Hastening the March  

The Great Chu was sending one hundred thousand troops to attack the Great Ming Dynasty.

This news shocked the world.

Even ants could kill an elephant if there were enough of them. Besides, the disparity in strength between the four nations – Chu, Wei, Han, and Wu – and the Great Ming wasn't as vast as that between ants and an elephant.

Wei, Han, and Wu had already achieved victories in their initial attacks.

One Commander-in-Chief and one Supreme Commander of the Three Frontiers of the Great Ming had been killed, and even the Grand Coordinator, Hu Zongxian, had been wounded in battle, forcing him to retreat to a fortified city and await reinforcements from Crown Prince Wanli.

Now, with the Great Chu joining the war, many saw it as the straw that would break the camel's back.

The Investiture of the Gods?

It seemed it wasn't a symbol of the Great Ming's inevitable dominance, but a harbinger of doom.

The unrest within the allied nations quickly subsided.

The only one facing criticism was the Great Chu.

To be precise, it was the Great Chu's commander, Duke Jin Fan Li.

The common people, lacking access to information, were unaware of why the Great Chu had initially refrained from joining the war, only to suddenly send troops now.

After Fan Li's army departed Peng City, rumors began circulating from the imperial palace.

"I heard that our Emperor had advocated for the four nations to attack the Great Ming from the very beginning. Duke Jin was cowardly and afraid to fight against the Great Ming."

"When he saw that the Three Kingdoms had achieved victories in their initial attacks, that the Great Ming army wasn't as strong as he had imagined, he rushed to join the war, hoping to claim credit for the victory."

"Our Duke Jin is only at the Golden Core realm, and he's barely twenty years old. What's that old saying? A barking dog seldom bites. He schemes and plots but lacks the courage to face danger. He avoids hardship and risks his life for petty gains!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. He's just a young man, after all. Inexperienced and unreliable."

…

One hundred miles outside Peng City, Fan Li was unaware that Xiang Chong had wasted no time spreading rumors to damage his reputation.

Even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

Reputation, in times of chaos, was a form of strength. A single call to action could inspire a mass uprising.

But the Great Chu was not in a state of chaos. In fact, it was prosperous and stable, almost resembling a "golden age."

In such a society, a powerful figure's reputation, good or bad, was merely a topic for idle gossip among the common people.

As long as they had food, clothing, and money, they wouldn't dwell on the moral character of their rulers.

Therefore, Xiang Chong's attempts to discredit Fan Li had little impact. After all, Fan Li's reputation as a "traitor" was already well-established.

"Report!"

A scout galloped up to Fan Li, dismounting and kneeling.

"Military intelligence from the border. Crown Prince Wanli has led an army of four hundred thousand to reinforce Hu Zongxian's remnants in Yunzhou City. Currently, the total strength of the Great Ming forces in Yunzhou City is four hundred and fifty thousand."

Fan Li frowned in thought.

The Great Ming Dynasty truly possessed an unparalleled military force. Emperor Jiajing hadn't even bothered to personally lead the army. Just Crown Prince Wanli alone had managed to assemble four hundred thousand troops!

Although the allied forces of Wei, Han, and Wu were stationed outside Yunzhou City, after their initial battles, their remaining forces likely numbered less than three hundred thousand.

Crown Prince Wanli had the advantage in numbers, and he was defending a fortified city.

He was likely to win this battle.

"My Lord!"

A deputy commander of the city guard, hearing the military report, said anxiously, "The situation has reversed. The allied forces are in danger. Should we increase our marching speed and reach Yunzhou City as soon as possible?"

All the troops in the Great Chu were under Fan Li's control. The two hundred thousand city guards, in particular, were absolutely loyal to him.

Fan Li had brought half of the city guards with him on this campaign.

The other half remained with Fan Chun, ensuring stability within the Great Chu and preventing Xiang Chong from causing trouble.

"Increase our marching speed?" Fan Li pondered.

