Shuntian Prefecture, Grand Master Zhang sensed the sudden disappearance of a vast national destiny. It was the Tatar tribes that had been entrenched near Liaodong, the very place where the Tatar royal court was established, almost severing Jianzhou from the Ming mainland.
"The Eastern Royal Court... is destroyed?"
Although the Eastern Royal Court's national destiny was not abundant or vast, its existence had been for a very long time. It had been nearly a hundred years since the Eastern Royal Court migrated to the vicinity of Liaodong. During this period, although powerful Khans had emerged from the northern and southern deserts, none had been able to completely control the Eastern Royal Court.
Now, this powerful force, like an iron nail deeply embedded in the border of Liaodong, had vanished like this?
Not just Grand Master Zhang.
Not just the Mongol tribes of the northern and southern deserts.
In Joseon, Tian Shen Da Huang Luo, who now managed affairs there, sensed the disappearance of a long-existing national destiny in the far west. In Jianzhou Guard, many horse-riding immortals within the Changbai Mountains, as well as the shamanic sorcerers residing in Jianzhou, also sensed the disappearance of the Eastern Royal Court. They were greatly astonished because Nurhaci had once attempted to subdue the Eastern Royal Court and had clashed with them multiple times to demonstrate the bravery of Jianzhou Guard.
But now, the Royal Court was destroyed?
Overseas in Japan, even in the secluded Divine Kingdom, Xu Fu sensed the disappearance of a nation.
After all, the Eastern Royal Court had a glorious history dating back to the Yuan Dynasty and was deeply intertwined with the national destiny of the Central Plains.
"Has it begun? Nations are continuously perishing, who will be next?"
At the cusp of an era of change, some nations would inevitably be destroyed for various reasons.
There were not many Eastern nations, mainly because the Ming Dynasty's scale was too vast. The long-standing unification of the Central Plains dynasties, spanning thousands of years, had firmly controlled the entire Eastern land in its grasp. In some eras, even present-day Annan, Joseon, and other tributary states were part of their vast territory.
The immense national strength squeezed the weaker neighboring states, making it difficult for too many small nations to emerge in this land.
"Therefore, even Japan, Joseon, Annan, or the northern and southern deserts, the Eastern Royal Court... none of them had a scale as vast as the Ming Dynasty. In the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, perhaps we were truly small nations."
"But if placed in the entire human world, this would absolutely not be considered small."
"Once a certain force perishes and its destiny dissipates, large tracts of vacant land will inevitably appear... It has been a long time since such a thing has happened."
The region where the Eastern Royal Court was destroyed saw no involvement of any nation's national destiny. Shuntian Prefecture of the Ming Dynasty was the closest to the Eastern Royal Court, and thus, among the various powers, it made the decision first.
"This is not called plundering! This is called reclaiming former Tang territory!"
"Order Li Chengliang to dispatch the Liaodong Iron Cavalry to immediately occupy the Eastern Royal Court!"
Li Chengliang had recently been reinstated. Although he was advanced in age, and the event of a white-haired person sending off a black-haired one had made him increasingly gaunt, as if he could die at any moment, the old general's operational capability remained high. Upon receiving the order from Shuntian, he dispatched the Liaodong Iron Cavalry almost simultaneously, heading towards the region of the Eastern Royal Court.
At the same time, the Mongol tribes of the northern deserts raised large armies and marched to plunder the region of the Eastern Royal Court!
The Mongol tribes of the southern deserts reacted more slowly but also mobilized troops and generals within a few days. Simultaneously, a legion emerged from the Changbai Mountains, marching covertly and at full speed towards the Eastern Royal Court region!
Boom!
The roar of cannons shook the battlefield. Although a little late, because the Liaodong Iron Cavalry had departed earliest, Li Chengliang ordered the transport of cannons. Upon arriving near the region of the Eastern Royal Court, they discovered the leaders of the Eastern Royal Court heading south. These individuals immediately sold intelligence and loudly declared their willingness to defect to the Ming Dynasty!
Li Chengliang, hearing this, felt a sense of doubt, but the situation was urgent and did not allow for much thought. These royal court leaders informed him that the armies of the northern deserts had already appeared at the location where the royal court was established, less than fifteen li away!
