**Chapter 55: Mad Confucian General**
2013-02-09 Author: Gu Zhenren
The battle situation stabilized, and Huang Xiao, with his sharp mind, immediately made further connections from this dangerous assassination attempt.
“Quick, issue an urgent military dispatch, notify the other two armies. At the same time, send a military message back, ordering the Shu Family Island side to maintain strict vigilance!” This assassin left a deep impression on Huang Xiao, forcing him to act cautiously, as if facing a formidable enemy.
However, not long after the military dispatch was sent out, a messenger rushed forward with a look of panic on his face to report.
“What? You’re saying the military dispatch was intercepted?!” Huang Xiao, who was busy suppressing uprisings in various parts of Yuan Family Island, had to put aside his work and ordered with a grim expression, “Quick! Assemble six elite squads as messengers. Divide them into two groups of three and send them out immediately to personally deliver this military dispatch to each route.”
Military dispatches were usually carried by Albatrosses. If an Albatross was killed, its Beast Tamer would feel it. The moment the Albatross died, the military dispatch stored within its gullet space would also be destroyed. Although there was no need to worry about the dispatch being leaked, the delay in delivering the military intelligence would still allow the enemy to achieve their objective.
“Yuan Family Island needs me here to maintain order, so I can’t leave. I can only hope that the Three Old Generals and Young Island Master Chu are safe… Assassins using Spirit Monsters and Qian Li, hmph— have the great nations started interfering this early?” Huang Xiao’s face was cold; the gravity of the situation exceeded his expectations.
About three quarters of an hour later, he saw three communication elites, heavily wounded and bloodied, arriving. These elites were not the six he had sent out earlier but were dispatched by the Second Army.
“Reporting, General Huang, the Three Old Generals were ambushed while on the march. Fortunately, they recently acquired Spirit Monsters and managed to survive with serious injuries. Our Second Army is now in retreat. General Huang, please be on alert!” This elite squad originally consisted of sixteen men, all seasoned veterans. Along the way, they encountered three layers of interceptions and three separate forces, with only three men finally reaching this point. Furthermore, during the report, one of them fainted on the spot.
“You are all excellent soldiers. This military dispatch is very important. Rest well and recover from your injuries. Your merits will be recorded.” Huang Xiao comforted them briefly before letting them withdraw. Afterward, he paced back and forth in the room, his brows furrowed in thought.
“The situation is indeed tricky. The originally perfect battle plan has been disrupted by the sudden appearance of this force. This group of assassins possesses strong intelligence gathering capabilities, deductive abilities, and terrifying communication skills. The assassination of the Three Old Generals occurred at almost the same time as the incident on my end. Now the Second Army has been defeated without a fight and is retreating towards Shu Family Island. I wonder how Young Master Chu is faring?” Although Chu Yun’s combat power had surpassed his own, Huang Xiao’s unease did not diminish in the slightest. He knew that the Young Master possessed formidable combat strength, and the enemy was likely aware of this as well. If they were truly planning an assassination, they would undoubtedly increase their forces and make corresponding adjustments.
“Wei Family Island…” Huang Xiao’s eyes narrowed, and he stopped pacing, moving to the table to meticulously examine the military map before him. With the Second Army now in retreat, the tactical framework of mutual support among the three armies was missing a crucial link.
“Do not consider victory, consider defeat first. If the Young Master is assassinated and the army descends into chaos and rout, how should I provide support from here, minimize losses, and rescue the Young Master?” Huang Xiao’s thoughts raced like lightning. This assassination was like a heavy blow, turning a clear situation into a complete mess. Huang Xiao knew he needed a sharp eye to see through this fog and make appropriate adjustments.
“This time, Chu Yun will lose a layer of skin, even if he doesn’t die. There’s no doubt about it.” In Tie Family City, Tie Ao stared at the maritime map before him, his eyes flashing with cold light, exuding a stern aura. Around him stood a group of military officers gathered around a sand table.
“We have spent so much time establishing this ambush circle; it is virtually flawless.”
“Indeed, Wei Family Island is the best springboard for attacking our Tie Family’s sea territory. If the Shu Family counterattacks, they will inevitably target this location first. The Island Master is wise; he realized this several months ago, which is why we have this excellent situation now.”
“We don’t know how much effort went into creating this ambush circle. It was done without anyone knowing. Every warship was secretly added while no one was aware. The entire ambush circle is only thirteen nautical miles from Wei Family Island, yet Wei Family Island remains completely unaware.”
“Wei Family Island has been in decline ever since Chu Yun led his troops to plunder it. If we hadn’t intended to use it as bait, we would have annexed it long ago. Just a tenth of the forces in the ambush circle would be enough to wipe out the island in one night.” The officers spoke enthusiastically, their faces alight with excitement.
Only Tie Ao remained calm amidst the boisterous atmosphere. People change, especially someone like Tie Ao, known for his genius. Tie Ao was not just a genius but also a future power that would dominate half of the Archipelago. For such a figure, failure was merely a stepping stone. A genius of his caliber absorbed far more from failure than from success.
Tie Ao had grown. Not only had his combat power expanded from two Spirit Monsters to three, but through the trials of various incidents, his temperament had also become steadfast, and he had cultivated an aura of strategic foresight. In recent days, he was no longer just the Young Island Master of the Tie Family but the true Island Master. He had also married Ning Yiyi. Although the Ning Family’s wealth had suffered a severe blow from Chu Yun, they still had residual influence and remaining funds. Relying on the Tie Family, they quickly revived, bringing significant revenue to the Tie Family.
