Chapter 1913: Warfare Erupts Everywhere

The Bingji Merchant Guild had moved through many places, and they were acutely aware of how brutal the coups in the Golden Plains could be, how greedy human nature was, and how ravenous and vicious armies could become.

So, as soon as the capital fell into chaos, the Bingji Merchant Guild and the Chen family prepared to pack up and leave.

Chen Ru's donation of eight thousand taels tonight was also intended to appease the new official and buy his family more time to escape.

But he now waved his hand, "No hurry. The new provincial governor refused my donation."

Everyone was astonished, "Refused? Does that mean they want our lives?"

Chen Ru then recounted his experience from the night.

His eldest son immediately said, "Are they perhaps afraid we'll flee, so they're tricking us into staying? We can't trust them; we should still leave."

"If they wanted to deal with us, they'd simply detain me, and you wouldn't be able to leave," Chen Ru mused. "I think Governor Shao might actually be sincere. After all, he was sent by the Dragon God; his actions should differ from previous officials. Aren't you always secretly worshipping the Dragon God?"

He directed his last remark to his wife.

His wife replied, "Are you saying the Yangshan Merchant Guild also belongs to the Dragon God? By the way, since the monarch is dead, who does this place belong to now?"

"It should be the Dragon God's, then?"

"Isn't that a good thing?" His wife hissed. "Duke Ding was also executed tonight, wasn't he?"

"He was."

"So all the trades he specialized in, like morning cleansing paste, are now leaderless?" Duke Ding had used his status to create monopolies. Merchant guilds near the capital that wanted to trade in morning cleansing paste had to purchase the main ingredients from Duke Ding's subordinates.

Morning cleansing paste was toothpaste. Brushes specifically designed for oral hygiene, made from horse or pig bristles, had appeared in Bega long ago. However, similar tools only emerged in the southern Golden Plains forty or fifty years ago, accompanied by tooth powder or morning cleansing paste.

In Qiao, Duke Ding didn't monopolize the morning cleansing paste itself, but rather the trade of several of its main ingredients.

"They are," Chen Ru exclaimed. "My wise wife has reminded me well. Let's quickly take over now that he's fallen."

If the Black Armored Army hadn't arrived, how could he ever have had a chance at such a government-controlled monopoly?

His eldest son was stunned. Not only was his father not leaving, but he was now contemplating taking over Duke Ding's business? "So, are we staying or leaving?"

He's risking his life for this; what a father!

"No rush, let's observe for a couple more days. Moving home and the merchant guild would be a major upheaval; it's best if we don't have to," Chen Ru waved him off. "Go heat some water for me; I need a bath."

After a night full of shocks and surprises, fear and joy, he was covered in sweat and needed to calm himself down.

Situ He, leader of the Allied Army, had been having a very difficult few days.

Their main target, Bixia, had been on the verge of collapse, just one final, decisive blow away from falling. However, General Zhongwu returned west with his army from Yao, successfully defending Bixia's capital and repelling several Allied Army attacks.

A few long-awaited major victories lifted the Bixian people's morale, turning the Allied Army's war of annihilation back into a war of attrition.

Victory once again seemed distant.

Unlike their previous decisive advances, the Allied Army was now growing quite impatient. The war against Bixia had dragged on for over a year, constantly failing just short of success, and skepticism towards Situ He within the Allied ranks was growing louder.

While the war efforts stalled, beacons of war also blazed all around the Allied Army:

The Great Emperor of Nine Hells had made his move!

This time, it wasn't merely about eliminating tyrants, maintaining peace, or slaying evildoers; instead, armies were dispatched to attack cities and seize territories!

The Black Armored Army's targets were no longer individual corrupt officials, unruly bureaucrats, or thugs, but rather the governments of various regions!

The first news Situ He received was that Qiao in the central-south had been annihilated by the Black Armored Army.

Before he could even register his surprise, Bu Town in the central-west of the Golden Plains, and Tongxian and Ruer Towns in the south, had also been captured. Rumor had it that the Black Armored Army took them effortlessly, completing the takeover in just half a night, with locals barely organizing any effective resistance.

When Situ He heard this news, his first thought was:

"Exactly how many Black Armored Army forces are there?"

In the following days, intelligence reports of the Black Armored Army appearing in various locations continued to pour in like snowflakes, dominating Situ He's desk and overshadowing military intelligence from Bixia.

Their speed was astonishing; some units could capture two places in a single night!

This was entirely different from the Allied Army's sluggish pace.

According to intelligence, whenever the Black Armored Army captured a place, they would take the local army with them, leave new troops to garrison, and then rush non-stop to the next target, as if pursued by demons.

For larger areas they conquered, follow-up teams would arrive, primarily to administer governance, pacify the populace, and maintain stability.

As more data became available, the Black Armored Army's routes gradually became clear: they were consistently moving from their starting points towards the central regions.

Situ He was observing a sand table when another subordinate rushed in, "Report! Urgent news from the west!"

The west? That wouldn't be Bixia.

But Situ He's mood didn't improve, as news from the west was surely also related to the Black Armored Army.

Indeed, as he opened and read the letter, he let out a heavy sigh:

The Black Armored Army had captured Peng, and Youn Guang had abdicated!

He had only received news of the Black Armored Army attacking Peng yesterday afternoon, yet by early this morning, they had already completed the task.

Two days to destroy a nation—unbelievable speed.

Peng was a kingdom established by Youn Guang after he killed King Bo. Its economy had been quite prosperous, living up to its name, and it also had the support of Mou. Yet, its reign lasted only a mere two years. The Golden Plains curse truly lived up to its reputation.

However, intelligence stated that there was almost no resistance throughout Peng. The Black Armored Army had apparently launched their assault directly within the imperial palace, descending like divine soldiers, after which Youn Guang abdicated.

What exactly transpired within the imperial palace was still unknown to outsiders, but the Black Armored Army successfully seized power with only minor bloodshed.

It was swift, almost like child's play.

So, who would govern the newly conquered Peng?

Here was the crucial point.

Other points where the Black Armored Army initiated operations were too distant for timely intelligence, but Peng was much closer. Thus, Situ He finally learned who was taking over the Black Armored Army's new territories:

Yangshan!

These two words seemed to possess a magical power, gluing his gaze to the paper, unable to tear his eyes away for a long time.

The letter also stated that a rumor was spreading among the populace: on the night the Divine Dragon killed Miaozhantian, it had hovered over Julu Port for a long time, signifying that it was the place where the Dragon ascended!

Whose stronghold was Julu Port? No need to ask—the Yangshan Merchant Guild.

Therefore, Yangshan was acting according to the Divine Dragon's will, working for the welfare of the Golden Plains' people.

This was evident from the name Yangshan itself:

The name 'Yangshan,' literally 'looking up to goodness,' was thus interpreted to signify 'receiving heavenly benevolence and inspiring the people's rise to prosperity.'

Upon reading this, Situ He was unsure whether to laugh or cry, muttering, "Well, well, well done, Yangshan! Well done, He Xiao!"

Yangshan was clearly just the name of an island! The fact that He Xiao exploited even this detail showed how deeply he had planned!

Yu Shen's claim that the Great Emperor of Nine Hells was He Xiao now had irrefutable proof.

What other force could have so easily taken Peng, or conquered so many places as if picking things from a pocket?