Chapter 880: Positive and Negative

However formidable Fu Shanlie might be, he couldn't bring Beijia's vast armies with him. The high-ranking officials present understood that some matters could not be resolved by military force alone.

Zhong Shengguang nodded, "If no one has any objections, I will reject He Lingchuan's request."

The doors of the War Council Hall swung open, and the Red General strode in, clad in dark red light armor. Having just returned from the battlefield, her every movement exuded a fierce intensity.

Zhong Shengguang asked her, "How are the battle conditions at Xue River?"

"Ba Ling launched two attacks, both of which I repelled. However, with little rain in autumn and winter, and the water levels dropping, they will certainly attempt to cross the river again." The Red General sat down decisively, hands clasped under her chin. "Many new demons have appeared among Ba Ling's troops, and they all possess some cultivation."

"Could they be sent by Beijia?" Zhao Xianhe was startled. "This is not good. Beijia has never before sent troops to interfere in the Panlong Wasteland."

Beijia had repeatedly schemed against Panlong City, always acting covertly: either manipulating Ba Ling and Xian You to attack the Panlong Wasteland, or using the Ghost Mother of Jindu and mutated demonic insects to invade Chiba Plateau. Was this the first time they had directly sent demon soldiers to fight in the Panlong Wasteland? The implications of this action were ominous. Perhaps it signified that Beijia had lost patience with Panlong City?

"Once we capture a few, we can question them in detail," the Red General said. Though she wore a mask, everyone still felt her gaze sweep across their faces. "What are you discussing?"

Zhong Shengguang then explained the topic of discussion.

The Red General casually picked up the urgent dispatch from the table and glanced at it. "Interesting. If it's merely to divide the bandits and isolate Fu Shanlie, there's no need to placate the water bandits like this. Sending someone to negotiate and appease them would suffice. I believe He Lingchuan has a hidden move he hasn't revealed yet."

General Nanke was slightly surprised. "You support him?"

Zhong Shengguang gave a wry smile. "What hidden move? It wasn't mentioned in the urgent dispatch."

"If you employ him, then trust him," the Red General said indifferently. "It's only an extra thirty thousand taels of silver a year; let him try it."

"More than thirty thousand," Zhao Xianhe pointed out. "The maintenance and repair of the Longchuan trade route cannot be handled by the water bandits alone; Yuheng City will inevitably have to pay out of its own pocket. Moreover, Yuheng City and the water bandits have been fighting for several months, and a deep animosity has formed between them. If Yuheng City suddenly tries to placate them now, how will the soldiers and civilians react?"

"Public sentiment can be guided, and Yuheng City's recent operations have been successful, with increasing revenue," the Red General said calmly. "I don't see the problem."

Zhong Shengguang frowned. "But..." The young man's plan seemed utterly preposterous.

"There's no harm in dealing with Beijia's general first. Once the external forces are driven out of Longchuan, the bandits won't be a major threat," the Red General said, tossing the urgent dispatch onto the table. "Didn't Commander Zhong originally intend to send Zhao Yin'an to command Yuheng City, but then changed it to He Lingchuan to test his abilities? Now the opportunity has arisen; it's a good chance to observe him."

Zhong Shengguang pondered.

Zhao Xianhe was displeased. "He Lingchuan's demands are outlandish. Surely, Lord Zhong isn't seriously considering them? To treat such an important matter as an experiment is childish!"

General Nanke seconded, "In the past, when we suppressed bandits in the Panlong Wasteland, wasn't it always swift and decisive? Even if Beijia sent people to cause trouble in Longchuan, it was just a single contingent. If He Lingchuan can't handle it, I am willing to lead troops to Longchuan and wipe them out, eliminating future problems. Ha, why let Yuheng City play house with them?"

The Red General calmly stated, "If Panlong City conquers Jintao in the future, and there are bandits there, will you go as well?"

General Nanke replied without hesitation, "Yes."

"What if, at the same time, there's a rebellion in the former capital of Xiji? Can you be in two places at once to suppress it?"

"...I can divide my troops."

"And what if, simultaneously, Ba Ling's army presses down on the northern front of the Panlong Wasteland?"

General Nanke was displeased. "Red General, Panlong City does not lack capable generals."

"If Panlong City wants to expand, what it truly lacks are individuals capable of independent command," the Red General said, crossing her arms. "If Panlong City has to dispatch troops to suppress every minor issue in a place like the former Xiji territory, will the Panlong Army and Great Wind Army be constantly running around putting out fires as our territory grows?"

After a long hesitation, Zhong Shengguang said, "I was planning a trip to Yuheng City anyway. I'll go and hear He Lingchuan's explanation directly." Hearing it firsthand would allow for a better decision.

The other generals said no more. With the Red General present, the outcome of debates like this was almost always a foregone conclusion.

***

Longchuan, Xiji Puppet Army Garrison.

This was originally the Lu Family Gang's stronghold. After the Xiji Puppet Army absorbed it, Fu Shanlie took a liking to its complex terrain. The area, known as Lianghu Lake, consisted of seven interconnected lakes of varying sizes, shimmering like a string of pearls. The lakeside grass grew up to a zhang (about 3.3 meters) tall, so thick that a person could disappear inside it. The islands in the lake served as the garrison, and the surrounding aquatic demons acted as guards.

Fu Shanlie was feigning sleep after lunch when a trusted aide hurried to his bamboo lounge bed and whispered, "General, intelligence report."

