Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 144 Jiang Xingzhou's Shocking Open Scheme - Draining the Pond to Catch All the Fish!

The battlefield was dead silent.

The wind stopped, the waves subsided, and the fighting came to a standstill.

The Jiangnan navy and the Taihu Lake demon army, with tens of thousands of eyes, were fixed on the center of Taihu Lake—

A small boat has transformed into a hundred-foot lotus platform!

The blue lotus reaches for the sky, its petals unfolding like carved jade, its heart exhaling pure air, cleansing the filth within a ten-mile radius.

Beneath the lotus stem, the ashes and silt of three thousand rebellious literati surged, eventually forming a pure land of literary spirit at the bottom of the lake.

Jiang Xingzhou stood on the lotus platform, his robes fluttering.

His fingertips drooped slightly, and a drop of rich, green light, imbued with talent, fell onto the lotus leaf—

"Tick."

As the ripples spread, golden characters appeared on the lotus leaves—the very words of "On the Love of Lotus"!
"This...is a [Mingzhou] level purified poem or article?"

Xue Chonghu's eyes widened in disbelief.

Purifying articles is just one of many methods used to purify writing!
He had fought countless battles in his life and had never seen such a powerful purifying text.

Three thousand rebels collapsed without a fight!
A poem or essay can purify the mind!
Li Shouyi trembled all over, muttering, "Purifying poetry... can actually reach this level?"

He suddenly remembered what was recorded in ancient books—

"The writings of ancient sages can make a name for themselves in a region, protect a nation, bring peace to the world, and purify the world!"

But that was just a legend after all.

And today, the legend is right before our eyes!

Thousands of students and tens of thousands of naval soldiers in Jiangnan were all stunned into silence.

They had just fought a bloody battle, but they could not break through the rebels' defenses.

At this moment, Jiang Xingzhou, with just one purifying article, "On the Love of Lotus," caused three thousand rebellious literati to self-destruct and transform into lotuses!

"Pfft!"

A naval soldier suddenly knelt down and, as if on a pilgrimage, kowtowed repeatedly to the Pure Lotus.

Then came the second person, the third person...

Tens of thousands of soldiers collapsed like waves!
They didn't understand literature and philosophy very well, but at this moment, they truly felt it—

What constitutes the writings of sages and worthies?

What is the righteous spirit of heaven and earth?

"Damn it! That wretched Fei Wuxin actually escaped!"

Xue Chonghu was filled with hatred, his tiger eyes turned bloodshot, and he slashed his long sword into the lake, stirring up a ten-foot-long raging wave!

"Click——"

Where the blade passed, the lake water froze into a streak of ice, pointing straight to the northern horizon—that was the blood-red afterimage of Fei Wuxin's escape!
Fei Wuxin, this rebellious scholar, was ultimately a Hanlin Academician, and his strength was far beyond that of ordinary rebellious individuals. He actually managed to dig out the green lotus seed within the scholar's heart and escape.

At this moment, Prefect Xue Chonghu, Prefect Li Shouyi, and other officials led the students of Jiangnan Prefecture to rush over and stand beside Jiang Xingzhou.

"It doesn't matter!"

“His literary palace and literary heart have been planted with seeds of blue lotus, and what has been dug out are only the seeds of blue lotus mixed with the filth and blood in his heart.”

Jiang Xingzhou gently stroked the lotus platform, his fingertips brushing against a jade-like lotus petal.

"The true blue lotus"
It cannot be dug out from his sea of ​​consciousness.

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze was calm as he looked north. His pupils reflected a scene invisible to most—

That was the direction Fei Wuxin fled to.

It is also... the location of the Heartless Palace.

Jiang Xingzhou withdrew his gaze and lightly flicked his sleeves.

The lotus has been planted.

Flowers bloom in their own time.

When the blue lotus in his literary palace blooms
That was the time when the Heartless Palace collapsed.

"pat-"

The scroll of blood-stained text in Zhao Zilu's hand fell into the lake, splashing up a cloud of murky water.

Jiang Xingzhou glanced at the lake, rolled up his sleeve, and a blue light surged on the lake's surface. An invisible force lifted a tattered book, which slowly fell into his palm.

But see,

"The Great Rites Treatise"

"—Xu Shilong, Vice Minister of Rites, was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and the first scholar to pass the imperial examination!"

The scroll, which was originally stained with blood and had its writing distorted, has now been restored to its original appearance, but it is riddled with holes, like a book eaten by worms, with only a faint golden light flowing between the broken characters.

