Chapter 201: Fire Phoenix

In the beginning, Wu Ming assisted Li Yu mainly to curb the Wang family, and secondly to leave a hidden card for his own family.

After all, the Great Zhou dynasty had lasted nearly three hundred years. Those with insight already knew it was time for renewal. There was naturally only one ancestral dragon, but many aspired to follow it. This transformation of order was also an opportunity for those from humble backgrounds to rise.

Among the three hundred aristocratic families of the Great Zhou, most had established their foundations by following the dynasty’s founder.

If Wu family had suitable talents arise, Wu Ming would not mind letting them use the Chufeng Commandery as a stepping stone.

After all, he would later have the Lord Temple to manage and was unwilling to deal with the affairs of the Great Zhou world. However, since this place was the home of his clan, he couldn’t help but care a little.

“The Wu family’s foundation is shallow. Although now I and Wu Qing are here, our depth is still lacking. Establishing schools and promoting martial arts, we may at best become a local power… Using Li Yu’s dragon aura as a catalyst, seizing Chufeng Commandery, success would mean securing a territory for self-defense, failure would mean offering it to await a wise lord. After all, it’s just a commandery, nothing too sensitive… If future generations can produce a few talents and rise to the status of founding ministers, then achieving centuries of prosperity and becoming a renowned aristocratic family is not out of the question…”

This was Wu Ming’s initial plan. However, after later meeting Wu Zhi and hearing her ambitions, he was moved and decided to awaken the dragon vein to help her rise.

“Since Li Yu is the hidden card you’ve placed, then I, E Xu, can rest assured!”

Wu Zhi smiled radiantly: “This campaign to seize Chufeng Commandery will rely heavily on you, my husband. As for the matter of Duke Ding…”

She had already chopped Shi Yue, Duke Ding’s heir, into pieces and fed them to the dogs. While this was meant to intimidate the masses, it also served as a declaration of her resolve. However, she would now have to face retaliation.

“Duke Ding? Just a petty tyrant. E Xu, haven’t you already made your plans clear?”

Wu Ming smiled slightly.

Wu Zhi’s eyes sparkled: “What plans?”

“Duke Ding governs Dingyuan Commandery. Although he holds the title of marquis bestowed by the court, he is still a source of concern. The province has always secretly restrained him, fearing he might become insatiable after gaining legitimacy… Of course, this time the death of his heir is an excellent pretext for rebellion. However, there is still a commandery between us and Nanning, and those county magistrates and commandery governors will surely not sit idly by while Duke Ding’s army passes through!”

Although the saying “borrowing a path to destroy Guo” doesn’t exist in this world, the meaning is the same, so no one would commit such a foolish act.

“With this buffer, as long as we seize Chufeng Commandery and double our strength, we will have secured a favorable position and need not fear retaliation from the other side…”

Wu Zhi nodded, clearly agreeing with this point.

“Moreover, Duke Ding is not without rivals. Qi Lin, the military governor of Pingshan Commandery, has a strong army and has long had conflicts with Duke Ding. We can send envoys to cultivate closer ties with him!”

Governor Qi Lin of Pingshan Commandery was also an established warlord in Dinzhou, with strength comparable to Duke Ding. For years, they had engaged in mutual schemes and open conflicts, which was also a transparent strategy by the court to have them check each other.

“In that case… the rear is secure?”

Wu Zhi blinked, her face filled with smiles.

“At least for three months, there is nothing to worry about. However, if you still cannot seize Chufeng Commandery within a hundred days, then…”

Wu Ming shook his head.

“In that case… why don’t I stay behind to guard the rear, and you lead the army into battle?” Wu Zhi’s eyes sparkled as she tentatively asked: “My husband, will you help your wife?”

“Haha…”

Wu Ming laughed loudly: “I am not skilled in leading troops into battle, and besides, it’s not good for cultivators to involve themselves too much in slaughter! Since you are determined to pacify the world, this first battle should naturally be led by you personally!”

“Thank you, my husband!”

Wu Zhi’s eyes shone with indescribable brilliance. Suddenly she leaned closer, her breath sweet as orchids: “E Xu finally truly believes that you are the one in this world who understands and supports my ambitions…”

The fragrant breeze lingered as the beauty had already departed.

Wu Ming lowered his eyelids, recalling the previous intimacy, yet silently sighed: “You treat me with sincerity, but unfortunately I can never reciprocate with my heart…”

As a transmigrator and the master of the Main Temple, this was his greatest secret. Alone in his private quarters, even his blood relative Wu Qing and his beloved Wu Zhi could not learn even a fragment of this.

…

In the fifth year of Peace, October, Wu Zhi declared herself the military governor of Nanfeng Army, governing a commandery as a woman, which immediately shocked the entire province.

On the sixteenth, the Nanfeng Army marched with five thousand troops, advancing along the waterway straight toward Chufeng Commandery. They swept through two counties in quick succession and arrived at the city walls of Chufeng Commandery before anyone could react.

In an instant, the entire province was stunned into near silence.

Wu Ming had visited Chufeng Commandery many times before, but now, arriving with the army, looking at the city walls that were two zhang high, about six or seven meters, and the three zhang wide moat, even Chen Jingzong and Chen Shuncheng couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

“The walls of Chufeng Commandery are built with blue stone, mixed with tung oil and glutinous rice in the middle, making them extremely solid, almost impossible to penetrate with needles…”

Chen Jingzong said: “As long as there are three thousand defenders in this city, it would take tens of thousands to capture it, and even then, a prolonged siege would be necessary until they run out of food and surrender… Otherwise, the casualties would be heavy!”

