Chapter 1916: Unfathomable

Leaving everything else aside, the Situ family alone had countless enterprises intimately connected with Yangshan. The mere thought of severing these ties, which were so crucial to the national economy and people's livelihoods, made his head ache. It felt no different than tearing out his own flesh. That scoundrel He Xiao, who usually treated him like a sworn brother, had truly done him a great disservice at this critical juncture!

General Piyun then spoke, "He Xiao's Primal Association isn't any good either. I suggest we arrest them all."Tong Wuchan smiled without warmth. "I'm also a member of the Primal Association. Would you like to arrest me first?""Why not!" General Piyun rose, drawing his sword with a clang. Hearing the commotion, dozens of guards immediately rushed in, their weapons drawn and pointed at one another. The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense.

"Alright, this kind of squabbling is not beneficial to the overall situation," Situ He said, stepping in to mediate and set a new tone. "The Black Armored Army has not invaded Allied territory, and the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce has deep ties with us. Our war with Bixia is also not over. At this point, we should observe more and act less, watching how things unfold to avoid unnecessary conflicts!" He paused, then added, "As for whether to sever ties with the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce, each of your families can decide for yourselves. I will not make it a mandatory requirement."Prince Poliu immediately pressed, "What about the Situ family?"Situ He didn't answer, pretending not to hear. "Meeting adjourned. Everyone, go back and convey the decision."Prince Poliu rose, sweeping his sleeve, and let out a scoffing laugh. "My father had long predicted this outcome!" With that, he strode away. The meeting ended on an unhappy note.

Watching everyone leave, Situ He finally let out a long sigh, feeling utterly weary. The Allied Forces, after fighting for so long, had long been united in appearance but divided in spirit.

It was then that Tong Wuchan stood up. "Marshal Situ, don't listen to these fools throwing tantrums. You should hold your ground."Situ He casually asked, "Oh, why?""The Poliu Kingdom has its own agenda; today, they are merely using the Black Armored Army to challenge you. Other forces are simply terrified of the Black Armored Army and don't know how to respond," Tong Wuchan explained. "In truth, no one has a viable countermeasure." He continued, every word distinct, "The Allied Forces are still fighting Bixia. What benefit is there in further offending Yangshan and the Black Armored Army at this time? Do the Allied Forces, incapable of defeating Bixia, still have a reason to exist?"

That last statement startled Situ He. His ability to inherit his father's legacy and continue as the Allied Forces' leader was precisely because the seven factions shared a common enemy in Bixia, wasn't it? He turned back and looked closely at Tong Wuchan, sighing with emotion, "The Primal Association has indeed produced many talented individuals." He recalled that Tong Wuchan was originally the youngest son of a declining noble family in Luoyu Kingdom, disheartened when he first joined the Primal Association, yet unexpectedly became Luoyu Kingdom's special envoy two years later, his words as sharp as a blade.

Tong Wuchan smiled. "Aren't you also a member of the Primal Association?" With a bow, he departed the residence to return to his country.

Once the room was empty, Situ He paced a few times, his gaze falling back on the sand table. On it were marked the regions already captured by the Black Armored Army. He was eager to know how the Black Armored Army chose their targets and planned their routes. Why could they advance so swiftly and effortlessly, gaining momentum with every victory? With so many cities and garrisons, it was impossible for all of them to be incompetent. How could the Black Armored Army just sweep through them like slicing vegetables? It didn't make sense.

Situ He, who had commanded troops in battle himself, used the intelligence to draw two routes on the sand table, which appeared to be the operational paths of two Black Armored Army units. Once he drew the lines, a question arose: "Since the Black Armored Army was in a hurry, why didn't they follow the Bang River north? That's the shortest route." Looking at the trajectory of the other army, it also made a 'Z' shape, bypassing at least two strategic locations. What was special about these places that the Black Armored Army chose not to conquer them?