Ming scouts went to investigate, and it did not take much time either!
The two sides had suddenly encountered each other and were engaged in a battle of attrition!
Cannons spewed flames, and the cavalry of the northern deserts were blown to pieces. New weapons began to be equipped, with Thunder Rifles equipped for infantry, and fierce firepower suppressing them from the front, supported by a barrage of rockets and divine fire crows. The battlefield instantly became as lively as a festival, with gunpowder smoke and blood splattering together, thunder and lightning descending from the sky!
"The Ming Dynasty's firearms have changed!"
Before this year, no one had ever seen anything like the Thunder Firearm. In addition to these more peculiar weapons, the barrage of rockets and divine fire crows were already outdated products. The Ming soldiers behind the Thunder Riflemen, each holding a long gun, stood in a line and advanced.
The era of line-up and execution had arrived. The Rumi Muskets achieved extraordinary results in their first large-scale practical combat. The technical level of matchlock guns was a generation higher than that of muzzle-loading guns. The northern deserts, still in a nomadic state, were no match for such fierce firepower.
"Deploy the 'Er Zi Zhen' formation!"
A Ming general shouted loudly.
The 'Er Zi Zhen' formation, when arrayed, had every hundred men form a horizontal line. Three horizontal lines formed the front rank, and three horizontal lines formed the rear rank.
In actual combat, the progressive linkage method was adopted, guided by the captain, and they would move to their combat positions to fire in sequence, without retreating after firing. If the enemy approached, the spear team next to the gun team would engage, and the gun team would continue to fire. If the enemy retreated, they would continue to fire under the captain's guidance.
"Francigun, cover!"
"Raise the Meteor Cannon!"
Some cavalry attempted to charge forward using their speed to break through the formation. Meteor cannons were then brought up, and even if they didn't hit, they could startle the warhorses. This was followed by supplementary fire from various older firearms. Even old items like the three-eyed firearms were not yet useless; they provided fire support during the reloading intervals of the advanced weapons.
Even if someone managed to break through the firepower net and reach them, the old three-eyed firearms could transform into maces, engaging in close-quarters combat.
"Retreat, retreat quickly!"
The leaders of the northern deserts watched as their cavalry fell from their horses like leeks. Compared to the hundred-pace range of arrows, the Rumi Muskets could accurately hit targets from three to four hundred paces away, which was astonishing!
And once someone attempted to use divine power, those seemingly ordinary firearms would immediately unleash lightning!
"There are talismans on the firearms! There are talismans on these firearms! We cannot use divine power or magic!"
The shamans' faces changed drastically. Someone was struck by a Five Thunder Talisman and exploded into pieces in the sky. While the power of a single lightning talisman might not be enough to kill them, dozens of shots fired at a sorcerer were enough to make him feel the majesty of the thunder department.
"Thunder Riflemen, cover the Rumi Riflemen and advance. Cavalry, outflank from both sides, carrying three-eyed firearms for close combat at any time!"
"Francigun cannons, do not stop firing, bombard until they explode!"
The soldiers delivering orders ran barefoot through the battlefield like flying, carrying bursts of lightning and fire. Every messenger in the army was bestowed with the divine position of "Lü Ling" in the thunder department, known as "Lei Gui."
The Lü Ling God, "Ji Ji Ru Lü Ling," was meant to have this minor thunder god deliver messages to higher-level celestial gods, thereby achieving the effect of magical command.
Initially, it was small vanguard tribes that began to flee.
But soon, under the pressure of firepower, the small-scale escape evolved into a large-scale rout!
"Why are you fleeing! How can the Royal Court fall into the hands of the Ming people!"
The leaders behind them, with bristling beards and bulging eyes, demanded that those in front not retreat, but they were met with strong protests from the retreating leaders. They spread their arms, revealing the places injured by arrows and firearms, bloody and mangled. It was considered good if only an arm was hit; some were carried away directly. Although alive, they had been hit in vital spots and were not expected to live long.
"If we advance further, it will be a futile sacrifice. No matter how much we fill, there are not enough lives to fill the gap!"
