Covering the sky: Starting with the holy body, the immortal Taoist comes to attack

Chapter 179 The calm before the storm

Furthermore, it is said that things of a kind come together, and people of a kind group together.

The two main generals of the Western Border Army, Yuchi Rui and Ma Qi, were both from aristocratic families, but they were still very different.

Yuchi Rui is a veteran general in the army, and comes from a small aristocratic family.

He rose through the ranks from a lowly soldier, fought in over a hundred battles, suffered countless injuries, and eventually reached his current level of success.

Even when the Sima clan was in power, they did not replace such a famous general, but instead chose to win him over.

The saying goes, "Great generals rise from the ranks, and prime ministers emerge from the local governments." He is a prime example of this!

This time, when the Quanrong soldiers invaded, the main force resisting them in the Western Army was Yuchi Rui's army.

As for the other commander, Ma Qi, he came from a prominent clan.

His rise to power was partly due to his own talent, but it was also related to the powerful Ma family to which he belonged.

His trusted lieutenants and officers were also mostly from prominent families.

As for other children from poor families, they simply cannot enter this small circle of power within the military.

But that's not the most important thing.

Crucially, during this invasion by the Quanrong, the Marchi Legion clearly adopted a passive defensive posture, preserving its strength, and watched as three surrounding cities of varying sizes were breached and thousands of people were abducted.

Despite Ma Qi's repeated memorials explaining that the enemy was too powerful and that the only option was to avoid their sharp edge.

However, the performance of his more than 20,000 border troops was indeed far inferior to that of Yuchi Rui's army, which is an indisputable fact!
Ma Qi's behavior, like that of other powerful families in the Great Zhou Dynasty, was a result of accumulated problems that had persisted for thousands of years.

However, as a border military group, dealing with it requires extreme caution and a gradual approach.

Moreover, since the arrival of the ancient Xuan, there have been too many things to do, and the order of priorities must be weighed.

Therefore, before this, he only tried his best to appease March and his confidants with rewards and intimidation to ensure that they would not rebel on the spot.

They saw that powerful clans like the Sima and Jie had already been destroyed.

Even if March was wary, he dared not openly break with tradition and directly lead troops in rebellion when the domestic situation was balanced.

Now, the time is finally ripe to completely resolve this issue.

but.

Prior to this, Gu Xuan had done another major thing.

He personally led 20,000 elite imperial guards to the western border, and with the assistance of local officials, mainly members of the "Great Harmony Society," he resupplyed along the way several times and conscripted a certain number of laborers.

finally.

After a month-long rush to their aid, they arrived at their destination and provided timely assistance to Yuchi Rui's army to fight against the more than 30,000 archers of the Quanrong tribe who had invaded.

During the journey, Gu Xuan had already sent a confidential letter to Yu Chi Rui in the name of the King of Zhou.

In the letter, he talked about many things, the most important being the military intelligence of trying to encircle the Quanrong army, and secondly the preferential treatment given to Yuchi Rui and his family members, among others.

The saying goes, "A strong general makes a strong family, and a weak general makes a weak family."

Originally, the Imperial Guard system was not as strong as the border troops, and was often regarded as a mere showpiece.

however.

The current commander of the Imperial Guards is Gu Xuan. With the baptism of the "Datong Society", the Imperial Guards have been completely transformed and their combat power is absolutely astonishing!

Even though they were exhausted from the long march, the Imperial Guards still managed to quickly encircle the rear of the Quanrong army.

Unfortunately.

The Quanrong tribe had long prepared to plunder and retreat, and did not, as the southern powerful clans had hoped, venture deep into the Central Plains to carry out large-scale looting.

Therefore.

Despite their combined efforts, Gu Xuan and Yu Chi Rui's two legions only managed to wipe out the three thousand cavalrymen who were covering the rear of the Quanrong tribe.

Although it can be said to be a considerable achievement, the ultimate military objective was not achieved.

however.

After this battle, the crisis of the Quanrong tribe's invasion was finally brought to an end.

The Quanrong people, led by the King of Nanrong, are quite frightened and are unlikely to raid the border again in the short term.

After this battle.

Gu Xuan ordered the slaughter of cattle and sheep, and opened the treasury to reward the soldiers of the two legions. As for military merits and rewards, that goes without saying.

He also had close meetings with Yuchi Rui, a veteran general of the Western Army, and they discussed and agreed on many things.

After these events spread, the most alarmed person was none other than Ma Qi, another commander of the Western Army.

