Chapter 3, The Storm of the Imperial Capital

Chief of Staff Ming Yu added: "Moreover, our Lord Xiuchuan has been standing by silently, grinning like two Yang Minghuas and one Lei Xun—just by looking at that mischievous smile, one can tell that something is definitely afoot"

Zichuan Xiu raised his voice in cheer: "I have won! Bring me the money!"

Hmm. Zichuan Sanxing nodded, "Did you drink too much last night?"

Please provide your guidance

The "Undying Battalion," known for its strongest combat capability and highest loyalty among the Imperial Guard, stands like nails at every three steps and keeps watch every five steps, with sentries positioned all around, creating a formidable defense. This is merely what can be perceived from the outside; secretly, archers are concealed at every vantage point of the Grand Residence, with hidden positions on rooftops, corners, and gardens. Countless sharp blades are embedded along the walls, and hidden weapons are primed to strike at every corner and blind spot, with traps set everywhere—one could say the defense is impenetrable. This defense system was designed entirely by him, and after inspecting it, Emperor Lin remarked, "Unless a large army is mobilized for an attack, it is absolutely impossible to enter."

"Please take a seat, Deputy Commander Xiuchuan. You are fifteen minutes late." Deputy Commander Geshan raised her head. Only then did Zichuan Xiu clearly see her appearance. She was around thirty years old, with delicate features, but her lack of expression made her seem cold. She wore a pair of thick-framed glasses, and her voice was flat, revealing no hint of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.

On March 12, the Chief Director Zichuan Canxing briefly responded: "Agreed"

Zichuan Sanxing is speechless

"The stars are very bright tonight!" Sterling said solemnly, as if drawing a significant conclusion.

The servant came to report that Deputy Commander Sterling of the Imperial Guard is visiting

The old servant reported back, saying that Ms. Li Qing had come by and left a note.

Hmm, this Zichuan Xiu is quite foolish. Zichuan Canxing stood up and said, "He is the adopted son of my deceased elder brother, and Yang Minghua would never treat him as one of his own. Since that is the case, why not simply join us directly?"

Sterling is a celebrity in the capital, and this matter should have caused quite a stir. However, under the intense pressure from Zichuan Xiu, he gathered the servants and subordinates in his household and fiercely threatened: "Whoever wants to die can just go ahead and speak out!"

Only Cardan still maintains a hint of the demon princess's reserve, smiling faintly with pursed lips

Zichuan Xiu cast a sideways glance at Sterling, his expression quite peculiar

... ... ''

Zichuan Xiu laughed heartily, while Sterling, who is usually serious, becomes even more amusing when he shows his sense of humor

It is so chaotic here now that I truly fear that the Liu family might take the opportunity to intervene

Zichuan Xiu borrowed 10,000 from Zichuan Ning again and also gave it to Kadan

Who is being referred to as honest and timid, afraid of trouble

Sterling stood to the side, hesitant to speak. Although it was not his fault, the fact that Zichuan Xiu was his friend and that he had failed to persuade Zichuan Xiu made him feel incompetent and embarrassed

After a bout of laughter and playful chasing, the two of them came to a breathless halt.

The soldiers of the guard on duty saluted and allowed passage without any inspection. Due to Pigou's advanced age and lack of energy, in fact, Sterling had long been in charge of the guard's defense.

Zichuan Xiu spoke slowly, word by word: "Her full title is Princess Kadan, the third daughter of the contemporary Demon King, who was captured by me during the Fifth Hengchuan Battle. She is now under my supervision as ordered by the commanding office"

Lei Xun gratefully said to Yang Minghua: "Your Excellency's kindness is overwhelming; how can I repay it? However, I believe it is sufficient for us to carry out the actions without waiting for Di Lin to return! This fellow is too arrogant and difficult to manage..."

People can change, but Zichuan Xiu and Di Lin... My lord, if they do anything inappropriate, I will take my own life to atone for it

No one knows the true nature of Zichuan Canxing. Sterling sighed, saying, "Even though I can be considered one of his most trusted subordinates, I often feel that I cannot see through him." Sterling raised a finger and smiled meaningfully, adding, "However, he is definitely not a fool! Aren't there many people who call you an idiot, a wastrel, a dandy, or a dimwit?"

Let us first discuss the long-term aspects

Thank you very much for your gift, Li Qing will be very happy

Upon hearing these words, Lin Xiujia felt almost overwhelmed with happiness, deeply realizing that agreeing to Di Lin's proposal was the wisest choice of her life: "Fortunately, I chose him..."

Suddenly, his gaze discovered some "things" that should not exist in paradise

Di Lin then replied with a serious expression: "I am currently establishing a thousand-year foundation for my family!"

Zichuan Xiuxiao said: "You only see that Diling is facing east towards the city of Gemara, where 200,000 demon troops are stationed, guarded by the renowned general Yun Qianxue. It can be said that the defense is as solid as a fortress. Therefore, Diling must attack Gemara, but it is also certain that it cannot capture it—right?"

Is there an assassin?" Zichuan Xiu, who was a step behind, immediately reacted, accelerating into the living room, ready for battle, scanning the surroundings...

What should I do

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing a glimmer of laughter in the other's eyes

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Perhaps you could learn from those middle school students whose feathers have not yet fully grown, and tomorrow go buy eleven red roses to give to Miss Cardan. Every night, wait under her window until dawn, singing love songs and playing the guitar. Just seeing her graceful figure will make your heart race—only your future father-in-law might be unexpectedly strict!

Dilin explained to her: "This is a jumping character code; you try to jump one character and read one character."

Kadan shook his head

Not liking it? That's alright, we still have a mid-term solution! For instance, one could use a razor to perform self-castration, although it does present certain technical difficulties, and in terms of effectiveness and safety, it is not as good as the methods mentioned above

Thank heavens, fortunately, Liu Fengshuang is a woman and has no inheritance rights; otherwise, we would be in trouble

After taking a shower, I feel a bit better. Looking at the time, it is already dusk in the afternoon

Your Excellency claims to be the newly appointed Deputy Director Xiuchuan? The guard at the door looked as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world

Roger and others have long admired him. Although it is their first meeting, they all share the same feeling that Sterling is not in his usual state today

***

Oh, my lord, I apologize, the reason is as follows

Sterling had actually read it before, yet he pretended to read it for the first time, making sounds of acknowledgment like "mm-hmm," as if the news was quite interesting. After a few minutes, he asked, "What do you all think about it?"

His actions in office have not added any color to his image: "There are no mistakes that are beyond redemption, but there are also no inspiring achievements."

Sterling actually does not agree with Dilling's violent methods, but Dilling is after all their elder brother. Although his younger brother, Zichuan Xiu, can complain a little, it is not appropriate for him, as the second brother, to condemn.

What is it? Magic pills? Miraculous elixirs? Recovery water? Never mind, Zichuan Xiu only wishes to immediately remove those two frames from his eyes, otherwise he truly cannot face anyone.

Oh, the bill for the furniture damaged during the last duel should clearly be paid by Dilling, so why is it falling on me? It's quite a sum, over 7,000 Lei Ao dollars, plus half a year's interest... Aning, do you think we should calculate the interest based on the official rate or the black market rate? Given our years of friendship, I won't calculate compound interest... But even with compound interest, it shouldn't impoverish him, right? I heard he is a corrupt official in the Far East, extorting the poor demon clan to the point where they are left in tears... Aning, do you think we should calculate the interest based on the official rate or the black market rate? Given our years of friendship, I won't calculate compound interest... But even with compound interest, it shouldn't impoverish him, right? I heard he is a corrupt official in the Far East, extorting the poor demon clan to the point where they are left in tears...

She is the daughter of the Great Demon King, a member of the Demon Clan

We only then realized that things were not looking good. We wanted to mobilize the main forces to intercept them, but it was already too late! A large white flag was raised high, with a blood-red character for 'Frost' emblazoned on it! As soon as the besieged Liufeng army saw this flag, they immediately let out earth-shattering shouts of 'Long live!' 'Lord Frost has arrived, we are saved!' 'Annihilate the traitorous dogs of the Zichuan family!' They had fought all day and were already exhausted and demoralized, but as soon as Liufeng Frost arrived, it was as if they had taken a stimulant, and their battle cries made us tremble with fear...

I said, Sterling, stop sighing like a heartbroken woman in a secluded chamber and say something instead

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At home, Zichuan Ning said to Zichuan Xiu: "Brother, I heard that Emperor Lin is bringing back an army of 50,000! What are you looking for?"

Zichuan Ning: "Brother, you have become a news figure, please give me an autograph!"

Go to hell

Is there anything wrong?" Zichuan Xiu poked Sterling in the waist

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Oh, it's being thrown at home again. The guard appeared to understand, fiddling with his hefty baton in hand. "Little brother, every month we have three to five people coming here to cause trouble, but someone with your appearance has truly opened my eyes!"

