Chapter 1917: War Fire Burns to the Doorstep

Luodian Kingdom, Suyuan.

Over a hundred years ago, Suyuan was named for its abundant millet production; later, geological changes and soil degradation turned the land of fish and rice into a barren wasteland where nothing grew well. Fortunately, in the past two years, frequent imperial grain shipments have brought some blessings here, allowing millet to be planted again.

If the spiritual energy were more abundant and the climate more humid, the Luodian people might not need to go out raiding; they could sustain themselves solely from the land's yield.

How wonderful that would be!

When Chu Ruhai passed through the millet fields on his way south, he felt this sentiment. At that time, it was spring, and he led his army rushing to Ya State, hoping to take a share while Ya was in turmoil.

He indeed got a share.

The Ya king was killed, Ya State fell, and the various powers were locked in internal strife, with no time to attend to the borders. Chu Ruhai then led the Luodian troops and openly seized a large tract of land in Ya's northern frontier; en route, he even encountered an interception by the Heavy Martial General.

However, due to his status, the Heavy Martial General also fared poorly, lacked reinforcements, and soon withdrew from Ya State, retreating west to Chixia.

The Luodian army continued southward, participating in the internal chaos of Ya.

Chu Ruhai was locked in a fierce struggle with Bai Tan, both sides suffering, when suddenly the rear headquarters issued three urgent orders in succession:

Bei Guan Bai Shui Ling under attack!

The Kasha and Longye tribes invade!

The Black Armor Army has captured Tao Jing—return immediately!

Bai Shui Ling is precisely Luodian's northwestern border, adjoining the territory of the Longye tribe;

Tao Jing, however, is already in central Luodian, less than seventy li from the capital!

Upon receiving these three urgent orders, Chu Ruhai was stunned, for Luodian's surrounding relations had been stable for many years; although the Kasha and Longye tribes were also warlike, they had been subdued by Luodian twenty years prior and, like Luodian, worshipped Miao Zhantian.

Why would these two major tribes suddenly march south to invade? Could it be because Miao Zhantian suddenly fell?

As for the Black Armor Army "capturing" Tao Jing, that is even more absurd.

Chu Ruhai naturally knew the Black Armor Army were the so-called Nine Abysses Great Emperor's forces, but they seemed only to kill, not to occupy territory—why did the urgent order use the words "captured"?

Most terrifying of all, these three urgent orders were issued within six days total. That is to say, Luodian Kingdom experienced all this within six days!

The enemy's advance is almost too swift.

Chu Ruhai also dared not continue greedily seeking merit on the Ya battlefield; he sullenly withdrew his troops northward.

How hateful that Bai Tan seized the opportunity, sending troops to pursue relentlessly!

A battlefield retreat is inherently perilous; one misstep and it becomes a rout. Chu Ruhai barely retreated north of Ya, and upon counting his forces, found he had lost over seven hundred men during the withdrawal—no wonder he felt gloomy.

On the return journey, he once again passed the soon-to-be-harvested millet fields, the millet waves rising and falling in the evening breeze. But he raced by starlight and moonlight, with no heart left for sentiment.

This hasty withdrawal means the hard-won gains he had earlier secured are likely to be laughed off and taken by Bai Tan.

Kasha, Longye, and the Black Armor Army—all truly deserve to die!

Yet before his anger could even flare, another urgent order flew in.

This one was more detailed; Chu Ruhai unfolded it, and upon reading, his back turned cold.

The Longye and Kasha, driven by the Black Armor Army, split into two routes and seized large tracts of land in Luodian's east and west;

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor personally led the Black Armor Army's main force to assault Luodian's central region, first taking Tao Jing, and now his troops are at the capital's gates!

Moreover, the heavenly deity has already verified: the true identity of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor is none other than He Xiao of Yangshan Island!

Though the letter was long before and after, Chu Ruhai's eyes saw only the two characters "He Xiao."

