Chapter 456: Restart

“Head of the family!”

The door was gently pushed open, and Xie Yi, dressed in a loose robe, his hair tied in a topknot and holding a folding fan, strode in.

“You’ve arrived just in time…”

Xie Xingshan turned around. “Yi-brother, you’ve just come from Wuzhen. Do you know the situation there? Is Wuzhen indeed pregnant?”

This concerned the family’s lineage and descendants, a matter of life and death, so naturally, there was nothing that couldn’t be discussed.

“Cough… This is absolutely true. I’ve already represented our clan and sent congratulatory gifts!”

Xie Yi’s expression was also strange. “However, after receiving the congratulations, Wuzhen immediately began secret preparations. Recently, she launched a military campaign towards Rinan, advancing rapidly. Now, only one isolated city remains in Rinan Commandery. Her methods are fierce, and her speed is astonishing, like a sudden thunderclap!”

“It seems Wuzhen intends to seize Dingzhou before giving birth…”

Xie Xingshan murmured, “How our family should decide its course is truly perplexing…”

“Head of the family, I have another matter to report!”

Xie Yi said, “The Lin family not only dispatched their legitimate son, Lin Xi, to assist, but this time they’ve placed a heavy bet. Before I left, Lin Xi had already entered the city to persuade the governor to surrender. I believe we will soon hear the results…”

“This is truly… unpredictable…”

Xie Xingshan gave a bitter smile and sighed, “Although the Lin family may not be the top-tier clan in the realm, in Dingzhou, they are known to all, renowned for their literary tradition. For them to commit so decisively, it seems they are placing great confidence in Wuzhen!”

“So, elder brother, how do you plan to decide?”

Xie Yi asked.

“Did you, this time, bring an offering and observe Wuzhen’s aura?”

Xie Xingshan did not answer but quietly asked. Their Xie family was not only known for scholarship but also for the inheritance of Daoist arts.

“The aura has transformed into a red chi, shining with extraordinary brilliance!”

Xie Yi was silent for a moment before softly replying.

“So it’s definitely not the Feng Ge anymore?”

“Absolutely not!”

Xie Xingshan sighed deeply. “Our ancestors left us a teaching: our Xie family owes the Shuangfeng lineage, and thus must reside permanently in Dingzhou, protected by the land’s qi.”

“Ever since the fall of the Shuangzhu, I’ve felt something stirring in my heart, as if retribution has arrived…”

Xie Yi pressed his lips tightly.

These were matters concerning the very foundation of their family, secrets so profound that even with his former status, he could barely have heard them.

“I’ve already secretly ordered someone to check the auras of the provincial governor and the inspector. The inspector doesn’t need to be mentioned—the majority of his power has already been taken over by Zhang Wenzhen. Even the governor, Xu Chun, is weak in vitality, nearing death, with his time likely short!”

Xie Xingshan revealed another major secret.

As for the Sima Commandant? His authority was even higher than the court’s, but now that court order had collapsed, further discussion was pointless.

“Unexpected… are you considering pledging allegiance?”

Xie Yi’s eyes flickered with light.

It was undeniable that this was truly surprising.

“Now that the realm is in chaos, the secondary capital is embroiled in power struggles, and rebellions are breaking out across the land, with warlords rising everywhere… looking across the realm, there is no force capable of intervening in Dingzhou’s situation!”

Xie Xingshan said softly, “Our Xie family’s roots are here, after all!”

“This…”

Xie Yi was momentarily speechless, beads of cold sweat sliding down his forehead as he recalled his earlier ambiguous response to Wuzhen.

If she unifies Dingzhou in the future, the moment of reckoning would bring immediate disaster!

“So what should we do now?”

“The Xie family is large and prosperous. To sacrifice everything at once is impossible… Let’s wait!”

Xie Xingshan’s eyes gleamed with sharpness. “Wait a little longer. Even if Wuzhen unifies Dingzhou, as long as our aristocratic families sincerely submit, what can she possibly do to us?”

The Xie family had been entrenched in Dingzhou for three hundred years, their roots deeply embedded, leading all Dingzhou aristocratic families as their de facto leader—this was the confidence in Xie Xingshan’s voice!

“Report!”

At that moment, another person rushed in, holding a sealed letter. “Urgent news from Rinan Commandery, transmitted through Daoist methods! Lin Xi has convinced the governor to surrender. Rinan Commandery fell within three days!”

“So quickly?”

Even Xie Xingshan couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise…

…

In the sixth year of Peace, on the thirtieth day of the fifth month.

The governor of Rinan Commandery surrendered. Wu Zhi immediately promoted him one rank and placed him under military command. The rest of the officials were retained in their positions, quickly stabilizing the region.

After several days of rest and recuperation, the army, now strong and well-supplied, marched directly toward Dingzhou City.

“Dingzhou City is the largest city in the province. Zhang Wenzhen is a capable general, and the provincial troops are elite. The previous minor defeat did not damage their core strength!”

On the Luo River, a large ship was escorted by other warships, sailing downstream. Wu Zhi and Wu Ming stood side by side at the bow, gazing at the heavily fortified city ahead.

“Therefore… for this campaign against Dingzhou City, I plan to surround it without attacking!”

Wu Zhi’s eyes gleamed with sharpness. “I will command from here, while Generals Qi Lin, Wu Tiehu, and Chen Jingzong strike out in all directions, sweeping the remaining Zhuwu and Jiude commanderies!”

Upon hearing this, Wu Ming smiled slightly.