"The top-ranked candidate in the imperial examination from Xu Shilong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites..."

Xue Chonghu's copper bell-shaped eyes flashed with horror, "How could it have fallen into the hands of a traitor like Fei Wuxin?"

"The most precious literary treasure of the imperial examination should have been kept in the library of the Great Zhou Dynasty, nurtured by the spirit of literature and morality. But now it has become a bloodstained weapon in the hands of traitorous scholars!"

It's unclear what deep-seated grudge Fei Wuxin harbors against Xu Shilong.

They actually stole his top-ranked imperial examination treasure... and refined it into a tainted blood treasure.

Li Shouyi stroked the jade belt at his waist and said in a deep voice.

"Pity."

Jiang Xingzhou gently stroked the scroll with his fingertips, putting away this precious incomplete book. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he sighed softly.

Even after being purified, this volume of "The Great Rites" has been largely hollowed out, and its power is now only a fraction of what it once was.

—The North, a thousand miles away.

Fei Wuxin fled all the way, kneeling on a desolate mountaintop, his ten fingers digging deep into his scalp, flesh and blood tearing apart.

From within his seven orifices, strands of hair-like roots emerged, writhing like living creatures, greedily devouring the turbulent, foul black energy churning within his body.

"what--!"

He roared to the sky, his voice like the wailing of a vengeful ghost, but at a certain moment it suddenly twisted and turned into a maniacal laugh.

"[The lotus... rises from the mud unsullied...]?"

"Why...why is Jiang Xingzhou immune to corruption?!"

"Why should I be tainted by this filth and reduced to a traitor?!"

He suddenly grabbed a jet-black inkstone—the "Heart-Eating Inkstone"—its surface, congealed with blood, gleamed with an eerie, dark light.

Without hesitation, he smashed his fist against the top of his head!

The lotus seed in the chest cavity was pulled out, but the lotus seed in the sea of ​​consciousness was growing wildly!
"boom--!"

Black blood splattered as the inkstone collided with the skull, producing a clanging sound like metal striking stone!

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

Each time he struck, a clear and melodious lotus sound emanated from the depths of his literary palace, like a morning bell and evening drum, cleansing away evil spirits.

The lotus roots that were deeply embedded in his flesh and blood were not shattered, but instead grew stronger and stronger, growing wildly inside his body!

—That was the seed of the lotus in "On the Love of Lotus," which had already taken root and sprouted deep within his literary palace, growing everywhere and impossible to eradicate!
What's even more hateful is...

He suddenly shuddered and clutched his chest, as if he had been pierced by some invisible force.

"No...impossible!"

Fei Wuxin's ferocious face suddenly twisted, and blood vessels burst from his eyes.

He sensed that the Bloodstained First Treasure of the Great Ritual Strategy, which he had painstakingly crafted, had been completely purified!
Xu Shilong's writing is returning to its original purity.

All the alterations, filth, and curses that Fei Wuxin left behind were wiped clean by that damned Qinglian!

"Jiang Xingzhou...!"

Fei Wuxin roared, his voice like a demon weeping blood, echoing between the desolate heaven and earth.

In this round, he ultimately lost!

"How could this be?!"

The Demon King Ao Li sat atop his nine-headed sea demon horse, his dragon eyes narrowing to needles as he stared intently at the towering blue lotus.

Three thousand rebellious literati, like crows with broken wings, plunged into the lake, splashing up countless turbid waves.

What terrified him even more was that Fei Wuxin! A dignified Hanlin scholar was forced to dig out his own literary heart and flee in panic!

"Roar--!"

The nine-headed sea demon horse beneath him suddenly let out a terrified neigh, its eighteen demonic eyes contracting simultaneously, reflecting the clear light of the lotus platform, and it instinctively took a half step back.

Beneath the jet-black hooves, the surging waves suddenly froze, as if even this murky sea feared that glimmer of blue light!
"White-browed Marquis! Imperial Fish Demon General! Cease the attack!"

Ao Li roared, a rare hint of wavering in his voice.

It never imagined that it would feel fear and apprehension twice in front of the same human youth!
Both demon generals' expressions changed drastically.

The white-browed marquis's tiger claws were deeply embedded in the demonic clouds, and the ferocious "king" demonic mark on his forehead flickered on and off, as if it were being burned by invisible lotus fire!

The Royal Fish Demon General's scales bristled, and with a flick of its tail, it involuntarily created a thick curtain of water, partially concealing itself behind it!
"All troops, halt!"

