The wish transformed into substance, and the gods and ghosts in the book manifested in reality, indistinguishable from the real gods and ghosts in the world!
The armies of the southern and northern deserts halted abruptly as they advanced, their steeds stopping short. Witnessing dragons roaring and countless heavenly soldiers and generals manifesting from thin air, their expressions were beyond shock. Even the shamanic sorcerers who were unleashing powerful spells and displaying their might were stunned.
"Kill!"
A voice erupted from among the heavenly soldiers and generals. It wasn't the voice of any single individual, but rather the lines from the book that had been imbued into these illusory heavenly generals. They had appeared solely for battle, devoid of any other thought!
The heavenly soldiers swarmed forward. With the destiny of a great nation as their pillar, the Shun Tian Prefecture now had millions of citizens. This immense collective wish, much like the actions of Prince Lu in the past, could directly foster an incense immortal if all of it were gathered. It was more than enough to support the combat of wish-driven divine generals below the immortal realm!
They were written into books and forcefully propagated through the court's promotion. The seven years of the Korean War were widely known. Coupled with the gradual manifestation of various gods and demons in Shun Tian Prefecture, vying for incense, people began to have more choices in their deities. With the assurance of these gods and demons, some naturally started to believe in the divine generals from the book.
Clouds manifested above the heads of the heavenly generals, accompanied by continuous thunderous echoes from the unseen. They bore the seals of the nation, and once they engaged in combat, they would receive the blessings of national prestige!
At this moment, the advantage of a great nation's scale was fully displayed. Although the shamanic sorcerers' spells were fierce and broke through the formations of firearms, they proved ineffective against these wish-driven heavenly soldiers who were impossible to kill or erase.
"Divine curses counter firearms, wishes counter divine curses, and firearms counter wishes. I heard that on the Korean battlefield, Japan also used a similar method, killing many of our Ming Dynasty soldiers, which was deeply frustrating. But now that we have truly learned this art, it feels truly exhilarating to use it!"
Even Li Chengliang, whose hair was white and who was on the verge of death, suddenly became spirited as if experiencing a final burst of energy. These wish-formed heavenly soldiers and generals were incredibly effective, simply unkillable. As one batch was dispersed, another would leap from the book, appearing to be endless!
"Not exactly."
Feng Menglong channeled his righteous energy and said to Li Chengliang, "The wish-based magic used by the Japanese seems to differ from ours. Our magic is inferior to theirs."
Liu Mengyin added, "The magic used by Japan when attacking our former homeland of Korea is said to originate from the 'Jin Wu Yu Tu Ji' (Golden Crow Jade Rabbit Collection). The method of forming their wish-driven demons is not just different from ours, but entirely so."
"Our heavenly soldiers and generals appear to be endless, but in reality, they are supported by the wishes of millions of living beings, with national destiny as the cornerstone of their existence. Once someone extensively attacks our cities, slaughters our people, and damages our national destiny, the wishes will disappear, national destiny will decline, and they will gradually become impossible to summon."
"As for the wish-driven demons of the Japanese, we initially believed they were linked to national destiny. However, later intelligence analysis suggested that their wish-driven demons do not require national fortune as support at all. Their root lies solely in the 'Jin Wu Yu Tu Ji'!"
"With this divine book, coupled with Japan's underworld techniques for transforming souls, they can continuously create an army of indestructible demons. Anyone who dies will be collected in the Eastern Underworld, either to become national destiny, support the divine kingdom as ghost soldiers, transform into wish-driven demons, or become vengeful spirits."
Li Chengliang listened, somewhat confused, but grasped the general idea. Seeing his bewilderment, Liu Mengyin's eyes gleamed, and he offered a simple clarification:
"The source of Japan's wishes and their magic lies in transformation."
"Ours, however, relies on support. In essence, it is no different from creating incense gods by attaching the thoughts of the common people to clay statues. We have simply changed the object of this reliance from a small temple to the entire nation."
With this explanation, Li Chengliang finally understood.
Although their outward manifestations were almost identical, the essence of the two magics was vastly different. Ultimately, the 'Jin Wu Yu Tu Ji' was more powerful. The Great Ming was merely forcefully imitating the magic of the 'Jin Wu Yu Tu Ji' with its immense scale.
However, it had to be admitted that the imitation was very successful!
"The heavenly soldiers have repelled the shamans!"
The generals in front saw the shamanic sorcerers retreating steadily. The heavenly soldiers, using an unkillable, unshakeable human wave tactic, surged towards the shamans and began to swarm them. Soon, several who failed to retreat in time were killed. The beasts that had been driven forward, having lost their reason and retaining only instinct, also perished under the "divine wave tactic" of the heavenly soldiers.
