Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 147 Swift and Decisive Measures

Over the next three days.

A bloody storm swept across the three northern continents.

The eight Vajra Warriors each led a thousand elite Tiger Warriors, like eight sharp swords, piercing straight into the military camps of the three northern continents.

The Tiger Warriors are at least sixth-rank soldiers. A thousand men form a battle formation, their aura soaring like smoke from a wolf's tail. No one dares to stand in their way.

Day 1, Youzhou Camp.

Deputy General Cui Yuanbao (Cui Yuanhu's younger brother) led three thousand personal guards in a rebellion, attempting to resist Wang Meng who came to capture him.

Wang Meng led a thousand elite troops.

Once the battle formation was complete, the phantom of a giant crimson tiger materialized.

"break!"

A thousand elite warriors roared in unison, their battle formation surging like a millstone.

Of the three thousand personal guards, half were killed on the spot, and the rest knelt down and surrendered.

Cui Yuanbao was killed by Wang Meng with a single spear thrust, and his head was hung at the camp gate.

On the same day, at the Yunzhou camp.

Lieutenant General Liu Kui (son-in-law of the Cui family) instigated a mutiny among 5,000 border troops, intending to flee to Beishuo.

They were intercepted by Zhou Tong and his 1,000 elite Tiger Warriors at a point 20 miles from the border.

They charged into battle like an iron torrent.

The five thousand border troops were routed, with two thousand killed or wounded and the rest captured.

Liu Kui was captured alive, taken back to Yunzhou City, and beheaded in public.

The next day, at the Dingzhou camp.

Commander Zhao De (a distant relative of the Cui family) attempted to take the commander hostage and seize control of the camp.

Zhao Zilong led a hundred Snow Dragon Cavalry in a surprise attack, and they were annihilated in battle. Zhao De and more than three hundred of his followers were all killed.

On the same day, in various parts of the three northern continents, seventeen military camps experienced varying degrees of resistance, all of which were swiftly suppressed by the Tiger Army.

Led by Zhao Zilong, the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry galloped across the three northern continents like silver lightning.

Wherever there is rebellion, they will appear.

The lowest rank of the Great Snow Dragon Riders is Rank 1. When they charge, their momentum is overwhelming, and they can often rout the rebel army with a single charge.

Day three.

All 127 generals from the three northern continents who colluded with the Cui family were captured or killed.

The confiscated assets of the Cui family totaled eight million taels of silver, three million two hundred thousand taels of gold, more than fifteen thousand spirit stones, three hundred thousand mu of farmland, and more than five hundred shops.

Li Chunfeng led the Eighteen Heavenly Generals to set up the "Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Formation," which covered three continents.

During this period, more than 300 remnants of the Cui family attempted to flee to Beishuo or the inland areas.

They were all intercepted and killed, with none escaping.

Zhuge Liang was stationed in Dingbei City, where he announced the crimes of the Cui family and reassured the people.

At the same time, some of the property confiscated from the Cui family was distributed to the oppressed people, and public sentiment was quickly stabilized.

In just three days, the three continents of the North were turned upside down.

The Cui family's century-long scheme in the northern border region has vanished into thin air.

……

On the evening of the third day, at the General's Mansion.

Lin Chen had just woken up and was holding Qin Shuyan in the courtyard, admiring the moon.

Zhuge Liang and others returned one after another to report back.

"My lord, the three northern provinces have been initially pacified." Zhuge Liang handed over the compiled roster.

"All 127 traitors have been executed, and the property of the Cui family and their associates has been confiscated."

After reorganization, approximately 150,000 of the 200,000 border troops are now usable, and generals at all levels have been reappointed.

Lin Chen took the roster, threw it on the table without even looking at it:

"Mr. Kongming, you have worked hard."

Of the confiscated property, 30% was used as military pay, 30% was used to provide relief to the families of fallen soldiers, and 30% was used to build city defenses and improve people's livelihoods.

The remaining ten percent... will be distributed to the soldiers who distinguished themselves in this battle.

"My lord is wise." Zhuge Liang nodded. "Also, there's some activity in Beishuo."

Upon learning of the northern border cleansing operation, Wanyan Honglie suspended his advance, seemingly observing the situation.

"Wait and see?" Lin Chen laughed. "Isn't he afraid that after I've consolidated the military affairs in the Northern Border, I'll slowly deal with him?"

Zhou Zhenshan stepped forward and said, "Lord Duke, although the 200,000 border troops have been reorganized, their combat strength still needs time to recover."

My suggestion is to first hold the border, and then plan a counterattack once the army has completed its training.

"Hold your ground?" Lin Chen shook his head. "That's not my style."

He looked at Zhao Zilong: "Zilong, how many enemy troops are there on the border now?"

"Reporting to my lord, Wanyan Honglie has personally led an army of 200,000 and is stationed at the 'Wolf Mountain' camp, a hundred miles from the border."

