Yang Jiande gathered two hundred and ten thousand troops, determined to decide victory or defeat against Chongxuan Chuliang's one hundred thousand Autumn Slaughter Army.
This military maneuver made no attempt to hide from anyone, nor could it possibly be hidden.
Though anyone with discerning eyes knew that Chongxuan Chuliang had deployed his forces outside the State of Yang precisely to lure Yang Jiande into attacking.
Yet Chongxuan Chuliang, representing the State of Qi, still issued nine consecutive diplomatic letters, proclaiming his innocence, urging Yang Jiande to quell his thunderous rage. He also argued that the two states had been vassal and suzerain for generations, their relationship as close as father and son, and should not go to war and become the laughingstock of the world...
Even if it truly were a misunderstanding, the people of Yang would be furious at the contents of these letters—let alone that both sides knew perfectly well this war was inevitable.
In any case, once the Yang army had assembled, they formed a massive formation and pressed forward without hesitation toward the border between the two states.
The last time, Chongxuan Chuliang simply had someone deliver a broken halberd—the meaning could not have been more obvious.
A national war that would captivate the attention of the entire Eastern Domain was about to fully erupt.
The border between the States of Qi and Yang was divided among four commanderies: Yang's Rizhao and Chiwei, and Qi's Dingyao and Pingxi.
Rizhao Commandery's southeastern direction bordered the northwestern portion of Qi's Dingyao Commandery, while a part of it also adjoined Qi's Pingxi Commandery.
Perhaps because Governor Song Guang of Rizhao Commandery held an ambiguous attitude, Yang Jiande chose not to pass through Rizhao this time, instead intending to march through Chiwei Commandery to reach the front lines.
On a map, the entirety of Chiwei Commandery was wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, resembling the tail of a state.
Its "tail" directly touched the lower portion of Qi's Pingxi Commandery.
In truth, Chongxuan Chuliang's command tent was also stationed outside Pingxi Commandery.
Thus, Chiwei Commandery had become the focal point of the world's attention.
When the plague raged, the Holy Sovereign of the White Bone Dao had been hiding somewhere within Chiwei Commandery.
Yet both Yang and Qi seemed utterly ignorant of this matter—or rather, they had tacitly "ignored" it.
After killing Shi Jing and subduing over four thousand city garrison soldiers, Green Goat Town had become the de facto strongest force in the Jiacheng Prefecture region. Thanks to their proactive resistance against the plague before the mutation, they had largely cleared the epidemic toxins from the town's territory before the plague's transformation.
Though the mutated plague was far more terrifying, Jiang Wang had firmly shut it out with decisive measures—executing anyone who entered Green Goat Town without undergoing inspection.
Furthermore, with ample supplies and regular aid to surrounding towns, Green Goat Town had in some ways replaced the functions of Jiacheng Prefecture, becoming the center of the Jiacheng region.
Perhaps out of wariness toward the Chongxuan family, or perhaps busy with plundering, Governor Song Guang of Rizhao Commandery had shown no reaction after Shi Jing's death.
But on this day, Jiang Wang once again met with Chongxuan Sheng.
The man arrived empty-handed as before, bringing only Fourteen along. The great battle had begun, so entering Yang territory this time no longer violated military orders.
"Why come now?" Inside the room, Jiang Wang asked first.
Fourteen, clad in black helmet and black armor, stood by the door with an aura that repelled all strangers, preventing anyone from prying on their conversation.
The people of Green Goat Town all knew that Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang were friends. They were curious but showed no reaction.
Only Xiaoxiao circled this way many times, seemingly by accident, her dissatisfaction carefully concealed.
She felt that Chongxuan Sheng's subordinate blocking the door was somewhat offensive to Jiang Wang's authority. As for whether Jiang Wang was Chongxuan Sheng's client, or that this Fourteen was no ordinary person—these considerations were beyond her scope.
Of course, limited by her strength, she could only mask her displeasure.
Inside the room, Chongxuan Sheng gulped down two fruits, wiped his mouth, and asked in return: "Why do you think Yang Jiande first gathered troops outside Zhaoheng City, then marched to the front lines?"
Apparently understanding that Jiang Wang wouldn't play along, he answered himself: "The first reason is that his control over Chiwei and Rizhao Commanderies has deteriorated. He cannot control accidents when gathering troops in these two commanderies."
