CHAPTER 568: CHAPTER 353: NEED TO UNDERSTAND BOTH YOURSELF AND THE ENEMY_2

Initially, Yan Xiaobao didn’t notice anything different. He ran through the fields as usual, but suddenly he realized something was amiss. Usually, when he arrived, many guards would be present on the field. After completing his training, Yan Xiaobao would ask some of the guards to assist them. This helped him improve his combat skills; however, today, he didn’t see any guards on the battlefield. It was as if they all had been called away. Seeing this, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but frown, wondering if it was related to the conversation from a few days ago.

As it turned out, that was indeed the case. Wan Qiao had dispatched many guards as a delegation to summon the sixty-four Forest Lords. Each of these lords was significant to the Divine Origin and worthy of respect. That’s why the delegation needed to be large and bring gifts to demonstrate Wan Qiao’s goodwill. Although she was rumored to be the strongest person in the forest, even she couldn’t fight against the other sixty-four lords alone.

Hearing Wan Qiao’s decision to handle it this way, Yan Xiaobao could only nod in agreement. Although he found the One-Horned Jasmine Eagle to be quite poor in advance planning, she at least understood the proper way to invite people to her capital.

Although many guards were sent with the delegation, there were still many guards within the capital; however, because Wan Qiao ordered them to patrol the city and surrounding areas, Yan Xiaobao hadn’t seen them.

When the lords arrived, undoubtedly, they would bring their personal guards. It was Wan Qiao’s responsibility that these guards wouldn’t cause trouble within her territory.

These Forest Kings were all high-profile experts. The citizens within the Divine Domain knew this was the first time in a millennium that someone had called together all these experts for a meeting. Gathering all these saints in one place was both prestigious and risky. Despite the risks, the moment Yan Xiaobao suggested it, Wan Qiao instantly dispatched her guards to invite these experts. Her actions didn’t show the slightest hesitation.

The young man sighed deeply, knowing there was no turning back now. All he could do was use the knowledge he had gained in his previous life to keep the Sun Kingdom safe; thereby keeping his friends and family away from this war between beasts and humans.

Thinking of this, Yan Xiaobao reaffirmed his resolve, recalling the thirteen Chapters from War Art during his training, along with other Roman and Greek warfare tactics that might be useful in the impending war.

When he knew there was no turning back, this young man who had never prayed before started to pray, emitting a slight hissing sound. He prayed for God to watch over him, someone, An Hee, who showed no interest in keeping the world away from magical beasts. If he waited for the war and decided to participate, Yan Xiaobao feared that no matter what he did, his little book, along with his previous knowledge, would be worthless. Against ultimate power, strategy was futile.

After completing his training, Yan Xiaobao returned to his room from the training ground. Since there were no guards allowing him to fight like before, even if there were, Yan Xiaobao didn’t have time to fight today. What he needed to do was to write down some things from memory. He needed to write down the Art of War.

He sat in his room, trying to remember the book’s content.

"Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the state." The first sentence came to him easily, but the rest was vague. Gritting his teeth, he almost felt as if he was struggling. It had been many years since his past life, and even so, he hadn’t written a book report in years.

Without remembering the exact words, Yan Xiaobao wrote down what he could recall, and before him, the language began to appear. Finally, after some time, the first Chapter of the Art of War was nearly fully written.

The first Chapter is about making plans. It’s about preparing for war, a Chapter he needed to write before the Forest Kings arrived at the capital. He needed to be ready to showcase this.

"This is a matter of life and death, a road to safety or ruin. Hence, it is a subject that requires careful exploration."

"Therefore, the art of war is governed by five constant factors, to be considered in one’s deliberations. These five methods are used to measure your strength and compare it with the enemy, to see who holds the advantage in warfare. These five constant factors first include the moral law, followed by Heaven, third Earth, fourth the commander, fifth is methods and discipline.

"The moral law causes people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undisturbed by any peril." At this part, Yan Xiaobao felt satisfied. He had once seen how beasts were willing to die for Wan Qiao, but whether other lords held the loyalty he needed to find out.

"Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, time and seasons." These were indeed things he needed to consider. Until he spoke with other lords, he wouldn’t be certain.

"Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security: open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death."

"The commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, and strictness."

"Methods and discipline should be understood as the arrangement of troops in their proper divisions, the gradation of officers, the maintenance of roads to supply the army, and the control of military expenditure."

Remembering all five major parts, Yan Xiaobao recalled most of the first Chapter of the thirteen Chapters when the final letter was written on the paper before him. If many Forest Kings truly wished to wage war on humans, Yan Xiaobao would emphasize the importance of ensuring they followed correct preparations.

He knew the lords didn’t grasp the Art of War, just as he knew Wan Qiao didn’t know how to wage war.

All of this meant he needed to see which monarch was the most renowned? Which country benefited from Heaven and Earth? Which side had the strictest discipline. Which army was the strongest? Which side had well-trained officers?

In viewing these points, he should be able to determine which side would win; however, the final thing he couldn’t account for in his considerations was An Hee. He was an unpredictable factor, and when it came to deciding who would be the victor, all his plans would be futile.

Yan Xiaobao sighed deeply, feeling uneasy. It was as if this immense figure had always been faintly present above him. Truthfully, Yan Xiaobao didn’t feel he truly needed to use the Art of War, as he had many saints and an entire horde of beasts by his side. It was well-known that beasts were stronger than humans of the same level, and all the guards were King-level or above. This army was one that any country on the African Continent would fear and dread facing.

Suddenly, a loud cheer could be heard from outside, prompting Yan Xiaobao to stand up, curious about what it was. He left the room and walked towards the castle entrance, where a group of guards stood. Everyone was bowing in respect to a short, stout man. This man was at most one and a half meters tall; his waist nearly equaled his height. A small white mustache adorned his face, and he was bald. Initially, the man’s strange appearance left Yan Xiaobao staring with his mouth agape; however, he soon realized this man was not to be underestimated.

Multiple guards accompanied this man. Some of these guards were the ones Yan Xiaobao had seen before. These belonged to Wan Qiao and the capital, while the others wore blue suits. Everyone stood quietly and respectfully behind the bald, short man.

An energy ripple emanated from the old man as he made every movement, his body filled with strength. Observing this man, Yan Xiaobao finally understood that he had seen the first Forest King apart from Lan Feng. This man truly seemed to enjoy food, but his eyes were filled with wisdom. The man raised his head and looked directly at Yan Xiaobao, ignoring the guards around him, including those from the capital and his own.

"You there," he said, his clear and powerful voice resonating in the castle courtyard, his eyes locked onto Yan Xiaobao.

"I’ve never seen you here. Who told Wan Qiao to summon all of us? What exactly is going on. Don’t tell me you’ve been suggesting her so-called ideas of war." He continued, his face slightly sour, his voice brimming with authority. Opposite this man, Yan Xiaobao felt a strong pulsating energy rushing towards him, clearly not in a friendly manner.

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