Asked About The World Of Mortals

Chapter 47: Speed is the Essence of War

Qin Yi did indeed make a mistake.

He thought that he was being ambushed, and he always felt that the whole thing was initiated by Donghua Zi. The initiative was in Donghua Zi's hands, and he could arrange things however he wanted.

In reality, Donghua Zi only planned to ambush and kill Qin Yi. He didn't dare to arrange anything like a Great Monster. Ming He was still under his control at Changsheng Temple...

Even the two who attacked the Princess's Mansion were acting on their own initiative.

If they were really going to deal with Li Qinglin, they would use methods like forging imperial edicts, deposing the Crown Prince, or assassinating him on his way to court. It was absolutely impossible to besiege the Crown Prince's Mansion. This was the capital of Nanli, and Donghua Zi didn't have such a tight grip on power, and Li Qinglin couldn't have fallen so low. Just like the Forbidden Army in the city, although there were some who leaned towards Donghua Zi, the majority were still Li Qinglin's men.

Politically, Donghua Zi had an absolute advantage, almost covering both the court and the people. However, in terms of military strength, Li Qinglin had the upper hand, which was the basis for the stalemate between the two sides.

The ambush on Qin Yi failed, and there should have been some reinforcements coming? But they couldn't come because they were too busy with their own affairs.

The one being besieged was not the Crown Prince's Mansion, but Donghua Zi.

The gates of Lihuo City were wide open, and an army full of killing intent swept into the city, heading straight for Changsheng Temple.

On the ninety-ninth step, there were densely packed soldiers in red armor. They would attack any Taoist they saw, and they charged straight into the temple.

The most elite Nanning Lihuo Army, belonging to the central royal army, was stationed a hundred miles outside the city. Their leader was General Xie Yuan, an old general who had been fighting in the Western Wilderness for thirty years. He was Li Qinglin's true like-minded supporter.

This was the plan that Li Qinglin had prepared—when the day came to launch a coup and force his father to abdicate.

Now there was no need to send troops against his own father, but he could already send them against Changsheng Temple. Killing his own father was not a skill, the real target should be the enemy.

Originally, he couldn't do this because sending troops into the city was tantamount to rebellion. But now that he knew his father was going to die, what else did he need to care about?

Li Qinglin knew that Donghua Zi was also secretly plotting to kill him, so he wouldn't slowly prepare and wait until his father truly passed away before revealing his cards to Donghua Zi. Perhaps Qin Yi thought this way, and Donghua Zi thought the same way, but the old general who had fought on the battlefield thought that speed was the essence of war, catching the enemy off guard.

Donghua Zi definitely didn't expect that Li Qinglin would suddenly and inexplicably send troops to the capital at this time, while he was still leisurely plotting against Qin Yi. Who knew that the elite army had already arrived at his doorstep?

Even Qin Yi didn't expect it. He thought that Li Qinglin would take the time to prepare, but he never expected that Li Qinglin, who seemed unprepared and passive, would directly counterattack after just one night, with the force of Ten Thousand Tons of Thunder!

Even Qin Yi, who had a heart-to-heart talk with Li Qinglin, couldn't have expected it, so how could Donghua Zi?

Changsheng Temple was ablaze, with dead and injured Taoists scattered everywhere. Li Qinglin took the lead, charging straight into the temple without stopping, heading towards the Immortal Ascension Platform in the back.

"Boom!" A flame rushed towards him.

Li Qinglin thrust his spear forward, a strong sharp qi rushing out, like a fierce wind, actually diverting the flame off course, landing on a nearby tree and causing it to explode.

Li Qinglin looked up and saw several high-level Taoists sitting cross-legged in front, forming various seals. There were scattered traces of formations on the ground in front of them.

He raised his hand, and the soldiers charging on both sides stopped in unison, collectively drawing their bows and aiming at the Taoists in front.

The Taoists' calm expressions suddenly changed.

Li Qinglin laughed, "Taoist magic, using fire and lightning, seems powerful... It can deceive the world, but can it deceive the elite who have crawled out of piles of dead bodies?"

