Chapter 369: Advancing by Retreating

Great Evil...

Great Good!

Directly changing from Great Evil to Great Good?

Heaven-Reversing Technique?

Heaven-Reversing Technique!

Throughout the entire Wangbei Academy, exclamations of shock rang out everywhere.

Who was so formidable that they orchestrated this Heaven-Reversing Bureau?

Everyone knew that this "Wu-character Horizontal Nine" was none other than that talented woman of Shu, Pei Yanran, who had just been judged as Great Evil a few days ago for exposing her identity to outsiders.

At the time, everyone felt it was a pity, as the Academy certainly would not spare her.

Since ancient times, once one was labeled Great Evil, there was no Heaven-Reversing Technique to save them.

Yet today...

Today...

This was not just a Heaven-Reversing Technique, but a direct leap from Great Evil to Great Good!

At the end of the steps of Wangbei Academy, amidst the clouds and mist, an academy stood tall. This academy seemed to have existed in this fairyland of clouds and mist since Pangu opened the heavens and earth, and people could not glimpse its full appearance.

At this moment.

The old man who had been fishing in the river a few days ago had only just managed to climb to the top.

Therefore.

He was the one most shocked by this incredible news.

What the hell?

It just went straight to Great Good?

He walked somewhat blankly across the white marble Square of the Academy. Only upon approaching did he see that this massive mountaintop Square was actually a black-and-white checkered board. The clouds and mist, close at hand, hung suspended above this board. The board was densely packed with black and white pieces.

And he did not know how it happened.

These pieces could move without being driven; some pieces were fixed in place, while others flew about wildly, as if a host of demons were dancing, making one's eyes dazzle.

He stared blankly.

At this time.

Several old men from Wangbei Academy had already walked out from the Academy.

He knew.

These few people were all top-tier bigwigs of Wangbei Academy; in ordinary times, one could never see them.

"An intruder?"

An old man chuckled: "Interesting, interesting... In a position of great victory, yet not entering the Killing Array, and walking away so freely?"

Others also wore expressions of astonishment: "Fifteen thousand enemies killed, with almost no losses—this is indeed Great Good!"

"This Pei Yanran truly has some luck. To advance by retreating like this—if this person is not a hero of great talent, then they are an overlord!"

"Hahahaha..."

"Shu is about to get lively."

One old man with white hair and beard laughed heartily: "How can one not meet such an interesting person?"

"That is a fair point!"

"Although it is a situation of Great Good, Pei Yanran is still a member of our Academy. To want to marry her, is it really that easy? Paying a visit to propose marriage, that is not too much to ask, right?"

"Oh?"

"Good!"

Looking back at Liu Zheng's side.

The Longyan army had won a great victory and was returning in triumph.

Qin Zhangfeng could not help but say: "Young Master, as for Jiangzhou..."

He actually believed that at this time, since Agutuo had been annihilated, they should turn and attack Jiangzhou. With their one-hundred-thousand-strong army, carrying the momentum of victory, they were unstoppable. With the one-hundred-thousand-strong Yong'an Army as well, both sides being victorious forces, a joint attack on Jiangzhou should be easily accomplished.

Liu Zheng, however, chuckled: "I can kill fifteen thousand Southern Barbarians without blinking. But how can I turn a blind eye to the three hundred thousand commoners of Jiangzhou? Burning Mang Mountain this time was to show Luo Huo. Let him know that Prefect Liu is not some Contemporary Sage; I have never feared slaughter! If it comes to a fish dying and the net breaking, I will not hesitate!"

Those around him felt their spirits tighten and gasped in succession.

After the Battle of Mang Mountain, the fierce reputation of Prefect Liu had truly spread throughout Longyan.

No matter who it was...

In the future, when encountering Liu Zheng, they would have to consider whether they were tough enough.

