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Chapter 523: Deployment of the Elite

Historically, there had been dynasties that committed widespread massacres, but they never lasted long. Such acts were widely condemned. Heavy-handed slaughter by an emperor could lead to resistance among the populace, destabilizing the nation and hindering its expansion.

Several brutal dynasties had emerged across Shenzhou, and they too had massacred cities. However, none had been as extreme as Zhong Shan. Those dynasties did not massacre every city; they selectively slaughtered to achieve specific goals. But Zhong Shan\'s approach? Complete annihilation of every city?

Men, women, the elderly, and children—all killed. Wherever the army passed, all lay dead.

"Such bloodshed!"

This was the first reaction from everyone who received the news. Reading the war proclamation, they had already felt the ruthlessness. But that was just a proclamation. Now, it was reality. Zhong Shan proved that his proclamation was not an exaggeration. It was not meant to intimidate, but a statement of fact.

The strategists of various dynasties were left in deep silence upon receiving this news.

At the same time, the cities of the Daguan Dynasty received news of the massacres.

Massacres? Total extermination?

Citizens trembled at the news.

Death? Recently, people had seen Zhong Shan\'s war proclamation but dismissed it with a laugh, trusting the Daguan Dynasty. They thought the Great Ying Dynasty was just a desperate dynasty seeking attention.

The nine consecutive "kill" commands had been met with disdain.

Except for a very few who left, most continued their daily lives, believing that even if the Great Ying Dynasty captured the city, they would just become its citizens.

Who would have thought there would be a massacre?

The news of the massacre spread like wildfire through the cities.

The old war proclamation resurfaced in everyone\'s minds, clearer than ever in the face of life and death:

"When the army reaches the cities of Daguan, it will massacre the entire city! No one will be spared!

From this day forth, those who serve Han the Traitor shall die!

Those who befriend Han the Traitor shall die!

Those who aid Han the Traitor shall die!

Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The proclamation, like a nightmare, terrified many to their core.

The proclamation had stated it plainly: when the army reaches the cities of Daguan, it will massacre the entire city! No one will be spared!

A terrifying threat—not a threat, but a fact.

Staying in the city meant certain death.

Someone was the first to rush back home, packing everything they could into storage bracelets and fleeing the city as if escaping a plague.

When there is a first, there will be a second!

Fight against the Great Ying Dynasty\'s invasion? To hell with that! What if you die?

The timid and fearful immediately abandoned such thoughts. Escape, escape quickly!

As the fearful fled, more followed. Even those who initially hesitated found themselves infected by the growing panic.

Seeing the majority flee in terror, the fear became contagious, quickly spreading.

Thus, city after city emptied as the populace fled in a desperate bid for survival, leaving the Daguan Dynasty increasingly isolated and vulnerable to the advancing forces of the Great Ying Dynasty.

Various factions were stunned upon receiving this news. Was Zhong Shan truly on the path of tyranny?

Historically, there had been dynasties that committed widespread massacres, but they never lasted long. Such acts were widely condemned. Heavy-handed slaughter by an emperor could lead to resistance among the populace, destabilizing the nation and hindering its expansion.

Several brutal dynasties had emerged across Shenzhou, and they too had massacred cities. However, none had been as extreme as Zhong Shan. Those dynasties did not massacre every city; they selectively slaughtered to achieve specific goals. But Zhong Shan\'s approach? Complete annihilation of every city?

Men, women, the elderly, and children—all killed. Wherever the army passed, all lay dead.

"Such bloodshed!"

This was the first reaction from everyone who received the news. Reading the war proclamation, they had already felt the ruthlessness. But that was just a proclamation. Now, it was reality. Zhong Shan proved that his proclamation was not an exaggeration. It was not meant to intimidate, but a statement of fact.

The strategists of various dynasties were left in deep silence upon receiving this news.

At the same time, the cities of the Daguan Dynasty received news of the massacres.

Massacres? Total extermination?

Citizens trembled at the news.

Death? Recently, people had seen Zhong Shan\'s war proclamation but dismissed it with a laugh, trusting the Daguan Dynasty. They thought the Great Ying Dynasty was just a desperate dynasty seeking attention.

