Chapter 1411: Chapter 1411: 1396: Shameless Deployment of Troops
Chapter 1411: Chapter 1396: Shameless Deployment of Troops
“My Lord, it has been confirmed that the troops belong to the Pingyi Border Defense Camp, personally led by Chen Keping, who twice tore apart the documents where you assisted in the extermination of the Water Demon!”
Liu Feng’s report caused the temperature in the big tent to drop drastically. Particularly, Feng Jiumo, the Heavenly Patrol Divine General who had been disgraced and beaten out with cudgels, was gritting his teeth upon hearing Chen Keping’s name.
“What is this Chen coming for?” Ye Zhen’s expression turned extremely serious as well. It was bad enough that he came, but he brought along a hundred thousand troops.
It’s important to know that the garrison of the border defense camp is not on the same level as the soldiers of North Sea County.
For instance, while the cultivation level of North Sea County soldiers predominantly falls within the Soul Sea Realm, the cultivation level of border defense camp troops is majorly in the Vein Forging Realm. Additionally, the equipment of the border defense camp is entirely standard-issue.
Although items like Flame Spirit Burst Demon Crossbows are few, Wind-Fire Crossbows and Standard Spiritual Artifacts are standard equipment as well.
Basically, the same High Grade Spirit Artifact manifested by a Vein Forging Realm Martial Artist is far stronger, several times over, than that of a Soul Sea Realm Martial Artist.
Furthermore, the degree of training among the border army camp soldiers is significantly better than that of the North Sea County soldiers, with much more proficient tactics of battle formation cooperation.
Undoubtedly, even if it’s fifty thousand, just fifty thousand border army soldiers, as long as the commander isn’t a fool, they can defeat a hundred thousand North Sea County soldiers, even if equipped similarly.
This is unlike the battles with the Water Demons. The Water Demons, though numerous, are simply a motley crowd, poorly commanded, and easily defeated by concentrated force.
However, a well-trained hundred thousand border troops are entirely different, wiping out any advantage of numbers for North Sea County soldiers.
“He didn’t come when he should’ve, but came when he shouldn’t, and brought a hundred thousand troops. My Lord, this Chen, cozying up to the West Patrol, could possibly be here to…” Feng Jiumo made a throat-cutting gesture.
This made everyone in the big tent sober up. Indeed, there’s a strong possibility of that happening.
If fifty thousand Water Demon troops wiped out Ye Zhen’s hundred thousand county soldiers, it would be considered a normal event. Now that the Water Demon troops failed to vanquish Ye Zhen, these border troops coming in for the kill, claiming it was the Water Demons’ doing, is quite plausible.
“Send orders down, command nearby forces to regroup back to camp. Meanwhile, have the camp take a defensive stance and send someone to inquire about their military objectives…”
Ye Zhen issued several commands in rapid succession.
Meanwhile, Ye Zhen also led his troops out to confront them; he was eager to meet this brazen fellow who repeatedly tore up his collaborative combat documents.
Five miles outside the camp, three thousand wolf cavalry were charging fiercely. These mounts were Fire-Eyed Demon Wolves, Spiritual Tier Demon Beasts comparable in cultivation to the Establishment Realm. These demon wolves were thirty meters long and seven meters tall, and although considered petite among Demon Beasts, their sheer numbers compensated for it. Three thousand wolf cavalry charging together, rampaging, created an earth-shattering momentum with eleven soldiers astride each wolf, wielding crossbows and exuding killing Qi.
In other words, a charge by three thousand wolf cavalry equates to thirty-three thousand soldiers charging collectively, and the imposing presence, even when charging directly at you, is suffocating.
Ye Zhen, along with close allies like Feng Jiumo and Gu Tieqi, hovered low in the air awaiting them, but the three thousand wolf cavalry showed no signs of stopping, continuing to charge headlong.
Ye Zhen’s eyes sharpened, as a black and white streak of light shot out from his bosom, and the Cloud Winged Tiger King Kitten’s enormous form, nearly three hundred meters long, unfolded abruptly.
Alongside it, the oppressive aura of the Void-Breaking Black Tiger King also unfurled!
Although the kitten had yet to fully awaken the aura of the Void-Breaking Black Tiger King, the continuous consumption of Spirit Void Fruits had immensely intensified the aura of the Void-Breaking Black Tiger King on its body!
Roar!
The Void-Breaking Black Tiger King’s pressure roared along with its tiger roar, surging towards the three thousand wolf cavalry like waves.
The terrifying tiger might made the three thousand wolf cavalry simultaneously emit a wailing cry, involuntarily slowing down. If not for their rigorous training, the tiger roar might have thrown them into disarray.
The knights on the wolves roared angrily, pulling the wolf cavalry to a halt on the spot.
They had no choice; they had to stop.
The rustling of crossbows being drawn from the arrow box behind Ye Zhen sounded like a lethal demon sound, forcing the commander of this group of wolf cavalry to halt immediately.
In reality, seeing the wolf cavalry, Ye Zhen knew this person surnamed Chen was demonstrating his might, or possibly attempting to intimidate him!
Because a wolf cavalry charge wasn’t applicable under these circumstances; charging now would only make them sitting ducks!
Applause erupted from the middle of the wolf cavalry formation, as the Grand Marshal of Pingyi Border Defense Camp, Chen Keping, dressed in a blood-red cloak, clapped as he walked to the forefront of the wolf cavalry.
