Preparing to Raise an Army

On the fourteenth day, Ji Chang sent Jiang Shang to find you. He planned to have you join Jiang Shang in commanding a force that would serve as the main strength against cultivators such as Wen Zhong and Shen Gongbao.

After giving it some thought, you did not refuse.

Once you agreed, Jiang Shang immediately pulled you out of the Marquis of Xi's Mansion.

You still had no idea where Jiang Shang intended to take you. When you asked him along the way, he merely said he was taking you to meet some people.

Before long, Jiang Shang brought you to a military camp. You could sense traces of spiritual energy throughout the camp, and quickly realized this was that force.

Jiang Shang led you into the main command tent, where three people had already been waiting for quite some time.

Jiang Shang introduced them one by one. They were Lei Zhenzi, Nezha, and Yang Jian.

You sensed formidable auras from all three of them, with Yang Jian's being the strongest.

None of the three had been in Xi Qi recently. Lei Zhenzi had been training abroad, while Nezha and Yang Jian had been cultivating under their respective masters. They had hurried back only after receiving Ji Chang's summons.

This force would be commanded by you and Jiang Shang, with the three of them serving under you. All three were disciples of the Chan School, just like Jiang Shang, though they belonged to a generation younger than his.

Other than Nezha, the three all addressed you as Martial Uncle. Your expression turned somewhat strange, since they were far older than you. Being called Martial Uncle by people older than yourself still felt rather odd.

Though if seniority were truly considered, Jiang Shang should have been calling you Martial Uncle, while the three of them should have called you Martial Granduncle.

You knew a little about the Chan School. By seniority, you were of the same generation as its first-generation disciples, while Jiang Shang belonged to the second generation. There was no other reason for it—you had grown up under the guidance of the Three Sages of Humanity, and they could be considered your masters.

Jiang Shang waved a hand beside you, calling the three over to discuss matters in detail.

You glanced at Nezha a few more times. You sensed an aura from him that did not quite match that of a human.

But you did not raise the matter at this time.

Under the current circumstances, Xi Qi's overall strength was still somewhat inferior to that of the Yin Dynasty. Its troop numbers were insufficient, and its grain reserves only barely matched those of the Yin Dynasty—and that was only because the Yin Dynasty had forcibly conscripted laborers.

Thus, only a blitzkrieg suited Xi Qi's current situation. If the war dragged on, the Yin Dynasty would ultimately be the one to benefit.

Fortunately, this force of yours was made up of elite soldiers selected from a hundred candidates. Though it numbered only just under nine thousand men, it was not something ordinary troops could stop.

You began formulating the battle plan for this force. As it was both an elite force and a vanguard, it would be the first to set out tomorrow and catch the enemy off guard.

Lei Zhenzi took out a map and pointed out that if they wished to reach Chaoge, they would inevitably have to pass through this place. It was also the first line of defense Xi Qi would face in marching on Chaoge.

Sishui Pass!

Sishui Pass, Jiepai Pass, Chuan Yun Pass, Tong Pass, Lin Tong Pass, Qinglong Pass, and the rest—these six passes were all built in strategically perilous locations. They could attack or defend, advance or retreat with ease, making them extremely difficult to breach.

When you pointed out these six passes, Jiang Shang merely smiled and crossed out Sishui Pass and Qinglong Pass on the map.

You looked at Jiang Shang in confusion.

Jiang Shang explained that over the past few days, he and the others had persuaded most of the defenders at those two passes to return home. If nothing unexpected happened, Jiepai Pass would be much the same.

You were surprised, but thinking of the eloquence of Xi Qi's ministers, you understood. What else could be said of people who could persuade so many within the Yin Dynasty to submit to Zhou? They might have achieved little as generals, but as civil officials, they were truly admirable.

Next, all you needed to do was capture Chuan Yun Pass, Tong Pass, and Lin Tong Pass. Then the first step of rebellion... no, of following the great trend of the world, would be complete.

You specifically devised a battle plan, ultimately deciding to strike tonight and seize Chuan Yun Pass and Tong Pass with lightning speed.

By the time Lin Tong Pass reacted, it would already be isolated and without support. Then, all you had to do was lay siege tomorrow and put on a show, and Lin Tong Pass might be forced to... no, follow the great trend of the world and surrender to Xi Qi.

As you continued studying the map, your brow furrowed when your gaze fell upon Meng Jin and Jiameng Pass. Jiang Shang noticed your concern, glanced at the map, and immediately understood what troubled you.

Meng Jin and Jiameng Pass both lay beside Binzhou, the territory of Chong Houhu, the Marquis of the North. That was why you were worried.

Among the Four Marquis, Chong Houhu was still the only one who remained loyal to Di Xin. He was the sole Marquis of the North who retained his loyalty to Di Xin.

Once the Yin Dynasty reacted, Chong Houhu would certainly be the first to send reinforcements. If Lin Tong Pass had not yet fallen by then, things would become troublesome.

Jiang Shang explained that after you captured Chuan Yun Pass, Tong Pass, and Lin Tong Pass, you would no longer need to serve as the vanguard.

After that, your task would be to intercept reinforcements from all regions and prevent them from interfering with the Xi Qi main force's operations.

Battles would also break out elsewhere in response to Xi Qi's opening attack. By then, the Yin Dynasty would surely be run ragged, and the dispersal of its forces would greatly reduce the pressure on Xi Qi's side.

(I looked up some information. During the Yin Shang era, shortly after Di Xin took the throne, Yin Shang dispatched over a hundred thousand troops on an eastern campaign and drove back the Dongyi. At the time, he was quite wise. It was only later that Di Xin became arrogant from his achievements, undertook massive construction projects, and had slaves build things like star-gazing platforms. That was why Xi Qi was able to exploit the opening and launch a full-on blitzkrieg. Moreover, the main Yin Shang army had gone east to campaign against the Dongyi, leaving Di Xin with no choice but to assemble an army of one hundred seventy thousand slaves to hastily confront the various lords led by Ji Chang at the Battle of Muye. And if not for the Battle of Muye, Yin Shang might still have had some hope of holding on, because Xi Qi had only around fifty thousand troops when it attacked Chaoge and relied on the many lords to capture it. But this simulation is not historical fact or the Investiture of the Gods, so I will make certain changes.)

Hearing this, you were finally relieved.

Jiang Shang added that the Yin Dynasty still had several hundred thousand soldiers in the east, dispatched on the eastern campaign. Coupled with Di Xin's large-scale construction projects, including the Star Gazing Platform and Lutai, the treasury had been drained dry.

Even though the Yin Dynasty currently possessed several times Xi Qi's military strength, once the various lords responded, the Yin Dynasty would certainly be overwhelmed.

Barring any surprises, the Yin Dynasty would undoubtedly be destroyed under your assault!

But Daji was a scourge.

If she was not eliminated, she would surely become a great threat to Zhou in the future.