Sheng Fu

The phrase "the emperor's entourage should not be traveled lightly" seems rather abrupt when applied to Yuwen Jun, but Li Hongshan did indeed share this sentiment.

"Really?" Li Hongshan gazed at Yuwen Jun with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

Yuwen Jun nodded and said, "It's not like I haven't been on the battlefield before, so the Grand Preceptor doesn't need to worry about my safety."

"Furthermore, which of those who have achieved great feats throughout history did not crawl out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood? I am a leader, but I am also a general."

"If I set an example, the soldiers of the three armies will naturally fight to the death."

Li Hongshan understood this principle perfectly well; the more relaxed Yuwen Jun sounded, the more uncertain the Grand Preceptor felt.

In terms of strategic value alone, Yuwen Jun was no less than the Emperor Ren and Emperor Ling.

Yuwen Jun is the link between the three races; if anything goes wrong with him, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"Why not assign me a Soul Mage as well?" Yue Bo, with his stubble, raised his head, his eyes bright as stars, and said noncommittally.

After a night of detailed discussion, Yue Bo had a clear understanding of the abilities of those skilled in soul manipulation.

Soul sorcerers only consider interests and disregard human relationships; they are the perfect example of "a kind heart cannot command an army."

In terms of a fleeting thought, Yue Bo believed that his advisors were no match for the Soul Master.

Li Hongshan glanced at Yue Bo with a hint of doubt. Although the Soul Master was strong, he was still of demonic blood. Moreover, Nan Zhuo and Huo Mu were only newcomers, yet they had gained the approval of the Human Race Commander in such a short time. This was really damaging to the Human Race Commander's reputation, and it would naturally make the other military staff unhappy.

People who rely on their brains for a living are bound to get jealous and rivalry when they stick together...

Li Hongshan still needed to think of a way to prevent the other staff members from complaining too much.

Fortunately, people can understand from ancient texts what a Soul Master at the Lingxiao level means; otherwise, Li Hongshan would really have no good way to treat everyone equally.

With one hand behind his back, Yuwen Jun looked at Nan Zhuo and said, "From today onwards, you will be in charge of reviewing all government affairs, large and small."

Li Hongshan's pupils contracted.

The fact that the Soul Masters were granted such great power so quickly caught the Grand Preceptor off guard.

Nan Zhuo's eyes widened, and he quickly straightened his sleeves, knelt on one knee, and replied firmly, "I will obey the king's command!"

Yuwen Jun waved his hand slightly and continued to say to Nan Zhuo, "You and Huo Mu should split up into two groups. Huo Mu should join forces with Pu Weiqing and do his best to assist Pu Weiqing."

"Now that the general strategic policy has been decided, I hereby order He Guang and Liang Che to come to Haomiao City. Liang Che will go to serve under Commander Yue Bo, and He Guang will join you in overseeing the overall situation."

"Huo Mu, together with Qing Yue, assisted Pu Weiqing."

"Let them be settled like this for now. Once they have all left the pass, I will arrange for them to be settled in the military camp as appropriate."

Nan Zhuo and Huo Mu replied in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Li Hongshan raised an eyebrow slightly and subconsciously asked, "Are the people Your Highness referring to all in the Lingxiao Realm?"

Yuwen Jun smiled demurely and said, "That's for sure."

"But there are still some people who have not yet come out of seclusion. Later, some soul masters at the Origin Returning level will enter the military camp, and I will assign them to some generals as appropriate."

"Ji Nan of Changmao Prefecture must understand that he is facing a large army with soul magicians deploying troops."

Li Hongshan feigned excitement and chuckled twice. The reason for his excitement was that he hadn't expected Yuwen Jun to have several Soul Masters at the Lingxiao level. Moreover, Li Hongshan had also discovered some time ago that two more Soul Masters with real power had appeared within the Demon Realm. He figured that Taisheng and Nanxiu were also at the Lingxiao level.

As expected of the young master of the Dragon Clan, he has unknowingly gathered so many talented and extraordinary people under his command.