The Hongyi Cannons fired again, with the sound of the heavens collapsing and the earth splitting. The shamans suffered heavy losses, and the northern and southern desert legions began to withdraw. This was the nature of nomadic soldiers. When most tribes did not obey an absolutely dominant king but instead formed a loose alliance, fighting independently, once the collapse rate at the forefront exceeded ten percent, what followed was a complete rout!
The leaders of various tribes blamed each other for their incompetence. The leaders of the larger tribes positioned the people of the smaller tribes behind them for cover. Hooves trampled each other, cavalry became severely detached from those behind, and the Mongol warriors descended into chaos. Accompanied by the eruption of firearms and thunder, they completely lost control of the front lines.
With the army of one hundred thousand on the verge of collapse, the leader of the southern desert Mongols stepped forward, demanding that the northern desert Mongols obey their unified command!
"I am Che Leke, Namudai Chechen Khan! The leader of the southern desert, the grandson of Anda Khan, and the third Shunyi King! You must obey our command if we are to have any chance of winning this battle!"
The Khan of the southern desert Mongols possessed great appeal and quickly stabilized the retreating intentions of the southern desert Mongol soldiers. However, the northern desert tribes remained on the verge of collapse. The sounds of firearms from the front grew closer, the shamanic sorcerers were already fleeing, and the heavenly soldiers and generals, surging like a tide, were approaching, accompanied by an extremely powerful and vast cloud of energy!
It was the National Array Cloud!
When a nation faces a major event, it is in its rituals and its military. During wartime, national destiny converges, and if it lingers, it transforms into an array cloud! Soldiers under the coverage of the array cloud possessed strong combat capabilities. Only powerful legions filled with elite soldiers and strong generals, blessed by national destiny, would manifest an array cloud!
"What is the origin of these heavenly soldiers? Aren't they fictional things! How can they have a National Array Cloud! We haven't seen this in so many years!"
Beside the Khan of the southern desert, an old soldier's expression was filled with terror. In the past, he had served the Eastern Royal Court and had the fortune to witness the Qi family army, which had manifested a similar array cloud back then!
But apart from this, the Ming Dynasty's other military preparations were lax, and most legions could not condense such an array cloud. In fact, let alone the Ming Dynasty, even the Mongols were the same. Even during the eras of Anda Khan in the south and Tumen Khan in the east, it could only be said that the Mongols' military strength had slightly improved, being completely incomparable to the legions of the Yuan Dynasty. Such things as array clouds were only possessed by legions during the founding of a dynasty or in times of chaos.
Even the Ming Dynasty was astonished. Those soldiers looked up at the gathering array cloud with surprise. This was the first time they had seen national destiny transform into such a form. Even Li Chengliang widened his cloudy old eyes.
"Qi Jiguang!"
A name that had disappeared many years ago resurfaced in his mind. Back then, the Li family army and the Qi family army competed for merit, but in terms of both fame and combat capability, the Li family army was slightly inferior. And at that time, he had seen this condensed battle cloud.
The National Array Cloud, a cloud of national destiny condensed only by the elite of the elite, meant that the existence of this legion was like an unshakeable pillar of the nation. Similarly, the nation would provide them with maximum feedback and blessings.
When elite soldiers are defeated, the nation is on the verge of collapse and extinction.
Namudai Chechen Khan's expression also became solemn. Even if he hadn't seen this thing, he knew it was not to be trifled with. At this moment, the leaders of the northern desert Mongols began to stir:
"Che Leke! Stop issuing condescending orders! Everyone knows you have engaged in multiple trade exchanges with the Ming Dynasty and have been secretly exchanging glances. Your brother, Namur, the Balda Taiji of the Five Roads, is even a Dragon Tiger General of the Ming Dynasty, a high-ranking official of the second rank. Only a regional leader under the Ming Dynasty's suzerainty is qualified to be awarded such a title. Those at the same level as your brother, within the vicinity of the Great Ming, are only Nurhaci of the Jianzhou Guard!"
"Now that the northern desert has collapsed, you still want our command. I fear that when you are unable to win, you will directly hand us over to mend relations with the Ming Dynasty and show mutual friendship!"
The leaders of the northern desert did not trust the Khan of the southern desert. Ultimately, they were afraid of being unified or eliminated by the other party!
Namudai Chechen Khan's face turned extremely grim, and he angrily rebuked:
"Even if I wanted to eliminate you, I wouldn't use such despicable means at this time! Besides, as the Khan of the southern desert, I have personally taken the field. Where is your northern desert Khan, Abatai!"
