Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 603 My Lord, are you going to Eastern Wei?

Liuyang Prefecture, Donghan County.

Matsubara Takemyouji.

Songyuan Martial Sect is not a large sect, with only a little over four hundred disciples, including one Grandmaster and more than ten Innate Realm experts.

"Master, Sect Leader Cai of the Cloud Moon Sword Sect has come to visit—"

"Master, Elder Guo from Hengshan Sect has come to visit—"

Several voices, filled with surprise, rushed into the mountain gate.

The disciples practicing inside the mountain gate all looked curiously towards the direction outside the gate.

“Cai Shaoqing of the Yunyue Sword Sect is a sword cultivator at the Dragon Elephant Realm, right? He is the head of the Liuyang region of the Jiuchuan Martial Alliance. With his status, why would he come to my Songyuan Martial Sect?” The middle-aged martial artist in the blue martial robe frowned and spoke in a low voice.

"Elder Guo Zhenyang of Hengshan Sect, that's our sect leader's senior. Why would he personally come to our Songyuan Martial Sect? What's going on?" On the other side, a Songyuan Martial Sect disciple dressed in a black martial robe asked in a deep voice.

Nobody knows.

The other disciples around him all shook their heads.

However, a short while later, several more martial arts experts, whose names were known but whom they had never seen before, arrived at the mountain gate.

In an instant, the disciples of Songyuan Martial Sect within the mountain gate began to feel uneasy.

After a while, the powerful figures from all sides, together with their sect leaders, walked out of the main hall with smiles on their faces, and left with the elites of their sects.

Only then did news arrive from the gate.

"Did you hear that?"

"Did you hear that?"

"Our senior brother Chang Gu was handpicked by Marquis Qingyang to lead thirty soldiers for three days of training, in order to compete with the sons of noble families and ordinary soldiers."

"Good heavens! The Marquis of Qingyang personally named him! Now the sect leader and those senior martial arts practitioners from Liuyang Prefecture are rushing to Yunming Prefecture overnight to give Senior Brother Chang Gu some pointers."

The disciples who were speaking all had expressions of reverence and hope on their faces.

"Do you think that if Senior Brother Chang Gu really wins this time, our Songyuan Martial Sect will soar to new heights?"

A burst of jubilation erupted inside the mountain gate.

……

Yunming Prefecture.

Xu family.

The back hall was also filled with distinguished guests.

Unlike Matsubara Takemyouji, who was so enthusiastic, the heads of the various aristocratic families present all had rather solemn expressions.

"Old Xu, there's something I'm not sure if I should say." The middle-aged man in a dark green brocade robe cupped his hands and looked at the white-bearded old man sitting at the head of the table.

Xu Gelin, an elder of the Xu family, is a half-step Grandmaster with the cultivation level and is also the number one person in the Xu family.

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's question, Xu Gelin waved his hand and said softly, "Patriarch Su, please speak plainly."

Patriarch Su glanced around and coughed lightly: "Elder Xu, the Marquis of Qingyang's martial arts demonstration is undoubtedly meant to showcase the importance of military training in improving the soldiers' combat effectiveness."

"Therefore, even if Young Master Jiyang can win, he will still lose."

Sitting up straight, Su Jiazhuang said in a deep voice, "I know that if Xu Jiyang wins, it will be a great opportunity for the Xu family and for him."

"But the Marquis of Qingyang's ambitions are far greater. The Xu family cannot allow the loss of our Yunming City's aristocratic families to cause us to lose the Marquis of Qingyang's favor..."

“Indeed, Brother Su has considered everything thoroughly,” someone nearby said.

“Indeed, Brother Su is too comprehensive.” Someone else chimed in.

Xu Gelin, who sat at the head of the table, showed a change in expression and nodded slightly.

"The Xu family understands your intentions."

He looked at the crowd in the hall and sighed softly, "But even if one wants to lose, it won't be so easy. Marquis Qingyang has no room for falsehood..."

"Ahem, Elder Xu, I'll go watch the battle later. If the aristocratic families' team has too much of an advantage, just send a message to Xu Jiyang and tell him to hold back a bit." The head of the Su family smiled.

