above the galaxy

Chapter 619 You actually dare to swear an oath?
Bai Xingjian is of average build and has an ordinary face; he's the kind of person who would easily blend into a crowd.

However, his eyes were gentle, his temperament was calm, and he carried a faint scholarly air, like a blank sheet of rice paper, making people stop and look at him as they passed by, wanting to depict the beautiful landscape in their hearts on it.

This is the only young talent who is not among the nine great families, yet is ranked among the seven stars.

Oh, and Tang bandits too.

Tang Fei was also known as the "Star-Picking" master; he killed almost all of the Seven Stars.
One month of March also fell into his hands.

He not only stirs up trouble, but also manipulates the stars and moon.

Bai Xingjian knocked on the door and, after hearing a "Come in" from inside, pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Shen Wuxiang standing by the window, he said, "Military Minister, you wanted to see me?"

Shen Wuxiang turned to Bai Xingjian and said with a smile, "Yes, there are some things that require your help."

"The military commander may give his orders, and all will obey without question."

Bai Xingjian responded, his voice firm and loyal.

He didn't even ask any questions; as long as he was given instructions, he would find a way to complete them.

Who wouldn't want to work with such subordinates?
Who wouldn't want to promote a subordinate like that?
Shen Wuxiang looked into Bai Xingjian's eyes, and saw his own clear reflection in the pupils.

This is someone he has always valued and nurtured highly.

Among the younger generation, very few can be called "personables" by Shen Wuxiang.

Bai Xingjian, Tang Fei, Qin Jianyi, and the former Shen Xinglan and Shen Leyou.
Thinking of this, my heart started to ache again.

Shen Xinglan isn't even worthy of being compared to Tang Fei?

But on what basis can he be compared to the Tang bandits?

Tang Fei was even younger than him, yet he had already led a force and conquered a large territory while Tang Fei was hiding in the cold pool healing his wounds.

"You know that Jinxiu City has fallen and Tang Shengyan has been defeated and captured, right?" Shen Wuxiang asked.
"I just saw the battle report at the General Staff Headquarters."

"What do you think about this?" Shen Wuxiang looked at Bai Xingjian with deep eyes and asked.

Bai Xingjian raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not speak.

How could he possibly view such a thing?
"It's alright, just say whatever comes to mind. There are only the two of us in this room," Shen Wuxiang encouraged with a smile.

"Defeat is a real defeat, but surrender is not necessarily a real surrender."

"Oh?"

"Intelligence indicates that after the defeat of the Fire Reaper Army and the fall of Jinxiu City, General Tang met with the bandit leader, Tang Fei. He proposed that the entire Fire Reaper Army surrender in exchange for the bandits sparing the remnants of the Fire Reaper Army and the officials and civilians in Jinxiu City."

"You think this is unreasonable?"

“General Tang is a veteran commander of the Fire Reborn Army. I can understand and accept his willingness to preserve the Fire Reborn Army’s legacy.” Bai Xingjian paused slightly. If word got out that he was speaking ill of a veteran general behind his back, his position in the army would become extremely difficult.

However, this was what the military minister told him to say, and if he didn't say it, he would be disobeying the military minister.

"However, given the fighting capabilities of the Fire Reborn Army, even if the city is difficult to defend and they want to retreat, it would be difficult for the bandits to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

“Your thoughts are the same as mine.” Shen Wuxiang nodded and stopped making things difficult for his trusted subordinate. He said, “Tang Shengyan’s surrender with the Fire Reaper Army is equivalent to giving the bandit army a complete military system. They only need to reorganize it slightly to build a new army.”

"Moreover, Kong Yinghan, the deputy commander of the Fire Reborn Army, has defected to the enemy. In this way, they can use him as a breakthrough point to take over all the high-ranking generals of the Fire Reborn Army without having to replace any generals."

Bai Xingjian looked at Shen Wuxiang and asked, "What does the Military Minister mean?"

