You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

They came so fast...

At this moment, less than two months had passed in the timeline of the Tang Dynasty, and the Sui Dynasty was already preparing to march south.

This was far beyond Lu Zuo's expectations!

"Time is getting tighter and tighter."

Lu Zuo thought to himself, then instructed, "His Majesty has just created a batch of mechanical beasts, which are placed outside the city. Go and send someone to receive them."

"And call Wei Hanjiang over as well."

"Yes." The Mighty Ghost King cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left the back hall.

.......

Lu Zuo waited for about half an hour before Wei Hanjiang hurriedly walked into the back hall.

"Wei Hanjiang greets Lord Lu."

"From now on, there's no need for such formalities between us."

Lu Zuo waved his hand and asked, "How is the training of the Dongyang New Army going?"

"How long will it take before we can achieve combat readiness?"

"Return to my lord."

Wei Hanjiang bowed and replied, "From the 300,000 new soldiers, I selected more than 9,000 with excellent talent and aptitude to form the Elite Battalion."

"The soldiers of this battalion are practicing the military arts day and night, and are making rapid progress."

He paused briefly, then continued, "If there is enough meat, and the medicinal baths and internal tonics are provided to help them quickly strengthen their qi and blood and solidify their foundation, these nine thousand elite soldiers can complete their mission in as little as seven months."

"As for the remaining 200,000 new troops..."

"With such a large number of participants, their qualifications inevitably vary."

"Even with sufficient supply, it will probably take more than a year before we see any initial results."

More than a year...

There simply wasn't enough time.

Lu Zuo had no choice but to settle for second best and asked, "If one cannot cultivate the Divine Art of War to perfection, what realm can it roughly be equivalent to?"

Wei Hanjiang pondered for a moment: "It is estimated to be completed the day after tomorrow."

"Understood." Lu Zuo nodded. "You can go now. I'll try my best to get you some better quality nourishing herbs."

"Yes."

After Wei Hanjiang left, Lu Zuo stood up and paced back and forth in the back hall, secretly making plans.

"It also takes time for the Sui state to mobilize troops, prepare provisions and weapons."

"If it's seven or eight months..."

"There are simply not many troops available!"

"Even including the Divine Martial Camp, we still can't muster 100,000 elite troops!"

"Even with mechanical beasts and weapons, facing the Sui army and so many innate and even higher-level martial artists, there is only one outcome..."

"Defeat is inevitable!"

"The six great families are simply not worth relying on."

"It is likely that when the Sui Dynasty attacks, that will be the time for them to betray their country for personal gain."

"As for the Song Dynasty clique in Lingnan..."

"Perhaps it will come in handy. We'll send an envoy to investigate later."

"But even if we include the troops of the Song clan in Lingnan, we cannot save the situation."

The Sui Dynasty moved too fast, giving Lu Zuo no time to develop, otherwise...

With the current development momentum of Dongyang and Nantong, and the support of the three worlds, he will be able to compete with Yang Jian in just one and a half years!

If given three years, it would be enough to crush the Sui Dynasty!

"My lord, Zhang Zhongjian requests an audience."

Ok?

Why is he here?

This bearded stranger, one of the Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust, has never paid any attention to me. His initiative to see me this time must mean he has something to say.

Lu Zuo hesitated for a moment, then instructed, "Let him in."

"Yes."

The constable responded and turned to leave the back hall.

Before long, he led in a burly man with a thick, red beard, who looked to be about thirty years old.

"Zhang Zhongjian greets Your Excellency."

Upon entering, the bearded man bowed respectfully, which surprised Lu Zuo.

He has always been arrogant, and even when he bows with his hands clasped, he doesn't seem to be subservient to anyone.

This demeanor now...

There was even a hint of self-condemnation in his demeanor?

"No need for formalities," Lu Zuo waved his hand and asked, "Is there something you need?"

