Lin Zhao set up the "Closing Door Gambit," and Lin Ruo immediately rode the wind back to Lanxi City in Yanzhou. Li Chunyang had died in battle many years ago, and most of the followers who had accompanied him had also perished heroically at Yangguan Pass. Therefore, Lin Ruo was now the true lord of Yanzhou, stationing over two hundred thousand troops in Lanxi City, his every move directly impacting the global situation.
Sisters Chen Xi and Han Yetang had also returned to Yunzhou. Han Yetang was now the Grand Marshal of the Great Shang Dynasty, personally appointed by Zhao Shutong, and held significant military power. Chen Xi, in the past two years, had continuously recruited soldiers and horses, rebuilding the scale of the two hundred thousand Cangnan Iron Cavalry. Their total troop strength had finally surpassed one hundred and fifty thousand, though the proportion of new recruits was high and veteran soldiers were few. A few more battles would temper them into a seasoned cavalry.
Only Zhao Shutong remained.
There were still many things to do. Although Her Highness the Grand Princess had wielded her sword and ridden into battle during the great war, leading the White Deer Iron Cavalry to charge directly into the enemy formations of demons and monsters, and had also devised strategies that plunged the demon and monster races into bloody conflict, most of the time Zhao Shutong's tasks still involved logistics. The front lines would be left to Lin Ruo, Chen Xi, and Han Yetang.
This was also a small, personal desire deep within Zhao Shutong's heart. She was, after all, a woman and could not forever protect her younger brother, Zhao Jingheng. One day, she would grow tired, either retiring to the countryside or marrying. By then, if she could nurture these renowned generals of the era—Han Yetang, Chen Xi, and Lin Ruo—and hand them over to her brother with firm assurance, then the Great Shang Dynasty would be truly stable.
"The grain and fodder at Guyaoguan is the utmost priority."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Moreover, the supply route for grain and fodder will certainly no longer be the Shanhaiguan line. It can only be from Yangguan Pass northward. Along the way, there might be ambushes by demon cavalry. All these aspects need to be considered."
"Mmm."
Zhao Shutong pursed her red lips and said, "Regarding grain and fodder, it can be transported from Jizhou and Liangzhou. These two prefectures were not directly affected by the war. Last year was also a bumper harvest, and a considerable amount of military grain was collected from various regions. I will immediately order Jizhou and Liangzhou to dispatch a portion of their grain and fodder northward to support the one-year needs of Guyaoguan's two hundred thousand defenders."
Lin Zhao nodded. "In addition, there should be an aerial supply route. Gather the Great Shang Dynasty's transport spirit ships, and they can begin delivering grain and fodder to Guyaoguan starting today. Let's not have Lin Ruo's troops go hungry the moment they arrive."
"Yes, understood."
Zhao Shutong looked up at Lin Zhao and smiled gently. "The matter of the grain route will likely require Commander Lin's assistance. Before Lin Ruo heads north, the strongest human army north of Shanhaiguan will still be the thirty thousand Snow Region cavalry under Commander Lin's command. Furthermore, with a renowned general like Yu Wanning, who is in the Rebirth Realm, stationed there, it poses a great threat to both the demon and monster races."
"Alright."
Lin Zhao smiled. "I will have Yu Wanning lead her cavalry down the mountain at any time. In short, we will definitely not make things easy for the demon cavalry."
"Mmm."
Zhao Shutong rose and said with a smile, "Then I shall prepare to return to Baidi City. We can send messages back and forth via flying fish at any time."
At this moment, a slight weariness showed on the pretty face of Her Highness the Grand Princess. For the past ten years, she had been the one arduously supporting half of the Great Shang Dynasty's territory, constantly maneuvering within the court to achieve today's landscape. Especially in the first year when Lin Zhao died in battle, it was a tremendous blow to Zhao Shutong, feeling as though her greatest pillar of support had suddenly collapsed.
Now that Lin Zhao had returned, Zhao Shutong was indeed one of the happiest people.
She blinked her pair of limpid eyes and said, "Commander Lin, I am leaving now. Would you like to give me a hug?"
Lin Zhao was stunned, and he instantly understood. It wasn't that he needed it, but that Zhao Shutong desired a hug from Lin Zhao. She had endured so much hardship alone over these years and needed a little encouragement, a little reward.
"Oh..."
He was a bit slow, then walked forward, his hands slightly spread open.
Zhao Shutong, however, was the proactive one. She immediately threw herself into Lin Zhao's embrace. In those brief moments, it felt like she had lived a lifetime of good days. She then withdrew from Lin Zhao's embrace, clasped her hands, and said with a smile, "I've made you laugh."
"Not at all."
Lin Zhao returned the clasp of his hands. "Your Highness, you have worked hard for the human realm."
"Your words are enough."
Zhao Shutong smiled and bid farewell, then transformed into a beam of sword light and ascended the Flood Dragon Ship, leading her entourage away. A row of spirit ships then descended, unloading piles of grain and fodder, marking the first material resupply for the Snow Region Heavenly Lake.
Looking at the large pile of supplies, Yu Wanning smiled. "Princess Zhao Shutong truly knows how to handle things!"
"That's for sure."
Chen Qi grinned and said, "It's Commander Lin who sold his charm to get it..."
In the back, Nuozhi directly kicked Chen Qi's backside.
"Ah ha ha ha~~~"
Chen Qi, though capable of dodging, did not. He felt quite content after being kicked by Nuozhi, waved his hand, and said, "Let's go, let's go. I'll go down the mountain to let the brothers come and move the grain."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly, seemingly regaining a bit of the feeling from the Mountain Peak Villa of yesteryear.
...
Late at night, by the lotus pond.
