https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-827-Breaking-Laws-the-Madman-of-Golden-Juice-General/12920045/
Chapter 826: The Cloudy County Gourd Army
Chapter 826: The Cloudy County Gourd Army
"This is not going to be easy!"
Upon seeing that King Yang Gong of Ming State had lost his temper, the military advisor, Iron Mouth, and the rest of the staff were all startled and wanted to advise him:
"The Channel State Blessed King and the U State Chaos King each have an army of ten thousand, and their foundations are deep. Not only do they occupy a region, but they also have countless noble families backing them. It's said that some immortals from the outside world are helping them train their troops."
They discussed in private, "If we talk about the troops in our hands, we don't have the upper hand against one side. Now, if we confront both sides at once, won't we be in deep trouble?"
"Earlier, when we wanted to take Teng Prefecture, it was to prevent one of them from having ill intentions, and also to have a backup plan."
"..."
No wonder everyone was alarmed; the Channel State Blessed King was no ordinary person.
He came from a prestigious family and was said to be blessed by ghosts and gods from birth. Possessing immense strength and extraordinary martial arts beyond ordinary people's imagination, he once led only four servants to annihilate a group of hundreds of bandits in a battle, leaving none alive.
His fame came early; even before the name of General Yang Gong, the Grain Guard, became renowned, he had already established a formidable reputation and raised a private army of three thousand.
When the Heavenly Mandate appeared and the king was first crowned, he fought in the Western Mountain Region. In just a few months, he had conquered cities and seized territories, becoming a formidable force. Moreover, he was known for his cruelty and ruthlessness, and during previous sieges, he would only stop the slaughter if the city surrendered. If they refused to surrender, he would massacre the city for three days.
When he was crowned king, an extraordinary person appeared and taught him a secret technique—Corpse Fusion Armor—and created a Stupa Army.
It was said that this army only fought at night, possessing mysterious abilities that even ghosts and gods couldn't fathom. Wherever they passed, nothing grew.
If one were to truly compare him with King Yang Gong of Ming State, they were like two extremes. King Yang Gong came from humble beginnings, trained his troops strictly, and had an excellent reputation, while the Blessed King was the exact opposite—cruel and ruthless, striking fear into all four directions.
"Do you think they're not attacking me because they have good intentions?"
Amid everyone's worries, King Yang Gong, sitting at the top, coldly smiled and said, "It's just that they also have many rebellious grassroots kings causing trouble around them, and they haven't fully subdued them yet. If we don't take this opportunity to attack, do you want to wait for them to launch a pincer attack on us?"
Seeing his determination, everyone was startled and said, "Then, between the two, which one should we attack first?"
King Yang Gong coldly smiled and said, "Take advantage of the situation and attack the more formidable one!"
"But the Channel State Blessed King is said to be protected by deities, unaffected by karma. Once, he massacred ten thousand civilians in a single night, right?"
"Then let's attack him first!"
"Don't worry, I won't be defeated. Send a message to the Gown State White Armor Army and the Melon State Iron Gate Army. Our three armies will support each other, and let's see who beheads the Blessed King first!"
"..."
Once the decision was made, a letter was immediately written and sent to Channel State by a messenger: "Do you want me to give you a longevity gift?"
"I'll personally deliver it, and tell your concubine to prepare the scented tent for me!"
"I'll give her a son as a grand gift!"
"..."
"It's over!"
Upon hearing this, everyone realized that after this letter was delivered, the Blessed King, known for his brutality, might engage in a life-and-death battle with King Yang Gong.
However, upon careful consideration, it became clear that King Yang Gong wasn't acting on impulse but had thought it through.
The White Armor Army, the Iron Gate Army, and the Grain Guard Army were now in an alliance, defending and attacking together. In the past, when they guarded their territories, they could look out for each other, but now that they wanted to conquer the world, there needed to be a clear hierarchy for better coordination.
The relationship between the three armies was not shallow, and if they fought, the stronger would devour the weaker, which would be embarrassing. However, if they followed through with their words, it would be challenging to avoid leaving a grudge in each other's hearts.
Therefore, they took this opportunity to attack the Blessed King, placing a bet. The winner would issue orders, and the loser would willingly follow commands, a win-win situation for all.
So, they immediately wrote and sent a letter that night. The two armies, who originally didn't eat beef, responded upon hearing the news. Within a day, the news that the three armies would join forces to attack the Blessed King spread throughout the entire world.
Some rejoiced, while others worried.
The military advisor, Iron Mouth, and the rest of the staff were concerned, feeling that the Grain Guard Army had just gained some reputation and its wings were not yet fully developed. They couldn't help but feel apprehensive about provoking such a formidable opponent.
Those who were happy were the powerful warriors in the army, their hearts thrilled: "Finally, we get to face a real challenge?"
"The Lake State region is too small, and we can't display our full potential. If we want to achieve great merit, we need a grand battle like the one in Channel State."
