Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 1715: Chapter 128: Profitable! Little Immortal, the Dutiful Daughter (Seeking Monthly Tickets)_4

Of course, out of habit, they are generally referred to as [Southern Liang] and [Northern Yan].

Among them, the Jiang Family of the Southern Liang royal family branched out from the Cold Moon Jiang Clan of the Immortal Dynasty, and the Liang Country they established naturally became one of the allied nations of the Immortal Dynasty.

Meanwhile, the Qiu Family of the Northern Yan royal family branched out from the Demonic Dynasty. Its main lineage, the Red Moon Qiu Family, remains to this day one of the upper-class prominent families of the Red Moon Demon Dynasty, with a deep foundation.

Due to strategic positions and some historical reasons, the Liang and Yan Countries have been in continuous conflict since their founding, often erupting into wars.

In the past few decades, the conflict between the two countries has reached an intense level, showing a trend of life-and-death struggles, seeking a decisive victory.

They are entrenched on opposite sides of the east-west winding Tian Huai River, occupying Huaiyin and Huaiyang, two major counties, engaging in large-scale confrontations and seeking opportunities to launch attacks.

Huaiyang County and Huaiyin County are among the primary points of contention between Northern Yan and Southern Liang. Historically, when one country is stronger, it tends to occupy both Huaiyin and Huaiyang counties.

If the strength of the two countries is not vastly different, each will occupy one county and face off against each other.

Currently, the overall strength of the Liang and Yan Countries is comparable, so naturally, Southern Liang occupies Huaiyang County, and Northern Yan occupies Huaiyin County.

The Huai River spans several tens of miles wide.

The county towns of both counties are rarely built along the river, strategically positioned at key nodes for waterway passage. Some say, “Crossing the river, is there really a node? Can’t you just find any spot along the coast and cross over?”

In fact, it is not so simple. Most of the gigantic riverbanks are barren lands, filled with marshes, dense forests, and numerous lakes. The sides often have towering mountains and steep ranges. In such environments, crossing the river is not an issue for small groups of experts; a Celestial being can even fly across with ease.

However, large-scale army movements are difficult unless they open paths through mountains and build bridges across waters.

But even so, forcing a large army to cross a river tens of miles wide in such harsh environments could easily lead to enemy interception, causing massive losses.

Even if small troops manage to cross, they could end up deep in enemy territory, prone to encirclement and annihilation.

Moreover, both in Huaiyin and Huaiyang, suitable locations have established Guard Cities, checkpoints, and even military fortresses as defensive structures.

Therefore, with large armies of 250,000 from each side in a stand-off, they continue to engage in small-scale probing attacks, attempting to find weaknesses in the opponent’s defenses to gain local advantages and gradually accumulate an overall advantage.

It is evident that this is destined to be a protracted war of attrition.

It is a contest not only of military and national strength but also of endurance and persistence in adversity. As long as one holds on until the opposing side cannot, victory might suddenly come.

Prince Zhenyang, Jiang Chengyang of Southern Liang, is regarded as a standout among the Jiang’s Direct Lineage of the Southern Liang royal family. It is traditional in both countries for the primary lineage to guard the borders. The contemporary Prince Zhenyang is notably capable, with strict military governance and patience.

Originally, he was convinced the advantage was his, confident that in this standoff against Northern Yan’s army, he could ultimately outlast North Demon Yan Country, and in one swift campaign, take Huaiyin County, reclaiming the lost territories of Great Liang.

With Huaiyin County, Great Liang would be like having a dagger thrust into Northern Yan’s abdomen, able to advance and retreat flexibly,

But the stalemate suddenly changed unexpectedly.

A mysterious elite battle group from North Demon Yan Country, somehow unnoticed, suddenly broke through the defensive fortifications along Liang’s coastal garrisons, penetrating deep into Liang’s heartland like a dagger.

Where they passed, it was as if walking through unhindered lands; local garrison troops or village militia could not withstand their onslaught, collapsing with little resistance, while they rampaged without restraint, burning, killing, and looting.

Prince Zhenyang stood on the city wall, gazing at the raging waters of the Huai River, his expression unusually grave, as the enemy situation seemed quite tricky. The battalion acted mysteriously, with formidable strength, and if he dispatched a large army to blockade them, it would take at least ten battalions to encircle and annihilate them.

But if he deployed ten battalions to encircle them at the rear, a frontal battle would inevitably break out immediately.

“Your Highness, bad news!” another Personal Guard Leader urgently reported.

Prince Zhenyang’s face changed drastically; could it be that more bad news had arrived?

“Your Highness! Lu Ping City has fallen!”

“Lu Ping City has also fallen?” Prince Zhenyang’s face turned angrily, “Wasn’t the Spirit Sparrowhawk used to inform City Lord Liu Zhentao of Lu Ping City? Instructing him to organize prominent families, village militia, and defense, immediately notifying me upon discovering the enemy and jointly holding Lu Ping City by relying on city defenses and local militia.”

“In this way, as long as it can be held for days, I only need to hurry with the Personal Guard Brigade, and we can swiftly coordinate to solve that rat and quickly return to the front!”

Prince Zhenyang used the Spirit Sparrowhawk not only to inform Liu Zhentao of Lu Ping City but, in fact, notified all the Guard Cities in the rear that could be informed, setting such tactics.

“Could it be? Did Liu Zhentao disregard military orders and get lured out by the enemy, leading to defeat?” Prince Zhenyang said with shifting expressions, knowing that in a short time the populace could not all withdraw into the city, leaving the enemy ample opportunity for slaughtering civilians, luring the enemy out of the city tactics.

“No, not so.” The Personal Guard Leader reported drenched in sweat, “According to Liu Zhentao’s battle report from Lu Ping City, the opponent implemented a strong assault tactic, capturing it in just a single day…”

“Could it not be held for even a day?” Prince Zhenyang’s face could not hide his displeasure, “Could it be the Xuan Mountain Iron Cavalry of Southern Yan disguising as an ordinary battalion?”

The Xuan Mountain Iron Cavalry is the Imperial Guard of South Yan Country and the strongest fighting force among all the armies of South Yan Country.

Being caught off guard and having their defenses torn through, leading to the rapid conquest of territories within Great Liang and the strong assault capture of Lu Ping City, which had prominent family militia coordinating defense, within a day, aside from the Xuan Mountain Iron Cavalry, he could not think of another army capable of such feats.

No, it cannot be!

Prince Zhenyang’s expression turned peculiar: “It is certainly not the Xuan Mountain Iron Cavalry; they are the Imperial Guard of North Demon Yan royal family, with their primary duty being the defense of the capital. Unless Emperor Yuanming of South Yan personally leads them, they would never move. Moreover, our Emperor is keeping an eye on Emperor Yuanming — should the opposing Emperor act, naturally, our side will engage in counteraction!”

“Could it be?” Prince Zhenyang’s expression sharpened, “The Demonic Dynasty made a move?”

“Your Highness, could that be?” The Personal Guard Leader also expressed disbelief, “That battalion uses the numbering, military attire, and flag of Northern Yan. If the Demonic Dynasty intervened, wouldn’t it trigger even bigger military conflicts?”

“Why is that impossible?” Prince Zhenyang sneered, “Perhaps they intend for a quick, decisive battle, to establish facts on the ground and let the Immortal Dynasty and Demonic Dynasty haggle it out themselves.”

Just at that moment, a secret letter from the Emperor of Liang Country was delivered to Prince Zhenyang by another Personal Guard. Upon dismissing the others and reading it, his expression became very peculiar.

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com