Chapter 372

Military affairs are conducted without delay.

Amid the blaring bugle call, the commandant of the Third Battalion, Ding Unit, Right Camp of the Rear Army handed command of Baicheng over to Jiang Zheng, then led his troops aboard ship and departed.

Wu Tie gazed into the distance at the departing rear-army troops, silently estimating that, according to normal establishment, the Third Battalion, Ding Unit, Right Camp of the Rear Army had likely lost about thirty percent of its manpower during the peacetime garrison before the autumn offensive.

Not counting the wounded, only counting combat losses, they lost thirty percent of their soldiers.

In Huo Xiong's memory, Wu Tie knew the Three Kingdoms battlefield was extremely brutal, but he never imagined that even routine garrison duty could incur such losses; who knows how many troops will be lost in the upcoming autumn offensive.

Anyway, the genuine Eighth-Rank Commandant Huo Xiong, before heading to the Great Rift Valley front to reinforce, had originally commanded over four hundred subordinates, all of whom were wiped out in the previous autumn offensive.

The rear army's fleet slowly receded, as Jiang Zheng repeatedly ordered; Wu Tie and the other commandants and captains took charge of their respective subordinates, separately occupying the four camps in the east, south, west, and north of Baicheng.

Among the fleet that Wu Tie and his companions had boarded, some weeping, wailing men and women also stepped out, and under the guidance of Baicheng's local officials, they were arranged to various places within the city.

These people were the families of criminals from the Da Jin Shen State.

The laws of the Da Jin Shen State are draconian; even minor offenses can merit the death penalty of extermination of the entire clan. Some fortunate few who do not reach that threshold have their families exiled to various cities of the Three Kingdoms battlefield to replenish the population.

Outside the city there are fields; these exiled convicts must risk enemy raids to farm and harvest, supplying military provisions.

They also serve as laborers; if the city suffers damage, they are responsible for repairing the walls and rebuilding houses, etc.

Worse still, if the Divine Martial Army stationed in the city suffers heavy losses, they will be conscripted on the spot as cannon fodder.

Consequently, ordinary residents of cities large and small on the Three Kingdoms battlefield suffer heavy losses; although strict laws compel them to increase reproduction, the total population grows only very slowly, so each rotation requires large numbers of people to be transferred from within the Da Jin Shen State to replenish the ranks.

Wu Tie led his people into the camp, assigned barracks, took over the various defensive wards, inventoried the large war materiel left in the barracks, and simultaneously stored the assorted supplies and armaments he had brought into the barracks.

Niu Mang was a veteran of many years, highly practiced in such rotation duties; after Wu Tie issued a few orders, seeing Niu Mang handle everything in orderly fashion, he simply stepped back, rose into the air on his own, and gazed toward Heishan City, about two hundred li across the great river.

After gazing for no more than a quarter of an hour, a fleet comparable in scale to the Third Battalion, Ding Unit came mightily sailing from behind Heishan City.

The muffled war drums sounded from within Heishan City, and likewise a fleet rose from its military camps; Heishan City also began to mobilize its forces.

In the fleet coming to relieve from the Da Wei Shen State, the flagship, three hundred zhang long, paused above Heishan City, then boldly steered toward Baicheng.

The wholly black Da Wei flagship advanced another 150–160 li, finally coming to a halt above the middle of the great river, still forty–fifty li from Baicheng.

A bare-chested man of immense stature, over a zhang tall, his whole body covered in hair like a black bear, wielding a zhang‑long spear in each hand, roared loudly as he leapt from the flagship, stepping on a mass of yellow cloud and charging toward Baicheng.

"The soft‑boned Da Jin are mine; come fight me, old man!" the burly man laughed loudly: "Old man Xiahou Da is back again! Hahaha, last time I slew three of your commandants in a row; this time I'll kill ten!"

Jiang Zheng's voice came from the central command post at the heart of the city: "Hou Ming, go fight."

In Baicheng, right in the barracks next to Wu Tie's, a Seventh‑Rank Commandant shot up into the sky.

Wu Tie's face twitched.

Xiahou Da, an old acquaintance, is a fierce general of the Da Wei Jiebao Cavalry; his cultivation is just shy of the Life Pool Realm, one rank below that of Huo Xiong.

But this fellow is of the Xiahou clan, the imperial surname of the Da Wei Shen State; although Xiahou Da is a distant relative of the imperial family, he cultivates the Da Wei Shen State's imperial secret art, his battle prowess is overwhelmingly fierce.

