Chapter 211

If it weren't that the number of people is still small.

Zhang Tianxuan went bankrupt long ago!

Now he is so poor that even if a mouse came, he'd have to give it two copper coins.

He's so poor he's about to pawn his pants.

At the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang also sent out his trusted general Chang Yuchun and part of his trusted troops, to march together with Zhang Tianxuan's Heavenly Gang Army.

The two forces met outside the camp; for a moment, banners blotted out the sun, warhorses neighed, and their spirit was like a rainbow.

The soldiers stood in neat ranks, awaiting the order to march out.

Their faces were filled with determination and resolve, as if they had already prepared themselves to sacrifice at any moment.

The warhorses pawed the ground uneasily, as if they too sensed the impending battle.

Zhang Tianxuan and Zhu Yuanzhang stood side by side, their gazes sweeping over the soldiers' faces, their hearts brimming with heroic ambition.

On the eve of the expedition, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Tianxuan met again.

They raised their cups and drank together, as if hoping to wipe away past grudges.

"Under heaven, for this expedition, you and I must work together in heart and strength, to overcome the difficulties of the times."

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a sincere tone.

The two smiled at each other, and the estrangement in their hearts seemed to vanish in that moment.

As the order to march out was given, the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking heaven and earth.

They waved their weapons in hand and stepped forward with firm strides.

Their footsteps rang out powerfully, as if each step trod upon the enemy's heart.

The warhorses also raised their forehooves, letting out earth-shaking neighs, as if announcing their arrival to the enemy.

Meanwhile, in Kaizhou in the north of the Great Xuan, it was only a stone's throw away from Baizhou, the northernmost point of the Great Xuan where Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Tianxuan were stationed.

The main force of the Great Xuan dynasty led by Yang Su had also already taken position here.

Alongside the flank advance came the Crimson Phoenix Divine General, Peng Fengjun.

After the two great armies met at Kaizhou, they immediately began full deployment and preparations.

Forming a encircling posture, they tightly surrounded Baizhou, as if a giant iron fist had clenched the enemy's heart.

All they awaited was a single command.

Then they would sweep down upon Baizhou like a fierce tiger descending the mountain!

On the vast battlefield at the border between Baizhou and Kaizhou, dark clouds hung low, as if they would crush this boundless land.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Tianxuan, the current leaders of the Yellow Turban Army, stood proudly on horseback atop the hills, gazing at the overwhelming army before them.

Behind them, the Hongwu Ming troops wore bright armor, with swords and spears standing like a forest.

The battle flags snapped in the wind, exuding an overbearing aura.

Generals Chang Mao and Gu Yilong, among others, each led their elite units, forming ranks in readiness.

The iron cavalry of the five divisions' vanguards, on the flanks, were like a sharp dagger, ready at any moment to tear open the enemy's weak points.

Moreover, the tens of thousands of elite Yellow Turban troops hastily gathered behind them stretched for miles.

Though their attire was disheveled, their eyes burned with unyielding fighting spirit and the flame of a desire to change their fate.

Opposite them, the two divisions of the Great Xuan court dispatched by Yang Su and Peng Fengjun were also immensely formidable.

Their military appearance was strict, their ranks neat, like a precise war machine; every step of their advance showed cold, orderly precision.

Between the two armies lay a solemn, killing silence, broken only by the occasional neigh of warhorses echoing across the open plain.

"Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Tianxuan, you two are rebels of this chaotic age, plotting to harm the populace; your crimes are unforgivable."

"If you do not dismount and surrender today, what are you waiting for?"

Yang Su, clad in golden armor, rode forth, his resonant voice carried far by inner energy.

"Yang Su, you are nothing but lapdogs of the Great Xuan court; we Yellow Turbans have risen in revolt merely to seek justice for the people under heaven."

"With just a few words from your lapdogs, how could you expect us to surrender?"

Zhu Yuanzhang gave a cold chuckle and retorted without showing any weakness.

