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

Lu Zuo is incredibly busy.

He had to contain the Sui army's skilled warriors, develop the rear, and occasionally make an appearance in Jiankang to show the people and soldiers that he, the emperor, was truly with his subjects.

For more than ten days, he hasn't had a single good night's sleep.

"well……"

After leaving the Sui army camp, Lu Zuo sighed softly, "I wonder when these miserable days will end?"

"Let's go to the fictional Song Dynasty and recuperate properly first."

"Even if one could create their own universe, they couldn't withstand such a relentless pace."

……

Jiankang City is currently surrounded on three sides, except for the area around the South Gate, which leads to the rear, where no Sui troops are stationed.

It wasn't that they didn't want to, but Zhang Zhongjian stubbornly refused to let go!

Today we are occupied by the Sui army, but tomorrow we will fight back at any cost.

The two sides didn't engage in much siege warfare; instead, a tug-of-war ensued on the defensive lines outside the city...

Most of their troops and martial arts masters perished on this defensive line.

At this moment, above the south gate city wall.

Zhang Zhongjian stood there, leaning on a nicked sword, his armor covered in dark bloodstains.

He gazed at the scorched earth outside the city, a land repeatedly fought over and soaked in blood, his eyes calm as still water, yet carrying an unyielding weariness.

After several days of bloody tug-of-war, even a man of iron felt a deep weariness in his bones.

The Sui army surged in wave after wave, only to be repelled time and again.

The surrounding area was already littered with corpses, and even the soil was stained dark red.

The defenders suffered extremely heavy casualties, especially the warriors, who were almost all killed.

It was only thanks to the Yin Gui Sect, the Hundred Ghosts City, and the experts of the Secret Clan that the southern gate defense line was barely held, maintaining the connection between Jiankang and the rear.

suddenly!

Zhang Zhongjian's gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked towards the distant southern horizon.

A long, winding dragon was seen rolling along the official road towards the south gate of Jiankang!

That wasn't a military formation, or at least not entirely.

The people in the group were dressed in various ways; some wore coarse cloth short jackets, some wore long, starched scholar's gowns, and some were simply dressed as ordinary farmers.

But each of them walked with a steady gait, exhaled with vigor, and had sharp eyes!

This long dragon stretches as far as the eye can see, and it seems to keep coming back!

The number of people is probably no less than 20,000!

A glint of light flashed in Zhang Zhongjian's weary eyes: "This is..."

"Where did so many highly skilled martial artists come from?"

"Most of them are at the peak of acquired skill, but there are also quite a few at the innate level... and even two at the Tri-Yuan Realm?"

As the group drew closer, Zhang Zhongjian realized that he recognized the leader as Lin Ruhai, whom he had met once before!

"Master Lin?"

"Quickly, open the city gates!"

Having said that, he flew to the city gate and greeted the team composed entirely of martial artists.

"Lord Lin, how come there are so many... experts?"

Lin Ruhai, looking travel-worn, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting: "Commander Zhang, it's been a long time!"

"After news spread that Lord Lu had broken down class barriers in Dongyang and Nantong, widely disseminated martial arts, implemented new policies, and promoted talent above all else..."

"Therefore, a large number of poor but talented young men, as well as chivalrous heroes of the martial world who do not wish to rely on powerful families, all regard Dongyang and Nantong as places of hope!"

"They heard the news and flocked to join their cause!"

"As of now, the number has reached nearly 30,000!"

Looking at the scene before him, Zhang Zhongjian felt a slight stirring in his heart and a strange sense of emotion.

This is feedback on the new look of Dongyang and Nantong...

After fighting for so long, Jiankang suffered great damage, and Zhang Zhongjian's confidence was more or less diminished.

And now...

He took a deep breath, and the pungent smell of blood in the air no longer seemed so suffocating...

This battle has only just begun!

……

At this moment, on a mountaintop somewhere, clouds and mist swirl around, and a fierce wind howls.