Although as a distant imperial relative he lacks later teachings and has been stuck at the Life Pool Realm bottleneck for decades, Xiahou Da relies on the overwhelming advantage of the imperial secret art to easily slay Da Jin officers who have just entered the Life Pool Realm on the battlefield.

Huo Xiong's defeat in the previous battle came precisely because Xiahou Da's spear split him, inflicting grave wounds, throwing his troops into disarray, which led to the near‑total annihilation of his army.

Not only Huo Xiong, but in the last major battle, Jiang Ping's forces also suffered heavy losses, with at least one‑third of the casualties caused by Xiahou Da's lone charge into the ranks.

Hou Ming, this guy Wu Tie doesn't know, is obviously a fresh reinforcement.

Hou Ming looks young, even a bit green, yet he has already attained Life Pool Realm cultivation, and upon joining the Divine Martial Army he entered as a Seventh‑Rank Commandant—clear evidence of his excellent background.

Not being from a military family, a young Hou Ming could not possess such high cultivation, let alone such a high rank.

Moreover, as soon as Xiahou Da appeared, Jiang Ping immediately sent Hou Ming into battle; perhaps this lad is Jiang Ping's secret weapon prepared specially to deal with Xiahou Da. After all, Jiang Ping is a clansman of Jiang Hu, commander of the Front Army's Right Camp; having suffered a major loss last time, he will surely mobilize clan resources for revenge this time.

Hou Ming, tall and straight with a touch of handsomeness, grasped a long spear, stepped on a flame cloud, and charged straight at Xiahou Da.

"Xiahou Da, check your arrogance—I, Hou Ming, come to fight you!" Hou Ming shook his spear, and instantly specks of fire transformed into a lively, fist‑sized fire phoenix that spread across the sky to envelop Xiahou Da.

Xiahou Da burst into wild laughter, his whole body exhaling great clouds of yellow qi, his twin spears turning into two yellow flood‑dragons that slashed forward.

"Clang‑clang‑clang" three heavy booms rang out in succession.

At the first boom, Hou Ming recoiled violently backward.

At the second boom, Hou Ming's spear flew from his grasp.

At the third boom, Hou Ming's helmet and head were cleaved to pieces by a spear.

Inside Baicheng an uproar rose; many commandants and captains who, like Wu Tie, were watching the battle from mid‑air all burst out cursing.

Hou Ming's body fell from the air, flipped twice on the turbulent great river, then sank to the bottom, vanishing from sight. As he fell, a flame shot from his brow, turning into a vivid fire phoenix seeking to escape.

Xiahou Da let out a wild laugh, thrust his spear, and the weapon struck Hou Ming's soul, shattering it to pieces.

Xiahou Da raised his head and howled madly, his twin spears crossed with force, emitting a heaven‑shaking roar, and a breath peculiar to the Life Pool Realm surged forth.

"Soft‑boned, all soft‑boned… what damned Hou Ming? I've never even heard of that trash… who dares fight me? I am Xiahou Da—who knows me?"

Xiahou Da wildly swung his spear at Baicheng, two yellow crescent‑shaped blades of light slicing out dozens of li and smashing heavily into the city's gleaming walls.

"Hey there, commander inside the city—could it be Jiang Ping of the Da Jin Jiang clan? Last time we beat you till you ran with your head in your hands… are you coming back for another beating this time?"

"Jiang Ping, don't embarrass your Da Jin Jiang clan… come on, send a few more to die…"

"Or… will you go yourself?"

Xiahou Da laughed especially brightly, his roar like thunder, bouncing about in mid‑air like a great ape as he provoked.

On the rear Da Wei flagship, two leaders in heavy armor, their cultivation at the Embryo Treasury Realm, stood at the prow, watching this side warily.

The unspoken rule on the Three Kingdoms battlefield is soldier versus soldier, commander versus commander; normally an Embryo Treasury Realm expert would not lower himself to massacre low‑rank troops—after all, if you can slaughter at will, so can I.

But the unspoken rule is just that—a rule; when someone is truly provoked, a hot‑blooded killer may ignore everything and launch a massacre, and such incidents do occur from time to time.

Jiang Ping himself is at the Embryo Treasury Realm, and the Jiang clan's arts are extremely formidable; if he moved against Xiahou Da, the Jiebao Cavalry's leaders would have to rescue Xiahou Da's life.

