429 - Chaotic, dangerous times
The summer on the 110th year of the Empire was a period of time that no one of Heaven Wasteland Domain was willing to reminisce about.
Ever since it was established, the 110th year of the Empire received the most serious of challenges and provocation consecutively. The situation was worsening.
The beginning of summer.
It was firstly on the North Eastern frontlines of the Empire. The [Whip of the Thunder Deity] army that was guarding the North Eastern territories of the Empire, suffered the most grave loss it had ever since the army was founded for unknown reasons in the hands of the Brute Race of the White Mountain Black Water during their spring time offense.
The Vanguard of the [Whip of the Thunder Deity] was nearly annihilated. The commander of the Vanguard, Jia Zhengyang died in battle and the deputy commander Lin Xie disappeared. The Right Camp and the Left Camp also suffered similar heavily losses.
Once news of this was released, all races within Heaven Wasteland Domain was shaken.
This battle was without a doubt the battle with the most serious of losses ever since Snow Empire was founded and in all the battles and wars that the four main armies of the Empire ever had.
For a commander-class person like Jia Zhengyang to die in battle. In these last fifty years, there had never been such a matter happening apart from the incident when Yan Buhui betrayed the Ruman Race in Youyan Pass.
What was even more serious was that the loss of this battle caused the advantage that the [Whip of the Thunder Deity] army towards the Brute Race of the White Mountain Black Water to completely evaporate. Apart from the main power of the army guarding the Mountain Sea Pass, the Stone Door Pass and the Behold Wave Pass that was two of the three passes in the North East was lost entirely. For the barrier in the North East to lose two of the three passes, that represented the [Ancient Berserk Army] of the White Mountain Black Water Brute Race could bypass the Mountain Sea Pass any time they wished and invade directly. They could invade ito the Qingjiang Province, Taiping Province and Baiyin Province and slaughter human civilians as they pleased, and steal the wealth of humankind…
During this period, the people of the three great provinces in the North East was plunged into water and fire.
The [Whip of the Thunder Deity] became an army that could fall at any instant.
If not for the fact that the Mountain Sea Pass was the main pass in the North East, and that the empire had painstakingly laid their foundations there for a hundred years, under such an offence of the Brute Race, it was likely that the entire North Eastern army of the empire would be completely annihilated.
After such a heaven shaking matter happened in the North East, there was also an urgent military report coming from the south.
The Water Demon Army in the South broke the ceasefire agreement that the King of the Hurricane Wave Demon Court had agreed personally with the Right Minister. The [Treading Wave Army] met them in battle. Although they ultimately forced the seventy-two tribes of the Hurricane Wave Demon Court to retreat, but they also suffered heavy losses.
More than a third of the water warships of the [Treading Wave Army] was destroyed, and sixteen of the camps outside the main camp of the [Treading Wave Army] was erased. The defense system that had been painstakingly created over so many years had a hole broken through it that was irreparable in such a short time frame.
Furthermore, the main army of the Water Demon Race of the Hurricane Wave Demon Court was currently reforming, posing a significant threat.
There were numerous bodies of water in the provinces in the South, with rivers interconnecting together. The ice dissolved in the summer, causing the water level to surge. This was namely the season why flooding was the most serious. Once a hole was broken through in the [Treading Wave Army] camps on the water, this represented that the Demon Race in the water could depart from the Mist Sea. going against the current. They could go up the river and cause the great provinces in the South to become the playground of the Demon Race, and a place where human bones were buried.
And in the news in the latest month, such a situation was becoming more and more evident.
In the six main rivers of the South, there were water demons appearing that harmed and ate humans at any instant. They struckships and destroyed harbours and water routes. Even military ships suffered attacks. At this period in time, the people in the South were all trembling with fear...
And the Brute Race of the Great Desert in the West, seemed to have colluded with the Brute Race of White Mountain Black Water as well as the Hurricane Wave Demon Court. They began launching a berserk offense towards the West Boulder Army on the Western borders of the Empire.
Thankfully, the West Boulder Army had made preparations beforehand. They did not lose any territory or barracks, but they were forced to stay near the mountain ranges, with no room to divert their attention.
Of the four main armies, only the Youyan army of Youyan Pass was fine. Because they had heavily injured the Snow Ground Demon Court during the Spring time offense, it made the Snow Ground Demon Race struggle to retaliate during the summer. Comparatively, Youyan Pass was much more peaceful.
In just this one month, the main alien races near the borders of the empire attacked at the same time. This sudden offensive heavily injured the main armies of the Empire. This was absolutely not coincidental. Evidently, there were signs that these races were colluding and working together .For the humans of Heaven Wasteland Domain and for Snow Empire, this was absolutely not positive news...
……
After finishing reciting this, Bao Shinu's face was still deadly serious.
Evidently, the situation of the Empire had taken a nosedive. This was especially so for the [Whip of the Thunder Deity] army in the North East. It had suffered heavy losses, and the three great provinces in the North East was in a state of near total capitulation. Once the White Mountain Black Water Brute Race had gathered their forces and reformed, and they invaded, it was likely that in less than a month of time before they could directly strike at Snow Capital. The Mountain Sea Pass had became a city all alone, it would fall sooner or later...
"The [Whip of the Thunder Deity] army is the head of the four main armies of the Empire. It was created and supported by the only old commander Lord Li Guangbi. It has experienced thousands of battles, and it has always won more than it lost. It also has the advantage of the three main passes to defend against, and the mountain range of the Yan Mountain is an incomparably dangerous place. How could it have such a grievous loss?"
Ye Qingyu asked in confusion.
