Chapter 43 Preparing for the Campaign: You Ignite the Fire, I Will Slay the Heart

Lian Chenbi’s worry was indeed not without reason.

However, Zhu Jinzhen remained unbothered. "Whether the news reaches the Emperor or not, the Emperor will find out eventually. Rather than waiting and deepening the Emperor's suspicion toward the Prince of Su’s Estate, it is better to break the matter open proactively. It will also allow me to test the Emperor's attitude."

Zhu Jinzhen intended to seize the initiative.

Didn't Temür want to frame him for colluding with the Mongol-Yuan, plotting to seize the Dragon Balls, and aspiring to reach the realm of Celestial Immortality for eternal life? Then Zhu Jinzhen would grant his wish, and he would take both the Water and Fire Dragon Balls as well.

As for the suspicions of the world and the distrust of the Emperor?

Did he care?

Temür's conspiracy was premised on the assumption that Zhu Jinzhen possessed a loyal and patriotic heart, willing to sacrifice himself for the Great Ming, and that Zhu Jinzhen was only at the Terrestrial Immortal realm.

As a true Terrestrial Celestial Being, unless the descendants of gods and demons from the syncretic martial arts background appeared, or those god-and-demon-tier powerhouses rumored throughout heaven and earth manifested, even if visitors from the heavens and immortals descended to the mortal realm...

Zhu Jinzhen would remain utterly unafraid.

Seeing that Zhu Jinzhen was completely confident and held victory in his grasp, Lian Chenbi knew his Highness already had a well-laid plan. Though a lingering trace of anxiety remained in his heart, he stopped worrying too much.

Ever since Lian Chenbi had joined the Secret Guards, he had never once seen his Highness undertake a venture without absolute certainty.

This time would naturally be no exception!

"Tiance and Cangyun shall step up their patrols, and the Secret Guards will assist in the investigation from the shadows."

"Ensure that the whereabouts of the Water and Fire Dragon Balls are discovered within the shortest possible time."

"Understood!"

"Also, since Temür has shown such deep affection, I cannot fail to return the courtesy." As Zhu Jinzhen spoke, he glanced at Lian Chenbi and Cao Xueyang. "It is time for the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Soaring Dragon Cavalry to bare their fangs."

Cao Xueyang stood up, excited. "Does Your Highness mean... we are attacking the Mongol-Yuan?"

Lian Chenbi’s eyes lit up, and the gentle, restrained aura about him instantly turned razor-sharp.

"Yes."

Zhu Jinzhen picked up the teacup beside him and drained it in one gulp. "I await your reports of victory."

The Great Snow Dragon Cavalry was a heavy cavalry force, while the Soaring Dragon Cavalry was light cavalry. Every single member of the fully armed Great Snow Dragon Cavalry was at the Vajra realm or above, and the Soaring Dragon Cavalry was much the same, with all eight thousand of its riders essentially positioned in the upper three ranks.

Two such armies rampaging across the grasslands would be enough to keep the Mongol-Yuan perpetually exhausted and overwhelmed.

Li Chengen said worriedly, "Your Highness, the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Soaring Dragon Cavalry are indeed formidable, but if they encounter top-tier experts like Pakpas or Si Hanfei, won't they..."

"Yang Ning."

"This general is here."

Zhu Jinzhen looked toward Yang Ning of the Tiance Mansion—the Chief Instructor of Tiance and the premier martial artist of the Tiance Mansion. "You will accompany this expedition. If you encounter powerful figures from the Mongol-Yuan, do not get bogged down in prolonged combat. You need only expose your aura, and I will ride to your rescue at any moment."

It hadn't been a day or two since he had started wanting to kill those Terrestrial Immortals of the Mongol-Yuan.

Yet previously, old monsters like Pakpas and Si Hanfei had huddled together in Dadu with other Terrestrial Immortals, guarded by heavy military forces, leaving Zhu Jinzhen temporarily powerless against them.

This time, he wanted to see if these cowardly old wretches would dare to poke their heads out.

"This general understands. Please rest assured, Your Highness." Yang Ning nodded heavily and accepted the order. Hearing that Zhu Jinzhen would come to his rescue at any moment, he understood that his task was to serve as a layer of insurance during this baiting operation.

This would prevent powerful Mongol-Yuan experts from launching a frantic counterattack that might cause heavy casualties among the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Soaring Dragon Cavalry.

