Kays Translations

Chapter 83: A Contest

“Fire cannon?” Xu Ren expressed his confusion. “Do you know about this, young master?”

Li Xian didn’t elaborate, simply stating, “I originally wanted to make cannons, but the production of explosives is too low, so I could only make guns. Cannons are just enlarged firearms, with their power increased countless times.”

“Increased countless times?” Xu Ren was taken aback by this statement.

“Ah, I mean the complete cannon. However, their cannons seem rather primitive and are not worth much. Ha ha…” 

Li Xian skillfully avoided some sensitive topics, and Xu Ren wisely chose not to ask—what cultivator didn’t have secrets, after all? Their discussion centered on the “cannon” issue.

But before they could continue, more scouts reported back—Cai Country had even demonstrated their cannons to the scouts!

“Initiating a demonstration of a secret weapon? Cai Country is so generous!” Li Xian exclaimed with delight. In truth, Cai Country was trying to show off and intimidate them; they were doing a good job of it. In normal circumstances, the people of Anyang would surely be terrified. However, the situation was anything but normal! What was abnormal wasn’t Anyang, but Li Xian; specifically, Li Xian’s background was far from ordinary.

After watching the “cannon” that Cai Country had specifically showcased, Li Xian finally laughed. “You had me scared there; I thought it was an actual cannon. Turns out it’s not a cannon but a fire gun, undoubtedly using gunpowder.

Moreover, these fire guns vary in size and are completely non-standardized, without even a basic guideline.”

Xu Ren hesitated for a long time before finally asking, “Young master, how do we evade the cannon’s attacks?”

“Spread out! The army shouldn’t line up neatly like before; they need to scatter and engage freely. But the primary focus should still be on increasing the number of snipers and gunmen.

These fire guns have a limited attack range and are prone to bursting. We’ll have our snipers take them out from a distance. Also, we should transport a few snipers on all the war machines to snipe from the air.

Most importantly, these fire guns require a large amount of gunpowder, so we need to locate their gunpowder stores. Gunpowder will explode if it suffers a strong impact or spark. As long as we find their gunpowder stores, we can play the sniper game easily.”

While the two discussed strategies, another scout returned with reports that Cai Country planned to mobilize 100,000 troops and aimed to flatten Anyang in one fell swoop. Moreover, Prime Minister Yan Ze’an would personally oversee the military operations, with generals Wang Qisheng, Yan Zhengqing, and Lu Chenggang each leading their respective troops into battle.

“One hundred thousand troops?” Xu Ren analyzed all the previous data and concluded, “At most, there are only 60,000, and at least no fewer than 50,000. Even so, this represents a significant portion of Cai Country’s main military force.

“Young master, write a letter to Lord Li Yulong immediately, persuading His Majesty the Emperor to launch a northern expedition and rally all the prefectures in the north to raid Cai Country. This time, we will surely achieve a great victory. As long as the north mobilizes, we will be as solid as a rock here. Otherwise, relying solely on Anyang to resist Cai Country is not a feasible plan; even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory.”

In fact, it didn’t even require Li Xian to write the letter. While the discussion was ongoing, Li Yulong had already received the news. By the time Li Xian’s letter was sent, Chief Imperial Guard and Minister of Internal Affairs Fu Minghui had already dispatched 30,000 elite troops northward. The three northern prefectures of Great Xia had also proactively requested to send troops—everyone was smart enough to recognize this as an opportunity, a chance to raid Cai Country and simultaneously take revenge for the previous war.

No one had anticipated that this war would evolve into a full-scale conflict between Cai Country and Great Xia, but that’s precisely what was happening.

As Fu Minghui led his troops northward, on the side of Cai Country, Prime Minister Yan Ze’an was addressing Generals Wang Qisheng, Yan Zhengqing, and Lu Chenggang. “Gentlemen, this war is on a tight schedule; we have only three days for combat. I believe Great Xia’s forces are already marching northward.

“If possible, I hope to break through Anyang and directly flank Great Xia’s northern expeditionary forces from behind. This way, we could seize control of three to four northern prefectures of Great Xia in one fell swoop.

“However, if we cannot breach Anyang within three days, we must at least cripple it, preventing them from advancing; afterward, we will return and intercept Great Xia’s forces.”

“Understood!” The three generals nodded in agreement.

“Since you understand, prepare accordingly. Military matters are for you to decide.” 

The three generals of Cai Country immediately got to work, and by noon, the army was fully organized. In less than an hour, a grand army claiming to be 100,000 but actually numbering over 50,000 surged forth from the border, charging toward Anyang.

Leading the charge were over a thousand foundation-level experts. They manipulated their true essence to shape iron pipes and balls, followed by numerous carts loaded with gunpowder and iron balls.

These experts didn’t even need incense; a simple flick of their fingers would suffice. A small spell could create a spark, igniting the gunpowder with ease.

However, when the soldiers of Cai Country confidently approached the defenses of Anyang, they suddenly found themselves stunned. In the sky ahead, at an altitude of about 60 zhang (200 meters), floated a total of 40 war artifacts.

“Why do these war artifacts look so familiar?” The three generals exchanged puzzled glances.

“Where did Anyang get the spirit stones?” Yan Zhengqing was the most shocked. He had led the previous war, so he naturally understood the situation with the battle formations. To fly at a height of 60 zhang required ten spirit stones!

“Stop!” The army halted, still more than two miles from the defenses of Anyang.

But while they stopped, the war artifacts on the Anyang side began to move! Leading the war machines was Cheng Jiming—he had even resigned from his previous position as the commander of the archery battalion to gain command over these 40 war artifacts.

Hovering high in the sky, Cheng Jiming felt quite proud. Watching the neatly arranged troops of Cai Country, he sneered to himself: “Heh, thanks to the medicinal herbs gifted by the young master, I am now a Golden Core expert. Now, let me show you what true firepower coverage looks like! 

The new tactics the young master taught us over the past few days will definitely leave you all unable to cope!”

The war artifacts hovered at an altitude of 200 meters, advancing rapidly. As the attack commenced, newly constructed steel ballistae slowly prepared to launch. These devices, powered by extensive springs and pulleys, were more powerful than the previous models made from monster bones, boasting over double the strength.

Foundation-level cultivators transformed into strongmen under their command, manipulating the powerful and well-designed steel ballistae as if they were toys. A steel bolt, as thick as a human arm, was fired with a resounding *snap* and shot forth, instantly traveling two miles.

Simultaneously, 120 bolts were launched from the 40 war artifacts, raining down upon the densely packed troops of Cai Country, making aiming unnecessary.

Pfft…

A torrent of blood erupted, and in an instant, over a thousand soldiers from Cai Country were torn apart, creating 120 bloody paths in the front lines.

Cai Country quickly retaliated, launching another twenty war artifacts into the sky.

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