Observing Xian Zhen's retreating figure, Yang Hao exclaimed, "The combat power of the Xuanwu Legion will surely advance further!"
"System, use the power of reincarnation to summon!"
With a glance, Yang Hao closed Xian Zhen's profile. The figure in the long river of history within the Reincarnation Xuanhuang Pagoda then dissipated.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully deducting four million seven hundred thousand points of reincarnation power. The system begins summoning!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully summoning a peerless fierce general from the river of history – the Divine General – Li Siyi!"
Li Siyi?
Yang Hao looked at the figure. The Divine General Li Siyi, skilled in the Mo Dao (Mò Dāo), had even formed the Mo Dao Army. Whenever he went into battle, he always led the charge. There was a saying that perfectly encapsulated his extraordinary bravery and combat power:
"When Siyi wields his blade, men and horses alike shatter!"
"View the detailed information of the Divine General – Li Siyi!"
"Name: Li Siyi"
"Dynasty: Tang Dynasty"
"Cultivation: Sixth layer of Minor Celestial Venerable!"
"Cultivation Technique: Mo Yan Immortal Art!"
"Accompanying Troop Type: Peerless Troop – One hundred thousand Mo Dao Elite Soldiers!"
Experience: Li Siyi stood seven feet tall and possessed extraordinary strength.
During the Kaiyuan era, Li Siyi accompanied the Anxi Protectorate and was ordered to campaign against the ten-tribe chieftain, Sulu. He charged into battle, scaled castles to capture enemies, and took numerous enemy soldiers captive.
In the sixth year of Tianbao, Gao Xianzhi was ordered to lead an army to attack the Kingdom of Lesser Bolü. Li Siyi accompanied the army. He led infantry up high mountains, pushing stones down to crush the Tubo army. He single-handedly carried a large banner and charged into perilous paths, causing the Tubo army to suffer a great defeat. This battle, which shook the Western Regions, pacified the Kingdom of Lesser Bolü, and seventy-two nations including Fulin and the Great Food Kingdom submitted to the Tang Dynasty.
In the second year of Zhide, Li Siyi accompanied Prince Guangping, Li Yu, to retake Chang'an. As the great battle began, Li Siyi stood at the front of the formation, shouting loudly and bravely killing the enemy. The enemies struck by Li Siyi's blade had their men and horses shattered. It was also in this battle that the Tang army recaptured Chang'an, and later, Luoyang.
In the second year of Qianyuan, Li Siyi and Guo Ziyi besieged Xiangzhou. He was struck by a stray arrow and injured, lying in his tent to recuperate. Unexpectedly, the battle recommenced, and Li Siyi shouted to kill the enemy, causing his wound to rupture and leading to his death from severe bleeding.
"Enfeoffment! Xian Zhen is appointed Commander of the Xuanwu Legion, effective immediately!"
"Enfeoffment! Li Siyi is appointed Deputy General of the Third Army of the Qilin Legion!"
…
"National Preceptor!"
"Years ago, in Zhulu City, you divined the destiny of the realm and said I was a convergence of nine dragons, destined to command the armies of an era. It was upon hearing your words that I defied my master's dying wish and established this Zhulu Immortal Dynasty!"
"And now!"
"What? You say the destiny has changed, the Western Frontier's dragon脉 (lóngmài - dragon脉) is in flux, and it will inevitably be three destructions before one can converge. Even if I believe your divination, you claim my imperial destiny is exhausted and the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty's collapse is predetermined!"
"This time, I will defy fate!"
"Without your guidance, I may not be able to mobilize those few individuals, but I still have my entire court and dozens of Minor Celestial Venerable experts. The Great Han! It is not yet its final moment; I will never surrender!"
Xianyu, with eyes red, gazed at the National Preceptor Bu Xing, who was clad in hemp. Seeing Bu Xing, whose eyes remained closed and face filled with disappointment, Xianyu knew that this time, Bu Xing, who had always aided him, would no longer do so. The destiny revealed by divination was unchangeable, and Bu Xing would surely adhere to it!
"National Preceptor!"
"Please, just watch closely. My Zhulu Immortal Dynasty's fate is far more than these few short years!"
With that, Xianyu left the National Preceptor's mansion and personally led a million troops towards the northern frontier.
"Alas!"
On the walls of the Holy City, Bu Xing held a turtle shell and moved slowly, his eyes carrying a hint of weariness. He paused, gazing at the starry sky. "Destiny is predetermined by the Great Dao. Why do you persist, Xianyu?"
"The Western Frontier's imperial destiny lies in the west, not the east, and certainly not in my southern Zhulu. You are about to destroy Zhulu's entire foundation!"
"The Great Han Divine Emperor Yang Hao, his destiny, this old man cannot fathom. His fate is not within the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, yet it is inextricably intertwined with them. Alas..."
…
"Commander, according to intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty's Immortal Emperor Xianyu has personally led his troops into battle, amassing three million elite soldiers of his dynasty. They reached the border yesterday!"
At the border between the Great Han Divine Dynasty and the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty, a massive city separated the two territories. Zhebie, the Commander of the Kui Niu Legion, stood tall and stern on the city walls, clad in dark green armor.
The crucial task of suppressing Zhulu and unifying the Western Frontier had been entrusted to him by Yang Hao. Zhebie did not take this battle against the Zhulu Immortal Dynasty lightly. However, having been in existence for some time without any significant achievements, he felt somewhat unable to stand tall among the powerhouses of various eras.
Beside him, Fu Youde spoke with a grave expression. Zhebie, though of Mongolian descent from the desert, commanded his utmost respect as a general, irrespective of race. Genghis Khan's arrows had swept across Europe and Asia. Regardless of the strength of the European and Asian nations at the time, such achievements were rarely seen throughout history.
"Xianyu personally leading the troops indicates that the pressure exerted by our armies has not achieved the desired effect. However, his personal arrival means we can resolve the southern territories of the Western Frontier in one decisive battle."
Zhebie's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, as if he could peer through thousands of miles to observe the Zhulu army's situation.
"His Majesty initially intended for Zhulu to submit and peacefully absorb the hundred-plus Dao Provinces in the south. But now, it seems Xianyu cannot recognize the current situation in the Western Frontier. Even Hengtian is insufficient to resist our Great Han's Iron Lions. The Zhulu Immortal Dynasty, heh!" Fu Youde shook his head. In his view, Xianyu was merely seeking a struggle, but the prerequisite for such a struggle was at least parity between the two sides.
Yet, the current Great Han Divine Dynasty had swept through Hengtian, subdued Qingxuan, and held two-thirds of the Western Frontier's territory. What could Zhulu use to contend with the Great Han for the Western Frontier?
"Throughout history, which emperor willingly relinquished their power?"
"This plane is no exception. Although this world esteems realm and strength as paramount, the imperial aura and the luck of a nation are not things any being can enjoy. Xianyu, this newly appointed Immortal Emperor, is he willing to give it up just like that?" Zhebie spoke.
"If you ask me, we should just charge forward and slaughter the city!"
His majestic, domineering, and bloodthirsty tone revealed the terror of the Mongolian cavalry of that era. The Mongolian cavalry had ravaged the Jin and Southern Song dynasties and even reached Europe, leaving a trail of blood and mountains of corpses. Any resistance, any displeasure, and they would directly slaughter the city, severing your vital forces.
"Commander!"
Fu Youde's face turned cold, and he shook his head.
While the Great Han's expeditions were also bloody, they distinguished their enemies. Slaughtering cities was too cruel.
"General Fu need not be so concerned. I was merely speaking my mind."