Certain forces are unable to place people among the Iron Banner Gang’s original members, so they meddle in these areas.

According to Iron Madman, the current Iron Banner Gang has various sources of spies and traitors, numbering no less than two thousand, or at least fifteen to sixteen hundred.

Especially the Iron Banner Gang Headquarters, which can be called a severely affected area.

However, despite the sudden increase in traitors within the Iron Banner Gang compared to a year ago, the internal situation has not worsened. In fact, it has become more strict and orderly, with rigorous discipline.

This is first due to the reorganization by Iron Madman and Divine Fist, Iron Face, the two ’Judges.’

Secondly, because the current Iron Banner Gang is large, with a total of over six million affiliated troops, plus gang members maintaining control in various places, reaching an astounding seven million in total.

The fifteen to sixteen hundred people scattered inside are like sand scattered into the sea, unable to stir up much waves.

Chu Xisheng actually finds these traitors quite useful.

These people are originally elites from various forces, with outstanding capabilities. To rise to prominence and enter the Iron Banner Gang’s upper echelons, they often work more diligently.

Their personalities tend to be more stable, more cautious, not like many Jianghu people who become conceited with a little achievement or act carelessly in their tasks.

At this time, the high-level members inside the headquarters also came out to greet him.

But there are only a few genuine mainstays among them.

Just about ten days ago, without any warning, the Daning nine million army stationed north of Shenxiu River and North Tianhuai River launched a crossing offensive.

They split into twenty-three heavy military blocs, crossing the rivers along the Shenxiu River and Tianhuai River.

To the east, in the directions of Xiang State and Han State, there are also two hundred thousand troops coursing down the Shenxiu River, imposing like a tsunami, overwhelming like Taishan.

At this time within the Iron Banner Gang, almost all elite masters including Zhoou Liangchen, Ji Qianqian, Liu Ruoxi, and Tie Xiaosheng, are at the front lines.

Now in the headquarters there is only one Iron Madman guarding, along with Jian Cangfeng who arrived at the Iron Banner Gang several months ago, replacing Chu Xisheng to reside centrally, presiding over external and internal affairs.

Therefore, when Chu Xisheng returned to the headquarters, exchanged greetings with Iron Madman and Jian Cangfeng, he immediately walked towards the left courtyard direction.

A new hall was built over there, named the Secretariat Hall, where all matters related to military defense, troops, and Forbidden Guards are discussed.

When Chu Xisheng entered the hall, he saw there in the central part of the Secretariat Hall lay a giant sand table.

This sand table is ten zhang in length and width, and above it is the entire Divine Continent’s topographic map.

This map is extremely detailed and precise. With one glance, one can take in the elevations of all Thirty-Six States, the courses and currents of all mountains and rivers.

Chu Xisheng’s gaze instantaneously fell upon the small flags on the sand table.

A total of over a thousand red and blue flags densely planted around the Shenxiu River and Tianhuai River.

After taking a glance, Chu Xisheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a bit of a smile: "We reclaimed Tong County? No wonder it’s ’Raging Wave Ice’ Shui Canglang!"

Tong County is one of the major cities on the South Bank of Tianhuai River, located seven hundred li south of Tianhuai River.

Just three days ago, Ji Qianqian communicated through the Divine Contract Stele to inform him that Tong County town had fallen under enemy control.

It was said that when the Daning Army arrived at the city’s gates, internal turmoil occurred within Tong County, resulting in an inside-outside collusion that captured the town.

Unexpectedly upon returning today, he found this county town back in their hands.

"Tong County town was reclaimed this morning."

Iron Madman, arms crossed, wore a solemn and hardened expression.

Perhaps influenced by the Divine Beast ’Charter’ within him, his tone was stark and without emotion: "General Shui originally intended to lure the enemy, using this city to bait them, setting a trap to annihilate part of the enemy forces.

However, after the court seized Tong County town, they stagnated the troops without advancing, resting and reinforcing their lines. General Shui had to launch prematurely, yielding limited results, only annihilating about seventeen thousand enemy forces."

"I can see that."

Chu Xisheng glanced Iron Madman up and down, before surveying the whole situation thoughtfully: "They are dispersing their troops to avoid large-scale decisive battles; simultaneously constructing defense lines, intending to strengthen fortifications, fight slow and steady battles, and seeking to establish footing on the South Bank. But it’s still quite puzzling."

The court currently lacks the capability for cross-river warfare.

His Iron Banner Gang, although only risen for less than three years, still lacks elite soldiers.

Yet the nearly three hundred thousand Ice City troops are truly battle-hardened elite soldiers, the real iron wall that the Iron Banner Gang relies upon.

Also of note are the sixty thousand Tianhuai Army trained by Shui Canglang and Gong Wugou, based in the Divine Strategy Camp, their combat prowess also impressive.

They have also restructured and recruited many surrounding state and county soldiers, selecting elites, acquiring fifty thousand crack troops.

Additionally, the Iron Banner Gang itself trained thirty thousand soldiers.

These forces are more than enough to hold their defense lines.

Thus, in the brief ten-day conflict, the court has almost lost seventy thousand troops. Most of these losses occurred during the river-crossing phase, when the Iron Banner Gang’s various units struck them halfway through the crossing, resulting in heavy casualties.

At present, truly stabilized south of Shenxiu River and Tianhuai River are only three troop contingents.

However, none of these forces can counteract Chu Xisheng’s Divine Intent Touch Death Blade, no matter how resolute they are.

They can only assert dominance for a moment on the southern side of the river; once Chu Xisheng returns to Jiangnan, they will not even have the chance to retreat north.

Therefore, Chu Xisheng is puzzled. When receiving Ji Qianqian’s message, he suspected that the Grandmaster was crazy, the court neglecting the sturdy northern defense line, instead mobilizing forces and undertaking the immense risk of cross-river combat.