Tianshui Commandery.
The ancient city emanated desolation, and the bleak, cold wind swept across the barren land.
On the square of the North Gate of Tianshui Commandery, Lu Kang and Gao Shun stood firmly atop the tall city walls. Below them, ten thousand troops had assembled, primarily composed of the Trapped Formation Camp and elite troops from Eastern Wu.
Although the provincial capital of Liangzhou had a garrison of thirty thousand Heavenly Fire troops, strength lay not in numbers but in quality. The eight hundred soldiers of the Trapped Formation Camp, each at the eighth layer of Nascent Yuan, could, when combined with military formations, slaughter low-level Xiantian realm cultivators!
The ten thousand troops possessed a magnificent and earth-shattering aura. Even if they faced a sea of blades and fire ahead, they would show no fear!
"We pay our respects to the General!"
The ten thousand troops, as one, knelt on one knee with a thunderous roar!
Lu Kang gazed at the ten thousand soldiers below. Suddenly, he felt as if he were commanding an army in his previous life. An aura of conquering the world instantly surged within him.
"All soldiers, please rise. The Heavenly Fire army is advancing aggressively, pressing upon our territory. Soldiers, how can we tolerate others snoring on our very beds!"
Lu Kang, with his Xiantian ninth-layer strength, circulated his power, his voice like a bell, resonating in all directions!
"Unacceptable! Unacceptable!"
The ten thousand soldiers roared madly!
"Soldiers, the land beneath your feet can no longer endure the ravages of war. Do you wish to see such a tragedy unfold in the north?"
Lu Kang shouted loudly!
"We do not wish it!"
The ten thousand soldiers' voices thundered, shaking all the common people of Tianshui Commandery from their slumber.
Such a powerful army was rarely seen in a lifetime!
"General Gao Shun, announce the Lord's decree!"
Lu Kang instructed Gao Shun in a low voice, observing how the morale of the soldiers below had been greatly boosted, their spirits soaring, their resolve hardened – they were ready for battle!
"All soldiers, heed my command!"
Gao Shun's shout shook the four directions.
Boom!
The ten thousand soldiers knelt on one knee with a resounding crash.
"The Lord's decree: The Heavenly Fire army disobeys the royal command, openly tramples on the laws of the imperial court, plunders cities, oppresses the populace, and further threatens the safety of southern Liangzhou!"
"Now, we raise an army under the royal command, carrying the wishes of the people of Liangzhou, to march north and annihilate the Heavenly Fire rebels, to quell the chaos in Liangzhou in one battle, and restore peace to the realm!"
Clang!
As Gao Shun's words fell, Lu Kang drew the long sword at his waist: "By the Lord's decree, we raise an army to march north and punish the Heavenly Fire rebel army!"
"Move out!"
His long sword pointed directly north of the provincial capital!
"Kill! Kill! Kill! We obey the Prefect's order and swear to exterminate the Heavenly Fire rebels!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill! We obey the Prefect's order and swear to exterminate the Heavenly Fire rebels!"
The ten thousand troops roared with sky-piercing killing intent. Their furious roars churned the dark clouds overhead!
The army set off, their momentum magnificent, the earth trembling, and dust soaring to the heavens!
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The Governor's Mansion in the provincial capital of Liangzhou.
"Great Elder, what are your thoughts on the situation in southern Liangzhou?"
Tian Yun Huo, the sect master of the Heavenly Fire Dao and a Xiantian ninth-layer expert, sat at the head of the table. Below him, the high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Fire Dao were seated on both sides.
"Sect Master, in my opinion, our Heavenly Fire army now dominates southern Yongzhou and northern Liangzhou, with high morale. We should press our advantage and sweep across Xiliang!"
"According to the intelligence gathered by the scouts sent south, the military commander of Longxi Commandery is at the Xiantian sixth layer, commanding ten thousand troops."
"The commander of Beidi Commandery is at the Xiantian fifth layer, commanding ten thousand troops. The commander of Tianshui Commandery is at the Xiantian ninth layer, with one thousand soldiers."
As the Great Elder of the Heavenly Fire Dao finished speaking, a mocking voice interjected: "Only a thousand men? Hmph, hmph, hmph. Sect Master, give me ten thousand troops, and I will capture Tianshui within three days."
