New Yu Era, Year 1333, June 7th

Lincang Path, north bank of the Yunlan Ancient River, over a hundred Tianshu-class warships were lined up majestically on the water. More than half had already turned their bows southward, while the smaller half were queuing along the shore, docking one by one onto the wharf pontoon.

On the wharf, thousands of soldiers awaited eagerly. They were divided into orderly military formations, each consisting of around forty to fifty thousand men, stretching over ten li. As all soldiers were clad in crimson armor, from afar, they resembled a surging red tide.

If seen from the air looking down, it would become apparent that this crimson tide stretched north to south across the land for at least several hundred li, spanning east to west, encircling the entire riverbank, with a width of a hundred li.

The Yunlan Ancient River, dividing Shenzhou into north and south, is undoubtedly majestic and grand. However, at this moment, the red tide stretching for hundreds of li along the riverbank was in no way inferior, and even more awe-inspiring compared to this segment of the ancient river.

Above the ancient river, Hou Yucheng, Hou Yuling, Hou Yujie, and Hou Yuduan stood in line, looking down upon the army boarding the ships, occasionally looking up to survey the surroundings vigilantly.

Though the four stood in line, it was evident that Hou Yucheng, clad in Beast-faced Swallowing Sky Crimson Armor, stood slightly ahead while the other three were slightly behind.

After all, the hierarchy of age was in place, with the three clearly regarding Hou Yucheng as the leader.

"Seventeen million soldiers crossing the ancient river, those from the Holy Land should have received news long ago. Half our soldiers have boarded the ships, yet no one has come to cause trouble. It's really strange!"

"The Great Jin army in the Dongyuan Path is in a standoff with the alliance, so their inaction is reasonable. But the five million soldiers stationed in Zhongzhou are also unmoved, which is a bit abnormal."

"Even if the eleven million troops departing from Wangchuan Road weren't informed, the six million soldiers setting off from the Divine Capital surely knew, yet there's no reaction at all?"

Hearing the slight confusion in Hou Yucheng's voice, Hou Yuling and Hou Yujie immediately resonated with what he said. Clearly, the three had reached the same conclusion.

The departure of the Hou Clan army from the Divine Capital and the three-family coalition leaving the Northern Border was indeed beneficial to the Great Jin. But the issue was, their destination was the Baiming Ferry, evident in their intent to head south across the river. Their destination from the Baiming Ferry would only be one place, which is Hexi.

As of now, they were still a part of the alliance.

The Youye Emperor was leading his army against the alliance in Hexi. If the seventeen million Hou Clan soldiers headed south and joined the alliance, the Great Jin's campaign in Hexi would be hopeless.

This clear situation could not have escaped the Great Jin's notice.

So why were they not stopping them?

Soon, the three overwhelmed with questions found only Hou Yuduan remained composed, drawing their gaze towards him.

This was also a tradition in the Hou Clan. When Hou Yuxiao was present, they always turned to him with questions. In his absence, they could only seek answers from Hou Yuduan.

"Old Fifth, when Big Brother was at Wangchuan Road City earlier, you two must have been hiding something from us, right?" Hou Yucheng recalled that before Big Brother Hou Yuxiao entered the treasury, he instructed to take Old Fifth along with the army southward, a clue that gave him a certain insight.

Hou Yujie and Hou Yuling remained silent, but seeing the slow smile appearing on Hou Yuduan's face, they immediately realized that Big Brother must have kept some secrets.

"The Great Jin not only won't stop us from heading south now, but they also won't interfere when we land in Hexi!"

The three were taken aback upon hearing this.

"How is it possible that they won't interfere even when we land in Hexi?"

Hou Yucheng couldn't suppress his inner confusion. The overall plan for the army's journey south was devised by him. With no interception in the north as anticipated, he had focused entirely on the landing strategy. He had even briefed all the commanding generals on it.

But now, Hou Yuduan told him

that when the army landed in Hexi, the Great Jin wouldn't interfere?

Why wouldn't the Great Jin interfere?

Also, where did Hou Yuduan get this assurance?

...

Suddenly, Hou Yujie had an epiphany, his face drastically changing. Turning to Hou Yuduan, he speculated:

"Old Fifth, could it be that with the Great Jin, we're...…"

Hou Yujie didn't finish his sentence because he saw a faint smile already appear on Hou Yuduan's face.

If that faint smile wasn't enough to explain,

Hou Yuduan's subsequent nod confirmed everything.

The three of them were simultaneously shocked, their pupils filled with astonishment.

The Hou Clan had collaborated with the Great Jin!

This...…how could it be?

On the eve of The Hour of Hai, March 15th, indeed Big Brother Hou Yuxiao secretly met with the Emperor of Jin. At the time, not only Hou Yucheng, but everyone else thought that Hou Yuxiao was dealing with matters concerning the treasury, intending to unite the alliance and Great Jin to suppress the New Moon Cult and thwart Sikong Yue.

"That night, when Big Brother sought out the Great Jin, it wasn't about the treasury or to unite with Great Jin against the alliance to suppress the New Moon Cult and Sikong Yue?"

Upon Hou Yucheng's inquiry, Hou Yuduan first nodded slightly, but after a while, lightly shook his head. After hesitating for a moment, realizing it was the right moment to speak, he softly began explaining to the three:

"It is and isn't, indeed it was about the treasury, to unite Great Jin and the alliance to suppress the New Moon Cult, which is true, but...…"