At that time, Ge Yingxing was already dead, and he had no more concerns! Even if Ge Yingxing's subordinates, Luo Bo and Lin Bing, had objections, after all, the murderer, Di Lin, was a general of the Far East Army, and all those who acted were soldiers of the Far East Army. Yang Minghua could use the excuse that this was an internal conflict within the Far East Army, and it had nothing to do with him. At worst, he could hand over Di Lin to quell the anger of Ge Yingxing's subordinates. The plan was not well thought out!

... ... ''

Indeed, the tone of Sterling carries an infinite sense of sorrow and helplessness

What news do you have recently, I mean from your side

People will have opinions seeing so many gathered around me

Lin Xiujia did not dare to breathe, for she understood that her husband, despite being so compliant and affectionate towards her on ordinary days, still harbored a sacred place in his heart that was not to be touched

Dilin, with his iron-like wrist and strict military discipline, kept this group of defiant half-orcs, dragon people, elven creatures, and serpent people in check, making them afraid to even breathe loudly, lest Dilin's suspicious gaze fall upon them.

So, Ah Xiu, what are your plans

Get out of here right now, go take a shower, brush your teeth, and change your clothes before coming back to work!" Ge Shan's thin lips were tightly pressed together, "Because of you, we will have to use three more bottles of air freshener!"

Zichuan Xiugu glanced at him strangely, but said nothing

Oh, a fool who thinks he is very clever!" Di Lin once again broke into a warm smile, which made his usually cold and handsome face appear exceptionally charming

What nonsense! Listening to so many of your boring past stories, it would be strange if I didn't doze off

"The feeling just now was truly sinful." When only Zichuan Xiu and Sterling were left in the room, Zichuan Xiu whispered, "I was so caught up in the conversation that I almost forgot that Kadan is from over there."

Sterling picked it up and saw the elegant handwriting of Li Qingjuan: "You did not return last night, and both I and the stars are greatly worried and concerned. Only upon your return this morning did I feel somewhat at ease. Who are you, that you can indulge like common merchants and laborers, lost in a drunken stupor? Lord Shixing has instructed that you should see him as soon as you awaken."

Once again, there was a burst of malicious laughter.

Everyone understood. In order to sustain a prolonged campaign, Di Lin would inevitably dispatch various detachments to sweep through all the food available in the fields, villages, towns, and cities, ensuring that his soldiers would not go hungry. Thus, if Di Lin could support his forces for two months, then Yun Qianxue, trapped within the city, would definitely not last even three weeks.

Relying on male instincts, Zichuan Xiu immediately gave her a score of 85.

I only remember that after getting drunk last night, I got into a fight, and then... I can't even recall how I got home. However, I found two wallets in my pocket—one of them belongs to Zichuan Xiu. As for how it ended up in my pocket, I really can't remember at all

Sigh, Baichuan, why are you touching the knife? https://m.hetushu.com. Just wait a moment, I will give you a reasonable explanation soon... Don't push me so hard, I need some time to find an excuse...

Sterling was speechless, recalling the powerful and commanding voice of Dilling: "I do not need the support of those lowly people; I only need their fear and obedience! Ultimately, our ability to rule the Far East does not rely on public opinion polls and elections, but on the sword in our hands!"

"No, not at all." Zichuan Xiu struggled to maintain a composed expression on his face, "This... I deeply sympathize with your unfortunate experience, and on behalf of all male compatriots, I express my condolences and sincerest sympathies to you..." He quickly jumped back, narrowly avoiding Sterling's furious punch.

Roger: "Exactly! It's so boring. What shall we play next, grown-up?"

The news returned to the capital, shocking both the court and the public. However, since Di Lin was a meritorious minister who had achieved a great victory and was a trusted confidant of Yang Minghua, who was at the height of his power, only a few people privately uttered some harsh words. No one formally proposed impeachment or condemnation.

"Sir, the two black frames on your eyes... haha, you look just like a panda"

"Brother! You are so selfish, all of you running out to play, leaving a girl all alone at home. How lonely it is! Don't you feel guilty? Doesn't your conscience condemn you?" Zichuan Ning shot him a glance.

Do you know how to heal with magic

... ... ''

The letter from Di Lin contained only one sentence: "Yuan Ming publicly reveals the central wonder of the Emperor and Empress, the great light of the heavens." He furrowed his brow and nodded, while Gopula discreetly withdrew.

Lin Xiujia felt a wave of happiness, but she recalled a question: "Who sent the letter?"

What is her name

Zichuan Xiudai joyfully welcomed the guests, and the two who had not seen each other for three years were extremely delighted to meet again

Yes. Zichuan Xiu, aware of his own shortcomings, replied in a low and humble voice

Oh. Zi Chuan Xiu nodded blankly, "I understand."

As the newly arrived beautiful female secretary exited the office, Deputy Director Zichuan Xiu solemnly raised a sign: "38, 21, 37, I bet 1,000 yuan!"

As for the wallet in my hand—hahaha, that is quite reasonable—surely you don't think I would steal your money, do you? Hahaha ... ...

Moreover, the work is not strenuous. Vice Commander Zichuan Xiu is clearly not valued, as his main tasks each day involve counting how many spare chairs and teacups each corps has, identifying which glass windows are broken and need repair, and similar duties. However, it is fortunate that Director Ge Shan, although not assigning Zichuan Xiu any significant responsibilities, at least does not subject him to unfair discriminatory treatment.

Zichuan Xiuyi snatched it away and opened it to take a look

Zichuan Ning replied calmly, "Oh, I am here to inspect the work of the administrative office in my capacity as the heir of the family. Is there a problem, Deputy Director Xiuchuan?"

In fact, the practice of mystifying by Zichuan Xiu is utterly useless; once the information falls into the hands of Yang Minghua and his group, a password expert can decipher this rudimentary "code" in less than a minute

Come help me, A Xiu! Let us pledge our loyalty to the Commander together

"Sir," Sterling declared emphatically, "I guarantee with my life that Zichuan Xiu is absolutely not that kind of person!"

People do not find the expected regal demeanor of a true king in him; the general perception is: "He is someone easy to bully, merely a mediocre old man who occupies this position due to good luck."

Zichuan Xiu smiled wryly and said, "Then everyone has their own reservations!"

Kadan

Moreover, they are part of the royal family within the demon clan

Everyone smiled as Sterling walked in, seemingly oblivious. Mingyu, sitting next to Kadan, quickly made way, saying: "Please, take a seat, my lord"

I heard that you went to the command office today. Who did you meet there

Goshan waved his hand to signal the secretary to leave

Zichuan Xiu cautiously probed, asking: "Sterling, you wouldn't be... so young and yet, ah, how unfortunate. You should take it easy; in life, many heroes and talents often face setbacks..."

Zichuan Xiu scolded: "This little imp! So cunning! I say, why don't you just speak directly to the Chief? As long as he supports you, others will find it difficult to intervene. You won't have to act in secret anymore!"

Do you wish to hear me elaborate on how a senior military officer of the family should embody the spirit of self-discipline, selflessness, and the grandeur of sacrificing the small self to achieve the greater self?

Zichuan Xiu concluded: "This is not good; this guy is serious! Clearly, he does not love such a good girl like Li Qing, yet he has fallen for the daughter of the Demon God King—what kind of world is this! Love? It is clearly a case of being muddled!"

Next Monday marks the annual conference for officers of the flag officer rank and above, which is a routine family event. Almost all senior military officers will be in attendance, including Ge Yingxing, who must also return to the capital.

Zichuan Sanxing discerned his mood: "I hope it does not come to that, and I also do not wish to have a terrifying enemy like Zichuan Xiu. Are you aware of Zichuan Xiu's martial arts capabilities?"

Zichuan Xiu and Sterling exchanged a glance and shared a wry smile

Sterling quickly returned to normal and strode into the living room.

Do not mention it, our office is both cramped and dilapidated, and the lighting is poor

Sterling remained silent, his eyes vacant, as if he were listening intently, yet also as if he were wandering in a trance far away in the heavens

Tsk tsk, a woman's intuition is truly formidable! She sought my help through Zichuan Ning to investigate your whereabouts. I managed to temporarily placate her with some persuasion, but I can't let her get away so easily next time. What was the reaction from Kadan?

Kadan shook his head again

"What on earth are you shouting about, Ah Xiu?" Sterling appeared at the door, smiling as he said, "I hope I'm not interrupting your meeting!"

