Delong

Chapter 576 Sending Wu Xing (26)

Zhang Xing made no mistakes.

Or rather, Bai Hengqiu's expectation that he could make Zhang Xing lose his judgment with such a simple trick was itself a sign of desperation.

As February drew to a close, the grass grew tall and the birds sang. The Chulong Army retreated for three days and crossed Wuguan Pass directly.

His resolute stance made everyone realize that Bai Hengqiu was almost certainly not going to force the enemy into a decisive battle. Furthermore, some astute generals noticed that the number of cooking fires in the Chulong Army was steadily increasing, which, whether true or not, indicated that the Chulong Army was now in a position of considerable strength. At this point, the morale of the Guanzhong Army began to waver, and many generals openly questioned how to deal with Xu Shiying and whether Chang'an would fall.
Bai Hengqiu replied that the news was false; Xu Shiying hadn't come because he was using spies to stall Zhang Xing.

Everyone could only accept this on the surface, but some people inside clearly dared not believe it... There were people who tried to escape that day, but the terrain of Wuguan Road blocked the way from both the front and the back. When Sun Shunde of the rear army slashed down with his sword, no one dared to escape in secret anymore.

However, this did not mean that morale could be stabilized, especially since Zhang Xing retreated another thirty li on February 24th, reaching outside Wuguan Pass. At this point, people began to wonder: once outside Wuguan Pass, is Bai Hengqiu still a match for Zhang Xing? It's not like they haven't fought outside Wuguan Pass before.

But Bai Hengqiu still resolutely stepped out of Wuguan.

So Zhang Xing retreated another forty li and came directly to the other end of Wuguan Road, which is within the territory of Xiyang County, which is under the jurisdiction of Nanyang.

This time, Bai Hengqiu finally hesitated. The pressure from both inside and outside was mounting… If they went any further, Zhang Xing would continue to retreat—what to do? If they went any further, reaching open terrain, the troops would begin to scatter—what to do? If they went any further, Xu Shiying and Xiong Bonan would discover the weakness of Guanzhong and come directly—what then? Even Li Ding might have already moved south! If they went any further, and Zhang Xing truly stopped moving, and their own and Chong He's fighting strength returned to that of ordinary Grandmasters—what if they couldn't win?
But on the 26th, the Kansai army, having no other choice, continued its eastward advance—it could not be content without fighting this battle.

This time, Zhang Xing did not retreat. The entire Chulong Army was prepared, the patrol cavalry were dispatched, and breakfast for each camp was delayed by one hour. All meat and fresh noodles were put down, and the men and horses had to eat their fill. Then, after the meal, the entire army put on their armor in batches and waited for battle.

At noon, the two sides were 25 li apart. The patrol reported that after the Guanzhong army discovered that the Chulong army was no longer retreating, they were no longer marching at a long distance but had changed to a state of combat readiness. The entire army was eating dry rations and putting on armor, and they would probably launch a direct attack in the afternoon.

"Could we launch a counter-offensive and catch them off guard?" Given the situation, the Chulong Army naturally held its routine forward meeting, and Liu Heihuang almost always offered the suggestion first. "While they're eating and putting on their armor, let the White Riders, all the cultivation experts, and all the cavalry go together!"

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” another army commander, Kan Leng, immediately objected. “A surprise attack would only lead to trouble… Since we’ve already calculated that we’re not afraid of those two Grandmasters here, let’s form a proper battle formation and launch a counterattack. We can win! Why take such a risk?!”

“That’s right.” Shan Tonghai also disagreed with launching a surprise attack. “A surprise attack might succeed, but staying here would be like waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out. Besides, the biggest problem with the Kansai Army right now is the lack of morale among their mid-level officers. If we don’t engage in full-scale combat and let them see the situation, we won’t be able to take advantage of that.”

Once they got to this point, Liu Heihuang shut up.

But Niu Da added, "If we stay here, it will take them another hour or two to come and meet us. If we can hold out for another two hours, the enemy will have no choice but to retreat. We will win without even winning! If their troops are scattered, we can take the opportunity to pursue them and secure the overall victory!"

Since Niu Da had spoken, everyone naturally looked at the other leader, Wu Jingfeng, but the latter just lowered his head and remained silent. Everyone knew the reason and didn't say anything.

Zhang Xing then went to see Cheng Zhili.

Seeing this, Cheng Zhili readily agreed: "I will follow the chief's arrangements."

Zhang Xing nodded, then looked at the newly surrendered man, Si Qinghe. This man had clearly accepted Zhang Xing's signed surrender letter, and as the chief, everyone had to acknowledge him!
Si Qinghe was silent for a moment, then replied seriously: "I think the two leaders are absolutely right. The reason Bai Hengqiu asked for battle was because he couldn't hold on any longer. We don't need to take risks with them... A noble person doesn't sit under a dangerous roof. We'll just wait for them here."

Zhang Xing nodded in agreement, then shook his head again: "It's right to stay here and wait for them to tire themselves out, but we can't expect some rich kid to be so careless. Otherwise, why not continue to retreat? The reason we're staying here to wait for them to come and fight is to show both armies that we're not afraid of their two Grandmasters. As long as we can hold our own against them until nightfall... their last pillar will collapse, their morale will be hard to maintain, and we can then launch a counterattack. If you ask me, even Bai Hengqiu and Chonghe understand this in their hearts, but they just can't get over it. If we fight them once and make them stumble, they might lose heart."

Si Qinghe was about to agree, but then swallowed his words, because Cheng Zhili had already nodded first: "That's exactly the point."

The others nodded in agreement.
"Wu Dalang." Seeing that they had reached a consensus, Zhang Xing turned to look at Wu Jingfeng. "Are you still going to stop your master?"

Wu Jingfeng said with difficulty, "We have to give it a try."

“It was my idea to stop you at first, and now there’s no reason not to let you go.” Zhang Xing also sighed. “But Wu Dalang, you must remember one thing… Today is different from before. If the two Grandmasters are determined to attack, we must fight with all our might. You must come back to fight.”

Wu Dalang understood what the other person meant, but he still nodded: "Of course."

Once the plan was decided, the clerks and soldiers gathered and formulated some simple plans—some to refuse to leave the camp and hold it, some to launch a counterattack and block the mountain pass, and some to line up outside the camp and wait.

Then, after passing through Shan Tonghai, Niu Da, and Cheng Zhili, the conversation turned to Zhang Xing.

Soon, patrols returned frequently, bringing back the message. The Guanzhong army indeed abandoned its baggage and marched towards the Chulong army's main camp, though not at a rapid pace. Therefore, Zhang Xing agreed to Shan Tonghai's suggestion, and the entire army marched out of the camp and formed ranks.

