Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 367 377 The Pacification of the Rebellion in Fengtian (Part Two)

"If there are no upright ministers in the court and there are treacherous and evil people within, we must train troops to punish them and cleanse the court of evil!"

"Now that disaster has befallen me, I truly wish to survive, but I have no other choice!"

"Righteousness and wickedness are irreconcilable enemies, and we must carry out divine punishment to secure the nation. Heaven and earth, and the gods, bear witness to my heart!"

In the Dengzhou camp, Li Cunxiao stood on the command platform and delivered a passionate speech.

Below the high platform, the eight thousand elite soldiers seemed to feel the same way, and everyone was filled with righteous indignation.

This morning, the contents of an imperial edict spread throughout the army, causing an uproar like cold water being poured into boiling oil.

The imperial edict stated that the northern barbarian Liao Kingdom coveted the Central Plains and intended to commit treason, and urgently summoned the Song King to Qianfeng.

However, the situation was urgent and the army could not afford to delay. Also, considering the stability of the several states in the East China Sea, only one thousand elite soldiers were allowed to be brought. If they failed to do so within the allotted time, it would be considered a delay in military operations and they would be punished according to the law.

The terms and conditions were extremely harsh, making it almost unbelievable that they came from the current emperor's edict.

In the hearts of the Dragon Armor Army, King Song was almost synonymous with the Holy King, leading troops in battle and governing the people on foot, possessing both literary and martial talents.

He possesses both the compassion of a bodhisattva and the ruthlessness of a thunderbolt; he is truly the embodiment of a pillar of the nation.

However, the imperial court took such a step when the Song king had repeatedly made military achievements, which was truly disheartening.

However, once Li Cunxiao stepped forward and explained, the soldiers immediately understood the reason:

The King of Qin and the King of Jin have been envious of the King of Song's achievements for a long time, and they must have taken advantage of their king's absence while leading troops to slander and frame him.

There are incompetent rulers and treacherous officials in the imperial court!

Regardless of the emperor's role in it, now that treacherous officials are trying to harm loyal and virtuous people, not one of the eight thousand men on the drill ground can stand by and do it.

Ultimately, Li Cunxiao was too good to his subordinates. Whether it was pay or rewards for killing enemies, he would personally check and distribute them one by one.

He could call out the names of every single one of the tens of thousands of soldiers in the army and knew the circumstances of each family.

A man will die for one who understands him. He has never been wronged, whether in terms of benefits or friendship. If he does not give his life now, when will he?
"By the mandate of Heaven, we shall quell the rebellion, kill the traitors, and punish the rebels!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, we shall quell the rebellion, kill the traitors, and punish the rebels!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, we shall quell the rebellion, kill the traitors, and punish the rebels!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, we shall quell the rebellion, kill the traitors, and punish the rebels!"

It's unclear who spoke first, but the chaotic slogans quickly became unified, and the blood of thousands surged, their morale solidified, and soared into the sky.

Li Guangyi glanced at the few trusted confidants he had arranged in advance in the crowd, but he was not worried about it.

The entire Dragon Armor Army was established by the two brothers, and Li Cunxiao's prestige was absolute.

Even if it were a rebellion instead of a campaign to quell the rebellion, these people would not hesitate.

What he was more worried about was the operation to quell the rebellion.

My elder brother just returned this morning. Upon seeing the forged imperial edict, he immediately began preparing to mobilize the army. We're setting off tomorrow, which is quite rushed.

Certainly, the soldiers received the favors and had no complaints, but the key question was, how should this battle be fought?
Even someone as lowly as the second-in-command could guess that this whole thing was orchestrated by the First and Third Brothers, because they would benefit the most from eliminating Li Cunxiao, their rival.

This means that at least two grandmasters would have to join forces, so Li Cunxiao would need to bring Qi Ci along to have any chance of winning.

But even if they win, they will still have to face Li Yisheng, whose attitude is unclear.

The latter was, after all, a military leader in Hedong. Who knew if he would favor Li Siyuan and Li Cunxu? The latter was even his own son.

It was too hasty, too reckless; it's not something a thoughtful and far-sighted elder brother would do.

On the other hand, precisely because Li Cunxiao was always far-sighted and never did anything unprepared, Li Guangyi still chose to trust him unconditionally, even though he sensed there were hidden secrets.

