Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 138 A hundred thousand naval troops, a thousand warships!
Thirty miles outside Jinling City, at Longwan Water Village, a thousand sails blot out the sky.

One hundred thousand naval troops lined up like a long snake coiled in the abyss, while a thousand warships lay in wait like a black tortoise carrying the sky.

Before the morning mist had dissipated, countless warships from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan had already broken through the waves and arrived. The sound of their linked iron chains startled thousands of gulls, and the golden spears reflected the sunlight, stirring up the rolling river mist.

"kill--!"

The command was like a thunderclap, and 100,000 soldiers responded in unison, their voices soaring into the sky that even the eastward-flowing river seemed to pause.

Bare-chested sailors tread the waves as if on flat ground, their spears piercing the air and stirring up thousands of piles of snow, their swords flashing and cutting through thousands of waves.

But we see:

Iron chains span the river, locking the dragon's lair; warships arrayed in formation, severing the Milky Way.

The warships crashed against the waves with a thunderous roar, and the banners billowed in the clouds, obscuring the sun in the cold.

Wei Guanlan stood alone on the high platform, his jade belt fluttering in the wind, and the waves crashing beneath his feet.

The whistling river wind swept across his dark battle robe, capturing the vast expanse of misty waters within its sleeves.

This mighty army, about to conquer the demon court of Taihu Lake, ignited sparks in his eyes with every clash of swords and stirred up turbulent waves in his heart with every beat of the war drum.

Wei Guanlan stood with his hands behind his back on the command platform, his gaze sweeping across the river, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

He came from the prestigious Wei family of Guanzhong, and in his early years he fought in the northern frontier and traversed the deserts, witnessing firsthand the true iron-blooded might of the army.

In the northern frontier, every general's blade bore the blood of a demon general. Every valiant soldier wore a demon soldier's tongue-shaped ear tied to his waist.

He could discern the depth of the army's murderous aura with just a glance.

The 100,000-strong navy before him, though arrayed and constantly training, still caused him some unease.

These young men from Jiangnan are still somewhat unfamiliar with military tactics, but they can make up for it with diligent practice.

What truly worried him was the lack of that ruthless, bloodthirsty edge in their eyes.

Back in the northern desert, his three thousand iron cavalry charged through the snow, their killing intent soaring to the heavens, enough to reverse the north wind and change the color of the sky.

Now, with 100,000 naval troops arrayed on the river, they couldn't even break through the thin mist.

"Though the weapons and armor are sharp, they lack killing intent..."

He sighed softly, and the river breeze swept by, seemingly carrying a touch of desolation.

"Is my lord worried that my 100,000-strong navy is no match for the Taihu Demon Court?"

Seeing Wei Guanlan's solemn expression, Sima Du Shangjun asked him in a low voice.

Wei Guanlan lightly tapped the railing with his fingertips, the wood grain reverberating with a dull echo: "Demons live in the waves and are skilled in water battles. They have always had the advantage of water resources in Taihu Lake."

His gaze was sharp as he swept across the river. "My navy may be skilled after a month of training, but it lacks the ruthlessness to kill instantly!"

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden gust of wind swept across the river, causing his battle robe to flutter wildly.

"When the two armies are locked in a stalemate, a fierce general must break through the enemy lines and a brave soldier must fight to the death in order to make a decisive move."

He clenched his fists abruptly. "If we lose this last bit of strength—" Just then, a clang of metal rang out from the deck. Wei Guanlan sneered, "Even with a fleet of 100,000 men, we would be easily routed."

Looking out, the 100,000-strong navy surged like waves, but resembled long snakes playing in the water, ultimately lacking the ferocity of a dragon overturning the sea.

The river wind suddenly picked up, making the fish-shaped tally at Wei Guanlan's waist clang like clashing swords.

Du Shangjun said in a low voice, "Sir, Jiangnan has enjoyed a hundred years of peace, and the soldiers have been out of practice for a long time, so it is inevitable that they have lost their fighting spirit."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "However, I do have a plan that will make our 100,000 naval troops invincible!"

"speak!"

"On that day, under the walls of Wuxi, Zhou Shanzhang, the prefectural academy master of Jiangzhou, led a thousand students to rush to the aid and lined up on the city wall."

A gleam appeared in Du Shangjun's eyes, "Those scholars, dressed in elegant blue robes, with swords and books in hand, recited 'Qin Feng: No Robes' in unison, stepping forward—"

Wei Guanlan's gaze suddenly sharpened.