Zhu Jinzhen nodded, looked at Cao Xueyang, and instructed, "I know that many of the women in the Soaring Dragon Cavalry regard the Mongol-Yuan as mortal enemies, holding an irreconcilable blood feud against them. But your task is guerrilla harassment. Make good use of the Soaring Dragon Cavalry's speed and strength advantages, and execute lightning-fast strikes against the enemy at a pace they cannot react to."

"Unless necessary, do not engage the main Mongol-Yuan army in direct head-on combat."

The Mongol-Yuan forces in this world were terrifyingly vast. Knowing that a single grassland could field a million-strong army showed how absurd the syncretic martial arts world was; if the Soaring Dragon Cavalry wreaked too much havoc, the Mongol-Yuan certainly wouldn't stand by idly.

However, as long as the Soaring Dragon Cavalry refused to get bogged down in prolonged fights and avoided falling into the complete encirclement of a hundred-thousand-strong army, Zhu Jinzhen wouldn't need to worry too much.

His only concern was that the soldiers of the Soaring Dragon Cavalry might have their eyes redden with killing intent, lose their composure in the heat of battle, and accidentally walk right into an enemy trap.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness. Though they harbor hatred in their hearts, they will not disregard military law."

"That is for the best."

As for the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry?

Zhu Jinzhen was even less worried about them.

The ten-thousand-strong Great Snow Dragon Cavalry were all clad in heavy armor, and every single man possessed a Vajra physique. As long as they didn't encounter the encirclement of several hundred thousand troops or suffer ambushes from too many Terrestrial Immortals, they would basically face no major issues.

"Yan Yimei, recall a portion of the Nine Gates Secret Guards."

"Understood."

Noticing the puzzled gazes of Changsun Wangqing and the others beside him, Zhu Jinzhen gave a cold smile. "Didn't that Temür claim that I obtained the Water Dragon Ball from Kublai? Then I shall go and see whether Kublai actually has it on him or not."

The Nine Gates Secret Guards were a specialized tomb-robbing unit established by Zhu Jinzhen, who had dispatched men to recruit Lei Lao Wu, an expert from the tomb-raiding lineage.

Every single one of them was an elite talent from the four major sects of tomb-gold and mountain-removal.

They secretly searched for ancient secrets buried deep underground for Zhu Jinzhen, while openly, Zhu Jinzhen provided them with official status so they could walk under the sun and earn the respect of others.

Changsun Wangqing: "...."

Li Chengen: "...."

Lian Chenbi simply lowered his head and began counting how many specks of dust were on his shoes.

Zhu Jinzhen took in all their reactions and smiled indifferently. The ancients believed firmly in the peace of the departed returning to the earth; it was only natural that people like Li Chengen, Changsun Wangqing, or Lian Chenbi felt some degree of aversion to this.

The Nine Gates Secret Guards he had established were not specifically meant for sneaking around digging up graves.

Instead, they were meant to search for the truth lost in the long river of history.

They were meant to find the traces of once-lost gods, demons, and vanished civilizations.

"Understood. This subordinate will immediately issue the order to assemble them."

Yan Yimei, on the other hand, was indifferent to all this. Toward Zhu Jinzhen's orders, she always maintained only one attitude: as long as she faithfully executed her Highness's commands, no extra emotions were needed.

"Mm!"

Zhu Jinzhen looked toward Li Chengen, the Grand Commander of Tiance. "Also, bring Murong Fu to see me later."

Murong Fu's capture, along with the arrival of Wang Yuyan at Jiayuguan, caused an idea to involuntarily sprout in Zhu Jinzhen's mind.

Perhaps that plan of his could actually work.

As for whether Murong Fu would cooperate?

Zhu Jinzhen didn't care in the least. A mere prisoner of war possessed no right to refuse.

"Understood!" Li Chengen bowed and replied.

Murong Fu of the Southern Murong of the Song Dynasty, the current head of the Murong clan, possessed martial cultivation that had reached the Finger Mystery realm. He could definitely be called a youthful elite and deserved the title of a genius.

Yet before the two mighty armies of Tiance and Cangyun, a mere Finger Mystery realm cultivator was nothing special at all.

This time, Murong Fu had prepared to scout the true strength of Jiayuguan, only to run right into patrolling Tiance soldiers. In less than ten moves, his legs were broken and an arm was snapped. If he hadn't still held a sliver of value, he would have been beaten to death on the spot.

Zhu Jinzhen nodded. "Dismissed, go make your preparations."