With a wave of his sleeve, Yuwen Jun created a void passage.

A moment later, Kazuhiro, Ryoche, and Aogetsu appeared before the group.

"Greetings, Lord!" The three knelt on one knee and bowed in unison.

Upon seeing this, Yuwen Jun glanced at the Grand Preceptor's expression, which seemed somewhat stiff, while Yue Bo, standing to the side, maintained a calm and composed demeanor, as if he had experienced the vicissitudes of life.

"Rise. From now on, the rules and etiquette will be based on the new policies, and there is no need for these cumbersome formalities," Yuwen Jun said with a calm smile.

"We obey!" the three replied in unison.

He Guang was eight feet tall, with a robust physique, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, exuding a heroic aura.

Liang Che was tall and strong, handsome, with long hair like a waterfall, a slightly bluish complexion, and a pair of narrow phoenix eyes. He resembled an ancient city with rugged and rugged features.

Qingyue was of medium height, with fair skin and soft features, possessing the demeanor of a Confucian scholar.

Yuwen Jun slowly approached Yue Bo, gave Liang Che a meaningful look, and said to Yue Bo in a slow voice, "Liang Che is quick-witted, extremely proficient in the art of deduction and calculation, and even better at grasping the subtleties of people's hearts."

"His military strategy and tactics are also among the best; he can become a key advisor to the commander-in-chief in the future."

Yue Bo stared at Liang Che, who bowed slightly and said humbly, "Liang Che greets the Commander-in-Chief."

Yue Bo then cupped his hands in a fist salute to Yuwen Jun and said with a slightly bitter smile, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Yuwen Jun then said softly, "I know that the commander-in-chief has been troubled lately, but he needs to calm down as soon as possible. Although the prime minister is no longer with us, our journey is not yet over."

"If they were all women, they could cry and whine without restraint for about half a year."

"But we are all men who have fought on the battlefield, and we really don't have that much time to be sentimental and nostalgic."

Upon hearing this, Yue Bo sighed deeply.

Although Yuwen Jun knew that Yue Bo and Qiu Qing were old acquaintances with a bond of literary and martial arts, she did not know how deep this hidden bond was.

"Please step forward, sir," Yue Bo said softly to Liang Che, his gaze lowered.

After speaking, Yue Bo had a slight thought and led Liang Che back to the central command tent.

Yuwen Jun looked at Nan Zhuo and chuckled, "Those memorials are yours."

As soon as Nan Zhuo bowed slightly, Yuwen Jun placed a fist-sized golden seal in Nan Zhuo's hand, while secretly saying to Li Hongshan, "Rest assured, Grand Preceptor, they have the Chaos Blood Pact within them, and their every move is within my perception range."

Li Hongshan clasped his hands together and remained silent. The Grand Preceptor would never forget the Chaos Blood Pact...

Immediately, Nan Zhuo and He Guang went to the desk to organize the memorials, and moved a table and chairs next to the throne to begin handling official business. Soul practitioners are almost adept at handling such official business.

Yuwen Jun placed his hands on Huo Mu and Qing Yue's shoulders, yawned, and said, "The Dean's White Deer Army cannot be without the assistance of top-notch advisors."

"The Grand Preceptor is continuing to organize intelligence. I expect him to return at noon tomorrow."

Li Hongshan bowed and took his leave. In the blink of an eye, Yuwen Jun, Huo Mu, and Qing Yue had disappeared.

……

The imperial capital, in the palace of the king.

Upon arriving at this place, Huo Mu and Qing Yue subconsciously glanced at the surrounding architectural layout. Although it was grand and luxurious, they felt that it lacked a unique sense of craftsmanship.

"This mansion was built for me by someone else on short notice. Its feng shui layout is only roughly pleasing to the eye, but it cannot withstand close scrutiny," Yuwen Jun said nonchalantly.

Yuwen Jun walked at the front, with Huo Mu and Qing Yue following closely behind.

Soon, Qu Li led a group of servants to greet him.

"Welcome back, Your Highness!" Qu Li led the crowd in greeting.

