Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 326 335 Balance of Power, Opportunity

"This is like swine fever; before I've even made a move, he's already issuing a denunciation of me."

"Together we have rendered meritorious service in serving the king, and have not disobeyed the orders of the former monarch. Now look upon the realm today, whose empire truly is this?"

"damn it!"

Li Yisheng slammed the memorial onto the table, cursing under his breath, but his face showed little anger.

After all, they are old rivals, and we can basically guess what they will do.

The original plan was to launch an eastward expedition after consolidating the imperial court; now it's just that the timeline has been brought forward.

He adopted this posture to gauge his subordinates' attitude.

The saying goes that important matters are discussed in small meetings. At this moment, there were no other officials in the Liangyi Hall, only the Thirteen Protectors were seated.

"This Zhu scoundrel, with his ass on fire, still dares to mess with me! Godfather, I'm willing to be the vanguard and strip this old pig and dog naked!"

"I'm also willing to be a pioneer!"

"me too!"

"."

The gangsters jumped out one after another, all of them full of fighting spirit. Only the eldest brother Li Siyuan, the third brother Li Cunxu, and the thirteenth brother Li Cunxiao remained silent.

Li Yisheng was naturally pleased to see his adopted sons so enthusiastic.

Having been in the capital for two months, surrounded by dazzling lights and bustling prosperity, I found myself losing my ambition.

Fortunately, although these people indulged in debauchery, they didn't lose their sense of propriety.

However, he also knew that most of the Taibao were only good at fighting and not good at governing, so he only verified their loyalty and then turned his attention to Li Siyuan.

"Siyuan, you're the Grand Protector, what do you say about this battle?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Siyuan spoke, and the crowd fell silent:
“Godfather, Yang Huayuan’s move has drawn the Mingzun and Maoshan Zhenren into a standoff. Now Zhu Quanzhong is missing a Grandmaster-level combatant by his side, which is indeed our opportunity.”

"But to say that we can take over the Central Plains in one battle is too radical. After all, there is still Yelü Yi in the north, and it is impossible to transfer all our troops to the Central Plains."

"Therefore, I believe that the goal of this battle should at least be to recapture Luoyang, and ideally, to push the battle line to Caizhou."

"Caizhou is bordered by Shannan to the west and Huainan to the east. Occupying this area is tantamount to planting a nail in Zhu Quanzhong's foot."

"Firstly, this would sever the connection between Ma Yin and Zhu Quanzhong. Since Ma Yin has no capable generals under his command and can only stand alone, we would have an opportunity to take over Shannan Road."

"Secondly, it was to establish a connection with Yang Huayuan and use Huainan as a springboard. Then, we would help Liu Shouguang resist Qida and force him to cede Wei and Bo prefectures."

"In this way, with attacks from both the north and south, the Zhu traitor will fall into our trap, and his destruction is only a matter of time."

As soon as Li Siyuan finished speaking, Li Cunxu was the first to respond:
"Good, elder brother's plan is steady and methodical, a truly wise approach."

"But now, heroes are rising up everywhere, and everyone is accumulating strength. If you wait and I wait, when will we be able to conquer the world? Who can guarantee that nothing will go wrong?"

Li Yisheng remained silent upon hearing this, while Li Siyuan frowned and asked:
"What does Third Brother think we should do?"

"We must achieve our goal in one decisive battle!"

Li Cunxu's words were enough to make not only his men but also the bodyguards of the old man's party, like Kang Junli, light up.

"The bandit Zhu led his elite troops to kill Gao Pian, fight a great battle against the Shence Army, and then fight a fierce battle against the Grand Master of Louguan Dao."

"As a result, several Dharma Kings were seriously injured, and the Venerable One himself did not fare well either."

"Now that Master Yuanfu of Maoshan has taken action to restrain Mingzun, this is a golden opportunity that comes once in a lifetime."

"While he is preoccupied, we should make a swift advance, first slay the traitor Zhu, and then use the power of Maoshan to kill the Mingzun."

"As for the northern border, let Yelü Yi cause trouble for now. Once we have taken over Henan Province, we will march north."

"If Liu Shouguang dies, that's good. Yelü Yi doesn't have any spiritual treasures, so we can just give him a few remote small states in the north and take over the strategic passes."

"In this way, the prosperous Central Plains will be under our control, and Ma Yin, intimidated by the might of Heaven, will also surrender Shannan Road."

"In that case, it would be safer to proceed with the step-by-step strategy that you suggested, elder brother."

After these words were spoken, Li Cunshen and several other bodyguards cheered, while Kang Junli and Li Cunjin secretly glanced at Li Siyuan.

The latter did not get angry; instead, he regained his composure.

"Third Brother's plan sounds good, but it's actually a gamble."

"If the Mingzun abandons his entanglement with Yuanfu Zhenren and joins forces with Zhu Quanzhong, wouldn't that put his adoptive father in danger?"

"If Yelü Yi were to face three against one again, just like last time, not only would we lose Hebei, but we might also lose our homeland in Hedong."

