Chapter 136: Yantai Pass
"General Zhao, don't worry! The Yantai Pass in front of us is different from the previous cities and passes!
You lead the soldiers to retreat three miles and set up camp, so that the soldiers can rest!

After marching for such a long time and attacking continuously for a day and a night.

Although the soldiers had rotations for rest, how could they get a good rest here at Yantai Pass?
Although I don't want to, be prepared for a protracted battle!"

Zhu Chengwu once again emphasized to Zhao Xinghan that Zhao Xinghan should be prepared for a protracted war.

Zhu Chengwu understood what Zhao Xinghan was thinking and what he was worried about, but now Zhu Chengwu could only ask Zhao Xinghan to prepare for a protracted war.

In fact, it was beyond Zhu Chengwu's expectation that Zhao Xinghan would come to him only after a day and a night of unsuccessful siege.

After all, with the previous overwhelming success...

Zhao Xinghan's patience and endurance exceeded Zhu Chengwu's expectations.

"Understood, Lord!"

Although Zhao Xinghan didn't know what had happened, or what was so special about the Yantai Pass in front of him, after listening to Zhu Chengwu's repeated emphasis, Zhao Xinghan understood that perhaps the reason why Zhu Chengwu, the Marquis of Fu'an, did not take action was not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.

"Chief Executive Gao, all the spies and assassins in Yantai Pass have fallen into a sleeping state. Do not activate them to avoid unnecessary sacrifices."

Zhu Chengwu turned around and looked at Gao Yao.

After failing to capture the city after a long siege, Gao Yao sent a large number of spies and assassins to Yantai Pass. At that time, Zhu Chengwu only felt that something was wrong but was not completely sure, so he did not stop it.

Now that it was confirmed, Zhu Chengwu immediately put all the secret agents and assassins into a sleeping state.

"I understand! My Lord, has the water inside Yantai Pass become this deep?" Gao Yao bowed and clasped his fists.

At the same time, Gao Yao also raised his doubts.

Putting all the spies and assassins into a sleeping state is unprecedented.

"The water inside Yantai Pass is much deeper than you think!
Even if all the spies and assassins were put into a sleeping state, it was still unknown how many of them could be saved!

After all, the Alaya consciousness of Buddhism does not care about evidence, but only about the malice towards them!"

As Zhu Chengwu spoke, he looked up again towards Yantai Pass not far away.

There was curiosity, fear, and a desire to try in his eyes.

Buddhism!

Shaolin Temple
This supreme force, which spanned the Ming and Song dynasties and was the leading force in the martial arts world of the two dynasties, finally took action.

However, they did not choose to join forces with King Ming, which was beyond Zhu Chengwu's expectations.

"Buddhism's Alaya consciousness?

Lord, are you saying that there are Buddhist masters inside Yantai Pass?"

Gao Yao understood the meaning of Zhu Chengwu's words and was shocked.

Zhao Xinghan, Cui Zongyan, Li Shijie and others also had their pupils dilated and looked at each other.

No wonder Zhu Chengwu, the Marquis of Fu'an, has been reluctant to take action personally.

It turns out to be Buddhism!

Buddhism!

This is not something you can easily deal with!
In the martial arts world of the Ming Dynasty, Wudang and Shaolin were both revered as the leading schools of martial arts.

Wudang came first because there was Taoist Sanfeng who dominated the Ming Dynasty martial arts world in front and there was the support of the Ming Dynasty court in the back.

After Taoist Sanfeng passed away, Wudang actually lost its power to suppress Shaolin Temple.

In terms of its true strength, Shaolin is not only not inferior to Wudang, but even superior to Wudang.

What's more, who knows whether the Shaolin Temple of the Song Dynasty will send experts to support once the Shaolin Temple of the Ming Dynasty is completely enraged.

“Not only are there Buddhist masters, there should also be a large Buddhist formation inside Yantai Pass!
Even my spiritual perception was almost hidden from me!