If those last two commanderies were captured, Dingzhou City would be isolated and inevitably fall. If they chose to fight outside the walls, it would play directly into Wu Zhi’s hands.

The Southern Phoenix Army, tempered through countless battles, was now at its peak, with no possibility of defeat against a defeated force.

This was a straightforward and open strategy. With the province’s weakened strength and lost advantage, they could only passively accept it.

With this order, the various armies and battalions immediately set up camp outside Dingzhou City, building sturdy fortifications, clearly intending to besiege.

Zhang Wenzhen grew anxious and launched several surprise attacks, but each time he was defeated by Qi Lin, Chen Jingzong, and Wu Tiehu leading cavalry charges. Once, the enemy almost broke into the city, finally forcing him to abandon further attempts. Watching the trenches and other defensive structures gradually encircle the city like a hedgehog, sealing all four gates, he could only sigh.

“Report, General! Xie Yi and Xie Xingshan, the head of the Xie family, request an audience, stating that the Xie family wishes to offer supplies to the army!”

Not long after, the pressured Xie family finally made their choice.

“Perfect… I’ve long heard of the Xie family’s exquisite gardens and landscapes. Why not pay them a visit?”

Wu Ming’s eyes lit up. “The Xie family has been noble for generations, their luxuries must be first-rate. E Xu can also go there to rest and recover during her pregnancy!”

As for the original owner’s opinion? Naturally, he didn’t give it a second thought.

It was merely temporary requisition, not outright confiscation. However, the Xie family’s mansion was bound to have many secrets, possibly even hidden passages. Wu Ming had no intention of leaving any hidden dangers. He would have the entire family relocated and send elite soldiers to thoroughly inspect the premises for several days.

Once he was there to oversee everything, there would be no problem.

“…Fine!”

Wu Zhi, though somewhat reluctant, looked down at her abdomen and felt the growing life within, and could not bring herself to say “no.”

After all, she had seen the city’s defenses. Even she had to admit that Zhang Wenzhen was indeed talented, with defenses so tight not a drop of water could pass.

If they wanted to avoid heavy casualties, a prolonged siege was the only option.

If the siege dragged on, she might indeed give birth while still in the army camp.

…

When faced with a request to “requisition” their home from a military governor, even the reluctant Xie Xingshan could only reluctantly lead his entire clan to another residence, vacating the ancestral home.

At night, stars dotted the sky.

Wu Ming stood atop a tall building in the Xie family’s mansion, gazing in both directions. He saw the military aura rising into the sky, protected by various star destinies and other forces, truly extraordinary.

“Dingzhou’s fortune shows signs of decline. If this stalemate continues, we will surely fall behind first!”

Even a land immortal was merely a guide, and in a battle involving tens of thousands of soldiers, their influence was limited, and they risked entanglement in the karma of slaughter.

Of course, Wu Ming was no ordinary land immortal. If he truly wished to intervene, he had methods, but the cost would be great, possibly requiring the use of the Master Temple, which was unnecessary.

In the city, there was also Yu Wen, another reincarnator, working in the Inspector’s mansion. Wu Ming had secretly marked him, and many confidential military intelligence reports were unknowingly transmitted through him.

…

The Dingzhou crisis was about to result in the emergence of a powerful warlord controlling the entire province. Although various factions were currently unable to act, intelligence spread rapidly.

As the news reached the secondary capital, causing chaos in the imperial court, inside the Northern Garrison Prince’s Mansion.

Prince Ji Fu ignored the outside world, his eyes fixed on the handwritten manuscript before him, his expression solemn and focused, not missing a single word.

This was no profound philosophical treatise, nor a secret martial arts manual, but a current serialized novel. On the cover, the five characters “Great Zhou Western Records” were particularly eye-catching.

—Though he didn’t know whether he would reincarnate into the world of “Great Zhou Western Records” again, it was always better to be prepared.

Even if there was only a one-in-a-million chance, out of curiosity, Ji Fu still ordered his men to gather every copy of this book, studying it carefully.

After finishing the first few chapters, his only thought was to give Zhu Si a thorough beating.

This person was merely a beggar, and naturally couldn’t recount the entire story. Previously, he had tried to bluff him, omitting much information, even several key points.

“Sigh…”

After a long time, Ji Fu closed the book with a sigh. “If I had known this earlier, I wouldn’t have made so many mistakes, losing so many opportunities and nearly dying in the mission…”

“Prince!”

At that moment, his guard, Da, entered. “We’ve been watching Zhu Si day and night, and there’s nothing major to report!”

Also… regarding this ‘Great Zhou Western Records,’ our brothers are investigating. However, the realm has been in chaos for a long time, and the mastermind behind it is quite cunning. The source is already untraceable. We can only narrow down the target to several major provinces!

“Continue, at any cost!”

Ji Fu gritted his teeth. “As for Father, I will speak to him myself!”

A single book, transforming into a world—this was clearly no ordinary occurrence.

As the heir to the Northern Garrison Prince, he had read countless documents and knew certain secrets unknown to ordinary people.

“Could it be a blessed land?”

“No! This is even more astonishing than a blessed land… the secret of the Master Temple…”

His eyes burned with excitement. Suddenly, a mechanical and vast voice echoed in his consciousness:

【Reincarnator Code B13! Your mission will begin in one moment. Please prepare as soon as possible!】

“Cursed!”

Ji Fu’s face contorted, quickly standing up. “I must find an excuse… I can’t collapse in public again. Just say I’m entering retreat…”

This reincarnation mission had come so suddenly, giving him not even a moment to prepare!