Chapter 2218: Battle with Backs to the Water

The army under Ye Liuyun's control also began a full mobilization.

First, the armies of Xiao Yunfang and He Lian Xiu began to set out from Qiming City, heading outward.

Bathing Green City led the Eastern Region's 100,000-strong army, via the Teleportation Array, gradually reaching Qiming City and taking over its defense.

Ye Liuyun also distributed the four thousand Imperial Guard captured last time, assigning them respectively to the armies of Yu Xiaofeng and Xiao Yunfang.

Next, the Southern Region's coastal 100,000-strong army also gathered outside Qiming City; once fully assembled, they brought all their equipment, and Pei Yong took over.

This time, Ye Liuyun's campaign could also be considered a battle with backs to the water.

Behind them lies the Boundless Sea.

If the main fighting force is destroyed, they can only retreat entirely to the Eastern Region; trying to come back again would then be difficult.

Immediately after, Pei Yong led the 100,000-strong army and set off forward again.

Thus, Ye Liuyun's 400,000-strong army all advanced toward the direction of Zhongxing Wangchao.

Zhongxing Wangchao received the information and also suspected that Ye Liuyun was preparing to launch a full-scale attack on the Royal City.

Therefore, his Western and Northern Region armies also began to converge on the Royal City, so as not to be too late for reinforcements.

However, just as they neared the Royal City, Ye Liuyun's two armies split, one heading north and the other west.

It appeared as if they were about to strike the Western and Northern Region armies, yet also seemed to be encircling the Royal City.

Along the way, they also did not attack any cities.

They were merely marching.

Of course, no foolish city dared to go out and intercept them.

Immediately after, Xiao Yunfang's army also began its advance, capturing Eastern Region cities one by one with unstoppable momentum.

Zhongxing Wangchao, indeed, could not discern Ye Liuyun's true objective.

Thus, they could only send a thousand Imperial Guard from each of the three routes to probe.

They dared not send too many at once, fearing that the three armies might suddenly turn and attack the Royal City.

But to our surprise, all three units of Imperial Guard were completely wiped out.

Yu Xiaofeng's and Xiao Yunfang's two armies each had two thousand Martial Cultivators at the ninth-level middle-late stage; Ye Liuyun's side had the Spearhead Unit, and wiping out these thousand people was very easy, even allowing them to capture many prisoners in the process.

They also let those captured prisoners return on their own to report to Pei Yong.

Zhongxing Wangchao also, after several days of silence, made the corresponding adjustments.

Their Northern Region army directly advanced to meet the armies of Ye Liuyun and He Lian Xiu, while the Western Region army began to retreat toward Cross Soul Mountain.

At the same time, the 30,000 Imperial Guard split: 10,000 rushed toward Xiao Yunfang's army, 10,000 headed straight for the city garrisoned by Pei Yong, and 10,000 sped toward Qiming City.

Ye Liuyun also remarked: "Zhongxing Wangchao can't figure out our attack direction and has launched a full counterattack! It seems this 'Hu Tou' indeed has some skill."

He also didn't expect that Zhongxing Wangchao would be even more ruthless, actually launching a five-pronged counterattack.

Yu Xiaofeng also asked Ye Liuyun for instructions: "If the Western Region army retreats to Cross Soul Mountain, could it be merely seeking to expand its own power and not wishing to be our enemy?"

"Impossible!"

Ye Liuyun and Song An simultaneously gave their conclusion.

"If the Western Region army wants independence, after we destroy Zhongxing Wangchao, they definitely won't be able to withstand our attack.

"So they must either act now or surrender now.

"Therefore, they are deliberately retreating, hoping to launch a rear sneak attack when your army attacks the Royal City.

Song An analyzed.

"However, this actually shows that army is the strongest among all their forces!

Ye Liuyun added.

He continued his analysis: "I think this actually shows that 'Hu Tou' is Yuan Hao."

His Northern Region army came forward, the Western Region army retreated, creating a time gap in between.

He can deal with my army first, then immediately return to lead the Western Region army against yours.

"Regardless of whether he wins or loses against my army, it won't delay his leadership of the Western Region army!

"Quite possible! His three units of Imperial Guard attacking the Eastern Region are also meant to lure our main forces back for reinforcements.

"Our each route army is 100,000, while he only has 10,000 Imperial Guard.

"As long as we send reinforcements, they will flee.

"They are few in number and flee quickly; even if we wanted to chase, we couldn't catch them!

Song An also saw through Zhongxing Wangchao's intention.

"Hmm, I also think that Zhongxing Wangchao's several ten thousand Imperial Guard may not all want to go all out! But if 'Hu Tou' were put in command, it's also possible, by having the Imperial Guard fiercely attack the base, to increase pressure on our frontline armies.

Ye Liuyun felt that if Mo Xiaotian were in command, he would definitely have the Imperial Guard come out just to intimidate people.

But if it is now 'Hu Tou', it truly could have the Imperial Guard launch a full-force assault on the city.

Song An, however, firmly said: "Human nature is hard to change."

"Even at a critical moment, Mo Xiaotian would absolutely not hand over his life-preserving troops for others to control!

"Regardless of whether they are really fighting or feigning, the original plan remains unchanged!

Ye Liuyun finally also made a decision.

Thus, Ye Liuyun's several armies continued to advance according to the original plan, without any change.

At this moment, Mo Xiaotian inside the Royal Palace was already as anxious as ants on a hot pan, constantly asking every day about changes in the battlefield situation.

But the less there was change, the more he worried.

Song An still understood him; his guess was not off by a bit.

'Hu Tou' indeed proposed to Mo Xiaotian a suggestion for an all-out counterattack, but Mo Xiaotian did not adopt it.

He was reluctant to consume these Imperial Guard troops.

Ye Liuyun's guess was correct: Yuan Hao is the "Tiger Head", and he has been hiding his identity, even previously pretending not to cooperate with Zhongxing Wangchao just to provoke Ye Liuyun's complacency.

But this time, when he saw Ye Liuyun's fighting style, he knew Ye Liuyun was no simple opponent.

Unfortunately, he offered advice to Mo Xiaotian, but Mo Xiaotian did not adopt it and would not hand the Imperial Guard's command to him.

So he could only do his best, leading the northern army himself to first fight Ye Liuyun, wipe out a hundred thousand troops, then return to the Western Region, wipe out another hundred thousand, which would roughly exhaust Ye Liuyun's main forces.

He thought his plan was good, but he didn't expect that Ye Liuyun had already guessed it all.

Ye Liuyun, because he had the Black Tower teleportation, realized that Yuan Hao could also travel back and forth.

In fact, Yuan Hao didn't have any teleportation artifact.

But he secretly set up a Teleportation Array on Soul Crossing Mountain, allowing him to teleport back at any time.

Ye Liuyun and his companions also received the news; according to the Imperial Guard's schedule, Xiao Yunfang's army was the first to make contact with the Imperial Guard.

"First, defense! Whether the Imperial Guard fights for real or pretends, in this first battle they will definitely attack with full force.

Therefore, you must defend with all your might, capture as many Imperial Guard elites as possible, and then launch a counterattack!"

Ye Liuyun informed Xiao Yunfang.

Xiao Yunfang immediately set up a defense on the spot, having Qiong Qi arrange a Defense Array in the newly captured city.

Liu Yang, Mo Shaowen, and the others, together with the Soul Cultivators, were also ready.

Qiong Qi also began setting up the Defense Array at once, working outside the city for two days before returning inside before the Imperial Guard arrived.