Kays Translations

Chapter 71: Enemy Attack

Li Xian looked up at the canopy, which had four large water barrels placed on top, each containing a slightly smaller half-spherical suspension block with an iron piece at the bottom, inspired by the design of a weeble. The four large Spirit Gathering Arrays powered a 20-horsepower engine, allowing the motorbike to reach speeds of around 100 kilometers on flat ground and 50 kilometers on bumpy terrain, as the uneven ground would affect the stability of the Spirit Gathering Arrays.

Thanks to the use of mystic iron wire for the wiring, the cost of each three-wheeled motor could be kept under 20 taels of gold. However, if they used sea soul silk for the construction, the cost would exceed a thousand taels of gold—primarily due to the high price of sea soul silk.

Hearing this assessment, Li Xian proudly announced to Xu Ren, “As long as we control the wiring, we control the industry!”

Xu Ren nodded in agreement. “When it comes to industry, I’m no match for you, Young Master.”

Li Xian immediately puffed up with pride, his nose held high. 

However, the next moment, Xu Ren poured cold water on him, saying, “But Young Master, if you were just an ordinary worker, you should be proud. But you’re not. The survival of the entire Brilliant Star Group, with tens of thousands of people, rests on your shoulders. What you need to do is remain steady and have a far-reaching vision. 

I’ve heard that true leaders must not show their preferences; this is how they maintain their authority.”

“Uh… what you say is true,” Li Xian admitted, feeling slightly defeated.

After looking around for a while longer, Li Xian turned to Liu Bin and said, “For now, set aside everything else and focus entirely on producing three-wheeled motors. Before we set off tomorrow morning, I want to see five motors ready. No matter the power situation, just move the engine from the textile machine onto the motor.

While the current speed of the motors isn’t sufficient, they can be used to transport the wounded, for emergency rescues, and to move some supplies.

The primary purpose of the motors will be to complement the firearms. We may not be able to use them in this battle, but you can draft a plan to discuss with Yang Qianjiang.”

“Understood,” Liu Bin said excitedly as he got back to work.

As Xu Ren followed Li Xian out of the factory, he suddenly said, “Young Master, we’ve accumulated over a thousand spirit stones. We should aim to elevate the cultivation levels of the factory managers to the Foundation Establishment stage. If they can’t meet this requirement, we must find replacements for them.”

Li Xian paused slightly before nodding; the environment of the Immortal Realm made it necessary for him to take this approach. If a factory manager couldn’t keep up with their cultivation level, they would struggle to command respect.

However, now was not the time to announce this information; he would wait until after the battle.

The next morning, Xia Qingqing lay in Li Xian’s arms, her voice soft. “Husband, you mustn’t charge to the front lines during the battle.”

“Mm.”

“I’ll be waiting for your return.” Xia Qingqing got up to help Li Xian get ready.

After a hurried breakfast, Li Xian led the troops out.

At the front were the 5,000 elite soldiers led by Wang Jian, their shining armor and weapons gleaming like celestial soldiers, marching with pride and confidence.

The most eye-catching sight was the five three-wheeled motorcycles. When these vehicles appeared, countless soldiers were stunned—what kind of strange contraption was this? Could it be a new type of magical device? Isn’t it said that large magical devices can fly? Crawling on the ground seems too degrading.

The three-wheeled motorcycles carried nothing but a full five tons of ammunition! The current ammunition was all bullets.

In the past few days, the arsenal had been working overtime, and there were several instances where they almost caused dangerous situations.

Li Xian rode on horseback at the front, glancing at the 5,000 elite soldiers behind him. Suddenly, a question popped into his mind, “Sir, why don’t we form a cavalry unit? I haven’t seen a cavalry team assembled.”

Xu Ren chuckled, “Young master, you really are oblivious to the outside world. There’s a type of spell called ‘intimidation,’ which can deter ordinary beasts.”