"We can't touch that old fox Tang Shengyan for now. We'll round up his family and friends and keep them under close surveillance. But since Kong Yinghan dared to defect, we'll make an example of his family to warn others."

"People are prone to doing foolish things once they lose their sense of awe."

"I understand," Bai Xingjian replied in a deep voice.

He knew this meant he was being asked to clean house.

If he accepts this mission, it will mean a life-or-death struggle with the Fire Army and other high-ranking military officials.

But did he have a better option?
In order to revive the Bai family, he had no choice but to cling to Shen Wuxiang's coattails in hopes of gaining favor by following in Shen's footsteps.

Otherwise, given the Bai family's current capabilities, they would only reach the rank of division commander.

"Also, you should go to Phoenix."

"Hmm?" Bai Xingjian looked at Shen Wuxiang, wondering if he had anything else to say.

"I've invited the Sheng Jing family to Qishan; I want to play chess with him."

Bai Xingjian suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said in a deep voice, "Yes, Military Minister."
-
People are happy when they are happy.

I'm always happy when good things happen.

The city of brocade is acquired, and Tang Shengyan surrenders (name crossed out).
Kong Yinghan surrendered.

The Tang bandits not only gained a group of fierce and experienced soldiers, but also a fully organized and ready-to-go-to-battle legion that could be deployed to the battlefield after only a short rest.

How many legions did the Tang bandits have in total?

The Fire Reborn Army has a long history, numerous military exploits, and a dazzling banner.

It was one of the Empire's three elite legions, and now it's fallen into our hands?

Tang Fei really wanted to hug Tang Shengyan and give him a big kiss. This old father, this old general, had done him an enormous favor.

Without his help and cooperation, they could have easily led the remnants of the Fire Army to break through and escape.

Given the depth of the Empire's reserves and the speed of its military buildup, they could field a new army of fire-breathing warriors to fight against them in less than three months.

However, he did not do that; instead, he chose to stand with himself.
"What's that saying again? 'Those who follow the righteous path find abundant help, while those who stray from it find little.' Well, I've simply done too many good deeds." Tang Fei raised his wine glass, his face full of sincerity, and said, "Come, old general, let me toast you again." Tang Shengyan raised his glass and clinked it against Tang Fei's, glancing at him and saying, "All the important business is done? Now you have the leisure to drink with this old man?"

"Leave the professional matters to the professionals. As for things like cleaning up the battlefield, capturing cities, and reorganizing the army, I know nothing about them. Leave that to Phoenix and the staff generals in the General Staff. All I need to do is keep you company, sir," Tang Fei said with a smile.

Tang Shengyan looked at Tang Fei with deep agreement and said, "I used to wonder, you don't have three heads and six arms, so how come so many people are willing to follow you?"

"Phoenix goes without saying. She accompanies you as a princess and has repeatedly stood up for you."

“Shen Qingping is a direct descendant of the Shen family, yet he is willing to abandon his family and ancestors to serve as a general under your command.”

"The Qin and Lu families are two of the nine great families of the empire. The Qin family holds military power, and the Lu family has technology. Moreover, the Lu family is a thousand-year-old family, yet they've recklessly placed their bets on you."

"I don't understand, I really can't figure it out. Why? Aren't they afraid of losing the bet? Aren't they afraid that the final result will be that they'll lose everything and have nothing left?"

"The lowest laborers use their physical strength, the middle laborers use their intellect, and the highest laborers use their manpower." These are just a few simple sentences, but if you can truly understand them and put them into practice, you can achieve great things.

"You're a born leader, destined to manage others. As long as you use people well, there's nothing in this world that can't be accomplished."

"Oh dear." Tang Fei deliberately feigned a flattered expression and said, "General, you've placed me in such a high position. Do you have some ulterior motive towards me?"

"What could a retired old man like me possibly want from you?" Tang Shengyan said irritably, his beard bristling and eyes wide. "Make sure the families of those high-ranking members of the Fire Army are taken care of and their safety is protected. Hide those who can be hidden, relocate those who can be moved. I've given you an army; do you think Shen Wuxiang will let this go? He's not one to suffer a loss."

