Chapter 515: A Prosperous Age of Peace

At the same time the Zhao Family Son of Heaven ascended the throne.

The Western Chu grand army simultaneously achieved a great victory at Yao You Guan, shaking the Central Plains.

And on the Beiliang border, following an order from that female Beimang Female Emperor who held the greatest power, the Beimang grand army roared into motion, pressing the border on three fronts.

The great war between Beimang and Beiliang finally broke out.

Beimang used the strength of an entire nation to deal with a mere corner of Beiliang, and with the rift between Beiliang and Liyang deepening, even though grain and supplies were sent continuously, deductions and delays were common occurrences.

The Beiliang Iron Cavalry were the best in the world, yet how could they withstand such internal strife and external aggression?

According to the thoughts of the people of the world, even if Beiliang could withstand the Beimang offensive, it would suffer heavy losses. The entire four prefectures of Beiliang would be riddled with holes, with most of the young and able-bodied dead or wounded.

But to the shock of the world, Beiliang held on.

And this resistance did not seem difficult.

Aside from the inherent bravery and combat prowess of the Beiliang Army, it was also inseparable from two reasons.

First, the Beimang grand army did not seem as terrifying as imagined; although fierce and savage, they always gave the impression of having strength they could not exert.

Second, under the call of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader Murong Tonghuang, many martial arts experts appeared in Beiliang. Xu Weixiong did not disperse these martial arts experts into various military camps, but instead concentrated them to form a "Shenfeng Army," training them slightly to break enemy lines and formations, which often had miraculous effects.

Moreover, these experts were used for decapitation strikes, which also repeatedly achieved great merit and were utilized extremely well.

After dozens of battles, large and small, Beimang suffered significant setbacks, and there was already a trend of regrouping and retreating to fight again the following year.

……

Hutou City.

The premier majestic city of the Beiliang border.

Inside and outside this city were stationed thirty thousand elite troops, three thousand Iron Cavalry, six thousand light cavalry, and over twenty thousand infantry.

In this land of a hundred battles, even the commoners in the city not listed in the military registry, as long as they were of young and able-bodied age, could don armor and mount horses to fight at any time, skilled in archery and horsemanship; even women, children, and the elderly had the strength to fight, which could be called true universal conscription.

Behind Hutou City were the newly established Beiliang Du Hu Guan and Huai Yang Guan.

Along the line of Huai Yang Guan, there were two other border passes on the left and right, each with tens of thousands of troops.

This heavily guarded border was the most difficult battlefield to shake in all of Beiliang.

If the Northern barbarians wanted to open their mouths to swallow this place, I fear it would not be as simple as breaking their teeth and swallowing them with blood.

In this majestic city, one could never hear the camel bells of merchant caravans; it was destined only for the smoke of war and the yellow sands of a hundred battles.

Outside Hutou City was the flat sandy land commonly known as Long Yan Er.

About one hundred thousand Beimang troops had already been stationed there, pressing toward Hutou City like a boundless black cloud.

But the people of Hutou City felt no tension of "black clouds pressing down on the city, threatening to destroy it."

Because they had already routed the Beimang army several times, and now that the Beimang army had a trend of retreating, the entire atmosphere was relatively relaxed.

It was also because that Female Liang King, who had brought all the Beiliang military generals and civil officials into line, was right here.

She was a Sea-Calming Treasure; even if she did nothing, she could soothe people's hearts and settle all storms.

It is said that in two days, that ten-thousand-enemy-defying Murong Wudi would also personally arrive at Hutou City.

When that time came, with Murong Wudi leading the charge, what was there to fear from mere Northern barbarians?

It was just that those outside Hutou City could not have imagined that Murong Wudi had already arrived at Hutou City yesterday, but apart from the Female Liang King and a very small number of people, no outsiders knew.

"It seems it is just as Mr. Li and Mr. Murong guessed; Beimang's all-out effort this time is actually just for show."

The Female Liang King was discussing major matters with Murong Wudi.

Murong Wudi looked up at the sky and chuckled: "Beimang is waiting, waiting for those fellows in the sky to make a move. Otherwise, no one in this human world can check me. Not to mention the ten-thousand-enemy-defying or ten-million-enemy-defying strength on the battlefield, as long as I carry out a decapitation strike, not many in Beimang can withstand it. Blindly attacking Beiliang, even if they could break through, would leave them severely damaged, losing more than half their strength, with no power left to trample the Central Plains, and they might even be taken advantage of by Liyang."

"In that case, the first great war between Liang and Mang should end very soon." A hint of a smile appeared on the face of the Female Liang King, Xu Weixiong. On this ordinary-looking face, a captivating and majestic charm instantly bloomed.

Murong Wudi changed the subject: "Western Chu is also fighting quite lively. The world was frightened by Cao Guanzi's feat of entering the Imperial Palace four times as if walking through a corridor. Most think he is just a peerless expert with supreme martial arts, but when it comes to deploying troops and arranging formations, there are probably only he and Chen Zhibao who are the strongest in the world."

