Chapter 1433: Each Harboring Their Own Schemes

After about ten more seconds, the soapberry figures in the brush washer completely dissipated into nothing, leaving only a thick layer of green foam floating on the shallow water.

Xin Yi stirred it with a brush, and the foam immediately disappeared.

The guest room remained as quiet as before, as if nothing had happened.

He took out an old book from Shumin Academy's collection, gnawing on water caltrops while flipping through pages to annotate.

Two days later, the Tigerwing Army passed through Dragon's Throat Pass and entered Mahe Plain to the east.

After Xiku's entire territory was occupied, Panlong City renamed it Mahe Plain, and from then on possessed a vast granary with fertile land and abundant water.

"Oh, the rice is almost ripe!" Xin Yi, riding half a horse-length behind He Lingchuan, was looking around. "When I first came to Panlong Wilderness, the crops on both sides were still vibrant green, but now they're filling with grain."

"Time really flies."

Nearly two months ago, he had landed from the south, traveled the Longchuan trade route, and then entered Panlong Wilderness. Now, he was traveling the exact opposite way, accompanying He Lingchuan to Yuheng City.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was becoming increasingly abundant. Even Panlong Wilderness was covered in green, not to mention the already fertile Mahe Plain, which was a pastoral idyll everywhere.

The sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard far and wide. Sparrows poked their heads out, and farmers toiled in the boundless fields. Soldiers marched down the middle of the main road, carefully avoiding trampling the crops on either side.

People often greeted the Tigerwing Army.

He Lingchuan waved back at them and casually asked Xin Yi, "Does Mr. Xin also have a deep knowledge of agriculture?"

"I know nothing about farming," Xin Yi didn't hide it. "I only care about eating and drinking; I've never farmed before. But I used to occasionally go to my family's estates to collect rent, so I know a little about the seasons."

He Lingchuan was curious. "The Xin family is a prominent household in the Shaling River basin. Brother Xin, why would you give up such a comfortable life and insist on coming to Panlong Wilderness to 'eat sand'?"

"If everyone only cared about being well-fed and well-clothed, without regard for others' lives, how could Panlong City be as prosperous as it is today?" Xin Yi sighed with emotion. "Commander Zhong is a role model for our generation; I am merely trying to emulate him a little."

This fellow was truly good at flattery, and even invoked Zhong Shengguang's name.

He Lingchuan glanced at him with a smile and didn't press further.

Xin Yi always gave others the impression of being sincere and enthusiastic.

What is the most excellent quality in interacting with people? Wisdom? Astuteness? Eloquence? None of these.

To make the other party drop their guard, sincerity is the best killer move.

At least the sincerity you display must be believed by others.

After passing Dragon's Throat Pass, the path ahead was flat and unobstructed.

Xin Yi rode his horse forward and asked, "Is this the shortcut the Dafeng Army took back then to advance on Xiku's former royal capital?"

"Yes. In the past, the Dafeng Army launched a swift attack on Dragon's Throat Pass from Panlong Wilderness. We reached Xijiao Royal City before dawn. The Xijiao monarch hadn't even woken up yet, and we were already at the city gates—right below the palace city."

Xin Yi was excited. "Brother He, were you also involved?"

"We were the vanguard force that raided Dragon's Throat Pass." At that time, the Broken Blade Squad used a stratagem to ambush Dragon's Throat Pass, opened its gates to welcome the Dafeng Army, and avoided a bloody and fierce battle.

"Tell me the whole story? Were these series of plans devised by General Hong?"

He Lingchuan could only recount the battle to Xin Yi.

Before leaving Panlong City, Zhong Shengguang had told him two things.

The first was that Xin Yi had provided valuable insights for the research of the Bright Lamp. After verification over the past few days, it was confirmed to be feasible! This meant Zhong Shengguang's Bright Lamp research could continue—a joyous and commendable piece of good news.

Just as He Lingchuan offered his congratulations, Zhong Shengguang followed up with his second statement: "You should interact more with Mr. Xin."

It was a bit subtle, but the meaning was unmistakably clear: he wanted He Lingchuan to keep an eye on Xin Yi!

Zhong Shengguang appreciated Xin Yi's help, but he didn't lower his guard against him.

He Lingchuan was very relieved that his superior was still clear-headed.

Circumstances force people to make decisions.

In true history, at this time, Panlong City not only lost Yuheng City and the Longchuan trade route but couldn't even hold onto Mahe Plain. It could only retreat to Panlong Wilderness. Food, population, and trade all shrank again, and the morale of the military and civilians was severely hit. The pain of gaining and then losing was worse than never having gained at all.

At that time, Panlong City faced the threat of Fushan Lie in the east and was caught in a pincer attack from Baling and Xianyou in the north. Although the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was still recovering, Zhong Shengguang faced a dire, passive strategic predicament. How could he be as confident and composed as he was in the Panlong Era?

When people are in dire straits and isolated without help, they always treat outside assistance as a life-saving straw.

Even if Zhong Shengguang was a hero, he had no choice but to seek help from Ling Mountain and elevate Ling Mountain's status.

Before Yuheng City had driven away Fushan Lie, when Lu Xun, as an envoy from Ling Mountain, first arrived in Panlong City, Zhong Shengguang personally went out to greet him, giving him full respect. Now, Xin Yi came as a communication officer to replace Lu Pao, but Zhong Shengguang casually dispatched him to Yuheng City.

It wasn't a matter of initial deference turning into later arrogance, but rather, the strong Panlong City gave Zhong Shengguang more confidence when dealing with Ling Mountain.

Only strength allows for composure.

Historically, no one knew what Xin Yi had done in Panlong City, but He Lingchuan knew very well that the current Zhong Shengguang would respond very differently.

When it came to the War of Eliminating Xiku, although his eloquence was far inferior to Fu Liushan's, and he couldn't describe it vividly or add exaggerated details, Xin Yi still listened with exceptional attentiveness, often interrupting to ask for details.

For example, why General Hong made that decision, or why General Hong didn't do something else.

He Lingchuan could sense that he had a particular interest in tactical strategies.

Since meeting on the day of the No. 8 Deathmatch in Shawei, Xin Yi had followed He Lingchuan to Ximo Ridge to observe the army's selection and training.

Although this person was said to be the communication officer between Ling Mountain and Panlong City, he didn't seem to have any urgent duties normally and would run to Ximo Ridge whenever he had free time.

When He Lingchuan received Zhong Shengguang's order to lead the army to Yuheng City, Xin Yi also accompanied him, instead of going to Panlong City's northwest front.

One should know, the war on the northwest front, managed by General Hong, was in full swing.

He Lingchuan had asked him why he didn't apply for a transfer to the northwest. Xin Yi only said that he could learn more from He Lingchuan.

"I particularly want to see how Brother He transforms an army into elite soldiers and fierce generals. If I went to the northwest front, the Dafeng Army would already be a battle-hardened force, and I wouldn't be able to observe much."

So, was this fellow coming to Panlong City with the purpose of observation and learning? He Lingchuan found it strange.

From the wilderness to the plain, the elevation gradually decreased, the weather grew warmer, and even the wind blowing in their faces carried a warm, moist quality.

The soldiers subconsciously tugged at their collars, and beads of sweat began to form on their foreheads.

Accustomed to the cool wilderness, they felt a bit uncomfortable upon arriving at Mahe Plain.

He Lingchuan, however, took a deep breath and thought to himself, 'I'm back.'

This journey was nearing its end. The outline of a city finally appeared in the distance.

Yuheng City was almost there.