Chapter 2680: First Record of the Heavy Fist

This matter, no matter who says it, doesn't count; only the decision of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor counts.

He has long been immersed in battles of blood and fire, his understanding of war is the deepest, and only he can judge when the best opportunity arrives.

At the moment when the Nine Abysses Great Emperor decided to let Cangyan move from stillness to action, from defense to offense, that is called "just the right time"!

While Beijia and the Fan Yao Kingdom act against reason, setting fires everywhere in the human world, they will inevitably provoke resistance from all under heaven.

Crisis and crisis, opportunity within danger—this is the moment the Nine Abysses Great Emperor and Cangyan have been waiting for all these years.

Whether person or state, if it does not concern them, they will simply hang it high and ignore it. Only when they realize they have been driven to the edge of a hundred-zhang cliff—where retreating a step means death, advancing a step may bring life—will they possibly summon the courage to stake everything on one throw.

Otherwise, they will be suffocated to death.

The vast majority of people in this world can only be inspired, steadied, made brave, and awakened—just like the people of the Flashing Gold Plains long ago, who suffered the deepest disaster, felt the most desperate pain, and finally burst forth from the abyss of disaster and despair with a prairie-fire spark!

This is what awakening truly is.

Awakening that does not occur without being tempered by fresh blood, without being worn down by pain, will not happen.

It is also the signal of Awakening of Insects that Cangyan has long awaited.

In an age of great contention, there is much to be done.

He Lingchuan asked again: "Our first strike in this sortie must resound loudly. Regarding these several pleas for aid, which one do you think we should respond to first?"

With Du Shan's nature and scheming, even he was so excited his hands trembled slightly. He struggled to compose himself, picked up the several documents, examined them one by one carefully, pondered for a few breaths, then pointed to one and said:

"I think Wusong State is the best choice."

Between ruler and minister, they do not bother with reading facial expressions; He Lingchuan has always demanded his ministers speak plainly, not beat around the bush, not try to guess the emperor's mood. Besides, few can fathom the Nine Abysses Great Emperor's thoughts, so there's no point in useless speculation.

"Why?"

"As a coastal state, Wusong's territory is nearly catching up to Shen State, yet it has suffered relatively little from demon beast tides. Over the past ten or so years, relying on maritime trade, it has reaped considerable profits, its national strength has noticeably risen, and surrounding civilians have flocked to it in droves—it even annexed a small state, its population swelling rapidly."

Then came the twist: "But because the newly built several harbors and fjords have diverted the Fan Yao Kingdom's maritime trade routes, its conflict with Bolang State has grown ever greater. Bolang State wants to forcibly purchase, or rather lease, Wusong State's largest and most prosperous harbor, Wusong Bay, relying on its distance from Beijia and its strengthened military strength, it stubbornly refuses to agree. As a result, Bolang State found a few pretexts and beat it three times, not only suffering heavy losses."

Wusong State even named itself after this harbor, showing its importance. Once this harbor is ceded, Wusong State's main artery will be strangled by Bolang State, making life worse than death—therefore, it must absolutely not agree.

But now the Fan Yao Kingdom's logic is also crude: it does not reason, it simply takes what it wants. If you refuse, it will beat you to death.

Therefore, the letter Wusong State wrote to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor is filled with blood and tears, every word pleading for this great power of the present age to seek justice for it!

In fact, it first wrote a plea for help to Mou State, asking for troops and support. After thinking it over, it also wrote one to Cangyan. Cangyan has not intervened in foreign wars for over ten years, and Wusong State naturally knows this, but having come to this point, it might as well try a dead horse as a living doctor.

Though hope is extremely slim, perhaps...

He Lingchuan pointed to the remaining documents: "These too have been beaten until they can't catch their breath."

Why prioritize Wusong State?

Du Shan leaned his body slightly forward, stretched his neck.

He Lingchuan knew that whenever he made this gesture, it meant he was about to propose some unconventional idea.

Sure enough, Du Shan whispered: "Because Wusong State's national strength is indeed decent, the court intrigues in Wang Ting are relatively minor, and its previous resistance against Bolang State was unusually fierce—it organized a counteroffensive, even encircling and annihilating several thousand of Bolang State's troops, wounding both princes, so Bolang State declared that this fourth punishment of Wusong State will leave no chickens or dogs alive, directly erasing Wusong Port from the map."

He paused: "I just received this morning's news—several days ago, the Bolang King's underwater traveling palace also set out."

The Bolang King possesses a very beautiful and perfect underwater traveling palace, usable during long-distance migrations, truly one of a kind in the world—even the Sea Emperor does not have one.

He Lingchuan said with amusement: "Lord Zhongsun Pei is actually leading the campaign in person? His resolve is great indeed."

"They have most likely already set out, though the sea folk's movements in the ocean are hard to track." Du Shan added, "This Bolang King ascended the throne five years ago; as a prince he was ordinary and unremarkable, and after taking power he has produced no notable achievements. Looking at Bolang State's national strength and people's livelihood, they have regressed among the Fan Yao States, and only through external plunder can he seize wealth."

He coughed lightly: "He was chosen by the Heavenly Demon to take the throne, but if he continues like this, that position may not hold. So he needs a great victory to consolidate his prestige."

He continued: "I asked General Qiu—he said the Bolang King's chances of winning a battle are very high."

He Lingchuan smiled: "At least eighty percent or more—Lord Zhongsun Pei is no fool."

This time, Lord Zhongsun Pei is coming to establish prestige, so naturally he must fight a battle he is confident in winning.

"Once Wusong State falls, the surrounding sea states will be even less capable of resistance, and in the future will dare not resist, only able to submit to Bolang State's demands." Du Shan also looked far ahead, "Bolang State is the only maritime state among Beijia's Fan Yao States; the other Fan Yao States find it difficult to attack coastal states, but only it can reach out and touch them. Thus, by successfully destroying Wusong State this time, it not only consolidates Bolang State's unique position in Beijia, but also, under the Heavenly Demon's very eyes, displays its own utility—achieving multiple gains at once."

"That is Bolang State's maritime state—Wusong State's capability is not in the same league as it. If relying solely on Wusong State itself, it likely would not last three or four months before even its capital falls." He Lingchuan pointed to the sand table, "But it also has an advantage: it is very distant from Beijia, with no land connection. Aside from Bolang State, other Fan Yao States of Beijia wanting to attack Wusong State would have to sail for nearly two months just to get there."

"Exactly exactly!" Du Shan nodded repeatedly, "Your Majesty's wisdom is clear—this small advantage, we can precisely make use of it."

"Bolang State's attack on Wusong State must not fail." He Lingchuan's gaze deepened, "Likewise, our battle this time must not fail. In one hour's time, you summon Wanqi Liang and Sikong Yi to come here."

Cangyan, for the arrival of this day, has silently prepared for many years.

When the moment arrives, we must deploy properly.

Victory in this battle will likely hinge on the two words "surprise troops." After all, their calculated opponent is one of Beijia's Thirteen Fan Yao States, with the Bolang King personally leading the campaign—no matter how careless, his personal guard must be formidable.

That is, a hard and thick turtle shell—how to crack it open, then?