Lord of the Desert

Chapter 567 Preparing for War
Others might not believe it, but Xu Zhiyan knew he wasn't just saying nice things.

Since their childhood friendship, Kou Yong has always appeared distant from his family, as if he knew from birth that he was just a traveler and the world was only a temporary lodging.

"So who wants to deal with Hong Beom?"

Wang Xiaodan broke the silence.

"The situation at Zuowei has eased, and I see that the General is being exceptionally polite to him. Could it be that the Peng family and Rongtie Palace had a conflict over goods a few years ago?"

"It does not matter."

Kou Yong glanced at him and smiled calmly.

"How can it not be important?"

Seeing his old friend put on that inscrutable look again, Wang Xiaodan couldn't help but feel a burning hatred.

“Hong Fan is nominally a captain, but in reality, he is the same as me, a commander of a city. My Zhenbei Guard only has thirteen cities in total!”

“You’ve misunderstood me. What I mean is that dealing with someone like Hong Fan requires not only a plan, but also luck.”

Kou Yong replied.

"This time, he fought Yuan Ci to a draw with his innate strength, which thwarted all of Huo's plans. He might break through to Yuan Ci before September this year, and no matter how much the others make arrangements, it will be in vain."

What are you talking about in your sleep?

Wang Xiaodan felt completely baffled.

"First of all, I'm not underestimating him. When he unleashed his Six Arms of Desolate Sand, Huo Wei couldn't even fight back. I'm not worthy to fight him. But breaking through from the peak of the Innate Realm to the Yuan Magnetic Flower Realm in five years is already extremely fast. Exceptions like Shi Haoran and Gu Yixin are rare cases where people are focused on cultivation and have extraordinary circumstances. Hong Fan leads the army and governs while also thinking about expanding the business world. He's busy with routine affairs every day. Where would he find the time to cultivate?"

"You shouldn't ask me that, you should ask my great-uncle."

The uncle Kou Yong referred to was Kou Fei.

“My great-uncle always speaks with purpose. Since he publicly compared Hong Fan to Shi Haoran, it means that guy has a chance.”

"I have no right to doubt Lord Kou's judgment, but where exactly does the hope you speak of lie?"

Wang Xiaodan's tone softened.

Since returning from Shenjing, he has been in the core circle of the Northern Frontier for many years and has come to realize that Kou Fei's roughness is only superficial, but in reality he is extremely shrewd.

“Hong Fan started practicing martial arts at fifteen and reached the peak of the Innate Realm at twenty-three, which is considered above average among the top talents of all time; tell me, how did he suddenly become so far ahead of everyone else in the Yuan Magnetic Realm?”

Wang Xiaodan persisted relentlessly.

"Old Wang, don't just focus on martial arts."

Xu Zhiyan said softly.

"He is a Star Lord like me. For us, progress is possible as long as there is war and bloodshed. However, if we want to push to the Yuanci level in the short term, the scale would probably be..."

As she spoke, she suddenly understood the implication in Kou Yong's words.

"Does Lord Kou want the Chisha Army to go into battle?"

Xu Zhiyan's eyes widened.

Wang Xiaodan hadn't reacted yet.

"As you think, I believe that war should break out on the Left Guard side; of course, this is just speculation, and perhaps I am over-interpreting it."

Kou Yong nodded to her.

"If Zuowei wants to start a fight, how could I, the dignified garrison commander of Duanhong Town, facing the two front-line fortresses of Juling, not know?"

Wang Xiaodan retorted confidently, but the more he spoke, the less confident he became.

Wolf Ridge City alone has a population of over 200,000. They share the same language and culture as the Zhenbei Guard, and there are countless spies planted between them. If the General's Mansion wants to play a surprise attack, the newly arrived and self-reliant Red Sand Army is the most trustworthy option.

Thinking of this, he had no choice but to remain silent.

·······
In the blink of an eye, it's mid-February.

As the snowfall in Fengsui City gradually subsided, temperatures continued to rise. The Gu Diao, with its broken horn and only half a skull remaining, was stripped of its flesh and hung on the west gate as a new landmark. The processed corpse was then sold off by Tianhe Trading Company.

Because this level of exotic beast is extremely rare and has no market value, Hong Fan had already received a return of 20,000 guan in just one month.