However, the Kansai army still demonstrated a high level of military skill during the march. They initially marched together as a whole, then gradually increased their speed and distance from one end to the other, thus forming waves of attack while ensuring the physical strength of each unit. Under these circumstances, organized Kansai cavalry units soon approached the Chulong army camp.

Zhang Xing did not interfere with the command, and Shan Tonghai directly ordered Liu Heihuang to command the cavalry to meet the enemy and ensure that the rear formation was in place. Thus, the two cavalry forces first fought on the side of the Dan River.

To be fair, this battle was similar to the one in Hanoi. The average quality of the Chulong Army cavalry was still worse. However, they had more men at the beginning, so they not only did not lose ground, but also used the terrain of Wuguan Road to drive the cavalry back seven or eight miles. But soon, as the Guanzhong Army's reinforcements arrived, along with infantry in formation, the cavalry battalions dared not linger and retreated together.

Liu Heihuang himself went directly to Zhang Xing under his command to inform him of the military situation.

"Did they stop chasing us because they were hastily regrouping ahead?" Zhang Xing asked before the other could speak. "What kind of formation are they in?"

“I guess the cavalry are in front, and the infantry are behind,” Liu Heihuang blurted out. “I see.”

"Are you planning to flank us with your cavalry as soon as you leave Wuguan Pass, or are you preparing for a frontal assault?" Zhang Xing pressed for an answer.

“I think they want to launch a direct attack on us,” Liu Heihuang said, panting heavily. “They’re short on time; trying to defeat us by flanking us from both sides might not be enough…”

“It doesn’t matter.” Zhang Xing thought for a moment, then turned to Shan Tonghai beside him and gave the order. “Since they’re in this formation and they’ve come so fast, I say, don’t bother with the defensive formation. Let’s use the second plan and just go straight for them! All the cavalry will follow behind the Ta Bai cavalry, taking the main road in the middle, pressing down on the Dan River! The infantry will press down on the right foothills and advance! You will still be the overall commander of the rear army, with Niu Da on the right flank and Cheng Zhili replacing Wu Jingfeng to lead a few battalions on the left flank from the other side of the Dan River! This way, the rear army can also form a formation at will.”

Shan Tonghai naturally wouldn't question such a battlefield order at this time. He responded and quickly went to the rear to deploy troops.

Within a quarter of an hour, the White Cavalry, protecting Zhang Xing's red banner with the character "黜" (dismissal), moved first. The first battalion commander on the right wing was none other than Kan Leng, whose troops pressed against the foothills in a tight formation, advancing shoulder to shoulder with the White Cavalry. Wang Xiongdan followed closely behind, Niu Da personally led his troops in the third position, while Liu Heihuang led the cavalry that had just retreated, slung them at the back, and hurriedly led his own battalion to catch up with Zhang Xing's banner.

Cheng Zhili was a step too late. He crossed the river via the pontoon bridge sheltered by the camp and led Wu Dalang's battalion to form ranks on the south bank of the Dan River.

Soon, the other battalions and units followed suit under Shan Tonghai's command.

The three armies surged forward, without using any special techniques or making any rousing speeches. They simply advanced side by side along the Wuguan Road, which they had repeatedly traversed before. Before they had gone two miles, the thunder of hooves came from the opposite direction. It was the Guanzhong Army's cavalry, led by Liu Yangji, who had finished their preparations and were charging out again.

When Liu Yangji saw the tightly packed formation of the Chulong Army, he was initially startled, but he immediately realized that this was a narrow encounter. If it were a discussion based on ordinary military strategy, one side would surely win a great victory and the other would suffer a great defeat. However, the one in front of him was a Grandmaster and several other Grandmasters personally leading the White Cavalry. He dared not confront them head-on. Instead, he gritted his teeth and ordered his armored cavalry to advance and pounce on Kan Leng along the foothills!

Upon first contact, this self-proclaimed competent general realized that things were not going well—Kan Leng's battalion was mostly heavily armored and armed with long spears, and the foothills were covered with shrubs in the spring, making the terrain rugged. How could the armored cavalry easily break through?
The White Cavalry was indeed stronger, but it was more of an open strategy than a true tactic. It was simply a matter of responding to the fact that the Kansai army was led by cavalry in the front, and it was a straightforward formation in the current situation.

Faced with this situation, Liu Yangji could only quickly tighten his troops to avoid rapid engagement, which resulted in the space in front of the battle lines being rapidly compressed.

However, Bai Hengqiu soon noticed the predicament of the cavalry at the front. He immediately came from the rear, and the familiar chessboard was laid out from both the sky and the earth. The armored cavalry were in the middle, which was like adding wings to a tiger. Although they could not easily ignore the previous predicament, it greatly improved the situation. Without hesitation, they used the most common cavalry charge tactic in Guanzhong. Each cavalry unit had one-third of the brave warriors in front to charge into the enemy lines, and the other two-thirds to provide support. As long as they could break through the enemy's formation without hesitation, it would be easy to cause the enemy's organized collapse at very low cost.

Of course, after the opponent unleashed their Grandmaster-level power, Zhang Xing was only slightly delayed. After verifying that the opponent's power was indeed much weaker than that of Wuguan, he responded without hesitation.

Qin Bao immediately headed to the right flank, and many of the White Cavalry followed, infiltrating the right flank formation. Then, even though it was mid-spring afternoon, white mist rose up, covering everything from the Dan River to the foothills on the right.

This time, Bai Hengqiu, who was definitely an old rival, immediately realized the core problem on the battlefield—the battle line was too narrow.

The Wuguan Road, bisected by the Dan River, is a flat avenue of two to three hundred paces, which is certainly sufficient for a passage. But what about the fifty to sixty thousand troops on each side, arrayed in battle formation? With the gentle slopes on both sides, the road is only about a mile or two wide, making it impossible for the armies to maneuver effectively.

At the same time, the range of a Grandmaster or multiple Grandmasters forming an array can often easily cover this area.

This is why the battle at Wuguan Pass turned into a symbolic fight between Zhang Xing's Ta Bai cavalry and Bai Hengqiu... Small groups of troops couldn't go around or hide in the mountains, because both sides' armies were lined up in waves behind each other in the passageway.

Besides, there was another critical problem on the battlefield: Bai Hengqiu could clearly sense that after the opponent manifested, the power of his true energy was actually comparable to his own! This was not to say that the opponent was inferior to him, but that the opponent could easily leave room for maneuver, which was not a good sign, but it was something that was expected.

However, Bai Hengqiu still has another major advantage this time, which is also the key to this battle between the two sides, but he has not yet used it.

"Master, do you know what Zhang Xing said about you?" Just as the two Grandmasters of the two armies manifested themselves, Wu Jingfeng was making a final attempt in the distant foothills on the other side of Danshui.

Chonghe sat on a wooden stump, carrying his blue cloth bundle on his back, his hands clasped together in silence.

