My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"This person originated from the lowliest of street scoundrels!"

Li Gong disdainfully said, "Now, despite holding a high position, he still has no shame!"

"However, after today's probing, he must understand that a forceful attack won't succeed."

Grasping his iron helmet under his right arm, Liu Huanrong said, "Prince, we should still..."

"Report—"

An underling interrupted the conversation, "A letter from Nan Xu Country! They have already reached Ziwei Mountain in Lingzhou, and in about three to five days, the vanguard troops will be able to move out to the outside of Hulaoguan."

"Hmm."

Without stopping his stride, Li Gong asked as he walked, "What about the Sheng people? How have they deployed? Are they drawing the line at Zhaotong Prefecture, expecting to fight a prolonged war of attrition with us?"

"No."

The underling reported, "They have dispatched three thousand troops to guard Hulaoguan."

"Three thousand troops to guard Hulaoguan?"

Hearing this, Li Gong abruptly stopped walking, "Are you sure there's no mistake? Or is it that Fan Tianfa did not go to Green Ridge Mountain but went to Hulaoguan instead?"

"Absolutely sure!"

The underling confidently said, "Moreover, they are temporarily short of high-realm generals, currently led by Chen Sansi, followed by Fang Qingyun and Sha Wenlong. Calculating from the dates, they should also be arriving at Hulaoguan soon."

"Who? That Chen Sansi again?"

Li Gong dared not underestimate his opponents.

Yet, no matter how he thought about it, he could not understand how someone from the Meridian Passage Realm, leading three thousand men, could hold against an army of a hundred thousand, plus four generals from the Profound Image Realm?

Thinking it over and over.

The Sheng people's deployment could only mean they were desperate, with no one else to rely on!

They were set on capturing Ziwei Mountain at any cost.

An all-out effort meant they were taking risks, and taking risks could lead to a major collapse!

"The Sheng people have really lost their minds! They are too arrogant!"

Li Gong coldly snorted, "Chen Sansi, a merely entry-level of Meridian Passage, Sha Wenlong only in the Profound Image Realm, and an already crippled Fang Qingyun, who might still pose some threat, are these three supposed to hold Hulaoguan? That's a big joke!"

"Pass the intelligence to Shuzhen in Lingzhou, tell him Hulaoguan is guarded by only three thousand men, and order him to strike swiftly and fiercely at Hulaoguan!"

"The faster Hulaoguan falls, the more we gain."

"Retaking the lands of three states alone isn't the end, as long as Meng Quji dies, we have a ninety-percent chance of capturing the five eastern states of Shengren. These five states, relying on Tongtian River, are lands of plenty!"

...

Lingzhou.

A hundred thousand troops passed through Ziwei Mountain and entered the vast flat wasteland, their numbers so vast, they appeared like a gigantic dragon emerging from the earth, endless and without a beginning or an end.

In this northern expedition, there were five high-ranking commanders leading the army.

These five were:

Commander, Eighth Prince Shuzhen.

Vice Commander, Marquis You Jingzhi.

General and chief military strategist, "Lingsuan" Ran Jingxuan.

General, Peng Yunheng.

And the Fourteenth Prince, Fan Jiuxiao.

Central Army.

Among the five high-level officials, three were now gathered here, discussing the upcoming military actions.

"This northern expedition, our goal is to capture the fertile lands of Lingzhou!",

"Of course, if we could take all five eastern states of Shengren, nothing could be better! The Sheng people have hoarded the most fertile thirty-six states for over three hundred years, it is time they spit some out!",

"..."

"Whether Sheng people or Qing Country!"

Fan Shuzhen, clad in golden armor, spoke,"Whoever offers us more benefits, we will aid them. Don't truly think about sacrificing our lives for Qing Country; of course, for now, supporting Qing Country seems to be our most beneficial choice, and moreover, Sun Xiangzong has disappeared. This is a great opportunity for us!"

"Indeed, Lord Eight."

Vice Commander You Jingzhi looked at the map before him,"It's just, we don't know whether the Sheng people have already withdrawn their troops, as continuing the fight brings them no benefits."

"Even if they withdraw, Qing Country must concede Lingzhou to us. Could our army of a hundred thousand have marched for nothing?"

As the strategist of this hundred thousand-strong army, Ran Jingxuan elaborated on his plan,"Lord Eight, Lord You, I have already made arrangements. No matter what happens next, we can take Lingzhou quietly. Here are the two scenarios I have analyzed. Look..."

"Whistle—"

While they were discussing, a falcon descended, bringing the latest intelligence.

"What?"

"The Sheng people are crazy?!"

"Defend Hu Lao with just three thousand men? How little do they regard us?"

"..."

"Chen Sansi is in command, with Fang Qingyun as his deputy? Interesting!"

Fan Shuzhen put down the letter,"How do you two see this?"

Ran Jingxuan coolly remarked,"There's no need to say much about Fang Qingyun; he is an old acquaintance of ours. This Chen Sansi, in just two or three years, has fought one astonishing battle after another, his previous crossing at Du He needless to mention.

"His sudden, remarkable action at Four Crossings of Hongze, and now he has quickly moved to the East, pulling off a 'thousands flee at the sight of the White Robe,' causing more stir in one year than many see in a century!

"Only..."

"What were the Sheng people thinking? Even if Chen Sansi's strategies are unmatched, he is just at the Meridian Passage, commanding merely three thousand men.

"Leaving him here to defend Hu Lao? Isn't this aiming to get him killed?"

"Hmm, I also find it strange."

Fan Shuzhen rhythmically tapped on the map,"Does the Emperor of the Sheng people absolutely need Ziwei Mountain?"

"It's understandable."

You Jingzhi reminisced,"Ziwei Mountain is where the Great Ancestor Sheng was enthroned; the humiliation by Ming Xuan has not been forgotten. Successive emperors have sought to recover Ziwei Mountain to prove their accomplishments."

"That's not quite it."

Ran Jingxuan narrowed his eyes,"Have you forgotten something? Emperor Longqing is in pursuit of Immortal Path, and there are numerous legends about Grand Ancestor Cao Xie. Could it be possible that some treasure of the Cao Family remains on Ziwei Mountain?"

"Now that you mention it, it does seem possible, only..."

You Jingzhi said,"Ziwei Mountain has been in Qing Country's hands for over a hundred years. Even if there was a treasure, it would have been taken long ago."

"That's where you're wrong."

Ran Jingxuan declared,"The Emperor of Sheng people's eagerness to recover Ziwei Mountain suggests that the object might still be there. Of course, it could also be that I'm overthinking, and he simply wants the good reputation of a great reviving leader."

"Easy to manage."

Fan Shuzhen issued an order,"Send a message to Peng Yunheng at the rear, let him search Ziwei Mountain. It would be best if we find something, but it's fine if we don't."

"The situation is clear, Ran strategist, begin your deployment."

"Alright."

Ran Jingxuan, known as 'Lingsuan,' waved his hand grandly:

"General Peng at the rear in Ziwei Mountain, while searching for the treasure, will also stabilize the rear.

"Lord You, take a troop to control several important towns in the heartland of Lingzhou. Regardless of the outcome, we must take Lingzhou and absolutely not return it to the people of Qing Country.

"As for Lord Eight, stay in command of the Central Army for now.

"Also, send orders to Mr. Si in the vanguard to set up camp fifty miles outside Hu Lao.

"Once everything is ready.

"Our grand army of Da Xu, a hundred thousand strong, will march directly to Hu Lao!"