"Upon seeing this, the morale of the Changzhou garrison soared, and they all vied to be the first to kill the enemy."

Du Shangjun's voice rose, "It was this group of young scholars who, together with the Changzhou Prefecture army, forced the Ao Li demon army back to Taihu Lake, and they have not dared to invade Wuxi County again since!"

He suddenly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Why don't you follow the example of Headmaster Zhou and lead the students of the Jiangnan Examination Hall to the battlefield? With your literary spirit to strengthen the army's morale, you will surely achieve a great victory!"

Before he could finish speaking, a gust of wind whipped up towering waves, causing the warship to rock violently.

Wei Guanlan's robes fluttered in the wind like battle flags, and his eyes were already burning with intense fire.

His fingertips stopped abruptly on the railing, veins bulging.

The river breeze, carrying moisture, brushed against his face, but it couldn't dispel the solemnity between his brows.

"Du Sima,"

Wei Guanlan's voice was as deep as iron, "Do you know that these scholars are the future pillars of the nation?"
If it is lost on the battlefield, the cultural heritage of Jiangnan may never recover for thirty years.

"Your Excellency is mistaken!"

Du Shangjun suddenly raised his voice, interrupting the head coach.

His eyes were piercing, and he spoke rapidly:
“Jiangnan is not a land of martial spirit, and its people are not fond of war.”

However, the literary atmosphere was flourishing, and scholars were extremely studious!

Ten years of diligent study, burning the midnight oil, all for the day when one's name is on the honor roll!

He suddenly stepped forward, “If Your Excellency agrees, all students who participate in the war can be promoted in the imperial examinations according to their merits. Students from all ten prefectures in Jiangnan will surely flock to it!”

Wei Guanlan's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Moreover, which of the students from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan is not a prodigy from a prominent family in Jiangnan, or the hope of a poor family?"

In Jiangnan, from powerful families and wealthy merchants to ordinary villagers, how could they not offer their help and food and drink when they saw their sons going to war?
Who would dare to hinder them from behind? They would jeopardize their own prodigy's future.

Suddenly, huge waves surged up on the river, and the warships made a dull thud as they rammed.

"In this way, Your Excellency's decrees will be as easy to implement as your own arm in the ten prefectures of Jiangnan Circuit, and no petty person will dare to obstruct you—making you the target of everyone's criticism."

“What’s even better is,”

Du Shangjun lowered his voice, but every word was like a knife, "Let these students display their literary skills behind the scenes."

The 100,000 naval troops were all their fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews. Seeing their scholar personally leading the charge, how could they not fight to the death? If they retreated even a step—”

He sneered, "That would be putting your own Qilin in danger!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Guanlan gasped, his pupils contracted sharply, and he looked at Du Shangjun in disbelief.

This plan actually uses the students of ten prefectures in Jiangnan as "hostages" to force 100,000 naval troops to fight a desperate battle with no way to retreat!

What a vicious plan!
"This campaign against the demon court of Taihu Lake—"

Only victory is allowed, no defeat is allowed!
If this battle is lost, the centuries-old foundation of Jiangnan Road will be destroyed in an instant!
Even if it requires ruthless methods, it has to be done!

Sima Du Shangjun clasped his hands in a salute and said in a deep voice, "If you still have doubts, sir, you may summon the two prefects, Li Shouyi of Changzhou and Xue Chonghu of Jiangzhou, to discuss this matter. You will know whether this plan is feasible once you ask them!"

Governor Wei Guanlan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Good, quickly summon the two men to consult them!"

A moment later, a small boat suddenly appeared on the distant lake, cutting through the waves and speeding towards them!
"This humble official greets Your Excellency the Prefect!"

Xue Chonghu and Li Shouyi arrived on the waves, bowing respectfully even before the water on the deck had dried.

Wei Guanlan raised his hand in a gesture of support, but his fingertips trembled slightly inside his sleeve.

"Two adults,"

His voice was as deep as iron, "In this campaign against the demon court, I intend to use the students of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan as the rear guard and the 100,000-strong navy as the vanguard."

After the war, merits were rewarded and commendations were given during the autumn imperial examinations.

I wonder if this method is appropriate?

Will the gentry of Jiangnan object?

