"Deputy Commander Mo, quickly take the Crown Princess and leave. There are rebels here!"
Just as Zhu Zhuqing was refusing Mo Ziqi.
A goateed old man in black armor came stumbling over, clutching his chest.
Mo Ziqi looked closely and discovered that the goateed old man's left leg was covered in bright red.
"Battalion Commander Li, you're injured!" Mo Ziqi's vigilance increased greatly.
Battalion Commander Li was named Li Sihai, a scout battalion commander under Mo Ziqi with Spirit Sage cultivation.
Li Sihai said gravely, "The surrounding area has rebel elites. In just one encounter, our hidden experts were eliminated."
Hearing this, Mo Ziqi's perpetually unchanging cold expression finally showed some emotion, mixed with several parts anger.
She turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing.
"Crown Princess, please leave with me."
Zhu Zhuqing's face turned deathly pale.
These elites had all come to find her...
Before Zhu Zhuqing could nod or deny, Mo Ziqi couldn't wait any longer.
Using thirty percent of her strength, she chopped toward Zhu Zhuqing's neck.
With a light cry, the slender figure collapsed into her arms.
"Let's go." Mo Ziqi waved her hand and leaped up.
Li Sihai smiled bitterly, remaining in place, patting his injured thigh. "Deputy Commander, the enemy is too formidable. Someone has to hold the rear, right?"
Mo Ziqi's form stiffened. She bit her jade teeth but ultimately said nothing more.
She disappeared into the forest.
Almost simultaneously.
Several North Star Squad members in camouflage uniforms came rushing from the distance.
Dark gun muzzles pointed at Li Sihai.
Li Sihai met their gaze coldly. "Winning through numbers is no real skill!"
"But even if this old man dies, I'll take one of you down with me!"
"White Elephant True Form, reve—"
Bang!
The North Star Squad didn't give Li Sihai this opportunity.
After several gunshots, everything returned to silence.
...
Halfway up the mountain.
Thirteen reported, "Young Master, all targets have been eliminated."
"But Zhu Zhuqing was rescued by a Titled Douluo."
Ye Tian sighed lightly. "The Star Luo Empire is willing to invest heavily in Zhu Zhuqing."
Thirteen answered, "It's said that the commander of the Southern Expedition Army is Zhu Zhuqing's father."
"Southern Expedition..." Ye Tian and Thirteen exchanged glances, making a mocking sound through their noses.
"Hope he succeeds in his next life."
...
Two days later.
Zhou Long also sent back battle results.
The Black Eagle Legion's supply line had been successfully cut off.
"Young Master, this is the newly drawn situation map of northern Heavenly Star Province."
"As expected, what's stored in Flying Tiger Town isn't just supplies for the Black Eagle Legion alone."
"There's also a large amount of provisions secretly stored there."
"More importantly, we intercepted a large number of wagons."
"With these wagons as transportation, the plan to assault Star Luo City can be smoothly completed!"
Zhou Long's excitement showed on his face.
It must be said that because of Zhu Zhuqing alone, Star Luo's deployment plan had been disrupted.
For the Heavenly Strategy Army, this was the perfect moment to counterattack.
Ye Tian nodded lightly, spreading out the map and looking at the situation depicted. "Time waits for no one."
"Since the Star Luo Empire has given us this opportunity, we can't disappoint them."
"Pass down my order: the army will assemble overnight, first converging at Flying Tiger Town to load the provisions onto wagons, then launch a full assault on Star Luo City!"
Thirteen inquired, "Then what about the Black Eagle Legion?"
"Sharpening the axe won't delay cutting wood." Ye Tian's gaze was sharp. "The forces in our hands aren't just the Heavenly Strategy Army and Thorn Legion, but also hundreds of thousands of organized commoners."
Hearing this, Thirteen lacked confidence. "Can we really defeat the Black Eagle Legion relying only on these poorly equipped commoners?"
"What if we add you and the intelligence organization in your hands?" Ye Tian's eyes were bright.
Thirteen smiled wryly. "Young Master, the intelligence organization in my hands is mostly commoners too. Even combining all our combat forces, we can't match a single Heavenly Strategy Army squad."
"Then consider this training. The intelligence organization you're responsible for can't always grow under powerful wings."
