The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 269 Old Lovers Meet Again

Li Jingxiao had already planned his strategy: first capture Tsushima Island, then plot against Kyushu Island.

Finally, using Kyushu as a base, they attacked Honshu Island.

If the campaign against Honshu goes poorly, then we will seize Kyushu.

The ultimate goal was to plunge Japan back into the Warring States period.

However, Li Jingxiao would not reveal his thoughts in court.

Otherwise, there would definitely be a lot of people who would oppose it.

Once he leads his army into battle, he will submit a memorial to the court, explaining the matter of the Iwami silver mine.

At that time, I believe there will be much less opposition in the court.

If we report the outrageous claim that the monkeys will conquer the Great Zhou and settle in Ningbo, then we should report it.

Given Emperor Longde's narrow-mindedness, he would most likely agree to the eastward journey to Japan if the war went smoothly.

Even if they still disagree, they can simply instigate Koreans to be the vanguard.

The Japanese invasion killed so many Koreans; if they were to invade Japan, the Koreans would certainly be extremely vengeful.
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When Li Jingxiao left the palace, he already held the 'Royal Command Flag' and the Tiger Tally in his hand.

The guards inside and outside the palace were all filled with respect when they saw the command flag in his hand, and they bowed and saw him off.

He began to think that he should try to find some connections when he got home and see if he could earn some military merits by following the Duke of Xingguo.

The four commanders were Tang Zhijie, Chang Rui, Niu Zhanpeng, and Chen Hongsheng.

Zhao Junming and Han Mengzhuo, the two foremen in charge of training a thousand heavy cavalry, were already waiting for him outside the palace gates.

Li Jingxiao waved the tiger tally and command flag in his hand, mounted his horse Zhuifeng, and said condescendingly, "The opportunity for promotion and advancement has arrived."

Tang Zhijie and the others were overjoyed. As they watched Li Jingxiao leave, a fervent look flashed in their eyes.

Then they exchanged glances, nodded vigorously, and went to summon their subordinates, including centurions and captains.

When Li Jingxiao returned home, his wives learned that he was going to the battlefield again, and they were reluctant to let him go.

No one was worried about his safety.

Moreover, Qin Keqing was very clever and considerate, and she congratulated Yuan Chun.

Yuan Chun wasn't stupid; she knew that if her husband made another great contribution this time...

The rewards from the imperial court will most likely be received by one's own branch of the family.

Perhaps the child in my womb will be born a marquis.

Only Wang Xifeng was extremely anxious, and she also resented her own uncooperative pregnancy.

If she gets pregnant like Yuan Chun, she'll surely get some credit and rewards.

Wang Xifeng's requirements were not high; she only wished that her child would one day be granted the rank of Earl, which would be one rank higher than the county earl of her ancestors.

She could even accept whether it was hereditary or not.

If others heard her say that, they would definitely laugh at her for overestimating herself.

No title is easy to obtain, especially since she was just a concubine.

That afternoon, a series of nobles came to visit.

Their purpose was simple: they wanted Li Jingxiao to give them a chance to lead their second son and illegitimate son into battle.

Moreover, there were indeed a few families that were willing to send their eldest sons, the heirs of their families, to Liaodong.

Li Jingxiao is not someone everyone wants.

But this time, he didn't refuse everyone either.

Erfu and others were sent to personally inspect his martial arts skills.

If you want to go to the battlefield and earn merit, you at least need to be good at horsemanship, just like Jia Rong was back then.

Otherwise, it would be a burden to carry around.

This one criterion alone eliminated more than half of the young people.

Three days later, 5 cavalrymen were equipped with two or four horses each.

Just like the last time they went north, it only took fourteen days to resupply along the way before they arrived in Liaoyang.

The 8,000-strong logistics force led by Jia Rong and Shi Delong, the three brothers, arrived seven days later than the main army.

Li Jingxiao was still accompanied by Hu Xian'er and Liu Cuitong, who took care of his daily life and meals.

This time, even Qin Keqing, Yuan Chun, and Wang Xifeng did not object.

I felt that the two female demons had stayed at Zhenwu Temple for many years, so they were at least trustworthy.

As for whether she and her husband had consummated their marriage, Qin Keqing and the other two no longer cared.

They even believe that only those who have marital relations are truly loyal.

Moreover, having the two of them accompany their husband on his expedition is better than Li Jingxiao going out and bringing back several female demons.

The army stopped outside Liaoyang City and rested for three days.

At the same time, a large amount of supplies and provisions were also gathered here.

Lee Kyung-hyo had sent someone to contact Kwon Ji-ri more than ten days in advance.

However, this time he did not wait in Liaoyang City, but on the night the army rested.

She then flew to Jangheung City in Seohaedo, Goryeo, where Kwon Ji-ri was located.

Kwon Ji-ri has been staying quietly in her Yunhui General's Mansion these past few days, waiting for Lee Kyung-hyo's arrival.

Moreover, in order to please Lee Kyung-hyo, she not only dressed up beautifully every day.

He also dressed up the young and beautiful Korean girls he had found in the past two years and arranged for them to stay in a side room of his bedroom.