"Excellent! The students of Changzhou were just debating at the prefectural school whether 'a gentleman should carry a sword,' and they were worried about where to make a name for themselves!"
Those merchants were asking me yesterday if I could donate money to buy armor and battle robes for the students!

Li Shouyi laughed loudly, his eyes gleaming.

He still vividly remembers the battle in Wuxi County a few months ago—Zhou Shanchang led scholars from various prefectures and the garrison of Changzhou to fight against the Taihu Lake demons under the city of Wuxi, and the demon army was routed!
If it weren't for Jiang Xingzhou, a scholar from Jiangzhou, who used a [Dafu] literary technique to defeat the enemy's turtle demon general and severely dampen the morale of Ao Li's demon army, Changzhou Prefecture would probably have been plunged into a bitter battle, harassed by demon soldiers day and night, and unable to find peace!
In the post-war evaluation, all the students from Jiangzhou Prefecture who participated in the war passed the first preliminary examination of the summer imperial examination.

Nowadays, under the corridors of the academy, one can often see students in blue robes stroking their swords and reciting poetry.
In the streets and alleys, people still recount the glorious scene of the arrows shooting down the demon that day.

Whenever the drums sounded at the Military Academy, the fighting spirit ignited in the eyes of the young scholars was three times brighter than the newly sharpened blades at their waists.

"Scholars from Jiangnan have always lamented the difficulty of passing the imperial examinations in autumn. Now that they have this opportunity, how could they complain?"

Xue Chonghu stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes gleaming: "If we can exchange our military achievements for rewards in the autumn examinations, I'm afraid these scholars will be even more eager than the soldiers in the army!"

"it is good!"

Wei Guanlan slammed his fist on the railing: "Order the ten prefectures of Jiangnan—all students taking the autumn imperial examinations this year must immediately begin training with 100,000 naval troops!"

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing. After a moment's thought, he said in a deep voice:
"Although the autumn imperial examination is of great importance, this battle concerns the survival of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan! One hundred thousand naval troops will fight against the demon court. Victory will bring peace to Jiangnan, while defeat will result in widespread suffering!"

His voice suddenly rose, each word like a knife: "If we win this battle, we will hold another autumn examination and reward those who have contributed!"

The autumn imperial examinations are just around the corner, with only a little over a month remaining.

Within the city of Jinling, a scholarly atmosphere permeated the air.

The scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan who were participating in the autumn imperial examinations had already gathered in Nanjing, where they were writing furiously at their desks in their studies.

At that moment, however, an urgent order came from the governor's office: "All students taking the autumn examinations must go to the water fortress for training!"

"After the great battle, the autumn imperial examination will be held again!"

Tens of thousands of scholars in blue robes put down their pens, picked up their swords, and rushed to the water fortress.

Surprisingly, none of these scholars from Jiangnan, who were usually always engrossed in reading, complained.

—Because the news of the battle of Wuxi County, in which the students of Jiangzhou Prefecture discussed and rewarded their merits during the summer examinations, had already spread throughout the prefectures of Jiangnan.

In the summer examination of Jiangzhou Prefecture, almost all the students who did not perform well were rejected!
Now, the Governor of Jiangnan Circuit has his sword pointed at the demon court of Taihu Lake. The merits of this battle will surely determine his fate in the autumn examination.

A battle might lead to a place on the gold list;
Without fighting, we will surely be defeated!
Hundreds of scholars from Jiangzhou Prefecture—Jiang Xingzhou, the Xue brothers, Han Yugui, Cao An, Lu Ming, Gu Zhimian, and Zhang Youyi—arrived at Jinling Water Fortress and stood solemnly at the dock, watching the naval warships practicing naval warfare. "Since it's a naval battle on Taihu Lake! Why not have Qingfei summon her demonic form, the 'Old Locust Tree Warship'?"

Han Yugui gently stroked a jade tablet at his waist and suddenly smiled.

"Wonderful!!"

"This giant ship is large enough to carry three hundred of us scholars!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in Jiangzhou Prefecture showed joy.

"The mast of this multi-storied ship is engraved with the first inscription of the [Mingzhou] treasure, 'Grass,' which has extremely strong restorative power and abundant vitality, making it a sacred place for healing!!"
With this ship, casualties can be greatly reduced.

Han Yugui immediately ordered Qingfei to summon the ship.

"Yes, Master!"

Qingxuan nodded.