"Fortune favors the bold, elder brother, do not hesitate!"

"My godfather is a pillar of Hedong; we cannot risk our lives for him!"

"Does elder brother doubt Father's strength? When has our Flying Tiger Banner ever been felled by the enemy?"

The atmosphere in the Liangyi Hall froze again, and everyone couldn't help but look at Li Yisheng at the head of the table.

The latter frowned, clearly finding it difficult to make a decision.

One is steady and methodical, the other is unconventional and surprising; both are correct in a sense.

The sacred grounds of terrestrial immortals are only a few hundred meters in circumference; how could they possibly know everything in the world?

There are too many variables in the process of carrying out an event, and the outcome can only be known after it is done.

Based on Li Yisheng's personality, he would naturally prefer a quick victory.

With Mingzun currently injured and Yelü Yi being of a different ethnicity and busy expanding his Liao Kingdom, this is definitely a good opportunity to kill Zhu Quanzhong.

As for the risks, those are the costs we have to bear, there's nothing more to say about them.

But as the leader, Li Yisheng also knew that how long and how far this battle would go was not entirely up to him.

"Thirteenth Prince, how long are the funds and provisions we've raised enough to fight?"

Sensing the gazes of the crowd, Li Cunxiao silently calculated in his mind:
"Right now, we have 300,000 troops in Hedong, and we are still collecting money and grain. If they can be delivered in time, it should be enough to last for about six months."

"Half a year?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions varied. Li Yisheng closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again, having already made his decision:

"An imperial edict was issued, bestowing upon Liu Shouguang the title of Prince of Yan, and granting him permission to establish his own government and military headquarters."

"Send another letter privately, telling him that Hedong is willing to form an alliance with him to fight against Qida, but he must hold out until the army arrives."

"Add Yang Huayuan as King of Wu and Qian Jumei as King of Yue, and order the orthodox Taoist sects of Maoshan and Magushan to work together to eradicate the evil cult."

"Furthermore, Li Cunxiao is appointed Military Commander, and Li Siben and Li Si'en will each lead one thousand elite troops, while the three of you will remain to guard the capital."

"The rest of you, return to your camps for reorganization and training. Three days later, the main army will march east!"

Li Siyuan sighed upon hearing this, while Li Cunxu beamed with joy.

Although he bestowed the title of king upon three kings at once, it was clear that Li Yisheng did not intend to part with any of his precious power and instead chose his son's suggestion.

Mount Magu and Mount Mao were merely incidental; a Grandmaster cannot be mobilized with a single decree. This was simply taking a chance, even if there was no guarantee of success. However, Yang Huayuan and Liu Shouguang received official titles from the court, which would at least make recruiting soldiers easier and somewhat deplete the strength of Qida and Zhu Quanzhong.

"Leader!"

Regardless of the previous arguments, once Li Yisheng made his decision, no one could question it.

The machine, cobbled together by the warlords of Hedong and the old imperial court in the capital, began to rumble under the drive of war.

With three days to reorganize the army, Li Cunxiao, as the military commander, was naturally extremely busy and couldn't even find time to cultivate.

He not only had to prepare money and provisions, but also check the quantity of military equipment, and replenish any shortages or damages in a timely manner.

With time running out and the task heavy, and with several Taibao's personal guards taking close care of them, it was inevitable that some people would fall behind.

Some arrogant individuals, unfamiliar with the methods of the Thirteen Protectors, came to the Ministry of War to cause trouble. Li Cunxiao showed no mercy and dealt with them all according to military law, throwing them out.

Because of his rigorous and tough style, outstanding talent and strength, and his control over logistics, Li Cunxiao's status was subtly above that of the other Taibao, second only to the Grand Taibao Li Siyuan and the Third Taibao Li Cunxu.

In Buddhist scriptures, Vaishravana, the king of gods, is attended by five princes and eight yakshas, ​​making a total of thirteen people.

In the past, the army regarded Li Siyuan as the eldest prince and Li Cunxu as the second prince. Now, Li Cunxiao is also being called the "third prince".

But these were just topics of conversation during his busy schedule. As the person involved, Li Cunxiao only felt relieved when he saw the vast army set off and the dust and smoke disappear away from the capital.

"Thirteenth brother, you've been working so hard these past few days, I'm really worried you'll get too tired."

"Yes, go back and get some rest. I'll treat you another day, we must have a drink together."

"Sixth Brother and Seventh Brother are too kind. The King has left the three of us to guard the capital, so of course we should get to know each other well. I am really exhausted, so I will take my leave first."

With a smile on his face, Li Cunxiao bid farewell to the two men dressed as military officers, went down the city gate, entered the carriage, and the expression on his face gradually faded.

With a flick of his whip, Li Guangyi's magnificent carriage, painted in vermilion and gold, slowly moved forward, its path cleared by his armored guards wielding long halberds, taking ten steps in front and behind.

When pedestrians saw him, they all avoided him, their eyes filled with awe, and some even showed gratitude, but Li Cunxiao could not see any of this.