Is Miss Zichuan Ning doing well? I did not see her tonight

Since the day of their farewell, Sterling has visited the Zichuan Ning family almost every day. Everyone is not foolish, and naturally, they quickly understood that Lord Sterling's frequent visits were not solely due to his close friendship with Lord Xiuchuan. Moreover, Sterling himself did not conceal this much; as soon as he arrived at the Zichuan Ning residence, he would widen his eyes and look around until he found the graceful figure of Kadan, at which point he would finally feel relieved and let out a long sigh.

Sterling looked bewildered: "Originally, before I met Kadan, I thought I could just let it be. Li Qing is beautiful, and we don't dislike each other when we're together; perhaps over time, love would develop. " He smiled bitterly: "Who would have known, it wasn't until tonight that I realized what it feels like to like someone..." His tone gradually became somber.

Everyone was confused and looked towards Zichuan Xiu, hoping he would explain.

Oh, isn't this simple? Just say that it's for the census and that information needs to be filled out

Kadan replied confidently, "Right away!"

Behind the spacious desk, a young woman is reviewing documents with her head lowered, showing no surprise or alarm at the sudden intrusion of Zichuan Xiu.

Zichuan Xiu had long heard that the royal family of the demon race possessed various incredible abilities, and he became excited: "Are you a healing priest?"

Almost everything, except for love

Zichuan Sanxing's expression was serious: "He must have other masters! Ge Yingxing once reported to me that he buried himself in a sand pile and held his breath for four hours, assassinating the commanding general of the demon race amidst thousands of troops. Two top experts struck him fatally, yet he was utterly defenseless! Then, he calmly escaped from the encirclement of thousands of demons—such a terrifying expert, I fear my deceased brother could not have trained him."

Zichuan Sanxing smiled and said: "Sterling, what is the date today?"

He did not press Zichuan Xiu, nodding and saying: "Yes, it is planned to be held after the crisis is resolved"

... ... ''

I apologize, I was too excited

Sterling had already prepared an excuse to tell Li Qing: "I ran into A Xiu last night, and I was so happy that I had a few more drinks... There was nothing I could do; he insisted on taking me along." Sterling was almost certain that Zichuan Xiu would tell Zichuan Ning the same lie: "Sterling dragged me along." Friends, after all, are meant to be used as shields at times like this

I command you to be silent

Kadan did not respond; instead, Shudai Zichuan said, "What about the situation in the Far East Empire?" and handed over a newspaper.

Kadan took out a box from behind: "This item will surely be useful to you, as it can make others 'immediately' unable to see the injury on your eye. However, this item is quite expensive, I fear..."

Sterling fully understood the significance of the question and its terrifying consequences, and immediately replied: "He is inclined towards us, but has not yet made a final decision and is still considering."

"Not at all!" Zichuan Xiu replied without hesitation

Oh no, that's not possible! I have to report to the administration office tomorrow! Yang Minghua has arranged for me to be the deputy director there, so I can't drink tonight...

Hahaha! Zichuan Xiu laughed so hard that he bent over, his whole body shaking. "Who would be so foolish as to fall for such a modern fairy trap!"

He complained too early; in fact, this was merely the beginning. After the battle, Di Lin did not wait to regroup and immediately led 200,000 troops of the Zichuan Far East Army to pursue the victory, directly attacking the Demon God Fortress. This broke the long-standing strategic pattern in the Far East, where the demon race primarily attacked while humans mainly defended, catching the unprepared border forces of the demon race off guard and forcing them to retreat in panic

It is possible that Yang Minghua has already discovered Di Lin's true identity, and he wants to transfer Di Lin to avoid any trouble. However, this behavior does not align with Yang Minghua's character; he is not a patient or merciful person. Wouldn't it be more straightforward to kill Di Lin and simply throw the body into the moat?

Sterling sighed again

"Sir," Captain Gopra of the Imperial Guard handed a letter to Dillin, "It just arrived in the mailbox."

I remember, but under the current circumstances, we can only assist Lord Zichuan Canxing in dealing with Yang Minghua to protect the young lady, can we not

"Sir, I apologize, next time..."

Deputy Commander Xiuchuan, there is something... are you willing to do me a favor

She noticed that Di Lin's face had completely turned cold and wisely chose not to continue speaking

Zichuan Xiu sighed: "Heaven!"

As soon as Sterling stepped into the living room, he was momentarily stunned, as if struck by an electric shock.

In a moment of silence, Bai Chuan hesitantly said: "But there must be a condition, which is that the supply of reinforcements for the Imperial Legion must be delivered continuously, and we cannot fear being cut off from supplies; otherwise, he will not be able to sustain long-term operations. However, with the transportation line stretching over a thousand kilometers and located within the territory of the demon race, how can we ensure this?"

In fact, you need not come out to see me off, as you have so many things to attend to...

Not bad

Help!

It is not a problem, however, there are several solutions to this matter—would you like to hear about the long-term solution, the medium-term solution, or the short-term solution

Achoo! Just as Zichuan Xiu was sneaking into Baichuan's room to steal the wallet, he sneezed and said, "Who is talking bad about me behind my back?"

While Emperor Lin was simultaneously suppressing the small regular forces of the demon race, he was also attracting other races to surrender like the sea embracing a hundred rivers. His military strength grew day by day, and by the time he advanced to the demon race's second largest city, Gemara, his forces had reached as high as 500,000. Humanity had never experienced such a fierce offensive or such deep penetration since the beginning of the war

Goshan sarcastically said: "Additionally, there is something I must inform you of; we hold the same rank, both being deputy commanders, so you need not address me as 'my lord'"

Oh, is that so? It seems I can make some efforts with her; perhaps I can win her over.

I am not saying this! Don't you have your own office at m.hetushu.com? Why is it all...

Where is it! Everyone stood up to welcome him, except for Kadan, who remained seated.

His appearance bears no trace of the great Zichuan Yuansheng from years past, being rather mediocre and commonplace. He is of short stature, with beady eyes, a slightly hunched back, and uneven teeth, leading many to feel greatly disappointed upon first sight. Zichuan Xiu privately commented: "This is a ruler who cannot inspire loyalty in his subordinates."

"Is it Sterling?" Zichuan Canxing lifted his head from the pile of documents, adjusting his reading glasses on his forehead: "Please, have a seat."

Roger smirked and said, "Sir, your taste is truly lacking! You wouldn't let go of a woman like this?"

Ah, my lord, you have forgotten that we are your "Deputy Director Assistants"!

We are worried that Yang Minghua might turn against us, but isn't Yang Minghua also concerned that we might turn against him? At this tense moment, he actually dares to send his trusted general far away; don't you find that very strange

In the secret chamber of the Command Center, Yang Minghua slowly drank a glass of red wine and said to Luo Minghai with great ambition: "Now we are fully prepared, just waiting for Emperor Lin to return... At that time, you will be the new president."

I can speak, but not now. Yang Minghua and the others will definitely not miss this opportunity to strike at us; it is possible that he will force me to resign as a result. Moreover, I do not want to distract the adults from my matters at this time.

"It's nothing, just..." Di Lin could no longer continue. He gently kissed Lin Xiujia and said, "It's time to rest."

"Roger, Shirakawa, Akihane, how did you three end up in my office?"

Sterling did not dare to speak

In this battle, the Zichuan family suffered over 51,300 military casualties, with 116,000 injured (among the deceased, more than 30,000 were non-human soldiers forcibly conscripted by the Empire, and over 80,000 of the injured also belonged to non-human races). In contrast, the demon army incurred a cost of 273,000 dead and 288,000 injured (among the deceased, 156,000 were killed after surrender). However, this only accounts for the losses on the military side

Second Brother, I have always had a question in my mind. Since everyone knows that Yang Minghua is not a good person, why hasn't the Chief of the Zichuan Star General Staff recalled him to the Far East Army to deal with him? Could it be that the Chief of Staff is really as the outside world says... " Zichuan Xiu swallowed the word "fool" back.

I am not blind

Zichuan Xiuguan smiled gently, recalling Roger, Baichuan, and Mingyu

A burst of unrestrained laughter

Seeing the mountain of corpses and the sea of blood, Luo Bo painfully closed his eyes and accused Di Lin, saying: "You Asura, the foundation established by our family over nearly two hundred years and seven generations in the Far East is about to be destroyed by you alone!" (Historically, Di Lin's title of Asura King originated from this moment)

The true victims are Dimlin and Sterling, who hold letters resembling celestial texts, utterly perplexed. Sometimes, after exerting tremendous effort to decipher the 'code,' the content often turns out to be: 'The weather is great today. I ate too much watermelon and almost had diarrhea.'

Yes. There is actually no moon tonight

"There is no need for that, Sterling; I would rather you live well for my sake." Zichuan Canxing smiled, and the smile added infinite charm to that expressionless face. "Have you seen Zichuan Xiu? How was it?"