In the former Ya capital, Shuishui City, he had dealt with He Xiao before, and not just once. That man was alert and clever, eloquent and adaptable, versatile in all directions—truly the model of a great merchant, even able to persuade the Ya king to entrust him with the grand project of building Shuishui New City.

This is a rare talent.

But the Nine Abysses Great Emperor?

Could He Xiao be the Nine Abysses Great Emperor? Chu Ruhai pressed his forehead, reading those lines back and forth several times, feeling a sense of unreality and absurdity.

At that time, if he had suddenly struck with a sudden impulse and slain He Xiao with one sword, would there have been no later calamity of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor?

No, that's not right—this scoundrel could have slain on the spot the commander of the Qingwei under Qingyang's regent; looking back now, he must have concealed his blade then.

Chu Ruhai burned with urgency, urging the army to hasten its northward return.

He is the Left Ancestral Lord of Luodian Kingdom; the monarch is his elder brother. If the capital falls, where will the two of them have any foothold thereafter?

As for why the Black Armor Army's advance is so swift, Chu Ruhai has his own interpretation.

He does not deny the Black Armor Army's strength; after all, legends say they were forged into invincible warriors—this cannot be entirely baseless.

The more important reason may be……Luodian's internal strength is hollow?

Since the neighboring regions were stable, Luodian had long coveted Ya territory; Chu Ruhai led his army south with the monarch's strong support—not only were supplies timely allocated, but the southern expeditionary force was also composed of elite troops drawn from all Luodian's units, precisely to ensure a smooth southern campaign, to achieve results and demonstrate capability.

Secondly, Miao Zhantian's journey to the Inverted Sea also drew nearly a thousand people away from Luodian.

The deity's chosen elite—those he specifically demanded—were undoubtedly the pick of the pick: not only veteran Luodian warriors who had endured countless battles, but also many cultivators, shamans, and demons, forming a force stronger and more balanced than the army Chu Ruhai led to Ya for war.

Drained by two great pipes sucking hard, Luodian's reservoir, like a pond, naturally saw its stores plummet sharply.

Not a single word, not a single line, not a single stroke, not a single inner part, not a single existence, not a single one—look!

Chu Ruhai, as a general who commands troops in battle, knows best that no matter how many miscellaneous soldiers there are, they are merely filler; it is the elite and sharp troops that truly decide the outcome.

Luodian was never a great power; with its elite suddenly diminished this much, its strength inevitably declined.

This is merely a temporary phenomenon, yet the Nine Abysses Great Emperor sharply seized the opportunity, striking while the iron was hot!

Even if he understands this point, Chu Ruhai still feels a heavy weight in his heart.

How exactly did the Nine Abysses Great Emperor silently subdue the two great tribes of Kasha and Longye?

What else did he do in the north?

Chu Ruhai admits Luodian is small and its governance has always been rather lax, but for the Nine Abysses Great Emperor to advance from the northern border all the way to the capital in just a few days—this speed is still astonishing.

Even if Luodian's garrison is weak, it is not comparable to the rag-tag troops and guerrillas of the Jinshin Plains.

On this night, the moonlight was dim and bright.

As he pondered, he pressed on—the red hills of Chiling lay just ahead.

This is the land of red soil, with high ridges and low valleys, the road difficult to traverse. But once passed, the journey to the capital becomes smooth and open.

At this moment, the forward scout suddenly blew an urgent whistle.

Three short blasts in succession, a pause, then another three, repeated three times.

Enemy ahead, approaching fast!

Qu Ruohai was startled, urgently ordering the entire army to stand ready, though he also felt somewhat puzzled:

Is the one leading the troops an idiot?

The terrain ahead is the Chi Ling Mountains, with narrow mountain paths and cramped terrain—block both ends and it becomes a perfect pocket. Why wouldn't the enemy ambush him there, instead choosing the large plain with only a few low hills?

In warfare, terrain and topography are very important.