Ao Li finally gritted his teeth and gave the order.

In an instant——

The 50,000 demon troops, who had been surging forward like a black tide, suddenly froze in place!
Countless demon soldiers looked up at the blue lotus, their scarlet demon eyes no longer reflecting bloodlust and killing intent, but fear!

The most primal fear!
These demons, born of filth and accustomed to slaughter, had never seen such a sight before.
Where the lotus light shone, the three thousand rebels were routed, and the black mist, like snow meeting the blazing sun, melted away in an instant!
As the demonic clouds surged, the entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence.

Only that blue lotus bloomed quietly, each petal radiating a chilling power of purification!
"Fei Wuxin—!!"

Ao Li's roar was like thunder from the heavens, and a hundred-foot-high wave suddenly erupted on the surface of Taihu Lake!

The nine-headed sea monster horse was so frightened that all eighteen of its eyes trembled, and all nine heads simultaneously let out a mournful neigh, dragging its gilded chariot back three steps!

"Crack!"

Beneath the dragon's claws, the handrail, forged from millennia-old black iron, shattered instantly! The fury ignited in the crimson-gold demon's eyes scorched and distorted the surrounding air!

"You're the one who offered the idea!"

"It was you who urged me to fight!"

"Now, the first to flee are—"

"You're still the same useless piece of trash!!"

"You've betrayed me! You've betrayed the entire Taihu Demon Court!!"

Each roar was accompanied by overwhelming demonic energy, and in an instant, dark clouds pressed down overhead, with ten thousand lightning snakes dancing wildly in the clouds!
The waters of Taihu Lake surged upwards, condensing into countless ferocious water dragons in the air before exploding with a deafening roar!

Ao Li was filled with remorse!
Had it known that the three thousand rebellious scholars of the Heartless Palace were so easily defeated, how could it have led fifty thousand demon troops to fight a direct confrontation with the one hundred thousand naval forces of Jiangnan on Taihu Lake?!

—These are its trusted elite demon troops, accumulated over decades!
Now look what's happened! Fei Wuxin has just packed up and run away, leaving it and the demon army to face the 100,000-strong Jiangnan navy alone!

The White-browed Marquis, his tiger tail thrashing impatiently, slapped the water's surface, the spray instantly vaporizing: "Your Majesty! Hesitation only leads to more trouble!"

Blue blood beads seeped from the scales of the Royal Fish Demon General, its gills opening and closing violently: "That Azure Lotus Domain has expanded for several miles! If we delay any longer, we might be enveloped!"

Ao Li suddenly awoke with a start!

The dragon's pupils reflected the still-growing, towering blue lotus—each unfolding petal was devouring its demon army!
The scene of three thousand rebellious intellectuals being wiped out is still flashing before my eyes!

Should we continue the fight to the death?

The 50,000 demon soldiers were already terrified!

But retreating would be utterly shameful!
The dragon's claws dug deeply into his palm, and golden blood dripped onto the lake surface, instantly turning into wisps of black smoke.

Decades of hard work have come to a disastrous end today!

"Send the order!"

Ao Li suddenly raised his head, and his dragon roar shook the heavens:
"The various departments of the Demon Court—"

"Break it into pieces!"

"Escape to the Crystal Palace!"

The last four words were practically spat out from between clenched teeth, filled with a deep-seated hatred. It stared intently at the distant figure in green robes, its whiskers bristling in fury:

"Jiang Xingzhou"

"I will repay this humiliation a hundredfold!"

"withdraw--!!!"

Ao Li's roar shattered the lake's surface, and the water boiled wherever the sound waves passed!

The nine-headed sea monster horse suddenly sank, its eighteen demonic eyes closing simultaneously, and it crashed into the lake with a surging black wave, creating a hundred-foot-high water curtain!
"Run! Run!"

With the demon king fleeing, the entire army collapsed and fled!
The 50,000-strong demon army completely collapsed!

The dark mass of demons exploded like an anthill doused with boiling water. Countless demon soldiers leaped into the lake in a frenzy, the sounds of scales clashing, bones breaking, and desperate screams mingling together.

Some of the panicked demon generals even smashed their companions' bodies, leaving trails of scarlet blood on the lake!
"Waste! It's all waste!"

Enraged by the White-browed Marquis, the water demons didn't even know how to flee for their lives.

The Imperial Fish Demon General had already transformed into a silver streak of light, and with a flick of his tail, he vanished into the abyss hundreds of feet deep.

