Chapter 456: The Name of the Divine General Shall Change

Just the words "Northern Expedition" seemed like a flame, igniting Yue Pengwu's heart; he stared at the letter, his surging heroism nearly uncontrollable, until at last he closed his eyes, picked up the scroll, and strode away from this place.

Accompanied by the dragonlike roar of warhorses.

Yue Pengwu slung the long sheath holding the Li Quan Divine Spear behind his back and rode alone toward Xue Tianxing's encampment; tens of thousands of Taiping troops, far off, saw a lone rider galloping toward them, immediately on guard, weapons drawn, ready to shout orders to halt him.

But upon closer look, they recognized Yue Pengwu's true face and hurriedly rushed inside to report.

"General Yue, please wait a moment—I'm under orders and cannot salute, forgive me."

Yue Pengwu gave a slight fist salute, showing no arrogance.

In no time, Xue Tianxing burst out in full battle robe, face alight with joy, laughing as he opened his arms: "Pengwu, you just show up without a word? I could've prepared better, hahaha—you're always so busy, either buried in military texts or studying the empire's strategic layout, never coming to drink with your old brother!"

"Today you've finally come—I'll order the men to prepare something warm for you."

"Quick, drag that cook out of bed!"

"And send a falcon message to summon Yuan Shitong!"

He shouted loudly, inviting Yue Pengwu inside.

Beyond the Saibei Pass, the land is not like Jiangnan—harsh and cold; the people often pickle large cabbages until sour, slice thick slabs of black pork, and stew them with vermicelli, creating a rich, hearty flavor.

Tofu here is not as tender as in Jiangnan; Jiangnan tofu is delicate, lightly drizzled with soy sauce and tossed with green onions, perfect for drinking.

Northern tofu is made from black beans, inherently chewy.

Left overnight by the window in freezing weather, it's cut open the next day—soft and bubbly inside, like lotus root; sliced and boiled in the pot, its hollows soak up the broth, making it a delicacy; though this food lacks the refinement of Central Plains or Jiangnan, paired with a jug of wine, it's deeply satisfying.

Compared to delicate dishes, this kind of food suits the bold men of the army better.

But today, Yue Pengwu had no appetite for idle chatter or drinking.

He landed, his spear sheath on his back, raised the intelligence report, and said: "I didn't come here to drink with you." Xue Tianxing, seeing his brother-in-arms—thirty-something, nearing forty—noticed the faint traces of old boldness and unrestrained spirit in Yue Pengwu's eyes and brows.

He was startled, his heart stirred, and swept his sleeve to dismiss his personal guards.

Then he personally escorted Yue Pengwu into the command tent.

Yue Pengwu explained everything in detail; Tai Ping Gong had been dead for over a decade, and Xue Tianxing was now nearly fifty—a veteran general.

He had escaped the turmoil of Tai Ping Gong's time not only by killing those who plotted against him but also by gathering an army and fleeing to this remote place—he was sharp-witted and keen-eyed, and instantly grasped the situation, exclaiming with joy:

"Pengwu, if you lead your troops forward to join forces, the Young Master's momentum will be secured; the empire's fate will shift with us, not with Chen or Ying. At that moment, if only one Divine General holds the rear, the Young Master will emerge like the Fire Qilin, swallowing the world."

"Brilliant, brilliant—utterly brilliant!"

This was the pivotal turning point of the grand tide!

Xue Tianxing couldn't help lifting his wine bowl and draining it repeatedly; the Saibei wine was coarse, burning down the throat with sharp exhilaration, yet it could not quench the fire in his chest—after wild joy, he frowned slightly, voicing the same concern Yue Pengwu had once raised:

"But now, the Young Master's brilliance is glaring; all under heaven revere him, yet every warlord fears him, seeing him as a thorn in the flesh, a splinter in the eye."

"If you march your troops down, you'll face resistance."

"Through Ying, Yuwen Lie blocks your path; through the Tujue, their Khan will surely stand in your way—you must be cautious, wait for the empire to change, and then join the Lord and his men."

He had weathered the storms of this world, lived through Tai Ping Gong's time.