Two figures stood before the cliff.

One of them, surnamed Mo and named Jianzong, was the sect leader of Butian Pavilion.

The other man, dressed in a plain white robe and with a handsome yet otherworldly face, was Wang Chen, the sect leader of the Extinction of Emotion Sect.

Mo Jianzong turned his gaze southward, his voice flat and emotionless: "Brother Wangchen, in your opinion, does our Holy Sect truly intend to wade into the murky waters of Southern Chen?"

"The Sui Dynasty had a strong foundation, produced many Buddhist masters, and Yang Jian was no ordinary ruler."

"What are the odds of winning if we bet now?"

Wang Chen laughed and said, "Brother Mo, you only calculated the battlefield, but you miscalculated the imperial court, and you also overlooked the deadly predicament of my Holy Sect."

"If Yang Guang truly conquers Jiangnan and unifies the world, then Buddhism, having benefited from supporting the emperor, will enjoy its greatest fortune. What will those bald nuns at Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple do next?"

"The first and only thing they will do is incite the new dynasty to raise the banner of 'eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path'!"

"Where will our Holy Sect's two factions and six paths find refuge then?"

"Why has Buddhism been able to suppress my Buddhist sect for hundreds of years?"

"It's not because they are proficient in Buddhist teachings, but because they are better at currying favor with the powerful and influential, and often rely on the court's influence!"

"If we allow Sui Fo to completely bind us, there will be no place for our Holy Sect to stand in this world! This is not an exaggeration, but an inevitable trend!"

He paused, then continued, "On the other hand, the Southern Chen dynasty was indeed like rotten wood, not worth a laugh."

But the situation has changed now!

"Zhang Zhongjian was able to stabilize the southern front, and more importantly..."

"That Prefect of Dongyang, Lu Zuo, somehow managed to repeatedly disrupt the Sui army's supply lines, even causing great losses to Buddhist masters!"

"Jiankang remains unsolved; a stalemate has been formed!"

"This has far exceeded our most optimistic estimates."

"More importantly..."

A glint of light flashed in Wang Chen's eyes: "Madam Cai of the Yin Gui Sect has already placed a heavy bet!"

"What benefits she gained is unknown to outsiders, but with her shrewdness, she must have seen an opportunity that we had not seen clearly."

"The situation has changed. The Southern Chen has transformed from a sinking ship into a reef that may be able to struggle."

"If we don't seize this opportunity to place our bet now, are we really going to wait until Sui and Buddha join forces to wipe out our Holy Sect before resorting to a desperate struggle?"

Mo Jianzong pondered for a moment, then asked, "So, this seemingly inevitable defeat for Southern Chen, due to the stalemate, has become the only chance for our Holy Sect to avoid future annihilation?"

"Bet on the Southern Chen is not about betting on its victory, but on its ability to prolong the war, slow down the Sui Dynasty's advance, and buy our Holy Sect a chance to breathe, and even..."

"Profiting from chaos?"

Wang Chen chuckled and said, "Indeed."

……

As evening fell, Lu Zuo returned to the Jiankang Imperial Palace from the fictional Song Dynasty.

After all, he can't be left behind anywhere now and can't stay in other worlds for too long. Once the three-day cooldown is over, he has to come back quickly.

Upon returning this time, I received good news.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, candlelight shone brightly.

Zhu Yuyan was the first to report: "Your Majesty, apart from the Flower Sect and the Evil Extreme Sect, which have not yet made a clear statement within the Holy Sect."

"The Heaven-Mending Pavilion, the Emotion-Extinguishing Path, the Heavenly Lotus Sect, the Demonic Appearance Sect, and even the True Path are all willing to send their experts to Jiankang to assist in the battle!"

"Oh."

She scoffed and continued, "These old foxes have finally seen through the situation."

"If the Sui Dynasty were to gain control of the country, how would they survive?"

