Chapter 728: Zhong Shan’s Strategy Against Xiao Wang

"Yes, it's Wei Taizhong's," Jian Hong confirmed.

Looking at the Nine Dragon Token in his hand, Zhong Shan frowned slightly. In the mortal realm, Jian Hong had never met Wei Taizhong, but Wei Taizhong knew of Jian Hong because of Zhong Shan.

"How did you two meet?" Zhong Shan asked with a frown.

"After I died, I entered the Underworld, and my spirit appeared near the northern Sunflower Mountains. At first, I was very weak, so I cultivated there. Not long ago, Wei Taizhong passed by and got into a battle with a myriad of ghost cultivators, which caught my attention. He saw me and immediately called out my name, and that's how we met," Jian Hong explained.

"Oh?"

"But the Sunflower Mountains are also home to an old demon named Sunflower Demon, who forcibly took Wei Taizhong as his disciple."

"Oh?" Zhong Shan grew even more intrigued.

"One day, Wei Taizhong came to find me. He said you had descended from the mortal realm, but he had to go to the Great Thousand World with the Sunflower Demon and wanted me to bring you a message," Jian Hong continued.

"To the Great Thousand World? The Sunflower Demon has the ability to traverse between realms?" Zhong Shan's eyebrows furrowed deeply.

"I don't know," Jian Hong shook her head.

"What message did he want you to bring?" Zhong Shan asked solemnly.

"He said, 'Your Majesty, my master holds old Wei in high regard. I've learned the origin of that Asura from my master, and I have requested to accompany my master to the Great Thousand World to find Yinglan. In this realm, I cannot assist Your Majesty. When you reach the Great Thousand World, I will bring Yinglan to continue serving you!'" Jian Hong relayed.

Hearing Wei Taizhong's message, Zhong Shan took a deep breath and fell into a moment of silence. Jian Hong waited patiently.

After a while, Zhong Shan looked at Jian Hong and said, "I have met Xiao Wang. He has become a prominent figure in the Underworld. Do you not want to see him now?"

Jian Hong's expression grew complicated at the mention of Xiao Wang, showing a mix of deep love and inner conflict.

Shaking her head, Jian Hong said, "I haven't thought it through yet. I don't want to see him now."

"Oh?" Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to it.

"I still can't come to terms with it. I don't know how to face him. Wei Taizhong once advised me, but I still can't let go," Jian Hong shook her head.

"Do you have a place to go for now?" Zhong Shan asked seriously.

"No, I just wander wherever I can," Jian Hong replied.

"If you have nowhere to go, why not stay here for now? We can talk about things from the mortal realm," Zhong Shan suggested.

After a moment of contemplation, Jian Hong nodded, "Alright."

"Someone, come!" Zhong Shan called out.

"Your Majesty!" Two attendants entered the study.

"Take Jian Hong to reside in Xiaoxiang Garden. While she is here, she will be the master of Xiaoxiang Garden," Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes!" the two attendants responded promptly.

"Thank you, benefactor!" Jian Hong said, not pretending to be modest, and nodded to Zhong Shan in gratitude.

After Jian Hong left, Zhong Shan stood at the doorway, his brows furrowed deeply.

"Taizhong, if you could persuade the Sunflower Demon to take you to the Great Thousand World, why couldn't you persuade him to come see me? Are you afraid to see me, or did you deliberately send Jian Hong to me? Jian Hong?" Zhong Shan shook his head, a hint of sigh in his tone.

Four years later, in the southern Underworld, out of the original thirty imperial dynasties, only twenty remained. The Great Zhen, Tianmai, and Five Colors Imperial Dynasties had all gone from emerging powers to dominant forces.

The military might of Great Zhen, the Tianmai, and the Five Colors Imperial Dynasties was formidable and unyielding. The Five Colors Imperial Dynasty had won six out of ten battles, the Tianmai Imperial Dynasty had won eight out of ten, and Great Zhen had an impeccable record of undefeated victories.

