Chapter 2938

He focused on associative recall, using interconnected major events to string together memory fragments. As a result, scattered trivial matters were often left out.

How was he so energetic before, creating endless memories.

"Have you finished handling the affairs of Balei Ducheng?"

"How could it be that fast?" He Lingchuan laughed. "You used to conquer cities and seize territory too — have you forgotten how troublesome the aftermath is?"

"At the time there were Father and the other civil officials." The Red General had once galloped on horseback to seize land, coming and going like the wind; the rear and logistics were all managed by Zhong Shengguang, and she was not delayed by such trivialities. "You didn't want Balei anyway, why bother with the extra effort?"

"Other things can be ignored, but the granaries and armories of Ducheng and the eight counties must be taken over first to prevent disaster; people are currently being dispatched to investigate along the way."

The Red General glanced at the registers on his desk and pointed a finger: "The Panjia granary can be ignored — I caught the Zhao uncle and nephew right there and incidentally inspected the granary; it was already empty. Balei's livelihood and reserves are worse than imagined."

After all, the war between Balei and Shen had already lasted over two years, and Balei was declining day by day, its glory gone. When a nation goes downhill, it is always beset by troubles both inside and out.

He Lingchuan asked her: "Even if we hadn't intervened, how long do you estimate before Shen could annex Balei?"

"It couldn't." This was a trap question; the Red General glanced at him. "Beijia allows it to be weak, but not to perish. This time we could destroy Balei only because we deployed with divine speed; Beijia didn't even have time to send reinforcements. If Shen had been allowed to drag out the war, Beijia would have had plenty of time to reinforce at leisure. Unless—"

She said slowly: "If internal chaos breaks out in Beijia, Shen's opportunity will come."

He Lingchuan was about to speak when the mirror on the table suddenly flashed a glint of light, and ripples rose on its surface.

The Red General picked up the mirror: "A message from the King of Shen. Can you handle him now?"

He Lingchuan's body and soul have not yet healed — can he handle this old fox?

"No matter. I've already recovered the memories of Yuan and the He family." To be honest, there wasn't much to sort out with the He family memories; it took just over a quarter of an hour.

The Red General reminded him: "There's still Shen."

"Right, Shen."

The Red General looked at him with worry and handed him the mirror.

The ripples vanished, and He Chuanhua's face appeared in the mirror.

The wrinkles on his forehead seemed to have deepened again, his cheeks more gaunt, giving him a somewhat sinister look.

The past half month for He Chuanhua was not only deeply painful but also heart-stopping.

He Yue's death was a bolt from the blue to him; later he learned his eldest son had also walked a round through the gates of hell. At that time He Chuanhua couldn't even tell what he felt inside — old matters long swept into some corner suddenly surged up all at once!

He Lingchuan's return from the dead remains unexplained to this day. Even the eyewitness, Shen's Grand General Ji Shiyi, unconsciously spoke with reverence and awe when describing the scene.

But honestly, though He Chuanhua was shocked to hear He Lingchuan had counterattacked from such a desperate situation and returned as a king, he was not surprised. He Lingchuan had created too many miracles in the past; He Chuanhua simply could not regard him as the same person as the former spoiled eldest son. He often suspected that the eldest son who was swept away by floodwaters in Zhao Pan's army had already died long ago.

But all that is past; what now appears before him is the Reincarnated Dragon God renowned under heaven!

"How are you?" He Chuanhua's face was full of concern. "Are your injuries better?"

These past few days he had repeatedly wanted to contact He Lingchuan, but each time was blocked by the Red General, on the grounds that the Nine Nether Emperor was recuperating.

Now being able to see He Lingchuan, he was overjoyed.

"Recovered. Thank you for your concern, King of Shen."

"Ji Shiyi has already reported: the King of Balei opened the gates and surrendered. Congratulations!"

The eldest son in the mirror looks truly both familiar and strange. He Chuanhua remembers that before sixteen he always waved his brush wildly, flicking ink dots everywhere; Lady Ying always scolded him for being like a monkey transformed, never a moment's peace.

Who would have thought he would now bear such imperial bearing.

But Ji Shiyi reported that over the past few days the Red General presided over the great battle; the Nine Nether Emperor completely delegated authority.

This legendary famous general, with her Great Wind Army and Coiling Dragon Army as the core, coordinated the Shen armies, dividing forces into five routes front and rear, routing the Balei armies until they threw away helmets and armor.

Coming and going like the wind, raiding like fire.

The Shen armies reported back: they had never felt so exhilarated killing enemies on the battlefield!

But also never so exhausted — often attacking two or three cities in a single day; after fighting, the Shen troops collapsed on the ground, unable even to lift a finger.

The logistics units' marching speed basically couldn't keep up with the main force's city-conquering pace; the world then knew "Great Wind" was truly not falsely famed.

In a blink, the war was over, and Balei was finished.

He Chuanhua had previously thought his statecraft and generalship were decent; seeing Balei destroyed alive, he couldn't help wondering: if he became the Red General's opponent, how long could he last?

The Heavenly Demon suddenly gaining such a powerful enemy is truly a fortune for the world.

"The one who should say congratulations is me." He Lingchuan leaned back. "Per our agreement, after the sun rises tomorrow, you may send people to take over Balei Ducheng."

The Balei people obeyed the Heavenly Demon's order and plotted against He Lingchuan first; the latter could only repay them with national destruction.

The world henceforth knows the consequences of enraging the Nine Nether Emperor — Balei's self-destruction of its three-hundred-year dynasty serves as a cautionary example!

But war always has some realistic accounts of interest to settle clearly.

Since war was unavoidable, He Lingchuan had agreed with He Chuanhua before the battle: after the allied forces breach the capital, Balei's territory would be taken over by Shen.

No choice — Cangyan's homeland is too far from here to manage conveniently, and Beijia lies right next door; even if Cangyan had the will, it couldn't hold it.

So this war fruit is best taken over by Shen.

Balei's territory is not small, and its customs have long been civilized. A dead camel is bigger than a horse; its foundation is also much stronger than the surrounding small states. After taking Balei, Shen's national power greatly increases, giving it more strength to contend with Beijia.

Of course, it must also sign more terms with Cangyan, ceding some benefits — this was already negotiated by both top leaderships.

He Lingchuan also felt some sighs in his heart. Panshui City's two old rivals, Xianyou and Balei, have now both been utterly destroyed.

Historically, Panshui City had been entangled with them for far too long. Unexpectedly, the once invincible powerful state Balei ended in this manner.

"I would rather give up the entire Balei state in exchange for my Yue'er returning alive. Like you."

He Lingchuan's Adam's apple moved: "He Yue died heroically; he is a true hero."

"You at that time…"

Why couldn't you save your younger brother then? He Chuanhua's question was at his lips, but in the end he swallowed it back.