Chapter 422

Wu Tie manor hall, a jade slab several feet long and wide, about a foot thick, floated in the air, emitting wispy smoke and mist, inside bright radiance, displaying a grand mountain-and-river geographical map.

The three states of Great Jin, Great Wei, and Great Wu; Great Jin lies in the east, its shape like a huge mulberry leaf, the petiole to the west, the tip pointing east.

Great Wei resembles a three-headed giant dragon, located west of Great Jin, its tail pointing east, three massive heads lunging toward due west, northwest, and southwest, stretching for hundreds of millions of li, its territorial area exceeding that of Great Jin by more than fifty percent.

Great Wu terrain is like a hanging bell, situated south of Great Jin and Great Wei. Its slender bell knob is in the north, the middle section slightly elongated, and the lower part especially thick bell body lies to the south.

The battlefield of the three states is where the petiole of Great Jin, the tail of Great Wei, and the knob of Great Wu meet.

Aside from the three-state battlefield giving the three states their most direct contact and clash, the states are separated by extremely vast desolate mountains and wilderness, everywhere barbaric lands, hiding countless risks and dangers.

For countless years, the three states have tried to find a route through the barbaric mountains to the other two states, but despite pouring in countless manpower and material resources, they only suffered losses of troops and equipment, achieving little.

On the mountain-and-river map, in the southwest of Great Jin's vast mulberry-leaf-shaped territory, a tiny point lights up—that is the location of Great Ze Prefecture.

A pale green dotted line extends from Great Ze Prefecture toward the southwest; after drawing a straight segment, it winds and twists, gradually heading south; then the dotted line suddenly veers greatly toward the southwest, stretching straight into the northeastern territory of the Divine Wu State.

"This is the approximate route of the secret path discovered by countless spies of the Secret Mechanism Hall, who poured in immeasurable effort." Sima You, full of pride, pointed at that pale green dotted line and laughed: "If we could fully open this secret path and set up sufficient forward fortifications along it, bringing the path completely under our control… gentlemen, ennoblement would be as easy as turning over one's hand."

Wu Tie stood in the center of the hall, eyes fixed on the huge mountain-and-river map, striving to commit it to memory.

Hearing Sima You's words, Wu Tie sighed softly: "Ennoblement as easy as flipping a hand? Heh, for some people, right?"

Sima You jumped up like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Wu Tie and shouting angrily: "Huo Xiong, what are you saying with your sarcastic tone here?"

Wu Tie crossed his arms before his chest and said arrogantly: "What am I saying? I'm saying that some people find ennoblement as easy as flipping a hand, but we lowly-born wretches, after painstakingly earning merit, heh… what's the result?"

Pointing at the mountain-and-river map amid the swirling mist, Wu Tie said indifferently: "Opening a secret path and such—this kind of world-shaking feat, you all go busy with it… I have no interest, sorry, I won't accompany you."

Sima You leapt up, pointing at Wu Tie and shouting angrily: "Huo Xiong, do you dare defy military orders?"

Wu Tie tilted his head, adopting a careless posture, making a "tsk tsk" sound as he said: "Me defy military orders? What military order? Your Secret Mechanism Hall's scheming—can it bind me?"

Wu Tie stepped forward two paces, nearly pressing his chest against Sima You's, finger pointed at his nose, saying word by word: "What does the Secret Mechanism Hall do? Gather intelligence, plant secret agents, assassinate enemy commanders, execute traitors..."

"I am the chief commander of the Great Ze Prefecture's militia; I stay in Great Ze Prefecture, steadily training the militia and keeping local peace… Secret Mechanism Hall, can it bite off my—bird? It can't touch me… Your documents merely say to 'borrow' troops from Great Ze Prefecture and the Black Phoenix Army, to cooperate in operations."

Beside him, Pei Feng added leisurely: "Do you not understand the meaning of the two characters 'borrow and adjust'? 'Borrow'—if we're in a good mood, we lend you troops; if we're in a bad mood, we happily drill and train, expanding Great Jin's territory—that's also proper business; what can the Secret Mechanism Hall do to us?"

Wu Tie smiled at the flustered Sima You: "Of course, if you could obtain a direct mobilization order from the Military Department's Training Bureau… I wouldn't hesitate, I'd immediately dispatch troops and follow you to that secret path."

The Great Jin Military Department is strictly organized, with various functional halls and bureaus.

For example, the Secret Mechanism Hall is a professional intelligence organization; the Examination Bureau handles military merit evaluation and rewards/punishments; the Law Bureau supervises illegality and severely punishes errant officers; while the Training Bureau is the direct superior of all prefectural and county militias.

Simply in terms of troop numbers under command, the chief of the Military Department's Training Bureau is the biggest magnate controlling the most troops in the Great Jin military.

After all, how many troops do the Great Jin's Divine Martial Army, Divine Might Army, Demon-Suppressing Army, and Demon-Repelling Army—these main combat forces—actually have?

