My Zhang Shi's luck has finally arrived

Wu Xingzhou's prestige in Pingling Ji was extremely high; otherwise, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to single-handedly suppress the scattered hearts of the people and forcefully twist the numerous factions into a single rope, forming the brilliant and tight-knit defense of Pingling Ji.

Consequently, with his shout, the army immediately erupted into a chorus of agreement.

"Lord Wu, so you surrendered long ago? Why didn't you bring us brothers along? We thought you were dismissed and were all worried sick, thinking we'd lose our lives this time."

"General Wu, we brothers are willing to follow you!"

"Lord Wu, when you were here, our Pingling Ji was a fortress. But once you left, it leaked from all sides and had no morale to speak of. It was like a whore, anyone could get on top. We couldn't hold it anymore, and the brothers were all planning to run. Now that you're here, we will definitely join you!"

"General Wu, we are willing to surrender!"

...

Pingling Ji had long become a pile of loose sand, and the soldiers only thought of saving their own lives. Now that Wu Xingzhou, whom they trusted the most, had personally come and even paved the way for them, there was almost no hesitation.

In an instant, weapons were thrown to the ground one after another.

However, their surrender was not chaotic. Instead, they stood in orderly formations just as Wu Xingzhou had previously trained them. At a glance, they instantly possessed a bit of combat effectiveness, vastly different from before.

Wu Xingzhou was also overjoyed!

With this, not only did he not disappoint General Wang Ming's expectations, but he also brought great honor to him.

Thus, he ordered the army to take over and simultaneously deployed the personnel.

It only took half a day to make Pingling Ji airtight and impregnable once again. He personally waited outside to welcome Wang Ming's arrival.

"Not bad, not bad, Wu Xingzhou, you've done well!"

Wang Ming patted Wu Xingzhou's shoulder, his face full of praise.

"Once we see the Duke, I will personally request a merit for you!"

"Thank you, General!" Wu Xingzhou thanked him with great joy.

Wang Ming nodded, unable to hide the joy on his face.

Although he didn't like to compete with others, achieving merit was always the wish of a general. A figure like Zhang Shi, who swept across the northern borders and left the prairie barbarians without any remaining strength for decades—such achievements were definitely beyond compare for him.

However, Wang Ming felt that he had done a pretty good job with the tasks assigned by the Great General.

At the very least, he had taken down these three strongholds in just a few short days.

It was something to be proud of.

He immediately had a letter written and sent it back to Ren Tianye by fast horse.

Having taken the three strongholds of Qingfeng Relay Station, Luoyan Ferry, and Pingling Ji, the Duke would definitely have to consider the major city of Huai'an next.

Yet, when the light cavalry galloped to the central army camp, they did not immediately find Ren Tianye. After asking around, they learned that Ren Tianye was dealing with various situations involving love-addled minds.

The deeper he went into Yunjing, the more Ren Tianye felt that Yunjing was absurd.

The love-addled mindset was like a tumor, rooted within Yunjing's borders, making every inch of the land reek of infatuation and demonic entities.

After much careful consideration, he decided to clear the way with blades and blood, and purge them with strict policies. Only in this way could the citizens of Yunjing, who were suffering from this unprovoked disaster, truly distinguish right from wrong, regain their reason, and become good subjects under his command.

Fortunately, although these matters were tedious and complex, his subordinates handled them well. The Demon Suppression Division, led by Su Jin, made great contributions in this regard.

Even the capable subordinates recommended by Xie Changfeng, the Deputy Envoy of the Demon Suppression Division, namely Fu Moyu and Bai Xi, were competent and put his mind at ease.

"Fight along the way, govern along the way. Only then can this world become a normal world!"

Ren Tianye sighed with emotion.

Zhang Shi, who was following beside him, nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Wang Ming's letter was delivered. Ren Tianye looked at the envelope but did not open it immediately; instead, he looked at Zhang Shi.

"Duke, what is it?"

"Wang Ming's letter, it should be a victory report!"

"I don't think it's certain..."

Before Zhang Shi finished speaking, Ren Tianye opened the envelope, glanced at it, and handed it to Zhang Shi.

Zhang Shi took it impatiently and read it carefully.

A second time.

A third time!

A fourth time!

Without saying a word, he returned the envelope to Ren Tianye.

"Duke, my stomach is feeling a bit uncomfortable. It's urgent, I need to step away for a moment."

"Go ahead!"

Zhang Shi left quickly, remaining silent the whole way.

Unknowingly, he walked up a mountain peak, sat down on a rock, and his face revealed a collapse beneath its calmness.

Then, an unyielding spirit rampaged in his heart!

He lost again!

He lost again!

He freaking lost again!

It was truly absurd!

Wang Ming was clearly inferior to him in every aspect, yet he was able to have such smooth sailing all along the way. Meanwhile, he, who could dominate the grasslands, faced setbacks at every turn.

He used his most proficient swift-wind tactics, originally intending to establish great merits, but ended up becoming the Flanking General in the mouths of his brothers.

He looked down on Qingfeng Relay Station, Luoyan Ferry, and Pingling Ji, only for them to be easily captured by Wang Ming.

Where the hell was he lacking?

Or could it be...

"Is it really as the Duke said?"

"Yunjing is different from the grasslands?!"

"So, as a commander, one should adapt to the changes on the battlefield?"

"So, the tactics I used on the grasslands are truly unsuitable for Yunjing?"

Zhang Shi couldn't figure it out.

Or, to be precise, it wasn't that he couldn't figure it out, but rather that he was unwilling to accept it. He refused to accept that the skills he had honed through blades and blood were actually so out of place!

He had gone through untold hardships to learn the art of dragon slaying, but there were no dragons in this world!

"Then what should I do in the future?"

"Can I only scrape by on the little merit I earned on the grasslands?"

"Watch helplessly as Wang Ming's merits slowly catch up to mine? Clearly being in the military camp, yet unable to establish any merit at all?"

The more Zhang Shi thought about it, the more frustrated he became.

The more he thought, the unhappier he felt.

Just as he was going crazy with depression, he suddenly saw flying hooves in the distance. A rider was wildly galloping over. The clothes the person wore were quite different from theirs, bearing the distinct style of Yunjing.

"Someone from Yunjing?"

"People from Yunjing actually dare to come to our territory so openly?"

Zhang Shi's spirit subconsciously jolted. He immediately ran out quickly, just in time to ambush the path the rider was taking, and continued to watch.

Only then did he realize it was a woman.

However, whether it was a man or a woman didn't matter to him. In his eyes, there were only comrades and enemies.

Thus, without hesitation, as the rider galloped near, he suddenly lunged out and kicked the woman off the horse's back.

The precious saber at his waist was drawn, its blade gleaming.

He pressed it against the woman's neck.

He shouted sternly, "Such audacity! A person from Yunjing dares to spy on our army's strength?"

The woman was startled at first. Then, seeing Zhang Shi wearing light armor that looked extraordinary, she immediately realized that his status in the army was not low.

She immediately said loudly, "General, this humble girl has come here with no ill intentions. I am here to surrender."

"Surrender?"

Zhang Shi froze for a moment.

He had heard these two words far too many times, but they were always in the letters sent back by Wang Ming. Now...

Someone had come to surrender to him too?

...