Chapter 564: The Hungry Ghost's Feast
Chapter 564: The Hungry Ghost's Feast
"It seems that there are only mistaken names, and no inappropriate nicknames!"
Hu Ma couldn't help but exclaim, "A reincarnated person is considered a malevolent spirit, and Bu Shi Niu is called a demon. There are indeed deeper meanings, but their actions live up to these names!"
He learned from Miao Shan Xian Gong and the senior brother Bu Shi Niu that Bu Shi Niu had golden skin and colorful armor, and was skilled in the Eight Schools of Formation and Strategy. They were divided into various categories.
There were scouts, skilled armorers and artisans, those who stirred up rebellions among the elite clans, those who specialized in military command, and those who specifically researched battlefield arrays and demon arts. Of course, there were also wanderers who roamed the lands.
Earlier, when Miao Shan Xian Gong had mentioned that the Grain Protection Army couldn't win, he had thought it was due to their lack of skill. But now, it seemed they had merely become accustomed to underhanded tactics. He decided to lower his expectations and still wanted to perform well, hoping to surprise himself.
On the first attempt, they had already devoured over a thousand of the enemy, an impressive number. If the enemy had been normal, this loss would have dealt a severe blow to their morale, and it might have even been possible for the Grain Protection Army to emerge victorious. But as for now...
Hu Ma turned his attention to the Hungry Ghost side, and a slight expectation rose within him. The vicious and mindless Hungry Ghosts, encountering the sinister Bu Shi Niu with his malicious intentions, who would emerge victorious?
...
...
"Quickly, set up the formation! Arrange the Hexagram Array, making it difficult to discern reality from illusion... Those soldiers don't understand the flags yet, so just let their leaders guide them. Wherever the leaders go, the soldiers will follow."
"Yes, and the flags for the leaders should be made quickly too!"
In the blink of an eye, they had already won two battles, although their methods were sinister and terrifying, causing unease. Nevertheless, as they were the victors, their morale was high. The Iron Mouth Strategist, seizing the opportunity, advised Yang Gong to order, "Moreover, find a few loud-voiced men to go and taunt the enemy."
"Remember to use Official Mandarin for the taunts, not the Minzhou dialect. Most of the Hungry Ghosts are from Official Province, and they might not understand the Minzhou dialect."
"..."
"Huh?"
The various leaders on their side were also taken aback by his words. "We just used a trick to devour over a thousand of their soldiers. They must be furious and planning a counterattack. We should be on high alert and strengthen our defenses. Why are we going to taunt them?"
Seeing their concern, the Iron Mouth Strategist smirked, "We're not afraid if they come, we're afraid if they don't."
"Indeed, if we were to face them head-on, our Grain Protection Army might not be a match for those Hungry Ghosts. In fact, there are few in this world who could rival those Hungry Ghosts. To win, we must go against their expectations."
"The only advantage we have now is the use of various mystical arts and techniques, which are most effective against those with restless and impetuous minds."
"On the battlefield, whoever loses their cool first will lose their head first!"
"..."
Everyone listened intently to these words, and Yang Gong's heart couldn't help but tremble. 'I'm the one who always loses my cool.'
He took note and arranged for everyone to follow the strategist's orders while also paying close attention to learning. He realized that the skills of these extraordinary individuals were different from the grand principles Hu Ma had shared with him, but they were undoubtedly practical.
"I have a strategy."
At this moment, in Yang Gong's tent, with the gathering of various talented individuals, many methods to deal with the Hungry Ghost Army were proposed.
Someone suggested, "I see that the Hungry Ghost Army is starving and delirious. If we douse them with dog blood, it will provoke their madness."
Another person said, "A group of crazed individuals, if we bring the Black Tai Sui and feed it to them..."
"Fire attacks are the best!"
A loud voice added, "To deal with these guys, using swords is the most foolish method. Only fire attacks, floods, and turning them into ashes with fire will truly eliminate them!"
Even outside the tent, someone quietly delivered a message. It was an employee from the Grass Heart Pavilion in the city, disguised and bringing news to Yang Gong. "I was sent by our Five Ghosts Boss. Those Hungry Ghosts are looking for someone to help call the souls of their Demonic Generals."
"The Grass Heart Pavilion is in the city, and all the employees and physicians value their lives. We can't refuse their request, but we don't want to help these cannibalistic Hungry Ghosts. We deliberately delayed, but the soul-calling technique isn't difficult, and they're not stupid. They're quickly figuring it out."
"The first few souls were called back after a long time, but the later ones will surely be faster. Those Demonic Generals are peculiar, so I was specifically asked to inform the Grain Protection General."
"Additionally, while calling the souls of the Demonic Generals, our boss also investigated ways to deal with the Hungry Ghosts. Ordinary methods won't work, but there's an acupoint called the Soul Gate, located three inches to the side of the ninth vertebra. Striking this point will have remarkable effects."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Yang Gong was overjoyed and deeply thanked the employee who had risked delivering the message. He also sent his gratitude to the Grass Heart Pavilion in the city, separated by two layers of military formations.