Whereas the Training Bureau controls the standing forces of Great Jin's numerous states, prefectures, and counties; Great Jin's territory is immensely vast, so while the regular garrisons of each state, prefecture, and army may not match the main combat forces in fighting strength, their numbers are staggeringly large.

As the prefectural militia commander, Wu Tie must obey the direct mobilization orders of the Training Bureau.

But the Secret Mechanism Hall… even if it holds countless secrets and great power, it is not the direct superior of the prefectural militia; even if its documents lay before Wu Tie, if he ignores them, he is in the right.

Sima You and the others all felt a headache.

They only thought that, by invoking the Secret Mechanism Hall's tiger's might, coming to Great Ze Prefecture, in their minds this was a thunderous, overwhelming move—Huo Xiong would certainly not dare defy the Secret Mechanism Hall's military order.

But they never truly imagined that if Huo Xiong really ignored the Secret Mechanism Hall's orders… it seemed they had little recourse against him.

Since we don't belong to the same system, if someone is unwilling to cooperate with your actions, even if the Secret Mechanism Hall chief slams the table and curses, he cannot do anything to Huo Xiong.

Wu Tie looked at the dumbfounded Sima You and the others with a half-smile.

He said slowly: "Alright, I understand your purpose… but sorry, I'm petty and hold grudges; I won't cooperate with your actions, nor will I lend you a single soldier."

Shaking his head, Wu Tie sighed: "However, after all, we're all people of Great Jin; out of camaraderie, Great Ze Prefecture will certainly meet your logistical supply needs. Transferring grain and fodder from the Great Jin heartland is really troublesome—how high the transport cost!"

"Besides, over the past half year my Great Ze Prefecture has opened countless new fields, producing red coral rice and yellow coral rice—more than enough." Wu Tie said slowly: "However, Great Ze Prefecture is poor and barren; we all struggle, while you are acting under the Secret Mechanism Hall's orders, and that hall is a supremely wealthy, oil-rich bureau of the Military Department."

"So, if you wish to purchase grain from Great Ze Prefecture, well, at twice the market price of the Great Jin heartland, that should be fine, right?"

Wu Tie smiled, his eyes narrowing to slits: "Twice the market price is absolutely fair and reasonable."

Sima You instinctively said: "No need for General Huo Xiong's kindness; our grain and fodder will naturally be supplied by the Secret Mechanism Hall…"

Wu Tie quickly interjected: "What if one day the grain and fodder cannot be delivered on time?"

Sima You shouted angrily: "How could it possibly not be delivered on time? The Secret Mechanism Hall handles affairs—mere grain and fodder…"

Wu Tie said slowly: "The spatial gate might suffer damage; if it's under repair and unusable, while you troops lack grain…"

Sima You and the others' faces turned ashen.

They suddenly recalled that the spatial gate of Great Ze Prefecture is controlled by this very person before them; if he really tampered with it, he could truly cut off their grain supply… and given their grudge against Huo Xiong, him not doing so would be suspicious.

Well, well, well…

"By then, it won't be solvable just by paying twice the market price." Wu Tie gave a blatant, almost shameless smile: "When people are starving, even if grain costs a hundred times the market price, as long as there's a place to obtain it, they'll be willing to spend the money."

Sima You trembled as he raised his hand, pointing at Wu Tie's nose: "You, you, you…"

Wu Tie suddenly barked violently at Sima You: "You're pointing at me? What do you mean? Is the Marquis of Jiangjiang that impressive? If you don't put your finger down, then you may as well never use that finger again!"

Sima You is merely a pampered crown prince of the Wu King; in terms of suave charm, he could leave Wu Tie a hundred streets behind.

But Wu Tie suddenly released his killing intent, assuming a ferocious, demonic visage; Sima You instantly jumped back in fright, hastily lowering his hand, and angrily shouted: "Huo Xiong, you, you, you, you are simply lawless!"

"Who is lawless?" Li Qian's voice came from outside the council hall; he calmly said: "I am the highest military judge dispatched by the Military Department's Law Bureau to Great Ze Prefecture; I and all my subordinates can attest that General Huo Xiong serves the nation loyally, is fair and strict, and above all abides by discipline and law—a model of our Great Jin military… Certainly not General Huo Xiong who is lawless, but rather some earl who bawls in the hall, which is deplorable."

Sima You, Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others were so angry their eyes turned green, especially Sima You, who nearly burst into tears.

They suddenly understood how those they had bullied before felt.

When certain people collude using such shameless means, and when a military judge wantonly shields a wicked commander, just how infuriating this is!

Previously they had always colluded to bully others, but when one day they themselves were bullied in this manner… they really wanted to cry out to heaven—Is there still heavenly principle? Is there still royal law? Is the sky of Great Jin really this dark?

