Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Chapter 365: 190, Wanglong Mountain_2

Five days ago, Zhan Taiqing had a private discussion with Hou Yuxiao. Although they didn't know the content, from the current situation, Zhan Taiqing must have already had some plan, and it was related to Hou Yuxiao. They were originally supposed to follow Zhan Taiqing's orders, but keeping this secret naturally made them somewhat uncomfortable.

Especially for Han Feng and his nine men, who were Zhan Taiqing's direct subordinates...

"Official Peng, why don't I see your younger brother today?"

Han Feng scanned the area, suddenly noticing and asking as only two of the three great commandants by Peng Yuhu's side remained.

As he asked this, everyone's gaze gathered toward Peng Yuhu's side, and upon seeing only Dong Yuxuan and Hong Bo remaining, their faces instantly showed puzzled expressions.

Of the three commandants in Xingnan Prefecture, where had Peng Yucheng, Peng Yuhu's clansman, gone?

"Did you notice only today? My clansman was under Master's military order, and had already left with a group of troops the night four days ago. As for where he went, even I do not know!"

Peng Yuhu shook his head, seemingly surprised by everyone's sluggishness, but his tone carried a hint of helplessness when he mentioned that he too did not know.

Indeed, Peng Yucheng had informed him when leaving, but he merely mentioned that it was a Master's military order and nothing more—he didn't even tell him where he was going or what he was supposed to do.

In fact, after Zhan Taiqing had just fought Gu Tianyun, Peng Yuhu had roughly guessed where Peng Yucheng had gone. However, since the Master hadn't mentioned it, there was no need for him to show off his cleverness; it was better just to keep quiet.

Upon hearing his words, Han Feng suddenly turned back and meticulously surveyed the surrounding tents, his pupils shrinking sharply.

He had just realized that although the number of tents outside the city hadn't decreased, the flow of soldiers coming and going had noticeably diminished, which meant Peng Yucheng indeed had taken a troop of men and left.

Recalling the recent battle between Zhan Taiqing and Gu Tianyun, a flash of insight crossed Han Feng's mind, his shoulders shook as he instantly came to a realization.

......

Inside the tent,

Hou Yuxiao saw Zhan Taiqing enter and immediately bowed in salute.

"Greeting the Master!"

Zhan Taiqing unceremoniously sat in the principal seat and asked, "How many days will it take?"

Hou Yuxiao pondered briefly, clasped his hands and replied, "Longxiang County is over three hundred li from here, an army of over ten thousand people marching at a pace of about seventy li per day, upon receiving the message, it will take at least four days to arrive; Yangping County is even further, over three hundred and fifty li, taking a minimum of five days.

They sent their request for reinforcements on the evening of the fourth day of August. The two messengers rode top-grade horses capable of covering a thousand li in a day. So even if the actions in both counties were swift, having received the message and mobilized the troops immediately on the fifth of August, it is expected that they would arrive by tomorrow, the tenth of August."

After finishing his explanation, Hou Yuxiao paused slightly, then continued, "There might be some discrepancies in the arrival times of these two counties, but it should not exceed two days. My Hou Clan's ten thousand strong army has already joined forces with Commander Peng's fifty thousand strong army. If all goes well, by no later than the twelfth of August, I shall definitely bring good news to the Master!"

Hou Yuxiao's tone was somewhat exhilarated. With his current cultivation level, he was not qualified to participate in a contest of this Holy Land level. But he couldn't resist Zhan Taiqing's promise of "rewarding based on merit," so he was moved.

Guangling Prefecture consists of nine counties. Although he did not know the specific strategic goal Rakshasa Holy Sect aimed to achieve by marching into Xuzhou, even if it meant capturing a prefecture's land and allotting one or two counties to the Hou Clan, it would be a hugely profitable gain to him.

After all, he had risked his life countless times at the hands of Sacred Land successors for a mere Zhaoyang County; acquiring Tongling County had relied somewhat on luck. Reflecting back, on the night of the Rakshasa Festival, had there been any major power lose control, or had Maiden Hong's affection for Old Fifth not been so profound, the Hou Clan might have been utterly destroyed.

As long as he helped Rakshasa Holy Sect win this battle, even if Zhan Taiqing discounted his merit, getting even just one prefectural city for his own would be a tremendous benefit for the Hou Clan.

More importantly, in this great battle, the hatred of the Wanjian Holy Sect would all be directed toward Rakshasa Holy Sect. His Hou Clan, a minor third-rate clan, would not attract any attention at all. By staying out of the fray and seizing a great opportunity, this deal was too good for Hou Yuxiao not to take!