At the end of February, Shen Tiexin personally led a team across Juehou Mountain to inspect Fengsui City.

Six months later, she broke through to the Six Meridians. If she can open the remaining two extraordinary meridians before she turns twenty-four in four months, she might even be able to make it onto the list of the most outstanding talents.

With Gu Diao dead, the trade route between Liangzhou and the northern border of Hezhou was no longer a decisive obstacle. The remaining work of ensuring smooth passage (bridges, roads, post stations, driving away wild beasts, etc.) was a long and arduous task and was entrusted to Shen Jiayi Fengxing and several local powerful families in Fengsui City.

As for Hong Fan himself, he devoted himself to military preparations—he planned to double the size of the artillery battalion, add ice and metal warriors, and make it a heavily armed, non-returning camp. At the same time, he planned to completely equip the local Pi Jian and Zhi Rui battalions with firearms.

In March, Yang Haorang's troops and the Chisha Army underwent a large-scale disorganization and reorganization, ostensibly for the purpose of facilitating training. Although the local officers had some complaints, they could not voice any dissent under Hong Fan's extraordinary prestige.

In the four months following the start of the year, many scout teams from Fengsui City went north to explore, among them Xu Yuntao and Lü Yunshi personally went to observe the terrain.

The target agreed upon by Kou Fei and Hong Fan was called Xuandan Fortress.

It is one of the twenty-seven front-line fortresses that the Giant Spirits deployed along the line of Hezhou, Qingzhou, and Hejian Kingdom. It is located two hundred miles northeast of Fengsui City, and it has a large reserve of supplies and has excavated a lava fire pool to replenish energy.

If it were removed, at least 70% of the hunting activities around the beacon tower city could be stopped.

······
April 17th, Xuandanbao.

The natural cave inside the mountain was opened up several times, hollowing it out into a huge dome tens of meters high.

At the farthest end of the passage, orange-red light emanated, illuminating a vast array of magical circuits where nearly a hundred giant spirits were busy at work.

"Shuoshui, the military operations in Fengsui City have become increasingly active this month, with frequent clashes with the vassals; the latest statistics show a casualty ratio of one to four, which is very unfavorable to us."

An ancient giant, three zhang tall, projected a screen of light and communicated with his colleague two hundred meters away in the stillness.

"Shattered light, is it because of the chemical energy weapons brought by the Red Sand Army? Shotguns and pistols."

The river flows back across the distance, and we move closer.

Since the spectrum cannot be seen in a specific direction, giants habitually add a name as a title when speaking to a designated target.

"It is indeed very interesting new knowledge, worthy of being offered to the gods. When Hong Fan declared before the New Year that he would get rid of the Gu Diao, Shanyang planned to form a team to take the opportunity to eliminate him, but he acted too discreetly and quickly, and we didn't have time."

Two giant spirits traversed the darkness and emerged together from the sword-shaped gate of the mountainside temple.

Looking into the distance, the snow that had covered the fields all winter was melting under the sunlight, revealing the new green underneath.

Nearby, thousands of workers are using tools to build the outer edge of the circuit.

"Shattered Light and Bee Pattern went to the Throatless Mountain afterward. There were traces of a powerful explosion at the scene, which doesn't seem to be the old-fashioned chalcedony technique of the Weapon Crafting Bureau."

As Shuoshui spoke, he saw a giant with a streamlined body approaching on its six legs.

It is the bee pattern I just mentioned.

The oldest of these three giants was the highest decision-making body of the Hanging Gall Fortress.

"We have just received new information. The gods have slightly awakened at the end of winter and confirmed that the next sacrificial war will take place between us and the human race within two years."

The honeycomb pattern is projected through a light screen.

"As expected."

The shattered light responded.

Based on the clan order and schedule, the giants had long anticipated the approaching war, and the increasingly radical southern hunts of recent years were a warm-up on a macro level.

"The lava pool inside the fortress has been expanded. Once the new magic array is secretly laid out, we can draw more ley lines to the surface."

The three giants gazed at the bustling humans and pack animals working inside the fortress, their logical circuits filled with rational optimism.

"In the upcoming battle, Suspended Fortress will become the most important forward base."

"Let our people's new glory begin from this moment!"

(End of this chapter)