Chapter 367: Reinforcements Gather, Mob, Unexpected Joy, War

131st Year of the Mo'ao Era, October 20th

No matter how the people of the seven towns look at it, Jiang Xinfan's ultimatum finally played a role.

The Cold-Resistant Grade reinforcements from the seven towns almost all arrived at the Hongguan camp at the last moment before dawn.

"What can these two thousand town defense troops in the Hongguan camp do? Even the Red Scale Army isn't brought out. I think Jiangxia Town doesn't want to fight Dajue Temple at all. Why pretend and let us seven towns send reinforcements?"

It's a pity that once everyone arrived, the atmosphere was a bit wrong.

As soon as the seven-town team of Lu Yang entered the Hongguan camp, the leader of the team on the far flank spoke. He roughly surveyed the soldiers in the camp and then spoke with a cold sneer, as if afraid that others wouldn't hear him, he deliberately circulated his blood and increased his volume.

"That is Xiang Tiancheng, the Deputy Head of the Bada Town Academy!"

Lu Yang nodded slightly upon hearing Chen Yiqing's whisper. Because they are both on the east bank of the Heng River, Bada and Jiangxia have had many conflicts over water areas, and the two families have long-standing grievances. Xiang Tiancheng's performance at this moment is not strange.

Xiang Tiancheng looks to be in his early forties, with a somewhat sinister face, carrying a silver broad-faced saber on his back, the blade of which looks to be over fifteen centimeters wide.

He is followed by over two hundred people, clearly the Cold-Resistant Grade reinforcements sent by Bada Town this time. From this number, one can basically tell that the relationship between Bada and Jiangxia should be extremely bad.

Now that the reinforcements from the seven towns have all arrived, Lu Yang has already roughly observed them.

The Cold-Resistant Grade reinforcements sent by the three northern towns of Beishuo, Jin Shan, and Wu Chuan are all over 350 people. The northern three towns have the strongest strength, which is understandable; the number of people from the three towns of Longgu, Yangqu, and Chui Shan is slightly less, but also around 270; only Bada Town has only over 200 people, which is exceptionally conspicuous among the seven-town team.

The fewest people came, but the most opinions were expressed. This is wanting to cause trouble on purpose!

Lu Yang looks at the two hundred-plus people from Bada Town, their faces mostly wearing cold sneers. His heart shakes his head repeatedly, and finally, he puts his gaze on Xiang Tiancheng, seeing what else he can say next.

The nine towns have similar systems, so the military configuration is also similar. Each family basically has two types of troops. One is called the Town Defense Army, which belongs to the ordinary army. The soldiers are all at the limit of the Earth-Digging Realm, and those who lead the troops are basically Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators;

The other is the elite troops of each family. The soldiers are all Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, such as the northern three towns, the Beishuo Army named after the town, the Golden Armor Army of Jin Shan, the Black Armor Army of Wu Chuan... The Red Scale Army in Xiang Tiancheng's mouth just now should be the elite troops of Jiangxia Town.

Although Lu Yang doesn't know the number of troops in the other eight towns, he knows Beishuo's. The Beishuo Town Defense Army has fifteen branches, totaling 15,000 people, and the Beishuo Army has four branches, totaling 4,000 people.

Jiangxia is definitely not as good as Beishuo. The Town Defense Army is estimated to be around 10,000, and the elite troops are at most two or three thousand.

When entering just now, Lu Yang also observed that the Hongguan camp at this moment indeed only has two thousand main troops, basically wearing Hundred-Forged battle armor, clearly the Town Defense Army.

However, in the rear of the camp, that is, inside Hongguan Village, there are also many Earth-Digging Realm cultivators in armor patrolling the village. If there are no accidents, there should also be a large group of people in there, just don't know how many.

While Lu Yang was thinking, Xiang Tiancheng spoke again relentlessly.

"According to Xiang, who caused the trouble of Dajue Temple should be responsible for it. Jiangxia doesn't like occupying the north bank of the Heng River..."

"Since that's the case, Xiang Tiancheng, take your people back to Bada!"

It's just that this time, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted.