“I have long heard Viscount Ye has a mighty and stunning large cat; seeing it today, it is indeed extraordinary!” Chen Keping complimented with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes.
“So it’s Grand Marshal Chen, but next time, it’d be best if Grand Marshal Chen informed me beforehand of his visit. I’m timid, and almost ordered a volley just now!
If these three thousand wolf cavalry were wiped out, it wouldn’t matter, but if Grand Marshal Chen were accidentally killed, that would be troublesome!” Ye Zhen responded with a sinister smile.
Chen Keping’s expression darkened instantly, “Accidentally killed? I’ve traversed the battlefield for over a hundred and thirty years, slain demons, exterminated monsters, and suppressed countless revolts, surviving countless assassination attempts. There’s no one born yet who could accidentally kill me!”
“Indeed, just the other day, the Grand Celestial Official mentioned to me that there’s no one born yet who could disregard the Heavenly Patrol Department!”
With the same sinister smile, Ye Zhen’s words caused Chen Keping’s expression to change, as he realized Ye Zhen was seizing the opportunity to bring up his refusal to dispatch troops.
Truth be told, such a threat from a Wind Patrol Envoy’s mouth could make anyone wary.
However, with backing and assurance from the West Patrol, Chen Keping believed that Ye Zhen, the Second Wind Patrol Envoy, dreaming of sabotaging him, was wishful thinking!
“Whether it exists or not, it will be naturally known in the future. Today I’m here for two matters!” Chen Keping, realizing his wordplay had no advantage, got straight to the point.
“Two matters? Please, go ahead!” Ye Zhen said with an amused smile.
“The first matter is, of course, to congratulate Lord Ye on the great victory over the Demons in the North Sea,” obviously, Chen Keping wasn’t genuinely congratulating Ye Zhen on his victory. He didn’t even pause for breath before jumping to the second matter.
“The second matter is to claim the benefits promised by Lord Ye!”
As soon as he said this, not only Ye Zhen was stunned, but Feng Jiumo, Liuu Feng, and others were also taken aback.
So it turns out that Chen Keping was here for benefits, but he didn’t send troops at that time, so what face does he have to come for benefits now?
“I’m not quite sure what you mean?” Ye Zhen questioned.
Immediately, with a wronged look, Chen Keping said, “Not unless Lord Ye is going back on his word. Didn’t you send a messenger declaring that if I mobilized troops, all military achievements this time would belong to our Pingyi Border Defense Camp? Now that I have dispatched troops, Lord Ye, you can’t go back on the benefits promised!”
As he spoke, Chen Keping took out a document that was obviously pieced together after being torn apart!
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhen’s eyes widened as big as bronze bells.
Damn it, I’ve seen shameless people before, but never someone so utterly shameless.
It made Ye Zhen feel so furious he almost spat blood!
According to Chen Keping, it seemed he had a valid argument.
Did he send troops?
Yes, he did!
The ten thousand army here was indeed his troops!
That was the agreement!
But damn it, he sent the troops more than a day after the battle had ended.
Ye Zhen thought about the risk he took by deploying the Spirit Void Fruit Tree Demon despite the danger of being discovered by the Three-eyed Demon Clan, and his anger surged.
Meanwhile, Chen Keping was gleefully waving the pieced-together document in his hand.
Ye Zhen was obviously not of a good temper, his face darkened, and he shouted, “Grand Marshal Chen, are you taking everyone in the entire North Sea County for fools?
You sent troops after the battle ended. Is that how you deploy troops?”
“Who said I sent troops after the battle ended?” Chen Keping looked innocent. “Lord Ye, this time, over a million Water Demons invaded North Sea. On your side, you only handled less than 500,000 Water Demons.
The remaining million Water Demons were all contained by me. Without my containment, Lord Ye would’ve likely been devoured by the Water Demons without any bones left!
Where would you have the chance for a great victory against the Water Demons?
Lord Ye, this military achievement was the result of our Pingyi Border Defense Camp putting forth a fine effort. You can’t go back on your word!”
At this point, Ye Zhen completely understood what was going on.
It’s the military merits causing the trouble!
Slaying the Water Demons wasn’t the main issue for Chen Keping, but rather, the over 700,000 military merits for rescuing the citizens of the Great Zhou were an irresistible prize.
The news spread, leading to Chen Keping bringing an army to their doorstep.
Simply put, Chen Keping is here to forcibly demand military merits!
Seeing Ye Zhen ponder in silence, Chen Keping immediately roared, “Lord Ye, now that the Water Demons are defeated, you wouldn’t be thinking of denying your debt, would you?”
“Brothers, North Sea County is denying their debts, do you agree?” Suddenly, Chen Keping called out!
Instantly, the ten thousand troops behind Chen Keping roared simultaneously, “No, we don’t agree!”
“What if they deny and don’t repay?” Chen Keping shouted again!
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
Three angry roars, filled with killing intent, caused birds in the dense forest to fall, making Ye Zhen, Feng Jiumo, Gu Tieqi, Liuu Feng, and their army shudder, their faces drastically changing!
Seeing this, Chen Keping sneered triumphantly, “Lord Ye, you can see that our Border Army is not known for its patience!
If you don’t hand over what you promised, don’t blame my subordinates for taking it themselves!”
With that, Chen Keping made a small gesture, and the ten thousand troops behind him simultaneously assumed an attacking posture, a big battle on the brink of outbreak!