The nine consecutive "kill" commands had been met with disdain.

Except for a very few who left, most continued their daily lives, believing that even if the Great Ying Dynasty captured the city, they would just become its citizens.

Who would have thought there would be a massacre?

The news of the massacre spread like wildfire through the cities.

The old war proclamation resurfaced in everyone\'s minds, clearer than ever in the face of life and death:

"When the army reaches the cities of Daguan, it will massacre the entire city! No one will be spared!

From this day forth, those who serve Han the Traitor shall die!

Those who befriend Han the Traitor shall die!

Those who aid Han the Traitor shall die!

Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The proclamation, like a nightmare, terrified many to their core.

The proclamation had stated it plainly: when the army reaches the cities of Daguan, it will massacre the entire city! No one will be spared!

A terrifying threat—not a threat, but a fact.

Staying in the city meant certain death.

Someone was the first to rush back home, packing everything they could into storage bracelets and fleeing the city as if escaping a plague.

When there is a first, there will be a second!

Fight against the Great Ying Dynasty\'s invasion? To hell with that! What if you die?

The timid and fearful immediately abandoned such thoughts. Escape, escape quickly!

As the fearful fled, more followed. Even those who initially hesitated found themselves infected by the growing panic.

Seeing the majority flee in terror, the fear became contagious, quickly spreading.

Thus, city after city emptied as the populace fled in a desperate bid for survival, leaving the Daguan Dynasty increasingly isolated and vulnerable to the advancing forces of the Great Ying Dynasty.

Only those deeply loyal to the Daguan Dynasty refused to leave. They believed that Daguan would not fall and they would not die. Running away? They would rather fight the Great Ying Dynasty to the death.

As a result, nearly half the population of each city left.

The Daguan Dynasty was not idle either, dispatching large forces to encircle and attack Zhong Shan\'s army.

Encircle and attack? Zhong Shan\'s ten million strong army was mostly together, constituting half of the chaotic land\'s forces. How could the scattered forces of the Daguan Dynasty encircle Zhong Shan? Moreover, Zhong Shan had a group of powerful legion commanders by his side. It was uncertain who would encircle whom.

Attacking the Great Ying Dynasty\'s capital to save their own? Han Jiguang wanted to, but the Great Ying Dynasty\'s capital was too far away, separated by countless mountains and rivers. They even had to cross the sea!

Thus, in this war, without deploying his elite forces, Han Jiguang was doomed to passive defense.

Ten days later, Zhong Shan\'s army moved again. After nearly a month of fighting, rivers of blood flowed once more as they massacred another city.

The bold citizens of the Daguan Dynasty finally succumbed to fear. They were indeed facing a demon army.

Twelve celestial cities had fallen. Nearly half of the Daguan Dynasty\'s cities had been captured.

The people of the Daguan Dynasty were unsettled. Nearly half the dynasty\'s territory was lost, with close to two hundred million people dead. Rivers of blood flowed, dyeing half the sky red.

The remaining citizens fled in increasing numbers, and even the city guards dared not stay. It was too terrifying.

Of course, Zhong Shan\'s ten million strong army was reduced to eight million, suffering heavy casualties.

Zhong Shan ordered another rest period.

In the Daguan imperial city, Tianguang City, the court was in session.

Many officials were anxious and fearful. Zhong Shan was too terrifying.

"Big brother, Zhong Shan is too arrogant. What should we do? Let\'s fight him, send strong warriors directly to their central camp!" Han Chuang shouted.

The officials shrank back in fear. Attack Zhong Shan\'s central camp? Dream on! Hundreds of thousands of piercing arrows would turn you to dust. Go ahead if you want.

"Your Majesty, we should retreat for now and find an opportunity to rise again later," one timid official suggested.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Great Ying army is too fierce. In just three months, we\'ve lost half our territory!" another fearful official added.

"Idiots, cowards! We must fight the Great Ying Dynasty!" a hot-blooded general roared.

On the throne, Han Jiguang watched coldly. Despite the uproar in the court, he remained calm. The former emperor\'s composure was far beyond that of these simple-minded officials.

"Rest assured! I have a plan for the Great Ying Dynasty. Civil officials, calm the people and stabilize morale. Military officials, focus on the army and maintain discipline," Han Jiguang ordered.