Of course, the most excited person was not from the Grain Guard Army but General Shen Hongzhi's younger sister, Clever Cloud Dong. She had been playing around for a few days and was getting bored, thinking of leaving the army to find some fun on her own.
But when she heard the news about attacking the Blessed King, she suddenly became excited, rushed back to the army, and shouted, "Sister, are we going to fight that guy?"
"I want to join the military and serve as a Vanguard Commander under you!"
"That guy tried to kill me, and now it's time for my revenge!"
"..."
Shen Hongzhi, the Central General, adored this sworn younger sister, but she was also a little confused by what she heard: "My little sister is so well-behaved, how could there be people trying to kill her everywhere?"
"It must be because the other side is too brutal!"
The military plans were set, and everyone began their preparations. Facing such a formidable opponent, all arrangements had to be made with utmost caution.
Among them was a force of ten thousand who had previously been to the capital, the Grain Guard Army, which was the elite force under the Bright King. They had to bring this force, along with the two thousand troops trained earlier in Bright State, and ten thousand civilian laborers, who would now play their part.
They divided into several groups, stationed in Bright State, Lake State, and Teng Prefecture. A special detachment was also allocated and placed under the command of Right Flank General Zhang Yanbei, who would guard the border of Wuzhou.
This was solely to guard against any trouble from Wuzhou, allowing them to focus on attacking Channel State.
The decision was made, and within four to five days, everything was arranged. They chose an auspicious day, granted wine and meat, rewarded the three armies, and marched towards Channel State.
Channel State was unlike Lake State, surrounded by numerous bodies of water, with a biased terrain. Instead, it was a vast land with a sparse population, dotted with many cities. Although the Bright King Yang Gong usually spoke with a grand tone and acted wildly, he was cautious at heart. He carefully discussed with the Military Advisor Iron Mouth and divided the troops into several routes.
The main force stayed at the rear, responding to the central command. Then, they appointed several Vanguard Commanders, each leading three thousand troops, to capture key locations along different routes.
Once those areas were secured, the main force would have no rear concerns and could directly advance towards the Channel State capital for a decisive battle.
As the massive army advanced, they achieved consecutive victories, capturing several county seats. The army steadily pushed forward, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, on this day, an urgent report suddenly came from Right Flank General Zhou Liang's position.
It turned out that when the troops reached Cloudy County, they encountered a group of strange soldiers under the Blessed King. The enemy's numbers were not many, and they had the advantage, but after a battle, they suffered significant casualties.
Upon hearing this, the Military Advisor Iron Mouth temporarily halted the main force and personally led the disciples from the Unchanging Li Family to investigate.
When they arrived, they saw that over ten thousand troops were blocked in front of the small Cloudy County. Inside the county, there were only a thousand soldiers, along with the local populace, totaling just over ten thousand people. Yet, they managed to inflict a painful defeat on the Grain Guard Army's vanguard.
"It's not that our soldiers are afraid to die, but there's a group of demons inside Cloudy County."
Vanguard Commander Zhao Zhu, who was also injured, came forward with a steel fork and said, "Since joining the Grain Guard Army, we've fought many battles, but I've never seen such strange people."
"The enemy's thousand soldiers aren't that formidable, but among them, there are over a hundred carrying large red gourds. When our army advanced, the enemy, seeing they couldn't match us, took out the gourds and blew into them."
"With one blow, the sky darkened, and the cold wind made people dizzy and nauseous. Forget about fighting; even seeing clearly was difficult."
"The enemy took advantage of this and launched an attack. We suffered a significant loss, losing many brothers. We had to retreat and think of a solution."
"..."
The Military Advisor Iron Mouth shook his head after listening and said to Zhao Zhu, "It's fortunate that you suffered this defeat. After all, in the previous battle, it was you who captured the Three-Headed Serpent from Lake State alive, earning a great merit. Even if you lose this time, military law can't be too harsh on you."
"If it were someone else who suffered this defeat, even if it's just for show, you'd still be beaten with a few military sticks."
"However, it's not surprising that you suffered this loss."
"You see, you encountered demon soldiers."
"..."
Zhao Zhu was surprised: "Demon soldiers? Aren't the Three-Headed Serpent also demons? I pinned it down with my fork."
"Different demons."
Iron Mouth explained, "Because of the heavy killing intent in the army, many of the various techniques from the rivers and lakes cannot be used. If there's anything that can be used, it's only the skills of that Great Master Hu in your camp."
"But also because there are so many strange techniques in the rivers and lakes, there will always be those who want to use these techniques to gain power and apply them in battle formations to achieve extraordinary results. That's how these demon soldiers came to be."
"They often specialize in one technique or treasure. When they suddenly use it in battle, they can often seize the initiative and defeat the enemy. The group you encountered is called the Eight Hundred Gourd Army, as I've heard."
"As you spend more time on the battlefield, you'll encounter even more!"