Shaolin Temple has invested a huge amount of money!
It seems that during the time of Sanfeng Taoist, the Buddhist sect headed by Shaolin Temple was very worried. Even if hundreds of years have passed, once they find someone like Sanfeng Taoist, they will do their best to prevent it from happening! "

Zhu Chengwu's eyes were still fixed on Yantai Pass not far away, and his tone revealed his admiration for his predecessors.

Judging from the current situation of Shaolin Temple facing a formidable enemy, Zhu Chengwu has once again glimpsed the invincible power of Taoist Sanfeng.

"Shaolin Temple?

Buddhist master?

Buddhist formation?

Brother, are these really available inside Yantai?
If Shaolin Temple really wanted to take action against you, a martial arts legend, why didn't they find an opportunity to besiege the Fu'an Marquis Mansion in Xuzhou City in the past three years before you became a master?
Before you become a Grandmaster, aren't their chances of success greater?

And even if they take action now, why don't they join forces with their father?
Are you sensing it wrongly?"

Zhu Xiumin, who had been standing next to Zhu Chengwu, raised her questions.

So far, Zhu Xiumin and others have not found any trace of Buddhist masters from Shaolin Temple and other places.

After sensing something was wrong, Zhu Chengwu had Zhu Xiumin and Cui Shuyun brought to his side.

Zhu Xiumin was brought here to protect her.

The reason for bringing Cui Shuyun here was to use her sensitive characteristics in spiritual cultivation to support Zhu Chengwu's judgment.

"Go to Xuzhou City and start a fight at the Marquis of Fu'an's Mansion?
Min'an, you underestimate the importance of martial arts legends and overestimate the strength of Shaolin Temple!
Xuzhou City is well managed by the Fu'an Marquis Mansion. It would be difficult for even the Shaolin Temple to set up a Buddhist formation against me in Xuzhou City!
Without the help of the Buddhist formation, and with the advantage of the terrain, even if several masters join forces, it would be difficult to have a good chance of keeping me here!
If they fail to keep me here completely, they will besiege the Fu'an Marquis Mansion and force me to completely lose all ties with the Fu'an Marquis Mansion. Even the Shaolin Temple will not be able to bear the consequences.

Don't forget how people in the martial arts world privately called the Wudang Sect during those decades when the Wudang Sect was suppressing the Shaolin Temple.

Taoist Sanfeng and his seven pendants...

If you push me too far... but can't kill me, and at the same time make me completely free of all attachment, then...

But why the Shaolin Temple didn't cooperate with my father is something I can't figure out!"

Zhu Chengwu speculated as to why Shaolin Temple was afraid of the martial arts legend but had not targeted him in the past three years.

But Zhu Chengwu had no idea why the Shaolin Temple was so afraid of him, a martial arts legend, but refused to cooperate with Ming Wang.

No matter how you think about it, cooperating with Ming Wang is the way to have a higher success rate in eliminating this potential threat.

Although he has no hatred towards Shaolin Temple, he is still opposed and feared by Shaolin Temple.

In this wave, Zhu Chengwu was indeed "implicated" by the previous martial arts legend, Taoist Sanfeng.

Those who plant trees will enjoy the shade, and those who dig pits will have to take a detour.

This is inevitable in the process of social development.

"Master Sanfeng and his seven pendants...Brother, you described the famous Seven Heroes of Wudang and the ancestors of Wudang Sect in this way. If the people of Wudang Sect know about this, they will not let you go easily!"

Zhu Xiumin couldn't help but chuckle.

On the surface, it seemed like a smile, but actually Zhu Xiumin was using this method to cover up her inner embarrassment.

It turned out that in the eldest brother's heart, everyone in the Fu'an Marquis Mansion, including her, was just a pendant and a burden. According to the eldest brother, if it weren't for the pendants of the Fu'an Marquis Mansion, he would be more frightening and more terrifying.

"Min'an, don't think too much! The pendant is also very useful!