The agile figure drew a beautiful arc in the dark current, and the hundred-foot whirlpool it created instantly swallowed dozens of fleeing demon soldiers!
This old fish
They escaped quite swiftly!

Bai Ehou felt a chill and quickly jumped into the water.

"kill--!!!"

Governor Wei Guanlan drew his sword, its blade ringing out like a dragon's cry!

The Jiangnan navy, with eight hundred warships, simultaneously beat their war drums, the sound waves shaking the surface of Taihu Lake and creating thousands of towering waves!

"Prepare the Demon-Slaying Crossbow!"

Tens of thousands of bronze crossbows turned in unison, and the demon-suppressing runes engraved on the arrowheads lit up one after another, forming a cold, starry river in Taihu Lake.

"put!"

In an instant——

The world suddenly went dark!
Tens of thousands of demon-slaying arrows tore through the twilight, transforming into a massive, all-encompassing rain of steel.

The sound of arrows piercing the air was louder than the waves!
The demon army's formation was in chaos, riddled with holes. Those demon soldiers who couldn't escape into the water were instantly riddled with bullets, screaming as they fell into the lake, their blood churning!
"No!"

Just as a black-scaled crocodile demon leaped onto the water's surface, three rune arrows pierced its skull.

The arrow flashed with a blue light, blasting the more than ten-foot-long demon body into a bloody mist in mid-air!
The shrimp spirit raised its shield to block, but the black iron shield was pierced through seven layers by arrows.

The moment the arrow pierced his abdomen, the demon core inside his body exploded with a deafening roar, and fragments of his carapace mixed with blue blood splattered ten feet away!

The entire lake was boiling!
The setting sun, like blood, reflected the tens of thousands of demonic corpses floating and sinking.

Some arrows, still carrying force, pinned the demon's corpse to the bottom of the lake, leaving scarlet trails in the murky water.

Wei Guanlan stood with his hands behind his back atop the ship, when he suddenly felt a chill on his face.

—It was a rain of blood.

Blood rain, mixed with broken scales and fragments of demon cores, was falling softly onto his battle robe.

Beneath the thousand-foot-deep waters of Taihu Lake, a crystal palace shimmers with an ethereal light.

Ao Li sat on the throne, his dragon claw crushing a luminous pearl. The fragments pierced deep into his palm, yet he was completely unaware!
"Jiang Xingzhou...Wei Guanlan..."

Ao Li's roar echoed across the lake, carrying suppressed fury.

"I will remember this humiliation!"
If you dare to trespass into the depths of my Taihu Lake—

I will make you...

No one will return!

Pass on the order!

All the demon army withdrew their defenses, holding their ground at the bottom of the lake, a thousand feet below! "I refuse to believe they can defeat my demon army here, a thousand feet underwater."

Ao Li suddenly raised his head, his dragon whiskers bristling angrily!

He spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his dragon-like eyes burning with boundless hatred!

The surviving demon generals and demon commanders inside the hall were all wounded, kneeling in silence, the atmosphere extremely oppressive!

Bai E Hou remained silent.

Most of its surviving demon generals were northern land demons, soaking wet and with their manes matted together—many tiger demons and leopard demons were also not good at naval warfare.

These northern beasts can't even unleash 30% of their full strength underwater.

The Emperor Fish Demon General looked gloomy and sighed silently.

Perhaps it shouldn't have gotten involved in this battle! If it loses this time, it will lose at least tens of thousands of demon soldiers and generals.

Inside the council hall of the 100,000-strong naval camp of Jiangnan Province.

With candlelight blazing and a sand table laid out, the distribution of the demon army in the Taihu Lake area was marked one by one.

The fate of the 100,000-strong navy rests on this tiny model of the waterway.

The prefects of the ten prefectures in Jiangnan and the naval commanders lined up on both sides. They had won the first battle, killing three thousand rebels and tens of thousands of demon soldiers and generals. The generals were filled with fighting spirit.

"Everyone.

A resounding victory in the first battle!

Fei Wuxin, this traitor of the Wuxin Palace, is cunning and shrewd. If any other general had been sent into battle, they would probably have already been defeated by him.

Unfortunately, he encountered Jiang Xingzhou.

Man proposes, God disposes; three thousand rebellious scholars were all defeated by Jiang Ziya's masterpiece, "On the Love of Lotus."

Now, the most cunning Fei Wuxin has fled.