In short, after a mobilization, and with the departure scheduled for the next day, time was of the essence, and the various arrangements for Dengzhou needed to be accelerated.

Fortunately, the Liang army stationed there was not very elite, and the Dragon Armor Army captured it without suffering any significant losses.

Now, we only need to follow the precedent and execute those who commit numerous evils, while keeping and reorganizing those with fewer misdeeds.

Since those prisoners with higher cultivation levels have already had their dantian sealed or killed, it is sufficient to leave one thousand Dragon Armor soldiers to guard and protect them.

Li Guangyi was so busy that he finally finished dealing with military affairs in the middle of the night.

At this time, the main tent of the central army commander was still lit. He lifted the curtain and went in. Sure enough, Li Cunxiao had already set up several tables with some snacks and fruits to go with the wine.

"Coming? Sit down."

After his younger brother sat down, Li Cunxiao poured two cups of wine and handed one to him:
"Don't you think your older brother's decision was sudden?"

“That’s right.” Even though the two brothers’ status is very different now than before, they still speak frankly and directly.

"What exactly happened during the seven days my brother was gone?"

"In this Jingnan Rebellion, the biggest opponent is not Li Siyuan and Li Cunxu, but the one on the dragon throne."

"Brother, are you confident?"

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao smiled, remained silent, and gestured for the former to drink.

Although Li Guangyi had a lot of questions, he still raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp upon seeing this.

The moment the wine touched his lips, his expression changed instantly. He looked up at Li Cunxiao in disbelief, slamming the golden cup in his hand onto the table.
"Brother, what...what did you put in the drink?"

"It's nothing, just a tiny bit of spiritual energy from heaven and earth."

"Is it really only a little bit? But it feels so strong!!!"

With a swift movement, Li Guangyi wielded the Divine Weapon Mind Staff, unleashing a flurry of techniques to dissipate the immense medicinal power.

During this process, his breath rapidly increased, moving at a speed as fast as a rocket.

Logically speaking, in the past few years in Wenzhou, with the help of the Embracing Elixir Method, he advanced to the fifth realm at the age of twenty-two, which could be considered outstanding even in the Louguan Sect.

After that, the process of achieving the Ninefold Elixir is a slow and painstaking one. Even with Li Cunxiao around and no shortage of resources, it would still take Li Guangyi five or six years, given his original aptitude.

If one can break through the Heavenly Ladder before the age of thirty, that would be at the level of a true disciple of a holy land's prodigy, which is extremely rare.

But now, after drinking what seemed like an ordinary glass of wine, the progress of our daily grind suddenly accelerated dramatically.

Li Guangyi's face flushed red as he felt the inner core swirling within his dantian, the lines on it increasing from three to four, five, and six.
"A great battle is imminent. Although I am quite confident, swords have no eyes, and the battlefield is unpredictable. It is always a good thing if my younger brother is stronger."

Li Cunxiao's ritual was quietly set out, making the sounds and lights in the tents seem normal.

Otherwise, if the guards passed by and saw the shadows of Li Guangyi wielding his staff in the main tent, they might fabricate a story about the shadow of the candle and the sound of the axe.

After struggling for half an hour, Li Guangyi's breathing gradually stabilized at the peak of the Core Formation stage, and he finally calmed down.

At this moment, he showed no signs of fatigue; on the contrary, he was full of energy, exhaling heavy, turbid air and inhaling pure, ethereal air, his face radiating a jade-like glow.

"The medicinal power in this cup of wine is equivalent to half a golden pill, enough for you to digest until you reach the Xuan Guan (a point in the body's energy center)."

"Golden elixir?!"

Li Guangyi was initially pleased, but upon hearing this, his heart tightened.

"Brother, the Golden Core is for Grandmasters; it would be a waste to give it to me."

“It’s not what you think,” Li Cunxiao said, gesturing for him to sit down.

"You think the Golden Elixir is valuable, but what exactly makes it so valuable?"

"Medicinal effects?"

“Wrong,” Li Cunxiao shook his head.

"Grandmasters and great grandmasters have powerful primordial spirits and are in harmony with heaven and man. They absorb spiritual energy on their own, which is more effective than ordinary pills."