At that moment, a Foundation Establishment stage expert rushed over. “Third Young Master, the First Young Master sent word that the scouts at the border have indeed detected the movements of the Cai Kingdom’s army. It’s said that an army of fifty thousand is advancing toward the border.”

“Understood!”

After the messenger left, Xu Ren said, “It seems that the Cai Kingdom has secretly bribed Yao Jianye of Kaiping County; otherwise, they wouldn’t have deployed their troops. That’s fast!

Young master, pick up the pace. We need to set up an ambush in Huangshi Valley by noon.”

“Alright!” Li Xian took the lead and moved forward.

Huangshi Valley is one of the many accessible routes between Kaiping County and An Yang, but this route has two characteristics. First, it’s a mountainous path, not easy to traverse, but it’s wide enough, making it unsuitable for regular commerce yet perfect for military marches! Second, the valley’s northern part is gentle, making it very convenient for Cai Kingdom’s elite soldiers to launch a surprise attack from here.

The troop immediately accelerated. Halfway through the journey, Xu Ren suddenly said again, “Young master, the initial battle won’t be too intense. You should at least stand in a prominent position to boost morale. If you’re confident, it’s best to charge at the front.”

Li Xian: …

This morning, Xia Qingqing had told him not to charge at the front, and now Xu Ren was telling him to lead the charge.

Of course, Li Xian understood both perspectives. Xu Ren was considering it from a military and leadership standpoint. Even if it was just for show, Li Xian still had to be at the front.

Li Xian was very self-aware—he had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, his cultivation hadn’t fully stabilized, and he hadn’t practiced the related spells or honed his combat techniques. Charging in front of those elite soldiers now would be like offering himself as a tough, meaty dumpling—an actual dumpling. So, regrettably, he decided it was better to stand in the most prominent place and play sniper instead!

Before noon, the troop arrived at Huangshi Valley. Beichen Yuqing was responsible for arranging the ambush and concealment of the troops. Li Xian highly praised Beichen Yuqing’s ambush strategy—he had set the ambush in the most open part of Huangshi Valley!

Typically, ambushes are set in the most dangerous spots, but Beichen Yuqing had placed it in the least expected area.

Faced with Li Xian’s praise, Beichen Yuqing seriously explained, “Because we have guns and the advantage of numbers, we can do it this way. If we were outnumbered, we’d have to ambush in the most dangerous spots.”

As Li Xian’s ambush was being set up, over 4,000 elite soldiers were slowly approaching the northern border.

Cai Kingdom’s General Wang Qisheng hovered in the air, gazing into the distance. “So, this is the territory of the southern country. This general has arrived. One day, I shall lead an army of one million to expand our lands!”

A figure flew from the distance—a man in green robes and a scholar’s cap. It was Wang Qisheng’s strategist, Lu Yan. He approached Wang Qisheng, “General, Yao Jianye is certain he won’t go back on his word. Tonight, at three-quarters past midnight, the border will change guards, giving us two quarters of an hour to pass through the border.”

“Additionally, Yao Jianye guarantees that by tomorrow afternoon, the border will be manned by old, weak, and sick soldiers. By then, we can charge through and cross the border smoothly.”

“The old, weak, and sick?” Wang Qisheng sneered, “Yao Jianye may be shortsighted, but he’s no fool if he made it to the position of governor. The ‘old, weak, and sick’—could they be elite troops in disguise?

But since he’s treating us like fools, we’ll play the fools for now. Pass the word: rest where we are. At the beginning of Hai hour (9 PM), assemble the troops; four quarters into Hai hour, we march! By tomorrow morning, we’ll be at Qingyun Valley!”

“Yes!” Lu Yan acknowledged the order and departed. The army quickly settled down to rest, knowing they might face three days of sleepless combat ahead.

Time passed slowly. By dusk, the garrison at the An Yang border’s Great Wall was under pressure. Over 50,000 troops from Cai Kingdom launched an attack!

“Enemy attack!”

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