He wanted to urge caution—but saw the fire in Yue Pengwu's eyes, that blazing, radiant light he hadn't seen in Yue Pengwu's gaze for over a decade since Tai Ping Gong's death.

In a haze, the young general who had once stormed the world reappeared before him—and then Yue Pengwu smiled, and there, once again, stood the sharp, brilliant Divine General who was once deemed the most likely heir to Tai Ping Gong's banner.

He shook his hand, and the spear sheath fell to the ground; the blade of the Li Quan Divine Spear tore through the sheath—not on a battlefield, yet the divine weapon, unstained by blood, naturally sang its cry. Yue Pengwu said: "The Young Master already has troops and logistics—he needs no one else."

Yue Pengwu said: "I am the army."

His right hand gripped the long spear, his left hand extended two fingers, pointing across the strategic map at the empire's layout, his gaze blazing like fire: "You remain here—I go alone to Qin!"

"Enough!"

"When the day comes, the sun and heavens shall bear witness."

"Brothers, we shall meet again on the battlefield!"

"I came today not to consult you—I came to say farewell!"

Xue Tianxing and Yuan Shitong, summoned by message and arriving here, were stunned; they stared at the resolute Divine General. Yuan Shitong said: "Pengwu, this is reckless—and what of these troops, these fortresses? Are you abandoning them?"

Yue Pengwu tilted his head back and drank, then said: "Elder brothers, the Central Plains have sunk. Here, with our fortresses and armies, we have a home—but if the empire remains unsettled, can we truly call this home?"

His gaze was heavy; Xue Tianxing and Yuan Shitong had nothing to say.

Yuan Shitong stared at the final words on the letter—the Northern Expedition, "to mend the heavens with this body," "to restore the old mountains and rivers"—and finally understood: such a man, one who shared this spirit, had moved the world-weary Yue Pengwu.

The Chen Huang's ten imperial edicts had failed to recall Yue Pengwu.

A single letter from Li Guanyi had summoned back this Divine General—who had endured betrayal and countless battlefields, steady and unyielding—because of shared spirit, shared purpose, shared ambition for the empire.

The two fifty-year-old generals exchanged a glance, looked at Yue Pengwu, and sighed inwardly.

This was the strongest Yue Pengwu Tai Ping Gong and Chen Fubì had once hoped for.

The Marshal, fully trusted by his Lord, aligned in purpose, united in heart, with ample logistics, top strategists, and a million elite troops.

He was about to appear upon the battlefield of chaos.

Both felt complex emotions—joy and sorrow—and said: "Then let us drink first—today we toast you, honor your spirit, and see you off!"

Yue Pengwu agreed, but as he lifted his spear and walked, his eyes swept past a young man—nineteen or twenty, handsome and resolute, with sword-like brows and starlit eyes, clad in battle robe; yet when Yue Pengwu saw him bow, he frowned slightly.

This was the fake son of Tai Ping Gong.

When Tai Ping Gong died and Xue Tianxing raised his troops, he had wanted to raise a banner—to rally hearts, preserve Tai Ping Gong's prestige, and gather the scattered brothers.

Back then, he didn't know Li Guanyi existed; amid the chaos of war, he merely instinctively sought to preserve the flame and glory left by Marshal Tai Ping Gong, waiting for the day of vengeance.

The "Son of Tai Ping Gong" gave a slight bow: "I pay my respects to Marshal Yue."

Yue Pengwu nodded slightly: "... Study martial arts diligently, do not cause unrest. The Young Master is merciful—you'll earn your own merit."

The young man nodded earnestly, his expression calm and gentle; only after Yue Pengwu and the others had left did he return to his quarters, his face slowly turning cold.

He clenched his fist and slammed it hard onto the desk, a dull thud echoing.

A twisted, bitter resentment crept across his handsome face.

"Damned! Damned!"

"For all these years, they've told me I'm Tai Ping Gong's son, made me carry this banner—so now that the real one has returned, am I just thrown aside like trash?"

"All of you—traitors and rebels!!!"

He clenched his teeth; this thought rose within him, but he dared not speak it aloud.

