Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Whoosh-!
Under the protection of the four chief stewards, the ferry approached the riverbank in Hanyang Prefecture.

Chen Jie remained standing on the deck, silent.

Although he killed Chiba Teru with a single sword strike, he felt a pang of regret.

The internal energy of a powerful being who has achieved immortality has undergone a transformation, evolving into innate true energy.

Therefore,
Chen Jie had no way of absorbing the opponent's internal energy.

in addition,

Chiba Teru's spiritual refinement had already broken through to the [Concentration] stage, and his mind could not be shaken.

Chen Jie's hypnosis and biblical spiritual techniques were ineffective against Chiba Hikaru.

He stood on the deck, looking up at the east.

Om-!
Next, his spiritual senses began to spread and explore along the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

His mind raced as he tried to comprehend the 'Slaying Rebellion' sword strike he had just unleashed.

have to say,

Chen Jie gained a lot from the sword strike that unleashed his full power.

The understanding of swordsmanship is constantly integrated into one's own sword intent.

Unbeknownst to him, his swordsmanship had broken through the shackles of the third realm and was progressing towards the fourth realm.

The third realm of sword intent, the fourth realm of sword momentum!
Sword power!

By integrating the power of heaven and earth into the way of the sword, an innate sword aura is unleashed.

To Chen Jie's own surprise, the gains from this life-or-death battle were so great.

Not only has his swordsmanship broken through to the fourth realm of sword intent, but he has also begun to grasp the basics of the fifth realm!
The master leads you through the door, but the practice is up to you!
Although he was able to activate the [Martial Saint Sect] and obtain the martial arts inheritance.

However, to forge one's own path in martial arts, one must comprehend it.

The insights and inheritance of martial arts by the Martial Saint and the Sword Saint can only serve as a reference.

"The fourth realm of swordsmanship is sword intent, what is the fifth realm—? Could it be—sword domain!?"

Chen Jie fell into deep thought; he seemed to have found a direction.

Just then, the sun set, and the sky darkened.

He gently shook the longsword in his hand.

This sword is made of special alloy steel in the 'Urban World', and is extremely expensive. It can cut through iron like mud.

During the clash with Chiba Teru's katana just now, I chipped a nick in his katana with a single strike.

The sword intent coalesced into a powerful force!

It was as if a sword shadow was gathering and growing larger above his head.

"Hmph! Quite a few members of the Chiba clan from the Eastern Ninja Sect have arrived!"

At the very front of the ferry deck, Grand Eunuch Gongsun Ze narrowed his eyes, his expression solemn.

The other chief eunuchs gripped their weapons tightly.

at the same time,

Under the arrangement of the four chief stewards, the personal guards protected Chen Jie in the middle, ready for battle.

After a while.

Two fast boats appeared on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

The fast boat was moving very fast, like an arrow released from a bow, as if trying to intercept the ferry before it reached the shore.

A dozen or so top-tier ninjas, their heads covered by black masks, appeared.

They were like ghosts, exuding a terrifying killing intent.

It is clear,
They were originally with Chiba Teru.

but,

Chiba Teru was arrogant and conceited, and actually left the group to arrive here first.

These Japanese ninjas couldn't keep up, which is why they were a little late.

By this time, they already knew that Chiba Teru had been killed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!
Just then, near the riverbank close to Hanyang Prefecture, the Vulcan cannon opened fire fiercely on the two fast boats.

Then came mortars and field guns, including heavy machine guns, aimed at the fast boat, their barrels emitting a piercing roar.

Concentrate fire!

Saturation firepower strike.

The four chief stewards of the Imperial Household Agency did not expect that cannons could wipe out all these Japanese ninjas.

However, if the fire is concentrated, these Japanese ninjas will not be able to get close.

Once Chen Jie reaches the shore.

Whether it was the Japanese or other forces, they lost the conditions for assassination.

No one has yet been able to assassinate Chen Jie on land, surrounded by Ximen Tang's army.

Standing inside the fortifications along the Yangtze River in Hanyang Prefecture, Liu Qi shouted to the two small boats on the river:

"Brothers, blow up their ships—!"

