Chapter 414: Master Plan
Chapter 414: Master Plan
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"What? What's going on?!"
"Yes, even though we have lost the initiative, as long as we stay together, the Demons will never take over the entire Southern Region!"
"Why should we fear 50,000 Demons?"
All of the generals frowned when they heard what Fang Zhengzhi said. Defeat was never in their dictionary.
Fang Zhengzhi was in the zone.
Princess Shan Yu was extremely discontented when she heard this. She had waited so long for a doomsday prophecy?
Just as she was about to scold him, Fang Zhengzhi spoke again.
"You can't go to the Sagely Mountain City. Princess, you must not go there!" Fang Zhengzhi grabbed Princess Shan Yu's arm as he spoke.
"What is he talking about?!"
"We can't go to the Sagely Mountain City? Then what about the King and the Crown Prince?"
"That's right! Your Highness, please do not listen to this rubbish! He must have been scared sh*tless by the Demons!"
All of the generals channeled their rage, fury, and despise towards Fang Zhengzhi. After all, it was their King who was in danger.
Not go to the Sagely Mountain City?!
Then where would they go?
They generals were angry, but Princess Shan Yu swallowed her words. This was partly because she was slightly nauseated by Fang Zhengzhi shaking her.
The other reason was...
Even though she did not understand what Fang Zhengzhi was saying, it was a differing opinion.
She decided to hear him out.
But...
After Fang Zhengzhi shook her arm, he frowned and seemed to re-enter the zone. He murmured to himself constantly.
"No! That's not right... yes, this should be it, no... oh yes, this is definitely correct, hang on, no there's something wrong..."
Fang Zhengzhi continued to analyze the intel he had.
Princess Shan Yu waited anxiously by the side. She did not push Fang Zhengzhi away because she did not want to break his train of thought.
After all, she knew that he would need some time to figure out what the Demons had planned. Even a genius couldn't figure it out instantly.
Furthermore, the person who had come up with this plan was Yun Qingwu.
Someone who had a reputation almost equivalent to that of the Demon Lord himself.
The generals were riled up at first, but seeing as Princess Shan Yu remained silent, they too stopped chiding Fang Zhengzhi.
They were waiting as well.
However, they were not waiting for a plan, they were waiting for an explanation.
Fang Zhengzhi did not realize that he was grabbing onto Princess Shan Yu's arm. He could guess what Yun Qingwu's target was and how she would proceed. However, he still hadn't figured out the exact method and time.
As such...
He needed more time to think.
This depth of thought caused his fingers to make some involuntary movements. Every now and then, he would wipe the sweat and oil off his hands. When he got close, he would also pinch whatever was nearby.
Fang Zhengzhi did not know much about how the war was progressing. If not for the battle at the Icy Monkey Settlement, he would not have known that the Stable Mountain Gate had fallen.
He had limited intel.
This made it all the more difficult for him to guess Yun Qingwu's plan. This was also the reason why he wanted to suggest that they strike the demons at the Sagely Mountain City.
Then...
He thought about the Blood Shadow City.
It was an accidental thought, coming from someone who tried to remove himself from the situation. That being said, he squashed the thought as soon as it rose.
Was it possible?
Would the Southern Region be able to take the Blood Shadow City?
How naive!
Even the Great Xia Empire would not dare to attack the Blood Shadow City. It was not a shell city like the Sagely Mountain City.
The Demon Army of the 10 Demonic Domains was stationed there.
Fang Zhengzhi did not know the exact numbers, but it would be at least 200,000.
This was a very reasonable number.
However, when he thought about this, he broke out in cold sweat.
Since Yun Qingwu wanted to surround the Sagely Mountain City, why did she only use 50,000 soldiers?
If she had used 100,000 soldiers, or even 200,000 soldiers, the Southern Region would have to face two enemies at once. The war would be over.
Facing two enemies at once!
That was it!
The Great Xia Dynasty places the Stable Mountain Gate as a barrier and accepted the Southern Region as a vassal in order to prevent any sneak attacks from the Demons.
The location of the Blood Shadow City was obvious.
The Southern Regions were in between the Demons and the Great Xia Dynasty!
Fang Zhengzhi had been wondering why the Demons would cooperate with the Southern Region.
He surmised that the Southern Region wanted to leverage the Demons in order to gain independence. The Demons wanted to use this opportunity to infiltrate the Southern Region...
Or... control the Southern Region.
It seemed rather obvious, but the implications were terrifying. Were the Demons only after the Southern Region?
Would they put in so much effort...
Just for that?
Was it enough?
No!
There was something wrong. The Southern Region and the Demons have already agreed to work together. The Demons were able to hide 50,000 of their soldiers inside the Sagely Mountain City.
In other words...
It would be extremely easy for the Demons to take over the Southern Region. Why did they have to wait till the Great Xia soldiers entered the Southern Region? Why did they have to wait till the examinations were almost over?
