Chapter 507: Chapter 107: Horseshoes Trample the Falling Flowers_2
Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head, transmitting his voice to Liu Er: “Reporting to the Great General, I have fortunately accomplished my mission without disgrace, the divination was successful, and resulted in an Omen Poem.”
“The content of the poem is startling and breathtaking, so I dared not rest for even a moment, and rushed back immediately to inform the General.”
“The Omen Poem is—”
“Horse hooves trample down flowers,”
“Wind rises and shadows sink into the sand.”
“Who can retain the moon’s brightness,”
“Who else shall bury the smoke and rosy clouds?”
Upon hearing this, Liu Er instantly frowned, pondering for a moment before looking at Ning Zhuo, conveying through Divine Sense: “Military Advisor, how do you interpret this poem?”
Ning Zhuo shook his head with a bitter smile: “I, too, cannot fully understand it, but just by looking at this poem, I feel that there are crises lurking everywhere in the future.”
“The so-called horse hooves trample down flowers, the horse hooves seem to hint that our grand army is about to embark on a campaign.”
“The term ‘trampled flowers’ fills me with dread. Just like the saying ‘fallen flowers and flowing water,’ I fear that the advance of our grand army may be concerning.”
Yet Liu Er shook his head: “Horse hooves trample down flowers, if I interpret this, couldn’t it be that our grand army departs, trampling over the enemy all along the way, beating them until they are fallen flowers and flowing water?”
Ning Zhuo was slightly startled: “This Omen Poem cannot be interpreted one line at a time, Great General.”
“Because the following line, ‘Wind rises and shadows sink into the sand’ implies that the situation will take a drastic downturn, with the enemy like a rising wind, turning the situation confusing and dangerous.”
“‘Who can retain the moon’s brightness,’ the bright moon represents hope.”
“‘Who else shall bury the smoke and rosy clouds,’ smoke and rosy clouds represent the smoke of war.”
“The two lines indicate that some people will perish in the upcoming crisis, while others will survive to see the next night, witnessing the hope of survival. This means that our army itself will not be utterly wiped out and there still lies a glimmer of hope.”
After Liu Er carefully listened, he shook his head again: “Military Advisor, that’s too pessimistic.”
“In my opinion, the latter two lines clearly mean that there will be casualties on both sides of the battlefield, some people will live on, while others will lose their lives.”
“We need to be cautious of the enemy skilled in using smoke and rosy clouds spellcraft.”
“But as far as I see, our Fire Cloud Camp is capable of stirring up fire clouds to envelop the battlefield, isn’t that the ‘smoke and rosy clouds’?”
“Ha ha ha.”
Ning Zhuo was at a loss for words.
He did indeed come in a bit of a hurry, only concocting this Omen Poem on the journey here.
Yet, when he came to persuade Liu Er, the latter turned out to be unexpectedly optimistic.
Ning Zhuo took a deep breath: “Great General, I have personally performed divination, experienced it firsthand, and it brought me inspiration and emotion.”
“My mood is quite somber, this is the most significant revelation!”
“The General must not be complacent.”
Liu Er nodded repeatedly, continuing to comfort Ning Zhuo for a while, escorting him back to rest inside the Military Advisor’s tent.
Zhang Hei and Guan Hong, having heard of Ning Zhuo’s return to camp, took advantage of the training break to come and find him together.
The three met halfway.
Liu Er waved his hand: “The military advisor has surely exhausted himself with the divination this time, let’s all go back, do not disturb his rest.”
Zhang Hei laughed: “Hey, I knew the military advisor was trustworthy!”
Saying so, he glanced at Guan Hong.
Guan Hong stroked his beard: “I merely stated that anything is possible.”
He then inquired about the result of the divination from Liu Er.
Liu Er recounted the Omen Poem.
Zhang Hei was dumbfounded, while Guan Hong pondered: “Military advisor, elder brother’s interpretation, all make sense. The Omen Poem is just ambiguous like that.”
While they were talking, a military messenger carrying a military order arrived on a fast horse, rushing into the camp.
Upon seeing the three Golden Core Generals, the military messenger stayed on his horse without any salutations, merely raising the military order: “Order the Three Generals Camp to prepare immediately, set off early tomorrow morning, joining the grand army in advancing to the front line!”
Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei at once stared wide-eyed, with Zhang Hei even drawing a sharp breath.
Such odd reactions startled the military messenger.
“Aren’t you going to accept the order? Or do you wish to defy it?!” the military messenger barked sharply.
Liu Er hurriedly accepted the military token.
Just after the military messenger left, Zhang Hei could not hold back: “Elder brother, second brother, the military advisor is truly a military advisor, indeed equipped with real talents.”
“He actually predicted our military deployment.”
“Does this… mean our prospects are bleak?”
Guan Hong was silent in contemplation.
Liu Er took a deep breath, his face becoming solemn: “Second brother, third brother, in truth, I trust the Military Advisor even more.”
“After all, the Military Advisor excels in divination, and I am completely an outsider.”