But Liu Zheng continued with a smile: "However, we should know the principle of leaving an exit for a besieged enemy. Before the burning of Mang Mountain, the Yong'an Army could at best be considered to have had a series of minor victories. Now, they have become the main force. Looking south at Jiangzhou, they can move at any time. The King of Shu should know my intentions by now and will surely lead his troops south. If we continue to press them hard, Luo Huo will become a cornered beast; a cornered beast will fight, and the commoners will suffer!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed.

A Prefect said sincerely: "Prefect Liu, you have the commoners at heart—this is Great Good!"

Others also echoed this sentiment.

Logically speaking, Liu Zheng's Liangzhou Army coming to the aid of Chuan Shu was originally fighting in a foreign land. Whether the commoners of Chuan Shu lived or died, what did it have to do with him? Furthermore, even the local Prefects of Chuan Shu believed that sacrificing three hundred thousand commoners to retake Jiangzhou was worth it! The lowly commoners could die, but the city could not be lost!

However...

How could their magnanimity compare to Liu Zheng's at this moment?

Pei Yanran also listened with flickering eyes.

This Prefect Liu...

Is he a Contemporary Sage?

Or is he a Human Butcher?

If he is a sage, why did he not change his expression when fifteen thousand people died before his eyes?

If he is a Human Butcher, why does he think of those commoners in every way?

She felt that he was an extremely contradictory person; at the very least, in this era, his values appeared highly contradictory.

She is the number one talented woman of Shu.

In fact, she was more inclined for the main army to head straight for Jiangzhou at this time. She did not believe that even if Luo Huo were crazy, he would at most kill some of the populace... would he really dare to massacre the city? If he did that, he would surely meet the same end as Agutuo!

Therefore.

Liu Zheng's current choice...

She could not quite understand it.

It is said that the merciful do not command troops, and the righteous do not manage wealth.

Just at this moment.

Suddenly.

Above this vast and mighty army, a white crane appeared.

That white crane let out a chirping sound.

Pei Yanran's delicate body trembled, her face turned deathly pale, and she looked up.

Who would have thought.

The next moment, her face was full of surprise: "Really?"

"Great Good?"

"Great Good?"

She suddenly cheered and jumped for joy, hugging Qin Zhangfeng's arm and refusing to let go, then looked toward Liu Zheng in front with burning eyes.

Yong'an.

Xie Zhen had been stationed here all along.

Upon receiving the outcome of the great battle at Mang Mountain, he was so excited he almost jumped up. At this time in Yong'an, the one hundred thousand Liangzhou Army were also greatly encouraged and jubilant.

"Jiangzhou is saved!"

Xie Zhen was extremely agitated.

However...

Soon, he received the news that Liu Zheng was leading the main army back to Shuzhou.

At this.

He was completely stunned.

"What is my second brother intending to do?"

The other generals and strategists also looked at each other in dismay.

At this time, wasn't shifting the battle to Jiangzhou the best choice?

Suddenly.

Xie Zhen shuddered, his eyes instantly brimming with hot tears: "My brother is doing this for me, the Mandarin..."

The others also sighed deeply, soon understanding what Xie Zhen was saying.

Liu Zheng was worried that with the twenty thousand-strong army closing in and Luo Huo in a cornered-beast situation, the people of Jiangzhou would truly be finished... These Barbarians were extremely cruel; what wouldn't they do?

By then...

Xie Zhen's reputation would certainly be ruined.

Thinking of this, how could Xie Zhen not be moved? With tears streaming down his face, he said: "My brother knows me, understands me. The whole army shall march south, making a show of attacking Jiangzhou, to see how that Luo Huo responds!"

"Yes!"

The army was soon mobilized.

Everyone knew.

This would be a psychological war.

As they retreat there, we must advance here! We must give the Barbarians in Jiangzhou a feeling of alternating tension and release.

Giving you an opportunity on one side.

Applying heavy pressure on the other.

In an instant.

The pressure shifted onto Luo Huo.