Oh, Lord Xiuchuan, you need not worry!" Kadan casually hung a sign reading "Meeting in Progress, Please Do Not Disturb" on the door, "At worst, they will say 'Deputy Director Xiuchuan holds meetings seven days a week,' and they will even praise your dedication to your work!

The current head of the Zichuan family is fifty-three years old. Six years ago, his illustrious brother, Zichuan Yuanxing, died in battle against the Liufeng Army, leaving behind an heir, Zichuan Ning, who was only nine years old at the time. Consequently, he naturally assumed the supreme position of the family.

Zichuan Xiu has already broken in

The staff members who were questioned were all taken aback, only able to point randomly with their hands, and their directions varied. Therefore, it can only be attributed to a miracle that Zichuan Xiu was able to find the correct location.

Ming Yu was secretly asking Zichuan Ning: "Where is the Minister of Justice going?"

Don't be so naive! Everything counts the same, so don't confuse me! Gifts are calculated separately

Roger: "Yes, yes, and her hips have sagged a bit. I think adults are probably too conservative."

Whenever they encounter enemies, even those with formidable combat strength like armored beasts, the troops of Diling dare to charge fiercely into battle, using spears, sabers, swords, bows and arrows, and even stones, bare hands, or biting with their teeth without flinching. The demon clan exclaims: "The troops of Diling are madmen!"

Hell!" Zichuan Xiu shouted in despair

I do not mean to blame you, young man; sometimes it is necessary to relax a bit. However, it should not be at this moment... You must understand that 'over there' is watching you very closely right now. I am worried they might take this opportunity to act against you. You did not return last night, so I dispatched two guards to look for you. If something were to happen to you, even if I had to confront Yang Minghua immediately, I would still retrieve you.

In the future, another attendee—Commander Roger, the military affairs commander—stated: "Don't listen to that witch Baichuan blabbering about 'women's intuition' again. Her memoir is purely a scheme to make money, written by a ghostwriter. Even a fool could tell that Lord Sterling was mentally unstable at that time! Otherwise, how could a master like Lord Sterling nearly cut off half of his own hand while slicing a watermelon? And how could he have asked us five times, 'When are you returning to the capital?' 'When are you going back to the capital?' 'When are you returning to the capital, Roger?'... Otherwise, how could a master like Lord Sterling nearly cut off half of his own hand while slicing a watermelon? And how could he have asked us five times, 'When are you returning to the capital?' 'When are you going back to the capital?' 'When are you returning to the capital, Roger?'... Each time we answered clearly, yet within three minutes he would ask again, 'When...''.

Did Li Qing know?

The two stopped in their tracks, with Zichuan Xiu staring directly into Sterling's eyes, while Sterling was avoiding his gaze

The entire western border of the demon clan was severely "purified" by the sword and fire of Emperor Lin, leaving it unable to recover for a hundred years. The hatred that the demon clan and other non-human races harbor towards humanity has reached an unprecedented level, which even the future benevolent governance of the Zichuan family will be unable to eradicate

My wife ran off with another man, sold the house before leaving, and took the safe and the keys with her

Be cautious of him! Sterling, I know you are good friends with him, but once he fails to recognize the situation and joins Yang Minghua's camp... we may have to take the initiative first

However, private discussions continued unabated, and even Yang Minghua himself secretly complained to his confidants, saying: "Dilin has gone too far."

"Indeed, no one dares to openly confront each other; now everyone is operating in the shadows," Sterling said earnestly. "The advice from the capital is genuine; be extra cautious! Recently, many people have been ambushed in the dark alleys of the capital. Every morning, the garbage collectors find a large number of bodies. Many prominent figures have met their end this way. Just last week, my deputy, Vice Flag Officer Shu, was taken away after getting drunk in a tavern. Three days later, we discovered his body by the moat."

At this time, Sterling is twenty-three years old, at the pinnacle of his vibrant youth, exuding a passionate vitality. He is of medium height, with a spirited crew cut, light brown skin, and sharp eyes, strikingly handsome—distinct from the languid, delicate appearance of the dandy sons of the Zichuan family and the cold, aloof demeanor of the proud, icy Dimlin. He embodies a robust masculinity, characterized by the decisive and straightforward demeanor unique to soldiers, with an upright style, dignified manners, a brisk approach, and a cheerful disposition.

Dilin relentlessly pursued, and along the way, any non-human villages, towns, or cities that dared to resist even slightly were immediately subjected to his orders for massacre, indiscriminately killing all, regardless of age or gender, and then setting the entire city ablaze. Often, after the army passed, all that remained behind was a clear sky and scorched earth

Sterling, can you postpone the repayment of the money I owe you for three months?

According to the preliminary investigation conclusions of the Minister of Justice, this may be a consequence of the collapse of the mental hospital wall three days ago. An investigation has already been initiated to ensure the capture of this extremely dangerous patient with aggressive psychological tendencies, so that the citizens of the Imperial Capital can feel secure. It is recommended that the relevant departments strengthen the maintenance and investment in such civil facilities. Reporting address: Third Office of the Public Security Maintenance Section of the Minister of Justice in the Imperial Capital.

Kadan said regretfully, "Alas, you have the advantage this time. If it weren't for my good relationship with your sister, Zichuan Ning..."

After drinking a cup of tea, Sterling immediately felt refreshed, and the spirited Sterling returned to him once again

On this scorching day in August of the 778th year of the Empire, Sterling was twenty-three years old, Dilling was twenty-four, and Zichuan Xiu was eighteen. The three outstanding members of the Zichuan family were still caught in the whirlpool of the era's tide, rolling and struggling without control, unable to dictate the pace and direction of the era's trends. However, the day when they could do so was drawing ever closer

Zichuan Ning once compared the temperaments of the three outstanding members of his family: "Sterling is a fierce tiger, possessing the aura of a king; Dillin resembles a cobra, cold and cruel, difficult to approach; as for Zichuan Xiu, it is hard to describe, one can only say he is like a slug..."

We all believe that Dilling is in a precarious situation. Roger answered first, hoping to present this idol of his as a shrewd figure, "Deeply isolated, with no reinforcements, facing formidable enemies, unable to advance."

Yes, my lord! This official will do his utmost!

Sterling revealed a hint of pride: "However, I dare say that my troops are no worse than hers. Under her fierce assaults, other units collapse at the first charge, yet we have managed to maintain our order! After nearly a thousand miles of pursuit, she has never been able to gain the upper hand over me, and even in the final confrontation, she suffered losses at my hands!"

Sterling did not understand the meaning of Zichuan Canxing, so he honestly replied: "March 20, Tuesday"

Is Yang Minghua so bold that he is not afraid the Far East Army will rebel

Indeed, Zichuan Sanxing said slowly: "The timing of Zichuan Xiu's return is too coincidental. As soon as he returns, Di Lin is about to set off. Apart from him, there haven't been many experts entering the imperial capital recently..."

You have seen it all, yet there is no response! She never gives me the chance to be alone with her

Sir, do you mean that Yang Minghua's purpose in bringing Di Lin back is to deal with Ge Yingxing?

I know that Li Qing is a very nice girl

Sterling remained silent, his face turning a deep shade of iron.

Under the command of the Emperor, no one dared to disobey orders, no one dared to neglect their duties, and even fewer dared to retreat or hesitate.

Shirakawa expressed dissatisfaction: "What reason do I have to ask a girl about her measurements!"

The phrase "园明公开央奇中帝后光会大天光明" does not have a clear meaning in standard Chinese and appears to be a collection of characters that may not form a coherent sentence or idea. It could be a poetic or artistic expression, or possibly a coded message. Without additional context, it is difficult to provide an accurate translation or interpretation.

"I heard the banner lord say, Sir, are you looking for me?"

Without saying a word, he handed over all the last few thousand yuan in cash from his pocket to Kadan. Kadan shook his head: "Not enough"

Sterling also laughed, and Zichuan Xiu had a similar trick: when it came to topics he disliked, he would say, "Let me think about it! Oh dear, there's a mouse crawling over there; oh dear, that bird is so big; oh dear, the moon is very round today!"

Zichuan Xiu, by nature, enjoys creating a bit of trouble. In his own words, he said: "This is what it means to do secret work!" He insisted on using a "code" in the correspondence between him, Diling, and Sterling, and the method of coding varied each time. Sometimes it involved skipping one character, sometimes two, at other times it was an arithmetic sequence, or a geometric sequence, and there were even instances of backward skipping or skipping in the middle.

Watching his silhouette, Zichuan Xiu's eyes were filled with worry: "I hope it is not as I feared..."

This means that Liu Feng Xishan is not at ease with any of his sons, regardless of who inherits. As long as there is assistance from Liu Feng Shuang, the Liu Feng family is unlikely to perish

Lin Xiujia's appearance made him laugh out loud "haha"

What are you talking about? Only your Imperial Guard's uniforms in the entire family army are trimmed with gold, yet you say there is no money! It was agreed that this would serve as a wedding gift!