“This loss… we cannot afford it now. Order the troops to set up camp!”

Wu Zhi wore golden armor adorned with phoenixes, a crimson cape fluttering behind her, and the great banner behind her billowed in the wind, fully displaying the majesty of the commander-in-chief.

“Disciplined and obedient, indeed a first-rate army!”

Chufeng Commandery had already imposed a curfew. On the city walls, Li Yu leaned against the parapet, gazing out with a look of astonishment: “I never thought the rumors about the Wu family’s daughter were true. Even seeing it with my own eyes now, I still find it hard to believe…”

“Hmph!”

Beside him, Xing Ju, clad in armor, sneered coldly: “If it weren’t for your choice of two county magistrates who were too incompetent, those two counties could have resisted them for at least ten days. Then we could have mobilized troops at our leisure, and wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament?”

His words were extremely disrespectful.

“My father-in-law’s criticism is justified, but now that we face a great enemy, we must be cautious. The negligence of those two county magistrates can be dealt with after the war…”

Li Yu lowered his head slightly, his expression calm and gentle, though no one noticed the flicker of coldness in his eyes.

Xing Ju had held power for a long time and was no longer satisfied with military authority alone; he sought to interfere in administrative appointments, and now he was attacking Li Yu through his appointments.

“Haha… Just a mere woman, defeating her will be as easy as turning one’s hand. Even with three thousand local soldiers, I can make her bleed and never return!”

Xing Ju laughed loudly, his arrogance causing even several of Li Yu’s attendants to change expressions.

…

Wu Ming traveled with the army but did not hold any official position. However, not a single soldier dared to slight him, a case of borrowing the tiger’s might.

“Prepare my horse, I’m going out!”

“Understood!”

He took five personal guards from the Fire Phoenix Guard and rode out of the camp, heading to Longmen Gorge.

“Master! Here’s water!”

The Fire Phoenix Guard was naturally Wu Zhi’s personal female soldiers, mostly trained servants from before. Judging from Wu Zhi’s intentions, this would become a standard practice, expanding continuously.

Because of their servant backgrounds, their skills in serving others had not diminished. Combined with Wu Ming being their future master, they served him even more diligently.

“Hmm?”

Wu Ming took the waterskin, sipping idly while his gaze trailed down the female guard’s smooth, delicate neck.

It must be said that Wu Zhi’s female attendants, while not necessarily peerless beauties, were certainly charming and refined, trained in martial arts, giving them a more spirited and cheerful demeanor than the maids of noble families.

Meeting Wu Ming’s teasing gaze, the maid did not blush or show anger but instead deliberately puffed out her chest.

“This little girl, I’ll deal with you tonight!”

Wu Ming tossed out the words: “Wait for me here.”

Amid the giggles of the five female soldiers, he strode up to the mouth of the gorge.

“Speaking of which, Wu Zhi said these are all part of her dowry. That’s quite a harem. Could it be she’s afraid I’ll go looking elsewhere after marriage?”

Wu Ming walked slowly, seemingly unhurried, yet his thoughts wandered.

His former self was a spoiled noble, certainly not a virgin, and after transmigration, he was no longer a naive novice. Especially after spending several years in the Fusang world, after achieving the status of a true cultivator, he had no qualms about indulging, having already completed a hundred conquests and steadily advancing toward a thousand.

However, he could still distinguish between serious matters and frivolity. Now was not the time for pleasure.

The river surged, vines and trees green.

The Dragon Gate remained, and the previous arrangements, magical duels, and the dream of the dragon king all seemed vividly present.

Wu Ming arrived at the dam, took out a jade slip, and threw it into the river.

Buzz!

A ripple of magical energy spread out, and soon a large green carp swam over, took the slip in its mouth, and quickly disappeared.

Splash!

Not long after, the river water suddenly turned pitch black, and dark clouds gathered in the sky, bringing a faintly moist breeze.

Ao Nu’s figure emerged from the water, wearing a crown, his face stern, flanked by water soldiers and maidens carrying ceremonial staffs, a rather grand procession.

The true form of a dragon always brought wind and rain!

Unlike previous times when he had only sent out a projection, this time Ao Nu came in person, showing his seriousness.

“Greetings, River Duke!”

In terms of rank, Wu Ming was still a third-level Daoist cultivator, so he naturally bowed first upon meeting a fourth-level divine being.

This was a sign of reverence for power and respect for a senior.

“There’s no need for formalities, Cultivator!”

Ao Nu naturally did not treat Wu Ming merely as an ordinary cultivator.

Not only because of Wu Ming’s own strength, but also because of his previous manipulations of events, which had deeply impressed Ao Nu.

“Still, I must thank the River Duke. Without the waterway assistance before, how could our Nanfeng army march hundreds of miles a day, take them by surprise, and capture two counties so swiftly?”

As Wu Zhi’s fiancé and a true cultivator, Wu Ming could fully represent the Nanfeng army in matters of the underworld. At this moment, he made a guarantee: “…I can promise on Wu Zhi’s behalf that the dragon god will be enshrined as an official deity and temples will be built along the riverbanks! However, as the saying goes, ‘the last ten percent of a journey is the hardest,’ we still need the River Duke’s full support for this final stretch!”

“Agreed!”

Ao Nu immediately accepted. Originally, seeing that the Wu family had incurred the wrath of Duke Ding, he had considered withdrawing his support. However, upon meeting Wu Ming again, he immediately changed his mind.