What does it mean to actively advance southward?

"If I guessed correctly, the king intends to take the initiative to attack, but Jiuhua Dao has already betrayed the alliance. If the disciples of Divine Sword Manor discover our advance into Jiuhua Dao, they will definitely notify the coalition army to prepare in advance, or even ambush us. With just our two million troops, rashly advancing southward might..."

"Who said it's just our two million troops!"

Wanyan Jun shouted coldly and looked at the crowd behind him, saying: "Although I don't regard the three-family coalition as a threat, this matter concerns the grand scheme of the Holy Dynasty, so we cannot be careless. Rest assured, I've already informed the four marquises of the Capital Region Path to mobilize their army here. With their two million troops and our own two million, dealing with Hou Clan's two million Red Flame Army will be effortless."

Upon hearing Wanyan Jun's words, everyone immediately felt invigorated, and even the Commandant who had just persuaded Wanyan Jun relaxed his expression.

With four million Sacred Army troops, it's easy to contend with all the coalition armies, not to mention initially confronting Hou Clan's two million Red Flame Army in Jiuhua Dao.

"Those two million Red Flame Army troops are probably there because Hou Yuxiao worries we will ambush them halfway, using them as a vanguard for the rear army. There's a four-day journey between the two forces. If we can truly catch up to them and first eliminate the Red Flame Army, then the remaining eleven million from the three-family coalition, under the iron heels of Great Jin, will be utterly crushed, hopelessly defeated."

Wanyan Jun's confident demeanor immediately led the generals to voice their agreement. Indeed, with the presence of four million Sacred Army troops, even if a Saint were to appear, the chance for the three-family coalition to win is minimal.

Even if the alliance truly sends a Saint, Great Jin will not stand idly by.

Twenty Commandants returned to their respective army bases. Wanyan Jun recalled being besieged by Hou Yuxiao, Chu Kuangren, and Lu Kangping, and a trace of coldness flashed in his pupils.

He was only at the Sub-Saint of Martial Dao cultivation level and suffered losses when facing the combined attack of the three, fearing suppression by the Red Flame Army's fierce blood. This made him realize that merely relying on himself and the two million army was not enough to deal with the three-family coalition, so he informed the four marquises of the Capital Region Path.

Great Jin occupied the Capital Region Path, Lin Cang, and Shuofeng Paths before Emperor Yuliang's expedition notified Youzhou. The Emperor of Jin dispatched ten marquises, each leading fifty thousand troops to oversee the three Paths. Six marquises were stationed in the Capital Region Path, while Lin Cang and Shuofeng had two marquises each. Mobilizing two hundred thousand troops from four marquises didn't significantly affect the three Paths but posed a deadly threat to Hou Yuxiao's three-family coalition.

"Thinking about Dongyuan Path, dream on!"

Wanyan Jun snorted coldly, not following the twenty Commandants to the army base, but stayed at the boundary.

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Though confident, the matter concerns Great Jin, so he must be cautious. He dared not approach Hou Yuxiao's army. He must keep a close watch at the boundary, in case Hou Yuxiao pulls any tricks and he needs to react promptly.

Moreover, he had sent out three batches of scouts, and only the first batch had returned. The scouts will keep reporting on Hou Clan's Red Flame Army's movements, so he must wait here.

...…

Behind the boundary, a camp with about a thousand soldiers.

This is Wanyan Jun's Imperial Guard Camp. As one of the Seven Kings of Great Jin, Wanyan Jun's Imperial Guard Camp is not simple. Despite only numbering over a thousand, every one is a master beyond the third realm of Grandmaster, with many in the fourth realm and even at the Great Grandmaster level.

He came to the border first for reconnaissance, so the Imperial Guard Camp naturally followed him. For battlefield needs, he brought all the elite scouts from ten towns.

Lin Gu is one of them.

He had just returned and was immediately surrounded by the scouts.

"Lin Gu, were you also interrogated?"

Seeing the worried faces of the scouts, Lin Gu nodded first, then asked puzzled: "Why did the king interrogate me?"

"It was because of that kid Yu Ning. He was bribed by the three-family coalition, brought back false information, and was exposed by the king and the Commandants. All of us returning afterward were questioned thoroughly."

Lin Gu's expression changed dramatically, asking in shock: "Yu Ning was bribed? And got caught? How did the king handle him?"

"How else would he handle it!"

The person answering made a gesture to slice a neck, indicating the answer.

Lin Gu immediately showed a trace of fear on his face, saying with relief: "Luckily I am fine, during the questioning by the king and Commandants, I was terrified. If I had said something wrong, I might lose my life."

Seeing his timid appearance, everyone laughed out loud.

Lin Gu didn't mind. He glanced around the camp, casually saying: "The army shouldn't be far from here. I saw the twenty Commandants flying north, probably heading to the army camp?"

"I just heard from the brothers in the Imperial Guard Camp that they'll arrive in half a day."

"Pretty much, once the two million troops arrive, the king may directly advance into Jiuhua Dao and engage the three-family coalition."

"Directly to Jiuhua Dao? No way?"

"Tch, among the three-family coalition, only the Hou Clan's two million are noteworthy. They march one after another; as long as those two million elite are handled, the remaining eleven million troops are hardly significant."

...

Lin Gu listened silently to the discussions but occasionally a flash of brilliance appeared in his eyes as he lowered his head.

After some idle chatter, everyone returned to their tents to rest. Since the Imperial Guard Camp followed the king here first, until the two million troops arrived, they were mostly staying at the camp without missions.