While Ling Xiao and Ji Ning were chatting and laughing, a signal arrow suddenly exploded in the distance.
Ji Ning’s face changed dramatically. “The Black Crow Empire’s army is coming again!”
Seeing the arrow burst in the sky, Ling Xiao’s expression turned serious.
Soon after the signal arrow, a scout reported, “General, the Black Crow Empire’s main force is only three days from their vanguard. This time, leading the army is Prince Jiumo Zhiyan of the Golden Blood!”
“Jiumo Zhiyan? Heh, is this little prince here to die on the battlefield? Who is their commander?”
Ji Ning asked with a smile.
“The commander is Jiumo Zhiyan, but the deputy is formidable: General Timur Mutu of the Golden Crow from the Black Crow Empire!”
“What! That old fellow is personally leading? It seems the Black Crow Empire is rife with internal strife. This time Mutu is out, probably to seize military merits for the little prince Jiumo Zhiyan.”
Ji Ning’s face grew solemn.
Clearly, Timur Mutu was no easy opponent.
Though Ji Ning was poor at schemes, he was a god in warfare, masterful in military tactics. On the Shenhuang Continent, he was an undefeated general.
His expression turning so serious could only mean Timur Mutu was truly fearsome.
“General, what exactly is this Timur Mutu’s background?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Timur Mutu’s cultivation is no weaker than mine, but his greatest strength is in strategy and tactics. I truly fall short. In intrigue, he surpasses me tenfold.”
Ji Ning sighed. “They call me the undefeated general, never lost on the battlefield. True. But once, in a decisive battle between the Black Crow and Shenhuang Empires, I was the grand commander. We nearly reached the Black Crow capital. One more victory, and the Shenhuang Continent would have only the Shenhuang Empire.
Yet I did not lose on the field. Mutu used a estrangement plot, inciting the emperor to replace me mid-battle, stripping my command and sending me to Beimo City. What a pity.
Missing that chance, the Black Crow Empire rose swiftly. Now it stands equal to Shenhuang.”
“I see. Mutu is so capable. The little prince he supports, Jiumo Zhiyan, should not be too bad, right?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Naturally. To me, Jiumo Zhiyan may be nothing, but to you young ones, he is terrifying. He is only sixteen, same as you, yet his cultivation has reached the early Ten Directions Heaven stage. Among the younger generation, at least on the Shenhuang Continent, perhaps only the two heirs can rival him.”
Ji Ning explained, “Of course, the little prince’s most fearsome aspect is not martial power but wisdom. I even suspect he might be Mutu’s bastard son, cuckolding the Black Crow emperor.
Rumour says at thirteen, he helped the emperor purge a great traitor in court, consolidating imperial power. He is the emperor’s favourite little prince.”
“Impressive. I would like to meet this little prince.”
Ling Xiao grew excited at strong opponents, especially peers.
Jiumo Zhiyan was his age but far higher in cultivation.
Though Ling Xiao did not mind, starting low, competing with such a genius would feel great.
“With these two together, Beimo City may truly be in peril this time.”
Ji Ning smiled bitterly.
Lacking supplies for years, relying on self-sufficiency, Beimo City barely held under him. With Mutu coming, it might not.
“Not necessarily.”
Ling Xiao suddenly smiled. “You said the Black Crow Empire sent Timur Mutu to lead, just to grab merits for little prince Jiumo Zhiyan, making him a great hero and qualified heir.
Those following Mutu must be their most loyal soldiers.
What if we kill Jiumo Zhiyan?”
“Your thinking is truly unique. Yes, Jiumo Zhiyan’s expedition is a double-edged sword. It unites the Black Crow soldiers in fierce battle but could also disintegrate the army!”
Ji Ning looked at Ling Xiao with growing satisfaction, wishing he had a goddaughter to marry him now.
“Ling Xiao, willing to walk the walls with me?”
Ji Ning stood suddenly.
“Of course!”
Ling Xiao came for military merits. He could not let Beimo City fall.
As long as it stood, he had ample chance for great merits.
On the walls, Ling Xiao sensed the city seemed simple but the gates hid profound mechanisms, powerful arrays and formations.
Defending inside, unless supplies ran out, enemies would need at least ten times the numbers to breach.
Most soldiers on the walls were wounded, looking exhausted.
Yet their faces showed no discouragement or fear, only resolve and determination.
However, Ling Xiao noticed, perhaps from constant attacks, the city’s arrays and formations had many flaws.
Though maintained, not perfectly repaired.
Some arrays, in Ling Xiao’s view, could be upgraded.
Clearly, Ji Ning’s array talents were insufficient.
He silently noted this, planning to design new arrays and formations, then discuss upgrades with Ji Ning.
“General, how many military and civilians in Beimo City total?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“About two hundred thousand. Only forty thousand regular troops, the rest civilians.”
Ji Ning wondered why Ling Xiao asked, but after the empty city stratagem, his trust in Ling Xiao had grown.
“Best to mobilise all, or no chance of victory.”
Ling Xiao stated what Ji Ning knew but hated to admit.
Scouts reported the Black Crow army numbered a million, plus two hundred thousand vanguard: over 1.2 million.
Beimo’s total was two hundred thousand, a fraction.
Shenhuang had many troops, but due to the emperor, no reinforcements for Beimo. Hence so few soldiers.
In fact, ten li away, another city had over five hundred thousand garrisoned!
But Ji Ning and Ling Xiao knew those would not aid. This battle relied on them alone.
