Return of the Ancient Gods

Chapter 041 When the crisis comes, who will take charge?

Just when everything was settled and they just had to wait for the time to end, an urgent military message from 800 miles away was sent back to the capital, breaking the silence:

Beiyan sent an army of 10 to invade the northwest of the Great Chu Dynasty, and Xuancheng was in danger!

After receiving the news, Chu Nan quickly discussed with Elder Chen Hezhi:

"The two countries have been at peace for nearly 20 years, but I didn't expect the war to start again..."

Chu Nan knew best why Beiyan attacked this time, but he was not sure about their specific intentions:

"The main force of Beiyan is not in the northwest. If they want to strike us as quickly as possible, they should attack from the northeast and north. Now it is... and why do I feel so uneasy?"

Chu Nan's right eye has been twitching non-stop these days. As expected, bad news came from Xuancheng, but it hasn't stopped yet, which makes him panic.

In the court room,

Regarding the invasion of Northern Yan, the ministers also argued non-stop:

"Your Majesty, I think the invasion of Northern Yan is nothing to worry about. We only need to send a general to lead the army to attack, unite with the Xuancheng garrison and the Red Flame Army stationed in Bailu Plain, and form a pincer attack. We will definitely be able to destroy it in one fell swoop!" Champion Marquis Chu Xiu took the initiative to ask for orders.

"Your Majesty has shown me great love and bestowed upon me the title of Champion Marquis, but there are those in the court who are not convinced and believe that my virtue is unworthy of the position. Therefore, I am willing to ask for your order to lead the army and clear my name. Please grant me your approval!"

"So some people are self-aware? How rare!

However, marching and fighting is no child's play. Guanjun Hou has never had the experience of commanding a real battle, so how can he take on such an important task? "King Kang jumped out to object, and proposed to lead the army himself.

"I should personally lead this battle. In terms of military achievements and combat command, who in the court can compare to me?"

After looking at King Kang and then at Chu Xiu, Chu Nan also stood up to fight for the leadership position:

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the army into battle myself. I have inherited my parents' lofty ambitions since I was young and am familiar with the art of war. I will definitely not fail!"

"Young Master, what you said is wrong. The battlefield is unpredictable and the most taboo thing is to talk about war on paper..." Chu Xiu retorted and insisted that he should lead the battle.

The King of Chu didn't care about the dispute between Chu Xiu and King Kang. He had an idea in mind. But Chu Nan's behavior made him frown slightly:

"Xiao Nan has been in the limelight recently. Chu Xiu probably doesn't want Xiao Nan to overshadow him, so he is so active.

After making achievements on the battlefield and becoming famous, it is only natural for him to marry a beautiful woman. But Xiaonan, hey, why is this kid still so tolerant? "

Chu Nan jumped out for no reason and competed with Chu Xiu for the command of the army. In the eyes of Emperor Chu, it was just a child throwing a tantrum, and he was very disappointed.

"I encourage Chu Xiu to compete with Xiaonan. Competition brings motivation and pressure, and promotes and improves each other. But it is definitely not like this now..."

Unconsciously, the entire court gradually became a competition between Chu Nan, Chu Xiu and King Kang for the position of commander-in-chief of this army. Unable to bear the harassment, the Emperor of Chu withdrew from the court without making a decision.

In the back hall, the Emperor of Chu left Chu Xiu alone to discuss:

"Chu Xiu, I have always valued you. Although the scale of the Northern Yan invasion is not large this time, we must not take it lightly! If I let you lead the battle, how confident are you?"

"If you want me to lead the army, I will surely achieve success immediately! I am willing to sign a military order and will not return until the enemy camp is destroyed!" Chu Xiu knelt on the ground and kowtowed, speaking passionately.

"Well, you are indeed a talent that I have chosen!" The King of Chu laughed with satisfaction and immediately gave him the military token. Then his tone changed slightly.

"I want to have King Kang accompany you as your deputy general on this expedition and transfer him away from the capital. This will also make it easier for me to recruit the troops under his command, but you will face considerable pressure and risks. You are a cautious and alert person, do you have the confidence to do it?"

Chu Xiu thought for a while, then slowly raised his head and said in a sonorous and powerful voice:

"I am determined to live up to His Majesty's high expectations!"