"When necessary, it must also be tempered on the battlefield."
"As for specific tactics, I'll give you sixteen characters: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue."
Carefully savoring Ye Tian's words, Thirteen was stunned. "Ah, isn't this just ambushing? And running after succeeding. Young Master, what kind of tactic is this?"
"Guerrilla warfare—submerging the enemy in an ocean of common people." Ye Tian said with a firm gaze.
Thirteen nodded as if understanding but not quite.
Although he didn't know how effective this tactic would be against the Black Eagle Legion.
One thing was certain.
The casualty rate would be particularly low.
After all, Young Master Ye Tian hadn't required him to lead armed forces to clash head-on with the Black Eagle Legion.
"Young Master, rest assured. I will give it my all."
Honestly.
Thirteen wasn't confident whether his use of guerrilla tactics would succeed.
Ye Tian smiled and patted Thirteen's shoulder. "Just do your best."
Although guerrilla warfare was appearing on the Douluo Continent for the first time.
It was already a mature tactic.
Especially since the Black Eagle Legion numbered less than ten thousand, and their supply line had been cut off.
They were already turtles in a jar.
The only thing Ye Tian needed to guard against was the Black Eagle Legion breaking the jar and smashing it, going for mutual destruction at the first opportunity.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if it came to that.
The Black Eagle Legion's struggle would be futile.
After all, the battlefield that would decide the Star Luo Empire's fate.
Wasn't in Heavenly Star City, nor in Heavenly Star Province.
But rather in the imperial capital the Heavenly Strategy Army was about to assault—Star Luo City!
...
Star Luo City.
The imperial palace.
Learning that Zhu Zhuqing was safe and sound, Crown Prince Dai Mubai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
To rescue Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai had expended enormous effort.
Rushing to the imperial capital overnight, he had even threatened to resign from his position as Crown Prince to force his father to deploy the Black Eagle Legion.
"It's good that she's back." The Star Luo Emperor sitting in the main seat had a gloomy expression.
Rescuing Zhu Zhuqing wasn't just his son's request, but also giving the Nether Civet family an accounting.
Of course, the price was steep too.
One of the two great legions defending the imperial capital had been deployed.
This meant the empire had reached the end of its rope.
Within Star Luo City recently, quite a few nobles had been restless.
The reason was simple—seeking escape routes for their families.
This was understandable.
But at this critical juncture, if the nobles' hearts became chaotic.
The entire Star Luo Empire would have no hope of salvation.
To quell the unrest, the Star Luo Emperor used thunderous methods to deal with several prominent families.
Only then was the panic temporarily suppressed.
"Since Zhuqing is safe, this son's concerns are resolved. I should rightfully return to the Nether Civet Duke's command to continue serving the empire."
Dai Mubai bowed, preparing to take his leave from his father.
"Wait. You needn't concern yourself with the Southern Expedition Army. I'm preparing to entrust you with an important mission."
Speaking thus, the Star Luo Emperor dismissed everyone around them.
Drawing Dai Mubai close, after a moment of silence he said, "I've heard that beyond the Douluo Continent, there are other continents."
"You should lead an elite force, departing from Mountain-Sea Province which remains under imperial control, to seek a new continent."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai's body stiffened. "Father..."
How could he not hear that his father was arranging for him to flee!
Could the situation really have deteriorated to this degree?
"Obey my command!"
The Star Luo Emperor was rarely stern with his own son.
Then he sighed again:
"The Heaven Dou Empire has already been led astray by Spirit Hall."
"Our Star Luo Empire alone cannot support the weight."
"Persisting further is merely delaying our demise by three to five years."
"I believe that as long as the empire stands united, we will definitely overcome this crisis!" Dai Mubai said somewhat unwillingly.
"Foolish child." The Star Luo Emperor shook his head. "If there were even a thread of hope, would I not see it?"
"Mubai, you are the most gifted individual in our Star Luo imperial family in a thousand years."
"I believe that even overseas, you can still uphold the glory of the Star Luo imperial family."
"Obey Father's command. Go overseas to seek a new continent, and never return."
"That child Zhuqing can go with you. The responsibility of continuing our Nether White Tiger imperial bloodline is entrusted to you!"
(End of Chapter)