"This is also a point that many people cannot understand. But that is the truth." Bao Shinu shook his head with a bitter smile. "Because of the loss of the [Whip of the Thunder Deity] army, the internal conflicts and struggles of the Empire worsened rapidly. Old commander Li took responsibility and delegated power away, leaving the army. All sorts of factions are fighting in the open and behind the background, the situation of the Crown Prince... is becoming more and more difficult."
Ye Qingyu frowned, his eyebrows locking together.
He had heard people say before that the old commander Li Guangbi, having had the highest prestige amongst the army, had once supported the Crown Prince and gone against the Right Minister. As the teacher of the War God of Youyan Pass, Lu Zhaoge, as one of the venerable elders of the military, him leaving his post meant that the Crown Prince had lost a great pillar of support. For his situation to deteriorate rapidly as a result of this was something expected.
No wonder the Crown Prince had sent Bao Shinu to him to enquire when he would come out from his isolation training.
This seemed like the situation where a haphazard treatment was given in an urgent situation.
He was the Lord of the Light Palace in name. Although he was in a special power position, but he could ultimately not truly be able to influence the situation of the Empire. Even if he could leave as he wished, he would not be able to give too much aid to the Crown Prince.
Ye Qingyu tried to order his thoughts regarding the current situation of the Empire, but he still had no clues whatsoever.
For such great matters involving the military and the empire, as a young master that originated from a commoner family in a small city, this was far too complicated. Ye Qingyu was clear in his heart that his personal martial power could handle battle. But in terms of strategy and planning, this was not his speciality.
For someone's personal power alone to affect the situation of the entire Heaven Wasteland Domain, this was something only the unparalleled War God in the legends had been able to do after the Snow Empire was founded.
With Ye Qingyu's current martial strength, there was still far, far too great a distance between him and that invisible War God.
But more importantly, Ye Qingyu sensed that this was not the time for the internal factions to fight and struggle over power. If all the major factions did not stand united, the situation would most likely continue to worsen. The empire had the possibility of falling at any moment.
"Has the Snow Emperor not shown himself?" Ye Qingyu asked.
Bao Shinu shook his head.
There was another matter that appeared in Ye Qingyu's mind. "What about the sects? Are they doing anything?"
There was hint of pride that appeared slightly on Bao Shinu's face at this time. "The sects are much more stable comparatively. There is the Martial Madman, Hu Yu from the Imperial Gongfeng looking after things as well as the Thunder Army that is specially held within the city to suppress the power of the sects. The people of the Jianghu do not dare to act recklessly in this period of time, but if the situation continues on in the borders of the empire, then it is hard to say."
Ye Qingyu understood what he meant.
As the saying goes, foreign aggression, internal disorder. If foreign disorder persisted for a long period of time, internal disorder would naturally be born.
Furthermore, the internal disorder of the Snow Empire had long existed before this.
After conversing for a while, Bao Shinu left with a disappointed face and bade his farewell.
"A chaotic time is about to arrive, and the situation is rapidly deteriorating. You are a peerless genius, I hope that you can come out as soon as you can from the [Light Palace], and do your part for the empire." He cupped his hands, then turned and left.
Ye Qingyu did not know what to say right now in response to this.
As someone from the military, Ye Qingyu did not lack for the courage and passion to charge into the battlefield to protect his county. But this damned [Light Palace] had trapped him completely here, there was no way of departing.
Bao Shinu walked forward for a few steps, then suddenly thought of something. He turned to look at Ye Qingyu, somewhat hesitant but ultimately stating: "[Flowing Light] has perished."
Ye Qingyu was taken aback slightly, then utterly shocked. Losing his composure: "What? You said..."
"In the battle of the Mountain Sea Pass, [Flowing Light] and [Avalanche] as well as twenty carefully selected scouts were carrying out a special mission in the North East. They just happened to coincide. They killed ten might warriors of the Brute Race, and delayed the [White Mountain Camp], which is a thousand person tribe, for a day. Because of this, the Mountain Sea Pass gained enough time to prepare their defenses. The twenty heroic scouts under [Flowing Light's] command died in battle. After [Flowing Light] returned to the Mountain Sea Pass, he died from heavy injuries sustained in such a battle.”
There was regret in Bao Shinu's voice.
As he finished, he turned to leave.
Ye Qingyu's body quivered, as he lost his focus.
[Flowing Light] was one of the movers and shakers of the eighteen young experts within the army. He had long pale yellow hair, and specialized in speed. He was one of the most lively people within the young experts, and had a bright personality, causing Ye Qingyu to have an exceedingly good relationship with him.
These eighteen young experts were all looked favourably upon, and were treated as the future martial stars of the empire.
Who would have thought...
… that war would be as cruel as this.
In but a half a year of time, it was farewell for eternity.
Ye Qingyu was both shocked and sorrowful.
He did not have many friends, but [Flowing Light] was definitely one of them.
At that time, Ye Qingyu had looked very favourably upon the martial talent of [Flowing Light]. If he could completely grow up to his full potential, this long pale yellow-haired youth absolutely had the talent to become one of the huge figures of the military in the future. But right now...
Bleeding had already begun.
Ye Qingyu stood there dumbly for an unknown period of time. When he recovered his focus, Bao Shinu had already left a very long time ago.
"Instructor Bao Shinu is right. I cannot always remain here, I must think of a way to depart."
Such a mad thought began growing and taking root within Ye Qingyu's heart.
That night, he did not cultivate.
He order people to bring incense and paper money and create an altar near the edge of the Fire Tree forest, burning incense for [Flowing Light].
Under the moonlight, Ye Qingyu returned to the stone palace. He did not begin to cultivate for a long time, but sat there silently on the stone chair. After thinking for a long time, he said in an enquiring tone, "I really want to leave. What methods do you have?"
A short period of silence.
Then the voice of the Spirit monkey that had disappeared, sounded once again---
"Unless you can control the [Divine Sword of Light]."