Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Empty City Stratagem! Stratagem Within a Stratagem!

The silver armor is somewhat special, made of the same material as the Silver Moon Wrist Guards he obtained from Teng Sect, seemingly part of a set.

This Blood Evil Sect expert was able to withstand his palm strike and survive, thanks in no small part to this silver armor.

The last item is the letter.

Chu Ming’s expression changed instantly as he opened it.

The letter’s content pertains to the ambush of the grain convoy this time.

The Blood Evil Sect has set up a chain plan.

They aim to rob this batch of supplies, cut off Master Xiang Yue’s resources, and lure Master Xiang Yue into Nine Hordes Kingdom’s Yangjia City...

"Yangjia City... the empty fortress strategy!"

The Blood Evil Sect seems to have colluded with Kuirong Zhi of the Nine Hordes Kingdom, intending to trap the ten or so Tiger Armor Army led by Master in Yangjia City!

Furthermore, the Blood Evil Sect wants to take advantage of the battle between the two armies and abduct the young Horde Lord Kuirong Zhi!

The Nine Hordes Kingdom consists of nine hordes, and Kuirong Zhi is one of them. Their territory borders Xirong County.

The Yangjia City that Master Xiang Yue is attacking is the city belonging to Kuirong Zhi.

And the young Horde Lord of Kuirong Zhi is akin to the Prince of the Great Qin Dynasty, a prospective Crown Prince. His status is even higher than that of a Prince.

Chu Ming was anxious, left some healing medicine for Meng Zhen, and then rushed out of the valley, heading swiftly west.

Inside the valley.

"Commander Meng, that knight..."

Meeng Ting and two of his subordinate Commanders were surrounding Meng Zhen.

They wanted to know who this master capable of instant-killing a Meridian Unlocking Realm expert was.

Or, perhaps, what connection he had with the Tiger Armor Army?

Of the thirty thousand Tiger Armor Army, only Commander Xiang Yue and Fifth Tiger Camp Commander Qii Shuo were in the Meridian Unlocking Realm.

Qii Shuo had secretly broken through several years ago, but in terms of strength, he might not be able to defeat this Meridian Unlocking Realm expert of the Blood Evil Sect.

Yet the Meridian Unlocking expert of the Blood Evil Sect was slapped into the yellow sand by the mysterious knight.

What kind of power is this?

Late stage of Meridian Unlocking Realm?

Or has he mastered all Twelve Major Meridians?

"..."

Meng Zhen looked at the mouth of the valley, unsure how to respond.

He couldn’t possibly say...

Commander Meeng, the mysterious knight you mentioned, was just a Ninth-grade Civil Officer from Baiyuan County two months ago?

"Commander Meeng, I actually don’t know who he is either, but I know that within Xirong County, the destruction of the Black Wind Stronghold and Blood Vine Castle was all due to this knight."

"The Fortress Master of Blood Vine Castle, Teng Sect, who colluded with West Glory County’s Governor’s Office An Hengying also died at the hands of this knight."

"Perhaps, this knight has an irreconcilable vendetta against the Blood Evil Sect."

"Perhaps Commander Xiang knows this knight?"

"..."

...

Nine Hordes Kingdom, fifty miles east of Yangjia City.

Here, tent camps spread in rows, flags fluttering, and groups of armored soldiers patrolled and moved about.

In the center of the camp, a flag was blown by the wind, flapping loudly.

Both sides of the flag were painted with an exotic beast that is like a bull but not a bull, with a bull’s head but no horns, spewing thunderclouds from its mouth, with one hoof pressing on thunder.

Nine Hordes Kingdom, Kuirong Zhi!

Inside one of the large tents in the camp.

A middle-aged man in brown armor sat on a high seat, below him were two men dressed in robes.

They don’t wear armor while in the military camp, indicating the two are not Kuirong Zhi’s soldiers.

"Come, I toast you two with water instead of wine," said the man on the high seat, raising a golden bowl, drinking it all.

The two below raised their drinks in response.

"Chi Zhen and Chi Hong brothers, if we can truly annihilate Xirong County’s Tiger Armor Army this time, Rong Dang will certainly commend both of you!"

"Our two brothers have long disliked Xirong County’s Tiger Armor Army. Today, we only aim to kill Xiang Yue. As for commendations, Commander, that’s too heavy a term."

"That won’t do, Kuirong Zhi of the Nine Hordes Kingdom rewards and punishes fairly. You both offered this great plan. If Rong Dang does not commend you, how can I command respect in my position?"