The ship had followed Qingfei all the way to Jinling Prefecture and was now quietly moored at an inconspicuous dock on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

But then, a verdant light burst forth from the ship's side, and the calm water suddenly churned—

"Boom~!"

Before long, the huge official ship was summoned into the Jinling Water Village. With a splash, waves flew, creating an imposing sight.

Its mast is none other than the trunk of an ancient locust tree.

The ancient locust tree, ten zhang tall, has gnarled and twisted branches, with emerald leaves like a canopy, and its root system is seamlessly integrated with the entire hull of the ship.

"This"

"A locust tree fairy's warship?"

The naval soldiers stared at the strangely shaped warship, speechless with astonishment, their spears nearly falling to the ground.

Before long, Governor Wei Guanlan, along with prefects from various prefectures and dozens of naval commanders, arrived upon hearing the news and boarded a ship to inspect the area.

"This multi-storied ship actually contains Jiang Sheng's first volume of the novel 'Grass'?"

As soon as everyone boarded the ship, they saw Jiang Xingzhou's "Grass" as the first piece of his book on the mast of the towering locust tree, its golden light shimmering and every word shining brightly.

Originally a work of [Dafu], it spread throughout Jiangnan with the "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering", and now it has become [Mingzhou]!

Wei Guanlan reached out and gently touched it; a locust leaf drifted into his palm.

The veins of the leaves exude a refined elegance, which transforms into a fine nectar upon entering the mouth, instantly dispelling all fatigue.

"Wonderful!"

The old governor, his beard and hair bristling, laughed loudly: "Every branch and leaf on this ship is brimming with vitality. With the serious wounded soldiers receiving treatment here, the combat power of our navy can be increased by another ten percent!"

The generals looked at each other in horror.

The locust blossoms fell softly, and in the air they solidified into twenty golden characters: "The grass on the plain grows lush and green, withers and flourishes each year. Wildfires cannot burn it all, the spring breeze brings it back to life!" The characters lingered for a long time.

On the shores of Taihu Lake, dark clouds loom over the city.

The twelve demon-summoning banners tore through the bloody wind, their black iron poles driven three zhang deep into the reefs, their scarlet banner surfaces churning like a tide of blood, the demonic runes on them twisting and writhing as if trying to break free of the banners.

Whenever a demon approaches, the runes ignite with eerie green flames, casting a ghostly glow across the ten-mile-long lake.

"Woo——"

A muffled horn sounded from the depths of Taihu Lake.

But then one sees turbid waves surging into the sky, shrimp soldiers lined up in formation, their shells colliding with a sound like sudden rain hitting tiles; crab generals scurrying sideways, their claws opening and closing with a flash of cold light.

The turtle demon will walk slowly on its black armor, while the snake demon will speed along riding on the black mist.

The newly awakened demon huddled at the rear of the formation, trembling, while several transformed old demons churned with demonic energy, steaming the lake water into a towering white mist.

In front of the Crystal Palace, a black banner soared into the sky, the four ancient seal characters "Ten Thousand Demons Pay Homage" on the banner glowing with a blood-red light.

A row of mirage maidens stood beneath him, their hands on their swords, their scarlet cloaks billowing like waves.

"Report——!"

A shrill whistle suddenly tore through the orchestral music.

The glass cup between the fingers of the demon king Ao Li suddenly shattered, and the amber-colored blood wine condensed in the air into a hideous ghost face.

Inside the hall, hundreds of demon generals, who were feasting, all turned their heads in unison to see a demon soldier with shattered scales crawling into the hall.

Behind it stood a figure in black robes. With each step he took, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the crystal floor—the chill was so intense that the living corals on the palace walls withered and shrank.

"Why are you so nervous?"

On the throne, the demon king Ao Li's golden eyes suddenly narrowed, and the dragon scales between his brows trembled slightly.

Lately, it had been troubled by a sense of unease, as if some ominous sign was lingering around it. Now, seeing the demon soldiers rushing in, its unease intensified.

"Great... King!"

The demon soldier knelt on the ground, the scales on his throat standing on end in fear, his voice hoarse as if tearing silk:

"Urgent report from Jinling!"

"Wei Guanlan, the governor of Jiangnan Circuit, has assembled a navy of 100,000 men and a thousand warships at Longwan Water Fortress!"

"Drilling in battle day and night, sharpening our swords in preparation!"

"At the latest, within January, they will surely send troops to attack my Taihu Demon Court!"

"Crack——!"