Beside the Demon King Ao Li, his left and right arms had been severed.

Only the White-browed Marquis, the Royal Fish Demon General, and other barbarian demons remained to help.

Ao Li is violent and tyrannical, Bai E Hou is fierce and reckless, and Huang Yu Yao Shuai is nothing more than a brave but foolish man! A group of barbarian demons, though fierce, are devoid of wisdom and strategy.

The demon army has less than 40,000 men left! Lacking strategists, this is the perfect opportunity for our army to defeat them!
This is a golden opportunity!

Governor Wei Guanlan sat at the head of the table, his gaze deep and thoughtful. He spoke slowly, his tone full of admiration.

The crimson command flag representing the demon army on the sand table is now curled up in the deepest part of Taihu Lake.

Wei Guanlan's fingertips traced the water model, hovering at the bottom of the abyss.

"grown ups!"

Prefect Li Shouyi of Changzhou pondered and said, "The waters of Taihu Lake are thousands of feet deep, and the water demons have gained a great advantage."

For every zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) that sinks, our army's fighting strength weakens, while the demon soldiers and generals become stronger!
Rushing in rashly could lead to a bloody battle!

The generals fell silent.

Now, the demon army has fled to the bottom of the lake and no longer surfaces.

Their only option was to lead their troops to the bottom of the lake and launch an encirclement and annihilation campaign against the demon soldiers and generals from underwater.

We can win!

However, a depth of a thousand feet would cause the human navy to suffer extremely heavy casualties.

Even with a one-for-one casualty ratio, at least 40,000 to 50,000 naval soldiers would likely be lost at sea.

"Gentlemen, does anyone have a good plan to defeat this monster in the lake?"

Wei Guanlan's voice echoed in the council hall as his gaze swept over the assembled generals.

The tent fell silent for a moment, with only the faint crackling of the burning bronze lamp wick.

The generals frowned, some staring at the sand table in deep thought, others talking in hushed tones, but none dared to offer any advice.

A thousand feet deep – this is an unsolvable problem!

Suddenly, a clear voice broke the silence—

"Sir, I have a plan!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Jiang Xingzhou.

He stood beside the sand table, a slightly yellowed copy of "Water Conservancy in Jiangnan" in his sleeve, clearly having been read for a long time.

"speak."

Wei Guanlan's eyes flickered slightly, and he lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.

"Draining the pond to catch all the fish!"

Jiang Xingzhou said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing those four words, the generals in the tent displayed varying expressions. Some looked puzzled, some seemed thoughtful, while Wei Guanlan leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing.

"What is the solution to this plan?"

Jiang Xingzhou raised his hand and gestured, his fingertips tracing the Taihu Lake basin on the sand table, where thirty-six waterways stretched out like a spider web.

"The students had read 'Jiangnan Water Conservancy,' which states that the water level of Taihu Lake varies from spring to autumn—it can reach a thousand zhang during the high-water season, while it is only five hundred zhang during the low-water season."

He pointed to the rivers flowing into the lake and said, "Our army can set up sluice gates on each of the thirty-six rivers flowing into Taihu Lake to cut off the water source!"

Then, directing the floodgates to the Taipu River, Wangyu River, and other outlets, "simultaneously opening the floodgates to divert water from Taihu Lake into the Yangtze River during the dry season!"

Finally, he raised his eyes and looked directly at Wei Guanlan, his voice firm and resolute—

"In this way, within two or three months, the water level of Taihu Lake can drop to five hundred zhang, or even lower!"

The tent fell silent for a moment, then erupted in uproar.

"Five hundred feet?!"

Wei Guanlan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he slammed his hand on the table.

Five hundred feet, still seemingly an abyss, but the water pressure has been reduced by half! The casualties of the naval forces will be reduced from forty thousand to twenty thousand!
The flame of the bronze lamp suddenly leaped, making the vermilion mark between Jiang Xingzhou's eyebrows appear even more vivid.

With a flick of his wide sleeve, a scroll of "Map of Taihu Lake Water System" shimmering with a bluish light slid out and slowly unfolded on the sand table.

"My lord, I have calculated it carefully!"
This method would require the expenditure of five years' worth of grain from the entire Jiangnan treasury, the mobilization of 100,000 naval troops and millions of people along the river, and the construction of a massive water conservancy hub.

The waterways of the thirty-six rivers of varying sizes surrounding Taihu Lake were dredged, and sluice gates were built at both the inlet and outlet to pump out as much water as possible from the lake.

