Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

When Zhang Feifan, Feng Bao, and He Chaolin led three special operations regiments to Chongyang County.

Aoki Kurao saw that the three men were not leading many people; a reinforced regiment only had about 3,500 men.

The three regiments together numbered just over ten thousand men.

therefore,

He curled his lip in disdain, not paying much attention.

Chongyang County was garrisoned by 5,000 Kwantung Army soldiers, plus 15,000 local soldiers and rebel troops, totaling 20,000 men.

The city has 20,000 troops defending it. Under normal circumstances, it would take at least several times that number of troops to break through it.

then,

Aoki Kurao led his army to engage in battle within the defensive fortifications of Chongyang County.

He even dispatched two thousand elite Kwantung Army soldiers and three thousand local soldiers, a total of five thousand men, out of the city, intending to keep the enemy five hundred meters away and block Ximentang's troops.

Because Zhang Feifan had just led his army to Chongyang County, he hadn't had time to form ranks yet.

at this time,

When they saw the gates of Chongyang Prefecture wide open, several thousand people actually rushed out of the city.

He immediately ordered the troops to remain in place and began setting up artillery positions.

The training at Ximen Hall has always been very rigorous, enabling them to occupy advantageous positions and set up formations in the shortest amount of time.

Snipers, heavy machine gunners, artillery, infantry, and so on—the military formation quickly formed a crossfire.

After the army was quickly deployed.

Aoki Kurao's 5,000 troops had already advanced to within 200 meters of Ximen Tang's garrison.

Zhang Feifan looked up at the troops sent out by the Kwantung Army and saw that their formation was a mess.

Simultaneously,

They didn't have a uniform at all. The elite Kwantung Army and the local militia were completely different in terms of weapons, equipment, and military appearance.

The 5,000-strong force looked like a ragtag army, all in disarray.

then,

He exclaimed in surprise, "Damn it, wasn't it said that Chongyang Prefecture was garrisoned with five thousand elite Kwantung Army troops? How come they look like a bunch of rabble?"

Standing next to Zhang Feifan, Feng Bao was also surprised:
"These must be the vanguard, right? Never mind, let's give them a barrage of artillery fire and wipe them out first."

He Chaolin couldn't help but frown and said:
"I think these people are just a bunch of ragtag soldiers, much worse than the troops we encountered in Jiujiang Prefecture, let alone the elite troops of the Kwantung Army."

"While they get close, let's give them a barrage of artillery fire. I believe three rounds of artillery fire will wipe out this entire force."

Although Ximen Tang was always on the defensive after the Kwantung Army adopted the "bunker platoon" tactic.

It wasn't until Chen Jie led his heavy tank brigade from Nanjing that the bunker platoon tactic was easily defeated.

However, Ximentang has always been skilled in field positional warfare.

Once the artillery positions and defensive fortifications are set up, you basically just wait for the enemy to attack, then unleash a barrage of artillery fire that inflicts heavy losses on them.

This tactical approach is invariably successful.

positional warfare!
This is one of the most emphasized field tactics in the military academy of Ximentang.

This is equivalent to taking the 'defensive counter-attack' tactic to its limit.

This not only fully utilizes the crossfire advantage of Ximentang's artillery and heavy machine guns, but also minimizes its own casualty rate.

The tactics Chen Jie devised at the Ximentang Military Academy were all-encompassing.

No war can be won with a single tactic.

Therefore,
Even in positional warfare, it's impossible to always fight a 'defensive counterattack'.

Controlling the overall battlefield and integrating offense and defense are the core fighting styles of Ximentang.

Therefore, adopting a positional warfare posture and taking the initiative to attack is also one of Ximentang's tactics.

In Ximentang's regular training program, attacking is one of the essential training items.

However, before this, it was rarely used, and there had never been a suitable opportunity for practical application.

But this time,
When they saw that the garrison of Chongyang County dared to launch a proactive attack with 5,000 men in an attempt to block Ximentang's offensive.

Immediately, Feng Bao, He Chaolin, and Zhang Feifan were all eager to try out this army and test their offensive tactics in positional warfare.

After Zhang Feifan joined Ximentang, he had not yet made any great contributions.

Having been in the Ximen Hall for so long, the three of them naturally knew that the core of promotion in the Ximen Hall was military merit!
Therefore,
This battle must be fought brilliantly, with minimal casualties, to completely capture Chongyang, Chibi, and Jiayu.

From the moment this army from Chongyang County appeared, he could tell that it was a ragtag force. Apart from the two thousand or so Guandong soldiers who could put up a fight, the rest of the soldiers were just cannon fodder.

The key difference lies in the number of people. Ximentang has over 10,000 people, which is twice the number of the enemy.

In this situation, a 'total annihilation' would be a good opportunity.

therefore,

Zhang Feifan swiftly gave the order to launch a preemptive strike, with both flanks rapidly encircling the enemy!
-

In southern Hunan, in Yueyang, on the shores of Dongting Lake.

