Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Nanyang County, Nanyang City.

The night was pitch-black, but the City Lord’s Mansion was brightly lit.

Zhao Jiang received a transmission from the scouts at the front, saying that the imperial army had already reached Qinyang County and had begun setting up defenses around it.

Although it was already late at night, Zhao Jiang gathered everyone for a discussion.

Zhao Qi said, ”Alliance Leader, don’t let them have time to set up defenses. They’ve just arrived at Qinyang County and are exhausted. We should take the initiative and attack now.”

”Not appropriate. Nanyang is eight or ninety li away from Qinyang County. The army moves slowly, and by the time we arrive, they will have rested, and it will be us who are exhausted,” said the Governor of Nanyang, Hu Lin.

”What is there to fear? Our forces outnumber theirs several times over. It’s unlikely they’d dare to come out of the city to attack us.”

Zhao Lu took over the conversation. Since they set out, they were only held back briefly at Cold Water Pass by Hua Zong. After breaking through, the army advanced unimpeded. The defenders of the cities within the pass, upon hearing of the Alliance Leader’s arrival, either fled at the sight or surrendered the cities.

This also bred a mentality in Zhao Lu of viewing the imperial forces as mere insects, hence he didn’t take Chen Mo seriously either.

”Alliance Leader, have the scouts found out how many troops the imperial forces have sent? Is it really two hundred thousand? What is Chen Mo’s true strength?” said Liu Yi, the Governor of Nanyang.

Zhao Jiang shook his head, ”Qinyang County is heavily guarded, so the scouts dared not advance and returned upon learning the army had arrived.”

Upon hearing this, the lords were somewhat disappointed.

Zhao Qi continued to urge Zhao Jiang to advance.

Actually, Zhao Qi’s words made sense. If given time, they could set up defenses, making it even harder to attack Qinyang County given its advantageous geography.

His gaze suddenly turned to the three brothers standing behind Zhao Bo. Zhao Jiang remembered Zhou Er’s bravery in killing Hua Zong before and smiled, saying, ”What do you all think of this situation?”

Before Zhou Da could speak, the thick-browed Zhou San stepped forward and said loudly, ”What nineteen-year-old First Grade Martial Artist? To my brother, he’s just a head offered for sale. Just give my big brother ten thousand troops, and I’ll bring back that kid’s head as an offering...”

”Third brother, don’t razzle.” Zhou San hadn’t finished speaking when the more seasoned Zhou Da reprimanded him. He then stepped forward and gave a respectful salute to Zhao Jiang, ”Alliance Leader, my third brother is reckless. Please don’t take his words seriously and forgive his rashness.”

”Not at all,” Zhao Jiang replied dismissively, not taking Zhou San’s words to heart. Even if he believed him, it was impossible to entrust such a task with ten thousand troops to them. Then he said, ”It doesn’t take a cleaver to kill a chicken. Who is willing to lead and scout Chen Mo’s real strength?”

This statement was also a way of giving some recognition to the Zhou brothers.

”Alliance Leader, I am willing to go.” Liu Yi, the Governor of Nanhai, stepped forward.

In the previous battle against Hua Zong, Liu Yi suffered a defeat, marking the alliance’s first loss since rallying to support the king, causing him to lose face before the other lords. So he wanted to redeem himself.

But Zhao Lu sarcastically remarked, ”Brother Liu Yi, you suffered heavy losses in the previous defeat. It’s better to rest well before doing anything.”

After saying this, without waiting for Liu Yi to explain, Zhao Lu bowed to Zhao Jiang and said, ”Alliance Leader, my Supreme General’s blade is eager. Let my troops handle the task of scouting the enemy’s real situation.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jiang glanced past Liu Yi’s face and looked at Zhao Lu, saying, ”It’s up to you, seventh brother.”

To be honest, since Liu Yi had been defeated recently, Zhao Jiang felt uneasy about having him lead as the vanguard.

...

Julu.

The leader of the Yellow Turban Army, revered by his men as the Great Teacher and Heavenly General, Zhang Jiao, received a letter from Western Shu late at night.

There were signs of Huangfu Hao withdrawing from Western Shu, asking Zhang Jiao whether to intercept him.

After reading it, Zhang Jiao was delighted.

The alliance of the Eighteen Lords to punish the national traitor Xiao Yunqi was something he had also heard about.

Huangfu Hao withdrawing from Western Shu at this time clearly meant he intended to return to reinforce the capital.

Zhang Jiao personally ground ink and wrote back, instructing not to obstruct Huangfu Hao’s retreat, and even ordering them to clear the way to the capital.

In Zhang Jiao’s view, letting Huangfu Hao return to face Zhao Jiang’s alliance army was the best outcome, for no matter who wins, it benefits Zhang Jiao and buys more time for the Yellow Turban Army to grow.

...

On the other side, Zhao Ji, with the help of the State Preceptor Lin Su Ya, fled from the capital and immediately headed to Fengzhou.

To seek vengeance, he needed a fighting force, and the only trusted one was in Fengzhou, governed by his brother, Zhao Mu, the current State Governor.

Zhao Ji and Zhao Mu shared the same mother.

Zhao Ji was seven years older than Zhao Mu.

When they were young, Zhao Ji took great care of his younger brother. When Zhao Jiang proposed the State Governor system, Zhao Ji was the first to appoint Zhao Mu as the State Governor of Fengzhou.

So, in his moment of downfall, he thought of Zhao Mu.

However, Fengzhou was very far from Bianliang. Even for a First Grade Martial Artist, it would take a week to get there.

But this did not deter Zhao Ji’s resolve for revenge.

...

Even before dawn, with the moon still in the sky, fifty thousand cavalry were all set to depart from the camp.

Prior to this action, Chen Mo hadn’t consulted Li Yang or Feng Ji, yet upon learning that Chen Mo’s army was setting out for an ambush, Feng Ji immediately voiced his opposition.

Feng Ji was unaware that the enemy would first send a vanguard army, so he assumed Chen Mo intended to ambush the main enemy force. Given the disparity in numbers, Feng Ji believed launching an ambush was akin to hitting a stone with an egg, with no chance of success.

To him, defending the city and waiting for reinforcements from Western Shu was the safest plan.

However, Chen Mo was the commander-in-chief. Although Feng Ji was in place to monitor him, he could not influence major military decisions. Moreover, Chen Mo’s actions were not considered a betrayal of Xiao Yunqi, so Feng Ji had no grounds to stop him and could only report it.

After settling the dispute, Chen Mo mounted his horse, drew his Tianwen blade, and pointed southeast, ”Move out.”

”Hyah...” As fifty thousand cavalry left the city, the earth trembled at the thundering hooves.

Niu Shan was only a little over thirty li from Qinyang County. Within an hour, the fifty thousand cavalry arrived.

Chen Mo dismounted and instructed Gao Zheng to take people to hide the horses, then ordered the army to move into the surrounding forests.

Niu Shan’s terrain was not high, but the forests on both sides of the official road were thick enough to conceal fifty thousand troops to anyone not scrutinizing the area.

Chen Mo had everyone hide well, waiting for the arrival of the enemy’s vanguard scouts.

PS: Orange Cat knows you find it tedious, so it’s sped up with key points highlighted.