Currently, although the Great Ming forces in Yunzhou City had suffered a recent defeat, they had a significant numerical advantage.

If he arrived with his troops, the total strength of the allied forces would increase to four hundred thousand.

Considering that fifty thousand of the four hundred and fifty thousand Great Ming troops were Hu Zongxian's defeated remnants, the two sides were essentially evenly matched.

"The combined forces of the Four Kingdoms are advantageous for us, but disadvantageous for Crown Prince Wanli. If I were him, I would definitely try to prevent us from joining forces with the allied armies."

Underestimate the enemy strategically.

Overestimate the enemy tactically.

Fan Li had every reason to believe that although Crown Prince Wanli was arrogant and proud, he wouldn't want the Four Kingdoms' armies to assemble outside Yunzhou City without resistance.

There was likely an ambush awaiting them on the road to Yunzhou City.

As Fan Li was pondering these possibilities, he heard a grating voice, reeking of malice, coming from behind them.

"An imperial edict from His Majesty. Duke Jin, receive the decree!"

It was Eunuch Chen.

He floated down from the sky, a malicious grin on his face.

"What is it?" Fan Li asked calmly.

"Uh…"

Eunuch Chen's eyelid twitched. He wanted to remind Fan Li, "I'm here to deliver an imperial edict. Shouldn't you kneel?"

Perhaps because he was in a good mood, it took him a moment to remember that the Fan Clan never knelt to receive imperial edicts.

Especially Fan Li. Even the Emperor wouldn't dare to expect him to kneel, let alone Eunuch Chen.

"Get on with it," Fan Li said coldly, glaring at the old eunuch. "If you delay our march any further, I'll use your head as a sacrifice to the war banner."

He was serious. Although Eunuch Chen posed no threat to him, it would still be beneficial to eliminate one of Xiang Chong's close associates.

Since they were in the midst of a military campaign, military law was absolute. It was a good time to sharpen his blade.

Eunuch Chen was startled. He felt a chill run down his spine, instinctively taking a few steps back.

"Ahem… Duke Jin, calm yourself. I'm merely relaying a message from His Majesty. I'll be on my way soon. I won't delay your march."

Fan Li nodded. "Speak. I'm listening."

The old eunuch swallowed hard.

"His Majesty decrees: Duke Jin, you have shown great loyalty by volunteering to lead the army against the Great Ming. I am deeply moved. However, I fear that your march will be slow, delaying the battle and missing opportunities for victory. For the sake of your reputation, I hereby decree that the army must reach Yunzhou City within two days. If the army is delayed and fails to arrive on time, even if the campaign against the Great Ming is successful, the one hundred thousand soldiers will receive no rewards!"

Fan Li's face darkened.

This was Xiang Chong's decree?

Simply to urge him to hasten his march to Yunzhou City?

Even resorting to threatening the soldiers' rewards?

Strange.

Incredibly strange.

Fan Li didn't believe Xiang Chong would be so kind as to protect his reputation.

What was his true motive?

"Eunuch Chen…"

"Your servant is here," the old eunuch replied, unable to conceal his smug expression.

Clearly, he was privy to the details.

"I've heard His Majesty's decree. Do you have anything else to say?" Fan Li said coldly.

Beside him, several deputy commanders, understanding his meaning, stepped forward, their hands resting on their sword hilts.

Eunuch Chen was startled. He thought to himself, 'Fan Li is walking into a death trap. I won't be buried with him!'

"I have delivered the decree. I shall return to the palace and report to His Majesty. Farewell!"

He shot up into the air like a firework, preventing the soldiers from surrounding him.

"That was close!"

Eunuch Chen wiped the sweat from his brow, fleeing towards Peng City.

Fan Li didn't bother to pursue him, allowing him to escape.

When the old eunuch was out of sight, he said slowly, "What's going on? Is Xiang Chong conspiring with Crown Prince Wanli to trap me?"