Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains Chapter 852: 372. Luring the enemy, feinting east, striking

Over two million troops from Leiyin Temple were stationed in Yeyun County, making it clear they intended to hold their ground. Hexi couldn't afford to disperse its forces like before, but Hou Yuxiao had already prepared his deploynt when he captured Pengkang. His plan was to unite the forces, so this didn't impact him much—the troops still moved according to his arrangent.

Except for Gao Changlong's unit which was sent to attack Jinyang and Pingchuan counties, the scattered forces included Hou Fei's unit west of Jiuchi, Gao Cheng and Gao Hu's unit west of Pengkang, Hou Ying, Hou Cun, Su Li, and Nie Xinliu's units west of the two counties, and Hou Yucheng's unit in Jiuchi County. In total, there were five units.

Before the battle, these five units consisted of 2.3 million troops. Currently, only Hou Yucheng and Gao Changlong's units were engaged in combat, aning only they suffered personnel losses. The other three units hadn't officially clashed with the enemy yet, having rely detained so Leiyin Temple mbers while blocking the official road earlier, with negligible losses.

As the Leiyin Temple's troops gathered in Yeyun, Hexi's forces naturally began gathering in Jiuchi County, which is closest to Yeyun County. In just two days, by July 12th, aside from Gao Changlong's 200,000-strong unit, the three other units had all converged.

New Yu Era, July 15, 1332.

The unit led by Gao Changlong, which was attacking Jinyang and Pingchuan, had also arrived.

"At last, I have successfully fulfilled my mission. Jinyang and Pingchuan counties have been taken!"

After entering the city, Gao Changlong imdiately flew up to the city wall with Gao Changhu and Gao Changbao to et Hou Yuxiao.

Below, the constantly entering troops were divided into three sections. The front and rear sections belonged to the Hou Clan's Red Fla Army. The middle group, with mismatched uniforms and unard, appeared sowhat despondent.

Hou Yuxiao supported the three from the Gao family, glanced at the Red Fla Army, estimated the number to be over 240,000, and his mind stirred slightly as he said:

"Did Jinyang and Pingchuan counties surrender by themselves?"

"Family Head, you truly are insightful; your subordinate is in awe!"

Hou Yuxiao chuckled and shook his head. The Gao Changlong unit had a total of 300,000 Red Fla Army soldiers. They lost over 50,000 when attacking Pengkang County, yet after capturing Pingchuan and Jinyang counties, their numbers hadn't changed. He only needed to guess slightly to understand.

"A portion of the Huang Chan defenders in Jinyang County resisted for a while, but under our Red Fla Army's assault, they were no match. Pingchuan County likely received news of Pengkang's fall in advance. As our troops set out from Jinyang, Yu Xin, the commander of the Huang Chan army in Pingchuan County, surrendered with his n, so taking the two counties resulted in almost no loss for our Red Fla Army."

"How many surrendered troops are there in total from the two counties?"

"There are over 80,000 in total, including 60,000 Huang Chan troops and over 20,000 disciples of the Leiyin Temple. We were delayed on the road while escorting these people, which is why we're a few days late."

In the past five days, the number of surrendered troops in Jiuchi County increased daily, reaching more than 210,000. Adding these 80,000, there are nearly 300,000 surrendered troops in total.

Hou Yuxiao turned to Hou Yucheng and asked, "Who is the current commander of the new army?"

"A secular disciple from the forr Leiyin Temple nad Zheng Ping. He possesses the cultivation of a Heavenly Great Grandmaster. He was the first to surrender voluntarily in Jiuchi County, and he keenly understands the situation. Moreover, he has the highest cultivation among the new army. Thus, I appointed him as the commander of the new army."

Upon hearing the phrase "keenly understands the situation," Hou Yuxiao imdiately grasped the implication, but he was not surprised. Volunteering to surrender, and being the first one to do so, clearly indicates his motivation. Furthermore, with his high cultivation level as a Heavenly Great Grandmaster, being captured was likely due to an overwhelming fear of death, as anyone with a bit of courage would have escaped during the battle.

"Everyone else, follow ; Yucheng, have him co see ."

"I'll go at once!"

Hou Yuxiao led the group back to the Prefectural Magistrate's Office, where they waited for only a short while before Hou Yucheng brought a middle-aged man with an honest appearance over.

As Zheng Ping entered the main hall and saw those seated before him, each with an aura stronger than his, his body imdiately hunched over. Upon inadvertently glancing at Hou Yuxiao seated at the top, he ran forward a couple of steps, knelt, and respectfully said:

"New army commander Zheng Ping greets the Family Head!"

This wasn't just keen situation awareness; it was sheer survival instinct...

With a peculiar look, Hou Yuxiao gently lifted his hand, using spiritual power to raise the kneeling Zheng Ping, and said in a softer tone: "Commander Zheng, there's no need for such formality. Please, stand up."

"As a surrendered general, I dare not overstep. Whatever orders there are, please speak straightly. Zheng Ping, with guilt upon him, was entrusted by the Second Master, promoted to new army commander, and is loyal to Hexi, willing to serve the Family Head to the death!"

"Good, Commander Zheng speaks quickly and firmly, so I won't be verbose either. Hexi is about to attack Yeyun County, and I request that Commander Zheng leads the new army to spearhead the attack. If Yeyun is captured in one strike, the new army will be rewarded based on rit and receive the sa treatnt as Hexi's soldiers. How do you feel about this?"

...…

Zheng Ping's head dropped, and his body shuddered violently, his face instantly frozen. Feeling the eyes of over ten people in the main hall all focusing on him, his forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

"Well, does Commander Zheng not wish to do so?"

"How could I not dare? I am willing to sacrifice my life for Hexi, but those new army brothers have only recently joined the Hou Clan. I worry they might..."

"That depends on Commander Zheng's ability, of course. My seat is not unreasonable; since the new army has already submitted its certificate of pledge, I shouldn't doubt you further. Yet, we are still in the midst of a battle, and if this new army cannot fully submit, the impact on Hexi could be significant. Therefore, I need you all to submit another certificate of pledge.