Far East, Valen Fortress.
This was a towering city embedded amid majestic mountain ranges.
Far East Military Academy cadets arriving from all parts of the clan rode carriages along the broad brown road.
"So this is the greatest fortress on the continent?"
All the cadets were stunned by the grandeur and magnificence of Valen Fortress.
This was the toughest military fortress on the entire continent.
There were even rumors among the people: "As long as you hide inside Valen Fortress, you need not fear even the wrath of the gods!"
History had also proven that Valen Fortress deserved this reputation.
Several centuries ago, in the year 456, the Luminous Empire built this fortress within Valen Gorge.
It had forcibly halted the Demons' invasion of humanity, which had persisted for thousands of years.
Humanity was thus able to reproduce and thrive in peace.
Especially over the past two centuries, the Demon armies had launched four massive offensives involving more than a million troops.
Each time, the Zichuan Clan had relied on Valen Fortress's sturdy, thick walls to hold them back.
They repelled the Demon army's attacks time and again!
The mighty Demon army could only leave in defeat before it.
Guided by clan cavalry, all the cadets rode their carriages to an enormous square.
A massive statue stood in the center of the square.
It depicted Zichuan Yaoxing, the finest Chief Executive in the clan's history, who had slain a Demon God Emperor on the Valen Battlefield.
A raised platform stood before the statue.
On it stood a middle-aged man clad in silver-white armor and a helmet.
Once he saw that all the cadets had arrived, the middle-aged man began to speak.
"Cadets, welcome to Far East Military Academy. I am Ge Yingxing, and I will be your primary supervisor in the future!"
"Far East Military Academy exists to cultivate the clan's future elite officers!"
"You will study here, and after graduation, you will be assigned posts in the clan's central administration and military according to your academic performance!"
"The future is bright!"
"So, children, for the honor that awaits you, unleash your intelligence and talents across this land of Far East!"
"One day, you will become people like me!"
"I look forward to your growth!"
Ge Yingxing's words completely ignited the hot blood of these youths.
Winning titles and high office, bringing glory to one's family—these were the dreams of every one of them.
They had come here carrying the responsibility of strengthening their respective clans.
Fifteen-year-old Di Lin, fourteen-year-old Sterling, and nine-year-old Zichuan Xiu.
Standing below the platform, they gazed at the figure above with burning eyes.
One day, they would become the pride of the clan and the brightest stars of the Zichuan Empire.
With their adoptive father's years of instruction, their strength and abilities
had long surpassed those of their fellow military academy cadets, placing them among the best.
Thus, that goal was not out of reach.
What they lacked was merely an opportunity to soar into the sky and display their talents.
And two years later, that opportunity arrived.
In March of 771, Flowing Wind Xishan, patriarch of the Flowing Wind Clan, led an army of 130,000 men in a surprise attack on Imperial Capital City, and was about to lay siege to the city.
The Chief Executive's Residence of the Zichuan Clan immediately convened a council meeting.
Yang Minghua, the clan's Minister of State Affairs and Chief Commander; Zichuan Canxing, Deputy Chief Executive and Grand Elder of the Senate; Central Army Commander Lei Xun; Staff Commander Luo Minghai; Imperial Guard Commander Pigu; and others attended the meeting.
Zichuan Yuanxing, the clan's Chief Executive seated at the head of the table, was furious.
"What the hell has the Border Defense Army been doing? How did they let the 130,000-strong Flowing Wind Army reach Imperial Capital City so smoothly?"
The last time enemies had come knocking at Imperial Capital City's gates was centuries ago, when the Imperial Capital was still Jiashan Fortress.
Back then, it had been the Demon army. This time, it was the Flowing Wind Clan's army.
"Where is Yun Shanhe? What the hell has the Border Defense Army under his command been doing?"
Zichuan Canxing lowered his head, an unreadable glint flickering in his eyes.
Yang Minghua, the Chief Commander in charge of military intelligence from across the land, clasped his hands together and reported to Zichuan Yuanxing.
"Chief Executive, there has been no word from Commander Yun for seven days. I suspect something may have happened to him, throwing the Border Defense Army into chaos and giving Flowing Wind Xishan the chance to launch a surprise assault on the Imperial Capital!"
The Command Office had a rule: every commander had to write to the Imperial Capital and report the situation once every seven days.
Seven days had passed without any news from Yun Shanhe. He had likely met with misfortune.
"Chief Executive, isn't the Flowing Wind Army's reckless advance also an opportunity for us? We can seize the initiative and wipe them out beyond Imperial Capital City!"
"The Imperial Capital has fifty thousand Imperial Guards and one hundred thousand Central Army troops, all the clan's finest warriors. We may not be without a chance to fight!"
Yang Minghua rose to his feet and offered his advice to Zichuan Yuanxing.
"I believe the Chief Commander is right. Chief Executive, although the Flowing Wind Army has 130,000 men, they have rushed over a great distance and must be exhausted."
"Furthermore, they have advanced deep alone, so their logistical supplies must be insufficient."
"Our army is rested and waiting for them. We have every hope of annihilating this isolated force."
"As long as we destroy this Flowing Wind Army and capture Flowing Wind Xishan alive, the clan can use the opportunity to seize control of the Flowing Wind Clan's territory."
"Then our Zichuan Clan may be able to restore the Luminous Empire's territories, reunify humanity, and establish a new empire!"
At that moment, Zichuan Canxing stepped forward and vigorously endorsed Chief Commander Yang Minghua's plan to take the offensive.
Hearing his younger brother's words, Zichuan Yuanxing's blood boiled.
That was right. As long as they destroyed this army, the Flowing Wind Clan would surely never recover.
Then, if they captured Flowing Wind Xishan alive, the Flowing Wind Clan would certainly surrender to the Zichuan Clan.
At that time, they could take control of the Flowing Wind Clan's vast territories in the western region.
Among humanity's remaining powers, only the Lin Clan would remain, huddled in the River Hill region behind the Golden Pansy Mountain Range.
Then the Zichuan Clan could use its overwhelming momentum to pressure the Lin Clan, and would have every hope of restoring the Luminous Empire's glorious unification of humanity!
Then he, Zichuan Yuanxing, would be the founder of the Zichuan Empire!
The more Zichuan Yuanxing considered it, the more feasible it seemed, until even his breathing quickened.
When Yang Minghua and Zichuan Canxing saw the Chief Executive's expression, they knew that he had been swayed.
The two exchanged a glance and revealed inscrutable smiles.
"Good! Pigu, Lei Xun!"
"Present!"
"Go gather the troops at once. We will set an ambush along the Flowing Wind Clan's route and strive to wipe out every invading enemy in one stroke!"
"Let the Flowing Wind Clan know that the Zichuan Clan's title as humanity's foremost power is no empty boast!"
"Yes, Chief Executive!"
After receiving their orders, the two commanders left the hall.
"Chief Commander, Canxing, where do you think would be the best place to set the ambush?"
Zichuan Yuanxing pulled the two men over to the map and asked.
Who would have thought that the two of them, as though reading each other's minds, pointed to the same location.
A dense forest a hundred li west of the Imperial Capital.
"Good! Then it's settled there!"
Seeing that the two shared the same idea, Zichuan Yuanxing felt some concern that it might be too far from the Imperial Capital.
But after considering it, he still agreed.
Zichuan Canxing stared absently at the map, already imagining how he would deploy the troops when the time came!
And behind him, where he could not see.
Zichuan Canxing and Yang Minghua's lips curled into satisfied smiles.
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