Chapter 4, The Legend of the Ancient Sea

"I pay my respects to the sect leader, I have met the hall master, and I have met the leader of Qinghe Sect!" said the man in white.

It is ! ''

Gu Hai took it, gently wiped his face and hands, and returned it to the man in the yellow robe

In the hall, there were only two people, one of whom was Gu Hai, who had been at the ancient mansion not long ago

In the great hall, everyone fell into a moment of silence, for all of this sounded rather sinister.

Isn't he being too sensitive, Gao Xianzhi? How could a mere small merchant possibly influence the course of the battle? A grain shop? A medicinal herb shop? Can he, Gu Hai, really affect the entire Song Dynasty?

The master of the flow of time and the young girl exchanged a glance, revealing a hint of surprise

Master Qinghe and Master Songjia continue to accompany Master Liunian and that young lady

Gu Hai appeared travel-worn, as if he had come from a long journey, but the only difference was that his once snow-white hair was now entirely black, with not a single strand of white remaining

What is the situation now?" Master Song Jia asked in a deep voice

"Stop the nonsense. Why did Gao Xianzhi say that Gu Hai is the best in military strategy of this era? Moreover, observing his military tactics, Gao Xianzhi is also incredibly confident and proud, so why is he being so cautious?" the young girl asked

"It is!" the ancient Han responded.

The leader of the Qinghe Sect furrowed his brows and said: "Back then, several sects approached me for the sake of their interests. It was my order that Chen Taiji should cease hostilities. It turns out that it was not Chen Taiji leading the troops, but rather Gu Hai who was secretly directing them?"

That would be wonderful. If my adoptive father can break through to the innate realm, our Gu family could prosper for another hundred years. No, my adoptive father only lacks this one opportunity. Once he breaks the barrier, no one will be able to stop his progress!

The night is deep, yet one of the main halls of the Tian residence is brightly lit

Father, you have come all this way without taking a break?" Gu Han expressed his concern

Yes, it has all been compiled into a volume!" Gu Han nodded.

"Indeed, it was Gao Xianzhi who said this. The ancient sea commanded the army, and it has been overly mythologized. The coalition of the six nations came, yet they were still manipulated by the ancient sea. The two hundred thousand troops of the six nations ultimately failed in their efforts, and the State of Chen took advantage of the victory to annihilate another nation." The man in white said in a deep voice

The man in white reluctantly nodded his head

The master of Qinghe suddenly brightened his eyes; this was the evaluation from Gao Xianzhi. The number one in the world? How could that be? However, listening to Gao Xianzhi's assessment, the master of Qinghe felt a wave of joy. Perhaps, just perhaps, Chen Guo truly had the ability to turn the tide

Oh? Invincible in all directions? the girl exclaimed in surprise

Oh, do you not have a favorable view of this ancient sea? the young girl asked curiously

Soon, a man dressed in white entered the hall

"The ancient sea employs military strategy, and it is surprisingly formidable?" A glimmer of brilliance flashed in the girl's eyes

Gao Xianzhi said that his father learned about Gu Hai's manipulation of the battlefield purely by chance. After retiring to his hometown, he continuously collected and compiled all the information regarding Gu Hai's previous battles into a book. From a young age, while Gao Xianzhi was studying military texts, he also constantly pondered over Gu Hai's various battles. Gao Xianzhi stated that after years of research, he deeply understood the terror of Gu Hai, which is why he prepared to take Hulaoguan with the most prudent approach

"Foster father, you have come quite quickly!" said the man in the yellow robe, handing over a warm towel with a smile.

It is of no use, there is no time left! Gao Xianzhi is certainly not a foolish person, how could he allow others to counterattack? Master Liu Nian said with a smile

Gao Xianzhi stated that it is imperative to first capture the surrounding cities and cut off all conditions for resistance from the Chen state. Therefore, the journey to Hulao Pass has been temporarily postponed. Gao Xianzhi mentioned that once three-quarters of the Chen state's territory has been seized, the people at Hulao Pass will surely be in a state of panic. With each passing day, this fear will ferment further, and by the time we arrive at Hulao Pass, it will be possible to take it without a fight.

It is said that a large number of troops have been dispatched by the Song state to ensure sufficient supplies of food and medicine for the front-line army, to guarantee absolute safety, the man in white said

... ...

Alright, in the name of Gu Qin, I am currently stationed at the Hulao Pass of Chen State, with Gao Xianzhi's army ready to strike at any moment. Time is of the essence; first, tell me about the situation in Song State. It has been ten years since I last visited Song State! What are the special circumstances regarding the war between the two countries this time?

