Chapter 42

In the first half of the night, the transmission of the upgraded soldiers' equipment was completed.

All the soldiers were mobilized and carried it back to the camp.

In the second half of the night, there were piles of steel rebar and cement like mountains, as well as basic farming tools such as hoes, shovels, and handcarts enough to distribute to more than twenty thousand households.

Ning Jinli transmitted continuously and only finished sending after almost the whole night.

The soldiers and civilians of Lin Xian Village here also busied themselves all night before finishing the move……

During this period, Xiao Qidi learned from Duan Wu that Yu Guo was about to dispatch a 300,000-strong army to attack again.

He also learned Duan Wu's original plan.

After thinking it over, Duan Wu still advised him to simply lead the sixty thousand civilians, taking the Fairy's bestowed supplies, and withdraw.

With His Majesty's summons, the civilians would naturally follow.

Moreover, the Fairy gave the civilians so many excellent farming tools that, no matter where they went in the future, they could rebuild a home.

But Xiao Qidi didn't agree at all.

He only said one sentence: "Since the 300,000 enemy troops are coming, why aren't you quickly preparing to meet them?"

……

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

Yu Guo's 200,000 elite troops, under the Crown Prince's leadership, arrived at the border region at dawn, camping at a position a hundred li outside Xuan Guo's Xi Tun Guan.

Inside the main tent, the Crown Prince yawned, preparing to sleep well.

After several consecutive days and nights of forced marches, even though he rode in the finest carriage, he was exhausted to the point of being fed up.

Anyway, setting up camp takes time, and the barbarian troops of Sha Yue Guo will need another day or two to arrive.

"Crown Prince, why not send scouts to check the situation?" an officer entered the tent and asked.

"What's there to scout?" the Crown Prince slightly lifted his eyelids, "It's just Xi Tun Guan's rear plus some… what village?"

"Lin Xian Village," the officer replied, "Because earlier Ba Yong led troops to attack there, most of the civilians around Xuan Guo's Xi Tun Guan fled to this village for refuge."

The Crown Prince gave an "oh," his face showing impatience, "I recall now—probably ten thousand Xuan Guo soldiers and sixty thousand Xuan Guo lowly commoners. Is scouting even needed? Once I've rested, I'll just crush and flatten it."

"You're right, Crown Prince," the officer, seeing his demeanor, probed, "How about letting this subordinate lead a detachment as a vanguard, setting out immediately to scout the situation? Little Xi Tun Guan really doesn't require your personal involvement."

Actually, the officers accompanying him this time all understood clearly that this Crown Prince simply doesn't know how to fight.

His earlier impassioned and generous speech—supposedly to avenge the shame of the 50,000-strong army's destruction—was merely a put-on for the civil officials in court.

And the Yu Guo King was indeed cooperating with him; sending 200,000 elite troops and also having Sha Yue Guo mobilize 100,000 barbarian troops was clearly to ensure the safety of this future heir.

Even thinking with your toes, you know that a full 300,000-strong army could flatten Xi Tun Guan with just each person's spit.

When this utterly predictable battle ends, the Crown Prince will return triumphantly to court; even without bringing back the Canglan Jade, it will be enough for him to establish prestige among the court officials and the Yu Guo populace.

"Huh?" the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, "You really want to steal my credit? What's your name?"

"This subordinate's surname is Luo; this subordinate would never dare to compete with the Crown Prince for merit," the officer said with a beaming smile, "I merely want to share your worries… If I lead troops to scout and accidentally capture Xi Tun Guan, wiping out those tens of thousands of Xuan Guo people, everyone will only know that it was you, Crown Prince, who personally conquered it."

The Crown Prince showed a hint of appreciation, "You're quite sensible; I've remembered you, General Luo."

General Luo, overjoyed, stepped closer and continued, "You see, when Sha Yue Guo's 100,000 barbarian troops arrive, they'll surely be rushing to avenge Ba Yong—what business would we have then? I'm afraid that in the future, court officials will think the credit belongs entirely to them."

"Father really is something—he not only informed Sha Yue Guo but also ordered them to send troops," the Crown Prince muttered somewhat discontentedly.

General Luo smiled and said, "This is the King ensuring your safety; no matter what, more troops mean you're safer—the King is deeply fond of his son…"

Hearing this, the Crown Prince felt very pleased inside.

He picked up the jug of wine on the table before him, "This wine is awarded to you; do as you wish, take as many troops as you like from those 200,000 elites, and when I become king, I will surely promote you."

"Thank you, Crown Prince!" General Luo knelt to receive the wine.

The Crown Prince was in high spirits and had his attendants bring in two beautiful women.

He put one arm around one of them, smiling, "These are respectable women I took a liking to on the march; though they're not peerless beauties, they have their own charm—when you return, I'll reward you with them to enjoy."