"Ha ha, accepting out of respect."

"Come, drink!"

"Drink!"

They exchanged cups.

The two seated spoke again, "Commander, we heard that the young Horde Lord personally oversees the battle in the army?"

"Ha ha, Chi Zhen and Chi Hong brothers said they don’t care for commendations?" Rong Dang fixed his gaze on the two, "The young Horde Lord already knows your plan. As soon as the Tiger Armor Army enters Yangjia City, the young Horde Lord will surely have rewards."

"Thank you, Commander!"

"..."

"Report!" a voice came from outside the tent.

"Come in."

A horde soldier entered, bowed, and reported, "Reporting, Commander, Qin Kingdom’s Xirong County Tiger Armor Army has arrived ten miles outside Yangjia City."

"Good, understood." Rong Dang rejoiced.

"Congratulations, Commander!" Chi Zhen and Chi Hong clasped their hands in congratulations.

"Continue to monitor!"

"Yes."

"It’s getting late, you two..."

Chi Zhen and Chi Hong got up and clasped their hands, "Wishing Commander triumph."

Then, the two left the tent.

Rong Dang watched their backs as they left, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

After the two had completely left, a person emerged from the inner tent.

A young-looking man, wearing a robe with the Kui Ox pattern, a golden Kui Crown on his head.

"Young Horde Lord." Rong Dang quickly bowed.

"Rise."

"Commander Rong Dang, are those two trustworthy?" Kuirong Zhi’s young Horde Lord spoke softly.

"Reporting, Young Horde Lord, only halfway trustworthy."

"Explain."

"If my guess is correct, these two are trying to use Kuirong Zhi’s hand to annihilate Xirong County’s Tiger Armor Army."

"Hmm." The young Horde Lord nodded slightly.

"The Tiger Armor Army must be annihilated, and those two cannot be spared." Rong Dang continued, "Young Horde Lord, I have already arranged for Rong Xi to lead three hundred Thunder Armor to surround the two’s tent."

"The two have absolutely no chance of escaping."

"Using my Kuirong Zhi... Rong Dang Commander, what you’ve done is correct."

"..."

...

Kuirong Zhi, a camp.

"Third Brother, this Kuirong Zhi is indeed not easy to deceive."

Chi Hong looked at the bustling figures outside the tent, sneering slightly.

"Indeed, they’re not easy to deceive. You and I, for the sake of the plan, sacrificed our meridians. Otherwise, with the eyes of Rong Dang, he would have seen through us long ago."

Chi Zhen also had a faint smile, saying this while taking out two elixirs, giving one to Chi Hong, and they each took one.

"To get Kuirong Zhi and the Tiger Armor Army to mutually destroy each other, you and I have made considerable sacrifices."

"But it’s all worth it!" Chi Zhen’s eyes gleamed fiercely.

"The Tiger Armor Army will inevitably suffer losses this time, and Kuirong Zhi won’t fare much better. You and I can then capture that young Horde Lord..."

"Haha, then the domain of Kuirong Zhi of the Nine Hordes Kingdom and the entire Xirong County will be ours. Once the strategic positioning is formed, our Blood Evil Sect will no longer be just a sect, but..."

"Blood Evil Country!" Chi Hong’s expression was fervent.

"It’s too early to talk about founding a nation," Chi Zhen shook his head, "Without annihilating 300,000 Tiger Armor troops and 400,000 Kuirong troops, our mission won’t be complete."

"By the way, has news come from Fifth Brother? Timing it, he should have intercepted the Xirong County’s supplies by now, right?"

"Not yet, but he surely succeeded! Fifth Brother has unlocked three meridians; except for Xiang Yue, who in the Tiger Armor Army can stop him?"

"Once Fifth Brother intercepts the supplies, and Xiang Yue leads the Tiger Armor Army into Yangjia City devoid of supplies, Kuirong Zhi will seize the chance to besiege the city. Third Brother, let’s see how Xiang Yue breaks the game!"

"Hehe, I don’t know how Xiang Yue will break the game. You and I should quickly recover our meridians; when Rong Dang besieges the city, it’ll be time for us to act."

"..."

...

Nine Hordes Kingdom, ten miles east of Yangjia City.

Xiang Yue led tens of thousands of Tiger Armor troops forward majestically.

Sandstorm in the air, the mighty army pressed forward.

"Report!"

Suddenly, a group of scouts riding Blazing Fire Tiger Horses rushed to the army.

"Reporting to Commander, Yangjia City is ten miles ahead, the city gates are tightly closed, and the enemy has retreated inside."

