Chapter 748

Hetu Ala.

Once a wooden palisade on a dirt slope, it is now a cluster of dark, eerie buildings.

The city walls are built from a deep blue stone, with a viscous glow seeping through the cracks.

On the city's banner flies not the traditional dragon motif or beast pattern.

But rather a silhouette of a three-legged giant crow outlined in azure lines.

At the city's center, a massive 'Yin Energy Reactor' throbs slowly.

It resembles an inverted black pyramid, its surface riddled with honeycomb-like holes, constantly inhaling and exhaling a bluish-black mist.

The mist flows along a pre-laid network of stone channels to every workshop and barracks throughout the city.

Inside a smelting workshop.

A shirtless craftsman—if he can still be called a man—is plunging a red-hot iron ingot into a stone trough filled with azure slime.

The iron hisses, and a web-like blue pattern rapidly spreads across its surface.

When drawn out, it gleams with an eerie luster mixing metal and bone.

Another animal pen.

Low growls and the brittle snapping of twisting bones fill the air.

Armored Jurchen warriors drive the captured Liaodong black bears, using iron hooks, into a mist-filled arena permeated with Yin energy.

The black bears writhe in pain within the blue mist, their bodies swelling, fur falling out, skin hardening into a plate-like keratin.

Their eyes become two points of azure flame.

Once the transformation is complete, the warriors brutally force a specially made, barbed Yin iron bit into the bears' mouths and shackle them with chains.

An 'Armored Bear' then rises, docilely following the warrior behind.

The northern drill ground.

The newly integrated Eight Banners are now drilling.

But unlike in history, more than half of the Eight Banner soldiers here have vacant gazes and unhealthy bluish-gray skin.

Their movements are uniform, their strength far beyond that of ordinary people, yet their response to pain is sluggish.

Before the formation, dozens of exceptionally tall figures clad in full black bone armor, the 'Jiala E'zhen,' stand silently.

With each breath, a faint blue mist seeps from the gaps in their helmets.

They are early recipients of deep Yin energy enhancement, the 'Soldier Slaves,' having lost most of their self-awareness and become pure instruments of war.

On the reviewing stand.

Nurhaci stands, clad in heavy armor of dark gold interwoven with azure, leaning on the rail.

Deep within his left pupil, a speck of blue light flickers faintly.

It is the mark left by the Old Shaman's 'Yin Covenant Ritual' performed for him.

This mark allows him to sense and guide Yin energy to a degree, and it has forged an ambiguous, unbreakable bond between him, the reactor, and the master of the Iron Crow Army.

"Great Khan."

Huang Taiji (Chu Ying) mounts the platform and performs a respectful salute.

He too underwent enhancement, though to a lesser extent, retaining full consciousness.

"The remnants of the Khorchin and Yehe tribes have all submitted."

"The four Haixi Jurchen tribes, except for the Ula tribe which fled north into the forests, have all submitted."

"All of Liaodong, every major city and strategic point, now hosts our banner troops as garrisons."

Nurhaci nods, his voice low and hoarse.

"What about the Ming people?"

"The Ming lord Zhu Yuanzhang established his capital at Ying Tian, adopted the era name Hongwu, and is currently occupied with pacifying the Central Plains and administering internal affairs."

"His general Xu Da guards Northern Peace, while Chang Yuchun patrols the borders as far as the Happy Peak Pass, where he halts his advance."

Huang Taiji pauses.

"Scouts report that the Ming army has erected numerous beacon towers and dug trenches along the frontier, apparently preparing to block our southern advance."

"But… there are no signs of large-scale troop movements."

Nurhaci's mouth curls into a cold arc.

"He's afraid."

"Or perhaps he simply isn't ready yet."

He gazes southward, his azure left eye seeming able to pierce a thousand li.

"Zhu Yuanzhang… you have seized the Han realm."

"But can you withstand heavenly punishment?"

The Old Shaman appears like a phantom in the shadow beside the platform, his voice dry and raspy.

"Great Khan, the Master has issued a command."

"Liaodong being secure, we should sever a finger of the Ming court."

"Test their strength, probe their weaknesses."

Nurhaci turns around.

"What is the target?"

"The Liaoxi Corridor, the Guangning Front Guard."

The Old Shaman's eyes blaze with blue fire.