He merely poured wine and drank bitterly, unwilling to let go—today, Yue Pengwu had come; the army was permitted to drink to see him off and stir their courage. This Li Xingyi had reached the Fourth Heaven of Wu Gong; this wine could not intoxicate him.

But wine does not intoxicate—the man intoxicates himself.

His heart choked with suppressed anguish; half-drunk, half-awake, he drifted as if into a dream, suddenly recalling his greatest nightmare: slaughter on all sides, his hometown swallowed by fire, himself shielded by his parents.

His mother and father clung together, their withered arms entwined like a tree hollow, like a shelter against wind and snow, hiding him from the eyes of bandits and marauders.

Many arrows pierced their bodies—but because they pierced both of them, they somehow protected him.

When he was terrified, hearing the clashing of swords and knives outside, he thought the bandits had returned, trembling violently; he was only four years old, too young to do anything but wait for death—when the front door burst open and a giant man strode in, sword in hand.

"Poor child..."

The giant stroked his beard; seeing the parents clutching each other to shield the child, even this battle-hardened brute was moved. He bent down carefully to pry them apart.

But these two ordinary people were clearly dead—yet their arms held strength as if weighing a thousand catties; the giant struggled to separate them. At that moment, staring at his parents' corpses, he wailed for a long time, desperate to know why.

The giant patted his head and told him: "It's because the world is not at peace."

He asked: "How can the world become peaceful? How can I seek revenge?"

The giant stared at him and said: "If you want revenge, pick up the sword and follow me. If you want a good life, I'll take you to a nearby town and entrust you to someone trustworthy."

He remembered his four-year-old self, gritting his teeth, dragging a seven- or eight-catty sword, trudging over twenty li until his consciousness faded. The giant sighed: "Fate is fate. If this is how it is—if you want revenge, if you want peace, then come with me."

"From today on, forget your old name."

"From today, your surname is Li."

The four-year-old Li Xingyi asked: "What Li?"

The giant who had slain bandits as easily as slaughtering chickens and ducks looked at him with complex emotion and replied:

"The Li of Tai Ping."

Li Xingyi, dazed, woke up. He stared at the table and wine cup, silent for a long time. Since he was four, the giant who had saved him—Xue Tianxing—had begun teaching him all manner of knowledge: not only saving his life, but also imparting Wu Gong, instructing him in internal Qi.

He brought him to the Fourth Heaven by age twenty, and told him this was payment—the price for living as a shadow.

But why?!?!

Li Xingyi clenched his fists, gritted his teeth: "Why?! I followed you for over a decade. I played Tai Ping Gong's son for over a decade—and now you tell me, now that the real one has returned, I'm no longer anything?"

"Then what am I?!"

"Without the title 'Tai Ping Gong's Son,' how could he have raised an army? How could these famed generals have recognized him?! How could the current Emperor Chi have granted him a marquisate?!"

"Without being Tai Ping Gong's Son, how could he have reached this point?"

"Without being Tai Ping Gong's Son!"

His inner resentment surged to its peak: "Then how could the Changfeng Lady have fallen for him?!"

"Without the title 'Tai Ping Gong's Son,' how could he have ever met the Changfeng Lady? Would such a peerless celestial being ever take interest in a lowly peasant?!"

He covered his head, half-drunk, half-awake, raising his eyes—faintly seeing his childhood: his parents' arms crossed, forming a shelter against wind, snow, and blades; arrows piercing his mother's heart, blood dripping onto his face.

His mother's heart stopped beating.

Only then did my heart get the chance to beat.

But—but—

"Yet if I had merely remained as I once was—a poor Physician, gathering herbs daily—how could I have ever reached the world? How could I have gained the title of Marquis? How could a poor apothecary ever make the Changfeng Lady fall for me?"

He seemed to see the child of four, dragging a seven- or eight-catty war sword for over twenty li—the child's eyes, dark and piercing, gazing at him across his parents' corpses.

That child dared to grip the sword, and look at me with that gaze!

Li Xingyi, thoroughly drunk, hurled the wine jar—he shattered the child's phantom—and roared: "Get out! Get out! I am not the son of a peasant or a Physician! No! My father is Tai Ping Gong! He is a lineage of marquises and dukes!"

