The Han Imperial Dynasty’s Han Vengeance Army set out.
In just two days, Kong Xuan occupied Han Destruction City at the border with his army.
Previously, they only used ordinary soldiers. Furthermore, spies had been working with the Wu Imperial Dynasty. Thus, the Han Nation lost five cities.
It was different this time. These were the Han Imperial Dynasty’s most elite soldiers. They did not need strategies or schemes and merely charged in. In just five days, they had recaptured all five cities.
The Han Imperial Dynasty had ruled these five cities for many years, and the cities supported the Han Imperial Dynasty, so retaking the critical positions in the cities went extremely smoothly.
The Divine Demon Army divided into two groups: Gao Xianzhi split his forces into ten divisions, simultaneously attacking ten cities of the Wu Imperial Dynasty. Kong Xuan split his forces into eight divisions, sweeping through everything in their paths.
The eighteen divisions of soldiers easily overwhelmed everything in their way, moving in a straight line with unstoppable momentum. The battle was ferocious and one-sided.
The spies from the surrounding factions felt incredibly shocked. When the Han Nation attacked, they conquered cities with incredible speed.
Such a military force was simply invincible.
Although the cities in Ying Province had many defensive ritual arrays, they faced Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators. Just ten men making multiple strikes sufficed to demolish the barriers.
While the cities had Heavenly Palace Realm defenders, how could they have as many as the Han Imperial Dynasty?
The Han Nation had hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Palace Realm soldiers. Furthermore, Gu Hai had not nurtured them with spirit stones but tempered them in the Asura Path Sect Realm, letting them grow through killing. They were simply hundreds of thousands of grim reapers.
If not for the auxiliary troops failing to keep up, the Han Vengeance Army would have continued heading north.
Sima Changkong knew how ferocious the Han Nation army was and that he could not meet it head-on. He had retreated to Silver Moon City long ago.
Silver Moon City’s city lord’s official residence:
Sima Changkong took out a zither puppet.
“Your Reverence, the Han Imperial Dynasty came attacking with ferocious momentum. We have already lost thirty cities!” Sima Changkong reported respectfully.
On the other side, Martial Heaven City:
Long Shenwu, controlled by Long Sanqian’s souls, turned enraged. “Thirty cities? To think you are not embarrassed to say that when only a few days have passed? What have you done so far?”
Sima Changkong frowned slightly.
When did His Reverence become so hot-tempered? Does he not have any patience? That should not be. If not for his certainty that the zither puppet before him was connected to Long Shenwu, Sima Changkong would think the person on the other side was impersonating Long Shenwu.
“Your Reverence, it is just thirty cities. This official has done nothing for now,” Sima Changkong said with a slight frown.
“You have done nothing? Why?” Long Shenwu said coldly.
“Your Reverence should have already seen the Han Vengeance Army’s declaration of war. The Han Imperial Dynasty holds righteousness on its side as it marches on my Wu Nation. Its morale is high, and the Divine Demon Army has hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Palace Realm soldiers. They are unstoppable. Now that they are showing their sharpness, they are unstoppable. We cannot fight them,” Sima Changkong explained.
“Then we are going to let them conquer the Wu Nation’s cities?” Long Shenwu demanded coldly.
“Your Reverence, this official is waiting for an opportunity,” Sima Changkong explained.
“Opportunity? What opportunity?”
“The Han Vengeance Army has captured thirty cities in a short time. It will immediately slow down and slow even further as time passes,” Sima Changkong said with certainty.
“Why?”
“Because it is easy to capture a city but difficult to take over one.” Sima Changkong smiled.
“Oh?”
“After capturing the city, they have to take over and manage everything in the city. Otherwise, it would be no different from not capturing the city after the soldiers leave. They will need to send people to manage the city. However, the cities are in chaos. How could it be easy to manage? Even if Chen Tianshan has prepared countless reserve officials to manage the cities, they will still need soldiers to suppress the chaos in the city. The Han Vengeance Army will have to leave some people behind to maintain order, as it will take some time for the Han Imperial Dynasty’s various cities to send soldiers over. Hence, it must leave some soldiers behind in every city. The more cities the Han Vengeance Army captures, the fewer the people it will have to attack cities with, so it will slow down. The various cities will wear the Han Vengeance Army down,” Sima Changkong explained.
“That makes sense. However, when the Han Nation’s auxiliary troops arrive, the Han Vengeance Army will still continue to devour the Wu Nation cities. Are you not going to make a move?” Long Shenwu said.
“Your Reverence, we cannot make a move now,” Sima Changkong said seriously.
“Why?”
“This official’s soldiers are scattered and cannot compare to the Han Vengeance Army. We can only assemble and wait for the right opportunity. Then, we will defeat the Han Vengeance Army’s dispatched groups one by one, killing each group in one strike. Furthermore, we cannot linger,” Sima Changkong explained seriously.
“Opportunity? What opportunity?” Long Shenwu said.
“When the Han Vengeance Army gets worn down and cannot keep up!” Sima Changkong narrowed his eyes.
“Oh?”
“If the Han Imperial Dynasty wants to take my Wu Nation’s cities, the crucial point is not how quickly it can capture cities or how strong it is but the will of the citizenry. When the will of the citizenry sides with the Han Imperial Dynasty, that city will truly belong to the Han Imperial Dynasty. However, if the will of the citizenry does not, capturing the city will be useless. That city will just become a burden,” Sima Changkong said.
“Oh? The will of the citizenry?” Long Shenwu raised his eyebrows.