Several fishing boats quickly converged on a small island in the middle of Dongting Lake from all directions.

Then,

One after another, figures emerged from the fishing boats.

They exerted force with their feet and actually rose directly from the deck of the fishing boat, stepping onto the lake as if walking on flat ground.

Within a few breaths, all the people who had disembarked from the fishing boats had set foot on the small island.

Too fast!
Each of these people exudes a terrifying aura.

They wielded various weapons; some used longswords, others spears, longswords, and even battle axes.

The island is small and uninhabited.

You can see some scattered aquatic plants and small trees on the island.

In the middle of the island, there is a small wooden hut that looks like a temporary shelter for fishermen.

All the fishing boats approached the island, dropped the people off, and then quickly left, leaving only the people on the island.

A total of thirty-six people!

Each of them possessed extremely vigorous Qi and blood, with true Qi circulating throughout their bodies, clearly indicating that they were experts at or above the late stage of the Blood-Moving Pill Force!

The leaders among them possessed surging and powerful qi and blood, exuding an incomparably strong aura.

Unblocking Meridians and Strengthening Qi!

Indeed, the four leading experts possessed martial arts skills far superior to the others, being super experts who had reached the Qi Condensation Realm.

Simply by stepping onto the island, it's as if a strong wind is blowing around you, making it impossible to get close.

The four people standing at random can form a killing formation—the Four Symbols Formation!

This is a killing formation created based on the Eight Trigrams and the I Ching, and with reference to the five elements and directions of East, West, South, North, and Center.

By changing the positions of the four players, the offensive and defensive shifts can be achieved.

Once the formation is activated, the four people can work together and take turns attacking according to their positions, which can generate superimposed power.

It is ever-renewing, capable of seamlessly switching between offense and defense, and possesses boundless power!

In the martial arts world, the Four Symbols Formation is renowned and is even known as the number one killing formation!
this moment,
The positions in which the four people stand create a sense of synergy.

A gust of wind blew around, but it quickly subsided as we got closer to the island.

The waves on the lake mysteriously disappeared as they approached the small island.

The Four Symbols Killing Formation is a complex interplay of illusion and reality! Among the four, one of them is of medium height, hunchbacked, and has an extremely ordinary appearance, looking like an old fisherman with a pipe at his waist. He appears to be the leader.

He looked up at the other thirty-two people besides the four, and nodded slightly.

Next,
His hoarse voice said, "Everyone's here. Let's make a plan."

The thirty-two experts, all above the Blood-Binding Pill Strength level or the Meridian-Opening Qi level, remained silent and sat cross-legged on the ground.

Woohoo——!
A gust of wind blew around, and the ground became a little damp.

but,

The thirty-two people paid no attention to the environment on the ground and all sat on the ground.

The four powerful figures in the Four Symbols Killing Formation shifted their stances and quickly formed a row, looking up at the misty Dongting Lake.

After a moment of silence, the four began to talk.

"To kill an unknown prince of a different surname from the imperial court, you actually summoned all thirty-six Heavenly Generals of our Hidden Sect and ordered us to mobilize them all. Isn't the leader making a mountain out of a molehill?"

"Is it really necessary to go to such lengths, especially with the leader himself coming?"

Among the four, a handsome and refined old man, who looked to be over sixty, spoke first.

This refined and gentle old man has a distinctive appearance and gives people a warm feeling.

However, his eyebrows are different from ordinary people's eyebrows; they look like they are connected in a straight line.

A straight, continuous eyebrow – a unibrow!

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, filled with boundless killing intent, as if his pupils were brimming with the intent of a blade!
"Although Prince Qian Chen Jie is just a young man and his martial arts level is not high, he was able to kill top Japanese masters Yokoyama Sora and Nanzo Mitsuko. His peak combat strength should not be underestimated!"

The only woman among the four spoke calmly.

She had jet-black hair and looked quite young from behind.

but,

Upon seeing her appearance, it becomes clear that her age is definitely no less than that of Tianjiu Miaofeng.

Her gaze was indifferent, as if she had taken everything lightly.

However, judging from the aura emanating from her, her martial arts level was second only to the hunchback.

"Nanzo Photon's strength is extraordinary!"

Standing at the very edge was an old man wearing leather armor, with a cold gaze and a large sword on his shoulder. A look of surprise appeared on his face.

The old man with the unibrow nodded and said in a deep voice:

"I once fought Yokoyama Sora. His martial arts level was the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Qi Realm. Although I was at the same level as him, my combat strength was slightly inferior to his."

"The fact that Prince Qian, Chen Jie, was able to kill Yokoyama Sora shows that his overall combat strength is no weaker than Yokoyama Sora's."

"However, there are now reports that Huang Zhidao, the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Palace, was present at the time, so it is unknown whether it was Prince Qian, Chen Jie, who fought Yokoyama Sora alone, or whether Yokoyama Sora was killed under the combined attack of Imperial Palace experts."