In the sixth Hengchuan Campaign, the invading demon regular army was defeated, resulting in over 70,000 killed and nearly 50,000 captured

No," Zichuan Xiu tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "It's just ordinary shamelessness"

Ming Yu also raised the sign: "37, 20, 38, 1000. However, I believe your estimation of her bust size may be incorrect. Based on my years of experience, it is highly likely that she is using padding—make sure to clarify this later, Baichuan!"

Zichuan Xiu looked up at the overcast sky and raised his eyebrows, saying, "That's right!"

He sighed again

It truly shows your heartfelt efforts! I heard that you encountered the Liufengshuang troops during the second expedition. How was it?

That could possibly be ... ...

What assistance can I provide you with

Really?" Zichuan Xiumu stared in astonishment, his face filled with disbelief

Kadan shook his head

From the distant Far East came a thunderous vibration, heralding the rise of a brilliant star of war. Dilling, following the illustrious achievements of Zichuan Xiu, has secured a second great victory in the war against the demon race

Nonsense

When he arrived at the scene, Di Lin respectfully received him while secretly ordering the execution of the last batch of five thousand prisoners of war. By the time Luo Bo realized what had happened, the ground was already strewn with corpses

According to the historian Tang Chuan of the Zichuan family, "In the first major campaign of the Red Flag Army of Diling, five large cities of the demon race were bloodily washed and burned, along with seventy-two towns and over two hundred villages. The number of demons and other non-human civilians who died at the hands of the Diling Legion, either directly (through collective slaughter) or indirectly (due to starvation or freezing from the loss of winter food and warm clothing), reached as high as 1,800,000."

Sterling seemed to speak with careful consideration: "This issue is indeed a dilemma for you and me, but for Dilling, it is completely unproblematic. He never worries about supplies—perhaps this is the difference between a renowned general and a mediocre one." There was an unspoken bitterness in his tone

Sterling gave a bleak smile upon seeing a small tavern by the roadside. He turned back and said, "I do have a solution to the problem. A drink can resolve a thousand worries! Come in, it's on me."

Zichuan Xiu sighed and simply said, "Plunder on the spot to resolve the supply issue."

She only suspects that I have another woman outside, but she does not yet know who it is

Did you discover it early?" Sterling's lips trembled, losing the usual calm and composed demeanor of a tough man

In the severe winter of February in the year 779 of the Imperial Calendar, the situation in the Far East underwent a new turn.

This is a placeholder text.

Liu Fengshuang, a young girl, disregarded the arrows raining down and astonishingly removed her armor, standing bare-chested under the great flag, visible to both friend and foe on the battlefield. She raised her saber high and shouted, "Soldiers of the Liu Feng family, are you not even as good as a woman? Show some spirit! Charge!" Such a spirit was truly admirable. Her guard was equally reckless, all bare-chested, using their bodies to shield Liu Fengshuang from the arrows. As one fell, another immediately took their place... Her guard was equally reckless, all bare-chested, using their bodies to shield Liu Fengshuang from the arrows. As one fell, another immediately took their place...

I only know that in the past, His Highness the Far Star once taught him the basics of the Ripple Technique. After he went to the Far East, I am not clear about what happened next

Sterling replied earnestly: "At present, I can only think of one point. Yang Minghua's decision to transfer Diling to the Far East indicates that he has not yet planned to turn against us. Diling is one of Yang Minghua's most capable and trusted subordinates. If Yang Minghua were to take action, he would certainly employ a valiant general like Diling. When Yang Minghua decides to recall Diling, it will signify that he intends to take action." After a pause, he added: "I am ignorant and my thoughts are shallow; for now, this is all I can come up with."

The female secretary at the entrance was startled to the point of losing her color by the sudden intrusion of the wild man, desperately blocking his way: "You cannot go in! You do not have an appointment... Hurry, someone come, security!"

Later, scholars frequently criticized Tang Chuan's views as overly conservative, believing that his stance was too subjective. Tang Chuan himself was also on the payroll of the Zichuan family, which raises suspicions of him embellishing the legacy of the family patriarch, Di Lin

The long-term solution is also known as the 'one-time effort' method. Method one: tie a knot in the ceiling of the roof, stand on a stool, stretch your neck into it, and kick the stool away; Method two: go alone to the Great Demon Fortress to challenge the Demon King by name; Method three: publicly eliminate Yang Minghua during the annual military parade on January 1st. Which one do you prefer

Upon hearing the news, the Chief of Staff of the Far East Army, Luo Bo, was greatly alarmed and rode swiftly to intervene

Seeing the somewhat jealous Central Army Commander Lei Xun beside him, Yang Minghua reassured him, "Do not worry, when I grow old, the position of Chief will be yours."

***

Historians of later generations have reverently referred to Sterling as the "paradigmatic standard soldier of the Golden Age," while his contemporary, Shikawa Hidetaka, remarked: "Sterling was born to be a soldier!"

"Damn you!" murmured Zichuan Xiu softly, "Then do you love Li Qing?"

Sterling felt a surge of tension; he already knew who the person suspected by Zichuan Canxing was.

Sterling, it has been three years since you last met; people do change

Bai Chuan gave this group of lecherous men a disdainful glance, went out and then returned, announcing: "Thirty-eight, twenty-one, thirty-seven"

At this time, Di Lin was hailed by some as the family's "new war god," the first general of the family since Yun Shanhe, with unparalleled achievements. Others, however, denounced him as a "cold-blooded maniac," a "butcher," and the "king of murder." He himself remained indifferent as he returned to the Valen Far East Military Command, where he received his promotion to the position of deputy commander along with a medal for military merit.

Only those races that are close to humanity can seek to save their lives from this officer. To survive, they must contribute their family assets, supply provisions, and even send young and strong individuals to join the army of the Empire.

Why are you looking at me like that

It is said that Li Qingqi is originally a member of the Li family, a prestigious family in the capital

At the moment when the imperial army was heavily besieging the two hundred thousand demon troops of Gemara and Yun Qianxue in the icy wilderness, a new enemy emerged deep within the Demon Kingdom—the second prince of the demon race, Kalan, led two hundred thousand elite guards to reinforce Yun Qianxue

"I didn't bring it; I left it at home." It is more likely that it was taken along with the wallet when those thugs searched me.

Ah, this is the life of a deputy leader that I have always hoped for! Zichuan Xiu looked with satisfaction at the newly decorated, luxurious spacious office, the imposing large desk (with fine wine and erotic books hidden in the dark cabinet), comfortably seated in a leather chair, and even able to loudly give orders to the beautiful secretary in a super short skirt: "Bring me that journal from ten years ago on top of the cabinet!" As she climbed up on the stool, Zichuan Xiu propped up his chin and raised his head, focusing intently on the view... Everyone is a man, there is no need to be so explicit!

"The star of the brotherhood will return with his six thousand guards, but the imperial forces number fifty thousand, almost a ten to one ratio, which can certainly bring the brotherhood to its demise"

The silent Kadan said: "Your Excellency Xiuchuan, the injury on your eye—perhaps I can be of some assistance to you."

Ah... yes.

The streets of our capital city are very clean

No problem! Zichuan Xiu followed Sterling's intense gaze and discovered a fourth person. Although seated on the sofa, this individual sat upright and composed, showing no interest in the abundant food on the table

Zichuan Xiuduan sat upright on the sofa, facing Baichuan, Roger, Mingyu, Zichuan Ning, and Kadan, all of whom wore solemn expressions, their faces serious, tightly drawn, and their mouths closed, as if a frog might leap out the moment they opened their mouths

Roger once exclaimed to Shirakawa: "Look at Lord Sterling, he resembles a lovesick middle school student, he has lost his mind"

Zichuan Xiu felt a wave of dizziness: "Stop the noise, stop the noise. How is Zichuan Ning also here?"

As Lin Xiujia's figure walked out of the study, Diling muttered to himself, repeating what he had just said: "It's just that you don't understand the bond between the three of us! However, it is indeed difficult to explain to a woman what brotherhood means in life and death!"

Sterling was speechless

I do not intend to interfere in your private life, but since you are a member of my department, I hope you can adhere to the rules and regulations of our office and exercise restraint. Do you understand

The severe and iron-fisted oppression of the Empire is not solely directed at the foreign races; the human soldiers of the Zichuan family are equally lamenting their plight. Over a thousand cavalrymen who retreated in the face of the enemy were executed in front of the entire army; more than forty soldiers who were late to assemble in the morning were dragged for a full five kilometers by horses; sentinels caught sleeping on duty were punished with fifty lashes—by the time they reached twenty lashes, the sentinel had already succumbed, yet the military officer dared not disobey orders and continued to administer the full fifty, effectively "whipping a corpse." Sentinels caught sleeping on duty were punished with fifty lashes—by the time they reached twenty lashes, the sentinel had already succumbed, yet the military officer dared not disobey orders and continued to administer the full fifty, effectively "whipping a corpse."

