The Heavens: From Film and Mythology to Conquering Myriad Realms

Lu Yao took Wang Yuyan sightseeing near Mantuo Villa for half a day before returning to Canhe Village.

Nighttime, inside Lu Yao's room.

Clothes were scattered all over the floor near the bed, and Wang Yuyan was lying in Lu Yao's arms.

"Young master, we'll be together forever, right?"

Wang Yuyan's face was still flushed as she leaned against Lu Yao's chest, gazing at Lu Yao's handsome face with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Will do."

Lu Yao stroked Wang Yuyan's cheek and said gently.

The night was long, and the candlelight in the room flickered faintly before gradually going out.

On the other side of Canhe Village was Murong Fu's residence.

"Young master, I noticed today that Miss Wang and Lu Yao were quite intimate. Are you truly willing to accept this?"

Deng Baichuan frowned slightly and looked at Murong Fu, who was flipping through martial arts manuals.

As the head of the four great retainers, Deng Baichuan watched Murong Fu grow up from childhood and knew him very well.

He knew very well that his young master had definitely had Wang Yuyan in his heart before, so why did he not care at all now?

"My cousin and Lu Yao are in love, I should be happy, why should I feel resentful?"

Murong Fu remained calm and spoke indifferently.

Deng Baichuan fell silent. Murong Fu was right.

Wang Yuyan is Murong Fu's cousin. After she got together with Lu Yao, they became related by marriage, which allowed her to better utilize Lu Yao's power.

"I don't think Lu Yao is truly committed to helping you restore your kingdom. You should prepare as soon as possible."

Deng Baichuan thought of Lu Yao, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke to Murong Fu.

"That's for sure. This person has a powerful background and must have his own agenda in helping us. But for the sake of restoring our country, it's a helpless situation to negotiate with a tiger."

Murong Fu put down the book in his hand, sighed, and looked utterly helpless.

Murong Fu was genuinely envious of Lu Yao's men. Han Xin and Zhang Liang, one a scholar and the other a warrior, were now the core forces supporting his restoration of the kingdom.

Both of them were Lu Yao's men, so how could Murong Fu not be anxious?

He also tried to win over Han Xin and Zhang Liang, but always received ambiguous responses, with little effect.

The deal between Murong Fu and Lu Yao was merely a matter of attitude; exchanging one million taels of silver for Wang Yuyan and the other two women was just Lu Yao testing the waters.

"As for Wang Yuyan, how can she be compared to the grand plan of restoring the kingdom?"

Murong Fu looked at Deng Baichuan with an indifferent expression.

Deng Baichuan was shocked. At this moment, Murong Fu felt both familiar and unfamiliar to him.

......

Han Xin's movement with an army of 10,000 was not easy to hide, so it was quickly discovered by the Dali Kingdom.

In the Dali imperial court.

After Duan Zhengming became a monk at Tianlong Temple, his son Duan Zhengyan inherited the throne of the Dali Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from the border that both the Song and Western Xia have made unusual moves."

"The Grand Council believes that more troops should be dispatched to defend the border cities and prevent them from invading our territory."

A Grand Councilor dressed in a red robe bowed and reported to Duan Zhengyan.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Duan Zhengyan rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Now that Tenryu-ji Temple has suffered heavy losses and its strength has been greatly reduced, it is unexpected that these two countries, like vicious sharks smelling blood, have made a move so quickly.

"allow!"

Duan Zhengyan nodded, agreeing to the request for reinforcements.

"Your Majesty, according to reports from our spies, the Murong clan of Gusu is showing signs of resurgence, and their 10,000 Yan troops are marching toward Dali."

At this time, a minister who was in charge of intelligence reported to Duan Zhengyan.

"These are truly turbulent times."

Duan Zhengyan sighed. It was truly one problem after another.

"They are only a mere ten thousand men. I beg Your Majesty's permission to lead this general to wipe out these clowns."

A middle-aged man dressed in military officer's robes stepped forward and asked Duan Zhengyan for permission to take charge.

The Dali Kingdom had over 100,000 soldiers capable of fighting, and they didn't think much of the 10,000 Yan soldiers led by Han Xin.

Moreover, what capable military commanders could a fallen remnant of the Yan state possibly have?

"In that case, General Li, lead 15,000 Imperial Guards to annihilate the Yan army, and let the Song and Western Xia know that Dali is not so easy to bully."

After a moment's thought, Duan Zhengyan decided to send troops to annihilate the Yan army led by Han Xin, both to make an example of them and to deter the undercurrents within the country.

Tenryu-ji Temple suffered a severe blow not only from external pressures, but also from undercurrents within the country, with some feudal lords harboring their own ambitions.

To be on the safe side, Duan Zhengyan even gave 15,000 imperial guards.

"The minister obeys the order!"

Li Zhengzhong knelt down solemnly to receive the imperial decree.

......

After a half-month march, Han Xin's Yan army quickly arrived at Wangshu City, a border city of Dali.

Wangshu City is a city on the border of Dali. It has high city walls and is a border city between the Song Dynasty and Dali.

On the city wall of Wangshu, the garrison commander looked solemnly at the army outside the city.

When will reinforcements arrive?

The garrison commander turned to his adjutant and asked.

"His Majesty has ordered General Li Zhengzhong to lead troops to provide reinforcements, which will take at least ten days."

The adjutant, his face grim, replied to the general guarding the city.

With only about five thousand soldiers in Wangshu City, it would be extremely difficult for them to withstand a Yan army twice their size for ten days.

"No matter what, we cannot allow the enemy to cross our Wangshu City!"

The commanding general said in a deep voice.

Meanwhile, outside the city, at the Yan army camp.

"General, shall we set up camp here and attack the city tomorrow?"

A general approached Han Xin and loudly inquired.

"No need to set up camp, we'll spend the night in the city!"

Han Xin's expression was stern; he planned to capture Wangshu City in one fell swoop.

Normally, when the attacking side arrives, they should rest for at least a day before launching an attack. However, Han Xin was clearly not a general who played by the rules.

Soon, under Han Xin's command, the Yan army began to attack the city.

"What! The enemy has attacked the city? Oh no!"

Upon receiving the news, the defending general was greatly alarmed and rushed to the city wall.

Countless Yan soldiers, carrying siege equipment, surged toward the city walls.

"How could these enemy troops have such sophisticated equipment!"

The defending general looked grim. In his observation, at least half of the 10,000 Yan soldiers were wearing armor, which was a terrifying proportion.

Even his 5,000 border guards only had a few hundred armored soldiers.

"General! The enemy has suddenly attacked the city; we can't hold it!"

The adjutant, his face covered in blood, approached the city's garrison commander, carrying a scimitar.

"How could they have been defeated so quickly! Where are the warrior monks of Tenryu-ji Temple?"

The general guarding the city looked at his adjutant in disbelief and hurriedly asked.

Tianlong Temple has many martial monks guarding each border city to prevent martial arts practitioners from taking action.

"They were all killed by the enemy's experts; they were no match for them!"

The adjutant looked somewhat terrified; he had personally witnessed the garrison monk being killed in just a few blows by the enemy's expert.

"Retreat! As long as we're alive, we can always rebuild!"

The defending general gritted his teeth and immediately ordered his personal guards to begin the retreat, abandoning the defense of the city.

Without the command of the defending general, Wangshu City was quickly captured and occupied by the Yan army.