Ao Li Jiao's claws tightened suddenly, the armrests of the Xuan Tie Throne exploded with a roar, and obsidian fragments fell like a torrential downpour of ink.

The entire Crystal Palace fell into a deathly silence instantly, even the ghostly flames in the coral lamps froze, as if even the demonic energy was stunned by the news.

"A thousand warships...a hundred thousand naval troops?"

Ao Li let out a low, dragon-like roar, and with each word he uttered, the roof of the palace trembled, and shattered crystals flew like snowflakes.

"That old scoundrel Wei Guanlan dares to send out his entire force to annihilate my Taihu Demon Court?!"

The demons in the hall fell silent, even the most ferocious demons lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at the demon king's rage.

Suddenly, a blinding crimson light burst forth from the horn between Ao Li's forehead, and his five-zhang-tall demonic body rose abruptly from the throne. His dragon might surged, causing the entire Crystal Palace to tremble.

"No wonder..."

Its claws were clenched tightly, and dark blue demonic blood seeped from between its fingers, dripping onto the ground and corroding wisps of green smoke.

"No wonder I've been feeling uneasy lately; this is the ominous sign!"

"Who are you, Your Excellency?"

Ao Li frowned and looked at the man in black.

The man in black suddenly lifted his hood, removed his mask, and revealed an unusually pale face.

The mermaid lanterns inside the Crystal Palace suddenly dimmed, casting a chillingly pale and terrifying shadow on that face.

"Hmph! Who do we have here—it's Lord Fei Wuxin!"
"Scholar Fei, instead of staying in your 'Heartless Pavilion,' you have the leisure to come to my Crystal Palace?"

Ao Li glanced at him.

As the lamplight flickered, the ghostly face gradually became clear—Fei Wuxin, the master of Wuxin Pavilion, a notorious traitor who deeply hated the Great Zhou Dynasty. As a scholar, he commanded three thousand traitors and roamed among the barbarian demons as if they were nothing.

"It's been years since I last saw you, and the Dragon Lord has become even more magnificent."

Fei Wuxin let out a laugh that sounded like a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

Ao Li Jiao impatiently slapped the ground with his tail, causing the entire palace to tremble: "Stop beating around the bush! You rebellious scholars are best at—stirring up trouble!"

"Dragon Lord, your words are wrong."

Fei Wuxin's lips curled into a dangerous smile.

"The Dragon Lord finally established his government and court in Taihu Lake and lived a peaceful life, but the people of Jiangnan could not tolerate him and raised an army of 100,000 to attack him!"

"I cannot stand by and watch, and I am willing to lead my three thousand elite warriors to lend the Dragon Lord a hand!"

Three thousand elite soldiers?

Ao Li's pupils shrank suddenly, and his dragon claws unconsciously gripped the armrests of the throne, causing several hideous cracks to appear on the dragon chair made of black iron.

Although it loathed Fei Wuxin, three thousand rebel warriors... were no ordinary people!
These madmen defected from the Great Zhou Dynasty, fearless and ruthless, each a desperate outlaw. If we could truly recruit them...

It secretly calculated that although it had more than 20,000 to 30,000 demon soldiers and generals under its command, only half of them were truly capable and skilled in battle.

If we could obtain these three thousand warriors, they would be worth several thousand elite demon soldiers!

"Ah……"

Ao Lijiao's whiskers trembled slightly, and the golden light in his eyes was like a knife, coldly slicing across Fei Wuxin's pale, ghostly face.

"Scholar Fei, that's quite a generous gesture."

It chuckled coldly, its dragon claws tapping lightly on the armrests, each tap like muffled thunder rolling across the Crystal Palace.

"So--"

The dragon's pupils suddenly contracted, flashing with a cold light. "What price will I have to pay?"

Fei Wuxin's lips curled slightly, her smile sinister like a venomous snake's tongue: "No."

"Oh?"

Ao Li Jiao's tail suddenly lashed out, causing the entire palace to tremble violently. "When did Scholar Fei... start doing such a losing business?"

Fei Wuxin slowly raised her head, her pale face flickering in the dim light of the mermaid lamp. Each word she uttered was deliberate and scathing, like a knife slicing into her bones:

"If we win this battle—"

"Capture Jiang Xingzhou, the most talented scholar in Jiangnan, and hand him over to me!"
"I am extremely interested in his writings! How could such a prodigy be of use to the Great Zhou!"
-
(End of this chapter)