Chapter 1025: Chapter 1025: Dragon Soaring Nine Heavens (Part 1)

Ooh~

Accompanied by the deep and vigorous sound of horns, the gates of Hanhai Pass were gradually opened to the left and right under the push of a giant winch.

This fortress, guarding the border between Great Liang and Great Yan, rarely opened its main gates since its establishment, and most of the time only a side gate was opened for merchants and travelers.

But today was clearly a special day.

As the heavy iron gates, weighing tens of thousands of pounds, were fully opened, the fully armed New Hanhai Army marched out, forming a mighty torrent moving westward.

“Cross the border! Cross the border!”

The loud slogan spread in all directions.

Wang Chen stood on the high city walls, alongside Wu Zhao, overlooking this mighty and formidable army crossing the border.

For centuries, regardless of the ups and downs in the relationship between the two nations, Great Liang’s troops had never set foot on Yan State’s territory.

The reasons were complex.

On one hand, successive Emperors Liang had no ambition to expand the territory westward, nor did they intend to expend national strength on it.

Secondly, the strength of Great Yan was comparable to that of Great Liang, and should war break out between them, it would only benefit the powerful northern nation, Great Qi.

Thus, over the years, Great Liang and Great Yan maintained a high level of tacit understanding, never violating each other’s borders, and even formed marriage alliances.

However, due to the death of Emperor Shaowu and the successful usurpation by Emperor Yuanjing, Great Liang fell into civil strife, and Great Yan, seeking to take the initiative, dispatched a large army to attack Hanhai Pass.

The result was a humiliating defeat.

But the greatest loss in this defeat was the death of three tier-six Martial Venerables; the main force of the Yan Army was not weakened at all.

After two years, they returned with renewed force!

But today was different from the past. After receiving intelligence from Yan State, Wang Chen and Wu Zhao conferred and decided to take the initiative to engage the Yan Army in battle and thoroughly resolve the trouble from the west.

A force composed of thirty thousand New Hanhai Army and fifty thousand Firearm Machine Army, along with a large number of auxiliary troops from West Liang, officially took the first step towards dominating the world!

After the entire army had left the city, Wang Chen turned to Wu Zhao and said, “Your Majesty, wait for my victorious return!”

“Uh-huh!”

Wu Zhao nodded forcefully, tears glistening in her phoenix eyes.

She believed that Wang Chen would surely lead the West Liang Army to victory over the Yan Army, but at this moment, she was too overwhelmed with emotion.

An impulse born from deep within made the princess disregard the guards and maids around her, and she suddenly threw herself into Wang Chen’s embrace: “Master!”

Wang Chen’s broad and warm embrace felt like a return to the past.

Wang Chen was momentarily stunned, then gently stroked her silky hair and smiled, “You’ve grown up.”

Wu Zhao sniffled, reluctantly leaving Wang Chen’s embrace.

Wang Chen reached out to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes, then leapt up high, spreading invisible wings and flying forward.

This battle was crucial for the fate of West Liang, so he personally led the troops.

Countless soldiers inside and outside Hanhai Pass witnessed this scene and erupted into earth-shaking cheers!

Over the years, West Liang had grown increasingly powerful, and Wang Chen’s prestige had not only remained intact despite his retreat from the public eye–it had grown even stronger, engraved in the hearts of millions of military and civilians across Hanhai and West Sea.

Everyone believed that under his command, the West Liang Army would be invincible and unstoppable!

“Advance! Advance! Advance!”

“Wan Sheng!”

West Liang’s army morale spiked to its peak, trampling on the foreign land with fierce and high-spirited vigor.

At this moment, Wang Chen, who had reached the central army, called together numerous generals and pointing at the map hanging on the stand, proclaimed, “Within three days, I want to capture Dongwang City!”

Dongwang City was located at the easternmost border of Yan State, merely thirty li away from Hanhai Pass.

The construction of this city was specifically to address the existence of Hanhai Pass, to provide backup and logistical support for the army attacking Liang, and later became a hub for merchants and travelers.

It served as the eastern outpost for Great Yan, not only was the city sturdy but it was also garrisoned with an elite army.

Three years ago, eighty thousand Liang troops would not have been able to capture Dongwang City in three days; even one and a half years would have been insufficient.

Now, the generals of West Liang glanced at each other and uniformly saluted, “Order acknowledged!”

They genuinely had such confidence!

Including auxiliary troops, one hundred thousand West Liang soldiers with great fanfare and imposing momentum unfolded a long marching formation on the plains outside the pass, making no attempt to conceal their movements.

Within the Firearm Machine Army, horses pulled artillery carriages, the mysterious black cannon bodies shimmering with the unique luster of metal.

These field artillery pieces, newly upgraded models, were made from better materials and higher technological craftsmanship, equipped with a variety of ammunition; their prowess had long been unparalleled.

Every soldier in the Firearm Machine Army was equipped with long rifles, hand cannons, and bayonets, fully armed to the teeth!

As for the thirty thousand New Hanhai Army, they were purely cavalry, including a division of five thousand heavy cavalry.

As the forward column deployed, light cavalry scouts broke formation and roamed within dozens of li, searching for the enemy.

Suddenly, a chilling eagle cry reverberated from the sky; a giant eagle circled repeatedly above West Liang’s army, occasionally emitting sharp cries.

Wang Chen, commanding from the center, looked up and with his right index and middle fingers joined together mimicking a sword gesture, directed it towards the eagle in the air.

Pop!

Instantly, the eagle exploded into a cloud of blood mist, countless feather fragments fluttering downward.

Yet, this was just an insignificant episode in West Liang’s march; they reached Yan State’s Dongwang City without encountering any obstacles.

Setting up camp five li away from the city walls, West Liang’s army rested.

At this moment, the city gates of Yan State were firmly shut, prepared for a severe attack, with several cannons set up along the city walls.

These cannons had never appeared in Dongwang City before today; their sudden setup indicated that Yan State had long been plotting, ready to strike at Hanhai Pass again.

But they clearly did not expect that this time, West Liang would take initiative!

This was quite inconceivable, as defending Xiong Pass was undoubtedly much easier than leaving the territory to attack Dongwang City. Dongwang City was caught off-guard, many of its defensive preparations seemed to have been hastily implemented, visibly crude and chaotic.

“National Master!”

A bodyguard approached and reported, “Dongwang City has just sent an envoy wishing to meet with you.”

“Do not see.”

Wang Chen firmly responded, “Tell them they have only three two hours to decide whether to surrender or not!”

At this point, negotiations were pointless.

The opponents only had two choices: either kneel or die!

Three two hours quickly passed, and no flag of surrender was raised above the walls of Dongwang City.

This was entirely within Wang Chen’s expectations. He ordered, “Attack the city!”

——

First update delivered.