In four years of war, Great Zhen had conquered three imperial dynasties, while the Five Colors and Tianmai each conquered two. The battles continued, and the dominance of the three major imperial dynasties was unquestionable. If the other imperial dynasties couldn't unite against them, they would eventually be conquered.

In the fourth year, the territories of Great Zhen and the Tianmai Imperial Dynasty began to meet for the first time. Under the command of Mr. Shui Jing, Great Zhen's forces occupied a city called Feather Fan City, while the nearest city, Dragon Slayer City, was taken by Xiao Wang.

Both cities were fortresses. The two commanders stood opposed, watching each other from a distance.

In Dragon Slayer City, on the south city wall, Xiao Wang and Tian Xiaozi stood, gazing into the distance.

"Master, the city across the mountain ranges is Feather Fan City, commanded by Mr. Shui Jing," Xiao Wang said with a frown.

"Mr. Shui Jing?"

"Yes, Mr. Shui Jing. Over the past four years, it should be clear to you, Master, that Mr. Shui Jing's abilities are extraordinary. His strategies are divine, and with a mere wave of his feather fan, he can make strong enemies vanish like smoke. He is truly a master of warfare!" Xiao Wang said with a frown of admiration.

"You are not weak yourself," Tian Xiaozi praised.

"But besides me, no one here can rival Mr. Shui Jing. Even my two adopted sons are not his match. If I leave this place, Dragon Slayer City will fall to Mr. Shui Jing within six months," Xiao Wang said worriedly.

"Is he really that formidable?" Tian Xiaozi raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, he is that formidable. I can't leave this place. If this city falls, the Great Zhen army will strike deep into our rear, putting our entire army at risk," Xiao Wang said anxiously.

"Mm," Tian Xiaozi pondered.

"I'm here to guard against Mr. Shui Jing, but the battle reports from the frontlines take too long to reach me and for me to respond. It's too delayed," Xiao Wang said with concern.

"Mr. Shui Jing?" Tian Xiaozi's eyes turned cold.

"But that's not the main issue. The main issue is that Great Zhen has deployed another marshal, Zhao Suoxiang," Xiao Wang said, frowning.

"Zhao Suoxiang?"

"The four marshals of Great Zhen each have their unique strengths. Mr. Shui Jing's wisdom is unparalleled, and his strategies are invincible. Zhao Suoxiang, on the other hand, is the soul of the army. As long as he is on the battlefield, his passionate spirit infects his troops, making them invincible in the vanguard," Xiao Wang explained.

"Great Zhen is determined to take Dragon Slayer City?" Tian Xiaozi frowned.

"Yes, but rest assured, Master. As long as I am stationed at Dragon Slayer City, they will never capture it," Xiao Wang assured.

"Mm, but why would they send Zhao Suoxiang?" Tian Xiaozi frowned slightly.

In Changjing, the capital of Great Zhen.

"Your Majesty, why send Zhao Suoxiang?" Yi Yan asked with a frown.

"Why not send Zhao Suoxiang?" Zhong Shan asked with a smile.

"Xiao Wang is a military genius, comparable to Mr. Shui Jing. They are likely to engage in a prolonged strategic battle. While General Zhao can assist Mr. Shui Jing, the terrain limits his effectiveness. It will only cause Xiao Wang to remain in his stronghold, leading to a stalemate. This will not yield significant results and will deprive us of a key force for conquering other cities," Yi Yan said with a frown.

Zhong Shan smiled, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Yi Yan, you are correct in your assessment of the terrain and the strategic standoff. However, there is more to this than meets the eye. Our true advantage lies not in the immediate victories but in the psychological warfare and the long-term disruption of our enemy's plans. Zhao Suoxiang's presence will instill fear and force Xiao Wang into a defensive posture, ultimately creating opportunities for us to exploit."

Yi Yan's eyes widened in realization. "I see, Your Majesty. By keeping Xiao Wang occupied and on the defensive, we can maneuver more freely and set the stage for a decisive strike."

"Exactly," Zhong Shan said, nodding. "This is not just about the present battles but about shaping the future landscape of our conflict. We must think several steps ahead to ensure our ultimate victory."