“He said that you and Sima Zheng are actually quite similar,” Wu Jingfeng sighed. “Sima Zheng claims to defy fate, yet his actions are as if he were obeying it; while you, Master, claim to be following fate, yet your actions are as if you were defying it.”

Chonghe's expression finally brightened, then he chuckled: "What you said actually makes some sense... But what about him? Did he say anything about himself?"

Wu Jingfeng was speechless.

"It's alright, I'll go ask him in person." Chonghe said with a smile, getting up as he stood up.

Helpless, Wu Jingfeng quickly grabbed the other's blue cloth bundle again, blurting out without thinking, "Master, it's fine if you lose this time, but what if you win?!"

These words, though seemingly incoherent, were nonetheless sincere and earnest. Even Chonghe, who had long been aware of the situation, was momentarily stunned. He glanced at his disciple, then sighed inwardly. Suddenly, the true energy surrounding the blue cloth wrapped around his back surged, as if it had grown ten times larger out of thin air. It turned around and first pressed Wu Dalang down, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground. Then, the four corners of the cloth opened up, completely binding the other party.

Immediately, Chonghe, all alone and empty-handed, jumped into the road ahead.

Halfway up the jump, still in mid-air, the immense Three Radiance True Qi was fully displayed, as if a golden cloud had swept across the sky.

When Jin Yun touched the chessboard, it immediately shone brightly. It then fell to the ground, and the chessboard on the ground was as sharp as golden hooks and iron strokes. From a distance, it looked as if some deity had personally drawn the chessboard on the ground.

Even more remarkably, the things manifested by the Kansai Army practitioners drawn by the chessboard were twice as many as before.

Zhang Xing dared not be negligent and immediately exerted all his strength to cover and mobilize all the cultivators in his army. In an instant, the fog thickened, obscuring all other outward manifestations, and most of the valley was covered by that tangible fog.

The Kansai army, using the countless manifestations of true energy from the chessboard, fell into the mist and were surprisingly bewildered.

To be fair, at this point in the battle, it seemed to have little to do with ordinary soldiers. In reality, the cultivators of both armies were indeed striving to converge on the front. As expected, or rather, as Zhang Xing had already tested and weighed the situation and calculated, he, a Grandmaster who had reached the threshold and whose most obvious manifestation was the increase in strength, along with two veteran Grandmasters and a sufficient number of White Riders, were enough to fight against the enemy.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have stopped here.

Even though both sides claimed to have profound cultivation, they both noticed a strange and helpless situation: neither the chessboard on the ground of the Guanxi Army nor the white mist of the Chulong Army occupied most of the valley, leaving the other side untouched—this was because the Dan Shui blocked everything.

This river, stretching for eight hundred miles, shaped the Wuguan Pass. Throughout history, even during the ancient times when hundreds of tribes vied for supremacy, there have been legends of wise men governing the Danjiang River. The river flows smoothly, the channel is deep, and the banks are flat. Yet now, even after the three Grandmasters and two Grandmasters from both sides have exerted their full strength, they have failed to cross this boundary.

Interestingly, after the thick fog had lingered for about half an hour, Cheng Zhili led Wu Jingfeng's main camp to the battlefield from the other side of Danshui.

Bai Hengqiu launched an attack immediately, and chess pieces fell one after another on the chessboard in the sky... Cheng Zhili's battalion was simply unable to resist. Even though he had ordered the entire army to disperse before entering the battlefield, they could only retreat in a sorry state after suffering more than a hundred casualties.

This scene appears to demonstrate the superiority of the Kansai Army.

Zhang Xing, who was in the mist, also noticed this. He did not act immediately, but instead fought against the two grandmasters while slowly probing... At first, the huge gray-white dragon wings formed by the icy true energy accidentally landed on the river while blocking the chess pieces. Then, the icy true energy pressed down on the river surface and rolled into the sky to attack. He soon realized that although the river was deep and difficult to cross, it was still possible to freeze only the surface.

Without hesitation, he suddenly took advantage of the white mist to personally unleash a large amount of icy true energy into the Danshui River, and immediately a thick layer of ice appeared.

Bai Hengqiu immediately sensed something was wrong. The chess pieces above his head rained down into the river, quickly breaking through the ice and shattering the edges.

But at this moment, Yuchi Rong had already taken the lead, leading a team of White Knights to rush onto the ice bridge on the river without regard for anything else... Several White Knights lost their footing and slid directly into the river, but almost immediately, white mist spread over them, and when the chess pieces were placed again, black water calmly rose up from the white mist to block them.

Immediately, the white mist continued to roll along the left-wing road and foothills, clearly indicating that a well-organized white cavalry unit had crossed over.

Cheng Zhili was a shrewd man. Seeing this, he no longer hesitated and urged the entire army to advance again... The army rumbled and, under the cover of the white fog, quickly passed through the battle area and headed straight ahead.

Although we don’t know what the point of doing this is right now, having an extra enemy force directly attacking our flank and rear is definitely not a good thing, right?

In the chaos, Bai Hengqiu made a mistake. Instead of immediately trying to kill and block Cheng Zhili's Wu Dalang camp outside the white fog, he continued to try to block the ice bridge over the river, following his inertia.

However, even with the help of Chonghe, the pieces solidified much faster than before, but despite the rain of moves, they were utterly ineffective, often quickly reforming after being broken apart… In his frustration, he finally couldn't help but shout into the air:
"Brother Tao!"

The initial response was not provided.

"Brother Tao!"

Chonghe still didn't respond, but he made a move. He tried to touch something behind him, but found nothing.

"Brother Chonghe!" Bai Hengqiu called out for the third time, almost pleadingly.

Upon hearing this, Chonghe finally stopped being a simple provider of true energy. He descended from mid-air, but instead of heading towards the ice bridge over the river, he rushed towards the node of mist below, which was the place where the icy true energy was being released continuously.

Seeing this, Bai Hengqiu felt both relieved and exhausted, and for a moment, the chessboard seemed to dim.

On the other side, Chonghe slowly walked down. The white mist below first surged up like a tide, but then dispersed in his face, and even suppressed him step by step. In just a moment, he had arrived a few feet in front of Zhang Xingma, and then stood still in the air.

Zhang Xingxian looked up and smiled: "Taoist Master, are you suggesting we'll rely on verbal sparring in this round?"

"Your Excellency is not at a disadvantage, so why talk about escaping?" Chonghe asked sincerely. "Besides, what is 'talk-no-jutsu'?"

“The one who flees is not the one who flees, but the one who makes others flee. The verbal escape means that seeing you personally take action, I first tried to be polite and then resorted to force, which inevitably made me want to persuade you to leave.” Zhang Xing was also very serious.

"I see. What reason did Chief Zhang have for me?" Chonghe continued to ask sincerely. "I've heard that back on Red Mountain, it was your words that changed Master Jin Ge's mind..."