The man in white shook his head and said: "He did not head straight for Hulao Pass, but instead stopped to gradually take in the surrounding cities"

Oh? Why didn't you report earlier? Didn't you say that Gu Hai has always been a merchant? the young girl frowned and said

"Adoptive father, the head of the Qinghe clan, has agreed?" Gu Han asked with some anticipation

No need for that, time does not wait for me, hurry up!" Gu Hai said in a deep voice

No, both my elder brother and I believe in our adoptive father

"Oh? What did Gao Xianzhi say?" Master Liu Nian asked curiously

How is it? Has Gao Xianzhi's army headed straight for Hulaoguan?" asked the leader of the Song family.

Over the years, a considerable amount of information regarding the rulers and ministers of the Song state has been collected, hasn't it? asked Gu Hai

Oh? The Master of Time paused slightly.

The Crown Prince? The ancient sea god's expression shifted slightly

This matter is extremely secretive, and we indeed did not know about it before. Gao Xianzhi was aware of it, or perhaps it was his father who informed him. It was Gu Hai, who suddenly appeared from nowhere forty years ago. At that time, Gu Hai was thirty years old, and it is unclear how he became acquainted with Chen Wang Chen Taiji. In that period, there were eight secular kingdoms in this region, with the Chen Kingdom being the smallest, facing the imminent danger of extinction. Gu Hai quietly became Chen Taiji's military advisor, assisting him in military affairs. In a short time, he resolved all crises, and even under Gu Hai's command, the Chen army advanced triumphantly, invincible in all directions

You brothers have all grown up under my watchful eye. Your innate talents are exceptionally outstanding, and even without me, you would eventually enter the realm of immortals!

"Ah, the messenger has arrived. Let us see whether Master Liu Nian's predictions are accurate or not," the young girl said with a smile

The man in white bitterly said: "Gao Xianzhi's reaction is extremely intense. I must immediately send a message back to the Song King, and we must promptly monitor merchants nationwide to prevent any chaos among them at this moment. At the same time, we must immediately regulate grain stores and medicine shops to prevent Gu Hai from using commercial means to cut off the army's supply needs!"

Since there is no issue with food and medicinal materials, why have we not yet launched an attack? Master Song Jia said in a deep voice

I am getting old, and in a few more years, I will no longer be able to run. This time, there must be no mistakes!" Gu Hai said in a deep voice

Indeed, the army commanded by Gu Hai was like the sea that embraces all rivers, welcoming all who came, even daring to accept the enemy forces, resulting in the ever-growing strength of the Chen army and the increasing dominance of the Chen state. Gao Xianzhi's father was also a remarkable general in his time, a member of the allied forces. After a battle with Gu Hai, he was left deeply impressed and lost all confidence to fight again, subsequently retiring to his hometown. At that time, Gu Hai's army was like a divine sword drawn from its sheath, and wherever the sword pointed, everything turned to dust. Gu Hai's army was indeed like a divine sword drawn from its sheath, and wherever the sword pointed, everything turned to dust. At that time, Gu Hai was prepared to make a decisive effort to pacify the five states, but the major sects intervened, which halted the progress of the Chen state, bringing an end to the war! Yet, even so, the remaining five states were still filled with trepidation, not daring to engage in military action against the Chen state for decades.

Report

Oh? Psychological warfare? However, this is going to take a bit too long!

"Indeed, Gao Xianzhi said that the ancient sea could conduct several battles simultaneously, and within just five years, it allowed the soon-to-be-destroyed Chen State to leap to become the strongest among the Six States. However, later on, for reasons unknown, he fell out with Chen Taiji, which led him to withdraw from military and political affairs, living only as a wealthy man. Yet, even as a wealthy man, he astonishingly became the richest among the Six States!" the man in white said with a bitter smile.

The disciple had been closely following Gao Xianzhi, constantly gathering first-hand information, which was promptly relayed. Originally, after a significant victory at the three passes, the troops had been reorganized, with 800,000 soldiers prepared to leave 500,000 to gradually take control of the surrounding cities, while the remaining 300,000 would accompany Gao Xianzhi to advance directly towards Hulao Pass. However, news suddenly arrived that Chen Guo had employed Gu Hai, prompting Gao Xianzhi to immediately halt his advance

"Another nation has been destroyed?" the young girl exclaimed in surprise

Gu Hai nodded and said, "Send me all the information about the monarchs and ministers immediately; I want to study how to reverse the nation with this!"

