[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-971":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290269,4477,"Chapter 971: The Military Walks the Sacred Dao","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-971",971,"\u003Cp>The floating boat fleet arrived at Guantun County, delivering a total of thirty thousand shi of cargo, the vast majority of which was grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, each floating boat was designed to carry only five thousand shi, but Qingming’s traditional craftsmanship ensured sturdy construction; as loading continued past the designated limit, the boats still had capacity, and unconsciously, cargo increased from twenty thousand shi to thirty thousand shi—yet the hulls held firm, though the spray operators grew weary, so Zhang Sheng brought two extra crews.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guantun County’s population has now exceeded four hundred thousand, with settlements extending far into the mountain folk regions; feeding hundreds of thousands requires far more than the three million jin of grain delivered. Fortunately, the second fleet of floating boats has been completed and departed, this time consisting of ten vessels, escorted by Ji Liuli and Feng Chutang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng had already cleared the route ahead, severely wounding one mountain folk cultivation master and delivering a stern warning to the Long Duke Mansion’s cultivation master; along the way, he slew six Dharma Phases and captured four more. After this journey, any minor threats along the route may still linger, but no one will dare show their face again upon seeing the Qingming banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng sustained minor injuries during his battle with the mountain folk cultivation master, but nothing serious—he only needs one month of rest to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this delivery of grain was modest, half of it consisted of high-quality military rations compressed and sealed in iron barrels, and the other half was salted meat and fish, far more filling than ordinary food; these premium rations will sustain Guantun County until the next fleet arrives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon meeting again, Xiang Weiyuan felt as if he had been separated from Zhang Sheng for an immeasurably long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with urgent matters piling up, there was no time for affection. Xiang Weiyuan swiftly briefed Zhang Sheng on all affairs in Ji State, then handed the region over to him. Afterward, Xiang Weiyuan brought her to the southern district of the county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the earth’s qi was warmer, so Xiang Weiyuan ordered all original dwellings flattened, digging deep pits like tombs, arranged in neat rows, surrounded by arrays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the great array, icy winds howled, as if stepping into winter—life vanished entirely. In each pit lay at least seven or eight starving refugees, all on the brink of death, unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This method had been used by Xiang Weiyuan during Qingming’s darkest days: placing useless mortals into these arrayed pits to slow their life force into a semi-hibernation state, reducing their need to one meal every seven or eight days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhang Sheng’s memory, this scene felt like it had occurred long ago; he never expected to see it again today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan said: “Twenty thousand mortals lie here. I plan to keep them in this state for two more months. Whether rebel or imperial forces hear of this, they will assume I have no grain left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The foolish will attack directly, hoping to seize an easy victory. The less foolish will keep sending refugees to starve me out. Either way, we need not flee—we only need to appear on the verge of collapse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng said: “On my way back, I heard Ji State recently produced a Long Duke—he seems to have some tactical skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan replied: “He just suffered a crushing defeat against the rebels. I’ve reviewed all his battle reports—he’s no threat. There have been many famed generals in Western Jin, yet none could save the kingdom’s collapse. For states like Western Jin or Ji, no matter how many generals they produce, it’s useless: whatever they win, the ruler gives away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I leave this to you. I must return to Qingming to confront Zhao Guo—I likely won’t see you again until after this war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Xiang Weiyuan hesitate, awkward, uncertain, Zhang Sheng walked over and gently pressed his cheek against his, then whispered: “Zhao Guo has immortals too—don’t be careless. If you can’t win, run.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan relaxed. “Don’t worry—I will. Time is on our side. Once we ascend to immortality, we’ll settle accounts with them slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng remembered something. “By the way, on my way here I casually beat up a Long Duke Mansion cultivation master—he had an interesting technique: it lets him escape without harming his invincible heart. It goes like this...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan listened carefully, thought for a moment, then summoned a Dao soldier. After three or five adjustments, the Dao soldier became indistinguishable from Xiang Weiyuan—even his expression and tone matched perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving this Dao soldier to deliver empty words makes deception easier, allows prolonged verbal exchanges with the enemy, and buys precious time for the true body to flee—superior to the old man’s method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once prepared, Xiang Weiyuan returned to Qingming through the secret realm. As for the four “young masters” Zhang Sheng captured, Xiang Weiyuan didn’t care at all, and dismissed Zhang Sheng’s idea of demanding ransom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His teacher was excellent in every way—except for his obsession with making money, which had never changed, not one bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guantun County’s garrison numbered only two thousand, but twenty cannons, over a hundred rotary machine guns, and nearly a thousand high-power flying sword rifles had been delivered. For a small county, this firepower was brutally excessive—though lacking endurance, ammunition reserves could sustain only one major battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan could do nothing; Qingming’s current military system demanded enormous logistical support, and the secret realm’s portal capacity was negligible—barely a drop in the bucket—and most transport was already dedicated to grain. Only when the floating boat fleet reached sufficient scale could operations become flexible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bidding farewell to Zhang Sheng, Xiang Weiyuan passed through the secret realm and launched his personal flyer, returning to Qingming in less than two hours. The two major armies had already assembled, fully prepared for deployment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Army was a classic heavy unit, primarily composed of heavily armored infantry, supported by heavy war chariots and armored cargo vehicles. The Second Army had greater mobility, including some cuirassier rifle troops, yet their cultivation levels matched those of the First Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All New City warriors were reorganized into a separate force, forming the Qingming Army—the first unit to bear its own name. Xiang Weiyuan did not deploy the Qingming Army, allowing Xu family youths and sacrificial offerings to remain safely in the city, focusing entirely on expanding the army’s size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan’s flyer landed at the military city, where Cui Yu, Xiang Xiaoyu, and others awaited him. Xiang Xiaoyu’s enthusiasm surprised him; since returning from Ji State, she had undergone a dramatic change—becoming far more active, leaving Xiang Weiyuan somewhat unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan preferred the old Xiang Xiaoyu—arrogant, stubborn, the one whose letters were worth reading.\u003C\u002Fp>",1127,"2026-06-20T03:38:38.899Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0107d65971f27159727d6a07f0613673fa6953baa16c6642baaeea43e3a6d5d8","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-972","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-970",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]