Chapter 1135: Not a Jianghu Matter

Xu Zengyi and a few others woke up early in the morning and heard this news; after a brief meeting, they hurried to see Chen Wuji. As strategists, they had already made some judgments upon hearing the news.

Chen Wuji glanced at Xu Zengyi and the others, "Several of us, we should not view this matter with a jianghu perspective; we are not in the jianghu, nor are we jianghu people."

"Here we have nearly two hundred thousand troops; we are not isolated and helpless, nor are we oppressed and forced to let others call white black like ordinary commoners."

"I have heard that the jianghu is built on a foundation of black and white, filled with fighting and killing, is that not so?"

Chen Wuji's words were vague, but Xu Zengyi and the others instantly understood.

"I understand the lord's meaning..." Chu Xiu suddenly laughed.

"As long as our army has a just cause, that is indeed sufficient. As for those coming from all directions to aid the Taiyuan Sect, with our two hundred thousand troops arrayed outside the Taiyuan Sect, even if they are a group of Land Immortal Realm masters, what of it? Indeed, we have nothing to fear!"

Zhao Chen asked urgently, "Wait, did you say a group of Land Immortal Realm masters?"

"Yes!" Chu Xiu laughed, "But our army has one hundred and sixty thousand martial artists, and I said arrayed, not scattered in various cities waiting for them to attack."

"The lord's meaning is, if jianghu people launch a major assault to aid the Taiyuan Sect, our army must shift from passive to active, the entire army arrayed, and attack the Taiyuan Sect!"

Xu Zengyi covered his forehead, "But that way, casualties would surely be heavy!"

"Indeed casualties would be great, but should not reach a disastrous level." Chu Xiu said, "I, the Deputy Officer, roughly calculated; our army launching a full assault should be able to achieve one strike for one life."

"What does that mean?" Xu Zengyi asked.

He rarely appears in such a situation.

A group of people seeing this situation all couldn't help but laugh.

This is indeed a rare occurrence.

Xu Zengyi angrily swept his gaze around the surrounding people, "I am not a Holy Person, is it strange that I cannot understand something? Do you all think you can figure everything out?"

Guo Shuhan waved his hand, "Of course not, we are just juniors!"

Xu Zengyi:...

The crowd laughed again.

Being able to see Xu Zengyi's dazed appearance is a rare thing; if we do not laugh heartily now, we will have even fewer opportunities later.

"About done!" Xu Zengyi said unhappily.

Chu Xiu apologized and then explained to Xu Zengyi: "Mr. Xu, actually the lord's meaning is quite simple: just cause, then array to meet the enemy."

"If these jianghu people gather masters to attack various cities, they will surely cause great destruction. With our current garrison strength, let alone Land Immortals, even a few Grandmasters could easily dismantle the cities."

"But if we lure them to the Taiyuan Sect, to the front of our army's twenty-thousand-strong formation, the matter becomes simple, and can be seen as a balanced engagement decisive battle."

"A Land Immortal Realm master should not be able to withstand a volley of arrows from our tens of thousands of troops! Aside from a few troop types, our army is basically equipped with longbows; Land Immortals too far away cannot hit us, but once they come closer, they enter our range—this battle... is not hard to fight."

"If our army can strike when they are unprepared, casualties perhaps will not be high."

Xu Zengyi's face showed contemplation, "It sounds good indeed, but how can we ensure they gather at the Taiyuan Sect? These people... well, I know how it is."

Chen Wuji smiled, "Among them, not a few are coming to cause trouble, but since they have borrowed this pretext, they should still perform the surface formalities. Even if they turn and flee upon arrival, most should still show their faces."

"Aiding distressed fellow Daoists is one thing; benefit exchange, networking, forming alliances—these are their real motives. Those truly coming solely to target me and carry out revenge actions are few."

"Everyone is quite hot-blooded, but everyone's life is their own; without some benefit, who would truly risk their life to relieve others?"

Chen Wuji has read many wuxia novels.

But the real jianghu is not as simple as wuxia novels.

Like the Six Great Sects besieging Guangming Peak in wuxia novels, everyone's discussion seems harmonious, fighting like a regular army with multiple troop types cooperating.

But in reality, if such a thing lacks prior benefit and condition exchange, harmony would be truly strange.

Put plainly, everyone's life is their own!

Things like mutual hatred of enemies, aiding fellow Daoists, jointly resisting great enemies—these must be built upon life and benefit first.

Xu Zengyi shook his head and laughed, "The lord previously had a saying, truly hitting the mark; I am not a jianghu person, but I have indeed jumped into the jianghu... ashamed!"

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Sir, this is not really a mistake, just overthinking. This matter is very suitable for someone like me, a bold man—simple, direct, bold and unrestrained—rather complementary."

"Jianghu matters have no shěngsuàn; if not for the exaggerated individual martial power of those above Grandmaster Realm, they would just be a rabble. What we need to guard against is only those with individual martial power above Grandmaster Realm; as for the rest, I cannot even be bothered to glance."

Xu Zengyi lost his composure laughing, "The lord's such humility leaves us not knowing what to say."

"If I lacked even this humility, I would become arrogant." Chen Wuji laughed.

……

The jianghu of the world suddenly flared like fire in hot oil, but this fire thoroughly burning Shangfang Commandery still needs some time. Even if jianghu people shout fiercely, the journey they must travel on the road will not be shortened by a single step.

Each day before the Taiyuan Sect gate, the Morning Sun Formation is set up, like a daily check-in; after finishing, each side withdraws, with extreme mutual understanding.

Chen Wuji no longer inquired about Chen Li's arrangements, leaving him to his own devices.

Chen Li acted mysteriously and did not detail his plans to Chen Wuji; every few days he sent a memorial submission, saying everything was stable and proceeding as planned.

Regarding this Eleventh Uncle, Chen Wuji trusts him deeply; even if he has doubts in his heart, he has not mentioned a single word.

On one hand he sends people to closely monitor all regions, grasping at any time the movements of jianghu people; on the other hand he busies himself with other matters, beginning to reform the military.

He has many matters at hand; it is impossible for him to stop his affairs just because jianghu people want to come aid the Taiyuan Sect, waiting for them to cause trouble.

Jiannan Commandery and Shangfang Commandery, the two commanderies, have been pacified; military merit has already been determined.

It is also time for merit and reward.

This time, Chen Wuji does not intend to pretend; he prepares to take out the set of things he had long prepared, to make position and power balance, truly true to its name.

Before, even if the world said he had rebellious potential, like a traitor and villain, but the surface pretenses still had to be maintained.

But now, there is no need for that!