Chapter 381: What is this thing called Chuishan

Great Xia Year 8, April 29th.

Fengshan is, in fact, just a small snow-covered mountain with an elevation of over three hundred meters.

Because this mountain rises abruptly from the snow forest and stands tall with a pointed peak, Jiang Xia named it Fengshan for convenience.

Fengshan is only twenty-some kilometers away from Hongguan. Theoretically, there was no need to establish a large camp here, but considering that the Fengshan camp was established by Jiang Xia first, and Hongguan was only established later after surveying the Hengjiang region, it becomes understandable.

The Fengshan camp is located on the north side of this mountain.

From the orientation of the camp, it is clear that Jiang Xia's core purpose in establishing a camp here was to guard against the Chuishan Town to the north.

It is just a pity that after all that guarding, it ultimately failed.

With Duan Chang leading two battalions of the Town Defense Army to station here last night, the Fengshan camp would henceforth change its name to Chuishan.

However, after occupying Fengshan, Duan Chang could never bring himself to be happy.

For instance, at this moment, even though the sky had already brightened, Duan Chang, inside the main camp tent, had not dared to close his eyes, his complexion clearly showing fear and panic.

Of course, he was not the only one; the dozen or so other army commanders in the main tent, all clad in thousand-forged battle armor, had expressions basically the same as his.

Suddenly, someone rushed in from outside the door, their expression even more panicked than those inside, saying with a tone of alarm: "Lord Duan, they have arrived. The enemy army has arrived; they are only three kilometers away from the camp and will be here in a few minutes at most."

Bang!

Duan Chang slapped the table, shattering it, stood up directly, and gritted his teeth: "They go too far! We already ceded Hongguan to them, yet they dare to continue pressing on to Fengshan. Does this Great Xia really think my Chuishan is made of mud? Eight battalion commanders, go notify everyone. The Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers will come out with me to meet the enemy; the others will prepare inside the barracks."

"Subordinate obeys!"

Eight people immediately stood out in the room and bowed in response. Although their voices were loud, one could tell from their heavy expressions as they walked out of the main tent that they were not optimistic inside.

As for the four remaining in the room, there is no need to mention them; their expressions were already ugly to the extreme.

"Lord, fighting in the daytime, we don't have as many people as the other side, and two commanders have already been captured by Great Xia. No matter how we fight, there is no chance of winning!"

In the end, it was one of the deputy commanders, Duan Yang, who spoke with a hesitant expression.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he was immediately scolded by Duan Chang.

"If there's no chance of winning, we don't fight? The order given to us by the Army Head was to occupy the four camps of Hongguan, Fengshan, Long Zhou, and Xu Yang. Now Hongguan is occupied by Great Xia, Long Zhou and Xu Yang have also been taken away by Jiang Xia, and we can't even hold Fengshan. When the Army Head arrives, what will we use to answer for it?"

Duan Yang's expression froze, and the words in his mouth were immediately blocked.

"There are only two hours of daylight in total. We have over seven hundred Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers, and the sixteen hundred soldiers in the barracks, although they cannot go out to fight, can threaten the other side by shooting arrows with strong bows from inside the houses. Moreover, I have already sent people to the town to send a message. As soon as the Lord and the Army Head receive the news, they will immediately rush over to support us. What is there to fear!"

Thinking of the encounter last night, Duan Chang felt his teeth itch with hatred.

After he escaped death from the Hongguan camp last night, his first reaction was to take the three hundred-plus Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers and retreat to the Jiangyan camp, preparing to report the situation of Great Xia to the town and then find a way to rescue Duan Xu and Mu Zichuan.

But he soon realized that although Hongguan was occupied, there were still three camps behind: Fengshan, Long Zhou, and Xu Yang. He had already inexplicably had two commanders captured; if he didn't occupy a single one of the four camps, he would definitely not be able to answer to the Army Head, Mu Longhe, upon returning.

So he immediately changed his mind. While sending people back to deliver the message, he took the three hundred-plus Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers and diverted to Fengshan, successfully occupying it.

