Another direction.
At the foot of a mountain.
A large number of defeated soldiers gathered here, all covered in blood, moaning in pain, crying for brothers, calling for friends, countless in number.
The original hundreds of thousands of the Red Turban Army were scattered by Yang Hongtian's attack, with only seventy or eighty thousand people making it here.
As for the others, no one knew where they had fled.
Zhao Tianlong's face was ashen, clenching his jaw, he grabbed a wine jar and smashed it fiercely on the ground.
"Yang Hongtian, I will kill you!"
He shouted angrily.
"Leader, now the army has suffered its initial defeat, the troops' morale is loose, it is not suitable to continue fighting. It's better to retreat temporarily and come back again after recuperating and regrouping."
A middle-aged scholar spoke.
"Withdraw temporarily?"
Zhao Tianlong's face was gloomy, "We barely forced Yang Hongtian to the area near Profound Dragon Pass before this. I had hoped to use Yang Lian to hit their morale hard and then seize Profound Dragon Pass once and for all, but I never expected Yang Lian to be so utterly defeated. It's so frustrating!"
His fist instinctively clenched, and suddenly he asked, "How is Yang Lian?"
"General Yang is seriously injured. First, his tiger mouth and arm were damaged, then he was hacked in the chaotic battle. Now it's difficult for him to move."
A general quickly spoke, "Also, that piece of Star Meteorite Iron was lost, likely obtained by Yang Hongtian."
"What?"
Zhao Tianlong's face grew even darker, "Take me to see Yang Lian first."
"Yes, leader."
The general immediately led the way.
Before long.
Zhao Tianlong entered a makeshift tent, seeing the originally mighty giant Yang Lian, who stood two and a half meters tall, now drenched in blood, wrapped in bandages, lying motionless on a bed, with only his chest slightly heaving.
"Lian, how are you?"
Zhao Tianlong asked with concern.
"Foster father, where is my Star Meteorite Iron?"
Yang Lian asked with difficulty.
"The Star Meteorite Iron has been lost, most likely in Yang Hongtian's hands."
Zhao Tianlong replied.
"Yang Hongtian, Jiang Shi, I will kill you!"
Yang Lian spoke with deep hatred, his eyes burning with anger, "Foster father, quickly send someone to Celestial Tiger Mountain to ask my senior brother to come. As long as he acts, he can definitely kill that little monkey."
"Oh? Your senior brother?"
"My senior brother's physical power is even stronger than mine. Only he can retrieve the Star Meteorite Iron!"
Yang Lian gritted his teeth.
"Alright, I will send someone to go to Celestial Tiger Mountain overnight!"
Zhao Tianlong nodded, suddenly turned, and said, "Also, immediately investigate the background of that Jiang Shi, I want him to pay dearly!"
"Yes, leader!"
Those around cupped their fists.
···
On the battlefield.
A large number of Red Flame Army and Jianghu people are clearing the battlefield.
Jiang Shi, led by a general, walked through the crowd, arriving before a high slope.
There was Yang Hongtian in blue robes and armor, covered in blood, exuding extraordinary aura, sitting high in a chair, full of vigor.
"Greetings, General!"
Jiang Shi cupped his hands.
"Jiang Shi, your defeat of Yang Lian has boosted the morale of my Red Flame Army, and you have rendered meritorious service. What reward do you seek?"
Yang Hongtian asked calmly.
"I dare not ask for any reward."
Jiang Shi replied.
"Jiang Shi, hand over that piece of Star Meteorite Iron. According to the rules of our Red Flame Army, any materials seized on the battlefield belong to the Red Flame Army, and the Star Meteorite Iron is no exception. Hand it over!"
Suddenly, Zhang Shan in silver robes and armor said coldly, looking at Jiang Shi.
Jiang Shi immediately frowned.
This Wolf Fang Club was earned with his life, how could he easily hand it over?
The eyes of the other generals around also turned to Jiang Shi, emitting a faint oppressive pressure.
"Jiang Shi, quickly hand it over..."
Xiong Kaishan quickly reminded Jiang Shi in a low voice.
Jiang Shi's heart surged, secretly gritting his teeth.
"Enough, stop forcing him. The bandit army hasn't been completely annihilated yet, so let Jiang Shi temporarily keep hold of this Star Meteorite Iron. Only in his hands can it wield the greatest power. Once we extinguish the bandit army, it's not too late to submit the meteorite."
