To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

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Otherwise, how do you explain the sudden appearance of those forty or fifty experts in Chu State, almost equivalent to the inborn second realm?

That number is equivalent to the total number of inborn experts in the entire Liang State.

Yet, Chu State suddenly produced them.

Apart from Immortal Technique Daoist arts, what other logical explanation could there be?

And with this miraculous feat of Immortal Techniques preceding, no one dares to guarantee that Emperor Chu Luyuan won’t create a second miracle.

Hence, the naive idea that the domestic forces need only to hold their ground to repel the Chu army is something that Emperor Liang does not agree with.

Faced with his sovereign’s questioning, Yang Chen also found himself at a loss for words.

Does he not know the reasons that Emperor Liang spoke of?

Of course, he does.

But what can knowing do?

Emperor Chu is just so defying, with an ability to wield Immortal Techniques, what can you do to him?

Nothing at all.

Now all cultivators in Nine Provinces have fled, and some of the remaining Immortal Sects are just Immortal Sects in name, with slightly more inborn grandmasters.

Essentially, they are no different from those Jianghu sects.

In this situation, how do you deal with Emperor Chu, who is rumored to be on par with those Dao masters before the Ascension in Nine Provinces?

They are simply no match for him, alright.

Faced with such an unsolvable level of adversary, all they can do is to try their best to cover up and ignore it, comforting themselves in their hearts.

With the Emperor bringing up this matter now, other than undermining their own morale, what use could it be?

However, as the saying goes, ’When the ruler worries, the subjects suffer,’ facing Emperor Liang’s doubt, Yang Chen could only say, "If Your Majesty is worried, your servant is willing to personally lead troops to Meng Mountain and block the enemy outside for our great Liang, to prevent the Chu thieves from invading the Imperial Capital."

However, just as his words fell, a voice suddenly rose in the hall.

"Impossible!"

"Grand General must not!"

Several high-ranking ministers ran out from both sides, bowing to Emperor Liang and Yang Chen in unison.

"Your Majesty, the Grand General is an important pillar of the state and should stay in the capital. He cannot be moved lightly."

"Indeed, with the Grand General’s status, how can he risk himself? If something goes wrong, the foundation of the country will be shaken!"

"There are other famous generals within the state. General Yan Yunqing is currently in Shanyang County, and if Your Majesty is concerned about the safety of Liang, you may summon him to the capital to arrange the defense of Liang Prefecture. There is no need to deploy the Grand General."

Everyone was advising against it.

In recent years, due to frequent wars, Liang State has seen the rise of many famous generals.

There was God Arrow Bao Dajie, who repelled a million enemies with three arrows on a snowy night; Iron Wall Luo Yuanzai, who defended the fortress alone and stopped a nation’s enemy for three years; and Yan Yunqing, who broke through a million-strong army at the Battle of Changyuan.

All these individuals were rising stars within the Liang military.

However, the rise of these stars was fast, and their fall was just as swift.

Liang State was surrounded by enemy nations, almost never ceasing from war year after year.

In the face of long-term, frequent, and brutal wars, even famous generals could not avoid a fate of dying on their horses.

God Arrow Bao Dajie and Iron Wall Luo Yuanzai both died on the battlefield against enemy nations over the years.

Now, the up-and-coming Yan Yunqing of Liang State, if nothing unexpected happens, will probably not escape this destiny either.

The only well-known general who has stood the test of time and lived well in Liang State is exactly this Lord Changyi, Yang Chen.

His secret to longevity had nothing special about it; he simply avoided frontline battlefields, remained behind, and let others fight to the death, thus naturally enjoying wealth and power.

As someone coming from one of Liang State’s top aristocratic families, Yang Chen’s situation was different from grassroot-born generals like Yan Yunqing, Bao Dajie, and Luo Yuanzai.

He was part of the core ruling class, an ace relied upon by the royal family and the ministers to rule the country, not to be squandered on the battlefield.

With Yang Chen around, the court would have a dignified presence to counterbalance those low-level, up-and-coming generals, which was vital for consolidating power.

Should anything happen to Yang Chen, the court would lose a significant deterrent.

How would they control the rising low-level generals like Yan Yunqing in the future?

If the Chu army were to win this time, it wouldn’t matter if Liang’s forces were defeated, or even if the Imperial Capital were lost.

Without Liang Prefecture or the Imperial Capital, Liang State still had nine prefectures in the eastern region, three million troops, and an opportunity to make a comeback.

With these, the royal family and the ministers could still dominate over the millions of commoners, continuing to enjoy wealth and privilege.

But without Yang Chen, whether the full assembly of the court, including Emperor Liang himself seated above, could maintain their current power and status—that would become uncertain.

Previously, when Liang State’s power was ascending and at its zenith, Emperor Liang’s prestige was unrivaled, able to suppress all within court and countryside.

Back then, the loss of one Yang Chen might not have affected the dynasty’s fate.

But now, Liang State’s power was in decline, almost to the brink of the nation’s collapse. Emperor Liang’s prestige had been almost completely eroded by continuous defeats.

At this critical time, a Grand General who could strongly uphold the interests of the royal family and ministers had become extraordinarily precious and important.

Therefore, seeing Yang Chen willing to take risks, the ministers who were concerned about their interests immediately stepped forward to persuade.

Watching this scene, Emperor Liang opened his mouth, but ultimately, considering his own interests, he held back his words and merely said, "The ministers are right, the Grand General shoulders heavy responsibilities of the state, indeed he should not be rashly moved."

Yang Chen, who seemed to have anticipated this outcome, did not say much upon hearing this and merely bowed, saying, "Since Your Majesty does not wish for your servant to take action, then let it be so. However, Your Majesty’s concern is indeed sincere.

The current state of Chu is not something that our Liang State can confront with its own strength.

With our one million two hundred thousand strong army to guard against Chu’s three million, it’s indeed likely insufficient, not secure enough.

Xu State has stationed five hundred thousand troops in the regions of Dongping and Le’an prefectures, and within their own state, they also have a million-strong army.

If our great Liang blocks the Chu people for them now, that would be taking disaster upon ourselves on their behalf. How can the Xu people contribute merely some money and grain?

Your servant requests to dispatch messengers to Xu State, asking the Xu people to send troops to help us together in resisting the Chu people."

Yang Chen, failing one strategy, immediately offered another.

This time, Emperor Liang did not say much, simply nodding and saying, "Granted!"

The ministers below also echoed in agreement.

The Grand General is right, the Chu people are everyone’s enemy, why should only our people bleed and sacrifice? We must drag everyone down with us.

The Xu people cannot expect to escape either.

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