Heavenly Ascension Chronicles Chapter 1019: The Plot Deepens at Gongqiu - Novel Cool

Chapter 1019: The Plot Deepens at Gongqiu

Chapter 1019: The Plot Deepens at Gongqiu

In the Convergence Zone, on the Dongqing Plain, at Kuiwei Gongqiu.

As Zhao Zhenye rode in on a Longbi Warhorse, he saw that the plain and mountains were densely packed with sentinel posts and campsites, and as far as he could see, there were at least sixty or seventy thousand people.

Above, various trained Convergence creatures flew, some with enormous sizes, appearing to cover entire mountain peaks when they descended. Smaller birds occasionally emitted rhythmic cries of varying lengths, seemingly conveying messages to the ground below.

Following the cavalry squad bearing the Zhenguo General's banner, Zhao Zhenye trod on a road filled with rolling dust, passing through numerous sentinel posts and ravines. They also encountered checkpoints of the earth fort blockade network before finally reaching the central command tent.

At this moment, the small welcoming drum outside sounded two crisp beats, echoing into the inner tent.

The cavalry squad halted, and each soldier dismounted.

Gai Shuhu removed his helmet and asked, "Brother Zhao, I didn't get a chance to ask on the way. How do you feel now? Have you resolved your troubles?"

Zhao Zhenye replied, "Thank you, General Gai, for introducing me to the Zen Temple. It was very helpful. Now, I no longer have any worries."

Gai Shuhu nodded and said no more.

After a while, the tent flap was lifted, and a military general emerged, bowing to both of them and saying succinctly, "The General invites you in."

The two men passed through the camp fence, lifted the curtain, and saw that on both sides of the path leading to the central command tent, there stood a row of Service Knights guarding the area. Each of them wore covered heavy armor with a white feather inserted on their helmets, and they held axes and halberds, divided into two rows.

Zhao Zhenye immediately recognized them as the elite forces, chosen from a thousand. If not for the presence of a Martial Artist, these soldiers alone could break through an army of several thousand in a short time, regardless of whether they used new or old-style weapons.

At the end of the path, the tent curtain was lifted, and Zhao Zhenye and Gai Shuhu entered the central command tent together. The space inside was vast, capable of accommodating a hundred people. Seated in the central position was the commander of this army, the Eastern Expeditionary General Su Guo, from the Imperial Family.

This man sat with a height of about three meters, and even though the tent was spacious, he still seemed to occupy one side alone. He wore gilded Xuan Armor, and his complexion was slightly pale. Sitting there, he gave off an aura reminiscent of a deity coming to life within a temple.

Zhao Zhenye gazed at this man, knowing that one's position here spoke volumes about their power. Even Zhao Zhenye felt a subtle sense of threat from him.

To the right of Su Guo sat a veiled woman in old-style blue attire, with a slender sword at her waist. She appeared taller than most men, but compared to Su Guo, she seemed especially petite.

Zhao Zhenye noticed that the woman's sleeve was embroidered with a yellow sparrow. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he had dealt with the old Imperial Family before and recognized her as the Xiuteng Shi sent by the Imperial Family.

She was directly under the Imperial Family's inner guard and held no ordinary status. Despite her deeply hidden aura, there was no doubt that she had reached the level of carrying Xuanji.

With her presence, along with Gai Shuhu, there were now three "Xuanji Military Generals" from the old Imperial Family here.

Such a situation was rare.

Zhao Zhenye knew that the number of Martial Artists in the old Imperial Family was far fewer than in Dashun. Every confrontation on the front lines was stretched to the limit, and all the upper echelons had to be carefully allocated. If any issue arose, the Imperial Family's central command would need to immediately dispatch reinforcements to maintain stability.

This was why, after Wei Guo's death, the old Imperial Family was unable to reclaim the Convergence Zone in Jinbei Province. It was because almost all their forces were tied down, and they couldn't move without direct intervention from the central command.

If the old Imperial Family's territories encountered problems in several places simultaneously, it would be nearly impossible to manage, and a complete collapse could occur at any moment.

Fortunately, Dashun was not a unified whole either. It was not possible for the central cities to collaborate or even communicate consistently. They were like isolated islands of information.

But that was in the past. With the emergence of the Horizon, the threat it brought was enormous. Any central city that could connect to the Horizon could share technological resources and information, integrate their strengths, and coordinate unified military commands.

Such central cities were not numerous. Even if Dashun mobilized only a third of its forces, it would be enough to defeat the old Imperial Family head-on. No wonder they were anxious now.

Su Guo had clearly known Zhao Zhenye for a long time, and he gestured with a raised hand, saying, "Mr. Zhao, thank you for taking the time to come here. Please take a seat."

Even as the Eastern Expeditionary General, Su Guo lacked the arrogance of a typical warrior and spoke in a friendly manner, showing respect for Zhao Zhenye's talents.

Zhao Zhenye sat down on one side and turned to Su Guo, saying, "Thank you, General Su, for the invitation. I heard from General Gai that there's an important matter you wish to discuss with me. Now that I'm here, may I ask what it's about?"

Su Guo said, "Mr. Zhao, this is not our first time working together, so I'll be straightforward.

Previously, due to General Wei's recklessness and overconfidence, he died in battle, and our territory in Jinbei Province's Convergence Zone was seized by Dashun. When His Majesty learned of this, he was deeply worried. As his subjects, we must help alleviate his concerns." As he spoke, he raised his hand and bowed towards the distance.

