Above the Galaxy

Qi Mountain Camp.

Shen Wuxiang received the military intelligence sent by Yuan Minghui at the first opportunity. Qin Jianyi and the Barbarian allied forces are launching a massive attack on Golden City.

"How did the Barbarians and Qin Jianyi end up together?"

Shen Wuxiang's expression was grave, very shocked by this news.

This scene...

Why does it feel like Tang Li is back again?

"The Barbarians loathe the Phoenix people to the bone, having repeatedly killed our negotiation envoys. How could they assist Qin Jianyi?"

"Wasn't Qin Jianyi's Sky Wolf Army trapped in Zhao Ling? When did they leave? Is this Li Dezhi's and Zeng Kaitian's negligence?"

"How did they get past Dushan? Where are the Dushan defenders? The Night Watchers? What were the commanders at Dushan doing?"

------

The strategists at the Military Mansion were in a heated discussion, clearly, this unexpected event disrupted their previous military plans.

Due to the peril of Dushan, they did not have a dedicated army stationed to guard the Northern Border in the past.

The Night Watchers at Dushan had already fulfilled this duty.

Shen Wuxiang, a person of decisive action, did not wait for everyone to arrive at a conclusion and had already started issuing orders:

"Wang Bota, immediately contact Yuan Minghui to see if they need assistance. Regardless, Golden City must not be lost. If Golden City is lost, he should come and see me with his head."

"Yes."

"Xie Daoyun, contact the Dushan defenders and ask what exactly is happening with Xun Pu, and why the troops of the Barbarians and Qin Jianyi were allowed to cross Dushan."

"Yes." Xie Daoyun accepted the order, then asked, "What if there is no response from Dushan?"

"Then go there in person and take a look. Alive or dead, there must be some confirmation."

"Yes, Military Minister."

"Shen Hong, lead your 30,000-strong Yu Xi Army to the Zhaoling Battlefield for support, and try to compress their operational space as much as possible."

"Qin Jianyi's Sky Wolf Army leaving makes the Zhaoling region inevitably weak and vulnerable... If you can defeat them in one strike, I'll give you major merits."

"Yes, Military Minister." Shen Hong stood up and responded loudly.

Everyone was quite envious, thinking if Shen Hong could seize Zhaoling in the process, it would be a monumental achievement, and a promotion to Major General wouldn't be surprising.

Shen Hong is a distant relative of the Shen Family, so indeed, good things all fall into the hands of the Shen Family.

"Everyone else stand by for orders, meeting adjourned."

Shen Wuxiang finished speaking and turned to leave.

Entering his study, the military advisor Sun Shehu was already waiting.

"Military Minister, have the Barbarians really joined forces with Qin Jianyi?" Sun Shehu asked.

"I have high-definition satellite images here." Shen Wuxiang handed the folder he was holding over, saying, "At the forefront are the Iron-eating Beasts unique to the Barbarians... and those flying high above are indeed Qin Jianyi's Sky Wolf Army. The Star Disc Fighters all have the Sky Wolf emblem painted on them."

Sun Shehu reviewed the document for a while, then said, "It shouldn't be... The Barbarians abhor humans to the core; how could they possibly be appeased?"

In the eyes of many in the Empire, the Barbarians are a unique kind, not belonging to 'humans.'

Many people call them 'Wildmen' or 'Evil Ghosts.'

Therefore, guarding the Barbarians at Dushan is also referred to as Ghost Mountain.

Once you enter Ghost Mountain, nine out of ten don't return.

"I also find it quite strange." Shen Wuxiang replied coldly, "Barbarians are fewer than ten thousand, but not to be opposed when they are over ten thousand."

"Once these tough and sturdy guys are equipped with the Empire's advanced armor and weapons, it becomes very difficult to kill them. Yet, they bring devastating blows to our military forces and cities."

"Indeed so." Sun Shehu adjusted his glasses, saying, "Back then, the rebel Tang Li used these Barbarians as vanguards, seeing their destructiveness and flexibility."

Shen Wuxiang gave Sun Shehu a look but didn't respond.

No one knew better than him about the root of the hatred between the Phoenix people and the Barbarians. Back then, he personally captured the Barbarian leader and ordered the mass slaughter of Barbarian elites, which led to the current enmity.

When he later realized the situation was uncontrollable, he ordered a 'nuclear strike' on the Dushan area where the Barbarians lived.

Although it destroyed their living environment, yet...

They actually survived in such harsh conditions.

Still causing trouble for the Imperial Army to this day, becoming a firm obstacle on his path.

Truly detestable.

If he had known, he would have deployed the entire army to wipe them out, eliminating future troubles permanently.

Alas, he had other thoughts at the time, so he kept them around, nurturing an enemy for self-gain.

Sun Shehu, naturally aware of this public case, was not worried that Shen Wuxiang would bear a grudge against him because of it.

Shen Wuxiang has profound insight and can accept more intense admonitions.

As long as what you say is reasonable and convincing to him.

"The appearance of Barbarians and Qin Jianyi's Sky Wolf Army at Golden City, and the missing Dushan defenders, is quite mysterious." Sun Shehu remarked to Shen Wuxiang, "Have there been any contacts with Dushan?"

"The orders have been given, and there should soon be results reported back."

"Military Minister, isn't Shen Qingping of the Shen Family stationed at Dushan? I heard he's now a leading general of an army... Why not send someone to contact him?"

Shen Wuxiang was taken aback.

He had completely forgotten about Shen Qingping. This kid managed to become a leading general?

Seems like he's been performing quite well at Dushan.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "I'll have someone contact him to ask what exactly is happening at Dushan."

Shen Wuxiang, due to his special status, would not personally reach out to those family members who were out gaining experience.