Chapter 1361: Happy Cooperation

**Chapter 1347: Pleasant Cooperation**

"Pushing forward is the most arduous path," He Lingchuan said slowly. "If you want to settle for less, you can find a hundred reasons."

He was also observing Situ He, or rather, testing him.

After a while, Situ He's breathing gradually calmed, and the redness in his face faded slightly. Once a person begins to think seriously, reason takes precedence, and impulses and anger must yield.

"My father and I both want strong, well-trained forces; we both hope our people can live in peace and prosperity, free from the ravages of war; and neither of us wants to be manipulated by Yao Country any longer!" Situ He clenched his fists. "Bixia must be eliminated!"

Bixia was severely weakened by the allied forces, and a deep animosity had formed between the two sides. If they didn't strike while Bixia was vulnerable, none of the Situ father and son's wishes would come true.

"Is this what you want?"

"Yes!" Situ He declared unequivocally. "Brother He, I want to press forward!"

He no longer spoke of it as his father's wish or a shared wish. He said it was what *he* wanted.

"Good, then let's talk about how to stabilize the allied forces and maintain the offensive." He Lingchuan also knew this was the main reason Situ He had come today: he hoped to get useful advice. The Situ father and son already harbored a deep hatred for Bixia and Yao Country. Now that his father had just been murdered, how could Situ He possibly back down? What He Lingchuan was about to say was merely what Situ He already wanted to hear.

"Yao Country and Bixia know you harbor thoughts of revenge, but they hope this strike will cause the allied forces to naturally disperse." Assassinating a leader was an extremely effective method in the Flash Gold Plain, where elemental energy was scarce. He Lingchuan said earnestly, "So, Brother Situ, if you wish to assume the position of leader of the allied forces, there are two qualities you must demonstrate."

Situ He took a wet cloth and wiped away his sweat. "I'm all ears."

"First is the conviction to defeat Bixia and never compromise—this is a quality a leader must possess." He Lingchuan raised a finger. "To assemble the allied forces, you traveled extensively, lobbying many parties, and even when captured by the enemy, you never surrendered. How firm was your will? Your allies can only admire your character; they can find no fault with you. Therefore, you already possess this quality."

Situ He was moved. "Thank you, Brother He."

"Second is prestige. Your esteemed father was highly respected and the initiator, which is why he was elected leader of the allied forces. However, Brother Situ, you are young, and your prestige might not be enough to command general respect."

Situ He nodded. He was only in his twenties, and the leaders of the other allied divisions were all older than him. Why would they listen to a mere youngster? This was the current difficulty.

"But Brother Situ, you also have an advantage: your talent is widely recognized within the allied forces." He Lingchuan was not on the front lines, but he read plenty of military reports. "Your esteemed father often sought your advice—this is known to all parties in the allied forces. Furthermore, you have led troops on the front lines and won several battles. You have an accurate grasp of the current situation, the battlefield, and the psychology of both friend and foe. As the son of the former alliance leader, you are a suitable successor both in fact and by right."

Situ He already had his own team, troops, and reputation; he was not an isolated strategist without support within the headquarters. He Lingchuan said earnestly, "With your esteemed father's sudden passing, some within the allied forces will waver, and some will develop ulterior motives."

Situ He nodded. This was exactly what he feared, and precisely what the Bixia people hoped for. He exhaled. "The situation is perilous; the allied forces are in danger."

"However, you know well who might oppose you and who will support you, right?"

"Yes! I can deduce who they are. I can also secure at least two teams of allies."

Seeing Situ He answer without hesitation, He Lingchuan knew the young man had a clear understanding of both the situation and his allies. This was good; when speaking with intelligent people, a few words are enough.

"Then you will need a decisive victory to prove your competence for the position of allied forces leader." He Lingchuan said slowly, "Convincing people with reason is not as effective as convincing them with facts; a loud voice is not as useful as a strong fist." One can only speak reason when holding a powerful weapon.

"A decisive victory?" Situ He's eyes lit up.

"It must be a complete and satisfying victory to dispel others' concerns and unwarranted thoughts."

"I understand." After thoroughly pummeling the wooden dummy, Situ He's heart gradually settled, and his mind regained clarity.

"As a leader, the most important thing is to demonstrate courage and cunning; only then will others willingly follow." He Lingchuan smiled. "Brother Situ, you actually lack neither of these." Speaking with intelligent people saved effort; they understood with a single hint.

"A few allies, a decisive victory!" Situ He bowed deeply to him, saying sincerely, "Your words have truly enlightened me." If prestige was lacking, then he should seize the opportunity to establish his authority. As long as his actions were brilliant, age wouldn't matter; he wouldn't be seen as a mere youngster, but as "achieving success at a young age."

He Lingchuan said meaningfully, "Everything I've said is what Brother Situ already knows. What enlightenment is there to speak of?"

Situ He rarely smiled openly, but this smile was immediately overshadowed by grimness: "My father's funeral arrangements will be handled by our clansmen. I must rush back to the front line and commit to the next great battle. The recent advance on the front has been too slow, so I want to adopt new tactics and need to go back and design them properly. Brother He, do you have any further advice?"

