Dengzhou Prefecture, Dongping County.
To guard against the invasion of the One-Eyed Stone n, several rounds of significant construction had been undertaken at the Turbid River Gate, where banners fluttered and iron armor stood like a forest.
After capturing Dongchang Mansion, Wuding Prefecture, and Yizhou Prefecture earlier in the year, the connected territories of the four prefectures greatly expanded the strategic depth of the governed lands.
To take down Dengzhou Prefecture, which stretched along the river like a line, one had to fight through Dongping, Fuping, Shanyang... Huaiyuan, Yunhe County, and Ninghai State, one county at a ti.
Furthermore, the administrative system where Yang Officials and Yin Officials complented each other had already been maturely trialed in Dengzhou Prefecture and by last October, it had been implented in various prefectures, completing an orderly transition of the ruling order.
The system had completely eradicated the ergence of corrupt officials.
Coupled with relentless propaganda about good governance and the supply of massive amounts of materials, not only was the situation stabilized, but no one froze or starved to death during the harsh winter that just passed.
On the contrary, by settling the scores with so bullying warlords, nurous lands were released, significantly reducing the contradiction between population and land.
During this period, no official dared to practice any corruption or fill their own pockets.
After the beginning of spring, the people of the three prefectures finally settled down completely, and the Dragon Energy in the territories also began to rise again.
And most crucially, as Zhou Jinhuan was a surviving prince from the previous dynasty, he effortlessly reclaid the City Gods that had transford after the deaths of the Great Yan courtiers, with no legal obstacles whatsoever.
There was no need to express political correctness through settling scores with the previous dynasty, unlike other Flood Dragons.
Once the Dragon Energy was restored and even further strengthened,
leaning on those once "Dragon Qi Hubs," it was very easy to construct a new "Mountain and River Country Formation (local area network)."
The only difference was that the Fire Virtue Dragon Qi of the old Great Yan had turned into the current Water Virtue Dragon Qi, resulting in a complete change in the overall spirit and temperant of the people.
Whoosh—!
As the mighty water vapor from Dongping Lake rushed in,
"Tide is here, ring the bell, prepare for battle!"
Even though, due to the natural repression of the Wishing Power of the populace toward the old imperial family, Zhou Jinhuan had yet to break through that boundary between Heavenly People and Mortals,
he still chose to armor up and personally ascend the gate to oversee the battle.
Strategic buffering was to prevent being suddenly decapitated in an unsuspecting mont.
Now, relying on the intelligence network, they had long identified the source of the enemy assault. Naturally, the strategy must change to defend against the enemy outside the nation’s gates and strive for a decisive victory.
Moreover, at the beginning of their enterprise, they didn’t have much capital.
If they spread their forces thin for defense, causing a front-line collapse, they would still not be able to avoid the fate of defeat and death despite the re few hundred li distance.
"Understood!"
Pei Yulou, carrying the Tiger Talismans for the three Daoist Soldier regints, led the Divine Machine Camp, the Tiger Riders, and the Dragon Martial Army, these three old subordinates, toward the lakeshore to form up.
anwhile, on the other side of the lakeshore, the Divine Might Army, White Tiger Elite Soldiers, and the undermanned Long Water Camp also began to assemble.
On the surface, it seed to be in coordination with Pei Yulou, but only a very few core high-ranking individuals like Zhou Jinhuan, Duan Zhiyin, and Xie Yanji knew there was a hidden strategy involved.
Thus, even though Zhou Jinhuan had received news that his sister and brother-in-law had been held up, he still retained a asure of confidence.
What concerned him even more was their current predicant.
"Although they are Green Seal, that is facing a... Heavenly Official after all!"
Just thinking of the term made it seem as though a cold and sinister gaze was bearing down from above, sending shivers through his scalp, let alone actually fighting it head-on.
Behind him was his Princess Consort, Duan Zhiyin, visibly pregnant for more than four months, her slightly bulging belly under her skirt; she stepped forward, took his hand, and comforted him gently:
"My sister and brother-in-law are both paragons of the Immortal Dao, the Nine Soldiers, Immortal Officials. They will surely be fine.
By us mortals safeguarding this holand without causing them trouble, and by focusing on confronting formidable enemies, we are providing them with the greatest support."
Zhou Jinhuan understood this principle, of course.
In order to realize the common ideal he shared with Wang Yuan: to create a world where the administration is transparent, the people live in peace and happiness, and both material wealth and civilization greatly flourish, effectively defeating the Weird.
Each of them had their own duties.
Looking at the massive fleet now vaguely visible atop the surging tide opposite him, his gaze turned icy as he called out behind him:
"Mother! Auntie!"
"Leave it to us!
Today, a year later, the Turbid River will no longer be a solo act for that One-Eyed Stone Man.
At most, we only need to make slight adjustnts to our plan, changing from slaying One-Eyed Stone n to defending the four prefectures. It shouldn’t be too big of a problem."
Azure Dragon, Star Lord Qingyan, and Grain God, Long Shao,
who at the first sign of oddity in the Turbid River had abandoned their research on superior agricultural crops and rushed here using Water Escape,
now responded, and the Taoist couple threw off their cashre overcoats in unison.
Revealing a combat form sowhat similar to Long Bo.
Though they were not tall, their stature exuded an identical regal majesty and elegant luxuriousness.
Pale foreheads bore pair of crystal-clear, branch-like dragon horns, and their long hair, following the flowing water currents, waved gently behind them.
One sported hair the color of seaweed, while the other’s locks flowed like dark clouds.
Their slender limbs were covered with fine, detailed scales, layered scale armor at their chests rose to support their fullness, and on their shoulders and thighs expanded into magnificent pauldrons and skirt armor.
The subli dignity of True Dragons emanated unabashedly from their forms.
For any mortal sowhat faint of heart, just one glance from their golden vertical pupils would likely result in utter terror, causing instant death right then and there.
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