After all, as a distant imperial relative who has come to the Three Kingdoms battlefield to gild his reputation, he cannot be lightly sacrificed.

Jiang Ping, face flushed with anger, rose from the central command post, stepping on flowing clouds to gaze at Xiahou Da. As Wu Tie had expected, Hou Ming was Jiang Ping's special dispatch to deal with Xiahou Da; according to Jiang Ping's estimate, Hou Ming held the cultivation advantage and would surely slay Xiahou Da.

But who could have imagined that Xiahou Da had obtained later teachings and broken through the Life Pool Realm?

"Damn it!" Jiang Ping gritted his teeth and glanced at Xiahou Da; this time his troop reinforcements had indeed added many capable hands, but even the strongest Life Pool Realm cultivators among them were only a notch better than Hou Ming.

Hou Ming was slain by three strikes from Xiahou Da… Jiang Ping also hesitated a bit over whom to send out.

Ordinary commanders can sustain any number of casualties without consequence, but those generals born of noble military lineages—even Jiang Ping dares not let them suffer too many losses.

The only name is Jiang Ping; "noble military lineage" is not considered a name.

However, commanders from commoner families and military households lack sufficient cultivation techniques; facing Xiahou Da, they are essentially walking to their deaths.

The only name is Xiahou Da; the phrase "commanders from commoner families and military households" contains no names.

Those qualified to face Xiahou Da must also be descendants of military families who have cultivated their family's powerful techniques.

The name again is Xiahou Da.

"One doesn't dare... come three... come three!" Xiahou Da shouted wildly: "I, alone, will take on the three of you!"

The name is Xiahou Da.

Jiang Ping's eyes lit up; he immediately shouted: "Hou Liang, Luo Cheng, Long Fen—three of them join forces to avenge Hou Ming!"

Names: Jiang Ping, Hou Liang, Luo Cheng, Long Fen, Hou Ming.

Three seventh-grade commanders shouted in unison, then stepped on clouds and rushed from the city toward Xiahou Da.

Names: seventh-grade commander, Xiahou Da.

At a distance of over ten li, the three Great Jin seventh-grade commanders suddenly flickered, unleashing the advanced divine ability Heaven-Earth Manifestation; their bodies instantly expanded to a height of a hundred zhang, and they swung their enlarged weapons, smashing toward Xiahou Da.

Names: Great Jin, seventh-grade commander, Heaven-Earth Manifestation, Xiahou Da.

Xiahou Da let out a wild laugh, his body likewise flickered, and as he unleashed Heaven-Earth Manifestation, his form expanded to a height of a hundred zhang; then suddenly, a completely earth-yellow tri-horned rhinoceros appeared beneath his feet.

Names: Xiahou Da, Heaven-Earth Manifestation, Tri-horned Rhinoceros.

The massive tri-horned rhinoceros, its body suffused with earth-yellow mist, suddenly opened its mouth and let out a mighty roar; three earth-yellow small mountains appeared out of thin air in the sky and came crashing down upon Hou Liang and his two companions.

Names: Tri-horned Rhinoceros, Hou Liang.

Hou Liang and his two companions focused all their attention on Xiahou Da; they never imagined that, after years of fighting alone, Xiahou Da had suddenly gained a powerful mount.

Names: Hou Liang, Xiahou Da.

The three small mountains slammed heavily onto the trio's heads, causing their bodies to jerk and stumble.

No names.

Xiahou Da surged forward like a violent storm, thrusting his spear fiercely and repeatedly striking the three of them. Radiant light burst from their armor, each block successfully fending off one of Xiahou Da's blows.

Name: Xiahou Da.

Soon after, three loud booms rang out as the trio's armor was split apart; Xiahou Da's spear pierced their bodies, nearly tearing each of them into six pieces.

Name: Xiahou Da.

On the rear Great Wei flagship, and even throughout Black Mountain City, nearly a million Great Wei soldiers shouted in unison, jumping and waving their arms in loud cries.

Names: Great Wei, Black Mountain City.

The war drums rose to the heavens, and the morale of Great Wei swelled to its peak.

Name: Great Wei.

Three souls burst from the bodies of Hou Liang and his companions, attempting to flee back to White River City.

Names: Hou Liang, White River City.

However, Xiahou Da swung his twin spears in a continuous barrage, utterly dispersing the three souls into nothing.

Name: Xiahou Da.