"That is the Ming army's northern supply hub, where grain and materiel are stocked."

More importantly...

His gaunt fingers traced in the air, and Yuneng condensed into a rough map.

"Here, the earth veins have a place called the 'Hidden Knot'."

"If we pour fresh blood and Yuneng into it, it can be transformed into a forward outpost node, aiding our army's future passage."

Nurhaci's eyes blazed with blue light.

"When do we move?"

"The night of the new moon three days from now."

"When the Yin tide is at its peak, it can conceal our tracks."

"Good."

Nurhaci looked toward Hong Taiji.

"Muster two companies of the Plain Blue Banner and one company of the Bordered White Banner."

"Also assign two teams of bears and ten 'Black Armor Slaves'."

"You will personally command them."

"Remember."

Nurhaci looked at his son.

"In this battle, we do not seek to capture cities."

"What we want is blood, souls, to dye that land… completely red."

Hong Taiji knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right fist, and his armor clanged.

"I, your son, receive the command!"

Heaven-responding, the Forbidden City (temporary name).

Side hall of the Martial Glory Palace.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) looked at the urgent report sent by Xu Da from Northern Peace, his brows furrowed.

"The Jurchens of Liao East have established the state name 'Gold' and banner name 'Pure'."

"Its leader, Nurhaci, is called the 'Enlightened Khan Who Covers and Nurtures All Nations'."

"Within its borders, strange omens frequently occur: blue mist blankets the land, and there are reports of livestock mutations."

"Recently, its troops have been appearing frequently at the border, seemingly surveying the terrain……"

He set down the military report.

"They move really fast."

Liu Ji stood to the side, his face solemn.

"Your Majesty, this Pure state is no ordinary barbarian horde."

"Under Yuneng contamination, it cannot be measured by ordinary mortal forces."

"The Wide Peace Front Guard hangs isolated in Liao West, bearing the brunt of the attack."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) fell silent for a moment.

"Issue the order to Xu Da."

"Strengthen the defenses of the Front Guard and the forts along the line, stockpiling more fire oil and nitre."

"If the enemy attacks, we can hold fast in our fortified cities; there is no need to engage in wasteful battles."

"But if we spot the enemy, we must carefully record their appearance and tactics, paying special attention to any signs of 'Blue Water' or 'Black Armor', and report back by swift horse."

"Yes."

Liu Ji noted it down, but did not leave immediately.

"Your Majesty, relying solely on defense is unlikely to be a long-term plan."

"Yuneng erosion advances step by step."

"Our army needs a means of counteraction."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) walked to the window, gazing at the palace wall under construction outside the hall.

"How is the Investigation of Things Institute's research on 'Strange Metal' and 'Resonance' progressing?"

"Some progress has been made."

Liu Ji reported.

"Using strange metal as the core, with specific copper wire windings, and passing a strong current through it, a weak energy field can be generated."

"This field can suppress Yuneng activity in a small area and purify contaminated soil."

"However…… the device is bulky, consumes enormous energy, and is still far from practical use."

"Not enough."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) turned around.

"Tell the Investigation of Things Institute to hurry up."

"We don't have ten or twenty years to slowly research."

"The Pure state's blade is already at our throats."

He paused a moment, lowering his voice.

"Furthermore, have Li Shanchang secretly prepare a plan called 'Northern Border Migration and Settlement'."

"Using labor in lieu of relief, recruit refugees to head north; in the areas south of the Great Wall where Yuneng pollution has not yet spread, build forts and open military farms."

"Land needs people to guard it and to till it; only then does it have vitality and resist pollution."

Liu Ji's eyes lit up.

"Your Majesty, your sagacity, this is a strategy to strengthen the roots and nurture the essence."

"But implementing it requires grain and funds……"

First, draw from my inner treasury.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) waved his hand.

In extraordinary times, employ extraordinary measures.

Go.

Liu Ji gave a deep bow and withdrew.

The hall returned to silence.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) picked up the military report again, his eyes falling on the character 'Qing'.

He knew that this monster, which had risen relying on yin energy, would never be satisfied with just Liaodong.

The iron hooves marching south.

They will come sooner or later.

And what he can do.

Is to... before the iron hooves trample and shatter the mountains and rivers.

Forge a sturdy shield.

Sharpen the sword.

Await the inevitable collision.