All the elite warriors of Ximen Hall on both sides of the Yangtze River became excited and aimed at the fast-moving small boat.

The grand scheme of things has reached its peak once again.

Under the crossfire of artillery, heavy machine guns, and rifles.

Chen Jie clearly felt that the power of heaven and earth that had been shattered by Chiba Hui had once again converged and reached its peak state.

"withdraw--!"

The Chiba clan of the Toyo Ninja Sect shouted after the cannons destroyed the fast boat.

Whizzing--!
The next moment, they disappeared into the water without a trace.

Om-!
Chen Jie looked up and watched them disappear on the river. Sensing their rapid retreat, he did not order a pursuit.

Clang!
He sat down cross-legged, the Wuji Sword in his hand swirling above his head.

Then,

The enormous sword shadow seemed to have been lit up.

"This powerful force of heaven and earth cannot be allowed to dissipate like this!"

He closed his eyes slightly, allowing his spiritual refinement state to completely merge with his sword intent.

The fourth realm of swordsmanship – Sword Momentum!
He wanted to use this great momentum of heaven and earth to completely solidify his swordsmanship realm.

-

Guishan Mountain is located on the riverbank in Hanyang Prefecture, facing the Yangtze River in front and the Han River to the north.

When viewed from above, one can see Guishan Mountain facing Wuchang Prefecture across the river, forming a pattern of a tortoise and a snake locking the river.

Although the geographical area is not large, it is located near two rivers.

Simultaneously,

There is a ferry crossing here, which appears quite bustling.

Since ancient times, there have been many merchants coming and going here.

but,

The entire Guishan Mountain is now deserted, and almost all the shops have been looted.

The entire Turtle Mountain has become dilapidated.

The situation here is similar to that of the three counties of Chibi, Jiayu, and Chongyang that Ximentang occupied in Xianning Prefecture.

After the Japanese entered the city, they were destined to carry out a large-scale looting.

Anything of value will be looted by the Kwantung Army.

The situation in the areas occupied by the Kwantung Army was completely different from that in the areas occupied by Prince Ning, Li Mu.

Because princes like Li Mu, the Prince of Ning, or Li Chuang, the Prince of Shu, after occupying their territories, harbored ambitions to rival the Great Qian Dynasty.

They want more than just occupation; they want to hold onto the occupied territories.

Therefore,
After the rebellion of the feudal princes, they paid more attention to winning the hearts and minds of the local people and did not carry out large-scale massacres of civilians.

To ensure local stability, the main forces of the vassal kings generally adhered to strict military discipline.

Unless the local people launch a large-scale resistance, they generally will not indiscriminately kill innocent people.

of course,

Li Ben, the Prince of Han, was an exception.

After Wuchang Prefecture was occupied by Prince Li Ben of Han, he went on a killing spree to establish his authority, resulting in rivers of blood.

This meant that when Ximen Tang attacked Li Ben, the extremely cruel prince, he received no support from the common people.

Prince Ning, Li Mu, was much better; even when he occupied the capital, he did not indiscriminately kill innocent people.

In the Northwest, Prince Ning, Li Mu, enjoyed the support of many people.

Instead of causing widespread destruction, he engaged in construction in the Northwest.

This is one of the reasons why Ximen Tang did not launch a large-scale attack on the Northwest after defeating the Northwest Army in the capital.

Although conquering the Northwest was imperative.

However, this was not the most pressing matter for Ximen Tang. The Japanese, after entering the Daqian Dynasty, held completely different views from the feudal lords.

Their core principle is destruction!

They never considered defending or developing the territories they occupied.

Although many bunkers were built in places like Hanyang, Wuchang, Ezhou, and Huangshi, they were all temporary garrisons; the Japanese had no intention of stationing them there long-term.

This is why, after the Kwantung Army entered the city, they looted extensively, and if there was any resistance, they would simply massacre the city and collect their wealth.

Mass graves, mass graves!
These things are commonplace for the Japanese.

The cities occupied by the Kwantung Army led by Oyama Iwao were basically empty, with corpses buried in mass graves, and the army committed all sorts of atrocities, including burning, killing, and looting.