Unable to break through, unable to bypass, unable to withstand, unable to defend.
There was no way to attack or defend; they were simply living targets. The fallen died like wheat cut by a sickle, bundled and thrown to the ground!
Dong dong dong—!
As the war entered the pursuit phase, the armies of the northern deserts retreated in disarray. However, not long after they left the battlefield, leaving behind tens of thousands of corpses, the legions from the southern deserts arrived. Although the northern and southern deserts did not recognize each other, they were now united against the Ming Dynasty's legions.
The Ming Dynasty also learned of the convergence of the northern and southern deserts. Although they had suppressed the initial attack with powerful firepower and secured their existing territory, many firearms had been rendered useless due to excessive firing.
Without the suppression of a large number of firearms, the enemy's shamanic sorcerers could once again become active, and various strange spells would fill the battlefield, presenting a difficult situation for the Ming army.
"New military supplies are not so easily obtained."
War is about money, grain, and logistics. Now that logistics were interrupted, although it was anticipated to be a tough battle, the arrival from the southern deserts was too fast.
Li Chengliang's gray hair appeared somewhat yellow under the lamplight, like withered grass and trees about to fall in autumn, as if he could breathe his last breath at any moment. He was mentally exhausted but wanted to do something last in this war, as a way to comfort the spirit of his deceased son.
The country had been at war for several years. The Joseon War had lasted for seven years, involving hundreds of thousands of troops. The Bozhou Rebellion and the Ningxia Campaign had also consumed vast amounts of money, grain, and troops. The Three Great Campaigns had almost emptied the national treasury, which was why the idea of stationing large armies in Joseon for farming was also considered to alleviate domestic pressure.
At this point, concepts like military households only serving as soldiers and farming households only farming, the ancestral laws, had all gone out the window. At least, Li Chengliang felt that the current court was like this. As for those censors, they had lost their past spirit of confronting heaven and earth. They dared not utter a word about whatever the emperor wanted to do, fearing being thrown onto the battlefield as cannon fodder.
This country has gone mad.
Not just this country.
The nations of the entire world were on the verge of madness.
The era that should have seen a cessation of hostilities and allowed the people of various nations to recuperate had not arrived; instead, a more intense vortex of conflict had emerged.
Fortunately, the court now had additional methods to supply large quantities of military provisions. The various gods, demons, and ghosts summoned by the "Fengshen Da Ling" were not to be trifled with. They not only manifested everywhere in Shuntian City but also had to use their unique abilities in terms of logistics.
If there was no money, someone could turn stone into gold.
If there was no grain, someone could make flowers bloom instantly.
If there was no iron, someone could point at the earth and turn it into steel.
Where there was drought, flood-controlling dragons were made to channel water to the river mouths, and wind and rain gods stirred up water vapor to create clouds and bring rain.
Where there was an earthquake, mountain gods and earth gods were sent to move mountains and shift stones, and some would even cook stones into fish.
The demands of many cultivators and gods, demons, and ghosts were great, yet also very small! Some sought cultivation environments, some desired guidance from Grand Masters, and some wanted national destiny that would last as long as the nation. In the past, the court had to consider whether to grant them, but now, even if they didn't want it, they would be forcibly seized and given it, just to make them work!
Every nation was racing against time.
The past year had passed.
Nineteen years remained until the descent of the Immortals!
Several days later, the war resumed!
The Mongol tribes of the southern and northern deserts formed a joint army of one hundred thousand men, with imposing momentum and irresistible force. They also agreed to divide the territory of the Eastern Royal Court after the matter was settled, with the southern deserts taking seven parts and the northern deserts taking three, as most of the hundred thousand men were from the southern deserts.
On the Ming side, the surrendered troops of the former Eastern Royal Court were recruited. Mongol cavalry had always been favored by the Ming Dynasty; otherwise, there would not have been formations like the Duoyan Three Guards. Skilled horsemen combined with firearms could unleash immense destructive power!
"Shamans, it is time to overturn the earth, water, fire, and wind!"
The Shamanism of the Mongols had been passed down from ancient times to the present and had not been eradicated by Esoteric Buddhism, naturally possessing its unique aspects. Upon discovering that the suppression from firearms had lessened, the shamans became spirited and began to display their might!