Just whose thigh has this Huo Xiong clung to… and this Li Qian, whose lackey of which Great Jin magnate is he?

Sima You and the others each felt wronged and wanted to cry, but Wu Tie suddenly stared blankly; he gave Pei Feng a look, letting Pei Feng supervise Sima You and the others in the hall so they wouldn't wander about, then he swiftly turned into a golden light and left the hall.

Li Qian and Wu Tie left the manor one after another; familiar with the area, they drove a few circles around the city, stopped in a secluded residential district, looked around, and entered an ordinary commoner's home.

Inside the dwelling, an old man in coarse cloth took out a jade tablet from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Wu Tie: "Both sirs, this is an urgent message from Mr. Li… concerning the secret path, it must be undertaken, and we must seize the credit for it."

Weather-beaten in appearance, with cultivation only at the initial stage of the Gan Xuan realm, this ordinary-looking Great Jin commoner solemnly said: "Mr. Li says, if the secret path is successfully opened, Great Jin will raise a new army called the 'Broken Martial Army', construct a major camp within the path, and launch a fierce assault on the vital heartland of the Divine Wu State."

"This Broken Martial Army's scale, when it exceeds the Divine Martial Army, can rival the Divine Might Army." The old man said softly: "Mr. Li hopes that General Huo Xiong, in the process of opening this secret path, will establish sufficient merit; the master will strongly promote General Huo Xiong, so that General Huo Xiong may attain a high position in the Broken Martial Army."

Wu Tie raised his eyebrows, spoke softly: "Just now I offended Sima You and the others; if I were to abruptly return now and agree to their request..."

The old man pointed at the jade tablet in Wu Tie's hand: "Mr. Li's divine calculations and strategies for all contingencies are within it. As long as General Huo Xiong follows it as prescribed, everything will proceed smoothly."

Wu Tie nodded firmly, he pressed the jade tablet to his brow and quickly read the information inside.

Then he handed the jade tablet to Li Qian.

Li Qian also pressed the jade tablet to his brow and read the data inside.

The two exchanged a glance; Wu Tie nodded, Li Qian rubbed his hands together, a sheet of flame rose up, and in front of the old man he ground the jade tablet to powder.

"This fat sheep delivered to our door—if we don't slaughter it, it's a waste." Wu Tie laughed hehehe, a dangerous gleam flashing in his eyes: "Zhao Xiong wants them to deal with me? This is like beating the grass to startle the rabbit, killing two birds with one stone… Great, great, since we've already taken out Zhao Yin, taking out his father as well makes no difference."

He snorted coldly, Wu Tie said to the old man: "Tell Mr. Li, send the nine-turn golden elixir you promised me last time, quickly. My nine-turn profound skill has made a great breakthrough; although my realm hasn't risen, my fleshly potential has been greatly enhanced, and the nine-turn golden elixir can greatly increase my combat power."

Grinning, Wu Tie said in a grim tone: "The nine-turn profound skill is wondrous and boundless; it does not raise one's cultivation level, yet it can continually strengthen the body's combat power… Pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger is the utmost cleverness. In my heart as a commander, I also harbor grand ambitions of achieving merit and establishing a career; I hope Mr. Li will understand."

The old man smiled respectfully, bowed deeply to Wu Tie and performed a salute.

Li Qian swallowed, feeling both envy and a tinge of jealousy as he looked at Wu Tie.

It does not raise one's cultivation level, yet it can continually enhance bodily combat power through tempering the flesh… The nine-turn profound skill, such an ancient forbidden art, truly arouses envy and jealousy.

But, this is fate!

After a quarter hour, Wu Tie leisurely returned to his manor, he coughed, and swaggered into the council hall.

"Alright, alright, I've figured it out… The Bureau of Machinery is not to be offended; otherwise, one day being killed by their assassins would be a wrongful death."

"So, in opening this secret path, I will cooperate with your actions; borrowing troops and such is no big deal—I myself will personally command the troops and go with you."

A gleam of greed flashed in his eyes, Wu Tie vigorously rubbed his hands, and he laughed hehehe, baring two rows of white teeth at Sima You.

"But, but, but… The emperor does not lack hungry soldiers… Wanting me to lead troops on campaign, I'm starving!"

Wu Tie patted his belly, looked up at the ceiling of the council hall, and said slowly: "Especially, seeing you all adorned in pearls and jewels, with so many top-tier defensive immortal arms… As the chief commander of the state army of Da Ze Prefecture, I'm dirt poor, dreadfully poor."

"Not having two or three… no, five or six pieces of nine-refined immortal arms for protection… Without one or two pieces of heavenly divine weapons to suppress, I dare not follow you around recklessly."

He sighed, Wu Tie clapped his hands, laughed hehehe, and said to the dumbfounded Sima You and company: "All right, Huang Yu, see them out! Well, when the adults come to their senses, they'll naturally come find me."