After saying this, Zhang Zhongjian dusted off his sleeves, knelt on the ground, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "I would like to ask Your Excellency to recommend me as the commander-in-chief of the five major camps in the capital before His Majesty."

what?

Lu Zuo was greatly surprised: "Why?"

"because……"

"The demise of the State of Chen is imminent, and only you and I can save it!"

Why?

Zhang Zhongjian sighed inwardly, for in Dongyang I saw a sight I had never truly experienced before!

To be honest, he had no liking for the Chen Kingdom, which always exuded an aura of decay, and even thought it would be better if it died sooner.

But now, in Dongyang, Zhang Zhongjian has witnessed firsthand how the fertile land that had been taken over by the temples has returned to the hands of emaciated tenant farmers.

See the high-yield corn and the amazing ammonia fertilizer!

Seeing that Lu Zuo taught commoners to read for free, and even subsidized the families of commoner students with food and meat.

Moreover... he also taught martial arts to the people!

Those farmers and craftsmen who were originally weak and timid now stand tall in the army!

Zhang Zhongjian had visited the Sui Dynasty and read about its prosperous era in historical records...

But the magnificent scenery of Dongyang was something I had never heard of or seen before!

He knew perfectly well that Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty was a great ruler of his time, and that his civil and military officials were also highly talented.

but…..

No matter how well Yang Jian and his famous ministers and generals managed things, they could never achieve the grandeur of Dongyang!

The emperor was morally corrupt and licentious, yet he was able to appoint Lu Zuo to a high position, and Lu Zuo was able to create an unprecedented atmosphere of prosperity for the people of Dongyang.

This shows that the emperor wasn't all that incompetent.

There was one thing he was certain of!

Once Dongyang fell into the hands of the Sui Dynasty, it was ruled by Yang Jian and his famous ministers and generals...

The common people's farmland will decrease, taxes will increase, and the trend of Buddhist sects and aristocratic families annexing land will make a comeback!

The common people's farmland will decrease, taxes will increase, and the trend of Buddhist sects and aristocratic families annexing land will make a comeback!

Zhang Zhongjian had no intention of pledging allegiance to Chen Shubao, but he wanted to protect Dongyang!

"Because what Zhang saw in Dongyang was not a sign of the end times, but an opportunity for new life!"

"What you have accomplished, sir, is a level of governance that I, Zhang, have never even dared to dream of!"

"The State of Chen may perish, but Dongyang and Nantong must not perish!"

"The atmosphere here marks the beginning of a new chapter for China!"

Lu Zuo was slightly taken aback; Zhang Zhongjian's words made him a little embarrassed...

He didn't actually do anything special; he just did his best to develop his power.

The reason for employing commoners and those from humble backgrounds is simply to avoid being infiltrated by powerful families. How did this become a new chapter in Chinese history?

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zuo nodded and said, "I can agree to this."

"but……"

"We're running out of time."

"No, sir." Zhang Zhongjian's eyes widened, gleaming with a sharp, aggressive light. "We have time!"

"If I can become the commander-in-chief of the five major battalions, I can buy you a year of time!"

Oh?

Lu Zuo was greatly surprised and quickly stood up from his seat, walked to Zhang Zhongjian and helped him up: "Come on, tell me slowly."

The latter nodded and continued, "I know that you are training new troops in Dongyang and Nantong to resist the invasion of the Sui Dynasty."

"But the training of the new army will take at least another year to take shape."

"As for when the Sui army will advance, I estimate it will be in about six months..."

"My lord, the Sui army is powerful. If we engage in a direct confrontation, the Chen state will surely be defeated."

"But war doesn't necessarily have to be a head-on confrontation!"

After a pause, Zhang Zhongjian continued, "The Sui army's southward advance will inevitably pass through Nanxu, and the Nanxu naval defense line has been under construction for many years, which is enough to delay them for some time."

"After I take command of the five major battalions, I can break them down into smaller units and use elite light cavalry to harass their supply lines, scouts, and vanguard day and night!"