Just like Taoist Sanfeng, if he didn't have those pendants, he would be just an ordinary grandmaster, the same as the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, Jiuyin Huangshang and others.

But with these pendants, Taoist Sanfeng was immediately sublimated!
The founder of the martial arts school, a martial arts legend who dominates the martial arts world alone!

If you want to gain fame before and after your death, sometimes strength is important, but the praise and publicity of your younger disciples is equally important."

Zhu Chengwu finally reacted. What he said just now could easily undermine the morale of Zhu Xiumin and other people in the Marquis' Mansion.

They will think Zhu Chengwu doesn't need them.

Therefore, Zhu Chengwu immediately changed his words and added.

After being straightforward for a long time, Zhu Chengwu became less and less tactful in his words and deeds.

But how many people would not be able to hear such an abrupt turn?

"There is indeed a faint Buddhist atmosphere in Yantai Pass. Your Majesty's feeling is correct! Your Majesty was right not to enter Yantai Pass!"

Cui Shuyun sensed the awkward atmosphere and interrupted.

This sentence brought the topic back to the topic and brought to the surface of Zhu Chengwu's just "slip of the tongue".

"My Lord, there are Buddhist formations and Buddhist masters targeting you in Yantai Pass. You can't attack at will. What should we do now?"

Seeing Cui Shuyun interrupting, Cui Zongyan understood the meaning of the song and led the topic into depth.

What should be done now is indeed what Cui Zongyan wants to know.

"Don't worry about attacking the city. As long as I don't enter Yantai Pass, the Buddhist masters and the Buddhist formation hidden in Yantai Pass will not be activated.

After all, if they 'scare' me away, all their hard work will be in vain!"

Zhu Chengwu looked at Yantai Guan with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Shaolin Temple is really used to being the “protagonist”!
Zhu Chengwu did not cause trouble for them, but they, suffering from paranoia, took the initiative to cause trouble for Zhu Chengwu.

After Zhu Chengwu arrives in Beijing and finishes the things at hand, he must satisfy the wishes of Shaolin Temple and complete what Taoist Sanfeng had not completed because of "old feelings".

"Do we have to attack the city? Lord! Can we just ignore Yantai Pass and go around it from other routes?

After all, our goal is not to occupy cities or territories, but to reach the capital.

Besides, we are on a path of advancement with no retreat, so we don’t need to worry about securing a retreat route!”

Zhao Xinghan looked at the blood-stained Yantai Pass in front of him, then looked at the soldiers who had retreated and were preparing to set up camp to rest, and gave this suggestion to Zhu Chengwu.

The Marquis of Fu'an brought few soldiers with them when they entered the capital this time, only five guards with about 25,000 people.

Although he captured many surrendered soldiers along the way as the battle progressed, the number of troops under his command increased from 25,000 to more than 46,000, almost doubling.

But the initial 25,000 veterans suffered heavy losses.

The newly surrendered soldiers can only fight in favorable battles, and the final attack still depends on the initial 25,000 veteran soldiers.

If the fighting continues at Yantai Pass, the old soldiers Zhao Xinghan brought from Xuzhou City will suffer greater losses.

By then, the army’s combat effectiveness will inevitably decline!
This is not conducive to the subsequent journey.

Moreover, if we continue to fight to the death at Yantai Pass, not only the old soldiers but also more surrendered soldiers will die.

After all, when fighting, in order to minimize the casualties of the old soldiers, the surrendered soldiers will inevitably be sent to consume the arrows, weapons and physical strength of the soldiers defending the city.

These surrendered soldiers were kept by Zhao Xinghan with great difficulty.

At the beginning, Zhu Chengwu had no intention of accepting the surrendered soldiers. After all, his purpose this time was only to bring some forces into Beijing.

It was Zhao Xinghan who found many reasons and used all kinds of words to finally make Zhu Chengwu give in.