Yuwen Jun waved his hand and said, "Prepare a banquet, and while you're at it, go to Prince Ping's place and get a few bottles of fine vintage wine."

Qu Li bowed deeply and said humbly, "I accept the order."

Upon entering the main hall, Yuwen Jun had a sudden thought and sent a message across the distance.

"If you encounter a situation where you can't make a decision, or if the commander-in-chief insists on doing things his own way, then follow your commander-in-chief's decision. Even if it's wrong, try your best to remedy it. In short, do your duty," Yuwen Jun instructed as she poured tea for the two of them. Huo Mu and Qing Yue were somewhat dazed. In their memory, this was the first time Yuwen Jun had served them tea, and they couldn't help but feel flattered.

"What kind of person is our head coach?" Homu asked instinctively.

Yuwen Jun thought about it carefully and said, "Sometimes he's stubborn, but he's quite capable. I reckon he'll be entering that sea of ​​suffering soon. He's currently the number one swordsman among humans."

"The battlefield is ever-changing, and the most taboo thing is disagreement on military orders. When he acts unilaterally, it is also when he is most confident."

"Don't worry, he would never act rashly. Just do your best to assist him."

"Your battlefield is in the Demon Realm."

Upon hearing this, Huo Mu and Qing Yue nodded calmly. Since their commander was quite capable, their talents would naturally have more room to be displayed.

"Remember, don't rush to win a brilliant battle; the main goal is to avoid defeat," Yuwen Jun said earnestly.

Homu said with a devout expression, "My lord, there is no need to worry. Although we are eager to make our mark, we do not desire a battle of egos."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Jun laughed heartily and said, "It's fortunate that I know your background. In fact, you have no experience in leading large-scale battles. Right now, I can only ask you for advice to fight a few smaller battles that are easier to handle first."

"Take it one step at a time."

"It's not that I doubt your abilities."

"It is the morale of the army and the hearts of the people that need to be forged through victory after victory."

Huo Mu and Qing Yue nodded emphatically.

Suddenly, the void surged, and Pu Weiqing arrived.

"Greetings, Commander!" Upon seeing this, Huo Mu and Qing Yue quickly stood up and bowed deeply.

This turn of events left Pu Weiqing momentarily stunned, his eyes filled with contemplation. Although both of them were at the Lingxiao Realm and their foundations were quite solid, he still felt that their strength was somewhat lacking.

"What is this?" Pu Weiqing squinted at Yuwen Jun with a suspicious look.

Yuwen Jun calmly poured tea for Pu Weiqing and said with a carefree smile, "Huo Mu and Qing Yue are soul masters at the Lingxiao level, and can be your right-hand men."

"Do you like this gift?"

Pu Weiqing then realized what was happening, while Huo Mu and Qing Yue were still bowing. Pu Weiqing quickly reached out and helped them up.

The dean said very modestly, "From now on we are all comrades, there is no need for such formalities."

"Pu Weiqing thanks you both for your kind assistance."

In that brief encounter, Huo Mu and Qing Yue realized that this commander was also a man of considerable strategy and temperament.

Yuwen Jun handed the tea to Pu Weiqing, and asked with a hint of suspicion, "So, you're going to take Gong Yan with you?"

"After he leaves, the four cities of Henglong will have to be handed over to the Hengchang cabinet. Is he willing to do that?"

Upon hearing this, Pu Weiqing smiled faintly and said, "The new policies have taken root, Shuanglong Prefecture has been established, and the North and South have merged. Under such circumstances, he is naturally at ease handing over the four cities of Henglong to the Hengchang Cabinet."

"Don't think of this person as old-fashioned."

"He just thinks you haven't experienced hardship and don't understand how to manage people's livelihoods."

"But he has already accepted you in his heart, he just doesn't want to admit it to your face."

Yuwen Jun smiled knowingly and said, "It's really not easy to gain his approval, but it's alright. In fact, he has governed the four cities of Henglong very well over the years. Even if Jing Hanqing, one of the Eighth Masters, were to govern them personally, he might not be as good as him."