"Yes!" the officials responded immediately.

Having followed Han Jiguang for many years, he was their pillar of support. No matter how panicked they were, his words always reassured them.

After the court session.

"Big brother, what\'s your plan?" Han Chuang asked immediately.

Han Jiguang looked at Han Chuang with little enthusiasm and said, "I have already sent troops. You need not worry."

"Sent troops? But the Ice Army has been completely wiped out. Do you have other forces?" Han Chuang asked, puzzled.

"Correct, the Ice Army is merely a human army," Han Jiguang said.

"A human army? What do you mean?" Han Chuang asked, puzzled.

Just then, a man in white rushed into the hall and knelt on the ground.

"Outrageous! Don\'t you know the rules?" Han Chuang turned and angrily scolded.

"I told him he didn\'t need to report," Han Jiguang said, giving Han Chuang a cold glance.

Han Chuang fell silent, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Did you find out?" Han Jiguang asked.

"Your Majesty, we have found the birth dates and times of Lin Xiao and Shui Wuhen. However, we couldn\'t find the birth dates of Zhong Shan, Yi Yan, Shui Jing, and Mr. Corpse," the man in white reported.

"How is that possible? Yi Yan, Shui Jing, and Mr. Corpse have mysterious origins, so it\'s understandable that we can\'t find their birth dates. But why can\'t we find Zhong Shan\'s? Isn\'t he from Tianlang Island?" Han Jiguang said, dissatisfied.

"Your Majesty, we have done our best!" the man in white replied, handing over a scroll.

"Very well, you may leave," Han Jiguang said, taking the scroll with a sigh.

The scroll contained the birth dates of Lin Xiao and Shui Wuhen.

"Big brother, why do you need their birth dates? For a curse technique? Is the Crystal Old Demon here?" Han Chuang asked excitedly.

Han Jiguang glanced at Han Chuang but didn\'t deny it.

Zhong Shan\'s second city massacre!

Following the massacre, Zhong Shan was naturally labeled as a peerless demon, but he didn\'t care at all.

In Zhong Shan\'s central military tent.

All the legion commanders were present. Zhong Shan held a letter in his hand, reading it carefully.

"Han Jiguang\'s trump card has appeared!" Zhong Shan said gravely.

"What is it?" Yi Yan asked.

Zhong Shan handed over the letter, which was passed around among the commanders.

"A single person? Just one person?" Shui Wuhen said in surprise.

One person as a trump card? What was the meaning of this? Sending one person to stop our army? Ridiculous! An absolute joke!

The commanders initially laughed, but their laughter ceased when they saw Mr. Corpse\'s expression.

Wasn\'t Mr. Corpse also just one person? Yet, a single person had formed a zombie legion. Although Mr. Corpse was only at the peak of the Integration stage, who dared to underestimate him?

"The person has arrived at Liuhe City. Your Majesty, allow me to probe his strength," Mr. Corpse suggested.

Facing Han Jiguang\'s trump card, Zhong Shan didn\'t underestimate it. This trump card had been hidden deeper than the Ice Army, indicating it had extraordinary power. Sending Mr. Corpse was a good idea. At least, Mr. Corpse\'s safety was assured.

"Our army is still resting, so let Mr. Corpse go ahead. Keep us updated on Liuhe City\'s situation at all times!" Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes!" Mr. Corpse immediately responded and then left.

After Mr. Corpse left, Zhong Shan looked at Yi Yan.

"The Daguan Empire was once close to the Dayu Empire. Do you know anything about this person?" Zhong Shan asked.

"I\'m not sure. Han Jiguang has hidden him very well. He only exposed the Ice Army because it was too large to conceal. This person must be even more formidable. Han Jiguang is a cunning strategist. If he dares to send someone, he must be very confident. Mr. Corpse\'s zombie legion is incredibly powerful, but if this person dares to come, he must be no easy opponent. We should be ready to support Mr. Corpse," Yi Yan analyzed.

"Yi Yan, hear my command!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"I command you to lead the Third Legion to support Mr. Corpse and annihilate the invader," Zhong Shan ordered.

"At once!"