Xianglan Pass.
Several hours after the esoteric ritual team arrived, another official airship touched down.
This one had come to deliver combat-related supplies and several important documents.
After disembarking, the accompanying military officer personally delivered them into Chen Chuan's hands.
Chen Chuan accepted and examined them. The document was an official declaration of war against the former imperial household.
With this document, all military operations against the former imperial household were legitimate and lawful, and he had been granted the title of Supreme Military Commander of the Front Line.
With this title, he possessed the authority to mobilize all frontline troops and all combat materiel. Any martial artists arriving hereafter would likewise have to obey his deployment and command.
Naturally, he also had to bear full responsibility for this battle.
As for the items, they were three Grade 1 relics sent by the state and the Purist Faction—two delivered from the government's side and one from the Purist Faction.
He examined them and found that all three relics possessed significant practical value. The two provided by the state were combat support items, one of which happened to coordinate perfectly with a certain relic already in his possession.
The one given by the Purist Faction was purely intended for direct combat, its effect exceedingly straightforward.
He had initially considered that if the former imperial household were evaluated on the world stage, it could easily be counted among the first-rate powers.
A systematic combat unit organized by such a nation would never be easy to deal with.
When the time came, he would face multiple martial artists of the Visage of the Aberrant and Visage of the Divine capable of coordinating with one another, and the enemy was certain to wield relics as well. One could not simply measure them by the combat prowess of an individual martial artist; the battle would unfold across multiple layers and dimensions.
Fighting them would not be simple.
Yet with these items to aid him, a great deal of trouble could be avoided. Such was the advantage of having the power of the state behind him.
It was only due to limited time that more forces could not yet be marshaled; otherwise, he was confident he could have fought with overwhelming abundance. Fortunately, the former imperial household was likely meeting the clash in equal haste, without sufficient time to prepare.
After inspecting everything, he produced a pen, signed his name on the receipt document, and handed it back to the military officer, who saluted and swiftly departed.
Looking at the three Grade 1 relics beside him, Chen Chuan suddenly wondered: if he refined and assimilated all three of these items, could they serve as fuel for his own advancement?
As this thought crossed his mind, spurred by his spirit and vital essence, his body naturally provided an answer.
The three relics suddenly flickered, as though sensing something.
All three relics were insufficient.
It might simply be that their quantity was inadequate, or perhaps their grade was not high enough, or more likely still, they were incompatible with him—there were numerous possible reasons.
Yet he was in no hurry. Launching this attack on the former imperial household was partly to resolve this very matter; he believed that once Youdu was taken, he could take his time searching and surely find suitable relics.
Just as this thought arose, he sensed that the three relics in his grasp suddenly became noticeably more docile.
He found it rather amusing. It seemed these relics possessed a will of their own—usable, though rigid. Yet after being intimidated by him just now, they seemed willing to cooperate obediently.
Putting the items away, he poured a cup of dew drink and sipped it slowly.
After that airship departed, messages and telegrams continued to stream in, primarily relaying troop deployment movements and the current locations of reinforcing forces hurrying toward the pass.
Several hours slipped by. Around four o'clock, two beams of light suddenly streaked toward the area. The first wave of combat reinforcements dispatched by the state had finally arrived.
He looked toward the sky. He had already read their dossiers: one was Jiang Linghuai, an upper-echelon military figure holding the rank of senior general and a martial artist of the Visage of the Human.
The other was Mu Xiaoren from the Implant Faction, a martial artist of the Visage of the Divine.
Great Shun's national strength and military might far exceeded that of the former imperial household, but too much of its garrison was tied down at the Ring of the World and could not easily be pulled away all at once. For two Cave Mystery View martial artists to rush here in less than half a day was already exceptionally fast; further reinforcements would arrive tomorrow at the earliest.
In the span of a thought, the two streaks of light descended. As the light subsided, two figures revealed themselves. Jiang Linghuai wore civilian clothes rather than a military uniform; his jaw bore a light stubble, and his demeanor was gentle and reserved.
Mu Xiaoren possessed a scholarly air, with long hair tied back behind his head and functional spectacles perched on his nose, though his indifferent gaze made it clear that he was a person of sparse emotion.
The two walked over and introduced themselves briefly. Once acquainted with Chen Chuan, Mu Xiaoren said:
"On our way here, we received word that movement has been detected in Anye Palace. They are organizing personnel to recapture the pass, though the specific combatants are not yet known.
"However, it is foreseeable that this will be a team battle.
"Officer Chen, I reviewed the report on your battle at Tianji Peak. Although it was not detailed, it was apparent that the members of the Federation team lacked tacit coordination.
"Whereas in the Ring of the World, we typically rely on squad coordination to slay beings far more powerful than ourselves.
"While the former imperial household lacks the extreme hazards of the Ring of the World, there are numerous ancient deities and formidable aberrant creatures within the Melded Lands, and they still preserve their tactics for combating external entities.