In some cities, several mass graves have even been dug up.

They not only robbed money, but also food and women, conscripting men as cannon fodder and incorporating women into the Japanese army to handle logistics.

therefore,

When Chen Jie disembarked from the ferry, he saw the situation at Sanlipo and Guishan, and then thought about the situations at Chibi, Jiayu, Chongyang and other places.

He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, his heart filled with rage.

When the world is in turmoil, it is always the ordinary people who suffer; this is an unchanging law throughout history.

Especially when foreign invaders arrive and the country is too weak to resist, the common people will suffer a brutal massacre.

That's right, they were slaughtered by an alien race!

Living on the land of the Great Qian Dynasty, those scions of noble families could leave to avoid danger.

However, the most impoverished people have no way to leave the land that their ancestors have lived on for generations.

When faced with the guns and cannons of the foreign race, even if they wanted to resist, it was futile.

to be frank,
Chen Jie actually held some respect for Li Mu, the Prince of Ning in the Northwest.

Regardless of the circumstances, Prince Ning, Li Mu, can be considered a formidable and ruthless figure.

He led a large army into the capital and almost became the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Although he cooperated with the Japanese, he did not allow them to occupy the Northwest, nor did he allow the Kwantung Army to commit atrocities in the Northwest.

Li Zicheng, the King of Shu, did the same, refusing to allow the Kwantung Army to enter western Sichuan.

Although the two vassal kings were ambitious and wanted to seize the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty.

but,

However, they did nothing that would be considered outrageous by both gods and men.

Chen Jie never had any good feelings towards Japanese people.

Non-my family, its heart must be different!
After the Kwantung Army began its conquest of the Great Qian Dynasty, the phrase "burning, killing, looting" began to be used to describe their actions.

Brutal, bloodthirsty, and cruel.

The crimes they committed during the Great Qian Dynasty are too numerous to count!
The Kwantung Army even regarded shooting civilians of the Great Qian Dynasty as an art of killing.

On the battlefield, they made soldiers kill civilians in a game competition to see who could kill the most people.

To toughen up the new recruits of the Kwantung Army, they would deliberately have them shoot civilians to let them act freely.

After the Kwantung Army conquered the Great Qian Dynasty, how many Great Qian people did they kill?
I don't know, no one has ever accurately counted it!

However, from Shandong to Beijing, and then to Liaodong, Hanzhong and other places.

The Kwantung Army killed at least several million, if not tens of millions, of the people of Daqian.

Especially in the entire Northeast region, the people were almost wiped out.

Any citizen of the Great Qian Dynasty who harbors any discontent will find it impossible to survive in the Northeast.

Compared to the regional princes of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Kwantung Army of the East was many times more dangerous.

What they wanted was the resources and land of the Great Qian Dynasty; they cared nothing for the lives of ordinary people.

Therefore, after entering the Great Qian Dynasty, the soldiers of the Kwantung Army behaved extremely brutally.

This is why Simond never easily released the prisoners of the Kwantung Army, sending them to the most arduous coal mines to atone for their sins.

therefore,

Chen Jie never considered conquering Northwest China and Western Sichuan as his most urgent task.

If Prince Ning, Li Mu, and Prince Shu, Li Chuang, eventually surrender and submit to Ximentang.

Then.

Chen Jie might let them go and not kill them all.

But Chen Jie never had any intention of being merciful to the Kwantung Army.

He not only wanted to drive the Kwantung Army out of Daqian, but he also planned to plant the Daqian banner on the Japanese mainland.

Although Chen Jie was injured in the battle on the Yangtze River at dusk, his injuries were not serious.

Situ Wushang, the leader of the Hongmen, did not appear!

Chen Jie went to the military camp to rest. He had just finished taking medicine and a medicinal bath when Zhang Feifan, Feng Bao, and He Chaolin came to see him and reported on the crossing of the river during the day.

In the daytime battle to cross the river, Ximentang suffered only six elite soldiers killed or wounded, with another nineteen injured.

Under the intense firepower of Ximentang, countless Japanese soldiers were killed.

When they captured Guishan, they took more than 3,000 prisoners and seized a large number of ferries.

