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Chapter 176 The more I oppose it, the more correct your choice is.
Inside the commander's tent, golden helmets and armor reflected the light of celestial lamps, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and impending doom. Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, sat high on his command seat, his face dignified.

Several celestial generals stood on either side as Chen Guangrui led the childish-looking Tang Sheng into the tent, where they immediately felt several pairs of eyes focused on them.

"Vice Commander Chen." A composed-looking general spoke first, his voice steady and even.

"Today marks the third day. How is the unified feeding and defecation of the warhorses at Wanmaping progressing? This is a matter of military orders and also of military appearance. We need to confirm whether the warhorses are ready to accompany the army on the expedition."

His words, though not sarcastic, pointed out the key issue: if Chen Guangrui failed to do so, he would not only be derelict in his duty, but these celestial horses and war oxen might also be unusable as military force.

Another general with a short beard spoke up.
"The deployment of warhorses is crucial to the army's march and logistical support. If the authority and seal of the弼马温 (Bima Wen, the military commander) are insufficient to control them, in order to avoid chaos on the battlefield, it may be necessary to temporarily suspend the deployment of cavalry and rely primarily on infantry. The deputy commander may face difficulties."

This preemptively blocked any possible excuses Chen Guangrui might use, implying that if that didn't work, he would have no authority in the tent.

Although the other heavenly generals remained silent, they stared intently at Chen Guangrui. While no one uttered any words of mockery, their gazes showed no respect whatsoever.

Chen Guangrui remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent before finally settling on Li Jing's face. His tone was indifferent.

"Once the military order is given, it must be carried out. You generals will see soon enough. There will be no problem with the horses being deployed."

He offered no explanation or defense, only a definitive conclusion.

Li Jing's face betrayed no emotion; his fingers tapped lightly on the general's desk.

"The matter of the warhorses will be resolved later. The most urgent task is to determine the first target for capturing demons in the lower realm. Gentlemen, do you have any good strategies?"

He had started preparing for this goal several days in advance.

Previously, he had been training celestial soldiers and generals, and knew little about the demons of the mortal realm. Although he wanted to sound out the situation through Buddhist bodhisattvas, in the past two years, Lingji had perished, Manjushri had suffered setbacks in Chang'an, and the bodhisattvas were cautious in their actions, so no one had offered Li Jing any guidance.

Everything can only be guessed.

Li Jing was trying to guess what Buddha was thinking, while the generals who hadn't gotten any information from Li Jing were also trying to guess what he was thinking.

Now, when Li Jing asks about this matter, they always give a brief explanation first, and then adjust their approach based on Li Jing's words.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should head to Shuangcha Ridge in the east. This ridge is inhabited by three demons: General Yin, Lord Xiongshan, and Master Te. Although their cultivation is not profound, they have been guarding the vital route for the westward journey of the Great Tang Dynasty and have been causing havoc in the region for a long time. Eliminating them will uphold the authority of Heaven and clear some obstacles for the pilgrims."

This heavenly general got the information from who-knows-where, and didn't even know if the three monsters were still around. He just said it for now, since Li Jing would give the definitive answer later.

More generals were added.

"We might consider Black Wind Mountain in the west. Although Guanyin Temple was burned down three years ago and the Black Bear Spirit disappeared, there may still be remnants of his former followers. Moreover, the place is close to the South China Sea, which is of special significance. If we can capture the demon who has a grudge against Buddhism, it will also show the justice of the Heavenly Court."

He didn't even know that the Black Bear Spirit had followed the monk Xuanzang to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

"I have heard that in Chechi Kingdom there are three demon immortals named Tiger Power, Deer Power, and Sheep Power. Although they use the name of the Taoist sect, they are actually stirring up trouble, fooling the king and the people, and disrupting the order of the region. Such demons deserve to be punished by the Heavenly Court."

This general had clearly done his homework, recounting in detail all the information he could find about the monsters, and thus he was also wondering which side Li Jing was targeting.

Li Jing listened, his gaze deep and unwavering. After everyone had finished speaking, he suddenly turned to Chen Guangrui.

“Vice Commander Chen, you have traveled in the mortal realm and are familiar with the route to the west. In your opinion, where should the demons be eliminated first?”

Chen Guangrui was prepared and stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, this humble general believes the matter of Wuji Kingdom is of utmost importance. According to reliable sources, the kingdom's king was pushed into a well and drowned three years ago by a sorcerer. This sorcerer then impersonated the king, usurped the throne, wreaked havoc on the court, and persecuted loyal officials. This fiend entrenched himself in the heart of the kingdom, and by abusing his power, his actions have become increasingly tyrannical and unrestrained, causing widespread suffering and unrest among the people. Such a tyrant who murdered his king, usurped the throne, and poisoned the lives of the people is guilty of heinous crimes and deserves the Heavenly Court's intervention to capture him, uphold the Heavenly Rules, and save the people from their suffering. Furthermore, with the pilgrimage team approaching the vicinity, capturing this demon at this time will not only deter evil forces but also rid the pilgrims of a scourge, demonstrating the Heavenly Court's responsibility to maintain order in the human world."

Upon hearing this, some of the generals in the tent nodded slightly, feeling that this target was indeed significant enough. It was a righteous cause to harm the ruler of a country and disrupt the order of the human world, and its location was close to the route of the pilgrims, making the timing appropriate.

However, a barely perceptible sneer appeared on Li Jing's face.

"The demons of Wuji Kingdom, though guilty, are ultimately a matter for the nation. After much deliberation, I, the commander, have decided that the first battle should be fought with the might of thunder to intimidate the demons from all directions."