As Gu Xuan led the victorious and highly motivated elite Imperial Guards, raising the great banner symbolizing the current Zhou King, and approached Ma Qi's Western Army, Ma Qi's panic grew day by day.

The main reason for March's panic was his guilty conscience.

Within the Ma clan, to which he belonged, many members committed numerous misdeeds.

Even he himself was not exactly glorious, not to mention that when the Quanrong invaded, he chose to preserve his strength and watch the people be killed.

Unfortunately, he had absolutely no chance of winning against His Majesty the King of Zhou!
What's even more special is that military merit is of paramount importance in the military!

The decision by the high command of the Western Army, led by Ma Qi, to avoid battle had already sparked discontent among some lower-ranking soldiers, some of whom had relatives killed by the Quanrong.

Therefore.

Facing the nearly 20,000 elite Imperial Guards who had returned victorious, Ma Qi and his trusted lieutenants and officers felt increasingly insecure, and the morale of the army seemed to be wavering.

Especially in the last year or so.

Gu Xuan used the guise of martial arts training to plant many spies in the Maqi Legion, namely members of the "Datong Society," many of whom were mid-level officers.

Despite their long-standing exclusion and marginalization by March and his cronies.

But when it comes to being dismissed or even killed, March and his colleagues didn't have the guts.

When things reached this point, Gu Xuan's subtle and gradual efforts to infiltrate the situation ultimately proved effective.

A significant portion of the lower-ranking soldiers understood the "Great Harmony Society's" program and the many events that were happening within the Great Zhou Dynasty, including the selection of officials through the imperial examinations and the distribution of land.

They finally understood who truly cared for them and who wanted to continue exploiting them...

Under these circumstances, even if March wanted to rebel, it would be far more difficult than before.

finally.

When Gu Xuan himself donned armor, rode a warhorse, and led his troops to the city where the Machi Legion was stationed.

This tense atmosphere has reached its peak.

Ma Qi, leading a dozen or so trusted lieutenants and captains, looked down at the Zhou King's banner fluttering in the wind below the city and saw the imposing figure of the first rider.

Simply by that indescribable yet undeniably real aura of unparalleled power.

All the soldiers, including March, knew that it must be His Majesty the King of Zhou!

With the supreme authority of a monarch, leading hundreds of officials, servants, and guards, His Majesty the King of Zhou turned the tide and destroyed the powerful Sima clan!

With unparalleled courage and divine might, he captured and killed Cheng Luo, a remnant of the Sima clan, and wiped out the Jie tribe in the northern border that had plagued the region for decades!
With a visionary spirit that transcends time, he implemented new policies and broke the rule of powerful clans!
This also includes personally leading the elite Imperial Guards to resist the invasion of the Quanrong army and protect the people and the borders!
For a moment, Ma Qi couldn't help but smile bitterly. Even if he could completely control his 20,000-plus border troops, what could he do against such a powerful Zhou king?
Moreover, he can hardly be said to have complete control at present. He might be lucky to have a few thousand trusted soldiers.

at this time.

On the city wall, a mysterious scholar, his face veiled in black robes, whispered in March's ear.

"General, make up your mind. We will give you every penny we promised."

Clearly, this black-robed scholar, though mysterious in appearance, had obtained March's permission; otherwise, he could not have approached his commander.

This person was a lobbyist from the Southern aristocratic families. He used numerous benefits, such as "appointing Ma Qi as the Prince of Zhenbei," as bait to incite Ma Qi to launch a large-scale purge in the army, intending to kill all the soldiers of the "Datong Society" and completely defect to the side of the aristocratic families.

However, all these days, March has not actually agreed to him.

Now, both March and the black-robed scholar knew that they had reached the final decision.

"I understand. Sir, you may leave now. I will discuss this with the soldiers one last time."

March turned his head, his expression somewhat indifferent, but his eyes held a hint of complexity as he looked at the lobbyist.

The black-robed scholar let out a barely perceptible sigh and stepped back until he was out of March's sight.

Unexpectedly, a shocking change occurred just a few breaths later!

Just as March was gathering his trusted lieutenants and captains for a final decision-making meeting.

From somewhere in the city, the sound of creaking bowstrings could be heard, and then two ballistae shot out, their target being His Majesty King Zhou below the city!

"who is it?!"

Such a shocking turn of events caused March to lose his composure and immediately roar in anger.

To open the ballista in front of so many soldiers and intend to shoot it at His Majesty is blatant treason.

The elite imperial guards below the city also roared angrily, and with a clanging sound, dozens of fine iron shields were neatly erected, blocking Gu Xuan's way.