"If it's just about spiritual power, who do you think is more efficient, Li Yisheng or me in the past?"

Li Guangyi shook his head, not knowing, but a few words in the conversation stirred something within him.

Is it Li Yisheng, not His Majesty?
The former boss? That means we can at least be on equal footing now?
"It's based on legal principles," Li Cunxiao said without keeping anyone in suspense.

"The value of the Golden Elixir lies in its containing of the principles of Dharma, forming a microcosm of its own. This is of great significance to both the Dharma Image of a Grandmaster and the External Realm of a Great Grandmaster."

"The reason I said you ate half a pill is because the wine only contains spiritual energy, not legal principles."

“Such pure spiritual nectar used to take me some effort to obtain, but after killing Zhu Quanzhong, my cultivation level has improved, so it’s nothing now.”

What Li Cunxiao didn't say was that he did this because he didn't want to force things to grow too quickly. After all, the Nine Revolutions of the Elixir Formation was a slow and steady process, and a little acceleration wouldn't hurt. But the requirements for refining the mind would become increasingly higher in the later Heavenly Ladder and Profound Pass stages, and one could only rely on oneself, not others.

If you do everything for someone, you might end up ruining their future. Sometimes, the line between spoiling someone and killing them is very thin.

"I see," Li Guangyi finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"So, my elder brother has been away these past few days. He's been dealing with Zhu Quanzhong. I knew it!"

"Um?!"

Seeing Li Guangyi's jaw drop in astonishment, Li Cunxiao then sent his clone out and recounted the whole story of how he had seized the opportunity to make his move while the three Grandmasters, including Li Yisheng, were engaged in battle.

After hearing this explanation, Li Guangyi suddenly understood.

Even Zhu Quanzhong, a renowned grandmaster, was defeated by his elder brother, and the day after tomorrow, the bag also fell into their hands.

Although this Jingnan campaign still appears to be a gamble, the risks have undoubtedly been brought back to an acceptable level.

Li Guangyi was in excellent condition after taking the Golden Elixir and did not need to sleep.

The two brothers talked late into the night by candlelight, and Li Cunxiao simply revealed his plans, which made Li Guangyi's emotions rise and fall.

As dawn broke, the army set up cooking stations and had a hearty meal. After the training was completed, the two brothers were finally fully armed and made their appearance together.

Seeing these endless banners again, Li Guangyi's feelings were different from yesterday.

'I thought it was just about fighting the King of Qin and the King of Jin, but my elder brother's intention is clearly to...'

'This path is fraught with peril; one wrong move could have dire consequences. But victory, however, will leave its mark on history, and today will be the first step in changing the world.'

Looking at the eight thousand elite soldiers in perfect formation, Li Cunxiao was filled with pride.

To be on the safe side, the best course of action would have been to bring back all the troops stationed along the way and then lead a massive army to Qianfeng.

However, the longer it drags on, the more time the other side has to react, creating many potential problems later on.

Since that's the case, let's finish this quickly.

He's going to wage a blitzkrieg!

"All troops, board the ships!"

Boarding a boat? Not mounting a horse?
The soldiers were puzzled, but the next moment, ripples like water spread across the void.

Under the astonished gazes of thousands, hundreds of dragon-headed flying boats slowly materialized.

Surrounded by the small dragon boats, there was also a colossal dragon boat carrying the city's palaces.

The shadow cast by the object almost blocked out the sun, causing the people of Dengzhou to crane their necks to watch and shout that it was a sign of divine intervention and auspiciousness.

Although Li Guangyi knew of the existence of the Lingbao Dragon Boat, this was the first time he had seen it in the world, and he was deeply shocked.

If he was like this, one can only imagine how fervent the Dragon Armor Army soldiers were, their eyes burning with a desire to elevate Li Cunxiao to the highest heavens.

"All troops, board the ships!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, we shall quell the rebellion, kill the traitors, and punish the rebels!"

Li Guangyi clenched his fists in excitement, while the soldiers who boarded the dragon boat blushed, veins bulged on their necks, and they shouted at the top of their lungs.

They didn't know anything about magical treasures; they only knew that the person who created such a miracle was guiding them from ahead.

He also had a vague feeling that the success or failure of this event would determine the fate of the rest of his life.