“If you want to listen to me, why don’t you get down and stand on the ground? That way we can be closer.” Zhang Xing beckoned to the other party with his backhand, and at the same time, he dismounted from his yellow horse.

Chonghe was not afraid at all. He walked to the ground with his bare hands and Taoist robe, and came a few steps away from Zhang Xing... Niuhe and Wei Wenda behind him instinctively wanted to get closer, but were stopped by their chief.

On the contrary, the thirteen Vajras, led by Mang Jingang, had already begun to secretly gather behind the flag according to the pre-arranged plan.

"The old Taoist has already arrived on the ground. What does Chief Zhang have to say?" Chonghe remained sincere.

“Daoist Master, can’t you hear anything now that you’re on Earth?” Zhang Xing sighed. “What are our words worth? The sounds of battle are the only true words… Today’s matter should have been decided by them. Our actions were all presumptuous.”

Chonghe was taken aback for a moment before sighing, "Chief Zhang's words are indeed like knives."

“Master Chonghe, if you insist on my words, I naturally have a few to say,” Zhang Xing said with a smile. “Firstly, I am not surprised at all that you have gotten involved in this matter at this time. Because you have long pondered the will of Heaven, looking up at the heavens from a high place, completely disregarding the mortal world below, you are naturally easy to persuade. If you had come down to earth earlier and listened to the words of mortals, you would have joined our Chulong Gang long ago. At the very least, you would have followed the example of the Thousand Gold Sect Leader and built a hospital here... To put it bluntly, your cultivation is insufficient, and you are top-heavy.”

"That makes sense." Chonghe nodded earnestly. "Anything else?"

"Secondly, if you ask me, the will of Heaven is too lenient. Even cultivators with clear minds can become Grandmasters without regard to their virtue. Grandmasters may need to have some virtue, but once they lose virtue, they don't seem to suffer any repercussions. So there are always those who aid and abet evil... Daoist, we can't assume we're not doing anything wrong just because there's no repercussion from Heaven." Zhang Xing continued to persuade him.

“You’re right,” Chonghe continued. “Anything else?”

“If you, Daoist, find these two points correct but still refuse to leave, then no matter how many reasons you have, you won’t be able to escape the consequences,” Zhang Xing said with a beaming smile. “Let’s not say any more and just have a fight!”

Chonghe shook his head: "Your Excellency has nothing more to say, but I have another question."

"please say."

"Just now, Wu Da found the old Taoist priest and told him about your words, saying something like, 'Sima Zheng claims to be defying the mandate of heaven, but his actions are as if he were upholding it; while I, the old Taoist priest, claim to be following the mandate of heaven, but my actions are as if I were defying it'... Is that true?"

“Yes, these words essentially imply that you resent us for giving us the Dragon-Subduing Seal when we were not yet destined for greatness, but now that we are, you want to abandon everything and oppose us,” Zhang Xing replied frankly. “Master Chonghe, I still maintain that… We, the Dragon-Subduing Gang, are not ungrateful. We will always remember the kindness of receiving the Dragon-Subduing Seal through Wu Dalang. Even if you don’t leave now, you will still be considered an old friend of our Dragon-Subduing Gang.”

“I guessed you were referring to the Dragon Seal and this matter.” Chong He’s expression grew increasingly serious, but he ignored the latter half of the other’s sentence. “Then let me ask you, Chief Zhang, how do you view your relationship with destiny? Why were you deviating from destiny before, but now you are in harmony with it?”

"You'll have to ask the Taoist priest first. Aren't you the one who specializes in this?" Zhang Xingfu pushed the matter forward again. "What do you think?"

“I don’t know… I’m just speculating. Could it be that you claim to defy fate, but in reality you are following it?” Chonghe asked, squinting.

“I think it’s like this: I’ve been defying fate all along, but as I’ve gathered more people, and as more people defy fate, fate has slowly drawn closer to me… Now, the tide has turned, and it’s as if I’m following fate.” Zhang Xing replied earnestly. “Of course, this is just a wording; our meanings don’t conflict, it’s just a matter of perspective. However, it is precisely for this reason that I have never resented you, Sima Zheng, or even my father-in-law… You only adhere to the old fate, never considering that fate is so magnanimous that it can turn around and save people, nor have you considered what would happen if you were separated from fate… Even I never imagined that fate was so magnanimous.”

Chonghe remained silent for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "Didn't you know that Heaven would be so magnanimous back then?"

“Although I always appear to have everything under control, it’s just to make everyone believe it. I myself often think that it would be fine to just let it go.” Zhang Xing was also much more candid. “But now that fate has truly been restored, I can be more honest.”

Chonghe nodded.

"The Taoist priest is not saying anything now, is he?" Zhang Xing asked in return.

“No…” Chonghe nodded immediately.

However, before he could finish speaking, a curved blade slashed from the side. It was Chief Zhang who had abandoned all martial ethics and launched a sneak attack. Chong He raised his hand to block, but the curved blade actually cut his sleeve. However, it was as if it had cut into some metal, and he was forced to deflect the blade.

Chonghe glanced down, neither angry nor showing any emotion, but remaining calm: "I listened to your advice and asked you two questions... Since we are going to have a fight, let's agree as gentlemen to each make two attacks... You have already attacked once."

Before the smile on Zhang Xing's face could disappear, this man, who was probably the greatest grandmaster of the time, raised his right hand and struck down with his palm.

With just a flick of his palm, Zhang Xing felt an immense force strike him, his body almost unable to support it. He tried to dodge backward, but he knew he was maintaining the grand formation and the ice bridge. If he dodged now, it would be somewhat similar to his encounter with Sima Zheng in Hanoi... The difference was that he could move freely, but his opponent was not in the exhausted state of Sima Zheng. This was a living, breathing Grandmaster whose cultivation was clearly superior to his own. If he retreated, he would almost certainly be caught off guard and his opponent would seize that moment to turn the second attack into a fatal blow.

His thoughts raced for a moment, but it didn't stop the leader of the Expelled Dragon Gang from assuming a stance and raising his sword to parry.

With just one strike, as the opponent reached out and grabbed the blade, he felt true energy flowing back into the curved blade like a tidal wave. The meridians and extraordinary vessels in both arms swelled. Zhang Xing had always prided himself on having a much larger amount of true energy stored in his dantian than others. At this moment, he had already expended a great deal of energy maintaining the great formation and building the ice bridge. He originally wanted to accept it in, but when he reached his dantian, he became wary. Remembering that he had not dared to indiscriminately kill and attract true energy before, he frantically drew the true energy in his dantian to his feet. At the same time, he used this opportunity to connect the opponent's true energy to the meridians in his legs and feet, and let it flow down directly.

