Chapter 58: The Shadow Guard's Early Formation

Report…

At that moment, an urgent report from a soldier outside the gate arrived! Then, a soldier entered the Main Hall and, in a hurried tone, said to Zhang Liao and the others:

"General, an urgent report from Shangjun: General Zhang Long and the other four generals have successfully taken the remaining five cities of Shangjun; now the entire Shangjun region is fully under our control!"

The soldier, speaking quickly to everyone, finished and looked at Zhang Liao with an excited expression.

"Good, the five of Zhang Long have not disappointed this General; when can they reach Hanyang City?"

Zhang Liao, upon hearing this, clapped excitedly and praised, then turned to the soldier and asked:

"Reporting to the General, General Zhang Long and his men set out three days ago; it is estimated that in another three days they will reach Hanyang City."

The soldier respectfully replied to Zhang Liao.

"Good, Military Advisor, immediately send the battle report to His Majesty, and don't forget to send it to the Imperial Court!"

Zhang Liao, his face excited, said to Xi Zhicai, although he already knew that with their strength, taking Shangjun was no problem.

However, such speculation never truly occurs; there is no peace of mind without a battle report!

Xi Zhicai also wore an excited expression; occupying the whole of Shangjun in such a short time, besides their strong military might,

also fully demonstrates the capabilities of these senior generals!

"General, rest assured, I will write it now and guarantee it reaches His Majesty as quickly as possible!"

"Good, then I have you, Military Advisor. Tonight, this General will reward the three armies; the soldiers have labored for so many days, and for our victories, let us celebrate properly!"

After Zhang Liao arranged everything, he said to the crowd.

"Thank you, General!"

The people, hearing Zhang Liao's words, immediately bowed and clasped fists, addressing him respectfully.

At this moment, Liu Bian's army, after more than ten days of marching, had now reached Qi County; beyond Qi County lies the territory of Anding Commandery.

Report…

At that moment, the shout of a Messenger Soldier rang out! A soldier on a warhorse rode swiftly to Liu Bian's side.

He shouted to him, "Reporting to His Majesty, General Zhang Liao brings good news!"

After speaking, he removed the pack on his back, took out the letter inside, and respectfully handed it to Liu Bian.

Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng, seeing this, immediately took it from the soldier's hand and respectfully handed it to Liu Bian.

Liu Bian took the battle report handed over by Li Liangcheng and opened it at once.

"Good! Good! Good!"

After reading it, Liu Bian immediately shouted "Good" loudly, showing how delighted he was.

Then, addressing the crowd, he said, "General Zhang Liao's report says he has successfully taken Shangjun, and now is regrouping at Hanyang City in Xihe Commandery."

"And in Xihe Commandery, they have already taken two cities; they will soon attack the commandery seat, Lishi City."

After speaking, Liu Bian handed the battle report in his hand to Guo Jia and the others.

"This is the detailed battle report; please all take a look!"

Guo Jia took the report from Liu Bian, skimmed it quickly, and after reading, passed it to Jia Xu.

The few quickly finished reading the report, and excitement showed on their faces.

Guo Jia immediately said to Liu Bian, "Congratulations, Your Majesty; from General Zhang Liao's report, it appears that Bingzhou should be taken within a month!"

"Feng Xiao spoke well; Bingzhou mainly depends on Niu Fu of Jinyang City in Taiyuan Commandery. As long as Zhang Liao swiftly captures Jinyang, the six southern commanderies of Bingzhou will all be in my hand!"

Liu Bian acknowledged Guo Jia's words; after all, Bingzhou's strength, aside from Niu Fu's twenty thousand troops in Jinyang, could still pose a slight difficulty for them.

Other cities have at most five thousand soldiers and horses, and must also guard against the Xiongnu in the north, so they would not easily dispatch reinforcements.

Therefore, as long as Zhang Liao can take Jinyang and remove the three northern commanderies occupied by the Xiongnu, the whole of Bingzhou can be said to be in Liu Bian's hands.

And Zhang Liao and his men are far stronger than Niu Fu; Niu Fu could never be a match for Zhang Liao.

"Wen He, tell the Dark Guard members to infiltrate the cities of Liangzhou immediately, and coordinate with the main army when the time comes!"

Liu Bian said gravely to Jia Xu beside him: Since the establishment of the Shadow Guard.

Liu Bian spent a great price and even found a swordsmanship master from the populace, Tai'a, to serve as the Deputy Commander of the Dark Guard.

Moreover, Liu Bian specifically spent five hundred thousand National Fortune Value from the System Mall to obtain a Dark Guard exclusive technique.

This single technique almost exhausted the National Fortune Value Liu Bian had saved for so long.

"Shadow Divine Art," this technique is stronger than many civil and martial cultivation methods; it is a Heaven Grade Top Quality technique that can be cultivated continuously before the Immortal Realm.

Currently, the core members of the Shadow Guard number over thirty thousand, and even the lowest cultivators have reached First-rate Martial General strength.

Tai'a also possesses Postnatal Third Heaven strength, being on the same level as Lü Bu.

Those who have reached the Postnatal Realm, besides Tai'a, number twelve; those at the Divine General Realm number a hundred; the rest are all First-rate Martial General level.

From this one can see the greatness of a Heaven Grade Top Quality technique.

Jia Xu, seeing Liu Bian mobilize the Shadow Guard, also felt a bit excited.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the Dark Guard members have long been dispatched; however, the Ying Guard members have not been many!"

"The Ying Guard's smaller numbers are no issue; the Shadow Guard's strength is not weak, and at critical moments, seizing city gates is still no problem! Moreover, aren't there still Ying Guard members present?"

Regarding Jia Xu's reply, Liu Bian understood; when he first established the Shadow Guard, he said the Dark Guard would focus on intelligence gathering, so their cultivation levels need not be high.

The Ying Guard, however, focuses on assassination, so its members require higher cultivation.

"By the way, how is the Dark Guard's infiltration of the other states and commanderies?"

Thinking that the Shadow Guard had been established for a month, Liu Bian also wanted to know how its development was progressing.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, currently, except for the more distant Jingzhou, Jiaozhou, and Youzhou where there are no personnel, the other states and commanderies all have Dark Guard members; I am continuing to develop them vigorously."

"In another month, the Dark Guard members will be spread across all Thirteen Provinces of Tian Xia!"

Speaking of this, Jia Xu also felt a bit excited; after all, expanding the Shadow Guard to this scale within such a short time brings considerable sense of achievement.

Upon hearing that, Liu Bian and the others were also a bit surprised, after all it had only been a month; if it could develop like this in a year, they would not be surprised.

"Wen He, Wen He! The Emperor did not expect, after ordering you to form the Shadow Guard, that you would give me such a great surprise."

"Indeed, this matter was handled beautifully; the follow‑up need not be rushed, the personnel must be reliable, and under no circumstances should other forces be allowed to infiltrate."

Liu Bian first praised Jia Xu, then reminded him.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty; the people I have selected are all reliable, and they have all passed the Wenxin Mirror test bestowed by Your Majesty!"

Jia Xu immediately, facing Liu Bian, respectfully explained.