He continued, "Our Imperial Family has a secret repository in Jinbei Province. We originally planned to use it to create a rift. When the time comes, our army will emerge, and within a day, we can capture the Three Mountains and occupy that area, then challenge those rebels for victory."

This matter has been secretly prepared by us for a year, but for more than half a year, the rebels have been pushing the Field Convergence. In just these past few dozen days, they've extended their reach to the Three Mountains and beyond, covering a vast area. If the fields were to converge, they could easily discover the location of our secret repository. Once we open it, they would immediately learn of its existence. In that case, our original plan would be difficult to execute."

At this point, Gai Shuhu interjected, "Brother Zhao, if we can't secure the Three Mountains, then we'll have to change our strategy. Once the rift opens, these rebels will undoubtedly launch an attack. They don't know our full capabilities, so we can gather our strength and wait for the right opportunity. If we can eliminate all the Xuanji Martial Artists who come to attack, then our previous plan will still have a chance of success."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhenye remained silent, his expression unreadable, giving no hint of his thoughts.

Gai Shuhu glanced at him and, seeing his hesitation, took the initiative to speak, "Brother Zhao, this time, I'd like to invite you to join us in exterminating the rebels."

Zhao Zhenye still didn't respond, as if he was pondering something.

Su Guo's voice was sincere as he said, "Previously, we had several collaborations with Mr. Zhao, and we know that he is a man of his word. So, we sincerely invite you to assist us and offer conditions that will satisfy you." He paused, then continued, "His Majesty has privately promised that if someone makes a great contribution, they will be granted a fiefdom, a thousand households, and the authority to establish a military command."

This was an extremely sincere offer. In the old imperial court, such a reward would befit a powerful feudal lord.

Their respect for Zhao Zhenye wasn't just because of him personally; they were also well aware that he had the backing of certain powerful entities in the opposing world. With his help, they would gain a formidable ally.

Zhao Zhenye raised his head and looked around before saying, "I'd like to ask, are all the personnel present in this camp today involved in this operation?"

Gai Shuhu asked, "Is that not enough?"

Zhao Zhenye shook his head and said, "In my opinion, it's not enough."

At this moment, the woman who had been silent spoke up:

"We are well-informed about the situation in Central City of Jinbei Province. Undoubtedly, the most powerful Xuanji Martial Artist among the rebels is Chen Chuan, the Defense Chief. His abilities cannot be underestimated, and I've heard he once fought with Mr. Zhao..."

Zhao Zhenye didn't shy away from this, "Yes, I lost the last time."

The woman continued, "Considering this person's unpredictable strength, this time, I can cooperate with Mr. Zhao to jointly besiege him."

Another Xuanji Martial Artist in Central City, Yao Zhiyi, has been stationed in the Confluence Land for many years. Even if he can't make it in time, General Gai can handle it. There's also Zhanliang, a specialist from the Pure Sect, and this time, His Majesty has specifically dispatched a powerful Imperial-family Demon. That should be enough to match this person."

"We've also considered the possibility of reinforcements from the Eastern Sea Region. By then, the Allied Forces will find a way to restrain them, preventing them from focusing on us. Even if something unexpected happens, we still have General Su Guo commanding the central forces, ready to provide support at any time. Isn't this enough?"

Zhao Zhenye considered for a moment and asked, "Have you taken into account the Yu'an Company in Yangzhi?"

The woman confidently replied, "The Yu'an Company's presence in Yangzhi is just a branch office. We have our informants at their headquarters, and we can confirm that there are no forces in Jinbei Province that can match us. Even if there were, it wouldn't be an issue. We have eyes and ears everywhere, and if we get any information, we can launch a blitz attack, causing disturbances on all fronts, preventing them from uniting their strength."

Gai Shuhu assured him, "Brother Zhao, rest assured. This time, we've considered all possible factors."

Seeing his confidence, Zhao Zhenye secretly pondered in his heart, thinking that these people might have already made preparations without him, and they probably had hidden forces they didn't want to reveal to him.

In that case, it was worth giving it a try.

Moreover, this would also be beneficial to his plan.

Setting this aside, he also wanted to have another battle with Chen Chuan. To be honest, he had repeatedly reviewed their previous battle, but he still couldn't figure out how he had lost in the end. If there was an opportunity to fight Chen Chuan again, he didn't want to miss it.

He slowly raised his head and said, "Since you are sincerely inviting me, Zhao will agree to join."

Hearing this, everyone present showed smiles, and Su Guo was especially delighted. "Mr. Zhao, then it's settled."

Although our dynasty seems to be at a great disadvantage, you should know that at most, we will suffer a defeat, but it won't be a complete loss. With the addition of a capable and ambitious person like Mr. Zhao, one day, we might be able to restore the nation and reclaim our lost territories."

Zhao Zhenye understood that due to the existence of the Confluence Land at night and the old imperial court's vast territory, even if they suffered a continuous defeat, as long as the imperial family remained, they wouldn't be completely wiped out. If they could hold out until the Great Collision, it might indeed be a different story. So, these words weren't empty talk.

He asked, "When is the secret repository scheduled to be opened?"

Su Guo, who trusted his men, didn't hide anything and replied directly, "The middle of next month."

Zhao Zhenye thought for a moment, and under his bangs, his eyes narrowed slightly. The middle of next month meant there were less than twenty days left.

...

...

(End of Chapter)

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