The fact that the army had completed its passage through the neighboring states in just two days was proof enough that the small countries between Qi and Xia had long since been cowed by Qi.
Whether they were willing or not, they had no way to resist any decision Qi made.
They were probably much like Yang State had been before, just waiting for Qi to settle things in a single battle—or perhaps to keep them around as a source of Vein-Opening Pills.
Still, this was a long-distance expedition that required passage through other states. Qi had only sent one of its Nine Legions, so it was certainly unrealistic to expect it to destroy Xia in a single battle.
But merely taking Sword Peak Mountain already carried enormous political significance. Not to mention that the war had also easily suppressed domestic unrest, quelling a long-planned upheaval before it could even take shape.
All that remained was for the Green Badges to slowly draw out the shadows lurking in secret.
Chongxuan Sheng said, "My uncle said long ago that Xia has been restless these past few years, and there must be another war between Qi and Xia. None of us expected it to come so soon. Perhaps this isn't an ideal moment, but it also seems... just the right time! As for whether it can truly serve as a warning to Xia, that will depend on how this war plays out."
Chongxuan Chuliang often discussed military strategy with Chongxuan Sheng. It could be said that everything Chongxuan Sheng knew about warfare had been passed down by the Slaughterer.
As one of Qi's top generals, the Slaughterer naturally had a keen nose for war.
So the Qi Emperor's move had a third purpose: to warn Xia, curb its restless ambitions, and reestablish