After waiting for several days, Kwon Ji-ri felt as if those days were dragging on endlessly.

Finally, Li Jingxiao arrived.

Upon hearing the servants' grumbling, Kwon Ji-ri quickly lifted her skirt and hurried out of the house.

Then she saw the man she had been longing for day and night, wearing a black gauze hat and black leather boots.

He was dressed in a bright red python robe, with a jade belt with three assistants around his waist.

He stood in the middle of the courtyard with a smile on his face, ignoring the samurai around him, looking at him with a kind and friendly smile.

Kwon Ji-ri burst into tears of joy, barely suppressing the urge to throw herself into Lee Kyung-hyo's arms.

Lifting her skirt, she knelt on the floor and cried out, "Your subject, Goryeo, a fifth-rank official of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, General of the Cloud Banner, Quan Zhili, pays respects to His Highness the Duke of Xingguo of the Celestial Dynasty."

The surrounding warriors and servants saw that their general and master had all knelt down.

How could he not know that the person in front of him was the nobleman of the Great Zhou Dynasty whom his general had been longing for?

Moreover, Kwon Ji-ri and her subordinates have also benefited greatly from trade in recent years.

Many of them were prisoners of war captured by the Jurchens along with Kwon Ji-ri.

I personally witnessed Li Jingxiao hovering in the air with his sword, surrounded by countless flying swords.

They easily killed over a hundred Jurchen barbarians.

He then followed the captains of the Left Garrison Command to clean up the corpses of the monsters under Lord Jinyang's command.

In her heart, she had long regarded Li Jingxiao as an immortal.

However, Li Jingxiao has never come to see Quan Zhili in the past few years. If it weren't for the fact that the business with the Duke of Xingguo's mansion had never stopped, some people might have left.

Now that Li Jingxiao has arrived, all the problems are no longer problems.

Moreover, many people see this Japanese invasion as both a crisis and an opportunity.

In particular, the general in charge of the Great Zhou army was Li Jingxiao, who dared to lead three thousand men deep into the grasslands.

The ever-victorious general who routed the Tatars.

Even after the war, the Tatars themselves almost collapsed.

For the past two years or so, the grasslands have been a place where big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp.

That meant a small beating every three days and a big beating every month.

The internal situation is very chaotic.

It will take at least three to five years for things to settle down.

Not to mention threatening the Great Zhou, the northern border of Goryeo has been quite peaceful for the past two years.

Li Jingxiao's figure flashed, but he did not use any supernatural powers.

Instead, he used the Spiral Nine Shadows lightness skill to appear in front of Kwon Ji-ri.

To those around him, nine figures remained behind Li Jingxiao.

This move was even more shocking than suddenly appearing in front of Kwon Ji-ri. Sometimes, how skilled you are isn't important; how good your presentation is is.

Lee Kyung-hyo reached out to help the excited Kwon Ji-ri up, and said with a smile, "How have you been these past two years?"

Unexpectedly, just that one sentence made the woman unable to resist throwing herself into his arms.

She pressed her face against Li Jingxiao's chest, her arms tightly wrapped around him.

She sobbed in his arms, her voice choked with emotion.

Lee Kyung-hyo smiled and put his arm around Kwon Ji-ri, offering a few words of comfort.

This woman was probably just too excited.

She couldn't stop crying.

Lee Kyung-hyo simply picked up Kwon Ji-ri and casually tossed out four Cold Iron Gold Beans.

Four tall, golden-armored warriors, each 2 meters tall and clad in golden armor with swords at their waists, were summoned.

This move once again drew gasps of astonishment from those present.

As for their own adults being carried into the main room by Li Jingxiao, no one thought there was anything wrong with it.

They were all excitedly whispering among themselves, hoping that Kwon Ji-ri would get pregnant with Lee Kyung-hyo's child.

If everyone pledges their loyalty to that child in the future, there will be even greater cohesion.

It also makes the name more legitimate.

Goryeo learned everything from the Central Plains, so Kwon Ji-ri, a single woman, commanded 3,000 infantry, 500 cavalry, and 500 archers in Changheung City.

There is still a lot of discussion, and even opposition.

Fortunately, Lee Kyung-hyo had personally taught Kwon Ji-ri the "Hu Family Knife Technique" a few years ago.

I also gave her a level 10 tiger skin soft armor - defense +3, stab resistance +3.

There's also a level 10 'Green Vine Bow' with +3 penetration and +3 range.

This allowed her to defeat those who challenged her several times through force.

Even when injured, she could quickly recover thanks to the three Three-Flower Jade Dew Pills left to her by Li Jingxiao.

And this ability allows injuries to be completely healed in just a dozen or so breaths.

This also earned Kwon Ji-ri considerable prestige and fame in Guangyuan City, a border region.

Of course, some people also say she is a witch.

When Lee Kyung-hyo led Kwon Ji-ri into the bedroom, he could already smell the fresh fragrance emanating from her after she had washed up.

Having not seen each other for two years, the two were naturally like dry tinder and raging fire, and decided to fight first.

Unfortunately, no matter how skilled Kwon Ji-ri has become in practicing the Hu family sword technique over the past few years, she could not possibly improve as quickly as Lee Kyung-hyo.

