"Temple Knights? Catherine spoke of it with such gravity, could they be even more formidable than our Black Flag Army?" Xǔ Hǎi Fēng opened the secret letter and laughed.

  Jiang Kung-ming was taken aback and took it over for a careful examination.

  Xu Haifeng looked at Jiang Kongming, who was silent and thoughtful, knowing that he was using the opportunity to think about something. With his keen eyesight and speed, it would only take a glance for him to memorize the thin secret letter, so why did he spend so much time on it?

  "The Knights Templar is a product unique to Western countries, a powerful force composed of devout believers attached to the church." Jiang Kongming said with a heavy expression.

  "Church?"

  "It's true, the Romans are different from us and the Xiongnu. Their country has always been dominated by divine power, until Caesar rose to power and unified the Western world, making both divine and imperial powers coexist in the world. Heh... although Caesar was a great hero, he too was helpless when faced with religious beliefs."

  Caesar is currently the arch-nemesis of Xu Haifeng, so he naturally pays close attention to him. The development history of Caesar's people is not a secret matter, just like everyone knows that in the Central Plains there are four major families, and in Xiongnu there are national teachers such as Hami Ti etc., Caesar's unique divine right and imperial power coexist, and the establishment of the Senate and other unique institutions cannot escape the ears of the Han people.

  "Religious beliefs... a non-existent god can be mentioned in the same breath as Your Imperial Majesty, and a decision by the Senate can also influence the will of the Son of Heaven. Caesar... what a strange nation indeed." Xǔ Hǎifēng exclaimed in surprise.

  For someone born and raised in the East like him, what the Caesarians did was a great betrayal.

  In the East, it has been passed down from generation to generation that there is only one sun in the sky, and the Emperor is the number one under heaven, whose orders cannot be disobeyed.

  After becoming officials, no matter whether they are secretly corrupt or use their power for personal gain, they all hang the words "loyalty to the emperor and love of country" on their lips, as if not saying these two sentences would make them feel uncomfortable.

  Growing up under such living conditions, I found it fundamentally impossible to understand those strange behaviors of Westerners.

  Jiang Kongming smiled slightly and said, "Religious beliefs, when all is said and done, are actually just superstitions. However, the best thing Westerners have done is to promote them openly and extensively. In this regard, we Great Hans are far inferior."

  He looked at him in surprise and said, "Isn't the Military Advisor always an atheist? Why does it sound like you're quite appreciative?"

  Chiang Kung-ming sighed and said, "Because they did it too well, superstitious, in their hands has developed to the extreme, already deeply ingrained, become a sharp sword in the hands of the Caesars."

  "After a moment, Jiang Kongming said: 'Actually, as long as it is used properly, this can also be a very sharp means.'"

  Xu Haifeng looked at Jiang Kongming, who had suddenly fallen silent, and was secretly amazed. In the world, there were actually things that made him feel like he couldn't see through them, which was a very rare thing.

  "Master, do you believe in gods?" Jiang Gongming suddenly turned his head and asked, looking puzzled.

  He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don't believe it. I only trust in my own abilities."

  Shaking his head silently, Jiang Kongming thought to himself, "You are a master, of course you don't believe it, but there are many people who do." He sighed and said, "This superstition is actually something everyone needs. It can make people feel at ease and help them reduce their doubts and worries. Having superstitions might make life easier to live with. For example..."

  He paused for a moment and continued: "The religion of the Caesars is an excellent example, which has even gone beyond the realm of superstition and become a specialized subject."

  As for this, Xu Haifeng did not object at all. In fact, the boundary between superstition and religion is not easy to define. Let alone those influential Western temples, even in the East, the legends of Taoism are also well-known to women and children, but they do not have such a large scale and influence.

  It's just like the widespread saying in the countryside, many people believe that when the left eye jumps, there will be good fortune, while when the right eye jumps, disaster will strike. If you sneeze, it means someone is talking about you behind your back and speaking ill of you; if your ears feel hot, it means someone is thinking of you.

  Although everyone knows these are baseless claims, there are many people who firmly believe in them.

  As for the strange sixth sense of their masters, and the various inexplicable strange abilities of the heterodox sects, if they fall into the eyes of ordinary people, I don't know what kind of thoughts they will have.

  As he thought of this, a sudden idea flashed through Xu Haifeng's mind. He vaguely felt that there was something to be gained from it, and he asked in a low voice: "Military strategist, aren't the Romans believers in gods? Then let the Ability Group try their hand at it."

  Jiang Kongming heard the words and knew what was meant, a faint smile involuntarily appearing on his face.