This might be the only opportunity you'll ever have in your lifetime!
"By the mandate of Heaven, we shall quell the rebellion, kill the traitors, and punish the rebels!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, we shall quell the rebellion, kill the traitors, and punish the rebels!"

"May the King of Song be victorious! May the King of Song be victorious!"

"May the King of Song be victorious! May the King of Song be victorious!"

boom! ! ! ! !
The raging air currents transformed into a tornado, and the roar that broke the sound barrier sounded like thunder.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred dragon boats surrounded the giant red dragon ship and flew away like shooting stars!
Chenqiao Post Station.

"What's going on with Li Cunxiao?"

"There's been no movement yet. There's been no unusual activity in Jiannan, Songzhou, or Mizhou."

"No abnormality is the biggest abnormality."

Li Siyuan frowned and waved for Li Sizhao to leave.

The idea of ​​eliminating Li Cunxiao was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Rather, it should be said that he had the intention to kill him a month ago when Li Yisheng summoned him back to be granted the title of king.

Li Cunxiao's subsequent series of meritorious deeds further solidified his resolve.

Spy agents were deployed in advance to various locations, using special methods to ensure that intelligence was transmitted back as soon as possible.

The eight thousand elite troops under his command were also secretly transferred over under various pretexts.

Adding Li Cunxu's six thousand Silver Spear Soldiers, the total army numbered over ten thousand.

These are all elite soldiers selected from the vanguard, whose cultivation is no less than that of the internal organs. They represent the wealth that he and Li Cunxu have accumulated little by little over the past few decades.

"Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit."

“Besides his personal guards, my third brother also brought 10,000 soldiers. In total, there are nearly 30,000 troops. Even if Li Cunxiao realizes something is wrong and the whole army turns back, his strength will not be half of ours.”

As Li Siyuan assessed the relative strengths of the enemy and himself, his anxiety gradually subsided.

“But Your Majesty, it seems to me that the Prince of Jin’s ten thousand soldiers are prepared for you.”

Li Siyuan smiled upon hearing this, looking at the middle-aged man sitting to his left.

"That's right. If my third brother makes any moves after Li Cunxiao is eliminated, I will have to ask Grand Tutor Yang to clean up the mess for me."

Upon hearing this, Yang Shihou couldn't help but smile wryly.

Zhu Quanzhong's power was waning, so he had no choice but to assess the situation and, after much deliberation, secretly sided with Li Siyuan.

Therefore, the so-called stalemate between the two armies is nothing more than a charade.

But who would have thought that his first act of loyalty after switching jobs would be to participate in the struggle between the three kings?

“Li Cunxiao is just a newly promoted grandmaster. If Your Majesty and the Prince of Jin join forces, they should be able to win.”

"Now we should be worried about whether His Majesty has any backup plans?"

"After all, with the Central Plains about to be unified and the Liao Kingdom eyeing it covetously, His Majesty should not be willing to lose strength for nothing."

Yang Shihou's words struck a nerve with Li Siyuan.

If he were the emperor, he wouldn't want his subordinates to fight amongst themselves at a crucial moment.

The dispute over succession has a long history, and Li Cunxiao's threat is obvious to all.

Can they tolerate it? Can they afford to wait?
"Our godfather probably knows what we're going to do."

"But, the arrow is already on the string, and it must be released."

"This time, even if it doesn't come down to life or death, we must at least determine a winner."

"The position of Crown Prince has been vacant for far too long; I must seize this opportunity."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Siyuan and Yang Shihou suddenly felt a sharp pain between their brows, and a strong chill shot straight to their heads.

The two men's expressions turned serious. The former made a gesture, and the latter immediately vanished without a trace.

The next moment, Li Siyuan soared into the sky, and Li Cunxu in the opposite camp also soared into the sky. The two of them stared nervously at the end of the sky.

The sea of ​​clouds rolled and surged, like waves rushing forth;

Sunlight broke through the clouds, and golden light shone on the dragon boat, making it appear as if a group of dragons were soaring through the clouds.

The little dragon led the way, followed by a crimson dragon, hundreds or thousands of feet long, pressing down on the sky. On the dragon boat, spiritual energy condensed into enormous banners, with four large characters prominently displayed—

Fengtian Jingnan!

(End of this chapter)