"Not bad, Yang Su, Peng Fengjun—take a good look: this army of tens of thousands of Yellow Turbans consists entirely of stalwart men who stand tall between heaven and earth."

"In today's battle, either you die or I live!"

Zhang Tianxuan beside Zhu Yuanzhang also interjected.

"Hmph, ignorant of the heights of heaven and depths of earth!"

Yang Su's face darkened, but he also didn't think that mere trash talk would help, so he waved his hand.

The two divisions behind him immediately surged forward like a tide, launching an overwhelming assault toward the Yellow Turban forces.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Tianxuan exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's resolve.

"Brothers, follow me and kill!"

Afterward, the two simultaneously drew their weapons and let out a loud shout.

"Ding! Zhu Yuanzhang's skill Hongwu activated!"

Hongwu: The earth shines bright, recording sun and moon; imperial radiance glows, a myriad-year path! This is the exclusive skill of the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang.

Effect One: When personally leading troops in battle, Commander-in-Chief +3, the entire army's attack power, defense, morale, speed… greatly increase.

Effect Two: When commanding officers to go into battle, it can raise their individual martial value by 2 points, up to three persons simultaneously. Note: When officers are affected by the army-wide martial-boosting skill effect, this effect's actual effect is halved.

Effect Three: When personally present on the battlefield, the entire army's martial +2; when personally fighting, the entire army's martial +1 again.

Effect Four: When crowned king, three random attributes permanently +1; when enthroned emperor, three random attributes permanently +1.

Currently, Zhu Yuanzhang's base Commander-in-Chief is 100; the Hongwu skill Effect One adds +3 to Commander-in-Chief, raising Zhu Yuanzhang's Commander-in-Chief value to 103!

As Zhu Yuanzhang personally led the troops in battle.

His Hongwu skill also began to be exerted on a large scale.

「Ding! Zhang Tianxuan's skill, Constellation Activation!

Constellation: Leading the stars as the Divine Commander, the heavenly stars are my generals, with stellar aid innately holy, controlling the fate of all stars, this is Zhang Tianxuan's exclusive skill.

Effect 1: Stars assist, myriad stars connect; one's myriad techniques can be shared and subordinates can obtain myriad techniques (this effect only those who possess constellation-type skills can obtain complete myriad techniques; if not a constellation-type skill holder, they can only obtain half myriad techniques).

Effect 2: The Killing Break Wolf is the star of heavenly mandate; the star lord who gains its aid can, when subordinates have three constellation-type skill holders, ignore their zodiac limits and force them to activate the combined skill Killing Break Wolf (when having 14, they can activate the combined skill Myriad Stars Descend; the combined skill cannot grant commander-in-chief boost to oneself).

Effect 3: As the Lord of Myriad Stars, receiving the aid of myriad stars, one shall surely unify the world under the lord; during daytime, receiving aid of yang stars gives Commander-in-Chief +2; at night, receiving aid of myriad stars gives Commander-in-Chief +3; when encountering the rare phenomenon of sun and moon appearing together, one can receive aid of myriad stars, Commander-in-Chief +5!

Effect 4: Myriad Stars can exterminate persons; to eradicate all enemies on the lord's path of unification, when one's lord has just established a force and launches war, the entire army's martial power +1; when the lord's force has been established for over five years, entire army martial power +2; when the lord's force has unified one-third of a region, entire army martial power +3.

Effect 5: Under the Myriad Stars, all who assist are favored by the Fourteen Main Stars; they are the commanders of the Myriad Stars, receiving the favor of the Fourteen Main Stars, ignoring all negative effects; as the Divine Commander of the Myriad Stars, when encountering a sealing skill, one can spend one month of intellect and politics -2 to break this seal (when the Myriad Stars are under the commander of the myriad stars, slightly increase the Myriad Stars' fortune, making them harder to die in battle).

(End of chapter)