  All the Caesarians believed that God was on their side, their fight was to punish heretics and spread the will of God, they were the righteous.

  But if at this time, something inexplicable happened, the result was a huge blow to the Caesarians, and their faith would be shaken beyond recognition, causing their combat effectiveness to plummet.

  Just... Jiang Kongming's smile grew thicker, like an old fox that had just caught a big rooster: "Master, the trump card is always left for last, now it's too early..."

  Xu Haifeng suddenly realized that if even he, who had never been bothered by such trivial matters, could think of this point, then Jiang Kongming, who had always been worried and worked hard, would not be unaware. As he said, this move should be used to deal with the real main force of the Roman Empire, and Bancroft was not qualified for that yet.

  "Vice-captain Harry, a man of unyielding integrity and iron will, has been a Temple Knight for forty years, one of the pillars of the Temple. Hmm...the Temple sent someone of his caliber to escort Bancroft, it seems they still hold some weight in their hearts. Jiang Kongming looked at the secret letter in his hand and muttered to himself: "I wonder if Katharine exaggerated, this needs to be carefully investigated."

  For the intelligence gathering of the Kaisar people, Jiang Gongming did not dare to slack off in the slightest. However, due to the differences in human species and appearance, although he increased countless manpower and resources, the effect was minimal. Those crucial pieces of information were all transmitted through Catherine, and their authenticity naturally had to be discounted.

  "It shouldn't be fake." Xu Haifeng said calmly.

  Jiang Kongming nodded in agreement, saying: "Bancroft is not only a loyal follower of the Temple, but also a loyal dog of the Grand Duke, a staunch supporter of Caesar. If Catherine wants to weaken the Emperor's power, she will naturally not provide false information."

  He suddenly turned his head and asked: "Sir, what are you judging by?"

  Xu Haifeng smiled but didn't answer, pointing at his own brain instead.

  Jiang Kongming rolled his eyes, this Venerable was indeed impressive, the effect of spiritual energy was truly unimaginable, even something like this could be sensed.

  He glanced sideways at Li Mingtang, who was sitting alone in the corner of the house, not saying a word. He felt indignant in his heart, how could this wooden man become a master, while he, the number one wise man under heaven, couldn't even practice martial arts? It's really unfair to the heavens...

  "Alright, the enemy is now right in front of us, General, please don't dawdle anymore, quickly come up with a plan, let's see how we can annihilate them in one fell swoop." Xu Haifeng urged with a smile.

  Jiang Kongming responded with a sound, and once he talked about the proper business, he immediately sat up straight, no longer seeing any trace of his previous smiling face.

  "The enemy has 50,000 troops, all of whom are elite soldiers. Even if I were to lead the Black Flag Army in a fierce battle, it would be impossible to annihilate them in one fell swoop." Jiang Kongming said solemnly: "If we were to engage in a head-on confrontation, we would have to pay an extremely heavy price. Now that our lord has lost his special ability to replenish his blood with wine, every single Black Flag Army soldier is a precious treasure, and it's absolutely not worth the cost."

  Xu Haifeng nodded silently, and Jiang Dajun's words were all reasonable.

  "Bankcroft, though rough and brutal, was undoubtedly a seasoned soldier. A man of such rich combat experience knows the way of war on the battlefield and cannot be underestimated. However..."

  Jiang Kongming smiled meaningfully and said, "However, no matter how powerful a general is, once all his movements are known to the enemy like the back of their hand, then even if he has the ability to reach the heavens, he will only have one path: defeat and death."

  Xu Haifeng's eyes suddenly lit up with a sharp light, and he said in a deep voice: "The special forces are going to be deployed after just half a month?"

  "Hmph... They're not our main forces anyway, even if they all die in battle, we can replenish them at any time. As long as the four of you, Master, are here, it's easy to recruit some martial artists to serve us." Jiang Kongming replied casually, his expression relaxed, as if he was talking about something insignificant.

  Xu Haifeng felt a chill in his heart and looked at him with one eye.

  Jiang Kongming seemed to sense something, but he didn't hold back and spoke bluntly: "These people are just pawns, as long as Lin Jiahu's life can be preserved, others can be sacrificed. Master, those who achieve great things cannot hesitate. The throne of the emperor is built on a river of blood and a mountain of bones." Jiang Kongming's face was gloomy, his tone increasingly ominous: "No one can be an exception, not even you, it's unavoidable."

  "Alas..." Xu Haifeng let out a helpless sigh and didn't say another word.

  "Besides... " Jiang Kongming's face was filled with cold ridicule: "The students have already promised them wealth and glory, if they want to live a good life in the second half of their lives, they must exchange it with their lives in the first half."