404: Find an opportunity to kill this guy (4K for monthly ticket)

“Active offense?”

As soon as these words were uttered, the meeting hall instantly erupted in an uproar.

Several Councilors, Guards, and Fushi’s eyelids twitched, unable to conceal the shock on their Faces.

One must know, the Seal of the Ten Thousand Mountains had not yet been lifted, and when the Devils first invaded, the former Town Demon Envoy was killed, the Fa Shan Army was defeated, more than half of the twelve armies were lost, and sixteen prefectures in the south directly lost half their number. The Fa Shan Army, along with the local militia, lost over two hundred thousand soldiers on the battlefield, and the defensive line was on the verge of collapse.

Currently, defense was already strenuous enough, let alone offense. Moreover, now that the Seal of the Ten Thousand Mountains had been completely lifted, the Ten Fiends Devils were likely to advance north on a large scale. The most important thing at present should be to organize the army, reinforce the defensive line, and prepare countermeasures.

Although the Ninth Mountain Army was now strong and well-equipped, taking the initiative to attack was tantamount to playing with fire, almost a fantasy!

“This…”

Gao Yu’s pupils constricted, his voice filled with surprise. He exchanged glances with Councilor General Fan Chou opposite him, and the South City Guard and others to his right, all seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

Before they could calm their hearts, they heard Cloud Skyborn continue with his shocking words, “Not just my Ninth Mountain, but I fear that at that time, one action will affect the whole. All the armies on the front line will make a move, and a great battle will occur. There is no chance of losing this battle; once we fail, most of Shu Land will fall, and Jinguancheng will bear the brunt. Therefore, this time there is no retreat. The General called everyone here to gather the strength of the entire city, and even the forces that can be assembled from all prefectures of the Dao, to prepare for this war. Do you all understand?”

If the previous words were merely a stone thrown into a calm lake, then these words directly stirred up huge waves on the lake.

Everyone present could no longer sit still.

“Is Ninth Zhonglang planning to take the initiative to attack and fight to the death with the Devils? Isn’t this too…”

Among the crowd, West City Guard Liao Qingshan’s expression was solemn, his heart churning. He sat up straight and upright, originally wanting to say whether this decision was too risky, but he hesitated.

Seeing this, Cloud Skyborn knew he was considering the General and dared not speak loudly. “Liao Guard, please speak your mind. This discussion is with all of you; there’s no need to hold back. The General also means this.”

Liao Qingshan nodded, his worry hard to conceal. He said, “I want to say, isn’t this decision too risky? You must know that the Fushi’s power has been weakened repeatedly, and even the army’s structure has been largely crippled, while the Devil’s Seal has been lifted, and they are at their peak. The soldiers led by Ninth Zhonglang are now the stabilizing force in the hearts of the city’s common people. If we actively send troops, casualties are hard to predict, and it will cause unrest. I fear the rear will be unstable. Why not proceed slowly, with defense as the primary strategy? This is a more stable approach!”

“That’s just like boiling a frog in warm water, and we are that frog! Everyone here understands that our Fushi’s power is at a disadvantage compared to the Ten Thousand Mountains Devils. If we wait for the Devils to gather their strength and attack, we might not even have a chance to resist then; we would collapse at the first touch. This is not alarmist talk, but a very likely fact.”

“As for matters in the rear, there’s no need to worry for now. The General has already ordered me to guard the rear, coordinate with various forces, ensure stability in the rear, and provide support for the front-line army.”

His tone was steady, already possessing the demeanor of a general. His gaze fell upon the Faces of the others, giving them a sense of conviction.

And as he finished speaking, Liu Qing, opposite him, placed his hands on the armrests of his chair and spoke with sternness,

“By order of my General, this expedition will be led by this Piaoji. My Divine Might Army’s ten thousand iron cavalry will depart in a few days and rush to the battlefield. This time, we will penetrate deep into the Devil’s territory, which is extremely dangerous, so…” He said, his leopard-like eyes widening, a brilliant divine light shining, as he looked at the Changshi in charge of the Weapon Repository and the Director coordinating with the ten divisions of each mountain.

“This Piaoji needs permission to mobilize weapons, Medicinal Pills, and talismans from the Fushi’s Weapon Repository. Additionally, I need the full cooperation of the ten divisions of each mountain to forge stronger armor, sharper blades, select the finest exotic warhorses, and a sufficient number of Fashan Flags enhanced with Formations.”

“Changshi Yang, Director Wu.”

“Your subordinate is here!” The two immediately rose from their chairs, bowing slightly and cupping their hands towards each other.

“What I said, do you two have any objections?” Liu Qing asked, his gaze like an eagle.

“Your subordinate has received the order and will immediately notify the ten divisions of each mountain to fully comply with the Piaoji General’s requirements for allocation.” Director Wu, a middle-aged man with a mustache and thin armor, cupped his fists and responded.

Then, Liu Qing’s gaze shifted, falling upon Changshi Yang, who was in charge of the Fushi’s Weapon Repository. The other party was an old general who looked to be in his sixties, and he appeared somewhat troubled.