Three gates were built in each river channel: a tide gate, a water diversion gate, and a flood discharge gate.

It can quickly lower the water level of Taihu Lake to within two or three hundred feet, rendering the water demon's advantage meaningless!
This method solves the problem once and for all.
From then on, whenever there were water monsters, they would try to establish their own government and court in Taihu Lake.

Using this massive water conservancy project, the water level of Taihu Lake was significantly lowered. Then, troops were dispatched to encircle and suppress them!

Jiang Xingzhou cupped his hands and said, "In this way, the sea monsters of the East China Sea will no longer be able to establish themselves in Taihu Lake. This will eliminate future troubles!"

Upon hearing this, Governor Wei Guanlan gasped.

Mobilize 100,000 naval troops and a million laborers in Jiangnan to establish a water conservancy dispatch hub for Taihu Lake.
This is terrifying!
Inside the council hall, all the generals were stunned by Jiang Xingzhou's plan, and for a moment, there was complete silence.

Jiangnan Circuit, it cost five years' worth of money and grain, and conscripted millions of laborers.

The generals seemed to envision a future day when the water level would drop at a visible rate. On the dried-up lakebed, countless demon soldiers and generals, deprived of the protection of water, would struggle in vain under the scorching sun.

"Close the waters and drain the lakes, fish out the fish... to eliminate the monster threat forever?"

Wei Guanlan's gaze was intense, and his fingertips tapped lightly on the table, as if he were weighing the feasibility of this plan.

Prefect Li Shouyi of Changzhou said, "Jiang Sheng's plan is excellent, but the mobilization of a million laborers and the construction of water conservancy projects will consume countless amounts of money and grain, and cannot be accomplished in a day..."

"Money and supplies are not a problem!"
How long did the entire project take?

Wei Guanlan didn't care about spending money.

The grain donations from hundreds of powerful families in Jiangnan filled the Jiangnan Circuit's treasury for ten years, which was enough to cover this expense.

What he cares about is the length of the water conservancy project!

He was worried that things might change if the delay continued!

"It will take at most one or two months!"

Jiang Xingzhou smiled calmly, his fingertips twirling the green lotus, and a wisp of literary energy transformed into a water ripple scroll, floating above the sand table.

"What you are worried about is that the water conservancy project will take too long, several years, or even decades!"

"Firstly, we can use warships to block the sluice gate at the lake mouth, and keep the demon-slaying crossbows on standby day and night. If the demon army dares to come out, we will unleash a barrage of arrows!"

Secondly, the water diversion project is being carried out in three phases simultaneously.

Build a dam upstream: cut off all rivers flowing into Taihu Lake, leaving the demon army with no water to draw upon!
Midstream canal construction: Millions of laborers dug day and night, using every possible method to pump water and divert water from Taihu Lake into the Yangtze River during its dry season!
Downstream sluice gates: The Taipu River and Wangyu River sluice gates are opened simultaneously to accelerate the outflow of lake water!
Thirdly...

Our army spread rumors everywhere, making it known to all the people of Taihu Lake, claiming that within just one or two months, the entire lake could be drained, its water level lowered by hundreds of feet. Even worse, they claimed they could drain the entire lake!

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly raised his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.

“Ao Li is violent and will be furious if he discovers that our army is drawing water from Taihu Lake. He will never sit idly by and watch the lake dry up.”

"Wait until the water level drops below 500 zhang!"

It will then be gripped by fear!
It had no idea how low the water level would drop!

They dare not sit idly by and await their doom; they will surely come out in full force to fight our army to the death at the sluice gate construction site!

"By then——"

Jiang Xingzhou sent thirty-six chess pieces flying from his sleeve, which landed in the waterways around Taihu Lake on the sand table.

"Our army has absolutely no need to dive into the deep waters of Taihu Lake!"

There's no need to wait for the water conservancy project to be completed!

Then, near the shore, we can engage the desperate demon army in a decisive battle and slay this dragon in one fell swoop!

Upon hearing this, Governor Wei Guanlan, the other prefects, and the generals all gasped in shock.

This,
That's the true ruthlessness of Jiang Xingzhou's unsolvable open scheme!
Using this massive water conservancy project, they forced Ao Li's demon army to come ashore and struggle desperately!
Unless Fei Wuxin, the Palace Master of Wuxin Palace, is still alive, he might be able to see through this scheme. Without Fei Wuxin, it is likely that the demon army will be completely unable to see through it.

(End of this chapter)