Chapter 640

Wu Tie retreated very quickly, much faster than Linghu Jiu's retreat that day.

After all, Linghu Jiu abandoned his baggage train when retreating and could only rely on his soldiers' own flight to make haste; whereas Wu Tie's fleet remained intact, the Qingqiu Divine State's standard warships far outperformed the Great Wu Divine State's warships in performance and were also much faster.

Great Wu's reinforcements pursued for a while, but seeing they could not catch Wu Tie, they arrogantly withdrew their troops and returned.

Linghu Jiu lost nearly half of his remaining troops, boarded Great Wu warships, and sailed westward for a day and night, finally arriving at a camp. Seeing the flags fluttering in the wind above the camp, this encampment turned out to be a joint garrison of Great Wei and Great Wu.

The twilight was dark and gloomy, heavy snow fell across the sky.

Warships drifted slowly in the high skies near and far, occasionally emitting a low rumbling roar, shooting a blinding column of light toward the ground.

The ground trembled occasionally, distant booms of huge explosions echoed, occasionally a flash of fire could be seen on one or two mountain peaks, huge rocks shattered into fragments, countless shards were hurled far by the shockwave.

This is the White Wolf River, an extremely perilous great river that cuts through thousands of miles of mountains; the overlord of the mountains and forests is a formidable variant white wolf, hence the name.

The White Wolf River is the gateway for Langzhou to enter and exit the Three Kingdoms battlefield; its terrain is extremely strategic and its position extremely important, so earlier the Great Jin Divine State expended countless manpower and resources to construct a solid defensive line here in the White Wolf River.

Because the Xiang family's main legion was wiped out, and Linghu Jiu, in the heat of battle, persuaded many Linghu clan commanders to defect, the Qingqiu Divine State suffered a crushing defeat in the Three Kingdoms battlefield; the allied forces of Great Wei and Great Wu broke out of the battlefield and invaded the western territories of the Qingqiu Divine State.

However, within the White Wolf River, the Qingqiu Divine State's troops still relied on the defensive line and geographic advantage, fighting desperately to resist.

The Zhao, Wu, and Sun clans, elite military houses of the Qingqiu Divine State, when the allied forces of the two states surged forward, promptly mobilized large numbers of troops under their command, abandoned the military cities of the Three Kingdoms battlefield, and took up position in the White Wolf River defensive line.

The White Wolf River defensive line already had a large garrison stationed; with the addition of the three clans' elite forces, its combat strength was greatly enhanced.

The allied forces swept mountain after mountain, capturing fortress after fortress within the mountains, expending tremendous effort, and finally drove the defenders of the White Wolf River line into a final small mountainous region less than a hundred li across.

Within this hundred-li mountainous region, secret passages crisscrossed and fortresses were countless; almost every mountain peak had been hollowed out, then recast with melted special alloy, plus protective prohibitions inscribed by formation masters, and the defensive formations laid down—this hundred-li radius mountainous region is truly a hard nut to crack.

The allied forces of Great Wei and Great Wu fought fiercely here for nearly two months, losing over a million soldiers, yet still could not breach this final defensive point.

Great Wei's commander-in-chief, Crown Prince Xiahou Lanlan, and Great Wu's commander-in-chief, Prince Wu?, were furious, continuously reinforcing troops to encircle, sealing off the last defensive sector of the White Wolf River line, leaving no gaps.

Linghu Jiu's defeated remnants slowly disembarked from the warships; a contingent of Great Wei military officials, clad in blood-red armor and blood-red capes, were already waiting here.

The soldiers were unharmed; at the military officials' shouted orders, they formed ranks according to their own units and took up residence in the prepared barracks to rest and recuperate.

As for those officers, from senior generals down to junior commanders, all were stripped of their magical power by the military officials and held in solitary confinement; soon someone began a detailed interrogation of their battlefield particulars, asking why they had suffered this defeat.

Linghu Jiu's position was awkward.

As the direct person responsible for this defeat, he suffered no harassment or blame, and together with his nearby Linghu clansmen was properly accommodated in a spacious camp.

Soon Crown Prince Xiahou Lanlan's messenger arrived, offering gentle, soothing words to comfort Linghu Jiu, and brought the Crown Prince's goodwill: 'Victory and defeat are common in war; Young Lord Linghu, do not let a trivial small defeat discourage you… I hope you can rally your spirit… Great Wei will forever be your steadfast ally.'

Crown Prince Xiahou Lanlan was personally leading troops to attack the prefectural seat neighboring Langzhou; he had his messenger tell Linghu Jiu that Great Wei's attitude toward him would never change, and its trust and esteem for him would never change.

A heavily armored elite corps was marching from Great Wei's territory to the battlefield; this corps, five times larger than the army Linghu Jiu previously commanded, will still be placed under his command.

Hope Linghu Jiu can rally his spirit and fight fiercely for the benefit of Great Wei and the Linghu clan.

Soon after, a messenger from Great Wu's Prince Wu? arrived, and Prince Wu? told Linghu Jiu that he already knew Linghu Jiu had been assassinated on the battlefield by a Divine Realm expert of the Qingqiu Divine State.