Seeing his expression, Liu Qing frowned slightly, and the Changshi quickly spoke,

“Replying to Cavalry General Liu, the Weapon Repository authority can be used by the General, but I fear it will disappoint the Piaoji. Currently, within the Weapon Repository, aside from the various Dao soldiers and Puppets remaining from the Seal, which are still sufficient, consumable resources such as Medicinal Pills and talismans are running low. Firstly, the long-standing Devil incursions on both fronts in Shu Land have led to enormous consumption of these resources, and years of accumulated reserves can hardly bear such a rate of consumption. Secondly, the military supplies provided by the Imperial Court have gradually decreased, and the Fushi’s own alchemists and talisman masters are unable to meet such massive consumption.”

As he spoke, he sighed slightly.

Upon hearing this, everyone raised their eyebrows, then fell silent. What he said was indeed true; a war consumes a terrifying amount of resources, especially given the complex situation in Shu Land, where both the Ten Thousand Mountains and the Eight Divisions Demon Kingdom were causing trouble. The most crucial point was that the Imperial Court had not provided sufficient military supplies, causing the Fushi to now be somewhat stretched thin.

And this situation might worsen in the future, because their General had openly defied the Imperial Court at Tianxiong Pass, and it was still unknown what the Imperial Court’s attitude would be. Although the Zhenmo General had spoken, it was unlikely to be good.

However, this was not an insurmountable problem!

“No matter. Bringing out those sealed Dao soldiers and war Puppets is the main thing. As for basic Medicinal Pills and talismans, this Piaoji will convey the General’s message to the various Families in the city, asking them to help acquire a sufficient amount.” Liu Qing slowly said.

What he wanted were the Dao soldiers and the extremely destructive war Puppets, activated by Mohist Mechanical Engineering, that had been collected and sealed in the Weapon Repository over the years. As for consumables like Medicinal Pills and talismans, he would acquire them from the various markets in the city. These shops were basically controlled by the major Families in the city, and he only needed to convey the General’s message, and he believed those Families would give him Face.

“Yes!” Changshi Yang’s expression softened, and he responded.

“You two, please sit down!”

The two nodded and returned to their seats.

At this moment, Liu Qing turned his gaze to Lu Ming, who was on the side opposite him. The others also looked at this Right Route Divine Might Piaoji General.

Lu Ming understood, and his gaze slowly shifted as he began to speak, “This Piaoji has received the General’s order to lead troops to construct defensive works and establish a defensive line outside Jinguancheng. This requires a large number of personnel, and the matter is of great importance.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the four Fushi’s at the end of the table: Guo, Sun, Zhang, and Ji.

“This will require the trouble of the four Fushi’s!”

Upon hearing this, the four immediately rose, bowed forward, and awaited orders.

The Fushi of East City took the lead and said, “Please instruct, General Lu!”

Lu Ming pondered, “After you four return, issue a document tomorrow morning, based on the household registration in the yamen, to conscript a large number of laborers and artisans from the city and the counties outside the prefecture, using a half-corvee, half-wage system. Additionally, you should be proficient in coordinating the logistics, food, and transportation for these people. In short, this Piaoji needs you to conscript enough personnel to start work as quickly as possible.”

“This Piaoji will arrange for his subordinates to assist you in completing this matter and will explain some specific details.”

“Have you all understood?”

“Your subordinate understands.” The four Fushi’s, Guo, Sun, Zhang, and Ji, bowed their heads in response, a hint of nervousness showing beneath their lowered brows. It seemed they were getting serious.

They could imagine the importance of this battle; if it failed, the consequences would be unimaginable. Their hearts couldn't help but become tense, and even their heartbeats quickened.

“Sit down!”

Lu Ming finished giving his instructions.

The atmosphere also became tense and murderous with each word spoken by the few individuals.

The air fell silent for a brief moment. Everyone present at the meeting naturally understood that the Ninth Mountain had made up its mind, and the three Piaoji Commanders were each fulfilling their duties, having formulated their respective plans.

In the air, a sense of impending storm could be felt, and everyone’s mood became somewhat solemn.

Finally, Cloud Skyborn broke the silence, “Alright, we’re not going to our deaths. My General has his own profound intentions.”

Then, his gaze shifted, looking at the others,

“Everyone, don’t just stand there. This battle has already begun, it’s time to get busy!”

As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and the door to the first-floor hall burst open.

Those present understood and began to stand up one after another.

“Then, we subordinates will take our leave first.”

The four city Fushi’s rose and bowed to the ones at the head, then prepared to turn and leave.

Changshi Yang and Director Wu did so almost simultaneously.

Just as the few were about to turn back, a faint voice entered everyone’s ears, “Today’s meeting is a military secret. The General does not wish for this matter to be mentioned by outsiders. If anyone spreads it, they should be careful.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

The few who were leaving were not annoyed by these words; it was natural. This was a matter of great importance, and spreading such information could cost them their heads. No one would let it slide.

Among them, Guo Lixiong, the Fushi of South City, felt his heart skip a beat, always sensing that the person was referring to him. After all, his rebellious son had been expelled from the Ninth Mountain precisely because of his big mouth, saying things he shouldn’t have.