“But why do I still comfort the Military Advisor like this?”
Upon reaching this point, Liu Er spoke with utmost gravity, “My two worthy brothers, if in the future we face omnipresent crises and mortal perils, shall we retreat in a display of weakness?”
“I will not!”
Liu Er took a deep breath, his eyes brimming with redness: “Even though I am blood-tainted royalty, what of it?”
“Who would look upon me with esteem because of this status?”
“Many more denigrate me as a mongrel, a blend of human and demon!”
“I wish to rise above others.”
“Desperately so!”
“But in today’s world of Cultivation, it is difficult for a Cultivator of my standing to be acknowledged.”
“For me, Liangzhu Country’s campaign against Thousand Peak Forest is an opportunity that must be seized!”
“Therefore, no matter how perilous, I must continue on this path.”
Liu Er’s words rang out, heartfelt and resounding.
Zhang Hei was moved and promptly said, “Eldest brother, I understand you!”
“I brought some of my clanspeople to Canglin Immortal City, hoping to utilize the nearby resources of Thousand Peak Forest to grow and flourish. However, upon relocating here, we discovered all significant positions were already taken.”
“Though Canglin Immortal City is vast, the space left for newcomers to develop is way too limited!”
“Only through joining the punitive expedition can I achieve merits and avoid exclusion, truly gaining strength and development.”
“Rest assured, eldest brother, I, Old Hei, will surely be at the forefront on the battlefield!”
Guan Hong also said, “I have traveled all over, witnessing this prosperous era as if it were Fiery Fire frying oil, with Cultivators as numerous as locusts.”
“I believe that an era of great contention is bound to arrive!”
“We, the strong men of our generation, should go with the flow, riding and driving the waves at the forefront of the times.”
“Eldest brother, youngest brother, Guan will never flee from battle without fighting.”
Seeing the two reveal their hearts, Liu Er was instantly overjoyed, grabbing an arm of each with his hands: “Excellent! Truly befitting of my blood brothers, Liu Er. From now on, we three shall advance and retreat together, support and aid each other, and are sure to carve out a path of achievement in this world!”
“Eldest brother (eldest brother)!”
“Second brother, youngest brother!”
“Eldest brother (eldest brother)!”
“Second brother, youngest brother!”
The three Generals shared a heart and a deeper bond of brotherhood.
They began to dispatch soldiers, making various preparations for breaking camp and setting off early the next morning.
The next day.
Dense fog.
The heavy fog enveloped the mountains, rivers, and vegetation, swallowing everything into a white mist. Mountains in the distance appeared intermittently, their peaks’ contours blurred and unclear, as if they would be entirely consumed by the mist at any moment.
The plants by the roadside drooped low, with moist dewdrops hanging on the branches and leaves, gently shaking as if whispering silently.
In the fog, even the sunlight of the rising sun seemed pale and feeble, as if everything was plunged into an endless silence, vast and ambiguous.
As the leader of the Golden Halberd Army and an important General of Liangzhu Country—Sun Gan was in charge of this military expedition.
A messenger reported, “My lord, Deputy General Liu Er from the Three Generals Camp has sent an inquiry, asking if we should halt the march due to today’s thick fog?”
Sun Gan, sitting in the command seat, paused and then laughed dismissively, “Merely a bit of fog, how could it impede the march? Ridiculous!”
Moments later, Sun Gan inquired, “As the vanguard, why has the Three Generals Camp not yet made a move?”
Immediately, another report came, saying that the Three Generals Camp had not finished dismantling their tents yet.
Sun Gan harrumphed in extreme dissatisfaction: “A bunch of useless fools!”
A Deputy General disdainfully said, “The Three Generals Camp has always been a rabble. At least Xu Dali from the Barbarian Demon Camp is seasoned in the Military Art. But what are Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei? Dabbling in a bit of Military Art and they think they can lead troops in battle—it’s laughable!”
Sun Gan commanded, “Issue this order: the Three Generals Camp is moving too slowly, defying the military order. Punish the Main General Liu Er with thirty strokes of the large plank. Note it down now and serve the military punishment upon arriving at Mulu Town.”
“Assign the Barbarian Demon Camp to take the lead, acting as the spearhead!”
“White Jade Camp to follow.”
“My Golden Halberd Army will be in the middle.”
“After my army, comes the Red Flower Camp.”
“Let the Three Generals Camp cover the rear.”
“Whole army, march!”
Sun Gan’s reprimands and questions quickly reached the Three Generals Camp.
Ning Zhuo said with guilt, “Following my plan, it led to the Great General receiving thirty strokes of the large plank. It’s my fault as well.”
Liu Er immediately waved it off, “A mere thirty strokes of the large plank, I can withstand it, no matter.”
“The strategist’s consideration for the Three Generals Camp is clear to all of us.”
“Let’s not talk about this now. Pass the order, prepare the whole army tidily, stay fully alert throughout, not allowing any neglect or laziness. Anyone who violates will receive sixty strokes of the large plank!”