Prince Wu? angrily accused the Qingqiu Divine State of underhandedness; a lofty Divine Realm expert actually dared to strike at a junior like Linghu Jiu—truly shameless and brazen.

Prince Wu? promised Linghu Jiu that he had already sent a memorial to the Great Wu Divine Emperor, preparing to dispatch two Divine Realm experts as personal guards for Linghu Jiu; if any Divine Realm master of the Qingqiu Divine State dares to assassinate Linghu Jiu again, they will surely not return.

The envoys of the two great houses brought their goodwill; afterward, the commanders stationed at White Wolf River—Great Wei's imperial commander Xiahou Ben and Great Wu's imperial commander Wu Yi—joined forces to host a banquet, warmly inviting Linghu Jiu to a feast to calm his nerves.

That night, cannons thundered within the White Wolf River; occasionally shouts of killing could be heard as the allied forces of the two states desperately assaulted the final stronghold of the White Wolf River defensive line.

In Great Wei Divine State's central camp at White Wolf River, lights blazed; inside the huge tent, a large group of nervous maidens attentively served the many commanders inside.

During marches, it is forbidden to bring womenfolk into the ranks; this is a regulation common to the armies of the three states.

These maidens were civilians seized from military cities after the armies of Great Wei and Great Wu broke through the Qingqiu Divine State's defenses on the Three Kingdoms battlefield; the allied forces also swept through Langzhou, destroying hundreds of military cities of various sizes, and countless civilians were seized.

Xiahou Ben and Wu Yi are both of imperial lineage and each a major commander independently leading troops; they selected a batch of beautiful maidens from the seized populace to indulge and enjoy at will—this is perfectly normal.

Anyway, these maidens are not womenfolk they brought from their own country but captives obtained after the war, so it does not violate military regulations.

Mountains of wine and seas of meat, various mountain delicacies and seafood, and various fine wines were served like flowing water.

They broke through the Qingqiu Divine State's direction on the Three Kingdoms battlefield, seizing countless spoils.

They captured Langzhou, the major logistical base of the Three Kingdoms defensive line, and obtained supplies and wealth as vast as the sea.

Xiahou Ben and Wu Yi were smug, indulging to the fullest together with the officers of the two states, each with a flushed face, and at times, with a hint of malice, they asked Linghu Jiu for a full account of this crushing defeat.

Although the Great Wei military officials had already, during the day, obtained the full course of the battle from those officers' mouths.

But they still publicly questioned Linghu Jiu.

Linghu Jiu is the young lord of the Linghu clan's Tushan Hall; according to Linghu Qingqing's side, he is indeed a legitimate bloodline of the Qingqiu Divine State's royalty, and the purest direct line, worthy of being called supremely noble.

Being able to embarrass Linghu Jiu, to make him lose face in public, Xiahou Ben, Wu Yi, and the others secretly felt as if they were stepping on Linghu Qingqing—such joy and satisfaction, those who have not experienced it will never know.

Linghu Jiu smiled gently; no matter how much overt or covert malice the two states' officers' words held in the tent, he continually smiled warm and gentle as jade, repeating over and over the full details of the battle.

"Gentlemen generals, that Prince An Huoxiong has strange tactics, not to be underestimated." Linghu Jiu even solemnly reminded the two states' generals: 'This junior lord thought his adaptable methods were sound and proper, yet he still managed to throw my formations into disarray…'

"Gentlemen generals, when you later face Prince An Huoxiong, you must be extremely cautious and careful."

In the tent, Xiahou Ben and Wu Yi and the others exchanged glances and then laughed together.

"Come, come, come, drink, drink." Wu Yi laughed boorishly: 'Young lord, you're probably overly frightened; well, that Prince An Huoxiong, according to scout reports, he merely brought more troops; as for martial prowess in campaigning and fighting… hehe, I really don't believe he has any real ability.'

Xiahou Ben smiled faintly; although everyone was deliberately causing Linghu Jiu to lose face, he could not stand Wu Yi's arrogant demeanor.

After all, the three states have long harbored grudges; how many wars have Great Wei and Great Wu fought between themselves? The number of soldiers killed by the opposing side is also astronomical.

So Xiahou Ben laughed: 'What Prince Wu Yi says is true—that Prince An Huoxiong is actually insignificant… although he once beheaded our state's Great Black Heaven King and seized our state's divine artifact, the Black Heaven Cauldron…'

Wu Yi, and the Great Wu Divine State's officers in the tent, their faces suddenly stiffened.

One does not strike the face when fighting, but Xiahou Ben just slapped him in the face publicly.

Wu Yi held his cup, stared at Xiahou Ben, and sneered: 'I suddenly feel that Young Lord Linghu's march formation is steady and seasoned; it's a pity his troops are a bunch of worthless good-for-nothings… if Young Lord Linghu commanded, instead of a bunch of pale-faced weaklings, it would be the stalwart youths of my Great Wu Divine State… then Prince An Huoxiong would not win so easily, so smoothly.'

A Great Wu Divine State senior general gave a strange laugh: 'Your Highness, no wonder—can we really expect a bunch of women to win battles?'