He inwardly warned himself to control his mouth, and also decided to lock up his rebellious son again after returning home.

Before long, one by one, people left the hall.

The last to leave were Gao Yu and General Fan Chou, the two Councilors. They were usually responsible for other Fushi affairs and had discussed and confirmed some matters again with Cloud Skyborn and the other two. As they left, some frowned, others worried.

An hour later, only Cloud Skyborn, Liu Qing, and Lu Ming remained, sitting opposite each other in the first-floor hall.

The door was open. After everyone had left, the three of them fell silent, quietly watching the swirling snow outside the door and listening to the chaotic neighing of horses.

At some point, Liu Qing spoke in a muffled voice, “They all think the General is still at Ninth Mountain presiding over the overall situation. We don’t know if what we’re doing is right or wrong.”

“This is what the General instructed us to do. It’s just that the General isn’t by our side, and we lack his courage and boldness. However, at present, the three of us must quickly grow stronger and bear the burden of Ninth Mountain. No matter what risks we take, we must bring the General back!” Cloud Skyborn’s tone was resolute, his gaze firm.

“Old Yun is right!” Lu Ming slapped the armrest of his chair, then looked at Liu Qing with his large eyes, “Old Liu, when do you plan to dispatch the troops?”

“As soon as possible, naturally. It’s just that our brothers have been Cultivating at General Mountain for the past month or so, and many have achieved Breakthroughs, advancing further in their Martial Dao. Among them, several old subordinates are currently attempting to Breakthrough to the Heavenly Gate. Their original weapons and armor are no longer suitable and need to be re-forged, otherwise they won’t be able to exert their full strength. Moreover, going to the front lines and deep into the Devil’s territory is extremely dangerous. If they lose their lives to the Devils due to such minor issues, it would truly be worthless.”

“It’s a pity, if only we had more time, the overall strength of my Ninth Mountain would increase significantly, and those old subordinates might all Breakthrough to the Heavenly Gate.”

The people Liu Qing mentioned were all their old soldiers, who had survived from the previous Zhonglang General to the present. Some were previously in Qi Refining, others in Body Profound, having survived battles and now advancing rapidly, currently attempting to Breakthrough to the Heavenly Gate.

Cloud Skyborn and Lu Ming were aware of these circumstances. Cloud Skyborn’s eyes suddenly flickered,

“Don’t rush, have you forgotten?”

“The General left us tens of thousands of soldiers’ resources!”

“Those hundreds of Heavenly Gate Devil corpses!”

“Distribute this flesh and blood to the soldiers to quickly improve their strength. Keep a portion of the Devil bones for Lu Ming; they will be of great use for his Formations. And give a portion of the Devil bones and Devil hides/scales to the various mountain blade and halberd divisions, so they can use these Devil Materials to quickly forge the weapons and armor you’ll need for front-line combat.”

“Killing three birds with one stone!”

“I also thought of this, but the General didn’t give the order.” Liu Qing was somewhat rigid.

Cloud Skyborn shook his head helplessly, “The General had Mr. Gongsun convey that we should act expediently. If we’re still agonizing over this at such a critical juncture, the General would scold us for being as stupid as pigs if he knew.”

“True, let’s do it this way!”

Soon, the three reached a consensus.

The flesh and blood of hundreds of Heavenly Gate Devils, such a massive amount of resources, seemed incredibly precious at this critical juncture.

Good steel must be used on the cutting edge. With these things as a boost, the Ninth Mountain’s strength could rise significantly in a short period!

Cloud Skyborn and the other two suddenly recalled the woman in the fluttering red robes, valiant and spirited, who had left that afternoon. Their hearts were filled with admiration.

After the General’s mishap, this woman proactively took on the heavy responsibility, settling tens of thousands of local soldiers and escorting so much precious Devil flesh and blood back to Jinguancheng, with no personal gain in mind. This reciprocity solved many problems for the Ninth Mountain.

Thus, the three ascended to the peak of Ninth Mountain.

The next day at dawn, as the morning bell rang, in the four Fushi’s yamen, horses carrying yamen runners galloped through the streets and alleys. Doors were knocked upon, and notices were posted.

Jinguancheng quickly became bustling!

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in the Ten Thousand Mountains, in the Yin Mountain region, about a hundred li south of the original desolate mountain, there was a Water Curtain Cave behind a stream.

Suddenly, three splashes of water erupted from the stream’s waterfall. Then, three figures of extraordinary aura condensed from the three water splashes, stepping into the Water Curtain Cave behind them.

“Brother Chen, indeed, following your method, we saw that boat appear in the underground river beneath the place we were staying before. That guy is still tracking us.”

After the three appeared, they saw Chen Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on a green stone. Their expressions sharpened as they spoke.

On the green stone, Chen Yuan opened his eyes, a cold light shooting out three feet, exceptionally chilling.

“Courtesy before force. Since this thing doesn’t follow the rules, then we’ll find an opportunity to kill it!” (End of Chapter)