Chapter 493: Chapter 45: War Erupts at the Northern Border

Twelve chimes of the bell!

In Linhu Village, Jia Nanzhu, who was lazily leaning on a cane chair, suddenly sat up, shedding his lazy demeanor and exuding a murderous intent.

The county government office rings the bell, its sound spreading to all the towns, and likewise, each town has to ring its bell at once, so the sound spreads to every village.

Twelve chimes of the bell, as decreed by the Grand Ancestor Emperor of Liang, must echo throughout the entire Liang.

Solely because the twelve chimes signify that something major has happened in Liang, possibly an event of life and death importance.

Twelve chimes, second only to the fifteen chimes symbolizing a national extinction crisis.

Liang has not heard the twelve chimes for over sixty years. In Jia Nanzhu’s memory, it was sixty-five years ago when the Jiangnan Dao heard twelve chimes, and back then, he was only seven years old.

That time, the twelve chimes were due to a natural disaster, with an earthquake causing disaster to multiple regions, and at the same time, other countries wanted to take the opportunity to wage war against Liang. The Imperial Court rang the twelve chimes, putting the entire Liang in a state of high vigilance.

And this time?

"A brewing storm is in the air!"

Jia Nanzhu muttered softly, his figure disappearing from the courtyard.

Poyang County Government Office.

When Lin Chen arrived at the county office, Su Lingchuan was already present there.

"Lord Su, Lord He!"

Seeing the somber expressions on the two lords’ faces, Lin Chen’s heart sank a bit. It was the first time he had seen them looking so grave.

"Lin Chen is here."

Su Lingchuan forced a smile upon seeing Lin Chen.

"My lord, what has happened that warranted the twelve chimes?"

"Do you know what the twelve chimes signify?"

He Ruyun spoke up, only realizing after the question that Lord Jia was still in Linhu Village, so it was normal for Lin Chen to know.

"The Northern Border Demon Race has launched a full invasion on our Liang, and fierce battles have erupted in the north, resulting in the sacrifice of ten thousand of our martial artists."

As Su Lingchuan’s words came out, Lin Chen’s pupils shrank suddenly; a war has broken out on the northern border at this time?

Although he had never been to the Northern Border, during his time at Canglan Martial Arts Academy, Junior Brother Xiao and Junior Brother Fang often discussed issues along Liang’s borders.

In Junior Brother Xiao’s view, Liang should first annihilate the Northern Border Demon Race, whereas Junior Brother Fang believed that Liang should first reclaim the Nansha Three Islands while keeping a defensive stance against the Northern Border Demon Race.

From the mouths of the two junior brothers, Lin Chen also learned about the situation at Liang’s northern and southern borders.

At the northern border, the troops guarding Liang and the demon race would engage in some skirmishes yearly, but they were mostly small-scale. Although casualties occurred in each battle, the number never exceeded a hundred.

But a thousand martial artists sacrificed in a single day, the ferocity of this battle is unimaginable.

"This is news from three days ago, but now even more martial artists may have been sacrificed."

He Ruyun added a sentence, instantly plunging Su Lingchuan and Lin Chen into silence.

"Don’t overthink it, our Liang has never feared a battle with the Northern Border Demon Race."

As the hall sank into silence, a voice came from the doorway, and Jia Nanzhu walked in slowly.

"Lord Jia!"

"Teacher."

Jia Nanzhu looked at the three, speaking slowly, "The twelve chimes from the Imperial Court are more to remind all places to be on guard."

As the Deputy Hall Chief of the Military Affairs Hall, Jia Nanzhu knew more about the situation of Liang.

Since the Old Marquis, the Imperial Court has been simulating battles against the northern demon race. In terms of strength, Liang does not fear the Northern Border Demon Race now.

Over the years, Liang already had the ability to decimate the northern demons in a decisive battle, yet they used a strategy of gradual extermination to avoid provoking other countries.

The fear is that other countries might take advantage during a decisive battle between Liang and the Northern Border Demon Race. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"The Raozhou Prefecture should be releasing an announcement soon. You two must keep Poyang County stable, and reassure the populace."

"Yes!"

He Ruyun and Su Lingchuan both agreed simultaneously.

"Lin Chen, you should return to Canglan Martial Arts Academy tomorrow."

Lin Chen was taken aback; though he had been studying the Secret Technique Manual for three months, his teacher didn’t seem in such a rush to send him back to Canglan Martial Arts Academy. Was there something else going on?

"Come with Teacher."

Jia Nanzhu did not explain further, leading Lin Chen out of the county office.

On the road out of the county office, Lin Chen couldn’t help but ask, "Teacher, is your instruction for me to return to Canglan Martial Arts Academy tomorrow related to this invasion by the Northern Border Demon Race?"

Jia Nanzhu did not directly answer Lin Chen but asked another question, "Twenty years ago, the Northern Garrison Marquis had drafted a plan to annihilate the Northern Border Demon Race, and all ministers at the Imperial Court approved the Marquis’s plan, assembling three hundred thousand martial artists of Liang; yet in the end, it was abandoned. Do you know why?"

"Disciple does not know."

"The State Preceptor of Han unexpectedly visited the Nansha Three Islands and accepted a disciple."

Jia Nanzhu’s eyes sparkled, causing Lin Chen to pause in shock...

Liang was preparing to annihilate the Northern Border Demon Race in one swoop, and the State Preceptor of Han unexpectedly visited the Nansha Three Islands and accepted a disciple?

Such coincidence?

Lin Chen never believed in coincidences.

This was intentional by the State Preceptor of Han.

As for its purpose...

To force Liang to abandon the decisive battle with the Northern Border Demon Race.

"The Old Marquis had immense prestige; Liang had been prepared to decimate the Northern Border Demon Race at any cost, determine peace at our northern border, with the entire Northern Garrison Army having written their wills, just awaiting the Imperial Court’s order."

Jia Nanzhu clenched his fists, and for the first time, Lin Chen saw frustration in his teacher’s eyes.

"Yet, the State Preceptor of Han chose this time to visit the Nansha Three Islands, blatantly signaling to Liang that if we start an all-out war with the Northern Border Demon Race, the southern Nansha Three Islands might declare independence, and even the Zheng Kingdom, close to the Nansha Three Islands, might make a move."