Summoning from Another World: Starting with the Great Han Chess Master's Reduction of the Feuda

"Good lad, you've grown so tall in two years." Li Han, a fierce general from Jizhou, patted Liu Xiao on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

"What level has he reached in the Suoyang Skill?" Li Han's expression suddenly changed, and he asked Liu Xiao with schadenfreude. Li Han was the adopted son of the previous King of Ji, and he and the current King of Ji, Liu Yuping, were sworn brothers. The two of them had also suffered greatly from this skill when they were young.

"The fifth floor," Liu Xiao said helplessly, his face filled with despair.

"Good lad, I didn't start eating meat until I was eighteen back then, and your father did too."

"Cough cough cough, Shenzhi, don't talk nonsense about things you don't understand." The old man coughed to interrupt Li Han's incessant chatter, meeting the old man's unfriendly gaze. This kid's courtesy name was a waste.

The group disembarked from their carriages; they had come to Nanshan for sightseeing at Liu Xiao's strong suggestion. As soon as they got out, Athena grabbed Liu Xiao and started playing with him like a wild horse. The others didn't pay much attention; with Hestia with them, there was no danger to harm them.

Roar! A tiger's roar that shook the mountains and forests was heard. Liu Xiao and Athena had not run far when a striped tiger pounced on them. Athena's face was pale, but she still protected Liu Xiao behind her. Hestia gathered her inner strength and wanted to kill the tiger with one palm.

Unexpectedly, the tiger seemed startled and only ran away. Even after being struck by Hestia's palm, it was only knocked away and staggered to its feet before continuing to run in another direction.

Whoosh! Suddenly, a large head with dragon's head and deer antlers sprang out of the woods. Its body, stronger and more well-proportioned than a steed, shot towards the tiger like a golden light. The tiger, in despair, brandished its claws and pounced at the Qilin, but only left a few shallow marks on its golden scales. Bang! Bang! The Qilin leaped up and stomped on the tiger. One was fierce and powerful, the other auspicious and radiant. In an instant, they were locked in combat. However, anyone could see that the tiger was already at its last gasp.

Hestia: What?

"Liu Xiao, Liu Xiao, what kind of animal is this?" Athena's face was still slightly pale, but she held Liu Xiao's hand and asked curiously.

"A Qilin, perhaps?" Liu Xiao stared at the fight with curiosity.

"But isn't the Qilin only found in mythology?" Athena was even more puzzled.

When the King of Ji and his entourage rushed over, they saw a tiger lying on the ground, spitting blood and lifeless, and a Qilin gently nudging Liu Xiao with its large head.

"What the hell is this?" Li Han unusually used a few elegant words.

"Xiao'er, what is this?" The old man glanced at Athena, who had rushed into Shen Qingjue's arms, and then at Liu Xiao, who was stroking the Qilin's big head, and asked in confusion.

"This is Taiping. Seeing my wisdom and might, it wanted to join my ranks. Oh, it's a Qilin." Liu Xiao rubbed the Qilin's big head and showed off smugly.

"Young Liu, good nephew, give me this Qilin, and I'll trade you my mansion in exchange," Li Han said, his eyes shining as he looked at the majestic Qilin.

"Let Dad ride it too. I've raised you for a thousand days, now's your chance to use you!" Liu Yuping shamelessly came over. He had been wandering the martial world for many years, and the only time he had ever seen such a majestic mount was with Yi Jiangjiu, the Breaking Wave Spear God of the Dayi Dynasty, a strange beast called the Water-Dividing Azure Scale Beast.

"Roar!" The Qilin seemed to understand human speech. Seeing the curious and inquisitive looks from everyone, it couldn't help but shiver and let out a low, warning growl before lying down in front of Liu Xiao.

Liu Xiao wasn't afraid and simply flipped over and sat down.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on awakening the skill, Saintly Talent...]

----------

The emperor of the Great Liang Dynasty was incompetent, indulging in pleasure all day long and entrusting all state affairs to a group of eunuchs. This caused widespread discontent within and outside the court. Those who were fair and capable were sidelined, those who were loyal and spoke frankly were exiled, those who held great military power and harbored ambitions were won over, and those who were sycophantic and oppressed the people were promoted. Rebellions broke out everywhere, and the Khitans also attacked the borders, but could not conquer them after a long siege. Their Khan, Wanyan Aguda, used a counter-espionage scheme to bribe the powerful eunuchs Zhao Rang and Zhang Zhong. As a result, the veteran general Yuan Anguo was escorted to the capital by imperial decree. The soldiers, disheartened, either hid or fled. The first line of defense for Great Liang, Cangshan, fell.