"Now that I see that our army has withstood the Sui army's fierce attack, and that I have profited handsomely by going ahead, I am finally willing to place my bet."

"Although they are not providing full assistance, their combined strength is still considerable and enough to fill some of the gaps in our expert ranks."

Zhang Zhongjian had come to report on the recent battle situation, but he never expected to hear such good news.

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent!"

"His Majesty!"

"Only now can I say that our original plan has finally succeeded!"

"While the Sui army still holds a numerical advantage outside Jiankang, their top-tier combat strength is now nearly equal!"

"And this is mainly due to the deterrent effect of Lord Lu Zuo!"

"He alone made the top experts of the Sui army dare not send out their entire force to participate in the siege, and they always left a large number of troops to protect the central army during each siege."

"Thus, the battle between the two sides will be fought between martial artists below the Innate Realm and ordinary soldiers."

"From this perspective, the Sui army still holds the advantage."

"But their expedition was long and their supply lines were long, and our army had attacked their supply lines, making it even more difficult for them to transport their supplies."

"Once the supplies sent by the six great families to reinforce us are exhausted, the army will inevitably face a food shortage!"

"By then, the pressure on Jiankang's defenses will be greatly reduced, and the two sides will be basically evenly matched!"

After a pause, Zhang Zhongjian continued, "As for our rear, the Southern Chen New Army and the Lingnan Song Clan are tied down by the remnants of the five great families and cannot be transferred north to reinforce Jiankang."

"In the current situation, the two sides are like giants locked in a power struggle, neither able to gain the upper hand."

"Now, let's see who can find the force to break this balance first!"

"And this..."

"This is exactly the situation we wanted!"

Lu Zuo nodded: "In your opinion, our new army should be the first to complete the training."

"Is it that the Sui Kingdom has already formed a new army, or are there other unseen experts coming to Jiankang's aid?"

Zhang Zhongjian pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the Sui state has indeed launched a near-total offensive in this southern campaign."

"The elite troops of the Sui Dynasty, Buddhist masters, and even the private armies of the five clans and seven noble families have all been deployed to the battlefield in Jiangnan."

"In order to win a quick victory and establish the dynasty, Yang Jian and his son risked almost the entire fate of the nation."

"Even if there are forces remaining in the country, they are mostly used for guarding the four directions and suppressing local areas, and it is difficult to mobilize them on a large scale."

"As for the new elite force..."

"It is unlikely that a new, well-organized force capable of turning the tide of a battle of this scale will emerge in the short term."

He changed the subject, his gaze becoming profound: "However, the situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, and the worst thing to do is to think that you have calculated everything."

"The Sui Dynasty's apparent power may have reached its limit, but who can say for sure how deep the true strength of those powerful clans that have been entrenched for hundreds of years, and even the Buddhist and Taoist sects, truly lies?"

"Whether there will be hidden forces that are only used at crucial moments, no one can predict."

"Therefore, I believe that we should do our utmost to stabilize the Jiankang defense line and firmly pin the main force of the Sui army to this place."

"This will buy us the most precious time for the implementation of our new policies and the training of our new army in the rear."

To put it simply, it's about doing what you can and should do.

But this is too tiring...

Lu Zuo alone had to restrain the Sui army's top fighters, control Wu County, and also manage the rear development and morale of Jiankang...

If it weren't for the mother-child teleportation pendant, he really wouldn't have been able to do so many things.

The situation had already collapsed!

"actually……"

At this moment, Zhang Zhongjian said again, "Your Majesty, our Southern Chen now has a force that can turn the balance of power around."

Lu Zuo's eyes darkened: "You mean the Zhang family of the South China Sea?"

After the war began, Lu Zuo sent an envoy in the name of the emperor to recruit the last of the nine great families, but the Zhang family did not respond for a long time.

Lu Zuo's eyes darkened: "You mean the Zhang family of the South China Sea?"

