The God of Heavens

Chapter 246 Before the army even moved, the enemy chieftain had already surrendered.

Guided by the black-scaled python, Lin Yu quickly explored the entire lair of the Twelve Linked Forts.

Heshan Water Margin is located on a secluded large island.

The night was quiet and the defenses were tight. On the mountaintop, sentry towers stood in rows, and during the day one could see for dozens of miles around. This was the highest point!
Every hidden spot on the mountain is guarded by hidden sentries and visible posts, with skilled guards everywhere.

In the training ground in the center of the island, Hong Tao, the chief of the island, is practicing his spear skills.

His spear flashed like a dragon, cutting through the wind. The tip gleamed coldly, seemingly tearing through the void. His spear techniques were unpredictable, sometimes a sudden, fierce attack, sometimes a serpentine strike, darting and coiling. The spear shadows were numerous, displaying the aura of a grandmaster.

"Excellent marksmanship!" Lin Yu secretly praised, but then saw Hong Tao suddenly stop, flick his spear, and point the tip directly at his hiding place:

"Who is this extraordinary person, sneaking into my Twelve Linked Forts at night?"

Lin Yu laughed loudly, and the Yin God appeared, radiating boundless light, with moonlight pouring down like silver ribbons.

In the radiance, a divine statue appeared, crystal clear and solemn. A halo behind its head illuminated the entire island as bright as day, revealing everything.

Hong Tao's pupils contracted sharply, and his spear unconsciously moved horizontally in front of his chest: "Astral projection? Who are you, sir? I, Hong, have never offended a Taoist master of your caliber."

"When you robbed the imperial tribute, did you ever think of this day?" Lin Yu's voice was slightly cold, echoing in the night sky.

"You're someone from the imperial court?!"

"Hong Tao, the imperial army has arrived. Surrender and you may escape death." Lin Yu's divine light flickered, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"With your marksmanship, if you were willing to abandon the darkness and embrace the light, the court would surely allow you to realize your ambitions, which would be better than ending up with your head separated from your body."

"Don't even think about surrendering to the imperial court!" Hong Tao's eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward, thrusting his spear straight at the enemy!

"kill!"

With a single thrust of his spear, the world seemed to change color. Lin Yu felt as if the space around him had been forcibly torn apart, leaving him isolated in a tiny space.

The martial arts essence contained in that spear strike transformed the area within a ten-zhang radius into a cage of spear energy, leaving no way to avoid it!

Before the spear tip even arrived, the sharp intent of the spear had already caused the Yin spirit to ache.

Such astonishing and awe-inspiring marksmanship is truly an interpretation of martial arts.

"So you've already cultivated to the pinnacle of the innate state of unity of spirit and body. No wonder you're so confident."

Lin Yu smiled calmly, it seemed this person still harbored some illusions.

"Since you want to die, then don't blame me!"

Upon seeing this, Lin Yu's eyes turned cold, and his Yin Spirit suddenly shone with a clear light. Above the sky, moonlight cascaded down like a waterfall, condensing into a crystal-clear moonlight dharma body before him.

The body of the King of Precious Moonlight!
The moment the Dharma image appeared, the entire island was instantly plunged into icy cold. Moonlight, like a chain, descended from the heavens, freezing everything within a hundred feet. Frost covered the vegetation, the lake froze, and even the air seemed to solidify.

Hong Tao's earth-shattering spear strike was frozen solid within the moonlight domain, unable to advance any further!

"What kind of Taoist magic is this?! There are actually such powerful Taoist masters! How is this possible! How is this possible!"

Hong Tao was horrified, feeling as if his blood was about to freeze.

As a master of innate supreme strength and perfect unity of spirit and body, the yang energy in his body had no effect whatsoever. The terror of this matter was like encountering a ghost or immortal in person.

However, he was also very clear that the other party was definitely not a ghost or immortal being, otherwise he would have simply surrendered.

Lin Yu's appearance was solemn, and his robes, formed from moonlight, moved without wind: "Wherever the moonlight shines, that is my domain."