Therefore,
The daytime battle to cross the river was a major victory for Zhang Feifan and his group.

but,

After Zhang Feifan reported on the entire battle, Chen Jie was slightly surprised.

Unexpectedly, the Japanese Allied Forces would employ a two-pronged attack tactic, using a feint to the east while striking in the west.

In particular, they bypassed the Yangtze River and launched a flanking maneuver from the left.

The key is,
It was so close to success.

If the crossing position is breached by the Japanese Allied Forces.

Therefore, Ximentang will be unable to cross the river today, and the outcome of this evening's assassination attempt may very well change.

Fortunately, Zhang Feifan did not seek credit and steadily defended the fortifications.

However, the firepower of the Japanese Allied Forces was still insufficient, and there was always a generational gap in weaponry between them and Ximentang.

Otherwise, the outcome of this daytime battle would be difficult to predict.

Even if we can retake the position, it will be a much more brutal and bloody battle, and the casualty rate will definitely be much higher than it is now.

call--!
Chen Jie stretched his limbs and nodded:
"Zhang Feifan, the three of you performed exceptionally well today. The Ximentang army's successful crossing of the river is largely thanks to the three of you!"

"However, when commanding a battle next time, I must have a comprehensive view of the overall situation."

"Any slight misjudgment on the battlefield could cost our brothers their lives."

"This time, the enemy almost breached our defensive positions. Let's take it as a lesson."

Zhang Feifan, Feng Bao, and the other two stood at attention and said, "Yes! We will definitely remember today's lesson."

Chen Jie thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said:
"This commander of the Kwantung Army is no ordinary man; he was able to devise a feint attack and directly identify the gaps in your defensive positions!"

"I have fought against Oyama Iwao, Sakata Takeo, Oshima Yuutake and others."

"They would never have imagined such a flanking maneuver, and they were able to accurately identify the weaknesses in Ximentang's defenses."

Next,
Chen Jie asked, "Zhang Feifan, have you found out who is in charge of this flanking maneuver into the river?"

"This person's command and overall control abilities are quite good!"

Zhang Feifan quickly replied, "I asked the prisoners we captured, and the people who besieged our Sanlipo defensive position this time were two major generals of the Kwantung Army under Oyama Iwao, namely Sakata Takeo and Kishibe Fumikane!"

Chen Jie nodded and said with a slight smile:
"Sakata Takeo doesn't have that kind of command ability; it seems it's this Kishibe Fumihiro!"

Kishibe Fumikan did not hold a high position in the Kwantung Army.

but,

When the Kwantung Army landed in Lushun, Northeast China, and marched straight to Liaodong, Wen Kuan on the shore made great contributions.

He was one of the most capable major generals under Daiyama Iwao, known for his bravery in battle and exceptional wisdom.

to be frank,
There weren't actually that many top commanders at the Japanese Army Academy.

However, whether in terms of combat command ability or strategy, Kishibe Fumihiro can be considered a fierce general.

Although Takeo Sakata and Yuutake Oshima held higher positions than Fumihiro Kishibe.

but,

This is just a matter of seniority.

Within the Kwantung Army, Kishibe Fumihiro's prestige was far greater than that of Sakata Takeo.

This is why Dashanyan left Northeast China and headed to Hanzhong.

The first person he specifically asked was Kishibe Fumihiro, and he asked him to come with him to the Hanzhong region.

Zhang Feifan was very surprised when he heard this.

"My lord, why are you so certain that it was Kishibe Fumihiro who employed the strategy of dividing forces to encircle the enemy, rather than Sakata Takeo?"

"From what I understand, although Kishibe Fumihiro is Oyama Iwao's confidant, Oyama Iwao seems to trust Sakata Takeo and Oshima Yuutake more."

Chen Jie gently wiped his longsword with a towel and said calmly:
"Sakata Takeo and Oshima Yutaka, and even General Oyama Iwao, were all military commanders of the Kwantung Army!"

"The Kwantung Army is not lacking in military commanders, but it is rare to find strategists."

"Given the fighting strength of the Ximen Tang, what we need to be more wary of are the strategists of the Kwantung Army!" (End of Chapter)