"In addition, reliable sources indicate that when Prince Qian, Chen Jie, killed Nanzao Guangzi, he was accompanied by two top experts, Grand Eunuch Cao Shaoqing and Kou Yin."

"Therefore, the true fighting strength of the Qian King remains a mystery!"

Silence fell over the surroundings, everyone lost in their own thoughts.

The hunchbacked old man took the pipe from his waist, lit it, and took a deep drag.

He said calmly, "The leader has summoned the thirty-six Heavenly Generals of our Hidden Sect not solely for Prince Qian, Chen Jie, but to guard against the Imperial Palace—!"

finished,

He continued in a deep voice, "Killing a Prince Qian is easy, but his current status is special. He is not only the prince consort, but also controls the military power of the Imperial Palace and the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"If all the imperial guards are mobilized, we will be in serious trouble."

"We have received reliable information that the 'Sword Master of the Startling Clouds' has emerged from seclusion."

The other three remained silent after hearing the hunchback's words, their expressions turning serious.

The inner palace of the Great Qian Dynasty is filled with many experts, and the 'Sword Master of Startling Clouds' is even known as the number one expert in the Great Qian Dynasty.

In addition, there are five chief stewards of the Imperial Household Department, three chief stewards of the Foreign Affairs Department, and some senior super-strong individuals hidden within the palace.

Once the imperial guards are mobilized, even martial arts masters at the peak of their skill level, those who are "indestructible even when facing gods," will likely have to give way.

not to mention,
The Sword Master of Jingyun is an invincible expert at the mid-stage or even late-stage of the 'Undying God' realm.

Northern Jingyun, Southern Wushang!
This is not just empty talk.

The key point is that this statement is merely a widely circulated rumor, intended only to elevate Situ Wushang's status.

The reason is simple: 'Master of the Startling Cloud Sword' is not a person's name at all, but a legacy!

Before Situ Wushang's martial arts broke through to the level of "Unbreakable Godhood", the "Master of the Startling Cloud Sword" had already been passed down for over a thousand years and had always been the strongest person in the world.

Therefore,
No matter how you rank them, the Sword Master of the Surprising Clouds is always at the top.

In the era of cold weapons, the imperial palace of the Great Qian Dynasty could almost determine the order of the martial arts world.

No martial arts force dared to offend the imperial court of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Once a faction is targeted by the Imperial Guard, it will be eliminated without exception.

Therefore,
The imperial palace of the Great Qian Dynasty wielded immense power and influence in the martial arts world.

At the same time, the inner palace also served as the guardian of the imperial family of the Great Qian Dynasty.

However, with the rise of firearms, the deterrent power of the capital began to decline sharply.

"Prince Qian, Chen Jie, controls the 'command arrows' of the two inner palaces and is the mainstay of the Qian imperial family."

"This person is so young, and is the founder of Ximen Hall, and his martial arts talent is unbelievably high."

"All thirty-six Heavenly Generals of our Hidden Sect have been mobilized to kill him. The two Imperial Household Departments will definitely protect him at all costs. According to the information, the three chief stewards of the Imperial Household Department, Cao Shaoqing, Kou Yin, and Guan Shanyue, have been following him and protecting his safety!"

The old man, dressed in leather armor, said with a worried expression.

The hunchbacked old man narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice:

"Don't worry, everyone. Our target is only Prince Qian, Chen Jie. The experts in the palace will naturally be taken care of by the leader."

"Furthermore, the leader has already arranged for assassins to lure away the personal guards around Prince Qian, Chen Jie."

Upon hearing this, the woman beside him exclaimed in surprise, "The Dragon Head intends to take action personally?"

"That's right!"

The hunchback looked up at the mist in the distance over Dongting Lake, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"After breaking through to the pinnacle of martial arts, the realm of 'indestructible before gods,' as long as one breaks through the shackles of martial arts, one can break through to the ultimate limit of martial arts—Martial Saint, shattering the void!"

"Rumor has it that the path to breaking the limits of martial arts lies in the dragon vein of the Great Qian Dynasty."

"Over the years, the legacy of the 'Sword Master of the Startling Clouds' has remained. Each 'Sword Master of the Startling Clouds' has not passed away, but has instead entered the realm of the [Martial Saint].

"Of course, this is just a rumor, and the specifics are unknown."

"After the Dragon Head entered the 'Indestructible Godhood' realm, he longed to know his future path in martial arts for twenty years!"

"Even without the schemes of Ninth Prince Li Hongyu, the Dragon Head would still fight hard to seize the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty."

"To seize the dragon vein of the Great Qian Dynasty, one must stand at the pinnacle of power within the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"All we can do is lend a helping hand to the leader!"

Woohoo——!
As a gust of wind blew by.

The hunchbacked man sighed, and his voice faded away without a trace.

The other three leaders of the Four Symbols Killing Formation remained silent.

The thirty-two top experts remained completely silent, as if they hadn't heard a sound. (End of Chapter)