Understanding the wisdom in Zhong Shan's strategy, Yi Yan bowed deeply. "Your Majesty's insight is unparalleled. I will ensure that our forces are ready to capitalize on this opportunity."

Zhong Shan's smile widened. "Good. Now, let us continue to plan our next moves and solidify our position in the Underworld. Victory will be ours."

"Xiao Wang staying behind closed doors? That's exactly what I want. One less main force? Lin Xiao and Shui Wuhen's armies are more than enough. Slower conquests are acceptable as long as Dragon Slayer City is dealt with properly!" Zhong Shan asserted confidently.

Yi Yan's expression changed, and he suddenly asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, do you intend to recruit Xiao Wang?"

"Hahaha, you know me well!" Zhong Shan laughed.

"But Xiao Wang is a member of the Tian family. Would he agree?" Yi Yan frowned.

"Xiao Wang's talent surpasses that of Tian Xiaozi. Tian Xiaozi prides himself on being smart, but his intelligence is not enough to suppress Xiao Wang. From the Yan Hong Dynasty in the mortal realm, it's clear that Xiao Wang's ambitions are grand, and he won't submit to anyone easily. Unfortunately, his luck has always been poor," Zhong Shan evaluated.

After some thought, Yi Yan asked, "Does Your Majesty intend to completely defeat him first, so that he subconsciously sees himself as inferior to Your Majesty, and then seize the opportunity to recruit him with grace?"

Zhong Shan smiled at Yi Yan. "Nothing escapes your notice!"

"Your Majesty overpraises me. But stationing Shui Jing and Zhao Suoxiang at Feather Fan City is not a short-term endeavor. Is it worth spending such a long time on this?" Yi Yan asked.

"Xiao Wang alone is worth more than twenty imperial dynasties. Do you think it's worth it?" Zhong Shan said firmly.

Only Zhong Shan truly understood Xiao Wang's capabilities. Moreover, the political benefits of recruiting Xiao Wang far outweighed the investment. How could Zhong Shan miss such an opportunity?

"Your Majesty is wise!"—

The standoff between Dragon Slayer City and Feather Fan City lasted a full ten years—ten long years!

Mr. Shui Jing never left Feather Fan City, and Xiao Wang had no choice but to remain in Dragon Slayer City. The two armies were at a stalemate.

In Dragon Slayer City, within the City Lord's Mansion.

"Father, in these ten years, our army has only taken two cities. Your presence here means many of our military orders cannot be swiftly executed!" Xiao Yuanfeng, Xiao Wang's adopted son from the mortal realm, said with a frown.

Xiao Wang frowned deeply.

"Father, is Feather Fan City truly that difficult to capture? I am willing to lead an expedition to take Feather Fan City!" Xiao Yuanfeng exclaimed.

"No. In direct combat, you are no match for Zhao Suoxiang. Even I am not his equal. Attacking would only lead to our defeat. We wouldn't take Feather Fan City and would lose Dragon Slayer City as well," Xiao Wang shook his head.

"But Father, ten years! You've been guarding this city for ten years. Think of what we could have accomplished in that time. Spending ten years here is truly a waste, Father!" Xiao Yuanfeng said anxiously.

"This city cannot fall. Ten years, twenty years, I will hold this place!" Xiao Wang said firmly.

"Shui Jing keeps sending people to provoke us. Their words get more insulting each time. If it were me, I would have lost patience long ago," Xiao Yuanfeng said anxiously.

"That's precisely why you are not the commander of the three armies!" Xiao Wang shook his head.

"But the officials in the capital mock us every day. They call us incompetent, saying we're like turtles hiding in our shells, afraid to fight for ten years!" Xiao Yuanfeng said angrily.

Anger flashed in Xiao Wang's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. "Let them laugh. Those vermin are not worth our concern!"

"Yes!" Xiao Yuanfeng could only endure silently.

"Reporting to the commander, an envoy from Feather Fan City seeks an audience!" a guard reported.

"Oh? An envoy from Shui Jing?" Xiao Yuanfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Let them in!" Xiao Wang commanded.