In an instant, countless rays of radiant true energy and icy true energy mingled together, penetrating deep into the earth, and then being released in all directions, stretching endlessly like the ocean tide, rising and falling without ceasing.

The first thing to change was the official road beneath their feet. At first, it seemed as if someone had plowed it once, but as their true energy was continuously released, the ground was constantly being cut and chopped, and in no time, it turned into something like sand. The riverbank on the side had already collapsed halfway, and the ice on the river was constantly breaking and freezing, while the river water in the distance was surging like boiling water, but it was only spewing out ice shards. In the end, even the greenery on the distant foothills on the right flank was completely gone, turning into the color of sand.

However, all of this was shrouded in white mist, and outside the battlefield, only those with profound cultivation could detect it.

As for those with extremely high cultivation levels, not to mention Bai Hengqiu nearby, even Sima Zheng of Dongdu and Sun Siyuan of Woshui realized that something big had happened, but they were destined to be too late.

The ordinary soldiers of the two nearby armies suffered the most, as if struck by an earthquake, unable to stand and becoming targets of slaughter by those with cultivation who were connecting the two armies' formations.

Chonghe, true to his grandmasterly demeanor, saw that his repeated attacks had failed to achieve their intended effect and had instead harmed the ordinary soldiers on both sides. He then abandoned the tactic, acknowledging its ineffectiveness.

However, after Zhang Xing took a blow from the greatest master of the time, he felt his limbs go weak, especially his legs, which he could not stand on. He could only rely on the surging true qi in his dantian to maintain his limbs and bones and keep his face up.

Therefore, when Dai Chonghe raised his hand in courtesy, Chief Zhang simply raised his hand again to cut off the other party's other sleeve.

Chonghe paused for a moment, then sighed. This time, he struck again, but instead of slapping, he pushed with both hands. When the true energy surged to his side, Zhang Xing realized that this time it was not an invasion, but an impact. He could not use the Shifting Stars technique and could only resist.

Without hesitation, he first made a blocking motion, releasing his true energy. When the pressure suddenly tightened, the chief suddenly turned around and dodged away – he believed in the martial virtue of the leader of the Trinity Sect.

On the other side, Chonghe's true energy condensed invisibly in his palm and continued forward, knocking over the "Dismiss" flag stuck behind the opponent. But as the flag flipped over, he saw starlight flashing further ahead. The Thirteen Vajra Formation, which he had personally witnessed in Shu when he was young, reappeared in front of him... Chonghe was startled and his strength loosened again. He instantly realized that the opportunity was gone.

Surprisingly, he didn't seem frustrated or helpless at all. Instead, he seemed relieved, just like Bai Hengqiu when he saw him off.

As his old friend had hoped, he had done his best; as his students had hoped, there was no victory; and as he himself had hoped, it confirmed his conjecture about destiny and human nature... This was even the best possible outcome.

Under the already setting sun, Chonghe walked up step by step and shook his head at his old friend who was still struggling to maintain the great formation.

Bai Hengqiu had nothing to say. He had already witnessed the power of the first attack. If he hadn't exerted his full strength, he would have been deceiving himself. He even knew in his heart that the other party didn't need to get involved in this mess. He could have taken a step back and not left Wuguan. But the other party still came, first helping him set up the formation, and then personally fighting against him. The price he paid for this was extremely high. This was not just being kind and righteous, but repaying with all his might.

Without needing to say anything more, Bai Hengqiu calmly asked, "Where is your package, Brother Dao? I dare not trouble the Supreme Divine Puppet. Please use the package to block our way so we can withdraw our troops."

Chonghe shook his head and replied, "I know this battle is of great importance. I left the divine puppet wrapped in the cloth to my disciple."

"It's fate." Bai Hengqiu recalled the other party's momentary loss of composure when he asked for help to cut off the pontoon bridge, and suddenly realized that if he had been wrapped up at that time, he could have simply cut off the passage to the other side. There would have been no need for the hasty confrontation that he had urged later. But now, he could only say that it was fate.

"Heaven's will follows the will of the people," Chonghe replied solemnly. "Now that things have come to this, let us brothers do our best!"

"Then please cover our retreat, brother, and allow me to withdraw my troops." Bai Hengqiu nodded, entrusting the task to him. "Otherwise, we will be separated on this road tonight."

Harmony is never a bad thing.

As the chessboard above his head gradually shrank, Zhang Xing didn't hesitate to stop—not out of tacit understanding or gentlemanly decorum, but because his legs were still trembling.

And so, as evening fell, a battle that began in the middle of a snake and ended in a whirlwind... Just as Zhang Xing had predicted, this battle was merely a stumble that made some people give up their illusions. The real decisive battle had already been fought in Hanoi, Nanyang, and possibly in the Poisonous Desert and Diaoyin.

Even so, the situation changed in the evening.

Specifically, Cheng Zhili went too far.

This fellow, along with Wu Erlang, Fan Liuchu, and Wu Dalang's main camp, crossed the battle line and advanced into a flat plain... It should be noted that the Guanzhong Army had temporarily changed to a surprise attack mode because the Chulong Army had stopped during the advance. In addition, the terrain on the south bank of the Dan River in this section of Wuguan Road was narrow and not a main passage, so only a small number of troops were left to provide support.

As a result, after realizing the possible opportunity, Cheng Zhili changed his strategy. He ordered Fan Liuchu to lead all the infantrymen to turn around and enter the southern mountain ridge, and cross the mountain to return to camp... This was destined to be a difficult journey... He himself and Wu Erlang led the seven or eight hundred cavalrymen from the three battalions, heading west without any obstacles.

They arrived at the enemy's campsite the previous day ahead of the main force of the Kansai army, but because they were worried that the army behind them was about to retreat and the Grandmaster was about to arrive, they abandoned the entanglement with the defending army and continued to move westward along the narrow path.

That night, upon arriving at Wuguan, which had lost its gatekeeping function, they unsurprisingly found the camp completely undefended!

So Wu Erlang took the lead, wielding a giant log to smash the barricades in front of the pass. After Cheng Zhili led his cavalry to break through Wuguan Pass, they turned back and set fire to the fodder and seized some livestock. Without caring about anything else, they continued westward.

A day later, on the last day of February, the 28th, they managed to reach the empty Lantian camp by taking advantage of the supplies provided by the camps set up by both sides along the way!
At this point, seven or eight hundred cavalrymen were certainly no match for the enemy's main camp. However, Cheng Zhili was quick-witted. He stopped Wu Erlang, who wanted to launch an attack, and first clearly informed the people in the Lantian camp that Bai Hengqiu had been killed and all the Guanzhong troops had been wiped out! Then, without hesitation, he went to Chang'an!

Wu Erlang personally ascended the walls of Chang'an, smashed a corner tower, and announced the same message, causing a commotion. Without stopping, he followed Cheng Zhili to Acheng, a small town on the other side of Chang'an, that same night.

