Dominating Martial King
Chapter 452 - 452 247 Tie Xiaosheng Request for Subscription_4

452: Chapter 247 Tie Xiaosheng (Request for Subscription)_4 452: Chapter 247 Tie Xiaosheng (Request for Subscription)_4 At this moment, Wen Xiwen, the military strategist from the Seventeenth Linked Wharves, had already frozen in place at the bow of the boat, his hand fan silently slipping from his grip.

His eyes were vacant and lost.

The Deputy Flag Master of the Iron Banner Gang, Tie Xiaosheng, actually possessed such strength?

Though his overall combat ability was not quite as formidable as the Dragon Leader’s, it was only marginally less, putting him on the same level overall.

Since the battle had begun, Tie Xiaosheng had been restraining himself, avoiding conflict, precisely to project weakness to the enemy, luring the Dragon Leader into a premeditated attack, plunging deep into his formation.

—They had been taken in by his ruse!

The Xunyang Hall Master of the Iron Banner Gang, Lu Jiuli, also wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, looking in the direction of Tie Xiaosheng.

His opponent was the Deputy Commander of the Jiangnan County Navy Camp.

Lu Jiuli was just managing to hold on.

Because most of the Gang’s Scorpion Crossbows and Immortal Tribulations had been allocated by Tie Xiaosheng to target Ren Daoheng, Lu Jiuli lacked support and had suffered minor injuries under the ferocious attack of his opponent.

So when that Deputy Commander retreated, Lu Jiuli did not pursue him.

Watching Tie Xiaosheng dive into the water to continue pursuing Ren Daoheng, his eyes shone brightly.

He had originally thought that the Iron Banner Gang had no hope left.

Even if they managed to survive, they would be forced into the mountains to live as bandits, barely clinging to life.

However, Chu Xisheng defeating the Xiushui Alliance Army today had already taken him by surprise; Tie Xiaosheng gravely wounding Ren Daoheng was another pleasant shock.

That fellow’s talent was originally only comparable to Songfeng Sword Lin Shi.

Yet unexpectedly, after the Flag Leader’s death, his talent had suddenly increased dramatically, becoming more prominent.

Was it because the death of the Flag Leader had stimulated him?

Regardless, the Iron Banner Gang’s Qi Fortune was not yet exhausted!

And as long as the Iron Banner Gang remained, he still had the hope of retiring peacefully for the rest of his life—

Meanwhile, two miles away, on the flagship of the Jiangnan County Navy Camp.

General Dong Tianyue wore a solemn expression, heavy as iron.

He gazed into the distance, silently sighing in his heart.

That Tie Xiaosheng had actually inflicted severe damage on Ren Daoheng!

The very thing the Mr.

Governor had been most worried about had still happened.

Though the Iron Madman had perished, the power of the Iron Banner Gang had not waned as a result.

Their internal and external affiliates, over sixty thousand gang members, had not only withstood the suppression by Governor Sikong Chan but had also defeated the Xiushui Alliance Army and had blocked the Seventeenth Linked Wharves upstream.

The situation that followed was already beyond control, and the entire Xiushui County was bound to fall into chaos.

The entire officialdom of the East State would also face tremendous pressure.

In the coming months, not only would the river transport of the Shenxiu River be cut off, but the farming in Xiushui County would also be affected.

Once an imperial censor reported this massive rebellion to the court, it would surely cause a nationwide shock, bringing endless disaster.

Dong Tianyue then picked up a War Halberd from the hands of a trusted aide nearby and flew downriver.

Ren Daoheng had been poisoned and his strength had been reduced to less than thirty percent of his peak.

Under Tie Xiaosheng’s relentless pursuit, Ren Daoheng would lose his life within thirty breaths at most.

He couldn’t watch Ren Daoheng die here, or else the spearhead of the Iron Banner Gang would surely penetrate deep into Xunyang, making the whole situation even more complicated.

※※※※

Also during the deep night, the Guerrilla General of the Tianping Army, Wei Lai, was at the Ancient Market pier, looking across at the East City Pier of Xiushui County.

The river segment near Xiushui County presented a different scene, with dark clouds shrouding the moon above and fog drifting over the river, making everything pitch black as if one could hardly see their own hands in front of them.

Due to this, the Tianping Army had to light hundreds of large bonfires around the Ancient Market, illuminating the surroundings so that every detail was visible for miles around.

Wei Lai, with his extraordinary eyesight, could vaguely see that from the East City Pier of Xiushui County, five swift boats had left the pier and were sailing upstream.

Those were probably the elites from the Iron Banner Gang Headquarters retreating from the Mi Family Mansion, preparing to reinforce the upstream battlefield.

Most of them were on the deck, lying or reclining, seizing the time to rest and recuperate their Primordial Qi.

Not far from there, on the river surface, there were thirty large ships equipped with strong bows and crossbows patrolling back and forth.

The Tianping Army had their several large ships sunk, with countless planks and chunks of wood floating around.

At the pier of the Ancient Market, there were also hundreds of large ships burned down to mere remnants.

The Young Flag Master of the Iron Banner Gang was an extremely decisive and forceful person; he not only dealt harshly with the Xiushui County’s aristocratic families but also did not hesitate to confront the official army.

Long before the Tianping Army arrived, he had forced all the merchant ships to dock at the East City Pier.

If any ship master slightly disobeyed, their ship would be directly bombarded and destroyed.

Now, these thirty large ships were not allowing even a single plank on this stretch of the river.

The Tianping Army had managed to gather a dozen or so fishing boats, all of which had been sunk by the Iron Banner Gang on the spot, leaving the seventeen thousand soldiers of the Tianping Army to stay on the East Bank of the Shenxiu River with nothing to do but sigh.

At this time, standing behind Wei Lai were figures dressed as scholars and wealthy merchants.

Each and every one of them belonged to the aristocratic families of Xiushui County that managed businesses in the Ancient Market.

Anxiety, hope, helplessness, and a trace of bitterness were evident on their faces.

“General Wei, please lead your troops across the river at the earliest opportunity!

Right now, over ten thousand rebel bandits of the Iron Banner Gang are sweeping along the river, wreaking havoc as they please.

Wherever they pass by, nothing remains, leaving behind a scorched earth for miles on end.”

“Yes, General!

Just now, the Shangguan Family’s ‘Shangtian Castle’ has also been breached by them, and that was a fort with a garrison of five hundred.”

“To date, the forts and manors that have been breached have reached thirty-seven.

Within a hundred miles north and south of Xiushui County, smoke signals are everywhere!

We, the Xiushui scholar-families, are looking to the General like drought-stricken lands yearn for rain.”

“General, although the Iron Banner Gang is currently blocking the river, it’s impossible for them to cover everything.

I know of a spot where the water flows gently, and the General could pick some troops to try crossing there.

If only the General could hold back a portion of the Iron Banner Gang’s forces, the situation in Xiushui County would greatly improve.”