After the war began, Lu Zuo sent an envoy in the name of the emperor to recruit the last of the nine great families, but the Zhang family did not respond for a long time.

Zhang Zhongjian's expression was solemn as he slowly nodded, "Your Majesty is wise."

"The Zhang family of the South China Sea is the biggest variable in my rear, but what I fear is not their assistance, but their defection to the Sui Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, since Lord Lu implemented his new policies in Dongyang and Nantong, he has been heavily relying on people from humble backgrounds and commoners. This is undermining the foundation of powerful and influential families throughout the land!"

"The Zhang family of the South China Sea is incredibly wealthy, with a private army of 100,000. How could they not understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'?"

"Even if Yang Jian were to unify the country after the Sui dynasty's victory, he would still need to rely on local powerful families in the short term to maintain stability."

"Great Chen Sheng, if your new policies are implemented in the South China Sea one day, what will become of Zhang's vast tracts of fertile land and his centuries of accumulated wealth?"

Therefore, the Song clan in Lingnan still had to send troops to suppress the Zhang family.

Lu Zuo glanced at him and thought to himself, "You're really cunning, kid."

I can hold back Wu Commandery, the new army can quell other counties, and Lingnan can hold back Kuaiji. Now Song Que has to divide his troops...

Once the Kuaiji army attacks the Song clan, even if Song Que fights desperately, he can only hold out for about two months.

The same applies to the Zhang family in the South China Sea...

In the next two months, Nantong and Dongyang will train another batch of new troops, which will maintain the balance of power.

but……

The Song clan's strength has been almost completely depleted...

"Okay, we'll do it your way."

.......

Subsequently, things indeed unfolded as Zhang Zhongjian had predicted.

On the Sui side, Buddhist masters and members of the royal family, as well as experts from the five surnames and seven noble families, continued to join.

On the Chen Kingdom's side, because Lu Zuo's strength was increasing every day, he was able to restrain more and more experts. In addition, the Holy Gate sent more than a dozen people at the Three Realms level and one person at the Inner Heaven and Earth Realm to serve them.

The two sides maintained an unbreakable balance in the Jiankang area.

After Song Que divided his forces, the remaining forces of the five great families of Kuaiji immediately began to attack, and Song Que sent people to ask for help every once in a while.

Not long after, war broke out with the Song Clan in the South China Sea, and both sides suffered heavy losses.

But Lu Zuo remained steadfast in his original plan: no matter how chaotic things were outside, he had to preserve peace in Dongyang and Nantong!

These two places cannot afford the slightest mishap!

Time passed by little by little, and Lu Zuo was so busy that he didn't even have time to catch his breath.

If it weren't for the ability to take advantage of the time difference in other worlds to rest and improve one's strength, one would have been exhausted long ago...

Two months later, the first turning point appeared!

Nantong and Dongyang have trained another 20,000 elite troops, all of whom are highly accomplished through postnatal training!

Shen Luoyan did not ask for permission but took it upon herself to order Chu Yunlong to lead 20,000 elite troops to reinforce the Song Clan, who were engaged in a fierce battle with the Zhang Clan of the South China Sea.

After 20,000 elite soldiers arrived with mechanical beasts and weapons, they defeated the Zhang family together with the Song clan in just ten days.

After that, it took another fifteen days to capture the city of Nanhai!

The news quickly reached the Sui army camp.

.......

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Sui army's command tent was extremely heavy.

"Twenty thousand, and another twenty thousand to achieve the Great Perfection of the Day After Tomorrow..."

Yang Guang broke the silence first: "And this happened within just two months!"

"How is this possible?"

"Does Lu Zuo have the ability to conjure soldiers from beans?"

"Even if Dongyang and Nantong have mountains of gold and silver, and miraculous elixirs, martial artists still need time to hone their qi and blood and open their meridians, right?"

Even for those with exceptional talent, it is absolutely impossible to go from an ordinary person to a master without years of hard work!