The second pass, Haishan Pass, was guarded by Wu Fumu, who had obtained his position by currying favor with those in power. Upon hearing that his beloved concubine in the capital had been forcibly taken away by Zhao Rang's adopted son, he decided to raise an army and surrender to the Khitan under the pretext of "raging for his beloved." He killed several loyal generals.

The world was in an uproar. Several people who were commanding troops outside the capital, such as Geng Beiguo, Shang Nima, and Kong Wude, were persuaded by Wu Fumu to join the Khitan.

The Khitan cavalry galloped across the plains, rampaging through the white mountains and black soil, burning, killing, and looting. When their army reached the third pass guarding the capital, the court was utterly thrown into panic. The emperor, who had been kept in the dark and indulging in pleasure, suddenly felt as if the sky had fallen. All the previous victories had been reported; how could the enemy be so close to the capital now?

When Emperor Liang hurriedly summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures, he sadly discovered that, not only were there few generals who could lead troops into battle, but even the civil officials who could offer advice had been marginalized.

At this critical moment, Gongsun Heshan, the grandson of a veteran general, raised an army under the banner of "Kill the barbarians, reclaim our land, fight for every inch of territory, and safeguard peace." In a short time, he amassed 100,000 people and launched raids on the flanks and rear of the Khitan front. After several minor victories, the morale of the people of Daliang was rekindled, and countless rebel armies sprang up. Some ambitious individuals, seeking personal gain, incited radicals to storm government offices, seize weapons, kill corrupt officials, and massacre powerful families.

Meanwhile, the Khitan rallied their forces, dividing their army into five routes, each led by Wanyan Aguda, Wanyan Wugumai, Nurhaci, Wanyan Yiqi, and Yelü Yegu. They mobilized 15 elite troops, along with 20 elderly, weak, and ordinary soldiers, claiming to have a mighty army of 50, and marched towards Daliang in a grand and imposing manner.

Wanyan Aguda and Nurhaci were both characters who appeared out of nowhere when Liu Xiao first arrived in this other world, while Wanyan Wugumai was brought out by Wanyan Aguda. All three were famous generals with outstanding military achievements in history. Wanyan Yiqi and Yelü Yegu were native talents of the Khitan forces. Wanyan Yiqi was a veteran general of the Khitan royal family. Before Wanyan Aguda and others showed their talents, he was known as the number one general of the Khitan. Yelü Yegu was the number one general of the Jurchen tribe, which was a vassal of the Khitan.

Emperor Liang, heeding slanderous words, simultaneously sent envoys to cede territory to the Khitan to sue for peace while also hunting down and killing rebel forces. He also deployed a large number of troops to besiege Gongsun Heshan's army, an action that deeply wounded the hearts of the old ministers who remained loyal to Liang. The Grand Censor Jin Zhongyan resigned and left, the old Prime Minister Xia Gu committed suicide by crashing into the Golden Palace, and Consort De hanged herself, yet none of this could change Emperor Liang's will to live.

Finally, the Liang emperor ceded territory and paid reparations, and the Great Liang Dynasty, which once possessed eleven provinces, completely declined. Gongsun Shanhe occupied two provinces, the various rebel armies occupied two more, while the Khitans obtained three provinces. For a time, the Great Liang was left with only the four southernmost provinces.

Meanwhile, the forces that had conquered the three regions were not in a hurry to launch an attack on Daliang. Wanyan Aguda continued to win over eunuchs and treacherous officials to divide the internal forces of Daliang, while also sending spies to spread rumors and create panic, and assassinating leaders of righteous armies and loyal ministers of Daliang in various places.

Meanwhile, Wanyan Aguda turned his military focus and led his army south to Goguryeo, intending to join forces with Oda Nobunaga, the daimyo of Japan who landed from the southeast of Goguryeo, to divide Goguryeo.

Meanwhile, the Great Qian and the Great Han also began their national war.