"Teng Prefecture has the Fire Crow Army, which we're trying to subdue. There's also the White Fish Army, Headwrap Army, and Bamboo Raft Army in the south, and the Stupa Army, Black Flag Army, and Fierce Drum Army in the north. Each of them is formidable, the treasured weapons of those who dominate a region, their beloved possessions."
"..."
Zhao Zhu's expression changed as he heard this: "They all have them, does that mean our Grain Guard Army doesn't?"
"Alas, I heard that you all learned from Great Master Hu, but why are you so short-sighted?"
Iron Mouth couldn't help but look at him with disdain and said, "The Grain Protection Army, especially those who have been to the capital, are already the most precious in this world."
"We don't know how those masters do it, but each one of them is calm and composed, capable of suppressing spells and techniques. These demon soldiers, when faced with ten thousand Grain Protection Army soldiers, would probably have to take a detour. But unfortunately, they're all here."
"These ten thousand Grain Protection Army soldiers are the backbone. Losing one is a significant loss, and we can't even replace them."
"Moreover, those demon soldiers aren't mindless. Instead of directly confronting us, they hide within the army, catching us off guard. No matter how much we try to defend, we can't stop them."
"Sigh, to be honest, these demon soldiers shouldn't exist in this world. It's just that the current world is in chaos, and demons and monsters have emerged."
"If we can't even defeat this Gourd Army, then facing the Stupa Army of the Blessed King will be even more hopeless."
"..."
Zhao Zhu listened, and he couldn't help but feel a bit confused. He didn't remember Scarface Brother teaching these things...
He grabbed the Military Advisor's sleeve and said, "I don't care. You think of a way. If you can't, you'll take the blame."
"Yes, yes, yes."
Iron Mouth was speechless. "When we headed towards Quzhou, we had already made preparations."
"Their Gourd Army is formidable, but our Fire Crow Army in Teng Prefecture is just for fun, right? To be honest, the most crucial thing after taking Teng Prefecture is to subdue a Fire Crow Army there."
"We thought it would be tricky, but our Grain Protection Army's reputation is so good that when our envoy went to Teng Prefecture, it immediately attracted people from all sides to join. Among them was this Fire Crow Army, and we can finally see their abilities."
"..."
As he spoke, he immediately dispatched orders in the middle of the night. After midnight, a group of strangely equipped soldiers arrived at the battle formation.
From a distance, Zhao Zhu saw a peculiar group of soldiers. Each soldier had an unusual appearance, not wearing armor, but carrying an iron frame on their backs and a leather pouch hanging at their waists. They gathered around several large bonfires in the army, eating meat and drinking wine, looking quite content.
...
...
"So, this time, it's the turn of the Fermented Wine Army to take action?"
At the same time, Hu Ma had returned to the Blood Food Mine in Gun Prefecture and retrieved the balance stone he had placed there earlier. He planned to bring it to Quzhou and find a way to obtain the remaining two balance stones.
However, he couldn't help but worry about the fate of the Grain Protection Army, constantly keeping an eye on the situation. Now, he heard that the Fire Crow Army was about to face off against the Gourd Army, and he couldn't help but feel curious.
"That Fire Crow Army in Teng Prefecture was refined by one of Fermented Wine's brothers. When we went to cause a ruckus at the Meng Family Manor in Salt Prefecture, he brought it along and set off many fires."
The speaker was the Red Wine Lady, who was also returning from Old Yin Mountain, preparing to meet up with Hu Ma in Quzhou. "Because Teng Prefecture is close to East Prefecture and has fewer reincarnates, the reincarnates there follow Fermented Wine's orders, so they're considered his people."
"To be frank, they initially refined this peculiar army for fun, but since their roots aren't here, they also want to send the Fire Crow Army to serve a wise ruler and strive for a better future."
"Now, if we want to challenge the Blessed King, it's a chance to make a significant contribution and gain recognition."
"However, we still need to be cautious. If my intelligence is correct, the Blessed King's background is not simple."
"The reason he dares to be so ruthless, slaughtering cities and causing bloodshed, yet unafraid of military revolts or divine retribution, is that he has a powerful backer."
"..."
The Red Wine Lady slowly said, "He is one of the pieces secretly supported by the Unchanging Li Family."
"This time, we're not dealing with the Blessed King, but the Li Family."
"..."
"So, it's time to see the real skills."
Upon hearing this, Hu Ma let out a soft sigh. He had known that this battle for the world would inevitably clash with the Ten Surnames, but now that it was time to settle the score with the Unchanging Li Family, his heart felt heavy.
After a long while, he suddenly asked, "This spell duel won't be something that just one or two of us can easily resolve, right?"
"Red Wine Lady, what do you think? How many reincarnates will be willing to come and help us?"
"..."
Facing this question, the Red Wine Lady and Second Pot Head, who were talking together, suddenly fell silent.
They all hoped someone would come, but they were also afraid. What if they didn't show up...
(End of Chapter)
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