Chapter 449: Approaching

His Majesty the Martial Emperor carefully read the urgent memorial once more, then said with some displeasure: "Yang Anqi, Feng Zichang, look at this, all of you. A group of rebels in Luolong County dares to launch a counterattack against the Demon Race's lair, yet you, a group of high-ranking court officials, only know how to cede territory and pay indemnities, fleeing without a fight."

Yang Anqi, Feng Zichang, and the other ministers looked at each other in dismay. They knew of the rebels in Luolong County; at first, they were just a group of hunters in the mountains who killed officials and rebelled, but later, Meng Yifan's strength advanced by leaps and bounds, and he is now a Sixth Grade Great Expert.

That group of people in Luolong County can no longer be considered just a group of rebels, but a major force qualified to dominate a region.

However, according to the agreement, experts above the Sixth Grade cannot participate in the war. Luolong County has at most one or two thousand troops, not even enough to defend the city; how could they dare to launch a counterattack, and even charge into the Demon Race's lair to seize the Spirit Stone Mine? Isn't that just seeking death?

Thinking of this, Yang Anqi and the other ministers hurriedly took the urgent memorial and read it through quickly. After a quick scan, they confirmed that Luolong County had indeed sent troops to counterattack, and they had only dispatched 1,200 men, but this force of 1,200 was very unusual.

One hundred were winged, flying variant humans; one hundred were a Zombie Troop wearing heavy armor with tall and sturdy builds; and the one thousand Salvation Army soldiers were also not simple—they all had at least the strength of a Second Grade Martial Artist, and there were also over a hundred Immortal Cultivators.

Not only that, the 1,200-strong Luolong County force had very special equipment, completely different from the weapons and equipment of the Great Wu Heavenly Dynasty, consisting mainly of AK47s, PP87-style 82mm mortars, and PF98-style 120mm rocket launchers.

"Eh! Strange, how could there be so many flying variant humans in Luolong County?"

"Indeed, how could they have over a hundred Immortal Cultivators? Although most are low-level cultivators below the Third Grade, this is still very strange, isn't it?"

"Look quickly, the memorial says that the firearm called the AK47 Assault Rifle can fire 30 rounds continuously with one magazine, and its power is immense; Martial Artists below the Second Grade cannot withstand it, and the mortars and rocket launchers can even kill a Third Grade Expert and can also injure a Fourth-Grade Powerhouse."

Several high-ranking officials of the Ministry of War clicked their tongues in wonder. Rather than the flying variant human troops and the Zombie Troop, or the extra Immortal Cultivators in the Salvation Army, what surprised them most were the AK47 Assault Rifles and other firearms; these firearms were immensely powerful, and even ordinary people could use them.

If they could be equipped in large numbers for the Great Wu Heavenly Dynasty's army, it would certainly greatly increase the army's combat effectiveness, and then there would be ways to deal with the Grassland Barbarians' massive army, the Western Yi Tribe's invasion, and the Southern Jiuli Tribe Alliance.

"Your Majesty, this old subject suggests immediately contacting Luolong County to purchase a large quantity of firearms such as AK47 Assault Rifles, PP87-style 82mm mortars, and PF98-style 120mm rocket launchers," said Yang Anqi.

His Majesty the Martial Emperor was stunned for a moment, feeling that this method was feasible, but for the dignified Great Wu Heavenly Dynasty to actually have to purchase weapons and equipment from rebels, it would be too shameful if word got out.

However, it is now a critical moment of life and death for the dynasty; if it is shameful, so be it—it is better than the destruction of the nation and the race. His Majesty the Martial Emperor ordered: "The Rites Ministry shall send someone to Luolong County to discuss the matter of purchasing weapons."

On the other side, the old Dragon King of the Demon Race also quickly learned about Luolong County sending troops, which made him furious. It was enough that the Demon Race did not go to find trouble with Meng Yifan, yet Meng Yifan actually dared to send people to snatch the Demon Race's Spirit Stone Mine; he truly does not know whether he is living or dead.

"Pass down the order: withdraw the outer defenses, let the Luolong County army in, and then surround them like a dumpling. I want to wipe out Meng Yifan's army entirely, leaving not a single piece of armor behind."

At the old Dragon King's command, the Demon Race army in the Ten Thousand Mountains began large-scale mobilization, and a great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

The three armies were commanded by Meng Yifan; although those of the Sixth Grade cannot participate in the war, it is still permissible for him to follow along.

Moreover, being close to the battlefield, as the soldiers hunt Demon Beasts, Meng Yifan can also harvest Experience Value; this is also the main reason why Meng Yifan launched this war.

Meng Yifan's army moved very quickly; even while carrying heavy weapons and equipment, they still covered two hundred kilometers a day. After leaving Luolong County, the route was almost desolate; the original villages were empty, with only some wild dogs gnawing on human remains.

On both sides of the road, one could see skeletons lying by the wayside from time to time; some had starved to death, and others had been bitten to death by Demon Beasts.

For a thousand miles, no rooster crowed, and the roads were littered with the bones of the starved—a scene of the end of the world.

Many of the Salvation Army officers and soldiers had fled to Luolong County from all directions; they had personally experienced the flight, and looking at the remains by the road, they thought of the relatives and friends who had died, feeling deeply moved and cherishing their life in Luolong County even more.

They must become stronger to protect this last pure land of Luolong County, to allow their families to live and work in peace and contentment within Luolong County, and for their children to grow up healthy.

As Meng Yifan's three armies marched, Kong Sanqiang's Vampire Flight Formation dispersed around the main force, acting as scouts. If any Demon Race army appeared, they would blow whistles to warn them, and the Salvation Army and Zombie Troop could make combat preparations in advance.

When the three armies left the territory of Dongzhou and approached the Ten Thousand Mountains, the entire army was on high alert, guns were loaded, and mortars and rocket launchers were also filled, ready to fire at any time.

However, what puzzled Meng Yifan was that the Vampire Scouts had already flown into the Demon Race's territory, yet they had not been intercepted by the Demon Race army.

"Something is wrong." Meng Yifan ordered to set up camp and sent Kong Sanqiang and other vampires to expand the reconnaissance range, mainly to check whether there was any Demon Race army in ambush around them.

Not long after, Kong Sanqiang returned to report: "Lord Meng, there are no Demon Race ambushes within three kilometers."

"Did you check the jungle? And did you check underground? Is it possible that the Demon Race army is hiding in underground tunnels?" Meng Yifan asked.

"Everything has been checked; there is nothing in the jungle, and there are no large cavities within one hundred meters underground, so it is impossible for a large number of Demon Race to be hidden."

The Vampire Scouts sent out by Kong Sanqiang checked very carefully, and their racial characteristics made them very sensitive to blood.

Especially the blood of high-level Demon Race, which contains rich energy, is a great tonic for vampires; the aura emitted by that blood would make the vampires' blood boil, so if there were Demon Race hidden nearby, these vampires would definitely be able to discover them.

"No ambush? Strange, the Demon Race must be letting us in; they are definitely planning to surround and attack us after letting us in," Meng Yifan muttered. "The Demon Race has a huge appetite; they are planning to swallow us in one gulp."