"Do not underestimate these thousand men!"
The Great Elder snorted, "Ma Sanye, the leader of the Xiliang bandits, met his end at the hands of these thousand troops!"
"What? Ma Sanye died at their hands?"
"Impossible! He was a Xiantian ninth-layer expert with tens of thousands of bandits under him. How could this be?"
"Hmph! The fact is as stated!" the Great Elder stated directly.
He stood up and paced, "Sect Master, in my view, we should have the Second Elder lead ten thousand troops across the great river to sneak attack Longxi."
"Then send another general to cross the Wuling Mountain range and sneak attack Beidi from the northeast of Tianshui. At that time, Tianshui will be like a besieged city, falling without a fight!"
"Good, excellent. You must not underestimate the strength in the south. If they could crush the rampaging bandits of Xiliang in a few days, they must possess extraordinary abilities."
"Since you joined me in this undertaking, you have been loyal and dedicated. Everyone, this battle to annex Xiliang, we shall share the spoils!"
Tian Huo Yun, the sect master of the Heavenly Fire Dao, smiled, a hint of killing intent in his eyes.
"Second Elder, heed my command. I order you to lead ten thousand troops to strike directly at Longxi. Protector Elder, lead ten thousand troops to sneak attack Beidi. The rest of you will follow me as we advance towards Tianshui!"
"We obey the Sect Master's command!"
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On the bank of a mighty river, ten thousand troops stood in perfect formation.
"General Lu Kang, we are approaching the provincial capital of Liangzhou."
Gao Shun took out a map and gestured on it.
Tramp, tramp, tramp~~
Neigh, neigh~
"Report, General! Two armies have emerged from the city gates. Their direction of march indicates they are heading for Longxi and Beidi!"
A scout on a swift horse reported.
"Hahaha, General Gao, the tiger's mouth has opened. We just need to wait for the prey to fall into our trap. We must also accelerate our advance!"
"Inform the entire army to proceed at full speed. We must encamp on the plains outside the provincial capital tonight!"
Lu Kang looked at the map in Gao Shun's hand, his heart filled with joy. All the marching plans of the Heavenly Fire Dao were under his control.
"As you command!"
The scout spurred his warhorse, galloping and roaring: "The General commands, the entire army to proceed at full speed! The General commands, the entire army to proceed at full speed!"
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"Sect Master, something terrible has happened!"
The Great Elder of the Heavenly Fire Dao rushed into the Governor's Mansion in a panic.
"What is it that causes you such alarm!"
Tian Huo Yun, with his eyes closed, spoke unhurriedly.
"A ten-thousand-strong army has suddenly appeared on the plains outside the city!"
The Great Elder's voice was breathless.
"Who is it?"
His closed eyes suddenly snapped open, two flames burning fiercely in his pupils.
"Judging by their banners, it is the unit of Gao Shun from Tianshui Commandery."
The Great Elder lowered his head.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph. I didn't attack him, yet he is so impatient. Order the entire army to be on alert. No one is to attack without my command!"
Tian Huo Yun stood up and walked to the Great Elder's side: "Go and gather all the northern armies. Send reinforcements quickly. I am not in a hurry, but he is impatient. Since you wish to die, I will fulfill your wish!"
"Yes!"
The Great Elder said urgently.
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The plains outside the provincial capital.
"Notify the entire army to construct a curved defensive fortification, a thousand li long and wide, on this plain. It will extend from the Wuling Mountains in the east to the great river in the west."
Lu Kang looked at the map in his hand, pondered for a long time, and said with a serious tone.
Gao Shun heard this and looked puzzled: "General Lu, after a thousand-li forced march, why not wait for the enemy to be caught off guard and directly..."
As Gao Shun spoke, he made a gesture across his neck with his right hand.
"No, the provincial capital is no ordinary city. Its walls are thick and sturdy, and two Xiantian ninth-layer experts are stationed there, with considerable strength."
"General Gao, you will supervise the army in building the fortifications according to my plan. This battle, I not only want to sweep across Xiliang, but I want to swallow the entire Heavenly Fire Dao in one gulp." Su Dan Novel Network
Lu Kang's eyes narrowed, and Yuanneng constantly flashed rapidly between his fingers and palms.