He had set off at dawn yesterday, so he only brought over 300 Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers. The 1600-plus Town Defense Army soldiers could only wait to set off at nightfall. Confirming that Hongguan had already been occupied by Great Xia, he naturally sent people to notify those 1600-plus people to divert to the Fengshan camp first.

Of course, he did not forget the terrifying strength of that Great Xia army. To be safe, he also transferred all the Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers that could be mobilized around the Jiangyan camp, totaling over four hundred people.

He originally didn't think these four hundred-plus people could play a role. Given Jiang Xia's current situation, even if they knew the Fengshan camp was occupied by Chuishan, they would never dare to bring troops to attack. And that abruptly appearing Great Xia had already occupied the Hongguan camp; theoretically, they shouldn't continue to provoke Chuishan and come to attack Fengshan.

But he never expected that Great Xia would really dare to be so excessive!

With such a terrifying army twenty-some kilometers away, how could he not send scouts to keep an eye on them?

The Hongguan camp was heavily guarded, and the scouts he sent didn't dare to get too close. Although they couldn't observe the specific situation inside the barracks, they could clearly see the army collectively leaving the camp. Half an hour ago, the scouts returned to report that the golden-armored army was rapidly marching toward the Fengshan camp. He didn't dare to believe it at the time and sent out three waves of scouts in succession. Only after confirming the military situation did his mood truly begin to panic.

"Marching twenty-some kilometers in half an hour, it must be that Cold-Resisting Grade army. This is deliberately choosing to attack Fengshan in the daytime. Where on earth did this Great Xia pop out from..."

Duan Chang's expression was extremely ugly. To this day, he still hadn't figured out where this Great Xia had popped out from.

"Organizing an army with Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers, in the entire Jiuzhen, only the three northern families have this strength and capital. So it is basically certain that this Great Xia is an extraterritorial force. An extraterritorial force dares to actively invade Chuishan and wantonly interfere in the territory of the Jiuzhen!"

With the number of Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers in the Jiuzhen, let alone a thousand-man army, each town could probably pull out at least four or five. The problem is that it is impossible for each town to pull all the Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers under its banner to join the army.

The town needs to maintain operations, normal hunting and gathering activities cannot stop, and the various institutions of the town as well as all jurisdictions within the territory also need people to govern. These things all rely on Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers to do.

Joining the army is different from other things. Once you become a soldier and a member of the army, you cannot leave the barracks casually.

Moreover, maintaining a large army, battle armor, weapons, healing pills, cultivation materials, etc... the daily consumption is also not low.

Under the combination of various factors, in the entire Mo'ao Mountain Jiuzhen, the only ones who can organize an army with Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers are the three northern towns with the most abundant strength.

Duan Chang, as the Deputy Army Head of Chuishan Town, naturally knows quite a bit. He is very clear that the three northern towns have secretly cultivated an elite army composed entirely of Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers.

Now, this suddenly appearing Great Xia actually has one too.

"Grabbing the sore spot of them being an extraterritorial force, I don't believe that this Great Xia, having not even occupied Hongguan firmly, would dare to continue to take action against my Chuishan at the risk of universal condemnation!"

The two commanders captured by Great Xia people north of Hongguan last night could at most be considered a small conflict. Great Xia is now leading troops to press on to Fengshan; if they really dare to take action, that would be openly declaring war on Chuishan Town, and even on the Mo'ao Jiuzhen.

"Hmph! I don't believe Great Xia has the guts. Let's go out and meet them!"

Duan Chang snorted coldly. After speaking, he waved his hand at the four people in the tent and took the lead in walking out of the tent. The seven hundred-plus fully armed Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers outside the tent had already assembled. After leaving the tent, he didn't say any nonsense and directly led the army to run rapidly toward the only exit on the north side of the barracks.

The Fengshan camp only set up this one entrance and exit at the north gate. When Duan Chang led people to the gate, that golden-armored army of Great Xia happened to walk to a position only three hundred-plus meters away from the camp.