The tent flap of the main tent in the rear of the camp was lifted, and a middle-aged man in green brocade clothes walked out slowly. He looked directly at Xiang Tiancheng, clearly indicating that he was not joking, and Xiang Tiancheng could take his people back to Bada Town now.

"Deputy Military Head Jiang!"

"Seen Deputy Military Head Jiang."

"Pay respects to Deputy Military Head Jiang."

…………

As soon as Jiang Yuanlong came out, the Deputy Academy Heads of the other six towns all saluted him. Seeing this scene, Lu Yang's eyes flashed slightly.

The power of the Deputy Military Head is of course a little greater than that of the Deputy Academy Head, but Jiang Yuanlong is the Deputy Military Head of Jiangxia Town. The Deputy Academy Heads of the other six towns saluting him, what they are paying respects to is naturally not his position, but his strength.

Huang Tianxing's strength is estimated to be around forty zong. Even he has to salute. This Jiang Yuanlong's strength must be above him.

"Why, don't dare to leave?"

Xiang Tiancheng's expression is somewhat stiff at this moment. Being questioned by Jiang Yuanlong for the second time in front of so many people, he naturally couldn't save face, but reinforcing Jiangxia is the Town Head's order. Even if he had ten thousand guts, he wouldn't dare to take people away.

Moreover, maybe Jiang Yuanlong was deliberately provoking him to leave.

Thinking of this, he was even more flickering, looking up at Jiang Yuanlong, saying nothing.

"Since you don't dare to leave, then shut your mouth and obey this Military Head's orders obediently. This joint defense against Dajue Temple was decided by the eight Town Heads at the end of last month. Anyone who has an opinion in their heart can take their people and leave Hongguan. This Military Head will never stop you."

Jiang Yuanlong clearly intended to give the reinforcements from the seven towns a warning. After suppressing Xiang Tiancheng, his gaze swept over the people from the other six towns and continued: "I'll say the ugly words first. If you decide to stay here, then everything on the battlefield next must be arranged by me. Anyone who dares to disobey, does not exert effort on the battlefield, or delays military opportunities, don't blame this Military Head for being impolite!"

These words were actually already very impolite.

Jiang Yuanlong is only the Deputy Military Head of Jiangxia Town after all, directly treating the reinforcements from the seven towns as subordinates. Even if they knew he had no selfish motives and was just for the sake of the war going more smoothly, the faces of the six Deputy Academy Heads such as Huang Tianxing, Shangguan Yan, and Qin Yuanhai were all somewhat ugly.

Not to mention Xiang Tiancheng. After all, Jiang Yuanlong had already been impolite to him once in front of the six towns.

"Those who want to stay, follow me into the tent. Yuanhua, Xia Hou Qin, you two take the others to collect military equipment and arrange accommodation for them."

"This subordinate obeys!"

After Jiang Yuanlong gave instructions to the two subordinates, he turned and returned to the main tent. After Huang Tianxing and the other seven leaders looked at each other for a moment, they also walked toward the main tent.

"Everyone, please follow me!"

Jiang Yuanhua and Xia Hou Qin led the teams of the seven towns respectively and walked toward the rear of the camp, preparing to distribute military equipment to them.

Since the seven towns are reinforcements, it is naturally impossible for them to bring their own military equipment.

Personal habitual weapons are related to the strength that can be exerted after going to the battlefield, so it is impossible to distribute them temporarily, but battle armor and healing pills don't matter. This part of the supplies naturally has to be provided by Jiangxia Town.

Lu Yang and the 31 people from Dongling soon received a set of Hundred-Forged Iron Armor and twenty Huiyuan Pills, and were also assigned to a military wooden house near Hongguan Village.

Taking advantage of the time when a Jiangxia soldier was leading them to their accommodation, Lu Yang quietly stuffed a silver ingot and inquired about all the recent military intelligence.

"Actually only issued one set of Hundred-Forged Iron Armor, at most it can only defend against arrows shot by ordinary Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, better than nothing. This Jiangxia Town is really stingy!"

