Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Arriving at the Border_1

Year thirty of the Great Martial Calendar, the first day of the twelfth month. It was already the height of winter, with temperatures plunging incredibly low. The weather today was not satisfactory. Clouds began to loom ominously overhead from yesterday and at midnight, winter rain started to fall, accompanied by raging winds and flashes of lightning. Despite this, the grounds outside the Imperial City were abuzz with activity, with a vast army assembling. After half a month of preparation, Chu Yuan had distributed an immense amount of elixir pills, causing the cultivation level of the million-strong Forbidden Army to collectively break through to the Meridian Circulation realm. Moreover, throughout this half month, a significant number of soul-refining, primordial divine spirits, and Divine Abilities were being cultivated and born. After all, Chu Yuan had copious amounts of elixirs in his possession. Ji Fuling had sent a steady stream of medicinal ingredients from the Infinite Commerce Guild, thus both parties engaged in a mutually beneficial trade. Beyond this, the cultivation levels of the eight commanders of the Forbidden Army broke through to the tenfold Divine Ability realm with the help of breakthrough elixirs. Minister of War, Huang Yong, had similarly elevated to the tenfold realm. To Chu Yuan's surprise, Lu Qianfu had even made a breakthrough to half-step Divine insight level. Not that it was bad: now, the Divine Martial Brigade was filled with numerous powerful individuals who had been absorbed from various sects, without which half-step Divine insight level would not be sufficient to keep the situation under control. During the half-month period, all departments of the court were preparing intensively. Initiating a war was not as simple as compelling troops with a rallying call. This time, Chu Yuan was not merely intending to bring the four nations under control. Instead, he was scheming to annihilate them completely, hence the need for even more thorough preparations. He had to mobilize his soldiers and equally prepare substantial war supplies. Five million men from the Convict Death Camp. The Divine Martial Brigade had also expanded to one hundred and twenty thousand men. The left-wing army had over a million soldiers who went to the Nan County border. With the addition of border troops, it increased to over three million. The right-wing army consisted of the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger battalions, along with the latest recruits from Linhai County, which also amounted to over three million. The Beast Army too was set to mobilize eight million, appearing formidable, despite the enormous quantities of grain they consumed daily. Before any army moves, provisions must be sent ahead. The daily consumption of food by an army of over ten million was astonishing, calculated by the size of small hills. Luckily, in this world, spatial rings could store substantial resources. Otherwise, the transportation of grain would require a substantial workforce. Even so, there remained significant, large siege equipment requiring human operation. MVLeMpYr-novel-source Pills that facilitated breakthroughs in abilities were hard to craft. However, pills for energy replenishment were much easier to make. Additionlly, the command for a personal expedition had long been issued. Supplies and food were prepared along the way by various counties. Practitioners of martial arts could go for a few days without rest. With the assistance of pills and food, they could manage it. Five days later, under such a forced march, the tens of millions strong army finally reached the border of Nan County. Nan County border was the southernmost point of the empire, and it bordered the Great Martial Dynasty. It was Chu Yuan's first time at the Nan County border. He looked forward to see steep mountains on both sides, covered in pristine forests. In between those mountains, stood a formidable and robust fortress. This was the border of Nan County. During the turmoil in Dawu, the Great Martial Dynasty's army of over two million attacked the fortress but failed to conquer it. At this moment, countless fires lit atop the formidable fortress, brimming with cannons. Given the fortress's strength, it was impossible to break through without a significantly larger army. "His Majesty is here!" Upon the fortress wall, one of the soldiers guarding the city noticed the arriving forces, and promptly lit the beacon signal. After Chu Yuan first arrived at the bottom of the fortress, an elder clad in armor, with somewhat gray hair but a robust demeanor, led his personal soldiers and rushed out. "I, Feng Lin, am honored to see His Majesty. Long live His Majesty, long live, long live forever!" The general named Feng Lin fell to one knee. This person's abilities had reached the tenth level of Divine Abilities. He was one of the founders of Dawu, who had followed the previous emperor early on after his uprising. He was then assigned to guard the vital Nan County border by the previous emperor; this demonstrated the previous emperor's trust in him. Nonetheless, the previous emperor did not foresee wrongly. When the former Chu Yuan was faced with the crisis of extermination, Feng Lin had defended the Nan County border meticulously for several months, determined to live or die with the city. "General Feng, rise," Chu Yuan said. "Yes, Your Majesty!" Chu Yuan met General Feng again after taking the throne. Feng would have never imagined that less than half a year after Chu Yuan ascended to the throne, he would quell the domestic rebellion, lead a personal expedition with tens of millions of soldiers, and even have the Purple Thunder Dragon of the Mountain of Ten Thousand Beasts serve him. "Your Majesty, hot water has been prepared within the fortress, and also the meals. The tents have been set up, and the soldiers can eat and rest as soon as they enter. Your Majesty, you have come a long way on your expedition. The soldiers must also be exhausted." Feng was a prudent person who had prepared everything early. "Lord Zhongyong, order everyone to enter the border," Chu Yuan ordered. "General Feng, detail all the information you have gathered to me. This time, our tens of millions strong army's target is the capital city of the Great Martial Dynasty. We shall initiate the war that ends in their extermination."