Sterling Interface stated: "But what if, instead of attacking Gemara, Dillin turns southwest to launch an offensive against the relatively weak city of Ica? By capturing Ica, Dillin would be able to establish contact with the border defense troops under Deputy Commander Leihong in the southeast, alleviating concerns about the rear and reinforcements. At the same time, it would completely isolate nearly five thousand square kilometers of demon territory, allowing for a gradual and methodical approach to eroding it..."

Sterling ignored him and entered the tavern first

Due to concerns about being caught in a pincer attack by Yun Qianxue and Kalan, as well as the difficulties faced by the human army in winter operations and the increasingly challenging logistics for supplies, Emperor Lin made a decisive decision to order a retreat

Zhi Chuan Xiu! Lin Xiu Jia guessed it in one go

Sterling raised an eyebrow and said flatly, "I heard, didn't I?" His tone did not convey the expected joy

Shirakawa then replied: "In the presence of the Lord, everyone is a captive of their emotions; no one can escape this." He then fell into a contemplative silence...

The beautiful and dignified demon princess, Kadan

Sterling was left speechless

Zichuan Xiuxiao said: "Let me think for a moment—I've heard that you are about to marry Li Qingqi, right?"

I have a fiancée, and she loves me very much

You think I am very shameless, don't you

On the sofa sat the three lively characters, Baichuan, Roger, and Mingyu, who were unabashedly sharing the food prepared for guests by the Zichuan Ning family

Zichuan Xiu glanced around and saw that no one was paying attention here. He took a deep breath and said, "I apologize, brother!" He gently patted the guard's shoulder, and the guard immediately fell silent and slumped down. Zichuan Xiu quickly supported him, pretending that he was just dozing off against the wall

Due to the orderly retreat of the Diling army and their impressive military demeanor, with the saying "the vanguard remains calm, and the rearguard is fearless," they were flawless in their execution. Therefore, Kalan and Yun Qianxue did not dare to launch a reckless attack. Rather than calling it a "pursuit," it would be more accurate to describe it as an "escort" as they followed to the Hengchuan front. Both sides then restored their original lines, bringing an end to this military operation that lasted six months and would later be referred to as the "First Great Expedition".

Zichuan Xiu asked Baichuan: "Where is the article published? On the front page or the second page?"

Sterling looked at him warily: "If you dare to laugh out loud again, I will kill you"

Sterling, I remember when I was very young, you, I, and Dilling had already sworn allegiance to Miss Zichuan Ning under the late Lord Zichuan Yuansheng, have you forgotten?

"Shirakawa, please do not look at your superior with that kind of gaze! The situation is as follows: I got up at night to use the restroom, and when I returned to my room, I got lost and accidentally walked into your room... This is a perfectly reasonable explanation!"

Di Lin sat down again, gently holding Lin Xiu Jia in his arms: "How could that be? My wife, Di Lin, could never be anything but the smartest one"

Time flies swiftly, and the capital remains peaceful and tranquil, akin to the calm before a storm; half a year has passed

Where are the documents

No need for that

Roger, Shirakawa, and Mingyu immediately stood up to salute. Sterling has always been an idol for the younger generation of military personnel in the family due to his exceptional talent, charming demeanor, and charismatic personality. While Shirakawa and the others may not recognize the family patriarch or the president, they would certainly not fail to recognize Sterling

As long as I am aware, that is sufficient. If we act against them now, it would clearly indicate to Yang Minghua that Di Lin is one of us

As for the matter of recalling the large army to deal with Yang Minghua, it is unrealistic. To confront the 170,000 central troops, we would need to mobilize at least 200,000 troops from the Far East, along with 100,000 from the border defense forces and 80,000 from the Black Flag Army. Such a large-scale troop movement would undoubtedly not escape Yang Minghua's notice, and would only force him into a desperate situation, prompting an immediate rebellion, which would lead to our downfall

The result was that the Flowing Wind Army charged at us like madmen. As soon as Minghui saw the Flowing Wind Frost's banner, he quickly retreated at an astonishing speed. Yang Li was still unaware of the situation and actually ordered his troops to hold the line at all costs, resulting in heavy losses for his forces, which soon fell into disarray. Fortunately, Fang Jing and I joined forces to cover the rear, fighting while retreating. Even after being pursued for several hundred kilometers, we could not shake her off until we reached the border defense line, where we were finally supported by Minghui's border troops, at which point Flowing Wind Frost ceased her pursuit.

Why has Princess Nakadan also come here

What is everyone talking about?" Sterling said "everyone," but his eyes were only on Cardan

"This is the first time I have felt this way." Sterling's voice was faint, yet his tone was resolute: "I love her."

To be honest, the way Di Lin is handling things in the Far East will make it difficult to clean up this mess in the future. Zichuan Xiu said, "He only cares about immediate convenience, killing all the captives. In the future, who would dare to surrender to us? They will only fight to the death. Moreover, the massacre of civilians and the plundering of food supplies are practices I truly cannot endorse. Losing the support of the people, how can our family establish itself in the Far East?"

He frowned: "What a strong smell of alcohol! Heaven, what is that yellow stuff on you? Is it feces or mud? Why does your face look like a panda's?"

Silence

Which husband still harbors such deep love and tenderness for his wife two years after marriage? While others say that marriage is the grave of love, Lin Xiujia feels that this grave is a paradise, for she has married an almost perfect husband

The score automatically dropped to thirty-five, and Zichuan Xiu immediately categorized her as a type of old maid who yearns for love but has become psychologically twisted due to long-term unfulfillment, thus harboring resentment towards the happiness of others

Oh dear, hearing you speak so dangerously, the honest and timid Zichuan Xiu can only keep a distance, waiting for you two giants to settle your scores before I return to shake hands with the victor

Lin Xiujia displayed a look of dissatisfaction: "It's him again, always asking you to do dangerous things. I just don't understand, when the three of you divided the tasks, why was it assigned to you to go undercover? You always say they are friends, yet the most dangerous tasks are left to you..."

Sterling also sat down without any pretense, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, even the notoriously shameless Shichuan Xiu had to admire this guy's thick skin

Thus, the name of Di Lin became the embodiment of nightmares and invincibility, spreading throughout the demon-controlled regions of the Far East. After he bloodily slaughtered the four demon cities of Glank, Kaz, Henglan, and Kashlaiqi, no city dared to defy him. Wherever his army went, the demon cities opened their gates to kneel in welcome. The city garrison either fled in panic or surrendered their weapons.

"Well, that's good, and quite profound as well," Zichuan Canxing said with a smile, "but it's a bit too optimistic. Have you considered it from Yang Minghua's perspective?"

Ming Yu, feeling quite unconvinced, took out money and said, "There is no reason for this; how could I have misjudged?"

Ah, Baichuan, you are awake. What a coincidence! I actually see you in your bedroom!

Roger raised a sign: "38, 21, 38, I also bet 1,000!"

Bai Chuan glanced at the response: "The location is below the expert outpatient clinic for the treatment of syphilis and sexually transmitted diseases, above the advertisement for Jin Qiang Bu Dao Wan."

Zichuan Xiu smiled silently

Zichuan Xiusheng's voice was deep: "Give it up, brother, this is simply madness. You must understand, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will help you, even at the cost of my life. However, this... you are no longer fifteen! This is just a momentary impulse! She doesn't even know who you are!"

Yang Minghua possesses a hidden strength that we are unaware of! Zi Chuan Canxing stated word by word, "He definitely has it; otherwise, he wouldn't be so confident. Moreover, this hidden expert must meet three conditions: First, his martial arts must be sufficiently high; second, he must reside in the imperial capital; third, he must not arouse suspicion from others... Have you thought of anyone who meets these conditions?"

Upon arriving at the front of the General's Mansion, Sterling habitually surveyed and inspected the defenses on all sides

This is a placeholder text.

Hahaha ... ... Zhu Chuanxiu glanced at Sterling's expression, her laughter gradually diminishing, and finally she cautiously asked, "Sterling, this wouldn't be ... ... "

Haha, hee hee hee, heh heh heh

Only a few close confidants, such as Sterling, knew: how sharp and astonishing was the fleeting light that passed through those lifeless eyes in an instant

Luo Minghai merely nodded coldly and said: "Thank you for your cultivation, my lord"

Correct. Zichuan Xiu accidentally stepped on a dead cat.

Then you ... ... '' Zichuan Xiutai understands the personality of his friend; he will definitely not let this go so easily

After being awakened in the morning by the garbage workers collecting the bodies, Zichuan Xiu rushed directly to the administrative office without having time to go home and change clothes, and as a result ... ...

