Chapter 2075: Offense, Offense, Offense

Mou Nation’s assistance in repelling Ya Nation’s invasion of He Xiao’s territory was a favor; its aid to Lu Qinglin in reclaiming the Yangshan Archipelago was a show of strength. Exercising both benevolence and power is the mark of a great nation’s statecraft.

As a result, He Xiao realized his own inexperience when dealing with great powers. With Mou Nation controlling the westward maritime trade routes, he would now have to acknowledge his subordinate position and obediently serve as their follower. What if everyone belonged to the Lingshan faction? Within the faction, there were still distinct rankings, and positions were assigned according to strength.

It was now clear to everyone that the unification of the Blazing Gold Plains was an unstoppable trend, and the emergence of the next "Blazing Gold Empire" was imminent. At such a critical juncture, Mou Nation's show of power was absolutely necessary.

However, Guo Shaoping never anticipated that He Xiao had already laid a secret trap in the Yangshan Archipelago! If Mou Nation hadn't coveted the Yangshan Archipelago, Chi Yan wouldn't have moved so quickly to claim it. He Xiao's counterattack was swift and decisive, instantly reversing the situation. He showed no signs of being a political novice.

Now, the ball was back in Mou Nation's court. He Xiao and King Chi Yan were likely awaiting Emperor Mou's response.

Emperor Mou typically sat high on his throne, silent. Now, he simply shifted his posture, resting one hand on his forehead. After the debate had ceased for a long time, he finally spoke:

“No military deployment.”

His voice, majestic and low, echoed through the hall. With a single word, the decision was made, and the officials below dared not speak further. Emperor Mou’s personal decision brought a temporary halt to the matter, preventing further escalation of the situation.

In this recent series of events:

Beijia effectively lost its covert influence over the Blazing Gold Plains, a fact that became almost certain, though it outwardly gained control of the Yangshan Archipelago.

Mou Nation obtained eight hundred Dragon Execution Pillars, but its hasty deployment of troops to Yangshan led to threats and challenges to its rear security.

Ya Nation invaded the Dragon God's territory but gained little, eventually withdrawing its forces under threat from Mou Nation.

Emperor Jiuyou ceded the Yangshan Archipelago to Chi Yan Nation, thereby securing the vital sea route connecting the Blazing Gold Plains to the west, but in doing so, he severely outmaneuvered Mou Nation. Mou Nation naturally noted this significant setback, and Emperor Mou gained a much clearer understanding of He Xiao’s tactics.

Maintaining relations with both parties would be an even greater challenge for He Xiao in the future.

The world-renowned Dragon God War had resumed. This time, it swept through Yao Nation like a summer wind. Three armies launched simultaneous attacks from the north, south, and southeast, specifically targeting key cities in Yao Nation and forcefully suppressing Yao forces across the region. Subsequently, He Lingchuan personally led an army of 200,000, advancing eastward into Yao territory, pressing on toward Tianshui City. They advanced with almost no stops, executing anyone who stood in their way. The main army, led personally by the Dragon God, never retreated. Other Dragon God forces provided support along the way, securing their rear.

These battles were, to put it mildly, like a butcher's knife carving through old cowhide—laborious and demanding. Though not easy, they steadily pushed forward. The quality and capability of the Yao army far surpassed those of the local warlords in the Blazing Gold Plains. Especially after more than a year of civil unrest, their forces had been tempered by internal conflict, making them exceptionally sharp.

However, the preceding civil unrest had severely damaged Yao Nation: generals had fallen, elite troops had suffered heavy casualties, and food and logistical supplies were insufficient. Many cities hadn't even had time to repair their gates, which had been breached during the internal conflicts. Most terrifying of all, the morale of the people had crumbled.

In the past, Yao Nation's power was unrivaled in Blazing Gold. The Yao people took pride in their homeland, disdained Blazing Gold, and united strongly against external threats, even scoffing at Emperor Jiuyou and the Dragon God. But now, with a fragmented nation and shattered homes, how much national cohesion could possibly remain?

Although Baitan issued a public reassurance under pressure after assassinating the emperor, claiming he would restore the dignity of Great Yao, anyone with an ounce of sense knew it was a complete sham. Great Yao had already perished. From the moment Baitan massacred the royal descendants of Yao Nation, from the moment he dispatched troops to suppress resistance forces across the land, Yao Nation had, in essence, already ceased to exist!

With their nation no longer a nation, for whom would the Yao people fight? Baitan? Was he even worthy?

This lack of resolve manifested in the Dragon God War, where the military and civilians throughout Yao Nation offered weak and ineffective resistance. Several irregular forces, labeled "bandits" by Baitan and previously hidden in the mountains, even voluntarily defected to the Dragon God's army, serving as guides.

Some of Baitan's loyal confidantes did actively resist. One of them, defending Yu'an City, couldn't hold out for more than five days. He was assassinated by his own subordinates, who then presented both the city and his head to Taoran. He Lingchuan's main Dragon God army, personally led by him, swept through the land with irresistible force. Dong Rui, Wanqifeng, and others accompanying him now understood that all his previous actions in Yao Nation had been part of a meticulously planned strategy for this very day!

He deftly manipulated the situation, single-handedly escalating the conflict between Yao Nation and the Sky Gods to an irreconcilable point. Leveraging the power of the Sky Gods and Qingyang, he cracked open Yao Nation's formidable exterior and sowed discord among its people. Only the Dragon God's army of today had the right to gallop into what was once the strongest nation in Blazing Gold, plunging their sharp blades into its vulnerable heart!

Once again, the Dragon God army swept through the former territories of Yao Nation like a torrent, just as they had conquered the Blazing Gold Plains months prior. They were unstoppable.

Baitan also led his forces, but daily received a deluge of battle reports, all bearing grim news from various locations. Another city had fallen, another unit had been sacrificed, or, even worse than sacrifice, had surrendered! Food was running out, weapons were scarce, and military supplies were depleted.

Baitan simply abandoned the outer regions of Yao Nation, focusing instead on establishing a core Five-City Alliance centered around Tianshui City. These five cities were mutually reinforcing strongholds, with robust defenses and ample provisions. They were defended by Baitan's direct loyalists, whose fates were inextricably linked with his own, thus ensuring their unwavering determination to resist. This had also been a primary area for Baitan's early troop training and fortifications. Qingyang had designed this strategy for him long ago, and he had expected the war to drag on for a considerable time. He never imagined the plan would need to be activated so quickly!

Thus began the series of fierce battles as the Dragon God's army converged on these five cities. The intensity of these battles was arguably the greatest in Blazing Gold in nearly three hundred years. Most of Yao Nation's remaining nobility had retreated to this area, knowing their fates were tied to the cities. Therefore, the five cities resisted with all their might. However, during the Dragon God War, they also encountered the unwavering and terrifying combat will of their adversary. The Dragon God's army displayed a resilience, ferocity, and determination, even an absolute adherence to orders, that belied its status as a newly trained force.

On the seventeenth day of the great battle, Wanfeng City was the first to be breached, creating a significant gap in the Five-City Alliance's defensive line. On the twenty-sixth day, the second city fell. On the thirty-ninth day, Baitan invoked a divine intervention, but it was too late to turn the tide, and the third city fell.

With only two cities left, the pace of their downfall quickened. Mangzhou only managed to hold out for another three days before its city gates were breached, as the bronze array plates behind them finally gave way. This ancient city had enjoyed sixty years of peace, but ultimately could not escape the ravages of war.