The Iron Mouth Strategist beside him couldn't help but exclaim, "The foundation of Mingzhou is truly remarkable, enough to make others envious. If it were any other time, slowly training troops and accumulating grain, it would be a place of rising fortune!"
"Who would've thought we'd encounter these Hungry Ghosts? Taking advantage of their unstable foundation, we should seize every opportunity we can."
"I just hope that the taunts will provoke them to come out!"
"..."
"..."
"Those people killed another squad of our soldiers and even took down one of our Demonic Generals?"
At the same time, outside Mingzhou City, Heaven's Will General and his men were also gritting their teeth in anger. He never imagined that the Demonic General would only lead a charge to seize some provisions, yet he and his troops were all lost inside.
Now, as the bad news spread, they also heard curses and foul language coming from the front, an endless stream that made their eyes burn with rage.
"Let the two of us lead the men and charge in to avenge our brothers!"
The two Demonic Generals who had just regained their souls were also enraged, their eyes turning red. They rose with a clatter, and the iron armor that had covered them a moment ago now lay scattered on the ground.
"Hold on!"
But unexpectedly, the Heaven's Will General, Zhong Benyi, suddenly spoke in a deep voice, addressing them, "I underestimated them. I thought that this time, we would be dealing with someone from the Hu family."
"I never imagined that Mingzhou would also have formidable figures. They are plotting and trying to provoke us into using this 'adding fuel to the fire' method. They want to take advantage of our reduced numbers and harm as many of us as they can."
"But we absolutely cannot fulfill their wishes."
"..."
Hearing this, the two Demonic Generals beside him exclaimed, "Are we really going to swallow this humiliation?"
"No."
The Heaven's Will General took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice, "They have many plans—fighting for power, seizing benefits, recruiting troops, and even attempting to enter Mingzhou City under the name of a so-called Noble."
"As for those inside Mingzhou City, heh, they have even more plans. They raised an altar, but without troops. They want to use our brothers to defend the city for them. But their porridge is thin, and their armor is broken. They don't treat us as humans, so why should we defend the city for them?"
"Our plan, however, is the simplest. It's just to have a full meal."
"Both of you, put on your iron armor and leave the city tonight. Take advantage of their troops being at the front of Mingzhou City and go to where there are no troops. Our people will have the spirits and gods deliver you there, and you can do as you please."
"..."
"Are they sent out?"
When the Heaven's Will General's arrangement spread outside, even the Hu family's elder sister in Mingzhou City was shocked.
She understood the purpose of the Heaven's Will General sending the Twelve Demons to various states and counties, and her heart trembled. She turned to the Hu family's Third Uncle and asked, "Are you... really going to fulfill his wishes?"
"..."
"Even if we fulfill his wishes, what can we do?"
The leader behind the altar, the Third Uncle, replied calmly, "We did promise him, didn't we? It's just about leading the hungry ghosts to Mingzhou, whether it's in front of the city or elsewhere in Mingzhou, what's the difference?"
"The order to summon the ghosts was given by the Meng family, and the cause and effect are on this Heaven's Will General..."
"Hehe, he can indeed bear the consequences."
"..."
The Hu family's elder sister's lips trembled, "But this is breaking all the rules..."
Even in a chaotic world where destiny is fought over, there are rules. If the Starving Ghost Army were to engage in battle with the Grain Protection Army in Mingzhou, and after winning, Mingzhou would belong to the Heaven's Will General, even if he did something excessive, no one in the world could say anything.
But if they bypassed the Grain Protection Army and directly targeted the common people, it would be equivalent to violating the taboo of the spirits and gods, and also disregarding the foundation that the Ten Surnames have maintained for the stability of the world over the past twenty years.
"Do you know why we brought you, a young one, along for such an important matter?"
However, facing the Hu family's elder sister's panic, the Third Uncle, the leader of the altar, smiled and said, "Actually, it's because you're also young, and your thoughts are not much different from his. What you can't think of, he won't be able to either..."
"Now that you've heard this news and are so flustered, he'll probably be unable to sit still as well..."
"Young people never understand..."
He sighed, "He's unhappy and unwilling to see us, but from the moment we arrived, we were prepared for an unpleasant situation."
"I don't know what he's planning with that small altar, but with this decree, even if he doesn't want to come out, he'll have to!"
As he spoke, he wiped the incense table, and instantly, over a dozen strange talismans floated up, catching fire as they rose.
When the talismans burned to ashes, the remaining cinders were carried away by the thick fog enveloping the city. Light as feathers, no one knew where they were flying. Above, the two uncles guarding the clay statue of the Guardian Deity laughed,
"Is it finally time?"
(End of Chapter)
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