"Yes, I also inquired with Gao Xianzhi, and he revealed the truth to me. Indeed, Gu Hai had commanded an army in the past, and the results were astonishingly remarkable!" said the man in white.

So many battles, and it only took five years

"Master of the Flowing Years, could you please deduce how the military forces of the two countries will operate?" the young girl asked with a smile.

Hahaha! The leader of Qinghe Sect is indeed feeling quite exhilarated

To turn the tide from the brink of national destruction, to achieve victory against overwhelming odds, and to simultaneously confront the coalition of six nations? The expression on Master Liu Nian's face changed slightly

The man in the yellow robe brewed a cup of tea for Gu Hai on the ancient horse and respectfully handed it to Gu Hai

Qinghe Sect, Main Hall of the Sect Leader

Gu Hai nodded: "Indeed, otherwise I would not have come here!"

"You just mentioned that Gu Hai has fought a hundred battles for five consecutive years without a single defeat?" Master Liu Nian inquired with curiosity

The State of Song, with its capital at Song City! Song City is located in a remote area of the mansion. The name of the mansion is Tian Mansion

On the side, Master Song Jiazong also said in a deep voice: "Psychological warfare? How long will this take? Isn't Gao Xianzhi a military god? Is he afraid of an old man who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?"

Oh? Because of the Ancient Sea? The leader of the Qinghe Sect's eyes lit up.

"In terms of military strategy, who is the best in the world?" The young girl immediately became interested.

General Gao Xianzhi's army, filled with high morale, should seize the moment and make a decisive push to capture Hulao Pass. The state of Chen and its king are on the verge of collapse, and their morale is at its lowest, making this the best opportunity. Moreover, this Gu Hai is merely a merchant, and changing commanders in the heat of battle is a grave taboo in military strategy. Gao Xianzhi is an exceptionally astute individual and should advance swiftly, using elite troops to strike Hulao Pass with lightning speed, thereby eliminating any resistance in the heartland of Chen. The war will come to an end!

What is going on?" Master Song Jiazong said with a glare.

The ancient Han's expression became serious, and he nodded slightly, saying: "Yes, this time, Gao Xianzhi has received the command of the Song king to serve as the Grand Marshal for the campaign against Chen, with the deployment of troops entirely under his control. However, the Song king also has his concerns, thus appointing the Crown Prince as the Deputy Grand Marshal to accompany the army, which can be seen as a means to monitor Gao Xianzhi. Nevertheless, the Crown Prince does not hold military authority. I have been in the Song kingdom for eight years, responsible for overseeing all the shops in the kingdom. As per my adoptive father's request, I changed my name to Tian Han. Over these years, I have fully supported the Crown Prince financially, and even his rise to the position of heir among the many princes has been aided by our financial support. Therefore, I have already gained the trust of the Crown Prince"

Song Jiazong Master: "... ... !"

"How is that possible? That Gu Hai is just an old man waiting to die. How could Gao Xianzhi possibly be afraid of him?" The leader of Song Jia Zong immediately widened his eyes and said

The disciple also asked the same question! The man in white said with a bitter smile

"Master, the perspective of these mortals is confined to this mundane realm, limited to these six mortal nations alone, and is not to be taken seriously!" The man in white immediately replied with a laugh.

The man in white smiled wryly and said, "The disciple has also asked him this, and Gao Xianzhi replied, 'Yes!'"

The crowd is looking at the map

Gao Xianzhi said, although the ancient sea was engaged in commerce, in terms of military strategy, he is the best in the world

The other was a man in a yellow robe, approximately thirty years old, with a square face, prominent eyebrows, and bright, piercing eyes

A sudden loud call came from outside the main hall

Indeed, they were invincible; while other armies dwindled in numbers, the army commanded by Gu Hai only grew stronger with each battle. At that time, countless classic campaigns emerged, such as encircling the cities from the countryside, guerrilla warfare, tunnel warfare, surrounding Wei to rescue Zhao, and using a false route to attack Guo. I do not fully understand these terms, but Gao Xianzhi spoke of them as if they were his own treasures, stating that these were the terms used by Gu Hai back in the day. With this unknown military strategy, they achieved victory time and again, no, for five consecutive years in a hundred battles, they had never been defeated. From a state that was originally on the brink of destruction, the Chen state suddenly rose to prominence, defeating a major power of the time, and then waged war across the world. At that time, eight nations were suddenly alarmed when one of them was annihilated by the Chen state, and they began to unite the strength of the six nations to jointly attack the Chen state