The Khan of the northern desert was not present in this battle, and the leaders of the northern desert tribes suddenly fell silent. Namudai Chechen Khan sneered, "Did your northern desert's advance this time not receive Abatai's orders!"
"So that's how it is. You want to seize the encampment site of the Eastern Royal Court first. After Buyan went missing, some of you also wanted to declare yourselves king!"
"The Outer Khalkha Seven Tribes, with you gluttons, you are not worth me using any tricks to kill you! If you don't want to die now, follow me!"
Seeing that the battle situation had completely tilted in favor of the Ming Dynasty, Namudai Chechen Khan made a decisive move, pulling on his reins and shouting:
"All retreat, withdraw! Regroup and fight again!"
In an instant, ten thousand horses galloped. The cavalry covering the left and right flanks turned their horses and retreated. The southern desert army did not linger, returning to reorganize and try again. This battle had been completely abandoned by them!
The remnants of the northern desert army, seeing that the situation was irrecoverable, could only tuck their tails and follow the southern desert legions in their retreat. However, the pursuit speed of the heavenly soldiers soon turned this retreat into a great escape!
The Ming army fired cannons from behind, pursuing for dozens of miles and firmly occupying the encampment site of the Eastern Royal Court. However, the northern and southern desert armies had not yet completely withdrawn from this area. The territory controlled by the Eastern Royal Court was vast, spanning three hundred thousand square kilometers. This battle was destined to be a long tug-of-war.
"This battle will not end until the Mongols completely withdraw from the Eastern Royal Court, but we do not have the luxury of time to engage in constant probing back and forth with them."
Li Chengliang appeared half-dead, but his orders were extremely resolute. Every day the war in the Eastern Royal Court dragged on was an additional burden on national strength. The war had to be concluded quickly, and this land had to be firmly held.
"They have retreated into a valley, which was the site of the Fuyu Guard during the Hongwu era. It is now long abandoned and has been occupied by the Eastern Royal Court as its encampment for many years. Organize the incorporated Mongol cavalry, at least three legions of three thousand men each, along with five thousand Liaodong iron cavalry and Franji cannons. Prepare for a flanking attack tonight."
With over ten thousand cavalry, supported by the heavenly soldier legions and fierce firearms, as long as they could encircle the enemy at the first opportunity, they could annihilate them in the valley!
That night, dark clouds gathered, and not a single star was visible. The earth-shattering cries of battle suddenly appeared at the site of the Fuyu Guard. Blood flowed like a river across the Tongliao land, and smoke and gunpowder covered the heavens and the earth. The heavenly soldiers surged into the mountains, into the rivers, and onto the grasslands. Namudai Chechen Khan, who was preparing to rest, awoke amidst the thunderous roar of cannons and began to organize his army for a breakthrough!
However, on the route of retreat, tens of thousands of cavalry suddenly appeared, carrying small Franji cannons, completely blocking the path of retreat!
...
Several days later, in Shun Tian Prefecture, Liaodong cavalry bound a tall Mongol man and brought him outside the Forbidden City. He was dumbfounded as he saw the Forbidden City ascend into the sky and transform into a heavenly city.
In these short few years, what incredible events had transpired on this land?
The world had changed, and this was beyond his comprehension. When Emperor Wanli received him in the new palace, Namudai Chechen Khan could only offer a wry smile.
The Khan of the southern desert Mongols was captured alive, the Khan of the Eastern Royal Court had vanished without a trace, and the nation had collapsed. Two-thirds of the Eastern Royal Court fell into the hands of the Ming Dynasty, while the remaining one-third was occupied by the belatedly arriving northern desert Mongols.
"Now, only Abatai, the Khan of the northern desert, and Wa'er Khan remain among the Khans of Mongolia. It is a pity that he did not lead his army to seize our former lands of the Central Plains, otherwise, he would be your companion today."
Emperor Wanli was in excellent spirits, and Namudai Chechen Khan sighed, "Although two of the three Khans are gone, the northern desert is the origin of my Mongol people. You will not be able to eliminate them so easily. Rather, they will soon become a plague for you."
"You mean the Tibetan lamas? They cannot act now. Someone has given them orders."
Emperor Wanli clasped his hands behind his back, "The nation truly does not have the spare energy to deal with the northern desert now, but that is not important. To have regained the former lands of the Tang Dynasty in the Central Plains is enough."
Namudai Chechen Khan's expression changed drastically, "You did this? The Esoteric Buddhist lamas dare not advance eastward... but what did you do?"