In late autumn of the year 1515 of the Sea Circle Calendar, the sky over the West Blue was vast and clear, yet carried the oppressive weight of an approaching storm. At the heart of Peach Blossom Spring, Longwei City-now elevated to Huaxia City-resembled a lion feigning sleep with its claws and fangs sharpened, calm on the surface while searing magma surged within. Victory at Hurricane Gorge and Gan Ning's allegiance had brought not complacency, but a more restrained, more dangerous focus. Everyone understood that a final showdown with the old powers of the Flower Country was now inevitable. This time, however, the blade would remain sheathed until the moment it was drawn to spill blood.
In the secluded chamber deep within the Strategist's Residence, the doors and windows were shut tight. Only the flames of a bronze tree-shaped lamp cast flickering light and shadows. Chen Yu and Guo Jia sat across a Go board, while Liu Bei quietly watched from one side. The game had reached its middle stage, black and white stones entangled, deadly threats concealed within.
Holding a black stone, Chen Yu placed it at the center point with imposing force. His gaze was calm as he looked at Guo Jia. "Fengxiao, the Flower Capital, Yujing, has high walls and deep moats. A frontal assault would only waste troops, which is not what I want. In your view, how should we secure victory at the least cost?"
Guo Jia picked up a white stone between his fingertips without placing it immediately. A faint, profound smile appeared on his pale face. "Your judgment is sound, my lord. Though Yujing is strong, it stands isolated. The Two Treasures and Happo Navies remain noncommittal, and the people within its borders are unsettled. A frontal attack now would play right into their hands, forcing them to fight like cornered beasts. I have a plan: 'Repair the plank road openly, but cross secretly through Chencang.'"
He gently set the white stone in a seemingly insignificant corner, where it nonetheless threatened a long chain of black stones. "In the open, Generals Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong will mass troops at the border with great fanfare, feigning a frontal assault to draw the bulk of the defenders. In secret..." His voice lowered, and his fingertip moved to the central area of the board representing Yujing. "We will select peerless elite warriors and follow the precedent of Hurricane Gorge. But this time, we will travel not by sea, but by sky! Strike straight at the heart with thunderous force. Capture the king to defeat his forces!"
A sharp light flashed in Chen Yu's eyes. "By sky? Guan Yu and Zhao Yun?"
"Indeed, my lord!" Guo Jia nodded. "Brother Guan Yu's power of Rayquaza allows him to ride the wind and survey from above; Brother Zhao Yun's power of Reshiram provides turbine propulsion, carrying him to his destination in an instant. Together, supported by an elite squad, they can descend from the clouds under cover of night and strike directly at the palace and the First Treasures Navy's main camp! This will be a true surprise force, one the Flower Capital's defenders could never anticipate!"
At this, Liu Bei stroked his beard in thought. "Though risky, if this plan succeeds, it could indeed minimize casualties and settle the situation swiftly. However, the choice of those carrying it out is crucial, and secrecy is especially important."
Chen Yu considered for a moment, tapping the board lightly with his fingers. The dull knocks sounded as though they struck the door of fate. "Good! We will follow this plan. It is classified as top secret. Beyond the three of us and those executing it, nothing may be disclosed. Fengxiao, I leave the detailed planning to you. Liu Bei, you will handle the army's overt movements and logistical support. Make certain it is convincing."
"Your servant obeys!" "I, Guo Jia, obey!" Liu Bei and Guo Jia solemnly accepted their orders. The strategy had been settled in the secluded chamber, and deadly intent already lay concealed.
In the forbidden grounds of the mountains behind Huaxia City lay a deep valley seldom visited by anyone.
Guan Yu hovered alone three feet above a clearing, supported by the currents swirling around him. His eyes were half-closed, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade planted blade-first in the ground. He seemed to have become one with the wind flowing through the valley.
Rayquaza's instinctive control over the atmosphere had been pushed to its limit. He needed precise control over the speed and direction of the air currents to adapt to the complex nighttime weather and ensure the assault remained concealed. Occasionally, his eyes would snap open, and fine wind-blade cuts would appear on a rock several yards ahead-the manifestation of airflow condensed to its utmost.
Dozens of miles away, along a secluded stretch of coastline, Zhao Yun conducted extreme flight training in the darkness before dawn, skimming at extremely low altitude, changing direction, and stopping abruptly. Reshiram's Turboblaze was suppressed as much as possible, producing only a faint hum. He focused on instantaneous acceleration and precise landings amid complex terrain, while extending his Observation Haki to its limit to detect every possible trap and sentry post in the darkness. His task demanded a combination of speed, precision, and concealment.