If the 25,000 veteran soldiers that Zhao Xinghan brought out from Xuzhou City at the beginning were elite troops selected from the nearly 100,000 garrisons of the provincial government near Xuzhou City, then these surrendered soldiers were the high-quality soldiers that Zhao Xinghan carefully selected from dozens of major cities along the way.

As long as Zhao Xinghan is given time, he is confident that he can train these surrendered soldiers to be no worse than the 25,000 old soldiers!
By then, with tens of thousands of elite troops in his hands, Zhao Xinghan will truly have a foundation for his survival.

Even if he could never become a master in this lifetime, Zhao Xinghan felt that he could have a chance of being granted a title by relying on this power.

After all, it is rare to be able to select high-quality soldiers from dozens of provincial capitals and dozens of large cities as he is now experiencing.

Then he will select the best from among the tens of thousands of elite troops...

Zhao Xinghan felt that by then he would have every opportunity to raise an absolutely elite guard that could rival the Zhao Family's Tiger Fang Guards and the Thousand Mile Leopard Cavalry.

You must know that the Tiger Fang Guards and the Thousand Mile Leopard Cavalry are absolutely elite troops trained by the Zhao family after decades of accumulation.

Every soldier is a warrior of the entry-level level or above, and every general flag, deputy general flag and above is a first-class master. If we add a chief general of the junior grandmaster level...

An absolutely elite force like the Yiwei, if planned well, is enough to strangle an ordinary master.

It’s a pity that it is too difficult to push one’s martial arts skills to at least the level of a junior grandmaster while distracting oneself from training troops and fighting.

Zhao Jinhu and Zhao Jinbao, the two most outstanding and talented generals of the Zhao family, had not yet cultivated their martial arts to the level of a minor grandmaster.

This leads to a flaw in the theory of absolute elite power capable of strangling a grandmaster.

Without the fighting power of the junior grandmaster, no one could temporarily entangle the grandmaster and allow the soldiers to besiege and strangle him.

Even if other minor masters were introduced to fight, since they were not the main generals who lived and ate together, they would not be able to reach a high degree of tacit understanding with the soldiers, and it would be difficult for them to successfully strangle the master.

It can be said that the Zhao family’s predicament, apart from the fact that there has never been a new clan master, is also due to the fact that several of its most outstanding military geniuses have never been able to become junior masters.

Just because Zhao Jinhu and Zhao Jinbao couldn't do it doesn't mean Zhao Xinghan couldn't do it.

Zhao Xinghan believed that he had a great chance of doing it.

You know, he once had a glimmer of hope of becoming a potential genius who could become a true master.

Although the potential of the "Demon Disintegration Technique" was greatly damaged, it was still very possible to accumulate internal strength to the top level by relying on the resources of the Zhao family and the Marquis' Mansion.

As for the unique skills at the master level?

When Zhao Xinghan had just achieved first-rate accomplishment, Zhu Chengwu taught him the "Xiantian Gangqi", and he had already mastered the art when he went to Cui's house to pick up his bride.

Now, more than three years have passed, and Zhao Xinghan's "Innate Gangqi" has achieved some success.

Small success has been achieved, so how far can great success be?
Zhao Xinghan felt that the perfection of "Xiantian Gangqi" was not far away!
And even if we take a step back, even if Zhao Xinghan cannot become a junior grandmaster.

Cultivating such an absolutely elite force would also provide a support for his legitimate son Zhao Shilin.

In case Zhao Shilin fails to break through to the Grandmaster level, he still has the option of becoming a Junior Grandmaster and commanding an absolutely elite force.

The status of a minor grandmaster who commands an absolutely elite guard is not much lower than that of a real grandmaster!
With such a plan in mind, and having finally persuaded Zhu Chengwu to let him select and gather the surrendered soldiers, how could Zhao Xinghan tolerate the waste of more than 40,000 carefully selected old and surrendered soldiers at Yantai Pass?

So even if it was impossible, Zhao Xinghan would still make suggestions and strive to save as many soldiers as possible.

(End of this chapter)