The Female Liang King shook her head: "The peak of Western Chu is one thing, but now there are only a few people like Cao Zhangqing and Grand Tutor Sun Xiji holding things up; how can they arm-wrestle with the prosperous Liyang? The reason Western Chu restored its nation still has to do with people like Yuan Benxi and Zhang Julu. On one hand, they weakened the military defenses around Western Chu, making Western Chu feel that restoration was possible. On the other hand, it was to weaken the feudatory kings. Once the Western Chu matter is over, the military strength of several feudatory kings will also be mostly wiped out."

"It's just a pity that things in the world cannot always go according to human calculations. That young Son of Heaven lacks control; if he is not careful, he might ruin everything." Yu Liancheng chuckled: "What's more, in a few days I am going to Taian City to add fuel to the fire and make this Liyang Imperial Court burn even more vigorously."

The Female Liang King naturally knew Yu Liancheng's intentions, and the two looked at each other and smiled.

The door was knocked, and after the Female Liang King said "Come in," a limping military general stepped into the room.

This plain-looking limping general was the number one border general under all the commanders of Beiliang, Liu the Sparrow, Liu Jinu of Hutou City.

It was precisely because of this Liu Jinu, who had spent most of his life's efforts here, that this majestic Hutou City still stood and had never been captured by Beimang.

Liu Jinu cupped his hands in a salute and said: "Your Highness, Mr. Murong, in the newly arrived Shenfeng Army, there really is the person you spoke of."

Yu Liancheng and the Female Liang King looked at each other and smiled again.

"The Zhao Family only knows these low-class methods; whether they succeed or not is another matter, but they are quite skilled at these disgusting tricks." Yu Liancheng shook his head.

The Female Liang King laughed: "If it weren't for this, how could you, sir, have a legitimate reason to go to Taian City once more?"

"That is true." Yu Liancheng chuckled and rubbed his nose: "After all, I had a hand in planning this matter too."

"Since that person has arrived, this King will take her leave first; I am just about to witness the spectacular sight of 'the sword coming from the sky'."

"Go."

The bewildered Liu the Sparrow followed the Female Liang King out, not understanding what riddle these two were playing.

……

Taian City.

Qintian Bureau.

A young man wearing a proper yellow dragon robe and a youth wearing the official uniform of a Monitoring Supervisor walked side by side.

The one wearing the yellow robe was naturally the young Son of Heaven, Zhao Zhuan.

And that youth was the newly appointed Monitoring Supervisor.

That old Monitoring Supervisor Nan Huaiyu, who had participated in the White Clothes Case, resigned from his position after the late Emperor passed away and spent his days in the Tong Tian Tai, ignoring worldly affairs.

Even when the young Son of Heaven personally visited, he did not pay any heed.

The Emperor asked as calmly as he could: "Little Bookcase, what are the odds?"

Under the sunlight, the young Monitoring Supervisor stretched out his palm to shade his forehead, looked up at the sky, and smiled: "I don't know; as long as that Murong Wudi does not make a move, it is mostly secure."

"That would be best." The young Emperor also smiled, but his mood sank when he heard the four words "Murong Wudi"; he was originally supposed to wait a while longer before ascending the throne, but the late Emperor had passed away prematurely.

Although the Empress Dowager did not say it, he could guess it had something to do with Murong Tonghuang. After all, looking at the experts of the world, apart from the deceased Wang Xianzhi and the young eunuch in the palace, no martial artist could truly harm the current Emperor. Cao Zhangqing, who visited the Imperial Palace three times as if walking through a corridor, could not; neither could the Peach Blossom Sword God Deng Taie, the First of Finger Profound who is peerless in killing.

The youth suddenly looked worried: "Brother Emperor, are you not afraid that Beiliang will completely lean toward Beimang?"

The Emperor put his hands behind his back and said leisurely: "Xu Xiao only did two things in his life: he spent twenty years conquering the Central Plains, and another twenty years resisting the Iron hooves of Beimang. Whether it is Xu Weixiong or Xu Fengnian, would they let their father's life's work of half a lifetime go down the drain?"

The youth gave an "oh" sound.

The Emperor suddenly revealed a brilliant smile and said with a grin: "They, they won't guard the border for me, but they will certainly guard it for Xu Xiao, guard it for the four provinces of Beiliang, and guard it for the common people of the Central Plains. Not acting as loyal subjects, but as filial sons and Saints, hehe. Little Bookcase, don't you think the people of the Xu family are interesting?"

The young Monitoring Supervisor did not speak.

He glanced at the young Emperor and suddenly felt that this Emperor, who was usually always smiling, was somewhat unsettling.

After the young Emperor left the Qintian Bureau, he returned to the Imperial Palace and returned to the great hall where he held morning court.

In the vast and silent great hall, there was only the young Son of Heaven.

The young Son of Heaven sat on the dragon throne, facing south, and said in a voice only he could hear: "Do you know, as long as Beimang loses one more Dong Zhuo and two hundred thousand people, and you in Beiliang also lose one hundred thousand people, then this world will be a peaceful and prosperous age."