"Halt!"

Clang...

A white-clothed youth in the front row of the other side, who was not wearing armor, shouted loudly. The thousand golden-armored soldiers immediately stopped in unison. A thousand weapons slammed into the ground, suddenly emitting a solemn clanging sound.

Seeing this scene, let alone the others in Chuishan Town, even Deputy Army Head Duan Chang himself had his pupils shrink suddenly, his face covered with horror and shock.

Although he realized last night that the strength of this army was very strong, he thought the strength was strong mostly in terms of cultivation level.

The engagement last night was too brief, and not much could be seen.

But at this moment, the army appeared before his eyes. Just this one stopping action could explain too many things. Duan Chang is also a person who has led troops for a long time. He is very clear in his heart what it means to be able to achieve such a level of obedience to orders.

In the front row of the army, five golden-armored soldiers were guarding a flagpole. The flagpole was about eight meters high, and a black banner two meters wide and four meters long hung on it. On the front of the flag was a large golden "Xia" character, and on the back was embroidered a golden soaring dragon. The banner was blown by the daytime cold wind, making a hunting sound, and the soaring dragon also seemed to be soaring in the clouds and mist, with a momentum like a rainbow.

Duan Chang's gaze slowly moved down from the flag and finally fixed on the white-clothed youth at the very front of the army, his pupils full of wariness.

That white-clothed youth was the person who led the other three golden-armored generals last night to capture Duan Xu and Mu Zichuan. Duan Chang is very clear that he was able to escape successfully last night because this white-clothed youth acted a bit late. If the other side had acted earlier, his final outcome would probably be the same as Duan Xu and Mu Zichuan.

"Chuishan Town Deputy Army Head Duan Chang, may I ask your honorable name?"

In front of the Cloud Dragon Army, Xia Chuan heard Duan Chang bow and report his name. A trace of surprise rose on his face. He already understood the situation of the entire Jiuzhen quite well, and the Jiangyan camp was naturally clear to him. Even when he took action last night, he basically guessed Duan Chang's identity.

Since the other side had spoken, he naturally could not be rude. He smiled and bowed in response: "Great Xia Minister Xia Chuan, I have met Deputy Army Head Duan!"

Although Duan Chang did not know what kind of official position a Minister was in Great Xia, since he could command an army composed entirely of Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers, he could imagine that the other side's identity was not simple. He frowned and questioned angrily: "Minister Xia, Great Xia comes from outside the territory, yet you occupied Hongguan without asking the Jiuzhen. Last night you captured two of my commanders, and now you are leading an army to press on to Chuishan territory. Could it be that you want to go to war with my Mo'ao Jiuzhen?"

What a big hat to put on!

Xia Chuan's smile did not diminish, his gaze fixed on Duan Chang. After a moment, he suddenly asked: "I remember that Fengshan, like Hongguan, belongs to Jiang Xia territory. When did it become your Chuishan's?"

Duan Chang's expression froze upon hearing this. The long speech he had prepared was instantly stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say a word for a long time.

But his reaction was not slow. He quickly organized his words and responded: "Fengshan was indeed Jiang Xia territory before, but it was snatched away by the Great Awakening Temple early in the year. Now that the Great Awakening Temple has been destroyed, Fengshan naturally became ownerless land. Since it has been occupied by my Chuishan, it naturally counts as Chuishan territory."

"Then why did you have to ask the Jiuzhen when my Great Xia occupied Hongguan?"

Xia Chuan intentionally teased Duan Chang and deliberately blocked him with a sentence.

"The Jiuzhen are connected like branches and leaves, the entire southern foot of Mo'ao Mountain..."

Duan Chang's expression stiffened halfway through his sentence, and he couldn't continue.

He wanted to use the Jiuzhen being connected like branches and leaves to retort to Xia Chuan, but the problem is that his Chuishan is currently occupying Jiang Xia territory. How could he have the nerve to say this sentence?

"What, you have nothing to say?"

