Zhuge Liang's Journey to Dominate the World: Starting from Another World

"Master Zhuge, do you think this... is this reliable?" Ji Yi asked hesitantly.

Kongming smiled slightly and said calmly, "Anything is possible in this world."

Ji Yizhi pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly to Li Guangling.

Li Guangling said no more. Although Qu Qianchou dared to outwardly comply with the court but inwardly defy it, as long as they didn't truly break off relations, he wouldn't dare to openly do anything to the Prince of Tang.

Ji Yizhi understood and ordered several hundred armored soldiers to advance towards Fengling Pass.

This time, Kongming traveled alongside several others, moving forward together.

Upon arriving at Fengling Pass, they saw that the pass was towering, the city walls were sturdy and thick, and the garrison was ready for battle.

"Qu Qianchou's intention to break away from the control of the Tang Dynasty is indeed obvious. The construction of such a pass here is clearly to guard against the imperial army. I'm afraid even the border defenses are not as strong as this place," Li Guangling said coldly.

Although Empress Wu now holds real power in the Tang Dynasty, as a member of the Li Tang imperial family, he is naturally indignant at such blatant provocations against imperial authority.

"Fengling Pass is a strategically important location, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Qu Qianchou has been operating here for many years and has long been deeply entrenched in his territory. We must proceed with caution this time," Ji Yizhi said calmly, then glanced at Kongming beside him, seemingly unintentionally.

The group then stopped in front of the city gate. Ji Yizhi stepped forward and shouted loudly to the guards on the city wall, "The Prince of Tang has arrived! Why don't you open the city gate immediately!"

Upon hearing this, the garrison immediately sent someone to report it, and soon after, a commotion arose from the city tower.

A burly general in armor slowly walked up the city wall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Li Guangling. He said coldly, "Hmph! You're nothing but a stray dog, yet you dare to bark here! The Tang Dynasty is no longer what it once was, and you still dare to try to intimidate me, a general, just because you're princes. It's utterly laughable!"

After the general finished speaking, he burst into laughter again, clearly not buying into the identities of Li Guangling and the others.

Li Guangling's face darkened. Although he was aware of the current situation in the Tang Dynasty, as a member of the imperial family, he could not tolerate such humiliation. He was about to lash out when Kongming stopped him.

Kongming, holding a feather fan, smiled faintly and said to the general, "We have come here to discuss important matters with General Qu Qianchou. Please inform him, young general."

"Where did this madman come from? He's barely grown his own hair yet, and he keeps calling himself a 'little general.' He's utterly shameless!"

The general raised an eyebrow, clearly extremely dissatisfied with Kongming's attitude. He was an arrogant man and would never easily take Kongming seriously.

"Hahaha... If you don't believe me, you can send someone to inform General Qu."

"Hmph! You're asking for death!" The general, seeing that Kongming still addressed him as "junior general," picked up the drumstick and pounded the military drum violently.

At this moment, archers from inside the pass rushed up the city wall, drew their bows, and aimed at the crowd below. Li Guangling and the others immediately felt a chilling aura wash over them.

Li Guangling frowned, sensing something was wrong, and began to doubt Kongming's plan.

Kongming naturally saw through the general's intention; he was merely using the opportunity to establish his authority.

"Your Highness, what do you think of this young general?"

Li Guangling was puzzled and somewhat stunned by Kongming's seemingly irrelevant question, but then he seemed to understand Kongming's meaning and replied, "This man is broad-shouldered and strong, and he holds a high position at a young age. If he can be used by me, he will surely be a fierce general."

Upon hearing this, Kongming smiled slyly and nodded, saying, "Your Highness is absolutely right. Today, it will be as you wish!"

Seeing Kongming and Li Guangling whispering to each other below the city walls, seemingly ignoring the archers on the walls, the general was even more furious. He shouted, "Stop talking nonsense, or don't blame me for being merciless with my arrows!"

"No rudeness!"

Just as everyone was getting impatient, a majestic shout came from the city wall, and then a middle-aged man in heavy armor strode forward.

This man was Qu Qianchou, the general of Fengling Pass. He walked to the edge of the city wall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, and finally settling on Li Guangling.

"I didn't expect Your Highness to arrive at Fengling Pass so quickly. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please forgive me."

Although Qu Qianchou's tone was respectful, anyone who took such a ruthless figure seriously would lose. His ability to remain the commander-in-chief of Fengling Pass through two dynasties speaks volumes about his exceptional qualities.

After calming himself down, Li Guangling said, "General Qu, you flatter me. I wish to travel to my fiefdom, and I would be grateful if you could grant me this favor."

"Hurry up and open the city gate to welcome the prince into the pass!" Qu Qianchou nodded and gave the order. The guards on the city wall moved quickly, lowered the drawbridge, and slowly opened the city gate.

Seeing this, Li Guangling and the others breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but look at Kongming with even greater respect, becoming even more curious about what he had written to Qu Qianchou.

A few men led several hundred armored soldiers through the city gate and saw that the city streets were wide and clean, with shops on both sides selling a wide variety of goods and pedestrians coming and going in an endless stream, a scene of prosperity.

Several hundred guards were housed in an abandoned military camp before Qu Qianchou led them toward the general's mansion.

His mansion was located in the center of the pass, covering a vast area and displaying an extraordinary grandeur. Everywhere there were bright yellow glazed tiles and carved beams and painted rafters, making it almost indistinguishable from the imperial palace.

The group was led to a large hall, where they saw a row of armored soldiers standing on each side, holding sharp swords and with piercing eyes; they were clearly well-trained elite soldiers.

Li Guangling and Ji Yizhi exchanged a glance, both noticing the seriousness in each other's eyes.

Kongming waved his feather fan lightly and walked inside with an air of nonchalance. Although Li Muling was also a little worried, she didn't see much fear in her because of Kongming's trust.

After everyone was seated as host and guest,

Qu Qianchou's gaze swept over the people present one by one.

"What do you all think of this place?" Qu Qianchou's eyes gleamed with shrewdness, as if he wanted to see through everyone present. His words carried a strange, profound meaning, as if he were testing everyone's reaction.

Li Guangling and Ji Yizhi both remained silent. The size of the palace already demonstrated Qu Qianchou's ambition, and they knew that it was not advisable to say anything more at this moment, lest they bring about their own demise.

Kongming smiled slightly and replied, "Fengling Pass under General Qu's rule is indeed prosperous and thriving, truly a paradise. However, it is ultimately just a prefecture, and this palace is merely an empty shell!"

"Oh!"

Qu Qianchou narrowed his eyes, staring at the young man holding a feather fan in front of him. Logically speaking, with Li Guangling present, it was not his turn to speak, while Li Guangling and Ji Yizhi remained silent as if they were mute.

May I ask your name?

With a smile on his face and a calm demeanor, Kongming said in a low voice, "I am Zhuge Kongming, the immortal master accompanying the prince. I have come here today hoping to devise a grand plan with General Qu."