This time, they successfully occupied the military city, which was originally a garrison and training ground for the local soldiers but was now deserted.

The next morning, Cheng Dalang, who was both literate and skilled in martial arts, began to issue proclamations, claiming himself to be the Guanzhong Pacification Ambassador. He kept announcing the death of Emperor Bai and the annihilation of the government troops in Wuguan Pass, while also pacifying the people and recruiting rebels.

Just west of Chang'an, in the heart of the rear, no one came to attack them all day.

Immediately, the Guanzhong region was shaken, and some people actually came to surrender.

You should know that just two days ago, news came from Weibei that Xiong Bonan had led troops from Hedong and captured the ferry crossing and city on one side of Pujin Pass... At that time, the situation in Chang'an was already bad; and the day after Cheng Dalang issued the proclamation, another piece of bad news came from further west, saying that Dou Shang, the Vice Minister of Jing'antai and a relative of the imperial family, had switched sides in Lingwu because the troops in Longshang were completely wiped out in the battle of Yuguan, and Yu Jieluo was killed in battle, so they had no choice but to surrender.

Up to this point, no one had yet attacked Cheng Dalang, who had occupied Acheng.

At this moment, filled with fear and anxiety, the entire Dou clan in the city suddenly fled and entered Acheng!

It was as if a water valve had been opened. In the next instant, the surrounding counties, officials from Chang'an, and auxiliary soldiers from the Lantian camp all rushed about, filling Acheng to the brim. Cheng Zhili had actually organized a strange army of ten thousand men, which included many experts in the Core Formation and Core Acquisition stages, and even had sufficient logistical support.

The day was the second day of the third month. Bai Hengqiu withdrew from Wuguan Road back to Lantian. Zhang Xingdu led his army to block Wuguan and dared not enter easily. As a result, he encountered such a strange situation in Guanzhong.

To be fair, this bad news could no longer cause Bai Huangdi any further psychological shock, especially since he already knew on the way that Cheng Zhili had come running over.

Conversely, the appearance of the White Emperor caused a violent psychological shock throughout Guanzhong... Before the shock was even over, the reality that shattered the illusions of the people of Guanzhong arrived.

On the fourth day of the third lunar month, Wang Shuyong and Xu Shiren crossed the Pujin River, and on the same day, the banners of Xu Shiying and Li Ding appeared on the edge of the Weibei Plain north of Pujin.

The Wu tribe cavalry were ordered to advance, and within two days they reappeared on the north side of the Wei River... At the request of the elders of Guanzhong, Cheng Zhili, the Guanzhong Pacification Ambassador, issued a special document, sternly rebuking the Wu tribe cavalry north of the Wei River, demanding that they strictly abide by military discipline, or he would enforce military law.

It actually worked!

On the ninth day of the third month, after repeated persuasion from his relatives, officials, and confidants in Chang'an, the emperor finally set off with his army, leaving the Lantian camp for Chang'an. Before departing, at the emperor's insistence, Daoist Chonghe bid farewell and returned to Taibai Peak.

As soon as the troops set off, Dou Qi, the garrison commander left behind at the Lantian camp, could not hold out any longer and sent a proclamation to Zhang Xing in the Wuguan Pass... explaining all the information he knew about Guanzhong and inviting Zhang Xing to enter the pass.

At the strong insistence of Shan Tonghai, Niu Da, and Wu Jingfeng, Zhang Xing remained cautious and only allowed Niu Da, Liu Heihuang, and four other battalions of soldiers to go ahead.

Liu Heihuang's cavalry set out in full force and arrived within two days. They immediately occupied the Lantian camp, contacted Cheng Zhili, and obtained military intelligence about Weibei through Cheng Zhili. They then quickly sent a message urging Zhang Xing to enter the pass as soon as possible.

On the tenth day of the third month, Niu Da entered Lantian. On the same day, Wang Shuyong led his troops south to Tongguan and occupied Yongfeng Granary, which was established during the reign of Cao Gu, the founding emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty.

On the eleventh, Wu Jingfeng led his troops to arrive, but instead crossed Lantian and headed straight for Hu County. The banners of Li Ding, Xu Shiying, and even Zhou Xingfan appeared in Pujin, where they joined forces with Xiong Bonan. That night, Wu Jingfeng roared at Taibai Peak from his hometown in Hu County, thus becoming a Grandmaster.

On the 12th, Shan Tonghai arrived in Lantian alone. On the same day, Dou Shang's banner appeared in Fufeng County, and Hong Changya arrived in Pujin alone.

On the 13th, Zhang Xing led the Tabai cavalry and the remaining main force into Guanzhong via Wuguan Road and stationed them in Lantian; on the same day, Li Ding, Xu Shiying, Xiong Bonan, Wang Shuyong, Xu Shiren, Zhou Xingfan, and Hong Changya marched westward together, crossed the Beiluo River, and followed the Wei River westward, and stationed themselves at Jinshibei that night.

On the 15th, the central army of the Northern Route Army launched a major southward crossing of the Wei River from Weinan to Xinfeng, while the entire Southern Route Army marched north to provide support. That night, Zhang Xingxian, along with generals Shan Tonghai, Niu Da, Wu Jingfeng, and Cheng Zhili, ascended Bailu Plain and arrived at Ba Shang. Dou Shang, accompanied by Chang Fu, led seven prefects to this location overnight, presenting them with maps and documents of the Lingwu and Longshang prefectures.

On the morning of the 16th, Li Xuxiong, King Xu, and all his generals crossed the river and headed straight for Ba Shang.

Before noon, the North and South joined forces at the strategic location of Bailuyuan Bashang, with a combined army of 200,000. Among them were one chief, ten leaders, and 87 generals, juniors, and temporary leaders. In terms of high-level combat strength, there was one Grandmaster, eight Grandmasters, 23 Core Formation cultivators, and 31 Core Condensation cultivators. After the White Cavalry joined forces, there were 764 of them (including four newly promoted Core Condensation cultivators).

Having reached this point, everyone was naturally in high spirits, even people like Tuli Khan and Wang Chenkuo had an air of pride.

It's understandable; who could deny their contributions at this time? Moreover, with the future of the Ming Dynasty bright, their achievements were even more important.

