Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 659 - 298, Xiong Yun Gang couldn’t withstand a single blow

New Yu Era 1325, Sixth Day of the Twelfth Month

Yinling County, Chi Shui County

At the East City Gate Tower, Shen Gufan, in a white robe, gazed towards the east.

Three middle-aged military generals, clad in heavy armor and wielding sharp weapons, stood tall with a steady breath, watching the road outside the city with vigilant expressions, their eyes burning with intensity.

Around the city gate, soldiers donned in armor and holding blades stood solemn. Even without actively summoning their vitality, the occasional release of their energy converged, forming an aura not to be undermined.

"Family Head, by my calculations, it's about time. The young master should have already led the troops to start attacking the prefectural city."

The general on the left spoke in a rough voice, befitting of his burly stature. Hearing him, Shen Gufan didn't turn around but simply hummed in acknowledgment, continuing to fix his gaze on the east.

Seeing this, the general on the right, puzzled, asked in a low voice, "Family Head, deploying thirty thousand elite troops here to guard against Hexi seems excessive. The Hou Clan rose up only five years ago, with limited heritage. Even with Zhan Taiqing's assistance and a foothold in Hexi, their overreach doesn't match their status. Aren't they simply courting death by rashly invading us?"

"One cannot ensure victory over oneself, but one can ensure it over the enemy. Therefore, the skilled warrior first ensures they cannot be defeated, in order to wait for an opportunity to defeat the enemy!"

After reciting this passage, Shen Gufan turned back to look at the two men behind him with puzzled expressions, and he sighed.

The Shen Clan's army numbered one hundred and fifty thousand, of which fifty thousand were elite troops of utmost importance. The commanders of this elite group were all of the Earth Level cultivation, among them Zhang Yu and Nie Cheng were his direct disciples. The other three were members of the Shen Clan of his generation—Guzhen, Gukang, and Gupeng, who were standing in front of him now.

Grandmasters of the third realm, commanding elite troops of ten thousand, certainly had enough cultivation. However, military strategy and tactical planning didn't necessarily correlate with cultivation level. It must be said, these three clan members, compared to his two disciples, still fell short. This was why he had sent those two to accompany his son in the attack on the prefectural city and kept these three by his side.

After all, they were family. Even if they weren't up to snuff, he still needed to rely on them. Shen Gufan quickly adjusted his attitude and spoke to the two men:

"To win or not, that hinges not on the Shen Clan but on the enemy. To ensure a problem-free battle for the prefectural city, we only need to make sure of two factors: one is that Xiong Yun Gang's power is insufficient; two is that the Hou Clan does not join forces with them. Ensuring these two points means the Shen Clan will stand on invincible ground, and from invincibility comes the certainty of victory."

"Over the years, Xiong Yun Gang has comfortably maintained its first-class position in the prefectural city. We're basically aware of all their resources. Without a City-Protecting Barrier, to think that those one hundred and eighty thousand rabble could withstand the Shen Clan's army of one hundred and twenty thousand—is simply wishful thinking. So the first factor is already established."

"However, the second factor is something we can't control. Xiong Yun Gang and the Hou Clan, either of them alone, I don't take seriously. But once these two join forces, we will be in trouble. If the Hou Clan enters the war, our Shen Clan will be attacked from both sides. Therefore, this uncontrollable element must be treated with utmost caution. That's why I've brought you to Chi Shui County."

"So, what you mean is, regardless of the situation in the prefectural city, victory is assured. But whether the Hou Clan joins the fight remains a mystery, which is why we need to take it even more seriously?"

Hearing Shen Guzhen, a regiment commander, Shen Gufan nodded, showing a trace of satisfaction in his eyes. However, Shen Gukang, the commander of the second regiment, manifested confusion and asked, "When Hexi was established as a prefecture, didn't the Hou Clan promise not to get involved in our conflict with Xiong Yun Gang?"

"In this world, promises are the least valued. The Hou Clan, rising mere four years to be the honored of Hexi, even though they rode on the coattails of the Rakshasa Holy Sect, must not be underestimated. Complacency could be tolerable for an individual, but a blunder that leads to the clan's irrevocable doom... that would be unacceptable..."

Irrevocable doom for the clan—these words were grave. The faces of the three men instantly became solemn, and they lowered their heads in salute, saying, "We will etch the Family Head's words into our hearts!"

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"Of course, our Shen Clan has rooted in the Sanling Region for a thousand years. Xiong Yun Gang and even the Hou Clan don't amount to a strong opponent. As long as Hexi hesitates for a moment, and once we receive good news from the prefectural city, the Hexi Four Counties falling into the Shen Clan's hands is just a matter of time. By then, with the Shen Clan holding the lands of two prefectures, it won't take long before we also take down Jianye Prefecture and the entire Xiayuan Road will be ours!"

Upon hearing Shen Gufan's words, the eyes of the three generals blazed with eagerness. The status of the leader in a region was, after all, the standard for an Earth Level power. If it all came true as the Family Head foretold, the Shen Clan would indeed join the ranks of the world's renowned families.

"Wait, Family Head, if we truly unify Xiayuan Road, will the Rakshasa Holy Sect just stand by and watch? Even if they stand aside, what about the Ling Hai Mo Zong? Will they also ignore it?"

Hearing Shen Yukang's question, the other two nodded and looked towards Shen Gufan.

The only Earth Level power in the original Xiayuan Road was Ling Hai Mo Zong, currently nestled in Jianye Prefecture to the west of Tao City. Though there'd been little news from them, with the Rakshasa Holy Sect gone, as the only Earth Level power in Xiayuan Road, how could Ling Hai Mo Zong allow the Shen Clan to rise unchecked?

However, Shen Gufan displayed not the slightest concern on his face, betraying only a mysterious smile as he looked at the three men, whispering, "Rest assured, Ling Hai Mo Zong cannot, and does not have the power to, interfere with us!"

Ling Hai Mo Zong, not having the strength to interfere...

What did that mean?

The three men's eyes brimmed with questions, yet seeing Shen Gufan's unwillingness to elaborate, they refrained from asking and instead continued to focus on the official road to the west.