الشطرنج الخالد - Book 04 Chapter 003

Book 04 Chapter 003: We Did Not Seem to Say That We Were Going Over
Chaoge City:

Gu Hai, dressed in imperial robes, stood upright with his hands behind his back as he looked coldly at the flying ships to the south of the city. When the officials behind Gu Hai saw the fifty flying ships with the fluttering Yuan banners, they felt worried. Then, they turned to look at Gu Hai.

Lu Yang’s army, which they had faced previously, was just the army of a royal dynasty. However, the Yuan Nation was an imperial dynasty. The two were on completely different levels.

Right now, the Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s army had arrived. What were they to do?

Boom!

A group of experts flew out of the flying ship and swung their weapons, immediately slashing five mountains flat and forming five large plazas.

The soldiers on the flying ships then disembarked and landed on the flattened mountains before assembling in five large, orderly military formations of around one hundred thousand soldiers each.

This slightly startled Gu Hai. What are these soldiers doing? Why are they setting up formation from so far away?

Do they intend to face us in battle from there?

Gu Hai looked at the flagship. A pale man on the deck seemed to be holding the railing and looking confidently at Gu Hai.

A soldier assigned to calling out announcements, standing behind the pale man, shouted, “Where is Gu Hai?”

Gu Hai narrowed his eyes slightly, unable to figure out what the people before him wanted.

“We are the Han Nation’s Gu Hai. Who are you?” Gu Hai said indifferently.

There were sound amplification ritual arrays outside Huangfu Palace Hall. These conveyed Gu Hai’s voice across the distance in the blink of an eye.

The pale man in the distance smiled faintly. When he saw Gu Hai, confidence flashed in his eyes.

“My general is the eighth battalion commander of the Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s Northern Expedition Army, Chang Ming—Battalion Commander Chang!” The announcer’s voice rang out again.

Battalion Commander Chang Ming?

Gu Hai frowned slightly. He thought back to all the information he had read recently about the Yuan Imperial Dynasty. However, he could not recall anyone called Chang Ming no matter how he searched his memories.

He could not even find Chang Ming in the information he had read about the Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s army over the past two days.

Eighth battalion commander?

The Yuan Imperial Dynasty? Could he be a fake?

Gu Hai found this strange, but he did not show it.

“Your Majesty, this official knows of this person,” one of the officials suddenly said.

“Oh?” Gu Hai looked over, feeling puzzled.

“This official had once been sent as an envoy to the Yuan Imperial Dynasty. Chang Ming is a descendant of the Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s Chang Clan, a vampire clan,” that official said respectfully.

“A vampire clan?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows.

“Yes. This Chang Ming is pale. That is a characteristic of vampires. They call themselves the blood clan, and Chang Ming is the youngest son of the Chang Clan Head. His cultivation rose rapidly. The last time I was there, I heard that he already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, only one step away from the Heavenly Palace Realm,” that official recalled.

“Oh? What military or civil accomplishments does he have?” Gu Hai inquired.

“This official does not know. He should not be famous. The Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s Northern Expedition Army probably sent him here to claim some military accomplishments, right?” That official shook his head.

“He has never been on the battlefield before? No wonder…” Gu Hai showed a faint smile.

Then, Gu Hai turned his head to look at the distant Chang Ming.

“Battalion Commander Chang? Why are you here in the Han Royal Dynasty today?” Gu Hai asked indifferently.

Far in the distance, Chang Ming looked at Gu Hai cockily and revealed a faint smile. “Gu Hai? Ha! This battalion commander is here today to bring you riches and honor!”

“Oh?”

“On the supreme commander’s order, I am permitted to deal with your twelve cities however I like. This battalion commander does not desire war and is giving you a chance to engage in peace talks,” Chang Ming said with a smile.

“Peace talks?” Gu Hai showed a trace of a cold smile.

The twelve cities are the Han Royal Dynasty’s, not your Northern Expedition Supreme Commander’s.

Letting Chang Ming deal with the twelve cities however he wishes? Does that Northern Expedition Supreme Commander see the twelve cities as his already?

Gu Hai suppressed the anger in his heart as he looked at the other side coldly.

“That’s right. Peace talks. The supreme commander cares for Mister Gu, and this battalion commander does not want you to suffer any loss. Given that, I’ll make this decision. The twelve cities can remain under your control and obey you. What do you think?” Chang Ming said confidently.

“Ha! Hahaha! The twelve cities will obey me?” Gu Hai laughed coldly.

“That’s right. I’ll install you as the Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s Divine Foundation Twelve-City Provincial Governor. These twelve cities will join my Yuan Nation, but you will continue to control them. What do you think?” Chang Ming smiled.

Gu Hai smiled coldly for a while before saying, “Battalion Commander Chang, that means that you are here to recruit? Here to recruit my Han Royal Dynasty?”

“That’s right!” Chang Ming nodded.

After speaking, Chang Ming stared at Gu Hai as though he already had Gu Hai in the bag.

Recruit?

The surrounding officials felt confused. The Chaoge City citizens also frowned as they looked into the distance.

Naturally, the citizens would prefer to avoid a war if they could. However, they were Han Royal Dynasty citizens. How could the Yuan Nation recruit them?

But…

All the citizens looked at Gu Hai. The officials also looked at Gu Hai, wanting to see how Gu Hai would deal with this.

Gu Hai revealed a cold smile. “Heaven cares for every living thing, and Battalion Commander Chang also takes pity on the masses!”

“Hahahahaha! That’s right. Gu Hai, the wise are heroes. I am giving you a chance to prevent harm to your officials and citizens!” Chang Ming guffawed.

