still incredibly effective.

By the time evening arrived, the number of his underlings had grown to 39.2 million.

Similarly, the news of Chen Hu capturing Chenchi Prefecture and Dalin Prefecture also began to spread.

Feilong Prefecture.

Prefecture City.

Currently, this place had already become the headquarters of the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Because the army was on the verge of spinning out of control, the Sect Leader of the Yellow Heaven Sect did not dare to remain hidden behind the scenes any longer.

Instead, he stepped out from the shadows to the forefront, personally serving as the commander of the Yellow Heaven Army.

Meanwhile, the original commander was demoted by him to a general of the Huang Division.

Currently, the Yellow Heaven Army had been reorganized.

It was divided into Four Divisions: Tian, Di, Xuan, and Huang.

The Tian Division had 100,000 men, the Di Division had 90,000 men, the Xuan Division had 80,000 men, and the Huang Division had 70,000 men.

A total army of 340,000 men.

Originally, Zhang Wentian, the Sect Leader of the Yellow Heaven Sect, was unwilling to let Huang Liao, the commander of the Yellow Heaven Army, command the Huang Division in order to seize military power.

But his prestige was simply too high.

If he demoted him all the way to the bottom, the generals and soldiers of the Yellow Heaven Army would not agree to it.

Helpless, he could only weaken Huang Liao's power as much as possible and reluctantly let him command the Huang Division.

High-level meeting room.

Zhang Tianwen sat high in the seat of honor.

This man was already over fifty years old, but his cultivation was extraordinary, having already reached the Late Stage of Blood Refining.

Sitting to the immediate left of Zhang Wentian was General Yan Ming, the commanding general of the Tian Division.

He was Zhang Wentian's absolute confidant.

Seated below General Yan Ming was Zhang Wentian's son, Zhang Yu, who served as General Yan Ming's deputy general.

Originally, Zhang Yu wanted to serve as the commanding general of one of the Four Divisions.

However, fearing gossip, and because Zhang Wentian also wanted someone to keep an eye on General Yan Ming, he was appointed as the deputy general instead.

The commanding general of the Di Division was named Xiao He; his cultivation was only at the Mid Organ-Refining Realm, but he was highly proficient in military formations.

The commander of the Xuan Division was named Yang Yan, who was a close confidant of Yang Tian.

Yang Tian and the Yellow Heaven Sect shared a cooperative relationship.

Before capturing Feilong Prefecture, the relationship between the two parties was harmonious, at least on the surface.

But now, they had subtly fallen out.

However, Zhang Wentian was also highly capable.

Taking advantage of the military reorganization, he pushed all members of the Yang family into the Xuan Division.

Even if Huang Liao resented him and was not of the same mind, he still firmly held 190,000 troops in his grasp.

In other words.

The current Yellow Heaven Army had already split into three factions.

Zhang Wentian spoke slowly, "I have just received news that Chen Hu has captured Chenchi Prefecture and Dalin Prefecture. Our Yellow Heaven Army rebelled even earlier than the Fierce Tiger Army, yet we are still spinning our wheels in Feilong Prefecture."

"I have gathered everyone this time to discuss attacking Taiyi, Tulong, and Jiangxia Prefectures!"

"Commander, this general volunteers to capture Taiyi Prefecture!" At this moment, Yang Yan stood up and said.

"Commander, this general also requests to attack Taiyi Prefecture!" General Yan Ming stood up immediately after.

Taiyi Prefecture possessed many mineral resources; this place had to be controlled by the Yellow Heaven Sect faction and absolutely could not be seized by the Yang faction.

"General Yan's courage is commendable. In that case, Taiyi Prefecture is entrusted to you!" Zhang Wentian completely ignored Yang Yan and spoke directly to General Yan Ming.

"Thank you, Commander. This subordinate accepts the command!" General Yan Ming immediately cupped his fists.

Yang Yan, however, did not feel disappointed. In fact, he had long known that Zhang Wentian would not entrust him with the task of attacking Taiyi Prefecture.

Next, Zhang Wentian assigned the attack on Tulong Prefecture to Xiao He.

He assigned the task of attacking Jiangxia Prefecture to Yang Yan.

As for the Huang Division led by Huang Liao, they were to stay behind and guard Feilong Prefecture.