Xia Chuan looked at Duan Chang with a teasing expression, his face full of mockery.

Duan Chang's face instantly flushed red. It was mainly because Xia Chuan was too young; judging by his appearance, he was probably not even thirty, while he was already over sixty this year. To be teased by a young junior with such a condescending posture, and importantly, in front of seven hundred-plus Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers, how could he, the Deputy Army Head of Chuishan Town, save face?

In his anger and shame, he shouted angrily in a deep voice: "Stop talking nonsense! The Jiuzhen signed an alliance in the early years that no extraterritorial force may touch an inch of the Jiuzhen' territory. Whether your Great Xia can hold Hongguan is still a question. If you dare to attack my Fengshan camp today, that is openly declaring war on my Chuishan Town..."

"What is this thing called Chuishan?"

Before Duan Chang finished speaking, he was interrupted by Xia Chuan.

Xia Chuan said this sentence deliberately, turning his head to Liu Yuan beside him.

Liu Yuan understood and immediately laughed loudly: "Hahaha, it's that fool whose Jiang Xia Town was beaten back step by step by the Great Awakening Temple, and whose Bashang Town was destroyed, yet they kept watching the fun from the sidelines. Now they actually want to use the tiger skin of the Jiuzhen to intimidate my Great Xia. Hahahahaha..."

"Hahahahahaha..."

"Hahahaha..."

The Cloud Dragon Army soldiers were all Cold-Resisting Grade. To a certain extent, cultivation level means authority. When they were stationed in Wuyuan, they already knew everything about the Great Awakening Temple and the Jiuzhen. So at this moment, when Liu Yuan spoke, all the Cloud Dragon Army soldiers laughed loudly, their voices naturally full of mockery and contempt.

This time, not only Duan Chang, but even the seven hundred-plus Chuishan Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers behind him had their faces instantly flushed red.

Duan Chang's chest heaved, clearly on the verge of rage, repeatedly pointing at the Xia army, his pupils almost bursting with fire.

"Silence!"

After the army had laughed enough, Xia Chuan directly raised his hand to signal, and the soldiers stopped upon hearing the order, instantly closing their mouths.

Xia Chuan looked up at the furious Duan Chang, a trace of gloom flashing in his eyes. He no longer had the heart to talk nonsense and sneered: "No more nonsense with you. This Minister led the army here to recover the lost territory for Jiang Xia. Fengshan does not belong to your Chuishan Town. This Minister will give you a hundred breaths of time to take the seven hundred people behind you and get out of the Fengshan camp. As long as all the soldiers in the camp hand over their weapons and armor, this Minister can let them leave after nightfall. Listen carefully, only a hundred breaths!"

After Xia Chuan finished speaking, he waved his hand violently behind him.

"One... two... three..."

All the members of the Cloud Dragon Army behind him actually gathered their blood and energy directly, facing the direction of the Fengshan camp, and shouted in unison.

They intended to count from one to one hundred right in front of them.

"Xia Chuan, you dare to despise this old man so much!"

Duan Chang looked at Xia Chuan, already furious beyond control at this moment.

"Twenty-one... twenty-two... twenty-three..."

But Xia Chuan ignored him completely. There was only the roar of the thousand Cloud Dragon Army soldiers gathering their energy. As the numbers grew larger, the anger in the eyes of Duan Chang and the seven hundred-plus people behind him became more intense.

"Release arrows!"

Being so despised by Great Xia, Duan Chang's towering rage could finally no longer be suppressed. Things had reached this point, and he was thoroughly cornered; if he chose to withdraw now, he would have absolutely nowhere to save face.

"There is still an hour and a half until nightfall. Seven hundred Cold-Resisting Grade soldiers, plus sixteen hundred people shooting arrows in the camp, dragging it out for a while is not a problem. As long as we can survive until nightfall, there will be no problem. Moreover, the Lord and the Army Head will come to support at any time. I don't believe this group of dog thieves can crush me within an hour and a half!"

Swish swish swish...

"Scout Battalion, raise shields! Nine Battalions, release arrows!"

