Chapter 407

Everyone present knew full well that these words were merely pleasantries for show.

Everyone was pursuing their own interests; who would wholeheartedly lay down their lives for the Taiping Sect?

"Unity is certainly important, but I wonder which general is willing to bear the heavy responsibility of the vanguard and open the gate to victory for our army?"

Qiao Shefei smiled faintly and said.

As soon as these words were spoken, the meeting room fell into sudden silence.

The generals exchanged glances; the vanguard position meant being the first to bear the brunt, with enormous risk, and none wanted to take it lightly.

"Only a brave and skilled warrior can fulfill the duty of the vanguard."

"I believe General Qiao is the best choice."

The leader in ornate armor flashed a hint of meaning in his eyes, looked around, and spoke slowly.

"Thank you for your favor, General, but my troops are newly recruited and still need time to train."

"On the other hand, your elite forces are better suited for this heavy responsibility."

Qiao Shefei cursed silently in his heart, but kept his expression unchanged and smiled as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, the generals chimed in, each hoping to nominate someone else as vanguard to avoid personal loss.

"The vanguard position should rightly be taken by the strongest unit."

"I think we should have all the generals consult together and select the most suitable unit."

Another general snorted coldly.

Qiao Shefei smirked inwardly; these generals all wanted to preserve their strength, and none wished to be the first to stick their neck out.

"Since the generals all have reservations, I propose that each of us dispatch part of our troops to form a joint vanguard to resist the enemy together."

"This way we can concentrate our forces while spreading the risk—what do you all think?"

After scanning the crowd, Qiao Shefei took the opportunity to propose.

The generals heard this and nodded in agreement.

They knew this was currently the best plan to balance everyone's interests.

Everyone understood deep down that the Taiping Sect's internal contradictions and disputes were not resolved by this; they were merely temporarily concealed.

As the meeting ended, the generals each returned to their tents to prepare for the upcoming battle.

The meeting proceeded blandly, with everyone just going through the motions.

Although they sat under the same roof, they were like strangers, the distance between them seeming to be blocked by an invisible chasm.

Although the camp gathered elite forces, it could not conceal the Taiping Sect's internal contradictions and disputes.

These behind-the-scenes manipulators, for their own interests, schemed against each other, with no trust whatsoever between them.

Although they had temporarily joined forces, their hearts were filled with suspicion and vigilance.

Qiao Shefei also took the opportunity to relay the meeting's situation and his own plan to Meng Zhang in the rear.

This battle was not only an external war, but also a major reshuffling of power within the Taiping Sect.

Night fell, and the camp was lit with lights.

Yet this light could not dispel the darkness within the Taiping Sect.

Everyone secretly observed each other's every move, fearing being schemed against.

This atmosphere enveloped the entire camp in a repressed and tense mood.

Although each of these behind-the-scenes manipulators commanded elite troops, they struggled to form a strong combined force.

Their scheming and mistrust had become a major malignant tumor in the Taiping Sect, severely weakening its overall combat strength.

One could say that, although the battle had not yet begun, the Taiping Sect had already suffered defeat from within.

At dawn the next day, the morning glow reddened half the sky; Qiao Shefei readied himself for departure, with his capable subordinates—the members of the Purple Nether Team—by his side.

The warriors of the Azure Dragon Legion stood in neat ranks, their iron armor flashing a cold light in the sunlight, like a great dragon winding across the land.

Not far off, the allied forces of the various Taiping Sect factions and the elite of the Yellow Turban Army gradually gathered.

Banners fluttered, voices rose in clamor, warhorses neighed—a bustling scene of war preparations.

Qiao Shefei's gaze was like a torch as he scanned the vast force, and a feeling of astonishment welled up in his heart.

Normally I hadn't noticed, but I never expected this group of tomb-dwelling skeletons to be holding back.

And yet they actually have so many good things hidden away!

Qiao Shefei's eyes wandered over these allied troops, and he couldn't help but feel astonished.

He saw all kinds of war equipment, these being finely crafted weapons made by the Mohist artisans.

Some soldiers held "Linked Cloud Crossbows," which could fire continuously, unleashing a barrage of bolts like a rainstorm, making defense nearly impossible.

There were also soldiers equipped with the "Thousand‑Li Great Bow," whose massive stave and strong string seemed able to pierce the clouds and reach the heavens.

Each arrow shot forth carried the force of thunder, chilling the onlookers.

Besides these, Qiao Shefei even saw on some generals' personal guards more exquisite small devices.

Those guards wore at their waists a "Thousand‑Mechanism Case," a mysterious box capable of launching various concealed weapons, making defense nearly impossible.

Besides these, there were many large devices, the Mohist‑crafted "Breaking‑Gale Crossbow."

The bolts fired from these crossbow carriages could pierce the sturdiest armor and dispel the strongest gusts of energy.

Each carriage required several strong men to operate it together; once fired, it unleashed thunderous force, awe‑inspiring to behold.

Furthermore, there were various wondrous devices, such as the "Thunderbolt War Chariot," whose body was fitted with sharp blades and a powerful impact device, allowing it to charge across the battlefield and shatter enemy formations.

The "Wind‑Cloud Wheel" is a throwing weapon that can hurl massive flying discs to slice through enemy ranks.

The "Profound Heaven Shield," a massive shield that can not only block enemy arrows but also reflect sunlight to confuse the enemy's sight.

They gazed at Qiao Shefei with envy, even though the Azure Dragon Legion's elite standing was second to none.

But such high‑grade equipment requires gradual accumulation over time.

Their Yellow Turban Army, during this period, in attacking cities and seizing territory, have also seized quite a lot.

But wolves many, meat few; now Meng Zhang's subordinates indeed have quite a few people.

It's just that some lean towards the Azure Dragon Regiment, but they are only some similar to the Breaking Gang Crossbow, which are relatively common.

First, such high-end items as the Thousand Mechanism Case and the Wind and Cloud Wheel, even for the Mohist people to make one is not easy.

The required time is calculated in months; moreover, this kind of high-end item.

Generally speaking, when the Great Qian army retreats, they will definitely prioritize taking them away.

If they really cannot take them away, they will also forcibly destroy them, so as not to let them fall into the hands of the Yellow Turban Army.

Therefore, Meng Zhang's subordinates, whose foundation is still shallow, have during this period already recruited some Mohist artisans.

But not mentioning the issues of blueprints and manufacturing techniques, even if these artisans could manage to produce them.

It is also not a short-term matter.

Therefore, up to now, Qiao Shefei's subordinates really have not used such high-end equipment on a large scale.

Usually, capturing just one or two pieces, they are treated as treasures and enshrined.

How unlike now, these people are almost everywhere.

Seeing this, Qiao Shefei's eyes turned red.

(End of chapter)