In the next moment, a rain of arrows shot out like a storm. The Taoists were still struggling to cast their spells, barely managing to form a shield, but how could they withstand the relentless barrage of powerful bows and crossbows?

However, in an instant, the protective shield shattered, and several Taoist priests were shot into sieves amidst screams of agony.

A few lagging behind Taoist priests rolled and crawled their way into the Immortal Ascension platform.

On the high platform, Donghua Zi's expression turned gloomy. "Li Qinglin, you are plotting treason!"

He truly did not expect Li Qinglin to bring his troops at this moment. Not only was it unexpected, but it also happened to strike at his weakest point - because the monsters he secretly nurtured had been killed by Ming He's Seven-Star Formation, with only a few barely clinging to life. Otherwise, even if Li Qinglin had a large army, didn't he have one as well?

But unfortunately, he encountered Ming He, who casually set up a large-scale formation. His strength weakened by ninety percent in an instant, and before he could recover, Li Qinglin brought his troops.

It was truly precise and ruthless.

Li Qinglin calmly said, "It takes one to know one. As the crown prince, wouldn't the national teacher also have designs against me? We are both plotting treason."

As he spoke, he threw out two heads. "Do you find it strange that you didn't hear any news of my troops mobilizing? The 'trusted aides' around me were all bought off by the national teacher."

Donghua Zi asked, "You never trusted these people?"

Li Qinglin sneered, "I don't trust anyone who holds an official position in the capital. Just like General Liu's betrayal, even without Qingjun blocking the door, he would have suffered greatly if he entered. How many powerful crossbows are there near Ye Ling's house? Ye Ling himself doesn't even know."

Donghua Zi stared at Li Qinglin for a while, then suddenly laughed. "The crown prince is indeed a hero among men, but it's a pity that you have a limited perspective and are confined by your knowledge. You don't know that there are many things in the world that you cannot deal with no matter how much strategy you have."

"Like this formation?" Li Qinglin walked around the formation in front of him, threw a stone into it, and a loud explosion erupted, turning the stone into ashes.

"Powerful fire. So you used the collected flames from the Firestone for this." Li Qinglin smiled faintly, then gave an order, "Listen up, dig into the ground from the side and see if there is a formation core below. If there isn't, dig straight up."

The soldiers immediately started digging without hesitation, and Donghua Zi's expression changed drastically.

Li Qinglin patiently waited for the soldiers to dig, saying, "Perhaps there are some magical techniques that are beyond the reach of even a large army. I admit that. But unfortunately, Donghua Zi, you obviously don't possess this ability. Perhaps you are still hiding some Great Monsters like Ye Ling with Body Transformation? But firstly, their numbers are limited, and secondly, their knowledge is shallow. Even if their cultivation is decent, one or two monsters cannot turn the tide in this massive army formation - just like you, Donghua Zi."

Donghua Zi gritted his teeth and suddenly sent out another signal.

Li Qinglin looked up and asked calmly, "What does this signal mean?"

"As the crown prince said, those few monsters are of little use here. I've sent them to your residence instead of coming to reinforce this place. I wonder, in the crown prince's heart, is killing the enemy more important or protecting your family?" Donghua Zi grinned. "Did I really send them to my residence?" Li Qinglin's expression was somewhat strange. "Then let them go."

As he finished speaking, the ground was dug through, seemingly damaging something inside. The brilliance of the formation covering the courtyard gradually dimmed. Li Qinglin threw another stone, but there was no response.

He smiled and said, "Now it's our turn to set fire. Listen up... bring firewood and burn down this Immortal Ascension platform."

Donghua Zi was so angry that he almost vomited blood. This nine-story platform was filled with mechanisms and formations. It was originally said that they couldn't easily break through, and there might still be a way if they waited for the king's intervention... Why isn't Li Qinglin following the script?

He stopped speaking and retreated, heading straight down.

This platform had been operating for many years, and it wasn't just the high platform; there was also an underground palace.

That was not something a fire could solve. It all depended on whether Li Qinglin dared to enter!

Li Qinglin watched the flames burning fiercely and whispered to his subordinates, "Go to the crown prince's residence and see if things are settled there. If so, ask Mr. Qin to come here and assist."

(End of this chapter)