Lin Zhao took out a green bamboo pole and set down his fishing basket, beginning to fish.
The refined magical artifact lotus pond that originally belonged to Tianranju had been stolen by a great demon. Therefore, the lotus pond before him was merely an "ordinary pond." However, ten years had passed, so there were still many fish in the pond, though they were not as plump and delicious as the large white fish and gobies from before.
Many of these fish had been brought from the demon ancestral land by Lin Zhujie and possessed considerable spiritual energy.
Thinking of this, he remembered Lin Zhujie. Lin Zhao couldn't help but frown. He wondered what Lin Zhujie had been doing all these years. He hadn't seen any part of Lin Zhujie in the system's plot, as if he had vanished into thin air. However, Lin Zhao knew that Lin Zhujie's character was quite good; he certainly wouldn't stand by idly.
"Rustle..."
With the sound of footsteps, Nuozhi, looking frail, still in a long dress, sat beside Lin Zhao, accompanying him.
"Why don't you cultivate back to the Thirteenth Realm?" Lin Zhao asked.
"Mmm..."
Nuozhi frowned lightly, like a child who had done something wrong, and said softly, "It's not that I don't want to, but I just can't get past this hurdle in my heart. So, even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I can't cultivate back to that Thirteenth Realm."
"Explain in detail."
"Mmm," Nuozhi said softly. "After we all thought that Lord had perished in the world, my condition was already quite dire. Firstly, my injuries were too severe; almost all my reserves had been exploded in the great battle. Secondly, my inner demons were too heavy. All along, Nuozhi's role by your side was that of someone who wielded her sword and fought. Aside from brute force, I had hardly shared any burdens with you."
She frowned. "Over these years, I've been asking myself, although Nuozhi was once a Thirteenth Realm sword cultivator, was I ultimately a burden to you? But I didn't want to be your burden. I wanted to become another you, a substitute. When you couldn't strategize for the world, Nuozhi would step in."
Speaking of this, she became a little sad. "But... Nuozhi is inherently a笨笨 (bènben - clumsy/foolish) girl. I've never truly held military command. Everything I do requires me to take it step by step. Therefore, my energy is limited. When I wanted to study military strategy and try to command troops, I couldn't have the extra energy to cultivate. I'm sorry... I'm too foolish..."
"Why say sorry."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly. "You've already done enough. When I first heard the esteemed title 'Southern Tanger, Northern Zhi,' do you know how proud I was? Han Yetang is the granddaughter of Old Marshal Chen and a military strategist; her achievements were as expected. But the 'Zhi' in Southern Tanger, Northern Zhi, that's my Nuozhi! So, I was happy for a long time."
"Really?"
Nuozhi's face was filled with joy. "Actually, I've been worried that my obscurity over these years would disappoint you."
"How could it?"
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow lightly and smiled. "However, listen to me. Descendants of the Great Chen Dynasty shouldn't just know how to command troops; scholar-generals are easily broken. It's better to be both civil and military. So, starting today, you must reforge your sword, re-refine ten demon soul swords, and your lifebound flying sword and so on. You must pick them all up again. I not only need you to command troops for me but also to kill enemies for me."
"Yes!"
Nuozhi smiled and nodded. "I understand, Lord."
"Just in time."
Beside them, a figure descended gracefully. It was Yu Wanning. She opened her palm, and in her hand was a luminous demon core. She said with a smile, "The demon core of Ji An, a Fourteenth Realm great demon. If fully refined, it will be enough for you to nurture five or six demon soul swords of considerable quality."
"Great!"
Nuozhi did not stand on ceremony. She took the demon core from Yu Wanning's hand and smiled. "Thanks!"
"You're welcome."
Yu Wanning looked up towards the south and said, "Someone else is coming~~~"
Lin Zhao smiled. Indeed, a powerful sword intent was approaching from the south, the peak of the Twelfth Realm. Without guessing, he knew who it was. There weren't many peak Twelfth Realm sword cultivators in the human realm's south nowadays.
"Nuozhi, Yu Wanning, come with me to welcome our distinguished guest!"
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao walked to the mountain path and beckoned to the sky. Instantly, figures descended on their swords—all female sword cultivators from Lingyan Sword Sect. The woman at the forefront was stunningly beautiful, with a well-proportioned figure, dressed in a green dress, exuding the aura of a celestial being. Today's Chen Mengjun was vastly different from the Chen Mengjun of the past.
"Mengjun!"
Lin Zhao greeted her immediately. "Your Twelfth Realm is quite remarkable!"
Chen Mengjun's pretty face instantly turned red. She glanced at Lin Zhao with a hint of playful annoyance. How long had it been since they last met? After life and death, meeting again, and he was still so informal? Originally, Chen Mengjun felt that as the Sect Master of Lingyan Sword Sect, she should uphold propriety. After seeing Lin Zhao again, she should at least be more dignified in front of others.
However, with Lin Zhao's heartfelt "Mengjun ah," she lost her composure.
"I'm sorry, I'm late..."
Chen Mengjun pursed her red lips and said, "I didn't make it in time for you to leave Wuwang Mountain."
"It's alright, it's good that you came."
Lin Zhao felt a little awkward. "The Mountain Peak Villa is now impoverished, and most of the houses on the mountain were reduced to ashes by those damned demons. There's really nowhere to entertain the fairies of Lingyan Sword Sect. My apologies, my apologies..."
Chen Mengjun was taken aback. What did he mean by impoverished? Wasn't he directly asking for things?
Thinking of this, Chen Mengjun didn't say another word. She took out a storage bag from her embrace, poured out several sparkling demon cores into her hand, and then took out a bag filled with golden carp coins.