He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd, lingering for a moment on Chen Guangrui's face, before speaking clearly,
"My mind is made up. The first target is in Xiniu Hezhou, at the foot of Lingshan Mountain, the Yellow Lion Spirit of Leopard Head Mountain." "Leopard Head Mountain?" Chen Guangrui was shocked. His face instantly froze, and he subconsciously asked a question.

He never expected that the news he had been so vigilantly guarding would be revealed by Li Jing so quickly and accurately! This was no coincidence.

Li Jing witnessed Chen Guangrui's shock and loss of composure in that instant.

A flicker of triumph crossed Li Jing's mind; he knew his strike had hit his opponent's vitals. His expression, however, remained dignified, his tone carrying an undeniable resolve.
"Indeed, the Yellow Lion Demon of Leopard Head Mountain. This demon has been entrenched at the foot of Mount Ling for many years. Although it appears to be well-behaved, it occupies this beautiful and spiritual place, claiming to be guarding the mountain, but in reality, it has been causing havoc in the area for many years. Its heart is deserving of punishment. Buddha is magnanimous and did not take it to heart, but since our Heavenly Court has been ordered to descend to the mortal realm to cleanse the demonic atmosphere, how can we allow such a treacherous demon to hide beside the sacred Buddhist land? Sweeping Leopard Head Mountain and capturing and killing the Yellow Lion Demon will demonstrate the Heavenly Court's determination to sweep away all demons, regardless of distance, and will also safeguard the purity of the Buddhist Western Paradise."

His words were presented in a grand and righteous manner, elevating the extermination of the Yellow Lion Demon to the level of upholding the dignity of Buddhism and the prestige of the Heavenly Court. They even subtly implied that he was cleaning up the Buddhist sect's own house, revealing his obvious intention to curry favor with Buddhism.

Looking at Li Jing's righteous and stern face, Chen Guangrui felt a surge of anger rising to his head. He suppressed it, his voice turning cold, filled with obvious doubt and dissatisfaction.

“Since the Heavenly King has already made his decision, why did you ask for my opinion and the opinions of the other generals? The deputy commander also has the right to participate in the discussion. I believe that Leopard Head Mountain is by no means the first choice. The location of this place is sensitive and involves a wide range of issues. If we act rashly, it may lead to unforeseen consequences.”

He directly exposed Li Jing's autocratic and hypocritical nature.

"Oh?" Li Jing raised an eyebrow, his official air instantly rising.

"Vice Commander Chen, you are mistaken. I consulted with the generals to gather their wisdom. However, the art of war values ​​decisiveness. As the commander-in-chief, I have the authority to make decisions. The Yellow Lion Demon of Leopard Head Mountain is a menace to the region, the evidence is conclusive, and its location is crucial, making it the perfect choice to establish authority. If the Vice Commander has any objections, he may petition the Grand Celestial Venerable. However, military orders are absolute, and at this moment, my order shall prevail."

He invoked his authority as commander-in-chief and directly pressured people.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became heavy and awkward. Chen Guangrui's eyes were icy as he stared intently at Li Jing, his knuckles turning slightly white.

Tang Sheng stood beside his father, keenly sensing his father's suppressed anger. He quietly tugged at Chen Guangrui's sleeve with his small hand, his big, dark eyes scanning the faces of the generals and Li Jing in the tent.

Seeing that the situation was about to reach a stalemate, the giant spirit, who had been observing from the sidelines, coughed at the opportune moment and spoke in a gruff voice, attempting to shift the focus and ease the tension.
"The Heavenly King's decision must have a profound meaning. Vice Commander Chen's concerns are also for the sake of the army, but..."

He abruptly changed the subject, casting a glance at Chen Guangrui with a hint of barely perceptible amusement.

"There are still some hours before the army sets off. As Vice Commander Chen said earlier, the matter at Wanma Ping is settled. Why don't we invite the Heavenly King and his colleagues to come and take a look now? If it is true, as the Vice Commander said, that the army has enough warhorses available, that would be a good thing. If... well, it would be good to make other plans in advance, so as not to delay the military operation."

He seemed to be trying to smooth things over, but in reality he was shifting the blame back to Chen Guangrui, wanting to see how he would fulfill the military order of "eating, drinking, and relieving himself at the same time."

All the generals' eyes were once again focused on Chen Guangrui, awaiting his response.

The intention is now very clear: as the deputy commander, if you can't even manage these warhorses, what right do you have to point fingers here? Just obediently follow orders.

These days, all the generals are Li Jing's confidants. They didn't even invite Nezha to this meeting, just to ensure that Li Jing's words would receive absolute support.

Now, you're just a lowly stable boy. If it weren't for the support of the Tushita Palace, no one would pay any attention to you these days. Who would listen to your nonsense?

At this moment, the generals looked at Chen Guangrui with somewhat strange expressions, as if if he were to make a fool of himself, he would be met with a storm of criticism. What good would it do if he were the deputy commander? In the army, everyone speaks based on their abilities. If others say he is useless, he would have to endure it.

You're the vice-captain, but they have the head coach supporting them.

Chen Guangrui glanced coldly at the Giant Spirit God, then looked around at the generals in the tent, and finally his gaze swept across Li Jing's feigned dignified face like a knife.

How could he not know what these people were thinking?
After going around in circles, it all comes back to the horse-training incident; I want to see him make a fool of himself.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Even if I train this horse perfectly, do you think you people who follow Li Jing will listen to me?"

He composed himself, suppressing all his emotions, and his voice regained its calmness, yet carried an undeniable certainty. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Jing and said...
"Since the Heavenly King and the generals wish to inspect, that's fine. Let's go to Wanma Ping and take a look."

He immediately turned around, grabbed Tang Sheng, and walked out of the tent first, his back view revealing a resolute determination.

The many heavenly generals exchanged glances, already considering how to support Li Jing's decision.

(End of this chapter)