In fact.

Faced with the Imperial Guard, which is the most elite force in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, such an open assassination attempt by ballista would have no chance of success unless it was a sneak attack.

A bang!
A ballista pierced through three layers of fine iron shields, causing casualties among three or four Imperial Guard soldiers.

The other ballista was actually knocked away by Gu Xuan himself with his halberd, and stuck into the ground beside him, sinking more than half a meter in.

The power of the ballista is evident; it truly deserves to be called one of the most terrifying long-range weapons of this era.

However, the power of King Zhou's attack also shocked all the soldiers on and below the city walls.

How could one person so easily deflect a ballista capable of piercing through several iron cavalrymen and three or four layers of fine iron shields? What incredible martial prowess!

then.

"Machi, are you really going to rebel?"

Gu Xuan's shout was like thunder, its sound sweeping across the city, shaking the entire city and trembling the hearts of all its inhabitants.

He was fully activating the Great Zhou Divine King Technique, intending to establish his authority.

Clearly, Gu Xuan asked this question because he vaguely noticed something strange about the city wall; otherwise, he would have already ordered an attack.

And on the city wall.

Despite being extremely shocked and enraged by the unexpectedly fired ballista, March reacted quickly.

He immediately dispatched his capable personal guards to capture the murderers who had secretly planted the ballistae. Sure enough, it was the black-robed scholar from before!

In recent days, he has already bribed several soldiers in charge of ballistae with a large sum of money.

His purpose in doing so was naturally sinister, in order to force March to openly break with His Majesty the King of Zhou and embark on the path of rebellion, thereby creating a better opportunity for the southern aristocratic families.

Upon seeing this man, March and his trusted lieutenants were filled with obvious resentment, and someone immediately beat him up.

But at that moment, March had something more important to do.

He gave a bitter smile. Ahead of him was the peerless King Zhou, and behind him were powerful and scheming families. His path ahead was fraught with danger!
And it was at this moment that he finally made his final decision.

"His Majesty is exceptionally powerful and the tide cannot be turned. I wish to surrender. What do you all think?"

March's eyes gleamed as he gazed at the many trusted lieutenants and officers before him.

At this moment, he finally unleashed the power and authority of a seasoned veteran and a superior.

Although he was far from being comparable to King Xuan of Zhou, he was still quite extraordinary.

Under such pressure, the lieutenants and captains looked at each other in bewilderment, but most of them eventually bowed their heads and said, "We are willing to obey the general's orders."

Upon hearing this, the scholar in black robes jumped up and angrily cursed, "Foolish! A bunch of idiots! They refuse to enjoy wealth and luxury, and insist on..."

Before he could finish speaking, at March's signal, he was punched several times, losing several teeth in the process.

If it weren't for the fact that everyone knew this man would inevitably be brought before King Zhou for trial, he would probably have already been killed by the enraged soldiers.

then.

March himself walked up to the battlements and shouted down.

"Your Majesty, we will immediately leave the city to pay our respects!"

"I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness. It was a villain who used the ballista without permission."

Amidst the vast army, March's roar sounded somewhat hoarse, yet it was still heard by many soldiers, calming their restlessness.

"In the end, there's no need to turn against our compatriots!"

This reflects the sentiments of most soldiers, especially the border troops on March's side.

A quarter of an hour later.

With his upper body bare and a thorny bush wrapped around his back, which he had found from who-knows-where, March led a dozen or so captains out of the city and knelt down before Gu Xuan.

Meanwhile, atop the city wall, his most capable and trusted lieutenant was still leading his men to maintain order and ensure that no one went berserk again.

finally.

This border army group in the western region eventually came under the complete control of King Xuan of Zhou.

While Ma Qi was heading to the capital to become the deputy headmaster of the martial arts academy.

His Ma family, from which he came, also received a certain degree of pardon and preferential treatment because of his wise move. Of course, those family members who committed many evils were still punished according to the law.

As a result, all military forces in the northern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty were completely under Gu Xuan's control!

He could also promote the "Great Harmony Society" program among all border troops, just as he had done in the Imperial Guard system.

at the same time.

The army led by the Vice Minister of War, who was heading to the border between North and South to guard against attacks from the powerful southern clans, also eventually repelled the enemy.

Since then.

The external threats to the entire northern border were temporarily relieved, and the new policies continued to be implemented vigorously.

For a full year, neither the North nor the South resumed hostilities, but both sides knew that this was merely the calm before the storm!
(End of this chapter)