Before the words were even finished, the Moonlight Avatar flicked its finger. A beam of moonlight, like a sword, pierced through Hong Tao's shoulder in an instant; before the blood could even splatter, it was frozen into scarlet ice crystals.

"The big dragon head!"

Seeing this, dozens of ruthless bandits roared and charged forward. But as soon as they stepped into the moonlight's domain, they turned into ice sculptures. As the moonlight shifted, the ice sculptures shattered inch by inch, turning into a ground covered in crystalline fragments.

Hong Tao's eyes were bloodshot. Suddenly, he pulled back his gun with a backhand motion, the tip of the gun cutting his own hand, and blood flowed down his skin.

The spear suddenly blazed with crimson light, then trembled violently, unleashing a burst of intense masculine energy and a ferocious spear shadow that barely broke through the moonlight's barrier: "Break!"

The spear moved like a dragon, carrying a death-defying intent as it pierced straight at the moonlight Dharma image!

Lin Yu simply raised his hand, and the Moonlight Dharma Image followed suit, spreading his five fingers and condensing moonlight into a wheel in his palm.

"The moon revolves."

The Moonlight Wheel slowly rotated, and Hong Tao's spear force melted away layer by layer, like snow meeting the blazing sun. The spear tip shattered inch by inch, and finally even the shaft turned into ice powder and scattered.

"Ah!" Hong Tao screamed in agony, a chill running through his body, and he stood frozen in place!
With another wave of his hand, the Moonlight Dharma Image conjured countless moonlight chains from the void, binding Hong Tao tightly. The chains pierced his flesh, directly imprisoning his muscles, bones, and meridians.

"So, are you willing to surrender?" Lin Yu's voice was as cold as moonlight.

Hong Tao knelt on the ice, gazing at the ice crystals scattered on the ground, and finally his face turned ashen: "I, Hong, am willing to surrender."

Although this person had been subdued, Lin Yu could not let his guard down. After all, he did not have such an expert under his command. If he were not present, no one could control this person. Therefore, Wusheng Dao Xuanming's "package" still had to be given to him. "Take me to your treasure vault," Lin Yu ordered after Hong Tao had completely become one of his own.

Inside the treasury, wealth was piled up.

Purple-gold winter melon, gold and silver utensils, a gold-inlaid jade ruyi. A green mother-of-pearl ring gleams with a soft light, a fire-element gemstone shines brilliantly, eighteen bushels of pearls are perfectly round. The ledger is densely filled with records of the amount of gold, silver and jewels.

As expected of the southern provinces, with its well-developed waterways and thriving commerce, even the river bandits were so wealthy.

After taking stock of his private property, he began to check whether any tributes to the imperial court were missing.

Among them, the various pearls presented as tribute by overseas pearl-producing countries are the most eye-catching, each one round, lustrous, and uniquely beautiful.

The nobles and royalty of Liuzhu Kingdom control the country's pearl pools, capturing women with exceptional swimming skills and training them as pearl-diving slaves.

These poor people, with heavy stones tied to their ankles, were forced to dive seven hundred feet into the ocean to harvest pearls amidst the dangers of sharks. Every pearl was soaked in blood and tears.

The most precious of the offerings was a blood coral the size of a bull's horn. Its entire body was as red as blood, and its shimmering luster seemed to pulse with life, exuding a rich spiritual energy.

Lin Yu recognized it at a glance. It was a treasure that had been preserved for more than 500 years. If it were carved into jewelry and worn, it could not only purify blood impurities and remove blood toxins, but also prolong life.

Lin Yu tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze sharp as lightning: "You guys have some nerve, daring to rob even imperial tribute? Don't you value your lives?"

Hong Tao gave a bitter smile: "My lord, you are wise. We were also tricked. Someone in the underworld spread the word that this batch of tribute was the private goods of a wealthy merchant from the South China Sea. We only found out it was an official ship after we succeeded."

"Heh, using someone else to do the dirty work." Lin Yu sneered, "Just as I thought."