"After all, people at the bottom of society are often stubborn and ignorant. His ability to educate the people and cultivate good public order and customs is truly a great achievement."

Pu Weiqing frowned slightly and said, "That's a bit too harsh."

Yuwen Jun disagreed, saying, "Not every woman is beautiful, and not every man is a good man."

"The reason why civil administration needs to be simmered slowly is to gradually create order and guide people onto the right path."

"You're still too soft-hearted."

"Although I am hard-hearted, I have not abandoned the people at the bottom of society. I have always tried my best to bring them happiness."

Pu Weiqing sighed softly, but the reason why young people are young is because they are open-minded enough.

"We'll have a few drinks later. I wonder if Gong Yan is here?" Yuwen Jun asked subconsciously.

Pu Weiqing picked up his teacup and took a sip. The taste of good tea was quite different. He shook his head slightly and said, "He is reorganizing his troops in the suburbs of the capital."

"The White Deer Army has gathered 20,000 elite troops."

"Including these two strategists, the White Deer Army now has five Lingxiao generals."

Yuwen Jun was taken aback for a moment, then stared straight at Pu Weiqing and asked, "So much influence?"

"What are their backgrounds, and where did they serve as officials or generals before?"

Pu Weiqing patiently explained, "Some of them already held important positions in the military, but I forcibly transferred them here. Kong Chong is currently cleaning up the mess for me."

"Another group of people are generals in the Imperial Guard, and His Majesty has specially assigned them to me."

"In addition, Qiu Qing has some hidden connections in the military. After hearing that the White Deer Army was established, they all petitioned their superiors to switch sides."

"His Majesty has bestowed upon me ten thousand dragon-scaled horses in special consideration."

The connections of the older generation, though unused, can create a tremendous force in an instant once activated.

Yuwen Jun gave a thumbs up and exclaimed, "I look forward to your first triumphant return. However, after you go to Iron Mang City, you can cooperate with Qi Han, the commander of the Flying Dragon Cavalry."

"I have already spoken to the Prince of Zhen'an, and His Majesty the Emperor Ling may also give your White Deer Army a special welcome feast."

"In short, your military career started at a very high level."

Pu Weiqing stroked his beard awkwardly and chuckled strangely, "Are you trying to save face for the old dean?"

Yuwen Jun smiled smugly: "If I take good care of you, that stubborn woman won't cause me any trouble. If you think about it, we also have a kind of master-disciple relationship in a roundabout way."

Upon hearing this, Pu Weiqing snorted coldly and said, "Go to hell."

Yuwen Jun then changed the subject, saying, "The general strategic plan has been set. Soon, I will personally lead an expedition to Changmao Prefecture. You, Zhen'an Prince, and Qi Han will support each other in Tiemang City. We do not need to conquer Xinghan City; maintaining an undefeated record is sufficient."

"After I take Changmao Prefecture, you can then take the initiative to attack."

Pu Weiqing's expression immediately hardened, and he subconsciously glanced at the two soul masters beside him.

Yuwen Jun nodded demurely and said, "Indeed, it is a general tactic devised by the Soul Masters. The Divine Realm and the Demon Realm have a lot of strategic space, while our three-race alliance does not have much strategic space. Therefore, we can only bite the bullet and go for it, first establish a foothold, and then talk about other things."

"If I fail to take Changmao Prefecture, it means that the alliance will be in a long period of passivity, and there is even a high probability that it will be crushed by the Demon Wolf Riders."

“In the past, we could fight some small battles in the Demon Realm, but every war from now on will be a large-scale battle.”

Pu Weiqing quickly did some mental calculations and suddenly felt a weight on his shoulders.

"How confident are we in taking Changmao Prefecture?" Pu Weiqing asked worriedly.

Yuwen Jun gasped, then smiled strangely and said, "Less than 50%."

"But we should give it a try. After all, my head carries considerable weight and is a peerless achievement that Ji Nan cannot refuse."

Pu Weiqing remained silent, only feeling that Yuwen Jun at this moment resembled Gu Yong very much… (End of this chapter)