CHAPTER 1503: CHAPTER 1503: THE AZURE DRAGON DEMON KING IS BORN

The generals on the field all looked full of spirit, only the Foreign Affairs Officer wore a worried expression, feeling that Long Fei was a bit too aggressive.

Negotiation is a process of continuous compromise and concession by both parties. Now that the other side just proposed their conditions, and we’ve flatly denied them, leaving no room for negotiation!

They were still hoping to argue and reason on the negotiating table.

Now it’s good, everyone is free.

The Foreign Affairs Officer murmured softly as he left, leaving only Ji Wanrong and Long Fei sitting in the main hall.

Ji Wanrong said, "I see you’re becoming a fortune teller now, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears. How can you be sure that the northern people want peace talks?"

Long Fei chuckled lightly, "It’s very simple, fighting on two fronts is a taboo for military strategists, unless you have absolute strength and advantage. Now that things have fallen out over at Jingzhou Prefecture, if the Imperial Court insists, aren’t they just handing over Jingzhou Prefecture to us?"

Ji Wanrong rubbed her head and said, "But I always feel that things are too simple."

Long Fei said, "Actually, it’s also possible that the northerners are just stalling for time, waiting for someone to come. They’ve adjusted their strategy, maybe they’re thinking of attacking from a different angle."

"That’s possible."

Ji Wanrong nodded in agreement with Long Fei’s view.

From what she knew of the old marshal Han Fang, he was not someone who would easily admit defeat.

Having a hard time gathering such a large force to march south, Han Fang would certainly not retreat easily without achieving something.

The two guessed accurately, because the Third Prince seized the Crown Prince’s position, and the foundation of the Imperial Court had been unstable.

Though all the major families outwardly submitted to the New Emperor, they had their own plans behind the scenes.

Therefore, this southern war was not determined from the start.

Thanks to the old general Han Fang serving as the front-line commander, resources from all sides could be smoothly allocated.

If it were any other general, this war probably wouldn’t even get off the ground.

Given the current situation, it’s still not time for a head-on conflict.

Although the south bank had gained more autonomy, it neither declared itself emperor nor took the initiative to advance.

The people of the Imperial Court preferred to seek peace if possible, no one wanted to stake their own fortune against others.

Han Fang was not from the Eight Gates of Military Strategists; he was a general newly promoted through wartime achievements.

To secure his position, he had to pay more than others.

No matter who sat on the throne, he knew that as long as he remained valuable, his position would remain secure at any time.

So, even with many constraints, Han Fang was determined to fight a brilliant battle to prove himself.

This time marching south, not only did the Aurelius people help, but there was also even greater support than from Aurelius.

That was the Azure Dragon Demon King of the South Sea.

Long Fei and the Azure Dragon Demon King had an irreconcilable feud.

The Azure Dragon Demon King had always wanted to take down Long Fei, but previously it was in seclusion and could not spare the time to settle with Long Fei.

After coming out of seclusion, it learned that its two generals also died at Long Fei’s hands, and could not swallow this anger.

At this time, Han Fang sent envoys to contact the Azure Dragon Demon King’s subordinates.

The two sides quickly found common ground and decided to work together against Long Fei.

The envoy this time was merely the Imperial Court’s wishful thinking from the peace faction.

Han Fang, though agreeing to peace talks, took a step back in front of the peace faction but deliberately offered conditions that Long Fei could not agree to.

Thus, this war would still be fought according to his wishes.

Across the battlefield, battle flags stood densely with no sign of retreat.

Vanguard Army Commander-in-Chief Ji Xiaolian stood at the front line, observing the situation across the river.

Military Advisor Fang Qian waved a feather fan and said, "Strange, wasn’t it said that the other side had already sent envoys to seek peace? Now there’s such a forest of weapons; where’s the sincerity for peace?"

Ji Xiaolian said, "I heard about today’s negotiations, the Grand Marshal wasn’t willing for peace, the other side also didn’t have peace intentions, so the talks were just formalities."

Fang Qian said, "So, surely General Han Fang across the river has another plan?"

Ji Xiaolian nodded and said, "Anyway, our defenses must not be relaxed. If we win this battle well, our brothers from Snake Island can establish themselves firmly in South Yangtze Prefecture."

"Understood!"

Fang Qian cupped his fists and bowed, then immediately went to instruct the Five Tiger Generals.

At midnight, the river was blowing strong winds.

The camp of Five Tiger General Liuu Baiyuan was brightly lit; with blades in hand, armor donned, and remaining on high alert.

The camp was stationed at a flat part of the river, where the water wasn’t deep, and the river was still narrow.

The local crossing army used this as a breakthrough point, deploying tens of thousands of warships on the opposite bank.

Liuu Baiyuan, holding a Red Gold Iron Staff, was inspecting around the camp with his men.

Suddenly, there was a series of rumbling sounds from the river’s channel, with giant splashes rising from the water’s surface, then crashing down into the river channel.

Everyone was startled and looked up.

The sight of a hundred-meter-high Black Jiao Dragon, with two dragon horns atop its head and eyes as large as lanterns, met their gaze.

The black scales all over its body emitted a loud metallic grinding sound, as it suddenly swung its massive tail, sweeping it sideways toward the camp.

"Slap!"

The Jiao Dragon’s tail was like a massive iron whip, shattering even the void with a loud crack.

Half of Liuu Baiyuan’s camp was flattened by this gigantic tail; soldiers hit by it instantly exploded into a bloody mist.

Despite Liuu Baiyuan’s extraordinary skills, using the Red Gold Iron Staff to block, he was still swept away.

The scene was chaotic, filled with cries and wails.

The giant Black Jiao Dragon opened its mouth and spat out a large fire, frantically spraying it into the camp.

The fire spread across the camp, igniting the remaining half of the camp.

Black smoke billowed, and flames reached the sky.

Under the fire, people either turned into blue smoke and vanished or were burned to a bloody pulp.

On the spot, over ten thousand people screamed and died at the hands of that black giant Jiao Dragon.

The giant Jiao roared, "Tell that brat Long Fei that I, the Azure Dragon Demon King, have arrived. What he owed me, I will take back one debt at a time. Today I destroy one of his camps, tomorrow I want all of South Yangtze Prefecture to be buried with my son."

After speaking, it was still unsatisfied; it opened its mouth and swallowed a hundred soldiers into its maw.

It chewed loudly and arrogantly lingered over the great river for half a day before finally diving into the water to leave.

Frontline personnel quickly reported the situation up the chain, and after reaching Yangzhou City behind, Long Fei hurried over with his men.

The campfire had been extinguished, but there were too many wounded and the rescue was ongoing.

Some soldiers were already charred, covered in blisters, rolling on the ground howling in pain.

Some soldiers had their bodies blown apart by the giant Jiao’s sweep, leaving only half a body struggling in the blood pool.

Long Fei frowned tightly as he watched, never expecting the Azure Dragon Demon King to go so shamelessly as to attack these ordinary soldiers.

There are unwritten rules on the battlefield; soldiers fight soldiers, generals fight generals, cultivators fight cultivators.

General human cultivators, fearing divine retribution, would not target ordinary people.

The Azure Dragon Demon King, being from the Demon Clan, disregarded all this, mercilessly slaughtering, fully showcasing the ferocity of the Demon Clan.

Long Fei, full of killing intent, stared across the river and yelled, "Blood for blood!"