The Demon Lords-Chapter 638 - 113 Surges of Emotion: Washed Away (Part 3)_2

Deng Jiuru sat there, unmoving, with the banners fluttering behind him.

He turned his head and saw that at the ferry crossing behind him, the north-guarding troops led by Li Fusheng had also arrived and were preparing to cross the river.

A commander naturally possesses their own pride. One can admit defeat or concede elsewhere, but on this battlefield, they have always believed only that the brave are invincible.

But, despite this, Deng Jiuru had to admit that once this contingent of north-guarding troops also crossed the river, his position here would finally be completely secure.

The old general suddenly felt a sense of relief. He didn't blame the Eldest Prince for the humiliation inflicted upon the military families he represented; in truth, he had never harbored any resentment for bowing his head in defeat.

He had not submitted to the Eldest Prince.

He had submitted to His Majesty.

Whatever the Eldest Prince did, the shadow of His Majesty stood behind him.

In this dynasty, bowing to His Majesty, surrendering to His Majesty, yielding to His Majesty—what was there to be ashamed of in any of that?

It was only at this moment that Deng Jiuru truly perceived it. If these army chiefs could be thoroughly tempered by the Eldest Prince and the imperial court through this battle, it was very likely they could forge a crack force for Yan. This force would be no less elite than the north-guarding or south-pacifying troops. Then, when the time came to sweep across the lands in the future, things would proceed much more smoothly.

The battlefield is chaotic, yet within this chaos, one can always find peace of mind.

With a tranquil heart, it's as if one casts aside all past entanglements and begins to contemplate matters with the most genuine and essential mindset.

Deng Jiuru was an old general. At this moment, he seemed to have returned to the spirited vigor of his youth, when he led soldiers on expeditions.

Family, foundation, legacy—

To hell with it all!

As long as the Black Dragon flag of Yan could be planted throughout the entire East,

Everything,

All of it,

Would be worthwhile.

At this very moment, a chill ran through Deng Jiuru's heart. He suddenly seemed to understand many things. He understood why the Earl of North Border would give up this half of Jiangshan and hand over the century-old foundation of the Earl of North Border's Manor to His Majesty.

He understood why Tian Wujing had exterminated his own entire clan, thereby initiating the prologue to the end of the Yan State's great clans.

He understood why His Majesty dared to entrust the true military power of Yan into the hands of two lords of different surnames.

Deng Jiuru took a deep breath.

There were some things he too had possessed in his youth.

But as he aged, he found them less and less. Yet, this didn't prevent his spirit from soaring with yearning now.

His aged eyes were profound. Listening to the general's standard snapping in the wind, an indescribable, heroic spirit suddenly surged within the old general's heart.

Around him was a somewhat disorganized encampment. Soldiers who had just crossed the river were searching for their respective commanders to regroup, and the transported warhorses were also being sorted.

Looking at the somewhat chaotic scene before him, the urge in Deng Jiuru's heart grew even stronger—the desire to hand over everything he controlled, to let His Majesty and the imperial court thoroughly reorganize and integrate them.

The only fortunate thing was, Deng Jiuru knew clearly, that while these lads might have all sorts of flaws, and these army chiefs might harbor various schemes, when the order was truly given for them to fight to the death, they could still prove their mettle.

This, Deng Jiuru could guarantee; he was certain of it!

However, just at that moment, cries of alarm reached the old general's ears.

"A ship! A big ship! A big ship!"

"A big ship!"

"Upstream! A ship!"

Deng Jiuru turned and looked upstream along the Wang River.

Warships were sailing down the river!

The Yan State was not entirely without a navy. In some areas with denser networks of rivers and lakes, there were Yan Army vessels. However, they were mostly scattered here and there. Even if all of them, men and ships combined, were gathered, calling it a "navy" would be quite a stretch.

The fundamental reason lay in the Yan State's geography. The Yan State did not border the sea. For centuries, its greatest adversaries had been the barbarian tribes of the desert, rendering a navy largely unnecessary.

Therefore, for the vast majority of Yan Army soldiers, these were likely the largest warships they had ever seen in their lives.

The warships sailed northward along the river at incredible speed. The scouts upstream, even after spotting them, would find it difficult to report this military intelligence in time, let alone attempt any obstruction.

Deng Jiuru knew.

The enemy had timed their departure perfectly.

This timing even accounted for his own hesitation and the Eldest Prince's hesitation.

The enemy had completely seized the initiative!

Deng Jiuru's mouth fell slightly agape, and he rose from his seat.

Where could this navy have come from?

Even though he hadn't yet clearly seen the flags on the warships, Deng Jiuru had already guessed.

Chu State.

This had to be the navy of the Chu State!

"Direct Thief!" Deng Jiuru cursed aloud.

Who could have imagined it?

The Chu State, currently embroiled in the turmoil of its princes vying to seize the throne, would actually dispatch a navy northward to join the war at this very moment!

Moreover, this navy must have been concealed somewhere upstream well in advance.

The Chu State had colluded with the wild people long ago!

"We've been hidden for so long, it's about time we came out for some air," a young man said. "Otherwise, when General Hu Shunchen gets back, he'll tear me to pieces and stew me in a pot with those minions."

On a flower boat, the young man sat face-to-face with a swordsmith from the Chu State.

Hu Shunchen was the Naval Admiral of the Chu State, commanding its largest fleet. He perennially battled the Shanyue in the Great Marshes and was known by them as the Water Demon King.

Shanyue was not a single ethnic group but rather a collective term for the many small tribes dwelling among the mountains and rivers within the Chu State's territory.