"No matter how powerful an individual is, it is difficult to contend with multifaceted tactical countermeasures. Furthermore, this battle concerns a strategic strongpoint of the state, so I propose that we discuss and lay out our tactics in advance."
Chen Chuan agreed with this. When various methods were combined in coordination, they were indeed nearly impossible to guard against. If there was a superior plan to deal with the enemy, there was no need to make things unnecessarily complicated.
According to his dossier, Mu Xiaoren was the planner when stationing the Ring of the World. He was seasoned and experienced; letting him propose a combat plan was ideal.
"Staff Officer Mu, I agree with your view," Chen Chuan said.
Seeing his agreement, Mu Xiaoren continued, "My first proposal is to find a way to delay the enemy's arrival.
"We need time to marshal more hands. If we can buy even one more day, our chances of victory will increase significantly.
"Some time ago, Officer Chen, you provided a secret route leading to Youdu. I have already received confirmation that this path exists and contains no ambushes.
"Therefore, I can infiltrate through that path to the rear of Youdu. So long as I appear in the vicinity of Youdu, it will inevitably induce panic in the imperial court.
"The old court remains a strictly hierarchical old dynastic system where the safety of the imperial family surpasses all else. The moment they perceive a threat to their personal safety, they will do everything in their power to muster all forces to protect themselves.
"Consequently, there is a very high probability that the strike force sent out to attack the pass will be recalled under imperial orders. Even if the commanders in the field refuse the order, it will almost certainly cause internal fracture within their team, thereby dispersing their strength."
Chen Chuan pondered this. Tactically speaking, the method was indeed sound; it would avoid a direct confrontation with the former imperial household, but it ran contrary to the objective he wished to achieve.
He said, "Staff Officer Mu, you must know that Youdu is heavily fortified, blanketed with esoteric rituals of extreme intensity and density. If these individuals fall back to take part in its defense, dealing with them later will be exceedingly troublesome.
"In my view, we should aim to annihilate them completely in this battle to make the subsequent fighting easier. Moreover, that route ought to serve a far greater purpose in the operations to come. Revealing it now is not worth the cost."
Mu Xiaoren nodded. "Then I have a second proposal: I will advance alone to harass the enemy's tactical team.
"Because the former imperial household must guard against our garrisons at various Center Cities, certain forces cannot be moved at all. Furthermore, even if the various feudatories receive imperial orders, they will not mobilize lightly. What can be urgently deployed right now is likely only the defensive forces of Youdu.
"Unsurprisingly, their tactics will be tailored around each individual's capabilities; every person has their role, and losing even one will disrupt their original plan.
"When I move forward to harass them, they are unlikely to divide their forces, but will instead surround me until they manage to kill me.
"Yet as a martial artist of the Visage of the Divine, I flatter myself that I possess sufficient means to prevent them from succeeding easily. In this way, I can delay their march—and if all goes well, even buy enough time for more reinforcements to arrive.
"Throughout the fighting, I can probe the combat characteristics and techniques of every member and find a way to transmit this intelligence back to you, Officer Chen.
"With your combat prowess, Officer Chen, having such intelligence will substantially increase your chances of victory."
Chen Chuan said, "Staff Officer Mu, you should understand that when it comes to national warfare on this scale, they are very likely to possess the means to kill you permanently."
"Indeed."
Mu Xiaoren's tone was completely flat. "Yet I know that whether I am here or not makes little difference to you, Officer Chen.
"However, if you can thereby obtain intelligence on the enemy, that will far exceed my personal worth.
"In my view, this is akin to trading pieces on a chessboard. If the sacrifice of one person can secure an overarching advantage, I consider it worthwhile."
Chen Chuan considered for a moment and asked, "Staff Officer Mu, how long do you believe you can stall them?"
Mu Xiaoren answered, "Under ideal conditions, one to two hours. But even half an hour would be beneficial."
Standing beside them, Jiang Linghuai spoke up, "For the former imperial household's forces to reach this place, it will take half a day at the earliest. Based on the intelligence we received, they might arrive before tomorrow morning.
"This roughly aligns with the arrival time of our second wave of reinforcements, so Staff Officer Mu's plan is not necessarily unfeasible."
After a brief thought, Chen Chuan rejected the proposal. "There is no need," he said.
He looked toward Mu Xiaoren. "Staff Officer Mu, since you acknowledge my combat prowess, there is no need to resort to unconventional gambits.
"What I need from you is to formulate a frontal battle plan based on the combat abilities and characteristics of the three of us."
Mu Xiaoren looked at Chen Chuan, pushed up his spectacles, and nodded. "Very well. But first, I need you to demonstrate your general combat capabilities and fighting style, Officer Chen, as well as the functions of the relics sent by the state, so that I can draft an appropriate plan.
"If necessary, the two of us can spar with you."
Chen Chuan looked at them both and nodded. "No problem."
Chapter 1398