Gu Zhan slightly furrowed his brow, surprised, and said, "Celestial Maiden of the White Lotus Sect?"
Rong Yichu nodded, saying, "Ever since Marquis Chengyang called out the slogan to clear out the court of traitors, the White Lotus Sect army has spread from Yunzhou towards Qingzhou and Liangzhou, cooperating with the Ling Family and the Dugu Faction to control the army. At the same time, it’s also a strategic move by the Ling Family and the Dugu Faction to disperse the White Lotus Sect’s forces for easier control.
Lately, the Chengyang Army and the White Lotus Army have cooperated incredibly well, seizing control of the Three States swiftly and blocking the Court’s army outside the Three States.
Seeing the optimistic situation, Marquis Chengyang gathered his forces to attack Fengtian. As long as Fengtian is captured, the power of the Three States can be directed toward the Capital City.
Marquis Chengyang was also vigilant, always wary of spies planted by the Court within the Three States. However, he never imagined that the spy would be the Celestial Maiden of the White Lotus Sect, who even the White Lotus Sect didn’t suspect.
As Marquis Chengyang prepared to attack Fengtian, the Celestial Maiden suddenly rebelled against the upper echelons of the White Lotus Sect, then controlled the White Lotus Sect from various places in the Three States to attack the Chengyang Army. At the same time, spies whom the Court had planted and waited for years within the Three States also sprang into action.
Everyone’s predictions were wrong; these spies were all insignificant mid- to low-level officers, while Marquis Chengyang’s focus had always been on high-level officers."
Gu Zhan slightly nodded, saying, "That’s understandable, after all, it’s unimaginable for mid- to low-level officers to influence such a strategic situation."
Rong Yichu nodded and said, "Indeed, that’s the case. These people are scattered like sand, incapable of significant impact. Yet, it was precisely the Celestial Maiden of the White Lotus Sect, who no one suspected would be the spy, whose identity and status could instantly unify those seemingly scattered spies.
Marquis Chengyang was caught off guard, and the already prepared Court army launched a charge, combining internal and external forces at the very moment of chaos in the Chengyang Army, leading them to a complete defeat.
Marquis Chengyang, the defeat is certain, and the recovery of Yun, Liang, and Qing Three States is imminent!"
Gu Zhan furrowed his brow and glanced at Kou Baimen, saying, "So, Alliance Leader Kou said that finding people of the White Lotus Sect in the Ten Thousand Mountains implies that another faction within the White Lotus Sect is searching for an escape route?"
Rong Yichu said, "The Celestial Maiden of the White Lotus Sect has already been exposed as a Court spy and will undoubtedly lead her faction within the Court. However, the other batch of genuine rebels in the White Lotus Sect dare not and cannot turn to the Court. They can only fight to the death or flee.
For fleeing, the Ten Thousand Mountains is the most suitable place, with its mountains, valleys, and natural barriers, plus toxic mists and fierce beasts, making it difficult for the Court army to enter."
Gu Zhan chuckled lightly and looked toward Kou Baimen.
Kou Baimen quickly cupped his hands and said, "Rest assured, Marquis. Within the Ten Thousand Mountains, no one knows it better than us from the Demon Dao... Martial Arts Alliance. If the White Lotus Sect enters the Ten Thousand Mountains, their every move will be tracked meticulously."
Gu Zhan slowly gazed outside the door,
The dense morning fog has already been pierced by the brilliant scarlet sunlight, with withered yellow leaves swirling in chaos,
Winter is just around the corner,
In the living room, a wave of silence prevailed for a while before Gu Zhan asked, "Do you think the decades Yang Yuzhi spent orchestrating this are truly worth it? The thirty thousand soldiers at Dragon Pass, years of warfare, along with the Grand General, Marquis Liu, Wan Yan, and so on—does he truly believe he can save the collapsing Xia Kingdom?"
Rong Yichu and Kou Baimen exchanged glances,
Both remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
...
Yunzhou, Linjiang City.
The long street is desolate, house alleys in ruins, old trees decayed, mottled city walls aging, the entire city immersed in this aura of decay.
A troop stormed into the Prefecture Government,
At this moment, the Prefecture Government was empty,
Except under a withered tree, where a white-haired elder was leaning against the barren trunk reading a book. His back was hunched, white hair dishevelled, giving a sense of deep hardship, his skin dark and coarse, exceedingly thin, so thin that he was nothing but skin and bones, clutching the book with trembling hands.
This man was indeed the Prefect of Linjiang, Yang Yuzhi.
A troop rushed in, and the sound of weapons clanged loudly within the dilapidated courtyard, encircling Yang Yuzhi completely.
A middle-aged man in full armor strode in with large steps, causing dry leaves on the ground to scatter to either side as he passed. He was none other than Marquis Chengyang, Ling Hao.
"Yang Yuzhi."
Ling Hao walked up to Yang Yuzhi, looking down at him, slowly stating, "You’ve grown old to such an extent!"
Yang Yuzhi raised his head, wrinkles covering his face, and he revealed a slight smile, saying, "Marquis Chengyang, you’ve come, sit... sit down!"
Yang Yuzhi’s frail hands trembled slightly as he pointed to a nearby small stone stool inviting Ling Hao to sit.
Ling Hao gently waved his hand, scattering the dry leaves on the stone stool, and sat down slowly, saying, "The Yang Yuzhi I remember was so full of vigor and unmatched charisma, so even though I know this defeat is at your hands, I consider it an honorable defeat. But seeing you now in this state, Yang Yuzhi, you somewhat disappoint me!"
Yang Yuzhi slowly closed the book in his hand, forcefully sitting up straight, chuckling lightly, "You’re not disappointed; you’re just unwilling to lose to someone who’s nearly gone."
Ling Hao sighed and said, "I’m indeed unwilling. Yang Yuzhi, you used these decades, sacrificing your wife and children, with dear friends and family, and the thirty thousand soldiers at Dragon Pass, years of war in Yunzhou, countless displaced people, just to achieve my defeat. Is this... truly worth it? Do you truly believe that the root of Xia Kingdom’s corruption is entirely the Ling Family and the Dugu Faction?"