"Guangyi, I asked you to inquire about the Sixth and Seventh Protectors. What did you find out?"

Faced with his elder brother's test, Li Guangyi, whose back was already straight, couldn't help but straighten up a bit.

"Li Siben, the Sixth Protector, and Li Si'en, the Seventh Protector, were among the first group of generals to follow Prince Jin."

"These two men served as commanders of the personal guard in the Flying Cavalry under the Prince of Jin for many years."

"We have no dealings with either the First Taibao or the Third Taibao."

Li Cunxiao tapped his knee lightly with his fingers, "Those are the loyal subjects like me."

"However, these two men have ten times the number of my troops combined—why do you think that is?"

Upon hearing this, Li Guangyi's expression turned serious. He gave a wink to the guard beside him and then turned and entered the carriage.

With a flick of his finger, Li Cunxiao unleashed a burst of true energy, which spread like a drop of water, covering and sealing the entire carriage.

Seeing this, Li Guangyi finally spoke:
"It's to keep the eldest brother in check."

"As the military commander, my elder brother holds a high position and wields great power. When the army goes on a campaign, as long as it is not a grandmaster returning from Hedong, my elder brother is the one who calls the shots in the capital."

"Given our recent close ties with the nobility, the Prince of Jin must have some concerns."

"Brother's combat prowess is extraordinary, therefore we must leave behind a force of one or two thousand men to ensure his safety."

Li Guangyi was halfway through his sentence when he noticed Li Cunxiao looking at him with a smile inexplicably spreading across his face.

"Did I said wrong thing?"

No, you're absolutely right.

Li Cunxiao patted his younger brother on the shoulder, his heart filled with relief.

When I was fifteen or sixteen years old in my past life, I spent all my time in internet cafes.

At his age, Li Guangyi was already able to make connections with lower-ranking soldiers and analyze the political situation on his behalf.

Such talent was developed in just two months. Li Cunxiao sometimes wondered if his previous overprotection of his younger brother had backfired.
"If my elder brother is ever granted the title of king in the future, he won't appoint an heir; he'll just pass it on to you directly."

Since Taiyi's death, Li Cunxiao has mostly remained silent, even when at home.

It was rare for him to make a joke, and Li Guangyi was touched, so he smiled and said:
"If my elder brother passes it on to me, what about my nephew?"

"Let's talk about it after he gives birth."

The higher a martial artist's skill level, the more difficult it is for them to have offspring.

Taiyi Zhenren was young and romantic, which is why he had a posthumous child.

Li Cunxiao is now a seventh-level martial artist, and his wife Ye Shuyi is a sixth-level martial artist. If they get together, it will be difficult to have any results in less than two or three years.

Of course, if he wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult for him to refine a whole batch of pills, but there's no need for that for the time being.

Compared to the other bodyguards, he was a newcomer and lacked strength, which resulted in a low status.

Their strength hasn't increased much yet, but their status is rising like a rocket.

Controlling the logistics of a large army is like sitting on a jar of lard; you can easily make a fortune with a single scoop, attracting countless envious eyes.

The fact that Li Yisheng is not letting him go to the battlefield now is not only because he cherishes this alchemist, but also because it may be a "probationary period" or "evaluation period".

Without going to the battlefield, he would lack the killing aura, and could only cultivate step by step.

At the current pace, it would be quite good if he could become a grandmaster before the age of forty.

This speed would be a pleasant surprise for most people, but for Li Cunxiao, who had some ideas in mind, it was a bit like crawling along.

“These feudal lords fight every three days and every five days. Twenty years is too long, and there are too many variables.”

"With the Vajra Pestle, I will break through to the Grandmaster level by the age of thirty at the latest; and I will break through the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends by the age of forty."

"The rare and precious materials given to me by Changsun Fu and the others have already been fed to the Crimson Dragon. This will replenish the energy cycle of the Dragon Palace Secret Realm's small world, enhance spiritual energy, and accelerate cultivation."

"Secondly, once the secret realm is fully restored, we can secretly raise assassins inside for future use."

“Li Yisheng left Li Siben and Li Sien to keep him in check and balance; I don’t have the time to cause trouble in the rear.”

Li Cunxiao got off the carriage and returned to the cultivation room in the Duke of Yue's mansion. He took out a talisman with the Vajra Warrior and the secret characters of the seed drawn on it. This was the means of communication that Qici had given him.

He channeled his true energy into it, his lips moved as he spoke something, and then the warrior on the talisman transformed into a small golden figure, detached from the talisman, and disappeared into the ground.

Li Cunxiao carefully put away the talisman, summoned his avatar, and began cultivating on his own.

Half an hour later, golden light returned from underground.

Li Cunxiao received the talisman paper, pretending to listen, and smiled slightly after a moment.

The giant Buddha in Huayin County was his greatest hope for promotion, but he hadn't dared to act rashly before because of Li Yisheng and others.

Now, the opportunity has come.

(End of this chapter)