Zhang Xing did not hesitate either. Right next to the 200,000-strong army, in front of everyone, he praised the meritorious people one by one, a total of 97 people, without missing a single one!
He praised the young leaders such as Su Jingfang, Dou Xiaoniang, Hou Junshu, Fan Lihua, and Guo Zhu for their unparalleled bravery; he praised the northern leaders such as Huang Ping, Hei Yan, Lu Dun, Lan Zhang, and Lu Dawei for their arduous journey and battles across thousands of miles; he praised the main force leaders such as Liu Heiwei, Wang Fubei, Cheng Mingqi, Liang Jiaying, Xiahou Ningyuan, and Guo Jingke for being pillars of the army, and for their enlightenment after their arduous journey; he praised Qin Bao, Yuchi Rong, Wang Xiongdan, Jia Runshi, including Niu He, Wei Wenda, and even... Unintentionally, Kan Leng was also included, saying that these trusted leaders followed him through thick and thin, disregarding sacrifice, and deserved great credit; even praising Wenren Xun'an, Wang Chenkuo, Tu Li, Dou Shang, Dou Qi, Si Qinghe and others for abandoning the darkness and embracing the light, especially Tu Li, whose welcoming dance was excellent just now; also praising Yu Jieluo for his flawless military tactics and his love for his soldiers like his own children; of course, he did not forget to praise Chang Fu for his forbearance and humiliation; Cheng Zhili for his meticulousness and his mastery of both literature and martial arts; and Zhang Shizhao for his magnanimity and insightful understanding of people's hearts.

The leaders also praised them in turn, saying that Xiong Bonan and Xu Shiren were loyal and reliable, Shan Tonghai and Wu Jingfeng were honest and righteous, Hong Changya and Niu Da were tireless, and Wang Shuyong and Zhou Xingfan had the demeanor of great generals.

Finally, it was clearly stated to everyone that the credit for this achievement belonged primarily to Li Xu, while Li Ding's merits could be ranked first.

"So, I'm number one in merit?" Before the crowd could discuss or boast about these comments, Li Ding, the leader of the Li clan, had clearly already prepared the agenda.

Under the midday sun, Zhang Xing smiled broadly: "If you dare to claim second place in this achievement, who is first? Even if Third Sister came, she would probably only be able to discuss it with Xu Dalang."

"Then I must ask Chief Zhang one more question." Under the sunlight, Li Ding squinted, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Before I set out, I was already a leader, a war marshal, and a regional commander. This time, I helped you fight your way to Chang'an and pacify the world. What reward do you plan to give me?"

The atmosphere around them suddenly changed, and everyone turned to look.

Zhang Xing seemed oblivious to this, tilting his head to glance at the other person before shaking his head in response: "The country has its own system, and apart from land, shops, mansions, and money, there is probably nothing else to reward you with."

Li Ding nodded: "I think so too... but Chief Zhang, I'm not willing to let things end here."

"So what do you want?" Zhang Xing asked, already having thought about it in his mind, and couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"I have prepared something. Chief, please take a look and see what you think," Li Ding said, beckoning.

Su Jingfang hesitated for a breath before running out with a pre-prepared box in his hand. He then knelt on one knee between Zhang Xing and Li Ding.

Li Ding opened the box and unfurled a dark robe embroidered with golden dragons on a three-tiered, four-tiered base... The people around him were either dumbfounded, exclaiming in astonishment, or looking around hesitantly... The next moment, an eerie silence fell over the area outside the Bailu Plain Ba Shang camp.

Because Li Ding simply draped the robe over his own shoulders, and then calmly asked the person in front of him, "How is it? Does it fit?"

Zhang Xing was almost laughing in exasperation, but he still waved his hand and said, "If you want, take it home and wear it yourself! Nobody cares!"

Li Ding gave a wry smile and shook his head: "It's just that with 200,000 troops by my side, I couldn't help but feel emotional."

Having said that, the man tore off his robe and tied it to the outside of Zhang Xing's cloak. Under the strange gazes of Xu Shiying and the others, he took two or three steps back, bowed down on the spot, and uttered prepared words: "The Great Wei is tyrannical, and the world is scattered. To this day, after ten years of war, the world is divided into three, and the Chulong Gang alone occupies two. It is clear that without you, we cannot gather everyone here, nor can we unify the four seas and bring peace... Logically speaking, even if we wait a year or two, no one can shake the position of the chief. But firstly, the people's hearts in Guanzhong are worrying, and secondly, we have been fighting hard, and various tribes are mixed along the way. The only one we obey is the chief. At this time, for the sake of the world, we must establish the title and position."

At this point, the man replied solemnly, "I request Your Majesty to ascend the throne of the Great Ming Dynasty."

After saying this, he was about to kneel down on one knee to pay his respects. Not only him, but Xu Shiying and the others, although their faces were dark, had clearly prepared themselves mentally and were also ready to kneel down. The leaders and surrendered people behind them knelt down openly. Only a few people, such as Shan Tonghai and Bai Jingang, who usually had many thoughts, were clearly caught off guard and did not know whether they should say anything more. They stood there stunned for a moment.

But Li Ding didn't kneel down because Zhang Xing kicked him over. Shan Tonghai and the others were no longer embarrassed because everyone else was just as stunned as they were.

Zhang Xing kicked Li Ding to the ground, untied the dragon robe from his back, held it high, looked around, and finally stared at Li Ding with a cold smile: "Li Ding, Li Si! You think you can make me emperor with just a few words? Is there such a cheap thing in the world?!"

Li Ding, who had just instinctively gotten up, was also stunned.

"Didn't you say it yourself? Only I could have gathered everyone here, only I could have unified the four seas and brought peace." Zhang Xing replied arrogantly, his arrogance even more exaggerated than when Li Ding boasted of his achievements. "The Great Wei was tyrannical, and the world was scattered. It was I who led Xiao Zhou and Wang Zhen across the river on horseback to Wang Wulang's house to gather heroes and personally established the Chulong Gang. Then, from the Ji River to Hebei, we opened up the Central Plains and united the northern lands, gathering the strength of the heroes of Guandong. In one fell swoop, we launched a multi-pronged attack on the heroes, and in just over half a year, we have come to this... Even someone like you, who considers yourself the best in the world, knows after this that the world cannot be without me, let alone anyone else?"

"To put it nicely, my position is the one that the people and the heavens have chosen, and no one can take it away from me; to put it bluntly, it is indispensable, and you are all begging me to take it."

"Now, you're holding a tattered robe, spouting a few nice words, and trying to make me emperor out of nowhere... To put it bluntly, do you even deserve it?!"

The surrounding leaders, both old and new, were already dizzy and disoriented—did this emperor still need to beg you to be his servant? Or did he have to give you some kind of condition?
But it seems that it really might be like that?
If he doesn't do it, who can?
And what can we do? It's already like this, it wouldn't be good to do nothing, would it?
Even Shan Tonghai and Bai Jingang were worried about the dignity of Da Ming and the Chulong Gang.