Regarding this, Huang Liao did not show any dissatisfaction.

On the contrary, he readily accepted the command.

His achievements were already significant enough, and he was also eyed with suspicion by Zhang Wentian.

In the short term, it was impossible for Zhang Wentian to give him any opportunities to perform meritorious services.

Furthermore, his strength lay in training troops and fighting battles, not in martial arts.

Yet, the Yellow Heaven Sect happened to have many experts.

If not for considering the reactions of the lower-ranking generals and soldiers, he would have been dealt with by Zhang Wentian long ago.

Therefore, he could only obediently act according to Zhang Wentian's arrangements now.

If he were to act out too much, who knew if Zhang Wentian might just kill him in a fit of rage.

Thinking of this.

He found it somewhat laughable.

The Yellow Heaven Army had only captured a single prefecture, yet internal intrigue had already begun.

Thus, he did not think highly of the Yellow Heaven Army's prospects.

Instead, he thought quite highly of the Fierce Tiger Army.

Of course, he was even more curious about where those powerful soldiers under the Fierce Tiger Army's command had actually come from.

Meanwhile.

Inside a small town manor dozens of miles away from Lingzhou.

An advisor delivered the latest news of the Fierce Tiger Army to Yang Tian.

After reading it.

Yang Tian fell silent for a moment, then asked the advisor beside him, "Mr. Wu, the Fierce Tiger Army has captured Chenchi Prefecture and Dalin Prefecture so quickly. Can we still compete with them within Lingzhou?"

Mr. Wu also fell silent. After a long while, he slowly uttered two words: "Very difficult."

"Then what is your suggestion, Mr. Wu?" Yang Tian asked again.

Mr. Wu pondered slightly, "Your Highness, why not defect to the Fierce Tiger Army?"

Hearing Mr. Wu's suggestion, Yang Tian did not get angry but instead asked, "Why?"

Mr. Wu said, "News has come from the palace that Director General Zhuge Rongrong took two Liangang Realm experts to assassinate Chen Hu but returned in defeat, with one of the Liangang Realm experts losing an arm. Director General Zhuge Rongrong is the second most powerful expert in the Great Yong Kingdom. With the assistance of two in the Early Stage of the Liangang Realm, any Late Stage of Qi Refining would be no match for her.

Yet she still lost, which indicates that Chen Hu has more than two experts at the Late Stage of Qi Refining by his side!

Coupled with those terrifyingly strong soldiers under his command, if we face him, we stand absolutely no chance of victory.

Isn't Princess Xian'er supposed to marry Chen Hu? Why don't we strengthen our ties through marriage and directly defect to him?"

"Mr. Wu's analysis makes sense!"

Yang Tian nodded, "However, even if I agree, my mother and sister probably won't!"

To be honest, the Great Feng Kingdom has been destroyed for nearly a thousand years.

His sense of identity as a so-called member of the imperial family was not very high.

But everyone around him was working hard to restore the kingdom, and he could not bear to disappoint them.

That was why he took on this heavy responsibility.

But he felt very tired.

"Indeed!"

Mr. Wu said with some sighing. He had watched Yang Tian grow up and knew his personality inside out; Yang Tian was actually not as keen on restoring the kingdom as others imagined.

"I'll go talk to my mother!"

After a brief silence, Yang Tian made a decision.

Before long.

Yang Tian arrived at a quiet and elegant courtyard within the manor.

"Mother, your child greets you!"

Yang Tian said as he bowed.

"Tian'er, come in."

Yang Tian pushed the door open and stepped into the courtyard.

He then saw a dignified, beautiful, and noble-looking young woman in the hall.

After paying his respects once more.

Yang Tian took a seat.

"Tian'er, have you come to find your mother today for some important matter?"

Lady Yang asked gently.

"Mother, I have something I would like to discuss with you!" Yang Tian hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I wish to lead our Yang family to defect to the Fierce Tiger Army!"

Hearing this, Lady Yang's expression changed drastically, "Tian'er, you are being foolish! Our Yang family has worked so hard for so many years to restore our kingdom, how can we submit to others?!"

"Yes, we have worked hard for so many years, yet we have never succeeded!"

Yang Tian said calmly, "Mother, how many more years do you think we must strive before we can succeed?"