"..."

After the court session, Chu Nan, with a worried look on his face, found old man Chen Hezhi and said in detail:

"Uncle He Zhi, do you have any way to get the Emperor of Chu to send me to lead the army?"

"What's wrong, Xiaonan? Tell me first why you must fight for this battle, so that I can help you plan." The old man and Chen Pingan looked confused, not understanding what he meant.

"I thought your reaction was strange during the court session, but I just couldn't ask you at that time."

"I can't explain it. I've been feeling uneasy these days, and I always feel like something big is going to happen." Chu Nan shook his head and said bluntly:

"Now that Northern Yan is invading, my worries have not eased at all. There must be other reasons, and the biggest possibility is this time's military action!"

Chen Hezhi and his son looked at each other, smiled bitterly, and said helplessly:

"Your reason is hard to convince people. If I'm not mistaken, the King of Chu will most likely send Chu Xiu to lead the army. It will be hard to make him change his mind without a legitimate reason!"

"I really don't like Chu Xiu!" Chu Nan said casually.

"No, you must not say this to the Emperor Chu, otherwise he will be more convinced that you are jealous of Chu Xiu, and it will be even more impossible for you to lead the army to the war!" The old man repeatedly stopped him, and he was really helpless about Chu Nan's occasional childish temper.

Soon, the King of Chu issued an edict appointing Chu Xiu as the commander-in-chief, and King Kang to assist him in the expedition. The military situation was urgent, and the troops would be dispatched soon.

Chu Nan thought hard but couldn't come up with a way to make the King of Chu change his mind, so he just knelt outside the palace gate for three days.

"No, I must go on this expedition!"

Finally, Chu Nan wanted to go with the army, but was stopped by Chen Pingan:

"Xiao Nan, I don't know why you insist on doing this, but since you're worried, I'll do it for you this time.

Father and Emperor Chu have already agreed. I will help you keep an eye on it. If there is anything, I, who is at the peak of the Tianxuan Realm, can't be more useful than you, who is at the Shenzang Realm?"

"Thank you, Brother Ping'an!" Chu Nan choked up, kowtowed heavily, tears streaming down his face.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen, just wait for my triumphant return!" Chen Pingan smiled calmly, and then added:

"I'll trouble you to take care of my father during this time."

"Of course!" Chu Nan agreed without hesitation.

Led by Chu Xiu, assisted by King Kang and Chen Pingan, an army of 10 set out from the capital and headed for Xuancheng in the northwest, full of high spirits and ready to make achievements!

Although the army had already set out, Chu Nan still did not give up. He knelt at the palace gate for a whole day. The heavy rain could not dissuade him.

"I beg the Emperor of Chu to revoke his order, withdraw Chu Xiu, and let me take over the battle instead!"

The eunuchs and maids in the palace felt sorry for Chu Nan and offered to hold an umbrella to protect him from the rain, but were sternly rejected:

"Get out of the way. If the Emperor Chu doesn't take back his order, then let the rain drench me to death!"

The King of Chu refused to see Chu Nan and finally became annoyed and ordered Chu Nan to be imprisoned.

"Aren't you stubborn and prone to temper tantrums? Fine, I'll grant your wish. Go to the prison and calm down. Come out when you have thought things through!"

The Chu Xiu army went very smoothly in the ten days before leaving the capital, with good news coming one after another. They successfully joined forces with the Chiyan Army, foiled the enemy's sneak attack conspiracy, and in turn dealt a heavy blow to the Beiyan army, winning the first major battle.

All the good things came to an abrupt end on the 13th day:

Chen Ping'an was sent back, his meridians were destroyed, his cultivation was completely wasted, his left hand was cut off, his body was covered with bruises, and a huge communication crystal was inserted in his chest. He was barely still hanging on.

"Brother Ping'an, what happened? Who hurt you like this?" After receiving the news, Chu Nan rushed there immediately. Seeing Chen Ping'an lying there, he was immediately furious. He clenched his fists and pinched them until they bled.

"Urgent, urgent military information, Chu Xiu and King Kang have committed treason and joined forces with Northern Yan to kill our 15-strong army..." This was the last sentence Chen Pingan said before he fell into a coma.

……