King of Creation
Chapter 469 - 463: Conflict of Military Intelligence

Chapter 469: Chapter 463: Conflict of Military Intelligence

As the eighty-thousand-strong Eastern Expedition Army gathered around Great Wilderness Pass, setting up a sky-full of military tents, the once quiet pass became bustling with life overnight.

However, along with it, the dark clouds of war brought by the massing army also enveloped the entire Great Wilderness Plain, causing tension within the Beichang Military Town of the Sword Origin Empire, a hundred miles away.

The Beichang Military Town on the opposite side was also amassing a large army.

In an era with Talisman Communication, the movements of several hundred thousand troops could not simply be hidden.

Practically as soon as the several hundred thousand strong forces set out for Great Wilderness Pass from various locations, the Sword Origin Empire simultaneously made its own moves; hence Beichang Military Town was also crowded with troops.

At this moment, the Eastern Expedition Army massed at Great Wilderness Pass was undergoing their final integration and training!

The Eastern Expedition Army, pulled together from various locations, was rearranged to meet the needs of the different corps. Both marshal and general had to integrate their forces.

Fortunately, in this world, there was something known as a storage ring. The Military Faction of the Black Water Kingdom had accumulated thousands of them over the centuries, most of which were mid-grade storage rings. This made the logistical transportation of military supplies remarkably easy.

Otherwise, the consumption of eighty thousand troops and their horses would collapse an empire under the burden of long-distance transportation by manpower.

The troops were undergoing their final integration and training, while the staff department of the Eastern Expedition Army gathered the military leaders of all three armies for strategic discussions.

The Eastern Expedition Army would complete its final integration training within ten days. After ten days, the great battle would begin. Therefore, the atmosphere inside the staff department’s military tent was extremely serious!

"Vice Marshal Zhou, the first battle after ten days is of vital importance. It concerns morale, public sentiment, confidence back home, and most importantly, the outcome of the Eastern Expedition.

Ten days from now, Commander Ye must be present within the Eastern Expedition camp. Can you ensure this?" Grand Marshal Gu Zhaoge was dead serious.

"Marshal, I’m sorry, but I can’t guarantee that. I can only promise to do my best to contact Commander Ye and have him return as soon as possible," Vice Marshal Zhou Zhen of the Left Army, also the Duke of Ming, said earnestly.

"Can’t guarantee? Do your best? What does ’do your best’ mean? Military regulations know only yes or no, not ’do your best’. Zhou Zhen, if Ye Zhen affects the outcome of the first battle of the Eastern Expedition, I will have him face martial law..."

Gu Zhaoge’s words angered Duke of Ming Zhou Zhen, who immediately turned grim, "Marshal Gu, let me remind you of something: our Left Army has independent command rights and is on equal footing with the Eastern Expedition Army—neither is subordinate to the other.

I am here today to attend the strategy meeting of the Eastern Expedition Army as allies to see if there is a need for coordinated action, not to be scolded by you.

If you dare to belittle our Commander Ye again, then I will have to take my leave! I would sadly be unable to attend your military discussions in the future!"

"You!"

Duke of Ming Zhou Zhen’s words left Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition Army Gu Zhaoge completely speechless; he hadn’t expected Zhou Zhen to be so unyielding!

Duke of Ming Zhou Zhen, an experienced military figure, knew that if he compromised even once, Commander Ye’s hard-won independence would become an empty promise, once again subject to the control of the Eastern Expedition Army.

"Vice Marshal Zhou, if your Left Army doesn’t cooperate, aren’t you afraid I will report you for hampering military operations?"

"Let the Marshal report as he pleases! The Imperial Decree has already clearly stated our Left Army and the Eastern Expedition Army are not subordinate to each other and have independent combat rights! Even if we delay military operations, it will be up to us to decide. It’s none of Marshal Gu’s concern!"

Bang!

Grand Marshal Gu Zhaoge fiercely smashed his fist onto the table in front of him, causing the table to split apart suddenly, his anger evident!

This was the exact reason why he had determined to wrest the War Soul Blood Flag from Ye Zhen’s hands.

The fundamental support for the Eastern Expedition was in fact the War Soul Blood Flag. Without the authority over the Blood Flag, their operations would be severely limited.

And now, the consequences were gradually surfacing.

All of a sudden, Grand Marshal Gu Zhaoge felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness regarding this Eastern Expedition, and in that moment, he had an epiphany.

With someone like Ye Zhen in charge of the War Soul Blood Flag, this campaign might be doomed to fail...

"Report, the Commander of the Left Army, Ye Zhen, requests audience!"

Suddenly, the voice of a messenger at the door rang out.

"Ye Zhen, he’s here?"

After venting his anger, Gu Zhaoge’s expression turned somewhat odd.

Under normal circumstances, the news of Ye Zhen’s return should have filled him with joy, not the strange, bittersweet look he wore now.

"Please..."

A weak invitation slipped from Gu Zhaoge’s lips, causing a hint of surprise in the eyes of his staff. Nobody knew that due to the conflict just before, Gu Zhaoge had become very pessimistic about this Eastern Expedition!

"Marshal Gu, gentlemen generals, may I ask when we will set out?" Ye Zhen, having arrived hurriedly at the military staff tent, inquired.

"In ten days, the assault on the city will begin in ten days, if you, Commander Ye, are present," Gu Zhaoge answered coldly.

"Commander Gu, if the army’s training is almost complete, let’s launch a comprehensive attack tomorrow, tomorrow!" Ye Zhen suddenly bowed and said.

"A comprehensive attack?"