That didn't seem very wise.
This would complicate matters! Furthermore, the hidden blade is always the most dangerous one. Since they can control the Southern Region so easily, why did they have to show their hand?
There was only one possible reason...
Their aim was not to control the Southern Region!
Instead...
They wanted to make the Southern Region their vassal. If possible, they wanted the Southern Region to be their sword!
That must be it!
Fang Zhengzhi's eyes glittered when he figures it out. It was a terrifyingly ingenious plan.
But, he was not surprised that Yun Qingwu would come up with such a masterful plan.
"Your Highness, please give the order for 80,000 soldiers to head for... what's the settlement nearest to the Demons?" Fang Zhengzhi stopped himself. He realized that he had forgotten the name of that faraway settlement.
"Nan Ling. Hang on, what are you saying? U want me to send 80,000 soldiers to Nan Ling?! Are you... out of your mind?" Princess Shan YU never thought that she would hear such a ridiculous idea after putting up with that much nonsense.
She couldn't take it anymore!
Anyone in her position would have felt the same way.
All of the generals were equally infuriated. The Sagely Mountain City was surrounded, why are should we send soldiers to Nan Ling?
What would we do there?!
Nothing!
This is not war, this is causing chaos!
"Why do I feel like he is a spy for the Demons?"
"80,000 soldiers to Nan Ling? Does he want us to attack the Blood Shadow City? Attack their capital to save ours?"
"What a joke! How can 80,000 soldiers conquer the Blood Shadow City?!"
All of the generals mocked as they instinctively kept their distance.
"You're wasting my time, let go of me!" Princess Shan Yu shook him off and prepared to storm off.
"If you don't believe me, the Southern Region will die!" Fang Zhengzhi was calm as he looked at Princess Shan Yu and the generals.
"How dare you! How dare you affect our morale! Even if you're in the Supernatural State, you will not exit this tent!" One of the generals could not hold back any longer.
He drew his blade.
"Die!"
"Whoever dares to affect our morale will die!"
All of the generals bellowed in rage as they unsheathed their swords. A domineering aura loomed over Fang Zhengzhi.
"Stop!" Princess Shan Yu stopped in her tracks and turned back. She glared at Fang Zhengzhi, "Fang Zhengzhi, I think that you are a talent, but I will not allow you to spout nonsense. We are at a crossroads now and urgently need some advice. Yet, you continue to mess up our morale. If you do not give me an explanation for this, I will not let you off!"
Princess Shan Yu's body began to emit rays of red light. The light danced on her body.
"An explanation?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Princess Shan Yu and the surrounding generals. He walked over to Princess Shan Yu's seat and picked up a piece of fruit.
"Why don't you explain how the Demons managed to sneak 50,000 soldiers into your territory without you realizing it?"
Fang Zhengzhi chewed on the fruit.
"That is because we had made an agreement with them! Else, do you think that will be able to come near the Sagely Mountain City?"
"Exactly! Furthermore, if not for the fact that we have to fight off the Great Xia, the Demons would not have this chance either!"
"He is just..."
All of the generals began to answer. However, they stopped themselves before they revealed anything important.
"What's wrong? Why don't you keep talking?" Fang Zhengzhi urged.
"Fang Zhengzhi, these are military secrets. You are a member of the Great Xia, we would never discuss these with you!" One of the generals replied angrily.
"Is that so? My guess is that you have concentrated all your forces in the four major settlements. You have left the rear of the Sagely Mountain City completely undefended, am I right?" Fang Zhengzhi smirked.
"You... how did you know that?" The expressions of all the generals changed instantly. This was their biggest secret.
"Is that very difficult to guess? You do not have the power to battle both the Great Xia and the Demons at the same time. You have limited soldiers. In order to ensure victory with minimal losses, your best bet is to set up ambushes in all the four major settlements. Nan Ling and Iron Hill are completely unguarded!" Fang Zhengzhi added.
"Rubbish, how can they be unguarded? Other than our standing army, all of our citizens are trained warriors! They will defend the territory!" One of the generals retorted.
"You are right. All of the citizens are warriors capable of defending the settlement. But, are you sure that they can hold it. If the main Demon army marches on the settlement from the Blood Shadow City... what do you think will happen?" Fang Zhengzhi squashed the fruit in his hand for dramatic effect.
"About that..."
"How is that possible? Why would the Demons do that?!"
"Your Highness, don't believe him! He is just trying to scare you!"
All of the generals began to lose their cool when they heard this.
"Is that right? The Demons would never do that? Then, did any of you expect the Demons to surround and attack the Sagely Mountain City?" Fang Zhengzhi's crisp voice cut through the air and interrupted all the generals.
All of the generals glared at Fang Zhengzhi.
They wanted to rebut and chide Fang Zhengzhi for being blatantly disrespectful, but they couldn't.
Because...
If the Demons really did that.
The Southern Region would be destroyed.