"Not advice, just a chat between friends." He Lingchuan asked him, "You want to change the tactics on the front line?"

"Yes."

"Don't."

Situ He was somewhat unconvinced. "Why?"

"Your father has always controlled the fighting style and progress on the front lines, and it has proven effective." Bixia was not only forced to relinquish all its Gaopu territories but also suffered several deep cuts itself. "If the Bixia people weren't desperate from their losses, why would they assassinate Marshal Situ?"

These words were so reasonable that Situ He had no reply. With his father's death, his immediate thought was "swift and resolute action." But on second thought, what the allied forces needed most right now was stability.

"Moreover, the timing isn't right." He Lingchuan patted his shoulder. "Once you've established yourself and gained full control of the situation, won't there be plenty of opportunities to make your mark?"

"Brother He is right, Situ is enlightened." Situ He cupped his fists. "I'll take my leave now."

Having achieved the purpose of his visit to He Lingchuan, he bid farewell and swiftly returned to Yaopo. In the evening, a light drizzle began to fall again.

Dong Rui woke up and, hearing from He Lingchuan that Situ Yu had been assassinated and that Situ He had come to seek He Lingchuan's advice, couldn't help but ask:

"You only gave a few suggestions? Aren't you going to intervene?"

He had confidence in He Lingchuan; if this fellow was willing to act, the chances of Situ He and the allied forces safely navigating this crisis would increase by at least fifty percent!

"Look, did Situ He ask me for assistance? Other than seeking a few verbal suggestions."

"Oh, it seems not." During such extraordinary times, Situ He had rushed over anxiously, merely seeking a few pointers from He Lingchuan. Wouldn't he know the power of He Lingchuan and Yangshan?

"Do you know why?"

Dong Rui instantly became a repeater, "Why?"

"Because he must achieve it through his own strength." He Lingchuan sat on a rattan chair, watching the rain, relaxed and content. "I've already done too much for the Situ family. Is it not enough that I helped them get started and sent them on their way? Must I also escort them all the way to the finish line?"

"Where is the Western Heaven?" Dong Rui also pulled up a rattan chair and sat under the long corridor.

"It's nothing. I don't have that much time or energy; I have more important matters to attend to." He Lingchuan said calmly, "The Situ family and the allied forces are merely small cogs in my grand plan. I've already obtained what I wanted by helping the Situ family; and with my assistance, the Situ family has also regained what they desired. This is what makes for pleasant cooperation."

"If Situ He has the potential to become a dragon, he will ascend after enduring trials and tribulations; if he is merely a worm who must rely on my power, then he won't get far," He Lingchuan said. "I understand this point, and Situ He understands it even better than I do. Besides, he doesn't want me and Yangshan to get too deeply involved with the allied forces."

Dong Rui muttered, "You've got a string of principles there. But I'll ask you, if Situ fails and can't hold onto his territory, wouldn't Yangshan's development here be jeopardized? We've invested so much upfront." Although He Lingchuan was the only one investing real money, it didn't stop Dong Rui from saying "we." After operating for so long, the Yangshan Islands had gradually extended their reach into the western Flash Gold Plain, steadily expanding their influence day by day. However, its main artery still ran from Julu Port to Situ's territory. If Situ couldn't hold onto his lands...

"Don't worry. No matter who becomes the master of this place, Yangshan will most likely have a foothold." He Lingchuan closed his eyes, listening to the rain. This white noise helped calm his mind. "Yangshan only makes friends, not enemies; it only conducts business, it doesn't fight wars. Who wouldn't welcome us?"

Yangshan's public image was very positive.

"Uh..."

"The Situ family's greatest enemy is Yao Country. However, Yao Country also cooperates pleasantly with us." This was the benefit of not forming alliances or showing one's fangs: Yangshan would not be easily dragged into the quagmire of war.

Just then, Jiang Lishui rushed in from outside, looking somewhat tense.

"My lord, not—" The words were on his tongue, but he quickly changed "not good" to "something happened in the east."

The east? He Lingchuan looked up, listening as Jiang Lishui continued, "Urgent news from the east: our Yangshan Chamber of Commerce's branch in Xancheng, Yao Country, caught fire three days ago. The building was completely burned down, with ten dead and twenty-seven injured. And Dai Wangsheng, the head of our Xialin branch, was accused of privately trafficking prohibited item 'Splendid Gold' two days ago. They say he was caught red-handed and has been imprisoned by the local authorities."

This truly surprised He Lingchuan. The Yangshan Chamber of Commerce had always acted cautiously in the Flash Gold Plain, with each branch guarded by Yangshan escorts. Although minor troubles were constant, the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce had never really experienced a major incident in the Flash Gold Plain... until now!

Dong Rui opened his eyes, "Both these places are in Yao Country!"

If not for the loss of life, he would have openly mocked He Lingchuan for being utterly contradicted by the facts. That fellow had just said that Yangshan and Yao Country cooperated pleasantly.