Chapter 456: Evenly Matched

I want to become you.

And so I want to kill you.

This is a very bizarre theory.

But Liu Zheng, at this moment, fully understands Xie Zhen's state of mind.

That set of policies for governing a territory, if applied to Chuan Shu, would definitely have a greater effect than in Liangzhou. With a promising future, who wouldn't become arrogant?

If one were to develop according to his own development strategy...

Chuan Shu would certainly become the most powerful force in the Longyan Dynasty; what Qingzhou, or his own deceased Liangzhou, would likely not compare. At that time, if the world were in chaos, Chuan Shu could immediately launch a northern expedition, and the world could be settled.

Xie Zhen.

Is a talent.

To be precise, he is someone skilled at judging the situation and seizing the moment. Although his own ability is not particularly outstanding, he knows how to choose the timing and how to choose the historical turning points.

Logically speaking...

His logic is without issue.

Clinging to the Third Prince is indeed much better than relying on himself; at least in this feudal society of the Longyan Dynasty, there has never been any problem with being a loyalist to the Emperor.

However...

He encountered me.

Let alone the fact that the current policies in Liangzhou are merely a drop in the bucket of Liu Zheng's knowledge base... as for the path he designed for himself, what is the Third Prince? What is Xie Ling? Even the Crown Prince, what is he?

Hearing Liu Zheng's words, Xie Zhen laughed wildly: "What of opium? What of the poppy? The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit; it has been so since ancient times!"

At this moment.

In the great fire at the farm, there were no living things left... The farm, like a hell on earth, was left with only that heartless fire and the black smoke rising into the sky.

"Why, Second Brother, do you think you still have a chance of winning today?"

Xie Zhen shouted coldly.

Since the mask had already been publicly torn off... then the battle today was unavoidable.

The one hundred thousand-strong army following behind him roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

One hundred thousand troops!

This was not just one hundred thousand troops; this was also one hundred thousand Shu Army soldiers who had purchased advanced Weaponry and Equipment from Liangzhou. Clearly, this was Xie Zhen's secret force; when the Southern Barbarians invaded, this unit had not even appeared.

Today.

This was used to deal with Liu Zheng, used to deal with his sworn brother...

One hundred thousand troops, poised and ready.

Compared to the Nanzhao Army, they were more than a little stronger; at least, the armies within the Longyan territory had already reached a state of perfection in the use of multiple arms and the study of battle formations and tactics. A charging formation was immediately set up.

The Liangzhou Army here, without a word, formed a defensive formation.

Huobu Quli, at this moment, was truly dumbfounded.

The Prince of Shu?

The Prince of Shu had actually come in person. Not only did he come in person, but he also admitted that almost everything in Liangshan had been designed by him...

This...

For a moment.

Huobu Quli hesitated.

This Prince of Shu and the Prefect Liu were both big shots from the Longyan Dynasty...

Should he follow Prefect Liu, or should he work for the Prince of Shu?

This was not because he lacked a conscience, was burning bridges, or lacked a firm stance. It was the influence of ancient concepts; the Liangshan region was under the jurisdiction of Chuan Shu. To put it bluntly, the Prince of Shu was their boss. This Prefect Liu was merely an Envoy sent by the Prince of Shu...

Who was the big boss and who was the underling still had to be distinguished.

"Headman, what should we do..."

The people beside him asked.

Huobu Zhuoli also looked over.

Anyone with eyes could see that this Prince of Shu was a person skilled in conspiracies and schemes... but...

Huobu Quli pondered for a moment: "Wait for now."

This wait.

The situation on the scene immediately changed.

The original army of over one hundred thousand was left with only the lonely fifty thousand Liangzhou troops.

Fifty thousand against one hundred thousand!

Even if they could win, it would be a pyrrhic victory!

Liu Zheng slowly looked toward Huobu Quli.

Qin Zhangfeng glared at Huobu Quli.

Huobu Zhuoli also looked indignant, clenching his fists.