"What letter is this, pursuing so closely? You just returned to the capital and have already received it." Lin Xiujia, his beautiful wife, approached him.

This is the greatest victory since the war between humans and the demon race began, but what is most shocking about this battle is not the impressive results, but the brutality of Emperor Lin, who ordered the execution of all captured prisoners, leaving not a single survivor

In the Grand Residence, Zichuan Canxing spoke bitterly to Sterling, saying: "Yang Minghua has recalled Diling; he is about to take action."

Indeed, it is said that Liufeng Xishan has already issued an order to appoint Liufeng Shuang as the 'Lifetime Regent Commander'

Zichuan Xiumin敏感地察觉到斯特林的不悦，立刻转移话题："我在远东带回来了一批精灵怪，给你们送两对吧"

On March 11, 779 of the Imperial Calendar, Commander Yang Minghua, representing the Commander's Office, submitted a proposal to Chief Zichuan Canxing: "In light of the long-term battles fought by Deputy Commander Diling and his subordinates, who have made great contributions and endured hardships, both physically and mentally exhausted, it is appropriate for the family to reward those who have served with distinction. I propose to transfer Deputy Commander Diling back to the Imperial Capital to receive commendation and rest, along with the 50,000 meritorious soldiers under his command who should also return to receive their rewards."

"A love letter?" Lin Xiujia said with a hint of reproach

Lin Xiujia nodded obediently and said, "It is my fault; I should not have spoken out of turn."

Sterling delivered a powerful punch that knocked Zichuan Xiu to the ground.

Sterling directly arrived at the study, located dozens of meters underground, and after saluting, spoke: "My lord?"

Excerpt from Commander Shirakawa's private memoir "Days by the Side of Adults": "... He (Sterling) responded to the greeting very properly, his words of inquiry were quite appropriate, and he even sat down to share a frozen watermelon with us, kindly addressing our doubts in martial arts. Everything seemed normal, but for some reason, I always felt a hint of distraction in him, which was quite unusual. I told myself, perhaps this is what they call a woman's intuition?" I told myself, perhaps this is what they call a woman's intuition?

Shut your filthy mouth

The officers of the Zichuan family in the room turned their heads, not daring to meet the bright eyes of the young girl. Only Roger muttered softly, "War is cruel..." but no one paid him any attention

Dilin gazed slowly at the white clouds drifting across the blue sky outside the window, tranquil as water

The female secretary is as ugly as a demon's mother! Sir, have you seen "Midnight Horror"? You don't need to buy a ticket at the cinema; just come to our office and take a look at our secretary.

"That is true." Zichuan Xiumang gazed at Sterling's face, which had become gaunt, with prominent cheekbones and deeply sunken eyes. He could not comprehend why his dear friend was suffering so much for love, all the while having to maintain an appearance of nonchalance as he dealt with heavy military duties every day, engaging in intrigues with Yang Minghua's group, exhausting himself mentally and physically

He sympathized with Sterling and admired his resilience even more, thinking to himself: "If it were me, I couldn't do it. Fortunately, I wouldn't fall for such foolishness; what love! Bah! Those young women wandering beneath the Grand Hotel in the capital, which one isn't as beautiful as a fairy? Five thousand yuan a night, why bother with love so troublesome!"

Do you have special abilities for healing

Zichuan Xiu: "Bai Chuan, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and go ask her!"

Where is the office of the section chief

Sterling smiled: "He has calculated everything too cleverly!"

"Sterling, what do you plan to do now?" The tone of Zichuan Xiu turned serious.

At this point, Sterling let out a long sigh: "Liu Fengshuang, truly a remarkable figure! At that time, we had already encircled nearly 100,000 troops of Liu Fengming and Liu Fengqing, and they had begun to scatter. We were just a breath away from launching a decisive battle. It was at this moment that Liu Fengshuang's troops appeared, without any banners, numbering less than 8,000, all cavalry.

Zichuan Xiu asked in surprise: "Right away?"

Sterling: "Even if Dilling does not engage Gorsen, he can still directly surround Kamala with his superior forces, waiting for Yun Qianxue's two hundred thousand troops to become so hungry that they have no choice but to surrender."

If you don't like it either, then I have no choice but to resort to the last method. After all, Kadan is under my guardianship. I will lock her in whichever empty room and then hand you the key

"Yes!" Sterling immediately stood up, bowed, and apologized: "I am sorry, my lord..."

Zichuan Xiu described the events of today in detail, and Sterling listened attentively. Finally, he sighed deeply: "It is indeed difficult for Emperor Lin! His situation is the most perilous, and his psychological pressure must be immense"

In Gemara, Diling encountered the first strong resistance since the outbreak of war. The young general of the demon army, Yun Qianxue, who possesses royal blood, led an army of 200,000 in Gemara, standing ready with solid fortifications.

The two paused again, locking eyes for a moment

Zichuan Xiuye smiled wryly: "This is not related to ability; it is purely a matter of perspective. You need not belittle yourself too much."

"Go to hell, you are the one! What I meant by 'misfortune' is not this! Let me ask you, what is the second greatest misfortune for a man..."

Alright, Sterling, you better hurry and persuade Zichuan Xiu to join us. He himself is a master, and his more than forty subordinates are seasoned warriors from the Far East, brave and skilled in battle. Although they are few in number, their combat effectiveness is quite strong, making them a significant force. With his participation, our 'Cavalry' plan will be even easier to succeed.

Zichuan Xiuxin contentedly counted the cash: "The smell of money is truly delightful, and as for books, how about we bet on whether she is a virgin or not? I bet she isn't, I'll wager 1,000!"

"Ah, oh, what?" Sterling spoke incoherently, "What's wrong?"

Sterling briefly said: "Same feeling!"

Last night, after a wild drunken spree with Sterling, for reasons unknown, I suddenly got into a fight with some thugs. Through this incident, Zichuan Xiu discovered two truths: First, the combined fighting power of two top-tier experts who are completely drunk is equivalent to that of a pig; second, the sewers of the imperial capital are truly foul, especially for those who, after losing a fight, are thrown in and left to lie there for an entire night.

On March 19, upon receiving orders, Emperor Lin brought fifty thousand "meritorious soldiers" from the Far East, setting off in grand procession from the Valen Fortress, with the capital as their destination

However, the intelligence he provided is indeed very valuable. How do you plan to deal with the two traitors on your side

Two individuals are conversing in the garden in pursuit of confidentiality

Please enlighten me, my lord

What does this mean

"Yes, sir, oh no, Director Ge. Zichuan Xiu is reporting to you and is at your service."

Therefore, after much consideration, I can only think of two possibilities that would make Yang Minghua dare to do this

Zichuan Xiu frowned and said, "But this is not a solution to the problem"

Sterling nodded solemnly

Dilin mischievously winked and said, "Try it the other way around"

Zichuan Xiu slowly got up, took the handkerchief that Sterling handed over, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and slowly spoke: "As for me, I would rather you die than walk this path. After all, death is only painful once."

"Hmm, the director came to report to me yesterday. I'm not in a hurry; why are you so anxious?" The guard clearly appeared to be skeptical. Of course, Zichuan Xiu had to sadly admit that his disbelief was entirely justified

I await your instructions and am willing to serve you

Both individuals were taken aback, staring at each other in surprise

Di Lin's cold demeanor, akin to a handsome face covered in severe ice, rarely revealed a smile: "I only love you." He handed over the letter.

Zichuan Xiu sighed and waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, everyone, please laugh."

Kadan, merely one of the two parties involved, seems oblivious to Sterling's infatuation. He comes and goes without a trace, treating him no differently than he would treat anyone else. While he does not completely shun him, there is also no warmth in his response.

"Pervert, could you please be a bit more discreet when pursuing girls? You like Kadan, but there's no need to be so blatant about it. I'm afraid it will get out... I can hardly contain myself!"

There is nothing new to report. Firstly, Yang Minghua refused to agree to provide new equipment for Minghui's border defense troops, resulting in that batch of equipment falling into the hands of Lei Xun's central army; secondly, our director, Ge Shan, had a heated argument with Luo Minghai over this matter, stating that Yang Minghua should not disrupt the established practice, as new equipment has always been allocated to the border defense troops first—I am somewhat unclear about this old maid's position.

Sterling let out a bitter smile. Li Qing was still the same, very gentle, rational, and resolute, even when speaking words of reproach, she was unwilling to hurt her own self-esteem. With such a virtuous wife, what more could a husband ask for? If it weren't for last night's experience, she would indeed be a very suitable lifelong partner for him, almost perfect in every way.

***

"The round public center will see the dawn after the meeting, yet I still do not understand!"