Xiahou Ben's face also turned grim; the Great Wei Divine State's officers in the tent, their faces instantly grew gloomy.

Great Wei's literary culture flourished, with countless scholars, but in military strength it is indeed inferior to both Great Wu and Qingqiu by more than one tier.

Great Wei's scholar-officials most liked to apply powder and rouge to their faces, considering a fair complexion beautiful.

Thus, Great Wei's soldiers were also called 'pale faces' by enemy soldiers.

This is a tremendous term of contempt, an insult.

Wu Yi's words directly offended all the Wei generals in the big tent.

A tall, slender Wei general with long hair hanging over their shoulders, a fair and delicate face, who had indeed applied some white face powder, Ran Ran stood up, pressing their right hand to the hilt of the sword hanging at their waist, and beckoned with a finger to the First-rank General of the Great Martial God Kingdom.

"In the army banquet, we should dance with swords to liven things up. Great Wu's 'fine young man', dare you dance with this general? Hey, stop at first blood, dare you?"

The Wei general launched a frontal challenge.

The Wu general who had just directly insulted the Wei generals as all 'women' gave a strange 'ge ge' laugh, stood up, and slapped their chest hard.

Compared to that Wei general, this Wu First-rank General stands one zhang three four chi tall, with two and a half times the width and three times the thickness, his body solid muscle like an iron tower. Judging by size alone, it's like a brown bear facing a considerably larger... squirrel!

"See blood? Of course we must see blood……but just seeing blood isn't enough……an arm, or a leg? You choose!" The Wu general boldly grabbed his personal weapon, a single-handed wolf-tooth club eight chi long.

The Wei general's personal weapon is a sword three fingers wide and four chi two cun long, while the Wu general personally carries, astonishingly, an eight-chi wolf-tooth club!

Just from the choice of personal weapons, one can see how the styles of the Wei and Wu armies differ.

The Wei general's blood surged to his head, he grinned: "Why not, let's just do away with the rules and force the opponent to admit defeat outright, how about that?"

The Wu general strode over to the tall Wei general, nodded firmly: "Good, if you don't admit defeat verbally, then you die……well, speaking frankly, brother, you're quite handsome; among all the serving maids in the big tent, nine out of ten aren't as handsome as you."

Inside the big tent, the Wu side's generals laughed uproariously, some grabbed the meat‑cutting daggers at hand and wildly struck the meat platters and wine bowls, and in an instant the noise rose, the big tent filled with chaotic revelry.

The Wei generals, meanwhile, wore grim faces, instinctively straightened their bodies, and many more shifted from sitting cross‑legged on the rugs to kneeling on one knee, right hands on their swords, ready to erupt at any moment.

Linghu Jiu held up his wine cup, let out a light sigh, and slowly shook his head: "Let's just spar, don't hurt the harmony……please, don't, hurt the harmony……ah!"

Linghu Jiu took a sip of his wine cup, and the group of Linghu clansmen seated behind him glanced at each other, showing their approval.

Frankly speaking, while drinking fine wine and eating delicious food, watching two groups of strangers sword‑dance for entertainment, the wine's flavor suddenly became wonderfully good.

Several of the older Linghu clansmen laughed heartily, simply stood up to watch the two generals standing in the big tent.

We need to think of a way to make this fire burn a bit bigger.

"He he," anyway both sides aren't good people, and the dead aren't our Linghu clansmen, so let's fight, fight, better they all die.

"Ding," the Wei general drew his sword.

The Wu general raised his wolf‑tooth club with one hand; the thick club resembled a small shield, protecting his front, as the opponent's sword tip struck it hard, and he could see the blade vibrating with a 'humming' sound, gradually bending.

On the blade's edge, countless fine runes appeared, a thread of cold light streamed from the hilt to the tip.

On the wolf‑tooth club, circles of dark gloom spread out, and low, bestial howls echoed continuously from within the club.

Inside the big tent, the Wei and Wu generals watched intently, holding their breath, fearful of disturbing them.

Not far from the central army camp, less than a hundred li away, behind layers of fences and the yuan gate, the camp lights were dim; only the steady tread of patrolling soldiers passing by gave this expansive camp a hint of movement.

Here were stationed the defeated troops under Linghu Jiu's command; many of the mid‑low rank officers were killed or captured, and the whole army's organization was thrown into disarray.

Dozens of military law officers, with their subordinates, patrolled the camp to prevent the defeated troops from causing trouble at night and disturbing the whole camp.

No one noticed that, in the storehouse where the defeated troops' equipment was piled, some shields, armor, weapons, and the like began to writhe strangely.

A layer of bright, mercury‑like substance kept flowing from the soldiers' equipment, landing lightly on the ground and quickly condensing into figures about two zhang tall, entirely made of metal—metal essences.

These metal essences stood silently in the tents, ears cocked to listen to the surroundings.

The number of metal essences welling up from the equipment kept growing, soon reaching over a hundred thousand.

Many of the metal essences, with a flick of the wrist, released the giant divine soldiers coiled within the rings on their fingers; the giants rose slowly, their eyes glowing with a bloody light.