Despite the improving circumstances, Tie Ao showed no slackening in his efforts. His beautiful wife was renowned, but he had never touched her, dedicating himself to cultivation and meticulous planning. His sole purpose was to accumulate strength in secret and achieve revenge. Chu Yun and the Shu Family were the targets of his retribution. This ambush plan was something he had been arranging, personally overseeing every small step and every detail, orchestrating the entire layout.
“Chu Yun, although you command five Spirit Monsters and have had fortunate encounters, I admit I am temporarily inferior to you in a one-on-one fight. However, this time, I have planned ahead and made arrangements. As long as you fall into my ambush circle, you will be seriously wounded, if not killed. Your fleet will be utterly annihilated, and your undefeated myth will end at my hands. This will also be the first step for my Tie Family to regain its glory!” Tie Ao shouted excitedly in his heart, yet his expression remained perfectly calm.
“Where is the Little Tyrant’s army currently?” he asked. Immediately, a communication soldier stepped forward to report the latest intelligence.
“Oh, so they have advanced to this point. Their marching speed isn’t very fast,” Tie Ao said after hearing the report, moving a marker on the sand table.
“Heh heh— no matter how slow, it’s still fast.”
“The Little Tyrant’s fleet is now only a hundred nautical miles from Wei Family Island.” The officers chuckled, grinning with excitement. Their gazes towards the map and sand table were filled with bloodlust, each wishing for time to pass faster and for Chu Yun to advance more quickly.
“Report! A Beast Tamer has arrived, requesting an audience with the Island Master, stating he has urgent military matters to discuss. This is the invitation he submitted.” Just then, a servant reported, presenting a beautifully crafted invitation scroll.
“Oh?” Tie Ao’s interest was piqued by the invitation. This was no ordinary invitation; it was a Minor Demon Soldier! Such invitations could only be delivered by hand to the designated recipient; otherwise, they could not be forcefully opened.
“This is!?” Tie Ao was the designated recipient. As he unrolled the invitation, his expression changed drastically.
“Bring this person to my council hall and entertain him with the best tea,” Tie Ao instructed with a stern tone after closing the invitation. After he left, the officers erupted in discussion, speculating about the identity of this mysterious person who dared to speak so boldly and required Tie Ao to leave the military intelligence room to meet him personally.
“Mad Confucian General, you are a general of Jiang Heng Kingdom, but you are here in disguise. What is your purpose?” Upon meeting the visitor in the council hall, Tie Ao did not mince words and directly questioned him. The visitor wore a dark white scholar’s robe, and even seated, his tall stature was evident. He had the appearance of a young man, with a high nose, bright eyes, fair skin, and red lips, yet he was over a hundred years old. He exuded an arrogant aura that looked down on the world. Even while seated and calmly sipping tea, one could sense his towering pride. He was the Mad Confucian General, ranked even higher than the Sleeping Old Man on the Peculiar Person Ranking. He was also an exceptional talent, who had been unrivaled in his youth, the foremost among his generation. At the age of thirty, he had already mastered ten Spirit Monsters by fifty, his Spirit Monster power exceeded twenty. Now, at over a hundred years old, no one knew the depth of his strength. He was arrogant, but he had a right to be. Not only was his martial prowess exceptional, but he was also well-versed in military strategy and skilled in warfare, earning him the appreciation of the Jiang Heng Country Lord.
One day, the Jiang Heng Country Lord summoned him for a private drink. In a moment of inspiration, he asked, “How many soldiers can I command?” The Mad Confucian General put down his wine cup, thought carefully, and replied earnestly, “Your Majesty can command a million soldiers.” “And how many soldiers can the General command?” the Jiang Heng Country Lord asked again. He suddenly picked up his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and laughed heartily, “As for me, the more, the better!” “Hahaha,” the Jiang Heng Country Lord chuckled, unoffended. This conversation spread throughout Xingzhou, and the Mad Confucian General became famous. He was indeed a skilled and formidable warrior, displaying astonishing performance in several wars, quickly earning him the reputation of a renowned general. Unfortunately, his arrogance and pride were too great. Even though the Jiang Heng Country Lord could tolerate him, other civil and military officials lacked the magnanimity and tried to ostracize him through various means.
The Mad Confucian General did not have an easy time. He was often subjected to petty injustices and framed with baseless accusations. Even when he achieved military merits, he was promoted nominally while demoted in practice. Yet, he remained unyielding, his personality and style unchanged. In recent years, due to the scarcity of wars, he had gradually faded from public view. Tie Ao had not expected to be visited by him at this time. In fact, this was Tie Ao’s first time meeting this famous general of Xingzhou. However, he was not polite. Dealing with the Mad Confucian General required directness; one could never show him any favor, as this was almost a universally acknowledged principle in Xingzhou.
“Mad Confucian General, I have some idea of your intentions. If you are here to cooperate with me on behalf of Jiang Heng Kingdom and interfere in the internal affairs of our Archipelago, I advise you to keep your mouth shut.” Tie Ao was very impolite to him. He knew that he was now the head of the Tie Family, representing the Tie Family—he absolutely could not be polite. Only a strong stance would earn respect.
“Hahaha, I am here to persuade you to surrender on behalf of Jiang Heng Kingdom. I don’t fear telling you that Jiang Heng Kingdom has invested astronomical resources in the Archipelago and meticulously planned for centuries. Now, it is finally my turn to conclude the game. To prove my words, I will show you the heads of the three Shu Family generals later. Don’t be surprised; even that Little Tyrant Chu Yun will inevitably fall,” the Mad Confucian General declared, uttering astonishing words.
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