Pei Yanran also looked at Huobu Quli with dissatisfaction.

Huobu Quli lowered his head in conflict.

"Headman Huobu, well done!"

Seeing the hesitant Huobu Quli, Xie Zhen laughed loudly: "Shama Zhuoyi and Naibao Rize are both dead; follow me, and in the future, Liangshan will be yours to command! You will be the Headman of all Liangshan!"

Huobu Quli slowly closed his eyes, the muscles on his dark face trembling.

"Charge!"

The one hundred thousand Shu Army prepared to charge.

Qin Zhangfeng shouted angrily: "Form up, meet the enemy!"

"Meet the enemy!"

The Liangzhou Army, having just experienced a battle that was not particularly intense, roared their response.

"Charge!"

One hundred thousand against fifty thousand, and both sides were elite, hardened troops. This was destined to be a head-on slaughter. No one dared to take it lightly.

"It's actually him!"

At this moment, seeing the commander of the Shu Army, Pei Yanran could not help but exclaim: "Young Master, this man is a well-known veteran general of Chuan Shu, Zhou Cheng! Years ago, news spread that because of his unyielding personality, he had been ostracized and had retired to his fields. I never expected... that he had actually been recruited by the King of Shu..."

Zhou Cheng?

Hearing this, Liu Zheng also frowned.

There were not many generals in Chuan Shu, and this Zhou Cheng was considered a leader among them. His ability to lead and deploy troops was of the highest standard in the current era.

Sure enough.

This first wave of the charge revealed the caliber of the commanders on both sides.

In this first round of the charge, the Shu Army led by Zhou Cheng deployed several variations of formations: Cone Formation, Wild Goose Formation, Xuanxiang Formation...

And Qin Zhangfeng's side was naturally no weaker.

He continued to employ various variations of the Mandarin Duck Formation that the Liangzhou Army excelled at, coordinating with the "No-Ground-Division Cavalry" and "All-Encompassing Defense Against the Rong."

Yuexi Plain.

It became the real-life sandbox for this evenly matched battle.

Finally.

The troops of both sides engaged in close-quarters combat. War in the age of cold weapons was always this blood-stirring. The tall stature of the Liangzhou soldiers, the short and sturdy characteristics of the Shu Army, and all kinds of Cavalry, Spearman, Blade Infantry, Shield Soldier, and Archer were all deployed at this moment.

The clashing, flanking, interweaving, and besieging of points to strike reinforcements among the various troop types...

Once the clash of human lives was stripped away from a war, what remained was a performance of art.

What could be tested most was the level of on-the-spot command of the assisting generals.

"General, General! The Liangzhou Cavalry is too fierce; they have already broken through three of our defensive barriers!"

"Order General Wang's spearmen to provide flank cover, and have the blade infantry and archers cut down their horses' legs!"

"Yes!"

"General, the Shu Army spearmen have formed a Yoke Formation to block our cavalry!"

Qin Zhangfeng ordered: "Change to Vehicle Suspension Formation, combine infantry and cavalry!"

"Yes!"

Back and forth they went.

Various impromptu formation changes became the most brilliant part of this war.

If those "military strategists" and "experts in Strategy" from the Longyan Dynasty were here, they would also be amazed by the adaptability of these two commanders.

Liu Zheng was also very satisfied with Qin Zhangfeng's growth.

A Knight-errant from the past had now become a famous general whose name shook the four corners of the land.

At this moment, the fifty thousand Liangzhou Army troops in his hands showed no signs of disadvantage at all.

But...

Everyone knew.

Fifty thousand against one hundred thousand—the sheer physical stamina alone would likely be unsustainable. The initial even match would slowly see the battle tilt toward the King of Shu.

Huobu Quli.

For a moment, everyone looked toward Huobu Quli once again.

The seventy thousand Small Trouser Leg Tribe troops in his hands now seemed to be the key of keys.

【Author's Note】

Making up the first chapter.