"These Huiyuan Pills are not bad, but it's a pity that they are too far from our Does Da Xia's Blood Sore Pills. They can only be used for adjusting breath on the battlefield and have almost no effect on external injuries."

"The forging difficulty of Thousand-Forged Iron Armor is too high. Which family doesn't treat it as a baby? Even Jiangxia's Town Defense Army wears Hundred-Forged Iron Armor. Being able to issue a set to us is considered not bad."

"That's right, our Does Da Xia's Thousand-Forged battle armor is not much, the soldiers now basically wear Hundred-Forged level Lei Kui Golden Armor."

"The nine towns' forging craftsmanship is not good. Our Hundred-Forged level Lei Kui Golden Armor's defensive ability can already be compared with their ordinary Thousand-Forged battle armor."

"That's true."

………………

As soon as they entered the wooden house, everyone's chatterbox opened. They looked at the battle armor and pills they had just received and made comments one after another. However, to prevent walls from having ears, everyone's voices were still very low.

Lu Yang naturally would not participate in everyone's discussion. It was already bright outside. He directly put down the battle armor in his hand and walked to the window, looking at Hongguan Village in the rear.

"My lord, the Cold-Resistant Grade reinforcements from the seven towns are about 2,100 people. I observed when entering just now, the Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators in the Hongguan camp are about 800-plus people. Counting the two Town Defense Army branches, it's not weak."

As soon as Wang Tao spoke, everyone immediately quieted down.

Zhu Shun also nodded: "Of course it's not weak. Among the three thousand Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, those with strength above twenty zong are conservatively estimated to be over a hundred. Two fully armed regular armies, I think there should be tens of thousands of Earth-Digging Realm garrison troops in Hongguan Village. It's just not clear the specific number. With so many people, guarding a Hongguan pass should be very easy. Unless Dajue Temple exerts all its strength, it should be very difficult to breach."

They have seen the intelligence of Dajue Temple together with Lu Yang, so unlike the nine towns, they all know the true strength of Dajue Temple very well.

Lin Fan shook his head at this time and said to Zhu Shun: "Didn't you hear what the soldier the lord found just now said? Dajue Temple has the means to let Earth-Digging Realm cultivators fight during the day. Don't just count the Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators. Once the number of Earth-Digging Realm cultivators is too large, it will inevitably affect the war situation."

Zhu Shun froze upon hearing this. He was on the side when Lu Yang was inquiring, so he also heard it. His brows knit slightly and he asked: "Relying on those twenty thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators in Qinghepu to affect the war situation, isn't it exaggerated?"

The means to let Earth-Digging Realm cultivators have the ability to fight during the day is indeed unsolvable.

But the number of people in Qinghepu is too small, only twenty thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, counting the losses when attacking Jinbi and Longhe...

Zhu Shun thought of this and immediately understood Lin Fan's meaning. His expression changed slightly and he said: "You mean, the fifty thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators controlled in the two villages of Jinbi and Longhe will turn their guns and help Dajue Temple attack Hongguan?"

Lin Fan nodded immediately.

Wang Tao added: "Not necessarily all will help, but the Earth-Digging Realm cultivators in the two villages of Jinbi and Longhe will definitely help. According to the information the lord inquired just now, this part has at least over twenty thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators. Calculating this way, the number of Earth-Digging Realm cultivators in Dajue Temple is at least over forty thousand."

The ordinary people and Woodcutting Realm cultivators in the two villages of Jinbi and Longhe were all controlled, and their families were all controlled. The defection of these Earth-Digging Realm cultivators basically had no suspense.

"Over forty thousand Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, if dispatched properly and seizing the daytime war opportunity, plus five thousand monastery monks, breaching Hongguan is not a difficult matter."

Hearing Wang Tao's words, Zhu Shun's expression changed slightly, clearly reacting.

Jiangxia's side, even counting reinforcements, is 3,000 against 5,000. Currently, it does not have the advantage in the number of Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators, but it wins by being the defensive side. Some disadvantages are still acceptable. Jiangxia's real advantage is still in the army. The strength of the two Town Defense Army branches is bound to far exceed the army randomly composed of ordinary Earth-Digging Realm cultivators on Dajue Temple's side.