"Of course, to be honest, right now, 99% of the common people are still farming, 80% or 90% of those who were forced to establish their foundations are stuck in the orthodox lineage, and 80% or 90% of those who were enlightened only remember names. Moreover, as I just mentioned, Chang'an has not yet been conquered, Guanzhong, Bashu, Jiangnan, and Nanling have not yet been unified, and there are still the Dongyi and the Demon Island that have not been conquered... Most importantly, for thousands of years, the emperor has been the only one who has succeeded. If I don't accept this, I'm afraid that everyone, from top to bottom, inside and outside, will be apprehensive and feel that the rule of the Demoting Dragon Gang is unstable. But I am not willing to accept this." Zhang Xing continued proudly. "As you all know, my ambition is not to become emperor, but to depose the emperor and then ascend to the supreme throne... So, gentlemen, I have a few conditions. If you can agree to them today, I will condescend to accept this lowly imperial position and share your burdens; if you cannot agree, I will not say that I will quit, but I will just take Chang'an, drive out those who are unwilling, and I will promote the young people in the gang myself, and wait for them to agree."

He actually had to set conditions to become emperor! Has such a thing ever happened before?!

“Don’t think it’s absurd. Once something happens for the first time, it becomes a tradition,” Zhang Xing said with a shake of his head and a smile. “I’ll ask you questions, and you can raise your hands… First, now that I’m the emperor, we should still unite the state and the government, not the family and the state. We should establish a system where decisions are still made by meetings at all levels, and we shouldn’t create any additional titles like Duke or Grand Duke. Do you agree?”

Dan Tonghai was the first to raise his hand. This was the matter he had been worried about. With someone taking the lead, and Li Ding, Xu Shiying, and others having already figured out Chief Zhang's approach today, they naturally raised their hands as well. Even the surrendered people who had just been appointed as leaders and chiefs immediately raised their hands after observing. In their understanding, this should be something similar to the decision-making process of the Southern Court, and the threat posed by this "emperor" was not fake.

“Alright, ninety-eight moves.” Zhang Xing continued, holding his dragon robe high. “Secondly, now that I’m the emperor, we should still follow the system and live together in the palace according to our official positions, and work together in the same office. Except for specific ceremonies, we don’t need to kneel or bow in ordinary times. Just salute in the military… Is that alright?”

After the first time, hands were raised much faster this time. Of course, this was also related to the fact that the matter was insignificant. Moreover, by this point, even leaders like Liu Heiyao had realized that these conditions might not really be conditions. At least the first two sounded like self-restraint and a promise to everyone. What was there to disagree with?
"Ninety-eight moves." Zhang Xing remained in the same posture. "Thirdly, even after I become emperor, I will still insist on an end to slavery. The wealthy and powerful, even those within the palace, will continue to be employed, without restricting their personal freedom or forcing them into dependence. What do you say?"

This time something seemed a bit off, but the leaders from the Exile Gang acted very quickly, seemingly unaware of the problem, and the surrendered people naturally dared not disobey.

"Ninety-eight moves".

"Fourth, when I become emperor, I will still distribute land fairly throughout the land, and no additional land will be granted except for those who have rendered meritorious service in the military. What do you think?"

"Ninety-seven... Liu Heihuang, what do you mean... Of course, you're not allowed to acquire properties without permission! If you have money, go buy your own shops. If you're starving, rent someone else's land or just starve... Ninety-eighth move!"

"Fifthly, as emperor, I guarantee that all corvée labor will be used for public purposes, such as water conservancy, roads, public security, or military affairs, and will not be used for private purposes. What do you say?"

"Ninety-eight moves".

"Sixth, if I become emperor, I will ensure mandatory basic education and elementary schooling, and establish national and county middle schools so that those who wish to study can receive proper education. What do you think?"

"Ninety-eight moves".

"Seventhly, when I become emperor, I will guarantee fairness in the imperial examinations, military merits, and the transfer of officials, and I will ensure that newly appointed leaders are treated fairly according to their region, without discrimination. What do you say?"

"Ninety-eight moves".

"Eighthly, if I become emperor, you all promise to do your utmost to follow me in unifying the four seas, so that the people will not suffer from prolonged division and war. What do you say?"

"Ninety-eight moves".

"Ninthly, if I become emperor, you all promise to do your utmost to ensure fairness throughout the land, to dismiss those who seek personal gain and to ensure that all benefits are returned to the people. What do you say?"

"Ninety-eight moves... Thank you all." Seeing this, Zhang Xing finally chuckled, turned around, roughly tied the dragon robe over his cloak, looked him up and down, clicked his tongue a few times, and then sighed. "Gentlemen, today we have not only eliminated the dragon of Guanlong, but also one of the dragons within our Dragon Extermination Gang... Don't think it's all for naught. Everything leaves a trace, and there will always be future benefits. Your contributions are immense... Now, you can bow to me."

Everyone was already exhausted from all the turmoil, and given the current situation, most people genuinely hoped that the other party would ascend the throne as soon as possible. Xu Shiying simply took the lead in bowing down, prompting everyone to bow down together in the midday sun, addressing him as "Your Majesty."

Zhang Xing looked at the crowd with a smile. He knew perfectly well that it wasn't a matter of whether he should be emperor or not, but rather that these people were eagerly hoping he would become emperor. Even if Li Si hadn't had his hysterical outburst today, Xu Shiying and the others would have still wanted to crown him with the dragon robe.

After all, if he doesn't become emperor, how can these people convince themselves that they rightfully gained the world and fulfilled their long-cherished wish?
Moreover, what he just said was the truth. In this era where 99% of the population was still peasants, even with the liberation of slaves and the equal distribution of land, the emperor was still the figure most in line with people's hearts and traditions. But wasn't this a sign of divine benevolence? Wasn't this a sign that he had already become a grandmaster? Wasn't this a sign that after ten years of hard work, he had finally gathered some people and accomplished some things?

You have to be impulsive sometimes.

Otherwise, wouldn't all that hard work have been for nothing?
"You'll be the commander-in-chief from now on, responsible for taking on Chang'an. Do you have any plans?" Coming back to his senses, Zhang Xing looked at Li Ding.

Whether it was my imagination or not, Li Ding, though still proud, seemed much more docile: "In the current situation, we can fight however we want. Surround them on three sides, leave the west open, let them scatter or escape on their own, and then attack."

"Third Sister has already set off from Chengdu. There's no reason why Tu Wanchanglun of Hanzhong shouldn't surrender... Hurry up."

"Then let's try to persuade them to surrender." Li Ding shrugged helplessly. "What else can we do? Actually, if you ask me, we should focus our efforts on Dongdu, Jiangnan, Yaodao, and Dongyi."

Zhang Xing nodded in agreement.

As the saying goes: "Golden scales leap forth from a vast expanse of water, and the celestial rooster crows, awakening the three realms."

All things raise their heads, hoping for a leap, together sending the golden crow soaring into the azure sky.

PS: Thank you so much, Master Naxi Yun Chu, for your alliance with Fu Han... I am deeply grateful... I can barely keep my eyes open as I write this, so please let me know if there are any typos.