"I am Tai Ping Gong's Son!"

"Without you, this achievement, this territory, this fame and glory—all of it would be mine!"

"Mine! All of it is mine!!"

"You are the thief! You are the real thief!"

Li Xingyi's expression twisted; his inner emotions shifted, and a thread of resentment stirred—gradually altering his heart and face.

Yue Pengwu also spoke to Xue Tianxing and General Yuan Shitong: "Li Xingyi has contributed greatly to uniting the morale of these two Tai Ping armies. He deserves great merit—but I've gradually sensed his heart harbors sinister intentions. He may bring disaster."

"Gentlemen, you must remain vigilant."

Xue Tianxing sighed: "I understand."

"But he grew up in the army, has always acted as Tai Ping Gong's Son, guided the troops' morale—and in some measure, misled the spies of Chen and Ying states. He did contribute to the Young Master's decade in Chen."

"If he hasn't gone too far, I hope we can ensure he lives a decent life."

Yue Pengwu said: "Naturally."

After the three discussed the future course of action, not long passed before another man rushed in, holding a scroll: "Generals, this is the latest intelligence from Changfeng Tower—besides the logistical supplies, here is this!"

He unrolled the scroll. General Yuan Shitong's eyes lit up; he clapped and laughed loudly:

"Ha! It's the Divine General List!"

"Long after the Central Plains war, perhaps the Heavenly Tianxia Diyi Lou thought no great war would come—so they finally compiled this list! Come, let us drink wine with the achievements of the world's heroes!"

They unrolled the Divine General List—but this time, it was different.

Aside from the Heavenly Tianxia Diyi Lou,

the contributions of Changfeng Tower and Ghost Market were also included.

The world was vast, with four full nations stretching ten thousand leagues, countless generals—yet only a hundred could make this list, all fierce commanders. Yet their eyes swept past the lower ranks without pause, landing instantly on the top ten.

Due to the deaths, victories, and defeats of the Divine Generals, the rankings of the top ten had changed drastically from before.

Tenth place bore a name they all knew well.

【Yue Pengwu】—Tai Ping Gong's beloved general, commander of the Yue Family Army, manifestation of the Golden Wing Great Peng Bird, wielding the fated divine weapon Lique Divine Spear, yet in his prime, murdered by the Chen Huang, his Wu Gong severely damaged; later on the battlefield, he fought a fierce duel against the divine general Gao Xiang, earning renown and prestige.

Unfortunately, during the three-year nationwide war from autumn of Tianqi 11 to autumn of Tianqi 13, he never fought, achieved no victories, gained no fame, and thus stands here—alas! Had he entered the Central Plains war, he would not have fallen to this state.

Yue Pengwu's expression remained calm, but Xue Tianxing said: "Pity—but only for now. Pengwu, this time you enter the world, you must teach these people what you're truly capable of!"

"Then, you shall rise straight to the clouds!"

Yue Pengwu said: "Naturally."

Xue Tianxing burst into loud laughter: "Good lad, no modesty at all!" Amid his laughter, he continued watching.

Ninth place—Yuwen Lie · Ying

Eighth place—He Ruo Qinhu · Ying

These two were both renowned generals of the age, yet failed to anticipate Li Guanyi's sudden return, along with the fierce battles of the Array Leader, Si Wei, and Xue Shenjiang, suffering crushing defeats: Yuwen Lie lost an arm, He Ruo Qinhu remained nearly perpetually gravely wounded.

As a result, these divine generals, who should have ranked among the top five, fell to this state—having participated in every major Central Plains battle, they nearly slipped out of the top ten. Pity. Tragic.

Seventh place on the Divine General List is Mu Zhahe.

The trusted war general of the Turkic Khan, peerless in divine archery, who played a decisive role in the unification of the Turkic tribes; half of the Khan's achievements rest upon this right-hand divine general.

Sixth place—Mysterious Divine General.

Everyone's faces showed confusion.

They looked below at the evaluation.