"Roar!" Xiahou Da's face flushed red with excitement as he struck his chest with his spear, shouting hoarsely at White Tiger City: "Great Jin, have you no men left? No true heroes? You weaklings, come on—let's fight to the death!"

Names: Xiahou Da, White Tiger City, Great Jin.

Xiahou Da spat, shouting loudly: "Jiang Ping, you'd better not think any of you will escape this time—I'll kill every last one of you right here!"

Names: Xiahou Da, Jiang Ping.

Jiang Ping turned pale with anger.

Name: Jiang Ping.

Morale in the army is especially important; having just taken over the defense, the autumn offensive hasn't even officially begun, yet Xiahou Da goes on a frenzied slaughter, draining his own troops' morale completely—what's the point of this autumn offensive? It would be better to simply surrender.

Name: Xiahou Da.

Last time, after suffering losses, they barely managed to escape back with reinforcements sent by Jiang Hu.

Name: Jiang Hu.

If this time ends the same as last, Jiang Ping, the commandant of the Third Battalion, Bing Division, won't be able to continue in his post; he'll likely be demoted three ranks, returning to the rank of commander.

Names: Jiang Ping, Third Battalion, Bing Division, commandant, commander.

"Xiahou Da, I'll fight you!" Wu Tie suddenly bellowed, stepping on a gale as he charged toward Xiahou Da, gripping tightly the radiant, magnificent ninefold-refined spirit weapon Azure Dragon Crescent Blade bestowed by Jiang Hu; from dozens of li away, Wu Tie slashed, releasing a blade aura like a waterfall that surged mighty and vast toward Xiahou Da.

Names: Xiahou Da, Wu Tie, Jiang Hu, ninefold-refined spirit weapon Azure Dragon Crescent Blade.

In Hu Xiong's memory, Hu Xiong had not mastered the advanced divine ability Heaven-Earth Manifestation.

Names: Hu Xiong, Heaven-Earth Manifestation.

Therefore, Wu Tie did not transform his form; instead, he charged directly in his original state toward the hundred-zhang-tall Xiahou Da.

Names: Wu Tie, Xiahou Da.

Xiahou Da burst into loud laughter, glancing contemptuously at the blade-wielding Wu Tie charging forward: "Kid, I remember you… last time, my spear nearly cleaved you in half, yet you fled at lightning speed… heh heh, what's your name?"

Names: Xiahou Da, Wu Tie.

"Let me give you one hand!" Xiahou Da laughed, dropping his right-hand spear behind his back and lightly thrusting his left-hand spear at Wu Tie's blade aura.

Names: Xiahou Da, Wu Tie.

Wu Tie suddenly cast aside his Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, having closed to within less than three li of Xiahou Da; he produced the threefold-refined immortal myriad-blade wheel, infused it with a moderate amount of magical power, and the tiny windmill spun rapidly, unleashing a million flying knives that roared forth, instantly engulfing Xiahou Da.

Names: Wu Tie, Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, threefold-refined immortal myriad-blade wheel, Xiahou Da.

Xiahou Da froze, and the two Great Wei commanders behind him, who were ready to reinforce at any moment and were at the Embryo Treasury Realm, also froze.

Names: Xiahou Da, Embryo Treasury Realm, Great Wei, commander.

How could a mere seventh-grade commander of the Divine Martial Army, with only Life Pool Realm cultivation, possibly possess a threefold-refined immortal weapon?

Names: Divine Martial Army, seventh-grade commander, Life Pool Realm, threefold-refined immortal weapon.

If Wu Tie's aura were just a bit stronger, showing even a trace of advanced cultivation, Xiahou Da would not have underestimated him so.

Names: Wu Tie, Xiahou Da.

However, Wu Tie had only just begun practicing the Nine Revolutions Primordial Skill a few days ago; his aura is a chaotic blend of the Three Revolutions Primordial Skill and the Nine Revolutions Primordial Skill.

Names: Wu Tie, Nine Revolutions Primordial Skill, Three Revolutions Primordial Skill.

Who would have thought he possessed an immortal weapon? And not just any immortal weapon, but a threefold-refined immortal weapon.

Names: immortal weapon, threefold-refined immortal weapon.

"I… died unjustly… I won't accept it!" Xiahou Da bellowed his final roar.

Name: Xiahou Da

Million flying knives gathered inward, with a 'Bang', Xiahou Tu's body suddenly exploded into a blood mist.