Gu Zhaoge sneered coldly, "Unless you, Commander Ye, possess some sort of avatar technique. Apart from empowering the Left Army with your War Soul Blood Flag, can you also bolster the other armies simultaneously?" His words were thick with mockery.

In the face of Gu Zhaoge’s ridicule, Ye Zhen just frowned slightly and paid no mind.

Compared to the rise and fall of the Empire, such trivial matters did not concern Ye Zhen.

"Commander Gu, there’s crucial intelligence you need to be aware of! Just today, the Sect Elders of the Sword Origin Sect, including Grand Elder Zhii Sheng, have all fallen! Now, only eight Sect Elders in the Soul Sea Realm remain.

The core strength of the sect, the outer elders at the Fifth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, have suffered more than sixty casualties. Those remaining are nearly all wounded, and the injuries are mostly severe."

As Ye Zhen continued to release one piece of intelligence after another, the eyes of the officers in the military counsel tent widened one by one, their pupils gradually filled with shock and excitement.

These high-ranking officers all understood the importance of the information Ye Zhen brought.

In the wars between the two countries, small-scale conflicts would not involve the Martial Arts Sect noble families, but in large-scale wars, both countries’ Martial Arts Sect noble families would send mighty martial artists to participate in the conflict.

Even if they did not send martial artists, the Empire’s side would issue assistance orders, requesting the deployment of martial artists to aid the battle.

Protecting important generals is a secondary concern, the main objective being to execute decapitation strikes in battle, taking out enemy generals, or even leading charges to cause significant enemy casualties.

For this Eastern Expedition, the current Emperor personally wrote to all the major sects and Martial Arts Families, issuing an assistance order, and mobilized fifteen Soul Sea Realm experts, with over a hundred at the Fourth and Fifth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Even the Sect Leaders of the Two Great Sects, Qiyun Sect and Lishui Sect, would be nearby the frontline, ready to take action as the situation demanded!

If two armies of a hundred thousand each were locked in confrontation, and one side had the aid of a Peak Fifth Realm of the Soul Sea martial artist while the other did not, basically, as long as the side with the Soul Sea Realm Martial Artist was not exceedingly poor at training, they were assured victory.

An army without a leader cannot hold.

Now, the news Ye Zhen has brought suggests that the Sword Origin Empire’s army might lack the presence of Martial Arts experts, which, even without the aid of the War Soul Blood Flag, significantly increases the chances of victory for the Black Water Kingdom’s army!

"Is it true?"

Joy emerged once again on the stony face of Grand Marshal Gu Zhaoge of the Eastern Expedition Army.

"Commander Gu, absolutely true! Not only that, even Sect Master Yu Ruhai of the Sword Origin Sect is critically injured on the brink of death, nearly finished! But even if he survives, it will take Yu Ruhai two to three months to recover from his injuries, and in the most ideal situation, it could still take over a month!" Ye Zhen threw out another bombshell!

Unfortunately, the bombshell that Ye Zhen dropped did not achieve the expected effect. As all the officers in the tent were taken aback and perplexed, Gu Zhaoge of the Easter Expedition Army first showed astonishment, followed immediately by a sneer tinged with anger.

"Half or even two-thirds of the Sword Origin Sect’s power wiped out, and the Sect Master, Yu Ruhai, critically injured on the brink of death! Commander Ye, the news you bring is astonishing! May I ask, Commander Ye, who is responsible for this?

You had better not say that it was your Qiyun Sect that did it!

All of Qiyun Sect’s experts are nestled up in the big camp, none having moved a muscle!"

Seeing Gu Zhaoge doubting him, Ye Zhen’s expression suddenly darkened, but the anger that had just risen was suppressed by Ye Zhen once again for the sake of the Empire, as he endures once more!

"Commander Gu, there’s something strange about this matter. It was an eruption at the Spirit Sword Grave Mountain within the Sword Origin Empire that triggered a Sword Light explosion, and the Sword Origin Sect’s martial artists happened to be nearby, thus suffering heavy losses..."

"Hahaha, Commander Ye, you’re not going to tell me that the over a hundred experts from Sword Origin Sect had gathered at Spirit Sword Grave Mountain to pursue you, and they happened to be there when the eruption occurred? And that’s how Sect Master Yu Ruhai ended up critically injured and on the brink of death, while you, Commander Ye, managed to return unharmed?"

With these words, Gu Zhaoge made Ye Zhen thoroughly furious.

"Gu Zhaoge, I’m not joking with you. I am reporting military intelligence in my capacity as Commander of the Left Wing of the Eastern Expedition Army!"

"Hmph, Ye Zhen, let me tell you, if it weren’t for your position as the Commander of the Great Eastern Expedition Army, I would have beheaded you for spreading false military intelligence!"

"You!"

This time, Ye Zhen was completely infuriated by the stubbornness of the Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition Army, Gu Zhaoge.

Of course, it’s not that the Grand Marshal Gu Zhaoge of the Eastern Expedition Army was too foolish; it’s mainly that he had previously been feeling down, had preconceived prejudices against Ye Zhen, and because the information Ye Zhen reported was simply too incredible. The prior frustration fuelled such a reaction.

But frankly, such qualities do not befit a qualified commander!

"Gu Zhaoge, in a few days, you will regret today’s decision! I hope by then, you can still stand as tall as you do now!

Additionally, when I return, I will immediately submit a report against you. You should start preparing yourself!"

With a harsh shout, Ye Zhen turned and strode outside the military tent, and his voice rang out simultaneously, "Left Army officers, return to camp immediately, prepare to march!"

Seeing the Left Army officers hurriedly leaving, Gu Zhaoge of the Easter Expedition Army sneered once more, "Bluster, hmph!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)