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "In a few days, government troops will come to suppress the bandits."

Hong Tao was startled and was about to speak when Lin Yu raised his hand to stop him: "Don't worry, it's just acting."

"I want you to use this 'bandit suppression' campaign to clean up the unruly leaders in the Twelve Linked Forts—" Lin Yu lightly traced a line on the table with his fingertip, ""

A glint flashed in Hong Tao's eyes, and he immediately understood: "Understood, subordinate."

Lin Yu nodded in satisfaction. He didn't want the court to know yet that he had quelled the river bandits using Taoist magic.

After all, the imperial court outwardly kept matters of ghosts and gods a secret, while the princes and ministers secretly used Taoist arts and tried their best to cover it up.

“Remember,” Lin Yu stood up, moonlight swirling around him, “what I want is a beautiful victory, a fair and just victory.”

Hong Tao bowed deeply: "Your subordinate will certainly live up to your expectations, sir."

……

Half a month later.

As the sun rises, its golden rays spread across the land, instantly shimmering the Bailang River. The crests of the waves leap and ripple like broken gold, while the shadows of the clouds surge and shift in a crimson hue.

Today is the day the army sets off.

Outside Huanghe County, on the drill ground, banners fluttered and swords gleamed in the sunlight.

Two thousand soldiers stood in neat formation, each wearing brand-new leather armor, carrying steel swords, bows and arrows, heads held high and chests out, their whole bodies radiating high morale.

Lin Yu assigned the 150 soldiers he brought to the Huanghe County garrison as grassroots cadres. He ruthlessly eliminated the old and weak and launched a rigorous reorganization.

During the training period, the soldiers had meat with every meal, and Lin Yu also sent people to nearby towns to purchase medicinal herbs and brew highly nourishing soups. In just half a month, the soldiers were all full of energy and vitality.

Finally, the four battalions were reorganized, totaling two thousand men. Among them were four hundred light cavalry, one thousand two hundred spearmen, two hundred broadsword and rattan shield bearers, and two hundred crossbowmen.

Their military might was so impressive that it inspired awe.

"Your Highness's skills in training troops are truly miraculous!"

As Yan Zhen, the magistrate of Huanghe County, gazed at the impeccably disciplined troops on the drill ground, he couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.
"To have trained such a fierce and powerful army in just half a month is truly admirable! Raising soldiers is not unusual; with enough money, you can always produce strong and capable men. But military discipline is the real skill. To have such an iron army that obeys orders without question, moves with the speed of thunder, and remains as still as a deep forest in just half a month is truly remarkable!"

No, you read that right, this is the result of experience combined with technology!
Lin Yu chuckled inwardly upon hearing this, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. He looked out over the training ground, his hands behind his back, at the imposing, imposing military formation. He thought to himself, "If it weren't for the Soul-Sealing Technique that hypnotizes them day and night, how could they have trained such an iron army in just half a month?"

For the past two weeks, every night, Lin Yu's spirit would leave his body and wander through the military camp, his divine power silently seeping into the soldiers' dreams.

Those ideas of discipline, obedience, and bravery were thus deeply imprinted in the hearts and minds of the soldiers even in their sleep.

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” Lin Yu’s lips curled slightly. “It’s not too late to train him slowly after this matter is settled.”

……

With a thousand sails racing and a massive army pressing in, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

Although Lin Yu's army was newly trained, their opponents were equally disorganized. Previously, they had only managed to escape the imperial court's encirclement and suppression efforts by taking advantage of the complex waterways of Heshan Marsh.

This time, however, was completely different. Lin Yu possessed detailed hydrographic intelligence and, with the Shuiyang governor's armored flying wheel warships as the vanguard, his offensive was unstoppable. More importantly, the enemy's leader, Hong Tao, had already defected.

Whenever Lin Yu recalled the expressions on those people's faces when they discovered Hong Tao's betrayal, he couldn't help but laugh—their astonished looks, as if saying, "We were about to fight to the death, why did Your Majesty surrender first?" were utterly incredulous.

(End of this chapter)