"General, to be honest, we think alike. Even before the war in Jinxiu City truly began, I had already sent men to protect your families."

“I think we should fight our own battles, but we can’t let outsiders harm the families of our brothers in the Fire Reborn Army, and we certainly can’t harm the old general’s family. After all, you are my savior, and your family is my family.”

"Huh?" Tang Shengyan's expression stiffened slightly, then he pointed at Tang Fei and cursed, "You bastard, you're truly vicious!"

He knew that this was not protecting himself and the families of the high-ranking officers of the Fire Army; it was 'imprisonment' and 'surveillance'.

If the war goes well, he can use this to coerce these people into joining his camp.

If the war goes poorly, and the Fire Army advances triumphantly, those people will become his 'hostages' and 'puppets'.
General, you wouldn't want to see your family get hurt, would you?
It's very explicit and violent.

How can we fight this war?
"General, you've really misunderstood me. It's not what you think at all," Tang Fei quickly explained. "As you know, my father was a respected general, and I come from a military family. I have a deep admiration for soldiers."

"I have only respect for you and a sincere invitation to welcome you with open arms. I have absolutely no intention of harming your families. If I am lying, may I be struck by lightning."

"You actually dare to swear that oath?"

"That's natural. If you're upright, you have nothing to fear. If you're on the right foot, you have nothing to fear."

"What if the Fire-Burning Army utterly defeats you?"

"Then I will ask your relatives to pass on a message, hoping that, considering we are all from Phoenix, you can let us off the hook."

"Isn't that still a threat?"

“How is this a threat? This is a request. They can refuse.”

"If you refuse, will you still be alive?"

"Of course, I'm not like Shen Wuxiang, who indiscriminately kills innocent people."

"."

Tang Shengyan was panting heavily and couldn't speak for a long time.

After a long while, he picked up his wine glass, took a big gulp, and said, "If someone like you succeeds, it's simply outrageous."

"You're hurting my feelings by saying that."

"However, Shen Wuxiang will definitely be defeated by you."

"I have always admired the old general's eye for talent. Let me toast you again."

"."

"I can't drink anymore," Tang Shengyan put down his glass and said, "Go and get on with your business. Give those who follow you a good ending and a bright future. I don't need you here. The longer you stay, the angrier you get."

"Don't worry, I will definitely live up to your expectations."

Tang Fei stood up and bowed deeply to Tang Shengyan.

Then, they walked out of this luxurious prison made of titanium.

Tang Shengyan watched Tang Fei's retreating figure, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of tofu from the sauerkraut hot pot, chewed it slowly, and then took a sip of his wine.
"Pickled cabbage and tofu stew, even the emperor can't compare to me. The ancients were right."
-
As Tang Fei walked out of the prison, Bai Wuxin followed silently, her expression cold and her voice ethereal, as if she had no roots: "Our people have already started operations in Phoenix City and will transfer those marked important figures out as quickly as possible."

"Hmm." Tang Fei nodded and said, "Shen Wuxiang must be on guard. Do you have a backup plan?"

"The intelligence team has developed three plans, and the assassination team will be responsible for their execution. If the situation becomes too dangerous, we will activate the city-burning plan," Bai Wuxin said expressionlessly.

Tang Fei sighed softly and said, "I hope everything goes well."

“There must be a Grandmaster guarding Shen Wuxiang’s side. Do you need me to go and provide support?” Bai Wuxin asked.

Tang Fei shook his head and said, "You should still focus on the North Sea Fleet. We also have to be wary of the Austronesians. Don't worry, if anything really happens in Phoenix City, someone will come to your aid."

"I understand."

Tang Fei didn't reveal who the person who made the move was, and Bai Wuxin didn't ask either.

He only does what he is supposed to do.

But he knew that Phoenix would once again be the eye of the storm tonight.

Just then, the steward came to report: "Bai Xingjian from the Bai family has come to visit."

(End of this chapter)