The moment Duan Chang shouted to release arrows, Xia Chuan's pupils immediately flashed with joy. Before the other side's arrow rain came out, he had already given the order.

The Scout Battalion was already standing in the front row. Upon Xia Chuan's order, they immediately put down their weapons, raised the golden round shields on their backs, and blocked their heads.

The nine hundred people in the Nine Battalions in the rear set up their long bows at a faster speed, pulled out silver sharp arrows one by one from the arrow quivers on their backs, nocked them on the bowstrings, and shot frantically at the seven hundred-plus people on Duan Chang's side.

Swish swish swish swish...

One side had seven hundred-plus people, the other side had nine hundred-plus people. The scale of the two waves of arrow rain was actually not much different, and the colors were also similar—both were silver.

But after colliding in mid-air, the expressions of the people on Duan Chang's side changed instantly.

The airflow driven by the Xia army's arrow curtain actually directly scraped the arrows they shot, causing them to fall frantically to both sides.

Puchi...

As their own arrow curtain was destroyed, Great Xia's arrow rain kept shooting in, and finally, someone on Duan Chang's side was hit.

That person groaned, pulled out the arrow from his battle armor, looked down at it for a moment, then his pupils suddenly shrank, and he shouted in alarm: "Silver-made! Their arrows are all silver-made!"

Arrows made of silver?

Duan Chang's expression changed suddenly, and he looked up and shouted: "Retreat to the barracks!"

When he first saw that the arrows on both sides were silver, he subconsciously thought that Great Xia was also using thousand-forged iron arrows.

Arrows made of silver, how can this still be fought?

"Now you want to retreat? The whole army, advance! Close in on the camp!"

Upon Xia Chuan's order, the Scout Battalion in the front row put the round shields on their backs and also took out their long bows, joining the ranks of shooting arrows.

During the advance of the whole army, they did not stop shooting arrows, forcing Duan Chang and others back into the barracks. The Cloud Dragon Army also successfully entered the camp from the north gate.

Swish swish...

As soon as they entered the camp, iron arrows were shot from many barracks on both sides.

Xia Chuan raised his blade to deflect two iron arrows shot at his face, turned his head to look at those barracks, a trace of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes, and he ordered loudly:

"Wang Yuan, lead the Scout Battalion to destroy those barracks hiding people."

"Subordinate obeys!"

Scout Battalion Captain Wang Yuan moved upon hearing the sound, took ninety-nine elite scouts to abandon their bows, drew their respective weapons, and rushed toward those barracks hiding people.

Clang... clang...

The Town Defense Army soldiers in the barracks were not stupid. Seeing the Xia army rushing toward them, they quickly changed their targets, trying to shoot arrows to block them.

However, their iron arrows hit the battle armor of the Cloud Dragon Army soldiers and all fell off without exception. Let alone penetrating, they couldn't even leave a white mark on the surface of the battle armor.

Scout Battalion Captain Wang Yuan rushed to the vicinity of a barrack first. He showed a ferocious smile, gathered his strength, and slammed into the barrack in front of him.

Bang...

The barracks used quite a bit of iron material and were indeed stronger than ordinary houses, but trying to block the full-force collision of a Cold-Resisting Grade soldier was clearly somewhat unrealistic.

Moreover, Wang Yuan was at the late stage of the Frigid Realm, with a strength reaching twelve bristles.

He directly slammed a two-meter-high hole in the wall of this barrack.

Whoosh...

"Ah..."

"Ah!"

Cold air accompanied by cold light instantly poured in. The Chuishan Town Defense Army soldiers inside the barracks suddenly let out screams. Some hysterically tried to rush out to block Wang Yuan, but regardless of strength or conditions, their actions were destined to have no effect.

Bang bang bang...

Wang Yuan destroyed them with great pleasure. In less than ten-some breaths, he didn't even have to do it himself; the twenty or thirty soldiers in the barracks were directly frozen to death by the cold light pouring in from the outside. ===== CHAPTER 382 =====