General Luo's eyes gleamed, he kowtowed deeply, "Yes, Crown Prince!"

He left the Crown Prince's tent, immediately went to the soldiers' camp, picked out thirty thousand, took rations, donned equipment, and prepared to set out.

His deputy general pondered, "General Luo, using thirty thousand for scouting seems excessive; if we went straight to battle, wouldn't that be too few?"

General Luo, face full of confidence, declared, "I'm heading out to seize Xi Tun Guan! Setting out now, we'll arrive by nightfall; tonight I will slaughter every Xuan Guo person in Xi Tun Guan!"

The deputy frowned, "But… earlier Ba Yong's 50,000-strong army was completely wiped out……

"Hah!" General Luo sneered, "Ba Yong is just a brute, like the barbarians of Sha Yue Guo—all brawn, no brains. His total annihilation is no surprise! Moreover, his 50,000 troops had only 20,000 elites; I'm bringing 30,000 elites—more than enough!"

"This jug of fine wine, a gift from the Crown Prince, take it to my tent and store it; when I return victorious, we'll drink it together—I'll give you a cup then."

"Yes, General Luo!"

Not long after, thirty thousand Yu Guo elites, facing the rising morning sun, trudged across the rugged terrain covered with dry earth and yellow sand, marching mightily toward Xi Tun Guan.

On the Xi Tun Guan side——

Ten thousand Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army troops were drilling on the school field inside the pass.

In just four or five days, the former ten thousand Xi Tun Guan soldiers together with the Lin Xian Village troops have all been organized into the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army.

Everyone now wears camouflage tactical uniforms with an outer bulletproof suit, helmets and tactical boots as well—no longer the previous labor-protection clothing and shoes plus bulletproof gear.

The long swords and spears that Ning Jinli first sent have now all been replaced with the halberds and lances she newly delivered five days ago.

This is a super‑enhanced version of the long swords and spears.

Cavalry equipped with lances, infantry with halberds—just standing there, they exude killing intent!

The archery battalion soldiers are envious beyond measure.

Because although their clothing and footwear have also been upgraded, their bows and arrows remain the original model, not significantly strengthened like the cavalry and infantry weapons.

However, the Jinli Fairy told them that in due time she would equip them with something superior to a recurve bow.

Moreover, besides cavalry, infantry, and archers, the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army has also established a scouting battalion of about two hundred personnel, specifically using the hundred drones provided by the Jinli Fairy to gather combat intelligence.

Under the splendid morning sun, Xiao Qidi stood firm on the city wall, his large hands gently stroking the cement‑covered surface of the wall.

In these past few days, relying on the steel rebar and cement provided by Ning Jinli, he mobilized the soldiers and civilians, reinforcing the outer layer of the defenses on this side of Xi Tun Guan once.

Although it was done hastily and roughly, it not only filled all the previously damaged gaps, but also made this earth-and-stone wall as solid as gold and soup, even a hundred times harder than the walls of other border regions valued by the court in Xuan Guo.

"Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army, listen up; morning drill is over." Duan Wu gave the order by the drill field, holding a walkie-talkie.

The voice fell, and shortly afterward, all the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army marched off the field in neat, orderly ranks.

Duan Wu looked at the walkie-talkie in his hand, grinning widely with a big set of white teeth.

The Jinli Fairy had previously sent over a number of walkie-talkies, and he issued one to each centurion.

Even after practicing with it for several days, he still felt this device was utterly superb.

Press the button, open your mouth, and the order is transmitted instantly; mobilizing troops or changing formations is as easy and convenient as using one's own arm.

On the ever-changing battlefield, this will surely greatly enhance the Xuanjia Armor Armor Armor Armor Army's adaptability — it's like giving a tiger wings!

At that moment, Duan Wu saw Li Yao sprinting from afar, as if something urgent had happened, disappearing in the blink of an eye; he then opened his walkie-talkie and teased, "Li Yao, are you about to split your pants?"

Li Yao gave no response.

Duan Wu waited a moment, then chuckled and asked, "Why aren't you speaking? Did you fall into the latrine?"

"Shut up, you." Li Yao finally replied.

Duan Wu laughed loudly, "It's no big deal if you fall in; the latrines at Xi Tun Guan are old and in disrepair. A few days ago, His Majesty himself stepped right into one? No, I was quick-eyed and quick-handed and pulled him out; otherwise he would have sunk completely. You didn't see His Majesty's face then — it was truly — worse than the stones in the latrine! Hahahaha!"

Li Yao: "You little brat… aren't you afraid His Majesty will hear?"

Duan Wu: "I tuned it to the frequency that only our six commanders can hear… uh… what did the Jinli Fairy call it again?"

"Channel." Xiao Qidi's low voice came from the walkie-talkie.