Chapter 2120

Dong Rui's little monkey beside him slipped out at some point, rushed to these few soldiers, and had already turned into a giant ape over a zhang tall, holding a purple-gold staff, instantly smashing two heads into exploded watermelons.

He Yue subconsciously pressed his shoulder—just now this little fat monkey had been squatting on his shoulder, and he hadn't expected it to be such a ferocious monster.

Seeing the situation was bad, two Ya Kingdom soldiers turned and fled into the forest, but after running less than two steps they collapsed one after another.

He Yue didn't see clearly how they died, only feeling as if something had flashed past in the air.

In three or four breaths, the Ya Kingdom soldiers on this hilltop were cleared out, then the giant ape shrank back to monkey size and returned to the snail toad. It resumed cracking melon seeds, but everyone's gaze toward it had changed.

Now Dong Rui openly occupied this hilltop, leading He Yue to sit in the best viewing seats.

After killing those Ya Kingdom soldiers, He Yue already knew how to distinguish friend from foe by their armor. Looking down from high ground, the terrain of this battlefield was an irregular "V" shape, narrowing further south.

The Ya army and the Dragon God army were locked in fierce combat here, neither side gaining advantage.

Dong Rui pointed and said: "In Bai Qiu Yuan, there are several battlefields today, this is the largest one. Your elder brother is there."

The vast army stretched endlessly; even though he pointed it out, He Yue still stared for a long time before spotting the commander's banner.

Too far away, he couldn't see his elder brother's figure at all, only knowing roughly where he was.

Though this battlefield looked like a chaotic melee, careful observation revealed it was divided into several segments—some interleaved, some clustered, advancing and retreating, you come, I go.

After watching for over two hours, He Yue suddenly noticed the front lines were gradually shifting southward, meaning they were pushing toward the Dragon God army's rear.

Is the Dragon God army losing to the Ya army?

He Yue had once commanded troops on the Yuan Kingdom battlefield and fought battles; his eyesight was sharp. At a glance at the Ya army's tactics, he knew this group were all fierce warriors—brave and skilled in combat, yet obedient to orders, coordinating extremely well.

In contrast, the Dragon God army's vanguard seemed unable to suppress the enemy, only able to fight while retreating.

Dong Rui asked He Yue: "I don't understand military tactics much—what do you think of how they're fighting down there?"

"The Ya Kingdom's commanders are truly fierce." He Yue sighed. Such an army, if placed on the Yuan Kingdom battlefield, would make it very hard for him and his father to hold their ground. Now they are his elder brother's opponents: "Although the Dragon God army keeps retreating, it seems to retreat without chaos?"

On such a massive battlefield, with this level of melee, achieving retreat without disorder is extremely difficult.

Whether due to poor command transmission or unstable morale, any slight negligence turns withdrawal into rout.

But looking down from above, the Dragon God army's formation still appeared very stable.

Dong Rui shrugged: "This isn't exactly rare, is it?"

He Yue glanced at him, saw his relaxed expression, and couldn't help asking: "Mr. Dong, aren't you worried?"

He Yue himself had only participated in such a large-scale group battle once before.

The more people, the more chaotic the scene, the more variables, the harder the outcome to predict. Yet this Mr. Dong is cracking melon seeds with the monkey—how can he be so confident in the Dragon God army?

Dong Rui chuckled: "What's the use of worrying? On such a vast battlefield, even if I personally joined the fight, I wouldn't change the situation."

"Mr. Dong is very optimistic."

Very carefree.

"Come, let's crack some together." Dong Rui grabbed a handful of melon seeds and gave them to him: "Don't you think your elder brother's chances of victory aren't great?"

He Yue took the melon seeds, placed them in his palm: "Usually speaking, a newly founded state with unstable foundations wouldn't rush into foreign wars. But what my elder brother has done cannot be judged by ordinary standards."

He Chuanhua's江山 was also won through conquest, but after Shen State was established, it immediately plunged into production and development, temporarily avoiding external warfare.

This period of rest and recuperation was truly important.

"Unstable foundations?" Dong Rui laughed heartily, "These four words don't apply to your elder brother at all. He is the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, the reincarnated Dragon God—gazing across the Flash Gold Plains, no one's prestige surpasses his, oh, not even the immortals."

So-called unstable foundations usually refer to people's hearts not being won, prestige not being solid, and poor economy. A newly founded state should indeed use various political and economic means to develop livelihood and establish prestige.

Insufficient prestige leads to weak military strength.

But the Nine Abysses Great Emperor and his black-armored army, Dragon God army, hardly have this problem. Their prestige was established over two years ago and remains unshakable in the hearts of the Flash Gold military and civilians.

The vast Flash Gold Plains were all won blade by blade, spear by spear.

"You feel apprehensive merely because you've heard the Ya Kingdom's military strength is great."

He Yue didn't deny it: "Yes! I heard even Mu Kingdom can't do anything against it."

My elder brother just founded his state and went head-to-head with such an opponent—if he weren't worried, that would be strange.

"Not just you—every neighboring country, including Mu Kingdom and even Ya Kingdom itself, thinks this way." Dong Rui said meaningfully: "Who is strong, who is weak—we won't know without fighting a few battles properly."

Relying only on threats and intimidation, only on empty boasts—who would that scare?

Is it a mule or a horse? You won't know until you take it out for a walk?

He Yue spoke quite fairly: "I see, the Dragon God army is already very strong."

He knows the Dragon God army was recently formed and isn't yet battle-hardened elite troops. Being able to fight the Ya army on equal terms in this region, the Dragon God army is already excellent. "Given time, it will be formidable."

"Is that so?" Dong Rui smiled, "He Xiong hates one phrase most: 'Given time.' Hehe, his calculation is 'now,' 'immediately,' 'at once' to win!"

"……" This is indeed the elder brother's style—originally becoming emperor didn't change him at all.

He Yue looked at Dong Rui and suddenly said: "Mr. Dong, in Cang Yan State, you hold the position of……?"

"Me?" Dong Rui cracked a melon seed, "I'm just an idle person, no office, no title—nothing more than your elder brother's friend."

Upon hearing this, He Yue was moved, clasped his fists, and said: "The emperor's close friend is indeed a state guest! Mr. Dong must be an extraordinary person, worthy of such exceptional treatment by my elder brother."

What exalted status does a state guest hold? Having no office doesn't necessarily mean no power.

"Flattery won't get you anywhere," Dong Rui's lips curled happily, but he still had to cough: "There are two who receive such exceptional treatment—turn around, you'll still be able to see the other one."

The snail toad suddenly turned its head, switching to another angle, and everyone saw nearly a hundred Ya Kingdom soldiers rushing toward this hill from behind.

"Oh, the annoying ones have come." Dong Rui patted the snail toad: "Let's change location."

On such a battlefield, he avoids letting the puppet face the army alone.

The snail toad obeyed, diving down and leaving before the enemy troops arrived.

Soon, Dong Rui picked another hilltop.

During the snail toad's relocation, the main force of the Dragon God army also retreated to the "V" mouth, the rear narrowing, appearing about to shift to defense.