"From Nanxu to Jiankang, the terrain is characterized by rolling hills and a network of waterways, making it an ideal location for harassment warfare!"

"The aim of harassment is not to annihilate the enemy, but merely to delay them, burn their supplies, destroy their bridges, and exhaust their army!"

"Making every step he takes require him to pay a bloody price and waste many times more time!"

"In this way, it will be absolutely impossible for the Sui army to advance from Nanxu to the walls of Jiankang as if it were an empty field!"

"Seven or eight months is a conservative estimate!"

"When they finally brought their army to the city gates..."

"Jiankang is a high-lying city with deep moats. Although the five battalions are not elite troops, they are well-defended and have ample supplies. I am confident that I can hold out for another three to five months!"

He looked at Lu Zuo and continued, "And you, sir, can take advantage of this year and a half to secure Dongyang and Nantong, without having to worry about the front lines, and focus all your energy on training the new army!"

"Once the 300,000 newly trained troops are fully trained and strong, they will arrive from the east with overwhelming force, coordinating with the garrison of Jiankang from within and without!"

"At that time, with attacks from both inside and outside, we will surely crush the exhausted Sui army at the gates of Jiankang!"

"If this battle succeeds, not only will the State of Chen be preserved, but Your Excellency can also ride the wave of victory and point your sword at the Central Plains!"

"Time is something we can earn and hold onto!"

It's easier said than done.

The details of troop deployment and intelligence gathering can only be mastered by someone of exceptional talent, and Lu Zuo certainly didn't know he could do it.

but……

Lu Zuo thought it was worth a try!

After all, the military strategies of Li Jing, the great military genius of the Tang Dynasty, were all taught by the person in front of him!

"Very well, I grant your request."

"I will definitely fight for the positions of commanders of these five battalions for you."

Zhang Zhongjian nodded: "Thank you, sir."

Nowadays, everyone knows that Lu Zuo is a favorite of the emperor, and if he recommends me, I'm sure I'll succeed.

This is also why Zhang Zhongjian came to seek help from Lu Zuo...

……

At this moment, in the Jiankang Imperial Palace.

"The day has finally come..."

Fan Qinghui sighed with emotion, her face filled with joy: "The Southern Chen Dynasty is finally going to be destroyed!"

Bi Xiuxin nodded, standing to the side: "Our Buddhist sect is compassionate and saves all sentient beings. It has a deep foundation in Nan Chen and countless believers."

"But this tyrannical ruler actually condoned that treacherous villain Lu Zuo's acts of destroying Buddhism and temples, seizing our Buddhist property, and expelling our monks and nuns!"

"Such a foolish ruler deserves the downfall of his country!"

Fan Qinghui sneered, "This foolish emperor indulges in wine and women all day long, favors his seductive concubines, the court is in chaos, and the people are suffering!"

"Under his rule, the Southern Chen dynasty was already outwardly magnificent but inwardly rotten!"

"Now that the Sui army is marching south, it is truly a heavenly army pacifying the people and punishing the guilty, sweeping away this filthy world!"

She looked beyond the palace walls, as if she could already see the Sui army's banners, her tone carrying a sense of relieved anticipation:

"The Southern Chen dynasty's fate has run its course; it is time for a true dragon emperor to unify the world and restore order!"

"When the city falls, I'll see how long that tyrannical emperor and that petty thief Lu Zuo can remain so arrogant!"

Bi Xiuxin nodded: "The most important thing is that destiny does not lie with the Southern Chen, but with the Sui."

"He was destined to be a ruler who would bring about the downfall of his kingdom!"

"However, we must act quickly to fulfill our sect's instructions..."

Just then, a eunuch's shrill voice suddenly came from outside the palace gate.

"His Majesty has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Bi Xiuxin and Fan Qinghui exchanged a glance, and immediately felt a sense of collapse.

This tyrant is tormenting us again in broad daylight!

What's even more infuriating is that every time they cause trouble, we have to chant scriptures...