Ten miles!

Xiang Yue, seated on the tall Blazing Fire Tiger Horse, focused his gaze and spoke in a deep voice: "Continue scouting!"

"Yes!" The scouts withdrew.

"Summon Huo Buyan and Jiang Zhan to come!"

"Yes."

Soon, Huo Buyan from the Third Tiger Camp and Jiang Zhan from the Eighth Tiger Camp rode Blazing Fire Tiger Horses and approached Xiang Yue.

"Go scout the situation in Yangjia City."

"Yes."

They accepted the orders.

"Order to slow down the marching speed." Xiang Yue continued to issue commands.

"Yes."

The dense Tiger Armor Army quickly slowed down.

Huo Buyan and Jiang Zhan returned to camp, and each selected a Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander in the Refining Organ Realm to proceed to Yangjia City for reconnaissance.

Approximately two hours later, the Two Ten Thousand Soldiers Commanders returned.

"Reporting Commander, Yangjia City has only about five thousand enemy troops inside." Huo Buyan reported the findings to Xiang Yue.

"Five thousand?" Xiang Yue frowned slightly.

Yangjia City, Kuirong Zhi’s largest city near the western border of the Great Qin Dynasty in Xirong County, though not as prosperous as the county city of Xirong County, was much larger than a regular county city.

Moreover, due to its geographical position, Yangjia City can be seen as Kuirong Zhi’s most important military city preventing the Great Qin Dynasty’s intrusions.

Even if Kuirong Zhi suffered a defeat in West Wind Valley, even if ten thousand enemy troops were destroyed by him, such a city should not have only five thousand defending soldiers.

"Master, if you ask me, Kuirong Zhi is indeed scared of our Tiger Armor Army. They don’t even dare to defend Yangjia City." Jiang Zhan chuckled beside him.

"Use military titles." Xiang Yue’s demeanor was stern, and his eyes flashed sharply.

Would Kuirong Zhi of the Nine Hordes Kingdom be afraid?

Xiang Yue didn’t think so.

Historically, Kuirong Zhi harbored intentions to invade the Great Qin Dynasty’s territory. Over the past hundred years, they frequently attacked Xirong County, made no accomplishments but never gave up.

Would such an enemy, due to the West Wind Valley incident, abandon such an important city as Yangjia City?

"Commander, within a day, I lead ten thousand Tiger Armor troops and surely capture Yangjia City." Jiang Zhan added.

Xiang Yue, however, looked at Huo Buyan: "Commander Huo, what do you think?"

Huo Buyan pondered for a moment and then said, "Commander, from what I know of Kuirong Zhi, they wouldn’t easily give up Yangjia City."

"Hmm," Xiang Yue nodded, looking at Jiang Zhan, "Call Guan Zhen and Fang Xiao over."

"... Understood." Jiang Zhan accepted the order.

Soon, Commander Guan Zhen of the Second Tiger Camp and Fang Xiao of the Seventh Tiger Camp arrived.

Xiang Yue informed them about Yangjia City having only five thousand troops and sought their opinions.

"Commander, Yangjia City is a trap." Guan Zhen’s expression was grave.

"Commander, intend to use the empty city stratagem." Fang Xiao said somberly.

Jiang Zhan, listening beside them, inadvertently revealed a hint of embarrassment.

Among the four Tiger Armor Camp commanders, three suspected Yangjia City to have issues, except him, who hadn’t thought deeply.

Jiang Zhan excelled in martial skills, but in military strategy...

"Empty city stratagem..." Xiang Yue appeared thoughtful.

After a long while, his furrowed brows slowly relaxed, as if he had conceived a counter-strategy.

"Huo Buyan, Fang Xiao."

"Here."

"Both of you follow me leading fifty thousand Tiger Armor troops into the city, command each soldier to raise two to three flags, let the sand splash, the more dust the better."

"Understood."

Huo Buyan and Fang Xiao instantly understood the intent behind this maneuver.

The commander intended to deceive the enemy, making Kuirong Zhi of the Nine Hordes Kingdom believe that all tens of thousands of Tiger Armor troops had entered the city.

"Guan Zhen, Jiang Zhan."

"Here."

"You two lead the remaining Tiger Armor troops ten miles back, and once Kuirong Zhi’s enemy emerges, surround and kill by riding!"

"Understood."

Xiang Yue intended to use strategy to counter the stratagem, deploying forces inside and outside the city. As soon as Kuirong Zhi’s troops appear, the Tiger Armor Army will form a counter-encirclement!