https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-142-Eliminating-the-Evil-Spirits/12832898/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-144-I-Gu-Qingfeng-Have-Never-Been-One-to-Follow-the-Rules/12832900/
Chapter 143: Targeting the Crimson Flame Sect
Chapter 143: Targeting the Crimson Flame Sect
Shortly after, Gu Peng laid everything out.
"Gathering martial arts from all over the world?"
Gu Yang nodded slightly and immediately issued an order.
Before long, a group of people brought up several boxes.
"These are the martial arts we have obtained from the various forces we have eliminated. I'll have them arranged, and Hall Master Gu can take this batch back to Father."
Gu Yang explained.
The Gu Family Army had been waging wars on all fronts. Not all forces were willing to submit, and any that resisted met with no mercy from Gu Yang, who promptly wiped them out.
The martial arts of these defeated forces naturally fell into Gu Yang's hands.
The reason for this was to set an example.
After all, for the Gu Family Army to swiftly take control of the entire Guangyang Prefecture, they needed to employ decisive and ruthless methods.
The reputation of a Grandmaster alone was not enough to make all the forces bow down.
Some forces wanted to remain neutral and avoid getting involved in the war.
However, in this chaotic era, there was no such thing as neutrality.
Either submit, or be destroyed.
There was no third option.
Thus, by eliminating these forces, Gu Yang was sending a clear message to the others: if they did not submit, they would meet the same fate.
Gu Peng had no objections to this.
After he left, Gu Yang summoned the Dark Guards.
"Lord, we pay our respects!"
"How are the remnants of the imperial forces?"
Gu Yang asked calmly.
Gu Yi respectfully replied, "Half a day ago, the Dark Guards found the remnants of the imperial forces and completely annihilated them!"
"Good!"
Gu Yang nodded in satisfaction.
Although Pei Jing's Divine Martial Army had defeated the imperial forces of Guangyang Prefecture, they had not fully taken control of the entire region; half of the territory still belonged to the imperial government.
Banan Dao was one such area.
However, that was all in the past.
Leading the Gu Family Army into Banan Dao, Gu Yang swept through with overwhelming force. In less than five days, the imperial forces were completely routed, leaving only a few remnants struggling to survive and attempting to sabotage the Gu Family Army's operations.
Gu Yang would not tolerate this.
He immediately dispatched the Dark Guards to deal with the remaining imperial forces.
Clearly, the Dark Guards did not disappoint.
In fact, Gu Yang had never doubted their capabilities.
Especially after the battle at North Gate, Gu Yang noticed some changes in the Dark Guards under his command.
These changes were evident in their strength.
Gu Yang suspected that Gu Qingfeng must have some secret methods or other means to enhance a martial artist's strength.
However, these methods and techniques likely had some side effects.
Otherwise, Gu Qingfeng would not have enhanced only the Dark Guards and not allowed Gu Yang to use them.
In terms of family affection, Gu Yang had no doubts.
Furthermore, Gu Yang did not intend to pry into the secret methods and techniques Gu Qingfeng possessed. Everyone has their own secrets, and if his father wanted to tell him, he would. If not, no amount of questioning would change that.
Of course, Gu Yang had tried to ask Gu Yi, but the latter was extremely wary of the subject, so Gu Yang dropped the idea.
Afterward,
Gu Yang slowly made his way to the center of the grand hall, where a large sand table was placed. On it, the layout of the entire Guangyang Prefecture's seventy-two districts was clearly displayed.
In the middle of the sand table, three types of banners stood out:
- The Tai Xuan Banner!
- The Divine Martial Banner!
- The Gu Family Banner!
These represented the forces of the Tai Xuan Dynasty, the Divine Martial Army, and the Gu Family Army, respectively.
Initially, Pei Jing had led the Divine Martial Army to a decisive victory over the Guangyang Prefecture's forces, securing control over the majority of the seventy-two districts. However, his defeat and death at the North Gate caused chaos within the Divine Martial Army, allowing the imperial forces to regroup and launch a counterattack. They managed to suppress the various rebel factions and reclaim the majority of the lost territories.
As a result, the Tai Xuan Banner now dominated nearly half of Guangyang Prefecture's territory. The remaining thirty-six districts were currently divided, with the Gu Family Army controlling thirteen and the Divine Martial Army holding the remaining twenty-three.
But this situation was only temporary.
Now, with Gu Yang personally leading a massive army and bearing the title of Grandmaster, neither the imperial forces nor the Divine Martial Army stood a chance against him. This was a fact in which Gu Yang had absolute confidence.
After absorbing the remnants of Pei Jing's army and taking control of the thirteen districts, the Gu Family Army had expanded to a force of fifty thousand soldiers. This was five times the size of their original army. Although most of these soldiers were newly recruited and their combat effectiveness was questionable, the sheer number of fifty thousand men was a formidable force that could not be underestimated.
Gu Yang didn't have the luxury of time to gradually integrate his army. He needed to capitalize on the momentum and secure Guangyang Prefecture first.
To vie for supremacy in the realm, one needed a solid foundation. Without a stronghold, it would be impossible to cultivate the talent needed to achieve greatness.
Glancing at the sand table for a moment, Gu Yang picked up a Gu Family Banner and planted it on the Taiyun District.
"Next!"
"Our target is the Taiyun District!"
"Father needs martial arts secrets, and the Taiyun District is home to the Crimson Flame Sect. If they are wise, they may be allowed to preserve their legacy. If not, they will be eradicated!"
Gu Yang's eyes were cold, and a dense aura of killing intent emanated from him. Over the past few months, the number of people who had died, either directly or indirectly, at his hands was countless. The power to decide life and death had honed his resolve and ruthlessness.
Honestly, Gu Yang didn't want to kill indiscriminately. If he were to massacre the entire Guangyang Prefecture, he would lack the manpower to govern it effectively in the future. Currently, the various commanders of the Gu Family Army were people he had trained himself, and while they were sufficient for now, further expansion would strain their resources.
However, some situations were beyond his control. Sometimes, the only way to stop the killing was to kill.
"Gu Yi, you will represent me and visit the Crimson Flame Sect. Tell them that if they submit to the Gu Family Manor, all past grievances can be forgiven."
Gu Yang paused for a moment.
"Take a group of elite assassins with you. If the Crimson Flame Sect refuses, eliminate them completely!"
"Yes, Lord!"
Gu Yi accepted his mission and withdrew.
(End of Chapter)
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