"The Northern Northern Sword Emperor Tuoba Lie is also in the army," Zhao Zilong said.

"Two hundred thousand..." Lin Chen stroked his chin.

"Eight thousand Tiger Warriors, five hundred Snow Dragon Riders, and one hundred and fifty thousand Border Troops... We are outnumbered."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan: "My lord, since ancient times, attacking a city has been more difficult than defending it!"

Although we have 8,000 elite Tiger Warriors and 500 Snow Dragon Riders, Northern Shuo also has an elite legion.

Although the border army of 150,000 was slightly inferior in combat strength, it was sufficient to defend the city.

In terms of overall combat strength, our army is not inferior to that of the Northern Frontier.

However, if they launch a preemptive attack, the casualties could be too heavy.

"That makes sense." Lin Chen nodded. "Then...shall we defend for now?"

"Attack!" the eight Vajra Warriors shouted in unison.

"My lord, our Tiger Army has been holding back for so long, we're eager for a good, satisfying battle!"

Zhao Zilong excitedly echoed, "My lord, this humble general is willing to be the vanguard!"

Lin Chen smiled as he looked at the eager expressions on everyone's faces.

"A fight is inevitable sooner or later, but... not now."

He stood up, walked into the courtyard, and looked at the northern night sky:

"Isn't Wanyan Honglie waiting for us to integrate? Then let's integrate and train our troops first."

When he gets impatient, he will naturally take the initiative to attack, and then...

He turned around, a cold glint in his eyes: "Let's wait in comfort and annihilate them in one fell swoop."

"Our lord is wise!"

……

Late at night, in the study of the general's mansion.

Lin Chen sat alone at the desk, looking at the map of the northern border.

The door opened softly, and Qin Shuyan walked in carrying ginseng soup.

"Eighth brother, why aren't you asleep so late?" She placed the ginseng soup on the table.

"I'm thinking about something." Lin Chen pulled Qin Shuyan into his arms and held her close.

"Third Sister-in-law, do you think... if Father had accepted the Demon Lord's essence and broken through to become a terrestrial immortal, he wouldn't have died?"

Qin Shuyan said softly, "Perhaps not. But if that happens, he won't be a father."

"Yes," Lin Chen sighed. "The Lin family has been loyal and brave for generations, preferring to die in battle rather than be tainted by the demonic path."

This is the spirit of the Lin family, and also my father's choice.

Lin Chen paused, then said in a low voice, "But... I don't want to lose any more family."

Qin Shuyan leaned against Lin Chen's chest and said softly:

"Eighth brother, you are very strong now, even stronger than Father was back then. You will protect the Lin family."

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded. "I will."

The two embraced quietly.

Outside the window, the moonlight was as clear as water.

……

Meanwhile, in Zhongzhou, at the Netherworld Sect.

In a gloomy hall, the Netherworld Sect Master, Ghost King, was looking at the secret report in his hand, his face grim.

Below, three elders in black robes knelt.

"All four inner sect elders have perished." The Ghost King's voice was hoarse. "The Demon Lord's essence...was purified?"

"Yes," an elder replied in a trembling voice.

"According to the spies, they sensed a powerful holy force before the secret realm collapsed."

The Demon Lord's essence... must have been purified by holy power.

"Holy power..." A hint of surprise flashed in the Ghost King's eyes.

"How could holy power appear in such a barbaric land as the Eastern Region?"

"Sect Master, could it be... Li Bai?" another elder probed.

"He is a terrestrial immortal; if he has mastered some kind of sacred inheritance, perhaps..."

"Impossible." The Ghost King shook his head.

"Li Bai cultivated the way of the sword. Although he possessed a righteous spirit, he was by no means a saint.

Holy power was a unique power possessed by ancient saints, and it has long been lost.

He pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice:

"Send people to the Eastern Region to thoroughly investigate this matter. Also... contact the Styx Ancestor."

"Ancestor Styx?" The three elders were all surprised.

"With the Demon Lord's essence purified, he should be even more anxious than we are," the Ghost King sneered.

"After all... he is the reincarnation of the Demon Lord's remnant soul."

"yes!"

The three elders bowed and withdrew.

……

Deep in the East China Sea, on a solitary island.

The Styx Ancestor sat cross-legged on the edge of the cliff, looking at the barely perceptible wisp of black energy in his hand, his face ashen.

This wisp of black energy is a fragment of the Demon Lord's origin that escaped from the Northern Secret Realm.

Although it was only one in ten thousand, it was enough for him to feel the pain of his origin being purified.

"Holy power... ancient holy power..." A mad glint flashed in the eyes of the Styx Ancestor.

"The Eastern Region actually possesses a lineage of holy power!"

He slowly rose to his feet, his body enveloped in surging black energy.

"Li Bai...is that you? Or...someone else?"

He took a step and disappeared at the edge of the cliff.

When it reappeared, it was already a hundred miles away on the sea.