Thus, five days ago, when Zhan Taiqing offered this bait, Hou Yuxiao did not even think about it before he accepted.

The strategy he suggested to Zhan Taiqing was simple, just four words:

Encircle and strike the reinforcements!

Zhan Taiqing and others deemed Wanyang County too important. Of course, this city was indeed significant, being the first city on the western frontier of Xuzhou. Capturing it would boost the morale of their own side and strike a blow to the morale of Xuzhou.

This was also why Gu Tianyun decided to defend Wanyang County at all costs after retreating from Tongling. He and Zhan Taiqing had the same thought, to hold the city at least in the first wave, to thwart the momentum of the Demon Sect and prepare for the upcoming battles.

This is a case of the observers seeing clearer than the players!

In Hou Yuxiao's opinion, whether they could capture this city was not so important. The conflict between the two states was not likely to end in the short term. Therefore, the most important principle of warfare was to strike at the opponent's living forces; capturing cities could be relegated to a secondary priority.

Gu Tianyun believed he could defend Wanyang County because reinforcements from Longxiang County and Yangping County would soon arrive. With his own strength and the support of the City-Protecting Sword Array, he was confident in resisting the Demon Sect's army or, at the very least, if Zhan Taiqing dared to attack forcefully, he could inflict significant losses on the Demon Sect's army, impacting the subsequent battles.

If that was the case, why bother surrounding a city that they were reluctant to attack? It would be better to treat Wanyang County as bait and strike at the reinforcements coming from other places first. Eventually, they would have to fight Longxiang County and Yangping County, where both cities also had City-Protecting Sword Arrays. Instead of attacking them later, it was easier to obliterate the living forces now.

"Since that's the case, you should hurry and prepare. I've already spoken with Commander Peng, the large army will be under your command, and I await your good news!"

Zhan Taiqing's words interrupted Hou Yuxiao's thoughts. He did not say much else, merely nodded respectfully, turned, and walked out of the tent.

Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder had set off five days ago to find Hou Yucheng, instructing him to lead the large army toward the official road on the east. Peng Yucheng had left four days ago under the cover of night. By now, the two armies should have already joined forces. Fifth Elder was aware of his intentions and should have made arrangements already; he just needed to go and find them.

Although his side had a combined force of sixty thousand, with many skilled fighters, those were still the reinforcements of a county. Moreover, considering that Second Elder, Fourth Elder, and Fifth Elder were all there, if something went awry, there would be no room for regret. It was safer to go there in person.

Hou Yuxiao exited the tent, merely nodded to Peng Yuhu and Han Feng, said nothing, and swept across the sky, speeding toward the east.

......

To the east of Wanyang County on the official road, stretching out for about fifty li, there was a segment of high mountain with an elevation above three hundred meters. At its lowest point, it was only about two to three meters high, while the highest peak reached more than three hundred meters, appearing towering and majestic as it thrust into the clouds.

And the official road just happened to pass through a secluded valley amidst the mountains.

"Although Wanyang and Longxiang border each other, with one county's city in the east and the other in the west, the distance between them is over three hundred li. The terrain of Longxiang is higher than that of Wanyang. Where the two counties meet, there is a range of mountains spanning thirty to forty li, sloping from east to high in the west. From afar, it looks like a giant gazing up at Longxiang, thus it was named Wanglong Mountain long ago!

The mountain we are currently on should be the beginning of Wanglong Mountain, and it is also part of the Wanglong Mountain area. To see the main body, one would have to travel at least another thirty li forward!"

At the mountain top, Wang Gong, while informing everyone about the origins of Wanglong Mountain, looked toward the east, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He never thought that in his lifetime, he would return to Longxiang, and moreover, walk this official road which he once traveled as an Escort Master at the Fuwei Escort Agency.

Next to him, over a dozen people stood crowded; Hou Yucheng, Hou Yujie, and Hou Yuduan were prominently among them. Hou Fei, Hou Ying, Hou Cun, and many other Warriors of the Gang Qi Realm from the Hou Clan were also all present.

Apart from these individuals, there was also a robust man clad in black armor, wielding a sharp sword, his whole being exuding a warlike spirit.

"Commander Peng, have the troops all been properly ambushed?"

Hou Yuduan, looking down towards the end of the official road below, his eyes flickering with a hint of cold light, turned and inquired from the robust man, his tone slightly carrying an air of solemnity.