The problem is that no matter how strong the Town Defense Army is, it can only fight at night. As long as Dajue Temple picks the daytime to fight you, you can only be dumbfounded.

"So the key to this battle is initiative. We must take the initiative to find Dajue Temple to fight at night. But in this way, Jiangxia is bound to take the main army into Hongguan to attack Longhe Village, and the defensive advantage will be gone.

Of course, if we can exert all our strength, take our own main army and all the Earth-Digging Realm cultivators in Hongguan Village, and work together, there may not be no chance to decide the outcome in one battle. But look at the situation of the reinforcements from the seven towns, can we do it?"

Hearing Wang Tao's words, Lu Yang turned his head back and said with a smile: "I don't care about the seven towns. Just us alone, it's impossible to work together with Jiangxia. Lord Wang is right. The most important thing in this battle is initiative, but precisely the most difficult thing to do is initiative. That Jiang Yuanlong is a smart man. He saw it long ago. As soon as the reinforcements from the seven towns arrived, he immediately gave a warning, which should be aimed at seizing the initiative, hoping to shock the people of the seven towns so he can unify command and dispatch..."

Speaking of this, Lu Yang paused, continued to shake his head and said: "He has some means, but he is still too impatient. No need to think, the people of the seven towns, no matter how he shocks them, will only act according to the orders of their own Town Heads. If the Town Heads of each town strictly order them to cooperate with Jiangxia, then no need for Jiang Yuanlong to shock them, they will definitely do so. But now it seems..."

Wang Tao, Lin Fan, and Zhu Shun shook their heads repeatedly.

Not to mention Xiang Tiancheng, who came to fight against Jiang Yuanlong as soon as he arrived, the Deputy Academy Heads of the other six towns clearly did not have a very cooperative attitude. They were shocked by Jiang Yuanlong's strength just now, but when it really involves military dispatch, how could they listen to Jiang Yuanlong casually?

"So the key to this battle is to see if Jiang Yuanlong can let the reinforcements from the seven towns take the initiative to attack Dajue Temple with him. Currently, the hope is not great, unless the Town Heads of the seven towns give orders to their own people."

As soon as Zhu Shun finished speaking, Wang Tao immediately took the conversation: "It must be fast. Dajue Temple is not stupid. When I came, I found that there are many secret agents around Hongguan Village, and there must be more near the pass. The two armies are so close, but any personnel movement is known to everyone. If Jiangxia is one day slow, Dajue Temple will have one more day of preparation. If they take the lead, take a large number of Earth-Digging Realm cultivators, and pick the daytime to attack the pass, then Jiangxia will definitely lose."

"This subordinate thinks that Jiangxia will definitely lose this battle!"

As soon as Wang Tao's voice fell, before Lu Yang and others could speak, a firm young voice came from behind.

The four turned their heads and found that it was Li Hu who didn't know when he had walked over.

Lu Yang, Zhu Shun, and Lin Fan saw Li Hu, and a smile rose on their faces. Wang Tao's expression was somewhat complicated.

Li Hu's identity is not simple. From the bloodline, he is naturally the grandson of Li Tiancheng, the Deputy Head of the Prison Department, and the nephew of the leader Li Ying Xuan Ling. But Li Hu never considers himself by these two identities, clearly always harboring grievances against the Li family. But it can be considered a mistake, and it happens that this point makes old Does Da Xia people like Lu Yang and Zhu Shun have a good impression of him.

Lu Yang asked curiously: "Li Hu, how did you see it?"

Li Hu bowed and shook his head: "My lord, I just came back from collecting military equipment over there. The Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators of Bada and Chui Shan have already started to make trouble. The leaders of the two towns have gone over. Xia Hou Qin of Jiangxia mediated for a long time before persuading the two sides to leave. I watched for a long time on the side. When the people of the two towns left, they were clearly still holding their breath.