【First appeared during the Western Regions war, stood firm against the Yin State's Grand Tutor Jiang Su, despite being outnumbered tenfold; during the Jiangnan war, also held his own against Yuwen Lie, not falling behind】

【Wears armor, faces a special mechanical mask capable of altering its appearance, excels in halberd and bow, speaks with arrogance and mockery, highly skilled at provoking others' emotions; no trace of this person has been found in the past three hundred years】

【Affiliation—Tiance Prefecture】

【Estimated strength—Ninth Heaven】

【Bai Hu manifestation—apparently from the Xue family】

Xue Tianxing frowned in confusion: "Does the Young Master have such deep reserves? There's a general like this we've never heard of? The Xue family's depth?"

"No record in the past three hundred years—three hundred years is nearly the limit of Ninth Heaven's peak. Could he really be an ancient monster from before?"

"Tsk tsk tsk—still alive? Still so arrogant? Still able to provoke a general's composure?"

"Impossible."

Yuan Shitong clicked his tongue, joking: "Is he Lady's dowry?"

Yue Pengwu frowned: "The Young Master and Lady Xue."

"They are not yet married. Do not speak so lightly."

"It is disrespectful."

Yuan Shitong laughed: "There's no one else here."

Yue Pengwu said seriously: "Are you, brother, a man who hides his true face? Courteous on the surface, mocking behind?"

Yuan Shitong turned his gaze away, feeling embarrassed, yet only smiled bitterly—he knew Yue Pengwu was good in every way, but sometimes too rigid. His jester friend Han Zaizhong wasn't here to lighten the mood; he had no choice.

Yue Pengwu knew his own nature and did not press further, only said: "If this divine general exists, then my journey to Tiance Prefecture will hold great potential!"

Yuan Shitong and Xue Tianxing both smiled with delight: "The Young Master must be in the top ten."

"Then, of the top ten divine generals of the world, Tiance Prefecture holds three!"

"Brilliant!"

The group slowly unrolled the scroll, revealing the fifth position.

The fifth place bore an unfamiliar name.

Chen Tianqi · Chen.

The three former generals of Tai Ping Army exchanged glances, all puzzled—until Xue Tianxing suddenly remembered, stunned: "Chen Tianqi—isn't that the greatest general of the Chen dynasty one hundred and eighty years ago?! Is he still alive?!"

Yuan Shitong said: "I heard his Wu Gong runs deep, but his lifespan is nearly spent."

"He used to remain hidden in the Chen imperial library, rarely ever fighting; only when the nation faced annihilation would they bring out such an Laozu—but human strength has limits. He is no legend, nor has he swallowed the mythical Elixir of Immortality."

"Even with the finest nourishment and divine pills sustaining his life, he likely has only one or two battles left in him."

"Perhaps one fierce battle will see him die on the battlefield."

"It seems this is Chen's final shred of dignity—unable to fight, he can only appear in the final defense of Ducheng, to protect the last remnants of honor."

Xue Tianxing grew listless—after all, it was his former homeland. Though he felt this state was deserved, he could not help but feel sorrow, murmuring:

"Chen has dragged down even this Laozu, whose life and Yuan are nearly gone… it must truly be on the brink of collapse…"

He forced himself to rally, saying:

"But the next should be our Lord."

As they spoke, the scroll unrolled further, revealing the fourth position.

While laughing, they expected to see Li Guanyi—but instead saw an unexpected name.

Divine General—Gao Xiang!

Xue Tianxing, Yuan Shitong, and Yue Pengwu froze simultaneously.

The implications behind this shift halted their thoughts.

Several breaths passed.

Xue Tianxing leapt to his feet, whispering: "Gao Xiang… Gao Xiang is fourth… that means…"

He leapt forward, unrolling the scroll fully—it unfurled in midair, swirling like the convergence of all things under heaven. All eyes fixed on the very top, the pinnacle of the Divine General List.

Li, whose given name is taboo to speak, Guanyi.

Enters court without hastening, addressed without name, wears sword and boots in the palace, commands all imperial armies, Red Emperor Grand Marshal, Tiance Supreme General, Grand Commander of the Southwest, Lord of the Thirty-Six Western Khanates, Master of Jiangnan, Tian Kehan, Qin Wang.

Age—eighteen.

Divine General List ranking—

Third place!

?? Day one of regulating my schedule (peaceful)

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