Chongxuan Sheng continued: "But the most important reason is that neither Chiwei nor Rizhao Commandery has any strategic terrain to defend. By gathering troops in Hengyang Commandery, he's actually waiting for our army to advance deep. First, to stretch our supply lines, and second, to force us to split our forces using his territory. But the Grand Marshal has remained motionless all along, causing his plan to 'decide the battle before the royal city' to fall apart."
In the army, he referred to the Grand Marshal, never calling him Uncle.
Hearing this, Jiang Wang also nodded: "Because of the mutated plague, time is on our side."
"If the Grand Marshal doesn't move, then Yang Jiande has to move. Now he has no choice but to deploy from Hengyang Commandery, intending to march through Chiwei to the front lines. But the border isn't a suitable battlefield, and outside Pingxi Commandery there isn't enough strategic space. So the Grand Marshal also intends to advance into Chiwei Commandery—which means Chiwei will be the battlefield!"
Jiang Wang understood clearly but didn't know what Chongxuan Sheng was scheming: "So?"
Chongxuan Sheng grinned mysteriously: "Why do you think Yang Jiande's army doesn't take the Rizhao route?"
Jiang Wang replied irritably: "Because Governor Rizhao's attitude is ambiguous—how could he take the Rizhao route?"
"Exactly. Song Guang commands seventy thousand troops. He neither defects to Qi nor obeys the Yang lord's summons. It seems he wants to sit on the wall in Rizhao, waiting for the highest bidder!"
"What does he want?" Jiang Wang was somewhat curious. "The Chongxuan family shouldn't be short of money, and the State of Qi certainly isn't either."
Chongxuan Sheng said: "The survival of the Yang state hinges on this battle. Yang Jiande isn't short of money either!"
Jiang Wang roughly understood now. The State of Qi was of course wealthier, but facing the prospect of annihilation, Yang Jiande would be far more willing to pay!
This meant it wasn't that Qi couldn't produce an overwhelming price, but that a price inflated to that magnitude would be terrifyingly high—not necessarily worth it!
"Yang Jiande fears Song Guang. How could the Grand Marshal not be wary as well? If both armies battle in Chiwei Commandery, how could they allow Song Guang to watch from the sidelines in Rizhao?"
Jiang Wang frowned: "You mean... Song Guang watching from the sidelines might very well be a trap set by Yang Jiande? He appears to be waiting for the highest bid, wavering back and forth, but in reality might launch a surprise attack when both forces engage at Chiwei?"
"He might, or he might not! But we cannot, and dare not, deny this possibility!"
"Then even if Song Guang surrenders during the battle, we cannot trust him."
"Exactly. If he wants to defect, it must be before the great battle begins. And he must serve as the vanguard, striking Yang Jiande's army first. Only then can the Grand Marshal be truly reassured. But judging from the current situation, he's unlikely to agree."
"So what does the Grand Marshal intend to do?" Jiang Wang asked.
Chongxuan Sheng narrowed his eyes and said: "I have already volunteered—using my identity as the legitimate heir of the Chongxuan family and Vice Commander of the Autumn Slaughter Army—to represent the Chongxuan family and the Qi army, and personally negotiate the terms of his defection!"
Below the commander of the Autumn Slaughter Army were eight Generals. Below the Generals were Lieutenant Generals, then Commanders, and then Vice Commanders.
Chongxuan Sheng's current rank in the army was Vice Commander. Though he had no prior military achievements to speak of, given the Chongxuan family's prestige, starting as a Vice Commander was not considered high—rather quite modest. This was likely to avoid suspicion for Chongxuan Chuliang.
"This is extremely dangerous!" Jiang Wang said.
If Song Guang had been truly loyal to Yang Jiande from start to finish.
He would likely give Chongxuan Sheng no chance to speak, killing him directly.
Or he might use Chongxuan Sheng's identity as the legitimate heir to bargain with Chongxuan Chuliang using his life. If Chongxuan Chuliang refused, Chongxuan Sheng would certainly die. If Chongxuan Chuliang accepted, Chongxuan Sheng's political career would be finished.
So when Jiang Wang said it was dangerous, it truly was dangerous.
But Chongxuan Sheng simply said: "Fortune favors the bold!"