"We can't let Marquis Qingyang look too bad."

These words elicited much laughter in the hall, instantly enlivening the atmosphere.

Yunming Prefecture City.

Back hall.

Zhang Yuan sat behind the long table, with Xu Heng, the prefect of Yunming Prefecture, standing in front of him with his head bowed, along with Guang Pingjin, the prefectural assistant, and Yu Rangcheng, the military commander.

The three officials of the prefecture were uneasy and remained silent with their heads down.

Zhang Yuan kept turning the pages of the book.

The only sound in the entire back room was the rustling of pages turning.

After reading through all the volumes, Zhang Yuan threw the pages onto the table and looked down at the three people bowing below.

"Prefect Xu, your prefecture's grain reserves are less than a month's worth. If there's a problem with the supply of a million-strong army, how many heads do you have to lose?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the three people below trembled and knelt down.

Marquis Qingyang's prestige stemmed from his killing spree in the imperial city, from his single punch that killed a Grandmaster outside Yuncang City, and even more so from his unwavering presence in Donghan County, where he caused rivers of blood to flow.

In recent days, more than five officials at the prefectural level alone have been lost in Donghan County.

Liu Peiyuan and Zhao Defang were ruthless and their evidence was irrefutable. Once they were arrested, their entire families would be imprisoned, with no chance of redemption.

"Reporting to the Marquis, the replenishment of grain supplies is already in transit and on its way."

Xu Heng trembled and kowtowed to the ground.

"Yes, my lord. How could we dare to neglect the logistics of provisions for a million-strong army? The military camp has been paid with real money, and the entire Yunming Prefecture will certainly guarantee the supply of provisions."

Sima Yurangcheng, who was standing to the side, quickly spoke up.

The military advisor was directly responsible for the army's logistics and had a clearer understanding of these matters.

Hearing the two talking, Zhang Yuanfang nodded slightly with a relaxed expression and waved his hand, saying, "Military merits are hard to earn; in the past, it was always military officers who risked their lives to achieve them."

"As long as you complete the mission, I will reward you according to your merits. Your military achievements alone will be enough to grant you a title and allow your wives and children to be granted titles."

Military achievements.

Just as Zhang Yuan said, military merits are earned by generals who risk their lives. This time, as long as the logistics support in Yunming City is done well, the few people there can also earn a share of military merits.

Which official in the entire Eastern Territory wouldn't be envious?

"Thank you, Lord Marquis."

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Marquis. Rest assured, we will do our utmost to ensure the supply of provisions."

The three of them bowed repeatedly, their faces beaming with joy.

Zhang Yuan waved his hand, and the three of them slowly withdrew to the back hall, where they breathed a sigh of relief.

"The majesty of the Marquis of Qingyang is truly... truly unbearable to look directly at..." Xu Heng looked out of the courtyard and sighed softly.

The other two nodded and walked out, still feeling lingering fear.

"We'll keep an eye on the supplies again. If anything goes wrong, we'll lose our heads..."

The three had only just walked away when Luo Hongxiu, holding a scroll of paper in her hand, quietly went to the back room.

"My lord, as expected, the three kingdoms of Qi, Zhao, and Wei have all set their sights on grain supplies."

"Qi's grain requisition is a scorched-earth policy; Zhao hasn't taken any major actions, but it's putting pressure on the Qin grain merchants. As for Wei—"

Luo Hongxiu lowered her voice: "Besides blocking trade routes by water, we also block land-based grain routes."

"According to the Xuanji Division, they are preparing to block the trade route through Luoying Gorge."

Zhang Yuan nodded, unfolded the scroll of paper that Luo Hongxiu had given him, and his eyes revealed a deep look.

"Shouldn't the demonic cultivators from Tengzhou have arrived in Eastern Wei by now?"

"Yuwentuo offered 100,000 able-bodied men in exchange for 3,000 demonic cultivators from the Blood River Sect. If I were to save these 100,000 men, how would Yuwentuo face the world?"

His words startled Luo Hongxiu, who quickly asked, "My lord, are you going to Eastern Wei?"

(End of this chapter)