Yang Hongtian, with his delicate features, spoke calmly.
"Jiang Shi, why don't you immediately thank the General?"
Zhang Shan said harshly.
"Thank you, General."
Jiang Shi's heart grew dark, and he cupped his fists.
Even a clay figure has some fire!
This manner of handing over something he had risked his life to obtain made him extremely displeased.
It also made him even more unwilling to stay in the army.
"Jiang Shi, you've made a great contribution this time. Why not permanently stay in my Red Flame Army? My army still lacks a few Vanguard Captains. If you stay and serve as one of my Vanguard Captains, you can enjoy twenty taels of silver and ten Entering Strength Pills each month; I can even bestow that Star Meteorite Iron upon you. How about it?"
Yang Hongtian said in a flat tone, continuing.
"Reporting to the General, I am a disciple of Zhenwu Temple. All major decisions are made by the Sect Leader and the Elders. I don't dare to make decisions on my own."
Jiang Shi cupped his fists.
"Excuse!"
Zhang Shan, clad in silver robe and armor, scolded coldly, "I've never heard of such requirements from Zhenwu Temple."
"What I said is entirely true."
Jiang Shi spoke.
"Oh? It doesn't matter. I'll make the decision for your Sect Leader and Elders; from today on, you'll stay by my side and not return to Zhenwu Temple."
Yang Hongtian said.
"Forgive me, General, I..."
Jiang Shi quickly spoke.
"Enough."
Yang Hongtian's voice was indifferent, his eyes suddenly falling on Jiang Shi, deep and sharp like blades, forcing people, "Jiang Shi, I see you as a talent, which is why I'm breaking the rule to keep you by my side. Your repeated refusals show you're somewhat unappreciative. Could it be... you think I dare not do anything to you?"
"I wouldn't dare."
Jiang Shi's face changed.
"Good that you don't dare, step back."
Yang Hongtian waved his hand.
"Yes, General!"
Jiang Shi cupped his fists and retreated.
Only after completely leaving the place did his face turn gloomy, and he clenched his fist tightly.
"General, I'm afraid this lad is not convinced in his heart."
An elder dressed like a scholar looked at Jiang Shi's back and said.
"Not convinced in his heart?"
Zhang Shan, clad in silver robe and armor, sneered, "In my Red Flame Army, he can't afford not to be convinced."
"Report!"
At this moment!
A Red Flame Army soldier rushed over from afar, cupping his fists, "General, the casualties have been accounted for. Currently, our Red Flame Army has fifty-four thousand men left, with less than two thousand left from the major Jianghu Sects, capturing over eighty thousand people."
"Fifty-four thousand men?"
Yang Hongtian frowned, "That's too few. Immediately head to Desolate State, notify the major sects to continue deploying people. Additionally, select the strong from these captives to form a vanguard troop to temporarily remain in the army; all others can be dismissed."
The so-called vanguard troop refers to a death squad made up entirely of captives used for daring assaults.
In army battles, it is invariably this kind of vanguard troop that suffers the first misfortunes.
"General, previously, the major Jianghu Sects have already sent more than eighty to ninety percent of their elites. If we ask them to continue sending people now, they may be unwilling."
The elder in scholar's robes beside Yang Hongtian frowned, "Be careful not to push too hard, inciting their resistance."
"Oh?"
Yang Hongtian squinted his eyes, emitting a cold hum, "These Jianghu Sects are actually the greatest hidden danger for the Court. If possible, I really intend to crush them all in one sweep. Only when they are eradicated will Desolate State be at peace."
"Currently, bandit armies are rising in the rear, continuously massacring cities and towns, and no one can stop them. Only these Jianghu Sects can temporarily resist a bit. General, it's still not the time to press too hard. Let us first have time to completely annihilate the Red Turban Army, then deal with these Jianghu Sects."
The elder in scholar's robe said.
Yang Hongtian frowned, "That's true, but we can't let these Jianghu Sects get too comfortable either. Send orders for each sect to send several elders!"
"Yes, General!"
The soldier cupped his fists once more and stepped back.
"Do not underestimate these Jianghu Sects. Previously, I asked them to dispatch eighty to ninety percent of their elites, but I'm afraid not one sect complied fully. Now, pressing a bit harder, there's still more to be squeezed from them."
Yang Hongtian said coldly.
···
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