"Why are the masters of Esoteric Buddhism not coming to assist in the battle?"
"The masters over there are all saying that the Great Buddha has decreed that we cannot act rashly!"
"Is that so? What a coincidence! The masters over there are saying the same thing!"
The monks of Esoteric Buddhism had received orders from the great cultivators of the Buddhist sect under the Vajra King, prohibiting them from participating in earthly battles. This was a mandatory order, and the news of the death of the old crimson-robed monk had also been conveyed to them, causing them to tremble. They knew that there were beings in the human world who could kill them like chickens and were not controlled by the heavenly will.
Immortals were rare in the human world, but once encountered, they posed an existential threat to ordinary cultivators who had not ascended to the position of Immortals or Buddhas and did not have the protection of Immortals or Buddhas.
It was known that two Immortals stood with the Ming Dynasty. To avoid provoking further conflict, the foreign monks dared not participate in the battle, but they remained unwilling. Therefore, they taught the shamans some secret incantations.
"So, do not worry, our shamans of the southern deserts all possess the art of breaking all divine powers and breaking firearms!"
"You shamans of the northern deserts, step aside!"
The leaders of the southern deserts were full of confidence in this battle, and the shamans of the southern deserts indeed became the main force in the war!
They chanted secret incantations in unison, causing the thunder magic within the firearms to become ineffective. The Ming army's firearms instantly lost the blessing of the thunder spells, and their lethality was greatly reduced!
"Beasts of the great mountains, come and help us!"
The beasts in the mountains were summoned by the shamans and appeared. Some beasts had already transformed into demons and were incredibly ferocious. Accompanied by the shamans' incantations, they charged forward from all directions as if controlled by their minds. It was evident that the shamans of the southern deserts had captured them in advance and released them all at this moment.
These fierce beasts, as if brainwashed, dared to charge directly at the cannons spewing fire and shaking the heavens. They had lost their fear and become frenzied creatures that only knew how to fight. The Ming army's spearmen and shield bearers defended around them, wielding spears and maces, continuously killing the charging beasts, but the number of beasts did not decrease!
"How many beasts did these guys capture?"
Even the Ming generals gasped, looking at the beast tide phenomenon that could never occur in nature. This was a complete inversion of heaven and earth's natural order. It was as if all the species that existed in the mountains and land within the past ten years had been brought out!
"Shamans are the spirit messengers of the mountains and rivers. Mountains are the bridges between heaven, earth, and man, possessing immense spiritual power in the world!"
The shamans shouted loudly!
"Not just beasts!"
"Fire appears out of nowhere!"
The shamans performed strange dances and chanted bizarre witchcraft incantations. Fierce flames rose from the ground, filling the battlefield with dense gray smoke and radiant flames!
"Fire comes from the heavenly realm, the most sacred, pure, and also the most intimate, capable of cleansing all filth and driving away demons!"
The shamans said proudly.
The Ming army was in a predicament, but at this moment, dragon roars suddenly sounded through heaven and earth.
Li Chengliang, wearing his helmet, looked at the two scholars who had rushed from Shuntian day and night and nodded, saying:
"It's up to the two of you."
"Leave it to us."
Feng Menglong and Liu Mengyin arrived at the Royal Court on the night of the previous two days, and they were carrying a book of gods and ghosts!
"Many gods and cultivators on the Joseon battlefield, as well as those deified by His Majesty after their death, have been recorded. With our artistic embellishments, although only the first volume has been compiled, with the wishes of the people of Shuntian, most of it can be manifested!"
The common people were very interested in this newly printed book of gods and ghosts. Their strong desire to see the next volume gathered, forming a vast vortex of wishes.
Feng Menglong took a deep breath and, with Liu Mengyin, activated the book with their righteous qi, opening it in their hands.
As the pages opened, the wind and clouds suddenly changed, and streams of flowing clouds transformed into qi, floating up to the sky from every page of the book!
"Manifest, all gods, return, heavenly soldiers!"
For a time, countless phantoms descended from the sky, dragons roaring, leading a group of heavenly soldiers and generals to the mortal realm!