“Yes. It would be one thing if it were another imperial dynasty. Yet, the Han Imperial Dynasty, of all dynasties, is the one attacking. Haha! The will of the citizenry will not side with Gu Hai. Your Reverence, why do you think my Wu Imperial Dynasty and the Ying Imperial Dynasty can advance to imperial dynasties so quickly?” Sima Changkong smiled.
“Because our citizens were Qian Heavenly Dynasty citizens, and the will of the citizenry supported the Qian Nation, supported Long Zhanguo? Long Shenying and we were the Qian Nation’s crown princes, and the citizens loved anyone connected to Long Zhanguo?” Long Shenwu frowned slightly.
“That’s right. The citizens did not resist when Long Shenying and you split the Qian Nation’s territory because the citizens loved the Qian Heavenly Emperor. The Qian Heavenly Emperor loved and protected his citizens. Every city has large clans, and these clans are not isolated. They have been intermarrying over the past thousands of years and developed an extremely complicated web of connections. This web was spread all over the Qian Nation. While the clans are not strong and do not have much authority, they are united. They also hold high prestige among the citizens, so their stance is the citizens’ stance. Your Reverence, have you forgotten? This official had primarily been working on establishing a connection with those prestigious clan heads. Many of them were old officials of the Qian Nation. His Highness the Crown Prince did not think highly of them, considering them incapable and overly pedantic. He wanted to ignore them or even kill them as an example when they disobeyed. However, this official kept stopping him. Do you know why? It is because they hold prestige. They can influence the stance of the various clan heads; they can influence the will of the citizenry!” Sima Changkong said gravely.
“Oh? Those old fellows?” Long Shenwu’s face sank.
“Your Reverence, while His Highness the Crown Prince looks down on them, why do you do so, too? You previously told this official to treat them well!” Sima Changkong asked in confusion.
This is the most basic manipulation of a sovereign. Why is His Reverence…
“Nothing. Continue.” Long Shenwu shook his head.
“Yes. Who does this group hate the most? Of course it is Gu Hai. Although they are pedantic and stubborn, that is beneficial to us. They will hate Gu Hai’s invasion, and their stance will affect the various clans and citizens. Although the clan heads might not heed them, and some might embrace the Han Nation, if just half of them hate Gu Hai, that would be enough. They just need to fan the flames, saying that the person who killed Long Zhanguo has invaded again. The will of the citizenry will clash with the Han Nation. The citizens will turn away from the Han Imperial Dynasty, and the Han Imperial Dynasty will have to invest more manpower and money. We can slowly wear out the Han Imperial Dynasty like this. Then this official will use my soldiers to attack the various locations. The Han Vengeance Army will suffer a defeat!” Sima Changkong said with a firm tone.
When Long Shenwu heard Sima Changkong’s confident tone, he narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded. “You are preparing to fan the flames and agitate the citizens into resisting the Han Imperial Dynasty?”
“Yes. This official will contact those clan heads and old officials. The Han Vengeance Army is strong? No. To this official, the will of the citizenry is the strongest. While he has hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Palace Realm soldiers, we have hundreds of billions of citizens. This is the invincible will of the citizenry army. The victor is not decided yet!” Sima Changkong said with a determined tone.
“Alright. Do it with everything you have.” Long Shenwu nodded.
Borderless Heavenly Capital:
With a loud sound, Borderless Heavenly Capital slowly started drifting north.
For the sake of the Han Imperial Dynasty’s prosperity, the citizens did not oppose Borderless Heavenly Capital’s relocation. Only some traveling merchants found it hard to adapt. However, Crown Prince Gu Qin mediated and resolved many conflicts.
As Borderless Heavenly Capital drifted to the cardinal north position of the Divine Continent, the surrounding spies quickly sent word back to their factions. The experts of the surrounding factions felt exceptionally anxious. Entering the north position? Is the Han Nation declaring its dominance over the world?
However, the earlier declaration already made it clear. Anyone helping the Wu Nation now would form an irreconcilable enmity with the Han Imperial Dynasty. The Han Imperial Dynasty’s strength worried the surrounding factions, deterring them from interfering.
Emperor’s study:
Gu Hai sat behind a desk while a black-robed Chang Ming stood before him.
“Has it started?” Gu Hai asked.
“Yes, Your Reverence. All the Blood Uniform Guards in Martial Heaven City have already started spreading rumors questioning Sima Changkong’s loyalty. We will drive a wedge between the sovereign and his official.” Chang Ming smiled.
“Rumors? Hah! Long Shenwu would not have cared, as he trusted Sima Changkong. That was why he dared to use Sima Changkong. However, Teacher Yinyue does not. He will doubt and suspect Sima Changkong.” Gu Hai smiled back.
“Why is Your Reverence so sure?”
“Teacher Yinyue is alright with minor tricks, but he is poor at grand schemes; otherwise, he would not have just Silver Moon City despite his music Dao reaching the peak. He lacks great skill and strategy, only able to resort to petty tricks and traps. That is insufficient to support a nation,” Gu Hai sneered.
“However, the citizens’ rumors might not reach Teacher Yinyue’s ears?”
“He has a trusted aide, Mister Six Fingers, right?” Gu Hai smiled.
“That’s right. Six Fingers possesses extraordinary hearing. The rumors the Blood Uniform Guards spread say that if Sima Changkong becomes a zombie progeny, there would be no more worries. Six Fingers will pass the information to Teacher Yinyue,” Chang Ming said.
“If we guess right, these rumors have already reached Teacher Yinyue’s ears.” Gu Hai smiled.
“Will Teacher Yinyue turn Sima Changkong into a zombie progeny?” Chang Ming asked.
“He won’t, for now.” Gu Hai shook his head.
“Then we…”
“We can push things along, wrecking the trust between a sovereign and his official.” Gu Hai smiled.
“Oh?”