Just then, new correspondence arrived, containing key intelligence he had specifically requested. He picked it up and saw: "Oh, Disc City is indeed still standing, and the Black Armored Army bypassed it, didn't fight." Situ He didn't know the reasons for the Black Armored Army abandoning other places, but he understood Disc City. Disc City and its five subordinate towns were ruled by the powerful Dong Pei. This fellow also commanded a strong and well-equipped army, no weaker than the infamous cannibal Zhao Guangzhi in his prime, though he lacked the taste for human flesh, which kept his notoriety relatively lower. The Black Armored Army's decision to bypass him indicated they didn't want to tackle a tough opponent, at least not yet. Subsequent intelligence over the next few days indirectly confirmed his observation: while the Black Armored Army appeared to be a formidable force spreading in all directions, they actually followed specific routes and rhythms. The territories they captured were either not powerful or their will to resist was not firm.

Understanding this, Situ He felt a slight relaxation. The Allied Forces were certainly stronger than Dong Pei. If the Black Armored Army didn't confront Dong Pei, they shouldn't confront the Allied Forces either. As if to confirm his view, over the next eight days, the Black Armored Army continued their sweeping, escalating campaign, striking fear across the Golden Plains. Yet, they indeed bypassed Allied territory, never venturing to offend it.

Intelligence regarding the Black Armored Army and Yangshan was becoming increasingly comprehensive. One particularly striking piece of information was that the Black Armored Army was openly recruiting heroes and righteous warriors in over a dozen free ports and public trade zones, such as the Ghost Market of Floating Isle in Julu Port and the Kidnapper's Tower in Allied Qingshan City. They not only posted large, red-headed proclamations but also established dedicated recruitment stations nearby. People from far and wide, hearing the news, flocked to join. The Great Emperor of Nine Hells and the Black Armored Army had long earned immense goodwill throughout the Golden Plains. The proclamations, with every rousing word and every generous payment amount, stirred people's blood. Many didn't even finish reading before turning to sign up. The recruitment stations were consistently packed. However, the Dragon God did not accept just anyone: those too thin were rejected, as were only sons, and those who had never seen blood on a blade—unless they possessed a special skill. The undercover agent sent by Situ He successfully passed the review, signed the contract, and gloriously joined the Dragon God's Grand Army.

Only upon entering did he realize they were not assigned to the Black Armored Army. Instead, they had to undergo thirteen days of high-intensity training, including combat drills, command signals, discipline, and prohibitions, before being deployed to the battlefield. Furthermore, their combat destination was unclear; before departure, they were only told how many days of rations to carry. Soldiers didn't know where they were being sent; they simply followed orders. Also, the food was excellent. Rice, meat dishes, fruits, and marching rations were supplied in abundance. The weapons and equipment issued might not have been new, but they were undamaged, free of rust, and well-maintained. How much manpower and financial resources would it take to manage all these details? The more Situ He read, the more alarmed he became. If this continued, the Dragon God's Grand Army would grow like a snowball, expanding relentlessly.

Qingshan City bore immense pressure because of this. Its city guard, Kang Lang, stubbornly refused to close the Kidnapper's Tower, leading to a rift between father and son. King Poliu's furious words to his sixth son even reached Situ He's ears: "What kind of bewitching potion have He Xiao and the Primal Association given you that you're so stubbornly going against your own father!" However, Situ He understood Kang Lang's actions, as Qingshan City's economy and people's livelihoods were far more heavily dependent on the operations of the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce than other parts of Poliu Kingdom. In his fury, King Poliu immediately ordered the closure of all Yangshan branches in his kingdom, but for some reason, the process was not smooth. Situ He heard that after he reluctantly closed a few, a letter of inquiry arrived from the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce's main headquarters, expressing serious concern over Poliu Kingdom's actions—the letter even bore the Dragon God's seal, making the implied threat unmistakable.

The Dragon God's war continued to rage with increasing intensity, striking fear into all forces, big and small, across the Golden Plains. Internal divisions within the Allied Forces also widened. This great upheaval was drawing everyone into its vortex. Soon after, another earth-shattering event erupted in the northeast of the Golden Plains. The moment Situ He received the news, his hands trembled.