"What gives him the right to be called Lu Zuo?!"

Bang!

He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, slamming his hand on the table and shouting angrily, "First, tens of thousands of martial artists from humble backgrounds came to join us, and now another twenty thousand well-trained and well-equipped new troops!"

"Where on earth did Lu Zuo conjure these soldiers?!"

Han Qinhu said gruffly, "Your Highness, Grand Tutor!"

"This is too suspicious!"

"In my half-life of battles, I have never seen such a rapid pace of troop training!"

"Unless Lu Zuo possesses some secret technique unknown to us, or has the assistance of a sorcerer capable of mass-producing martial artists, there is simply no way to explain this!"

Just then, a Buddhist chant suddenly came from outside the tent: "Amitabha."

"Generals, it's nothing but a heretical and unorthodox practice; why worry?"

Immediately afterwards, Liao Kong and Liu Chuyue entered and first bowed to Yang Guang and Yang Su.

Liu Chuyue said, "Grand Tutor, Your Highness, our Buddhist sect has already determined that Lu Zuo used the evil arts of the God of War to train his troops!"

"This method can quickly produce a martial artist who has acquired their skills, but the upper limit is also locked at the acquired realm, and it will shorten one's lifespan."

"Therefore, as early as the Han Dynasty, the evil and heretical sects of the military had already been eradicated by our Buddhist sect."

"I didn't expect this..."

"There are still remnants alive?"

"The evil arts of the God of War?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Guang frowned: "Then wouldn't Lu Zuo be able to continuously train a large army of martial artists?"

"Given time, hundreds of thousands, even tens of thousands of acquired martial artists will flood in... this..."

"How can we fight this battle?"

Yang Su's expression also changed drastically: "Master Liu, this matter is of utmost importance!"

"If that's true, with this technique, Lu Zuo only needs to occupy a few counties, and given time, he can train hundreds of thousands of acquired martial artists!"

"At that time, not only will conquer Jiangnan be no challenge, but sweeping across the entire country will be equally easy!"

"This...this is simply a heaven-defying technique!"

She paused slightly, then calmly explained, "This art of war, though it can quickly lead to mastery of acquired skills, has significant drawbacks."

"Firstly, once a cultivator's potential is exhausted, they will be trapped in the acquired realm for life, making further progress difficult, and their lifespan will be shortened."

Secondly, this method consumes an enormous amount of resources!

"The medicinal herbs and meat required to train one of these acquired martial artists are ten to dozens of times more expensive than those required to train a normal acquired martial artist!"

"Lu Zuo currently controls only a few counties, including Dongyang, Nantong, and Jurong, and his manpower and resources are limited."

"Supporting the tens of thousands of warriors who came to join us before was already a struggle, and now these 20,000 hastily trained new troops have probably drained our recent savings."

Upon hearing this, Yang Guang and Yang Su's expressions softened slightly.

"I see……"

"This is a method of draining the pond to catch all the fish."

"In that case, although this technique is risky, it is unlikely to be sustainable."

"Amitabha......"

Master Liaokong chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Master Liu is right. Evil arts are evil arts after all, and they cannot change fate."

"Moreover, our righteous path is not without its own backup plans."

"I have already written to my fellow Buddhists in India in the name of the Central Plains, explaining the chaotic state of this world caused by evil spirits."

"The Buddhist community of India has sent over a hundred eminent monks from the east to assist in the effort."

"In addition, Master Liu has also persuaded fellow Daoist Ning Daoqi to come out of seclusion. Fellow Daoist Ning will soon head south to lend a helping hand to our army."

"Ning Daoqi?"

"Ning Daoqi, one of the three grandmasters?"

Han Qinhu exclaimed in surprise, his face full of delight.

An astonishing light suddenly shone in the eyes of Yang Guang and Yang Su!

Indian monks, plus Ning Daoqi, one of the three great masters!

This is a terrifying force capable of reversing the balance of power!

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