Chapter 57

After saying a word to Zeng Xiaoxian, Zhou Yang returned to the Ten Thousand Worlds Tower. At this moment, the Chongzhen Emperor Zhu You and the other emperors were solemn, each at least wearing a layer of light armor. This battle was of great significance to them. If they were defeated, the eight emperors would know a situation more terrifying than being remembered for all eternity in infamy, which was being remembered for all eternity across all worlds. Even if they won, they would have to divide the credit, and for the Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian, who was facing defeat from the peasant uprisings led by Li Zicheng and the Qing army from beyond the Great Wall, it would still take a few years before the fall of the Ming Dynasty. However, Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, had less than half a year left. If his contribution was ranked the lowest, he would likely be captured and humiliated by the Jin before the Eight-Nation Alliance even arrived.

"Which world should we go to first?" Zhou Yang asked, looking at the emperors, who were tense yet expectant.

"Let's have Zhu Youjian lead the troops over first," Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, said with a slight smile. "After all, Zhu Youjian has the fewest troops, which will save time."

No matter which world they went to first, it wouldn't have a significant impact, as they still needed to wait for the Eight-Nation Alliance to fully assemble before setting out for the world of "Deer and the Cauldron." At this moment, showing a bit of humility and slightly mocking the Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian indeed felt satisfying.

"Let's start with the number of troops. The route with the fewest troops will go first," Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, said, quite satisfied with his "son's" suggestion. After all, his army was the largest, and a great figure should stay until the end.

"I have brought 800,000 troops," Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, said calmly. If not for the constant twitching of his eye, one might think he was calm and composed.

"800,000?"

Everyone in the Ten Thousand Worlds Tower looked at Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, with surprise. 500,000 troops already seemed like a large number, and now he had gathered 800,000 troops.

The Ming emperors took a few steps back, distancing themselves from Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji. Even the Song emperors slightly moved away. Damn, others might not know the Song army, but they knew it all too well. The more troops, the lower the combat effectiveness.

Once the army exceeded 200,000, without a great general leading them, they were just a bunch of weaklings. When the army was winning, they would all cheer and charge forward. But if they were losing, even a slight disadvantage would make them run faster than rabbits.

The Song literati, who had other things to teach the Song army, deeply understood the principle that "a gentleman avenges a wrong after ten years." This principle was ingrained in the bones of everyone from the kitchen staff to the generals.

If the situation was unfavorable, they would retreat and wait for the right moment to act.

"Ahem, Zhao Ji, you should just select some elite troops from your army," Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, said, unable to bear it any longer. Damn, do you think this is a parade? The more troops, the more impressive? This is a war, not a suicide mission.

If more troops were effective, he would have long reclaimed the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. If more troops were effective, you emperors wouldn't have been beaten like dogs.

"Emperor Taizong, you can rest assured about my affairs," Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, said indifferently. As emperors, who would listen to whom, even their ancestors?

Although he felt his head was hot at the time, influenced by Gao Qiu's flattery, he was filled with enthusiasm, and anyone who had served in the army in Tokyo, whether a constable or a jailer, was counted.

Seeing the vast, dark mass, Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, felt very good. This dark mass of troops, like a surging wave, could crush any opponent into powder.

Although he felt uncomfortable seeing some soldiers in leather armor with hoes, admitting his mistake in front of the other emperors was impossible.

"Your affairs, I'm afraid only you are at ease," Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, said with a twitching mouth. When faced with danger, they ran faster than rabbits, but unfortunately, they were caught because they couldn't run as fast as the Jin.

"Hmph!" Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, coldly snorted, his face slightly darkening. If the Ming emperors mocked him, he wouldn't say anything. Although they were cooperating, they were also competitors, and the sooner they eliminated the surrounding ethnic groups, the better.

He didn't expect his "son" to oppose him. After all, there were only four Song emperors, two of whom were his "sons." This alliance, he wanted to be the commander-in-chief of the allied forces. This was the commander-in-chief of eight countries.

Thinking about it, his heart raced. If not for Gao Qiu's flattery, he would have composed a poem on the spot. What a good poem, but it was lost. What a pity, what a shame, what a tragedy.

"We all know that the goal is to attack the capital of the Qing Dynasty. The capital is divided into four sides. I, Zhao Ji, will attack one side alone," Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, thought fiercely. "Let you look down on me, I will be the first to climb the city wall and make you sing of conquest."

The Ming emperors glanced at each other and agreed. Damn, this is a war, not a visit to a brothel. The more you can occupy, the better. Wars mean deaths.

"I and Zhao Huan will attack one gate," Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, said calmly. Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, remained silent, clearly having reached a secret agreement.

"Zhu Qizhen, how about we form a team?" Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, said, slightly impatient, complaining to the Song emperors, "You bastards, you left me out. I have a great general, Yue Pengju."

He wasn't as capable as his "father," Emperor Huizong of Song. Going solo, do you really think this is a game where one person can take all?

The four Ming emperors first excluded the Chongzhen Emperor. As for the Chongzhen Emperor's father, Emperor Guangzong of Ming, Zhu Changluo, if his son was so miserable, he wouldn't be much better. After all, Emperor Guangzong of Ming only ruled for a month, and the time gap between them was too short. As for Emperor Zhengde, Zhu Houzhao.

Seeing his thick golden armor and the black sword at his waist, he was clearly very strong. If he formed a team with him, it would be hard to say who would be the leader.

Emperor Guangzong of Ming, Zhu Changluo, was different. He had strong subordinates but no great general. As long as he mentioned Yue Fei, he would obediently join his team.

"Let's form a team. The army will be completely commanded by Yue Pengju, how about that?" The name Yue Fei was indeed very useful. This powerful weapon directly made Emperor Guangzong of Ming, Zhu Changluo, surrender.

The remaining three Ming emperors looked at each other. The Chongzhen Emperor slightly nodded to Emperor Guangzong, completely following his lead.

Emperor Guangzong of Ming, Zhu Changluo, thought for a moment. The three ultimately chose Emperor Zhengde, who had the strongest forces and was well-known as a good emperor.

Zhou Yang watched from the side, his face twitching. These emperors hadn't even started the battle and had already divided into four teams.

However, Zhou Yang wasn't worried about their defeat. They might suffer some setbacks in certain areas, but overall, the allied forces would win. First, they had a numerical advantage, and second, they had the Yue family army, the Yang family army, and the Guan Ning iron cavalry, which were historically famous and could match the Qing army.

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I'm truly sorry. I was in a place without internet, and I just found someone to help me upload this.