Multi-party joint, the most afraid is each having their own ghosts. This hasn't started fighting yet, and problems have started to appear. Once on the battlefield, it goes without saying. That Jiang Yuanlong's means are powerful, but it is impossible to knead over two thousand people together. This is a mob. Once on the battlefield, it will only drag the hind legs. Maybe it's not as good as Jiangxia fighting Dajue Temple alone."

Hearing Li Hu's words, Lu Yang immediately revealed a smile, then thought for a moment, turned to look at the crowd, and said in a deep voice: "Anyway, the outcome of this battle has nothing to do with us. I only have one requirement for you, which is to save your lives. Xia people's lives are expensive. If you want to die, you must die for our Does Da Xia's conquest. I don't want you to hand over your lives here in a muddle. Of course, if you can take the opportunity to provoke some contradictions between the towns on the battlefield, that would be even better."

"This subordinate obeys!"

Xia people's lives are expensive. Hearing these four words, everyone's expression became slightly solemn, and they immediately bowed and answered Lu Yang in unison.

"From Hongguan, going west is Longhe, then Jinbi. After fifty kilometers west, it is Qinghepu, and past Qinghepu is our Does Da Xia's Baiyang station. If the battlefield is always on Hongguan's side, we won't have the opportunity to send a letter to Xia City. But once the battlefield moves west..."

Wang Tao shook his head and interrupted Lu Yang: "My lord is overthinking. Xia City already knows about Jiangxia fighting Dajue Temple. How could the leader not send people to watch here? Maybe he himself is here. I even suspect that among the many secret agents near Hongguan, there are our Does Da Xia people."

Lu Yang froze upon hearing this, and then nodded.

"That's right, after all, it's so close, the leader won't..."

"May I ask, is this the Beishuo Dongling Village barracks?"

Lu Yang, who was about to speak, was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door. Hearing the strange voice outside the door, everyone in the room immediately stood up vigilantly.

Lu Yang's brows knit slightly, he raised his hand to signal everyone to sit down, and then responded to the door in a deep voice: "It is the Dongling Village barracks."

"Han Feng of Jin Shan Valley Tan Village, has urgent matters to see Lord Lu."

Han Feng!

In the room, Wang Tao, Lin Fan, Zhu Shun, including everyone else, their expressions changed slightly, and they stood up with a thud.

Lu Yang saw Han Feng when he was rushing on the road last night, but he didn't tell the people in the room, so the people in the room reacted so strongly just because they heard Han Feng's name.

Actually, it is understandable. Han Feng is the son of Han Jiuli, the leader of Hanqiong, and his talent is not low. His reputation in Longyou was not low originally. Wang Tao and other Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators from Longyou naturally have heard of him.

The key is that Lu Yang has not less led Dongling people to inquire about Han Feng's whereabouts for more than three years, so everyone in the room knows what's going on, so the reaction will be so strong.

"Han Feng, he went to Jin Shan!"

"This person must be eliminated."

"My lord."

………………

"Don't be impatient!"

Lu Yang's mood was also somewhat shaken at this moment, but he still appeased everyone first, then walked slowly to the door and opened it.

Five years ago, when Han Feng escaped from the secret passage, he was less than thirty. Now he should be in his early thirties, which is actually considered very young compared to his cultivation level.

"Seventeen zong, his strength is about the same as mine."

The moment Lu Yang opened the door, he immediately judged Han Feng's strength, and then directly invited him in.

When Han Feng saw Lu Yang, his expression was clearly somewhat complicated. Then he saw the group of people in the room, found many familiar Longyou faces, and was looking at himself with tiger-like eyes. He took a slight breath and walked in directly.

"Brother Han, these years, you have made us look for you!"

Lu Yang closed the door smoothly. Li Hu led several Cold-Resistant Grade cultivators and immediately blocked the door. Wang Tao, Lin Fan, and Zhu Shun also stood up and surrounded Han Feng without a trace.

"Brother Lu, everyone, no need to be like this. Leader Xia had grace to Han back then. Han Feng took the initiative to visit today, just not wanting to cause misunderstandings. I will not tell Jin Shan Town about Dongling's affairs, and I will never reveal your identities." ===== CHAPTER 368 =====