Bai Chuan unfolded the "Dito Evening News" newspaper and read aloud: "Today's Interesting News: Today, a mental patient, claiming to be the Vice Commander Xiuchuan, recently transferred from the Far East back to the capital, suddenly attacked the duty guard, entered the administrative office to cause chaos, and barged into Director Geshan's office, where he was expelled by Director Geshan. One of the eyewitnesses, Miss Jin Meili, a female staff member of the administrative office, stated (a photo of a bloated woman with a foolish expression and an incredibly ugly appearance appears here, looking pitiful): 'How terrifying, how terrifying! He even tried to assault me! How can I... Oh dear, how can I possibly say that...' The main party involved in this incident, Director Geshan, has not made any comments on the matter. One of the eyewitnesses, Miss Jin Meili, a female staff member of the administrative office, stated (a photo of a bloated woman with a foolish expression and an incredibly ugly appearance appears here, looking pitiful): 'How terrifying, how terrifying! He even tried to assault me! How can I... Oh dear, how can I possibly say that...' The main party involved in this incident, Director Geshan, has not made any comments on the matter.

Di Lin rose to his feet, brimming with an imposing aura as he rolled up his sleeves, looking around: "Who! Who dares to say my wife is foolish! Step forward, and I will confront him!"

He turned to Zichuan Xiu and said, "Hey, how come... how come... you fell asleep?"

Sterling bid farewell to the Zichuan Ning family, and Zichuan Xiu accompanied him home

Even towards Zichuan Ning, he rarely took on the demeanor of an elder brother, strictly forbidding her from uttering a single word to her confidant Li Qing. Thus, this matter fortunately did not leak out of Zichuan Ning's residence

Thank you for your apology, it is quite useful to us, and perhaps we can recover the time wasted due to your tardiness

Zichuan Xiu gently said: "No, I believe that at this moment, Diling holds the initiative in strategic advantage"

Zichuan Xiu: "If it were someone else, I could still argue with reason. Don't you see that for hundreds of years, it has always been the demon clan bullying us? This little bit of retaliation doesn't even count as interest!" But when I saw Kadan's eyes, I couldn't say anything at all...

A very attractive young lady arrived at the Tianmeng Restaurant, though she is somewhat pretentious

"Tomorrow after the meeting, Central Park... Oh, I see, someone asked you to meet at Central Park after the meeting tomorrow!" She saw the corners of Diling's mouth curve into a smile, and suddenly threw herself into his arms, patting his broad chest, "I won't go! You must be laughing at how silly I am again!"

After several tentative exchanges, Di Lin understood that the opponent he faced this time was unlike any before. The elite guard troops of the demon clan far surpassed the ordinary in terms of morale, combat effectiveness, and loyalty

Sterling shuddered slightly, but he merely replied, "Yes, my lord"

"I was just joking, you really have no sense of humor!" Lin Xiujia complained to him, but her heart felt as sweet as if it had been smeared with honey. "Is it a work-related letter? Then I shouldn't read it."

Sir, do you know that we are samurai? In the Far East, a samurai is a high official who governs hundreds of thousands of people. Yet here, we are even worse off than the refugees who petition for help.

Di Lin, young and handsome, exceptionally talented and holding a high position of power, has attracted countless beautiful young women with his "unutterably cool and sexy" demeanor as a red-clad samurai (now serving as deputy commander). Many have attempted to win his affection, but they all crashed into an iceberg—an iceberg built from Di Lin's indifference and tranquility, keeping others at bay. Among the unmarried women in the capital, a saying has circulated: "Di Lin is an insurmountable iceberg!"

At that time, neither I, Fang Jin, Ming Hui, nor Yang Li (who was the border defense commander at the time) took those eight thousand men seriously. Fang Jin merely dispatched three infantry formations to block them—there should have been no problem theoretically, as three infantry formations should be able to hold off a cavalry division. Who would have thought that those three formations would be reduced to saber fragments in less than ten minutes, as her troops were too fierce! They also scattered one of Yang Li's infantry divisions, and thus continued to charge into the encirclement. Who would have thought that those three formations would be reduced to saber fragments in less than ten minutes, as her troops were too fierce! They also scattered one of Yang Li's infantry divisions, and thus continued to charge into the encirclement.

I know that you blame Lord Canxing for what happened six years ago, but at that time, Lord Canxing had just taken over the position of the Chief, and the political situation was entirely manipulated by Yang Minghua. He had no choice but to partner with Yang Minghua to deal with you! However, he often tells me afterward that he regrets it and that he should not have allowed a meritorious person like you to suffer humiliation. Moreover, now both you and he have a common enemy in Yang Minghua. Regardless of the circumstances, Yang Minghua will not let you go, and your only chance of survival is to join forces with us

Yang Minghua laughed heartily: "Leixun, you are jealous! Haha, I brought Diling back for a reason, so you need not think too much about it. He is still very useful now, hahahaha..."

Rest assured! The Liu family is also too busy! Their patriarch, Liu Feng, is on the verge of death, and his children are preoccupied with vying for power and profit, just like us, unable to spare any effort! None of Liu Feng's three sons are capable; their father is indecisive, unsure of whom to pass the position to, as each one seems a bit more foolish than the other two

It is alright, I have no secrets from you

Why? Several voices asked at the same time

Dilin smiled again: "I am truly happy that you and I share the same view of him"

Sterling struggled to get up from the bed, feeling a sudden, splitting headache.

At this moment, while Di Lin was establishing an unprecedented achievement, Zichuan Xiu, one of the three outstanding figures alongside him, was diligently working hard in the office of the administrative department

Sterling felt a surge of emotion and choked out, "My lord, I am truly sorry. I have acted recklessly and foolishly. I am deeply grateful for such generous affection and am willing to go through fire and water for you..."

You are mistaken! Sterling seemed to have made up his mind, "There are far worse things than this! For example, a hot-blooded young man goes to a tavern after work and drinks a couple too many. When he wakes up, he finds himself lying in a strange bed, in an unfamiliar room, next to a female colleague he used to know well. For instance, a hot-blooded young man goes to a tavern after work and drinks a couple too many. When he wakes up, he finds himself lying in a strange bed, in an unfamiliar room, next to a female colleague he used to know well. She is not wearing any clothes and tearfully tells you that it is her first time, that she didn't intend for this to happen, but you are just too strong for her to resist. Then suddenly, the door to the room bursts open, and in walks a very imposing old man and a burly man over 1.9 meters tall, claiming to be the girl's father and older brother. They are very polite and reasonable, offering you two choices: either marry their daughter or castrate yourself. You can choose freely...

Zichuan Canxing changed the topic: "What is your opinion on Yang Minghua transferring Diling to the Far East?"

Kadan shouted sharply: "What about our civilians? Are we just going to let them starve to death?"

That's great! I've always wanted to find a sprite as a servant, but the market price is thirty thousand each. You soldiers out here are really wealthy!

Zichuan Xiu stated: "If Diling does not attack Ika City, he can advance towards the Guosen Grassland in the northeast. Occupying the Guosen Grassland would mean eliminating the magic crystals of the demon race and the renowned production area of Guoka horses. Diling could use the confiscated Guoka horses and magic stones to establish a cavalry force of 100,000 dragon riders, at which point the demon race would be in even greater distress."

Almost the only flaw is his identity, an extremely dangerous dual identity, which often causes Lin Xiujia to worry day and night

"That is different! My feelings for Li Qing are..." Sterling hesitated, then suddenly said: "Ah Xiu, do you know what the greatest misfortune for a man is?"

"Hmm, A-Xiu, do you see it this way as well?" Sterling looked at Zichuan Xiu, and as their gazes met, they immediately understood each other's meaning

It has been a long time since I sighed: "Zichuan Xiu and Sterling are not just my friends; they are my brothers. What you just said, I did not hear."

"I beg you," Zichuan Xiu pleaded softly, "I need to report to Director Ge Shan; the time has already passed!"

Dilin originally intended to hide the letter, but it was already too late

Oh, it's nothing. However, a couple of days ago, I heard that Lei Xun's adopted son, Lei Xiaoyun, was found dead in his mistress's home. The Ministry of Justice (the public security agency of the capital) believes this to be a case of burglary, and they are currently searching among the unemployed and local ruffians for the perpetrator. This is truly an unfortunate incident

This is a placeholder text.

Unfortunately, they did not see how he was at home Lin Xiujia smiled sweetly

Sterling merely sighed

Where else? They actually do not provide beverages

The moon is also very round

It is a pair of sunglasses, priced at 100 yuan, a product from a street vendor

Sterling asked in confusion: "I have a matter that I do not understand and would like to seek your guidance, my lord. Within the capital city, Yang Minghua commands the Central Army of Leixun, which is far stronger than us and holds an absolute advantage. Why did he unnecessarily call back the troops from Diling? This is completely unnecessary."