At another training ground near the coast, Zhang Fei and Gan Ning sparred with tremendous force. Zhang Fei roared repeatedly, shaking the ground with his fists as he simulated storming the walls; Gan Ning darted like a fish between the waves and sandy ground, his twin halberds striking at tricky angles. Their training was public, intended to show the outside world that Peach Blossom Spring was preparing for a large-scale frontal siege. It provided perfect cover for Guan Yu and Zhao Yun's secret training.
Meanwhile, at a concealed shooting range, Huang Zhong practiced precise, extremely long-range sniping in dim light, along with rapidly switching between moving targets. Sometimes he coated his arrows in Armament Haki to increase their penetrating power; at other times, he pursued absolute silence for eliminating key sentry posts. Every exercise was directed toward that highly classified mission.
While the generals honed their martial skills, Chen Yu appeared more often in newly submitted towns and border villages. He did not always travel with Liu Bei, frequently going among the people alone or with only a few attendants.
In a border village that had just experienced a small clash, Chen Yu personally inspected the wounded and ordered medicinal supplies dispatched from Huaxia City.
Facing the frightened villagers, he stood atop the stone mill at the village entrance. His voice was calm, yet carried the power to reassure. "My fellow villagers, the Flower Country's court once imposed crushing levies and taxes, leaving the people destitute. I, Chen Yu, swear that under my rule, labor duties and taxes will be light, those who till will have land, and those who dwell will have homes! Today's suffering is for tomorrow's peace! I hope you will stand with me and rebuild our home together!"
He offered no empty slogans, instead addressing specific difficulties: overseeing the distribution of seed grain, punishing former officials who oppressed the people, and personally hearing backlogged disputes. The inclusive, creative aura of the Arceus Template lent his words an indescribable sincerity and persuasive force. After seeing this young leader personally attend to matters, many people who had initially harbored fear gradually exchanged bewildered looks for hopeful ones.
This effort to win the people's hearts, carried out directly by the supreme leader, proved far more effective than anything a subordinate could do in his place. It rapidly consolidated rule over the newly occupied areas and reduced potential resistance to future operations.
Beneath this seemingly tranquil veil, decisive undercurrents were surging.
Qi Ming of the Two Treasures Navy received a secret letter sent by Guo Jia in Chen Yu's name. It laid out the stakes and promised that "if you remain neutral, your position will remain unchanged after the war, and you may participate in building the West Blue's new order." After weighing it repeatedly, Qi Ming ultimately tacitly permitted the Peach Blossom Spring fleet's "exercises" near his defense zone.
At Chinjao's quarters in the Happo Navy, Sai and Abu brought more definite news: Peach Blossom Spring's main force had assembled at the border, and a great battle could erupt at any moment. They also relayed Chen Yu's message: "Senior Chinjao is an old acquaintance. Peach Blossom Spring has no intention of making an enemy of the Happo Navy, but we hope your forces will not make a disastrous choice." The drunken Chinjao waved a hand, tacitly accepting the strategy of holding his troops in place.
Once all preparations were complete, Guo Jia compiled the final intelligence and presented it to Chen Yu. The positions of the Two Treasures and Happo Navies were now clear, and undercover agents had uncovered the details of the Flower Capital Yujing's defenses.
Inside Dragon Might Hall, candles blazed brightly. Chen Yu, Liu Bei, Guo Jia, Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, and Huang Zhong gathered together, the atmosphere as heavy as iron.
Chen Yu's gaze swept over them before settling on Guan Yu and Zhao Yun. His voice was low and decisive. "Guan Yu, Zhao Yun."
"At your command!" Both stepped forward. Their auras remained restrained, yet the entire hall grew solemn.
"The time has come," Chen Yu said gravely. "According to Fengxiao's plan, tomorrow at midnight, you will become our 'divine soldiers descending from the heavens'! Your targets are Yujing's royal palace and the First Treasures Navy's main camp! I want the Flower Country's heart to stop beating before dawn tomorrow! For now, I need the two of you to use your abilities to transport the army near Yujing City and conceal it there."
"We will not fail you!" Guan Yu and Zhao Yun dropped to one knee, their voices ringing like metal and stone, their eyes burning with the conviction and resolve to face death.
Chen Yu then turned to Zhang Fei, Gan Ning, and Huang Zhong. "Zhang Fei, Xingba, Huang Zhong! At dawn tomorrow, launch the fiercest possible feint against Yujing's outskirts as planned! Make it convincing and draw all their attention!"
"We obey!"
"Liu Bei will coordinate the rear. Fengxiao will remain with the central army and oversee the entire operation!"
"Your servant obeys!" "I, Guo Jia, obey!"
There were no grand declarations, only the briefest of orders and wills of steel. In the cold wind of that autumn night, a surprise attack that would shake the entire West Blue raised the curtain on death. The true storm was finally coming.
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