Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 416 - 37: Bombing the City, Breaking the Gate! (6K)

Chapter 416: Chapter 37: Bombing the City, Breaking the Gate! (6K)

"General Pang, please rise quickly." Zhao Xing leapt twice and helped Pang Guangyao up, "With the General’s assistance, it is as though I have a million-strong army."

Pang Guangyao felt warmth in his heart at these words.

Indeed, the heir of a great family spoke sweetly.

Unlike the princes of the Royal Court, each one arrogant and looking down on people.

"This guilty general is ashamed to receive such high praise from the Princely Heir." Pang Guangyao cupped his hands, "I am but a Mountain Patrol Envoy, not holding an important position."

"The Princely Heir sent someone to deliver a letter earlier, but I worried I wouldn’t be of help, and might even hinder your grand plans, so I delayed in replying. I hope you understand."

Zhao Xing didn’t know what Xia Jing had said to Pang Guangyao, but he knew how to paint a picture: "The General has been wronged."

"A dignified Sixth-Rank powerhouse, sent to suffer in this place, the Royal Court is truly blind!"

"However, now that General Pang has submitted to Great Zhou, you are now a person of Great Zhou. The previous hardships and grievances will all be in the past!"

"I, Xia Jing, swear by the honor of my family, the promises made will certainly be fulfilled once we conquer the stronghold!"

"The grievances you suffered in the Royal Court will never be repeated in Great Zhou!"

"When we capture the territory of the Fire Demon Clan, we can even arrange for the General to return to your homeland to take office, ensuring you suffer no further grievances!"

"If I break this vow, I, Xia Jing, am unworthy as a son!"

Pang Guangyao, having been oppressed by the Royal Court for a long time, was deeply moved to hear such a pledge from a distinguished Princely Heir after his surrender.

To swear by the family honor, how highly does he regard Pang Guangyao?!

He immediately knelt down again with a thud.

"Pang Guangyao, willing to serve the Princely Heir with utmost loyalty!"

Having made promises, there needed to be some practicalities.

Zhao Xing gave a glance to Long Xiao and Chen Shijie: "General Pang, you shall first serve as a deputy general in this mixed vanguard camp, following the orders of this valiant captain under my command. When we conquer Fire Dragon Pass, I will petition the Military Realm to officially promote you."

"This subordinate obeys." Pang Guangyao immediately cupped his hands to receive the order, knowing well that his surrender was impulsive this time.

’Xia Jing’ certainly could not have prepared any documents or orders in such short notice.

Looking at the entourage beside ’Xia Jing,’ indeed worthy of Great Zhou’s Young Master, with a Seventh-Grade Sword Cultivator, a Sixth-Rank Military Minister of Agriculture Officer, and even a powerful exotic beast as a battle pet.

For someone like him, who surrendered on impulse, being appointed as a deputy general was already a good outcome, and future matters would depend on his merits.

...

In Zhixiu City, at the East Gate Military Camp where the Xuanjia Army was stationed.

"Achoo~"

Xia Jing rubbed his nose, puzzled, putting down the military book in his hand.

"I’ve achieved perfection in Qi practice, why did I suddenly sneeze?"

"Yuan Yang, Yuan Yang!"

Yuan Yang, the military doctor from the Xuanjia Army, was one of the many geniuses from Ten Suns Cave Heavenly. He was also close to Xia Jing.

"General, what is it?" After a short while, Yuan Yang responded from outside the tent. Since Xia Jing had won the loyalty of the various camps of the Xuanjia Army, in formal occasions, Yuan Yang too began to address Xia Jing as General.

"Come in quickly, check if there’s anything wrong with me. With a major battle approaching, there can be no hidden dangers," Xia Jing said.

"Yes." Yuan Yang then pushed open the tent flap and entered inside.

After coming in, he examined Xia Jing thoroughly, having him remove his armor for a meticulous check, Yuan Yang fell into contemplation.

"How is it?"

"No issues, your Five Elements Qi is still balanced, just that your kidney fire is slightly excessive." Yuan Yang shook his head, "Your worry might be a precognition or due to pre-battle tensions."

On hearing this, Xia Jing felt relieved: "That’s good."

Attacking Fire Dragon Pass, to say one wasn’t nervous would be a lie.

Although Zhao Xing had prepared Fire Protection Robes for crossing the mountains, and an informant was inside, Fire Dragon Pass had never been conquered before, its name spoke volumes.

Summoning several camps to the east, leaving the main force of the Xuanjia Army in the north, was also a risky move.

Following the main northern troops, if not smoothly, at least wouldn’t lead to a major defeat.

But here, there was a chance of losing the battle.

Yuan Yang advised Xia Jing to rest more before leaving the tent.

Yet Xia Jing couldn’t sleep no matter how much he tried.

"Tomorrow, we will cross Flame Mountain, the day after we will begin the siege. I wonder how many people Ye Chongxian has persuaded to our side."

...

On the fourteenth of September, the Xuanjia Army, Divine Might Army, and Zhenhai Army gathered at the Marching Hall for a meeting, mainly to distribute combat tasks.

The Fire Dragon Pass stretched for thirty miles, more than enough for the army to spread out.

The Divine Might Army comprised mainly the units of Wen Shaoyang and Liao Rulong, totaling more than seventy thousand men.

The Xuanjia Army had only about fifteen thousand soldiers led by Xia Jing.

The Zhenhai Army, led by Jiang Ming, had over thirty thousand soldiers.

There were also fifteen additional smaller armies, but these had relatively fewer soldiers, the largest being only four to five thousand, and the smallest only two to three thousand. These armies were often led by Seventh-Grade officers who sought opportunities here after failing to secure a prominent battle position in their previous armies.

The Divine Might Army aimed to break through Fire Dragon Pass and rendezvous with the western Divine Thunder Army to jointly attack the Qinggang Mine area, seeking to gain a share of the spoils afterward.

These fifteen smaller armies, totaling around forty to fifty thousand men, had similar aspirations, hoping to attach themselves to the fast-rising Divine Might Army and gain some benefits.

Among the three main armies, Wen Shaoyang’s force had a unique battalion, the ’Great Halberd Soldier Camp.’

Liao Rulong’s unit featured the Five Elements Camp. As for Divine Machine Camp and Nine-Section Camp, these were standard formations everyone had.

However, since Zhao Xing joined them, Chen Shijie’s Nine-Section Camp had also become a feature of Liao Rulong’s unit.

Under Xia Jing’s command was a two-thousand-strong Xuanjia Dragon Rider unit, because the Xuanjia Army had three bases for exotic beast breeding, one of which was on Yalong Island in Pinghai State.