Chapter 2004

The Dragon God is the Dragon God—if it weren't for being recruited by the Dragon God, they wouldn't even know battles could be fought like this.

Even if, over the past three days, they had been following not the Dragon God but their own former superior, the old commander of the original allied forces, they would still fight as if divinely aided. Previously insurmountable obstacles were now easily overcome.

Why is this? Everyone is puzzled.

Someone, while cracking walnuts, said: "I heard the Dragon God issued a death order to the leader of every unit—when battle begins, they must lead from the front! Otherwise, they'd be dismissed or lose their heads."

"What does 'lead from the front' mean?"

"It means during battle, one must be at the very front, leading the entire army forward!"

Everyone let out a long "Oh": "Exactly, exactly! As soon as battle starts, they charge ahead. Our Deputy Commander Xu, before, always stayed in the rear shouting for us to charge, but now he himself brandishes his blade and leads the charge—he's fierce!"

"The Dragon God's army mostly fights this way, so their battles are especially fierce." This is the effect of leading by example.

The earlier speaker added: "But Deputy Commander Xu arranged an extra hundred elite guards for himself—when charging, they surround him front and back, protecting him thoroughly. Sigh, I'm one of those guards."

Everyone laughed: "Fine, fine, as long as he's willing to charge."

The walnut-cracker pointed his lips toward the tent: "You see Boss Situ—oh, now he should be called General Situ. He's the one charging right up front—result—"

Situ He happened to walk out of the main tent. The white bandage around his neck was very noticeable; he also led troops out, fought several battles, and nearly had his throat sealed by a cold arrow.

Another said: "Our Captain Hu died in battle—stabbed in the belly by a spear, couldn't be saved."

Victory, of course, comes at a cost. Everyone fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject.

"We're about to reach Ducheng." This is the allied forces' second siege of Ducheng; the last time, the Heavy Martial General returned and lifted the siege.

"You guys guess—how long until we take the city?"

Everyone glanced at the main tent where the Dragon God was, in unison.

"Five days!"

"I'd say at least seven."

The walnut-cracker cracked another walnut with his bare hands, crushing it: "Two days."

"That's ridiculous!" someone asked him: "No matter how formidable the Dragon God is, what makes you guess two days?"

"I've been by the Dragon God's side for a long time." This person grinned: "Besides, I've fought shoulder to shoulder with him, battled the heavenly demons."

This person is Luo Xie.

He sniffed the air a few times: "Fragrant—is the Imperial Nectar coming again?"

A faint, strange fragrance floated in the air, unknown when it appeared. Like mountain forests before rain, possibly heralding a strong wind. Born in a place of exceptionally strong spiritual energy, he is highly sensitive to this.

The soldiers' faces instantly darkened: "No way? Again?"

Other creatures joyously welcome the Imperial Nectar, but they encounter spiritual rain and must march urgently to fight. Now they hope the Imperial Nectar doesn't come, so they can rest properly tonight.

Luo Xie looked around the campfire and suddenly said: "Which units still haven't arrived?"

"Many! The Wutu tribe, the Kan tribe, the Puli Commandery, and the Baoxin Commandery—none have arrived." Originally, the allied forces had seven units; now only three have come.

Everyone looked up at the sky—it was still early.

In the main tent, Situ He also raised this issue, and He Lingchuan replied: "They all have opponents; the battles aren't finished yet, so they can't come for now."

Those units have all run into tough obstacles and are still gnawing away at them.

Situ He: "..."

Indeed, the allied forces are just the allied forces—their combat power won't be overturned in three days.

So why divide the troops? Everyone follows the Nine Abysses Great Emperor—we could crush all of Ducheng together.

At this moment, a avian demon swooped down and landed, reporting directly to the main tent:

"The Wutu tribe has blocked the eastern White Hao Tower, suddenly attacked by Ducheng's main force—the Wutu tribe requests aid!"

Most of Ducheng's territory has already been lost; the White Hao Tower is their last link to the east, and must remain open.

He Lingchuan's eyes narrowed.

Situ He stepped forward and said: "I'll go."

He Lingchuan waved his hand: "Ducheng's main force? How many?"

"Someone recognized the Heavy Martial General." The avian demon replied: "I flew over from above and saw them hiding in the forest—their numbers I can't gauge precisely, but, but I estimate no less than twenty thousand! The Wutu tribe suffered heavy casualties."

"Twenty thousand!" The commanders were moved.

Ducheng can still muster twenty thousand—that means they've deployed their main force. The Wutu tribe has only three thousand troops, and they were ambushed midway—no wonder they can't win.

"The Ducheng people are bold indeed. White Hao Tower is only fifteen li from here."

He Lingchuan also sensed the anomaly in the air; through the tent flap, he glanced at the sky: "When I observe heaven, earth, timing, and harmony are all aligned, and the troops are well-fed and rested. Relay my order: mobilize the army, march out, target White Hao Tower!"

It seems, learning to fight on the night of spiritual rain is not just him.

"Yes!" The original allied commanders all took a deep breath.

Before following the new commander, they had truly never experienced such swift and decisive warfare!

He Lingchuan then smiled: "As long as we defeat the Heavy Martial General, it won't take two days—I'll be holding a banquet in the Ducheng palace, entertaining you all!"

The commanders repeatedly echoed his sentiment. Having witnessed He Lingchuan's military methods, combat ability, and command artistry, they actually didn't find this boast arrogant.

More than ten breaths later, urgent whistles sounded from outside.

Assemble and prepare!

The soldiers who had been lazily sitting on the ground chatting, strolling, and playing P immediately sprang to their feet, forming ranks like flying.

After several days of high-intensity marching and fighting, the laziness and grease on them have been mostly worn away—they're beginning to resemble the Dragon God's army.

He Lingchuan strode out, and the Dragon-Resonating Battle Armor automatically donned itself.

The moment he stepped out of the tent, he reverted to the killing intent soaring through the Nine Abysses Great Emperor.

If not for other calculations, he would have ended the Ducheng war even faster!

After all, if he finishes quickly here, the Dragon God's army fighting elsewhere can shed a little less blood.

He could also avoid dividing his forces, but deep down he still has another consideration.

To deal with Bixia, the Nine Abysses Great Emperor will certainly take the field himself. This is known not only to the soldiers of the Dragon God Army, but likely also to the enemy.

He Lingchuan hopes to draw out the hidden hands of the Heavenly Gods and Qingyang to this battlefield—if they have any—so that Dong Rui, Zhu Xiuer, and the other Black Armor troops assaulting the "strong points" will naturally be safer.

He stared coldly at the distant city's outline and snorted, Let them all come at me if they have the ability.

……

At the instant the city gate was smashed open, the hearts of the defenders of Miancheng also went crack, as if plunged into an ice cellar.

"Don't panic, hold Wengcheng, we still have a chance!" Tushan Fang poked his head out, shouted loudly toward the base of the city, then rushed upward, clearing the side passage in two or three moves, and mounted the city gate.

Here hangs a great bell, used as an alarm bell, over nine chi high with a round waist; sentries usually ring it to warn of enemy invasion.