Li Jingxiao was only level 30-something back then, but now he's level 100, which is the maximum level.

Both of them had a physique of 50 points, so the fight between the two was no longer on the same level.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the woman surrendered without hesitation.

Then he called out to the side room.

Soon, four young and beautiful girls appeared, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

They pushed open the side door and filed in, bowing deeply to the two men.

Then he got up and untied the restraints on his body.

He stepped forward with his head down, acting as Kwon Ji-ri's assistant.

Based on Li Jingxiao's previous mindset, he wouldn't even glance at a woman who couldn't provide him with experience.

But now, since the level is already maxed out.

Trying something new can be considered a novel experience.

That night, Li Jingxiao truly understood why so many powerful and wealthy people in the capital liked Goryeo maids.

Moreover, there were absolutely no problems with communication.

The four maids could not only read and write Chinese characters, but also spoke the official language of the Great Zhou Dynasty very authentically.

And in just one night, the four maids, like Kwon Ji-ri, developed a deep affection for Lee Kyung-hyo.

In the morning, Lee Kyung-hyo, dressed neatly and accompanied by Kwon Ji-ri and four maids, walked out of the hall.

He said to the four yellow-turbaned, golden-armored warriors who had been guarding the city all night, "Send two of them to fly to Liaoyang City."

Tell Zhao Junming, Han Mengzhuo, Tang Zhijie, Chang Rui, Niu Zhanpeng, Chen Hongsheng, and Rong Ge'er.

The entire army will set off for Guangyuan City the day after tomorrow morning.

I will wait for them in this city.

Also, tell the young men from various families who came with the army that their mission to Goryeo was to support Goryeo in resisting the invasion of Japan.

Do not oppress the people of Goryeo, or military law will not spare them.

Two yellow-turbaned warriors in golden armor stepped forward, clasped their hands in salute, and said, "Understood."

After saying that, the two of them rode on a cloud and flew away.

Kwon Ji-ri and the others were pleasantly surprised to see this.

No matter how capable Li Jingxiao is, he's only capable on his own.

Now that four golden-armored generals capable of summoning auspicious clouds have appeared around him, Li Jingxiao's strength must have increased several levels.

Lee Kyung-hyo held Kwon Ji-ri's hand and said with a smile, "Since you have nothing to do, take me to see your Changxing City."

While you're at it, take a look at the strength of your troops.

Kwon Ji-ri nodded hurriedly, knowing that Lee Kyung-hyo was implying that if her subordinates were capable...

Then he would lead himself and his men to Gyeonggi Province to protect the emperor.

If we can hold Gyeonggi Province and save the King of Goryeo, entering the power center of Goryeo after the war will not be a problem.

If they wanted to stay in Saikaido after the war, they could gain control of the military and political power of the entire Saikaido region.

Kwon Ji-ri nodded hurriedly. As she followed Lee Kyung-hyo out the door, Lee Kyung-hyo waved his hand, and two tall and magnificent Akhal-Teke horses appeared before them.

Lee Kyung-hyo looked at the Ili horse he had given to Kwon Ji-ri two years ago.

He said with a smile, "This horse has been with you for several years. It's time for it to retire, get married, and have a few more foals."

Kwon Ji-ri was taken aback, thinking that Lee Kyung-hyo was implying that he would give her an heir.

He nodded excitedly.

The two mounted their horses and led the people on a tour of the city and its walls.

He also personally observed the training level of the 3,000 warriors, 500 cavalry, and 500 archers in the military camp.

And to be honest, their training is at least no worse than that of the 12 soldiers in the Great Zhou Army Camp.

Moreover, because they had been facing Tatars and Jurchens on the border for many years, their combat effectiveness was decent.

Japan's fighting strength is indeed strong due to its long history of war.

But the truly powerful ones are all samurai; ordinary foot soldiers have varying combat abilities.

The main reason they were able to easily capture Busan and other major coastal cities was the combination of surprise attacks and numerical superiority.

However, Li Jingxiao sometimes couldn't understand why the generals of this era were so short-sighted.

Despite the significant preparations for war made by Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi even wrote a letter to the King of Goryeo.

They said they wanted to use Goryeo as a route to attack the Great Zhou.

But the Korean side seemed to be deaf and blind.

Not only did they not participate in the preparations, they didn't even make any preparations.

Busan had only 7 soldiers, and surprisingly, no additional troops were added before the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Busan.

Otherwise, Japan wouldn't have been able to capture Busan so easily.

However, thinking about it, the Great Zhou Dynasty was actually the same as Goryeo. It was only when Japan invaded and Goryeo sent a letter requesting help that they learned about this matter.

If we really take it seriously, the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has seriously neglected its duties this time.

However, the Great Zhou Dynasty has always only been concerned with intelligence from the northern grasslands.

Not to mention Japan, even what happened within Goryeo was of little concern to the emperor and the cabinet.

Even Li Jingxiao himself, if it weren't for Su Mei, that nine-tailed fox, tipping him off, would have been in trouble.

He himself wouldn't pay attention to Japan's military and political affairs.

(End of this chapter)