Gu Hai found this strange despite showing a faint smile.

Is this Battalion Commander Chang stupid? Why is he so cocky about this?

Do you really think that I will go along with your recruitment? Furthermore, even if you are here to recruit, this is not how to do it! Before you even convinced the other party, you already started recruiting?

This is a major matter for a nation. As the saying goes, every inch of land comes at the cost of blood, fought for and obtained using lives. Yet, you want to capture my twelve cities with just a few words? Do you think that I’m a philanthropist?

“Battalion Commander Chang, I heard that your cultivation recently reached a height that ordinary people cannot reach?” Gu Hai asked probingly.

This question seemed to have tickled Chang Ming, as he burst into laughter. “Hahahaha! That’s right. I reached the Heavenly Palace Realm half a year ago. Unexpectedly, word of this reached your ears!”

Gu Hai: “…”

Gu Hai turned his head and looked at that official. “Are you sure he is a disciple that the Chang Clan is nurturing? Not an idiot?”

The official at the side: “…”

Far in the distance, after feeling cocky for a while, Chang Ming called out, “Alright, Gu Hai. Have you considered it? Hurry up!”

Gu Hai showed a faint smile as he looked at the distant Chang Ming.

“This is a major matter for the nation and cannot be treated carelessly. Battalion Commander Chang, how about having a private chat in the center?” Gu Hai pointed to a spot five kilometers away from the city.

Rumble…!

The dragon vein turned over, and a square-shaped mountain, like a gigantic outdoor stage, slowly rose at that place.

“Oh?” Chang Ming’s eyes lit up.

A private chat? Gu Hai wants a private chat with me?

Anyway, what is Gu Hai’s cultivation? There’s a great difference to mine. Why would I fear meeting him alone?

“Alright!” Chang Ming immediately agreed.

“Wait a moment!” Gu Hai said.

Chang Ming appeared slightly suspicious as he watched Gu Hai give some instructions to his officials.

After the officials acknowledged their instructions, they promptly left to seek out carpenters in the city. Materials were brought over to that large outdoor stage in the center, and a pavilion was constructed.

The officials even had the simple pavilion decorated, making it aesthetically pleasing. Then, they placed a tea set and chairs there, adding a touch of elegance.

Satisfaction flashed in Chang Ming’s eyes. So, he needs a nice environment to have a private chat with me? This Gu Hai is even more tasteful than me.

However, Gu Hai had silently disappeared from sight. He had gone to a large palace hall, taken out countless spirit stones, and placed them there. These spirit stones vanished in the blink of an eye. At the same time, he gave instructions to a group of foundation rock golems and officials.

“Yes!” the officials responded with strange expressions.

After making arrangements for everything, Gu Hai slowly walked back and looked into the distance.

Chang Ming was still patiently watching the renovations and decoration of that outdoor stage. He even sent his subordinates over to place a few wine racks by the tea set.

Gu Hai looked at the distant scene, and his expression darkened. Where did this weirdo Chang Ming come from? To think that he even sent his men to help?

The renovations and decoration were soon finished.

Then, Gu Hai waved.

Rumble…!

The dragon vein turned over again.

Then, the five mountains that the five hundred fifty thousand Yuan Nation soldiers stood on merged slowly, appearing to form a mega plaza.

When the mountains moved underfoot, the soldiers frowned and wanted to leave the mountains.

“Don’t move. This is Gu Hai showing us his goodwill. Let the five mountains merge. Don’t embarrass me!” Chang Ming said coldly.

“Yes!” The five hundred fifty thousand soldiers nodded, feeling restless.

Boom!

Indeed, the five mountains merged, forming a mega plaza with five hundred fifty thousand soldiers on it.

After renovating and decorating the huge outdoor stage in the center, the officials and carpenters that Gu Hai sent out returned to Chaoge City .

Creak! The gates to the city closed.

The outdoor stage looked very beautiful. Satisfaction flashed in Chang Ming’s eyes.

“Battalion Commander Chang, please!” Gu Hai said.

“Hahahahaha! Alright!” Chang Ming took to the air in satisfaction.

Boom!

Chang Ming flew to the pavilion in the blink of an eye. Then, he chose a comfortable chair and took a seat. With a wave of his hand, the wine on the wine rack appeared in his crystal glass.

As he held his crystal class, he looked very contentedly at the distant Gu Hai, indicating for Gu Hai to come quickly.

Gu Hai: “…”

“Is this Chang Ming really not an idiot?” Gu Hai asked that official at the side again.

Cold sweat broke out on that official’s forehead; he did not know how to answer.

“Gu Hai, why are you not coming yet?” Chang Ming asked somewhat impatiently from the pavilion.

Gu Hai: “…”

“So far, only people have waited for me. No one has dared to make me wait for them. Gu Hai, don’t you want to be the provincial governor anymore?” Chang Ming shouted coldly.

Gu Hai remained silent for a while before saying, “We did not seem to say that we were going over!”

“Huh?” Chang Ming’s expression turned stiff; he was somewhat unable to react.

What do you mean? Didn’t you say that you wanted a private chat with me?

Boom!

Suddenly, a thick fog appeared where Chang Ming’s five hundred fifty thousand soldiers were and swallowed them up. The soldiers disappeared in the blink of an eye. Not even their voices could be heard.

The dragon vein had merged the five mountains earlier not to create a plaza for the soldiers but to create places for spirit stones to be buried.

As Chang Ming held his wine glass and sat on that comfortable chair alone, he saw his five hundred fifty thousand subordinates disappear into the fog. He could not figure out what was happening.