Fu Shanlie's eyelids flickered open. "Speak."

"Our inside source at Qianjin Fortress sent word that Tao Lin and Xu Zeshou secretly met with the Yuheng City Commander, who offered them an agreement."

"Commander? He Lingchuan?" Fu Shanlie opened his eyes. "What agreement?"

The aide then reported the details.

Fu Shanlie sat up immediately upon hearing. "Was the agreement reached?"

"Tao and Xu said they needed to go back and discuss it."

"Indecisive and ignorant," Fu Shanlie scoffed. "If it were me, I would have agreed on the spot."

"Yuheng City fears I'll recruit all the people in Longchuan, so they want to win over these useless fellows!" He pressed his temples. "You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a cub. This He fellow is truly something."

"According to inside information from the north, Yuheng City dislikes his strategy, deeming his appeasement of the water bandits unnecessary and his spending extravagant, which goes against the usual practices of the Panlong City army."

Fu Shanlie rejoiced at the news. "That's good news. If he's the only one pushing for it, then killing him will solve everything!" If He died, Yuheng City's bandit suppression strategy would likely revert to its old ways. His own plan could then continue.

The aide, who had followed him from Beijia, remained somewhat puzzled. "General, even if Panlong City captures Xiji, it will still be a small place. Why did you volunteer to come here and deal with a surrendered city?" General Fu Shan had distinguished himself in the Battle of Yuanguo, a rising young star among Beijia's generals. He could have earned merits anywhere, so why choose this place? Wasn't it beneath a Beijia general to spend his days among bandit lairs? Even his subordinates had to endure the dusty Longchuan trade route.

Fu Shanlie glanced at him, fully aware of his inner thoughts. "You came to Longchuan with me, and now you're unhappy because you're tired of eating dust, aren't you?"

"No, no!" the aide quickly denied. "My life belongs to you, sir! What's a little dust?"

"There are countless places like Panlong Wasteland and Xiji in the world. Why would Lingxu City even bother to glance at them?" Fu Shanlie asked him. "Why has Lingxu City tested Panlong City repeatedly?"

"This subordinate does not know."

"Many things are amiss here," Fu Shanlie said, pointing a finger skyward. "I hear the deity worshipped by Panlong City is causing a stir in the heavens, much to the displeasure of the Holy Venerable Lingxu. And Panlong City's army, the Great Wind Army, is unexpectedly formidable."

The aide immediately said, "No matter how strong they are, they are no match for our Beijia."

"Is that so? Have you compared them?"

"N-no. But..." Beijia's national and military power dominated the world, with renowned generals aplenty. What comparison could this small Panlong City have?

Fu Shanlie scoffed, "Compared to Beijia, the Panlong Wasteland is indeed just a tiny speck. However, judging by its area and population, Panlong City's primal energy is extraordinarily powerful! This has even caught the attention of the Heavenly Gods. If we let them grow stronger, they'll be even harder to eliminate later. Xiji and Longchuan are excellent entry points; Panlong City has just taken control here, and its rule is not yet stable. If we can sever their extending limbs, we might cause Panlong City to continuously bleed."

He clasped his hands behind his head. "My coming here is a brilliant move."

The aide seemed to understand and not understand. "General is wise."

Fu Shanlie yawned again. "You don't understand a thing. You're dismissed."

***

Over a month later, Qianjin Fortress in Longchuan.

Village Chief Tao Lin had just woken from his nap, stretching as he walked.

Since signing an agreement with He Lingchuan and being hired by Yuheng City, Qianjin Fortress, the largest bandit group in Longchuan, had transformed, displaying official badges and drawing government salaries. For dozens of days, they had steadily collected road tolls. Passing merchants were so astonished to see these water bandits standing in the checkpoints, holding official passes and collecting fees, that their eyes nearly popped out. If the Yuheng City guards hadn't been nearby, they would likely have turned and fled. The He fellow was right; collecting money this way was truly comfortable. There was no need to display weapons; people would simply hand over silver with a smile, willingly. Collecting money under official authority was legitimate.

Qianjin Fortress and Qiuhua Gang signed the agreement and then announced it throughout Longchuan, warning other bandit groups to stay away from their toll sections and not cause trouble. Many days had passed, and only the Xiji Puppet Army showed disrespect, attempting two robberies. One succeeded, the other was intercepted by Qianjin Fortress and the Yuheng City guards, resulting in a bloody battle. But overall, guarding the roads was far more profitable than robbing them, and even the compensation for casualties incurred while guarding was paid by Yuheng City. What were Commander He's exact words again? "Work-related injuries reimbursed by the public." Meaning, the government would pay.

With Qianjin Fortress and Qiuhua Gang operating this way, smaller bandit groups had even less chance of survival. They simply followed the lead of the larger gangs and surrendered to Yuheng City.

However, Tao Lin felt that the atmosphere in the fortress today was a bit strange. Many people were gathered, whispering amongst themselves, but they would fall silent and their eyes would shift whenever he appeared. Even when he went to relieve himself, he felt several gazes on his back, making him uncomfortable.

Tao Lin finally couldn't bear it anymore. He casually pointed at the crowd. "Speak! What's going on? Why are you all looking at me with those shifty eyes? What, have you been idle lately, and it's getting to you?"

His prestige in the fortress was considerable, so everyone exchanged glances, unwilling to be the first to speak. Finally, someone pushed the lame man standing by the doorway and whispered, "Old Li the Lame, you saw it, you go!" The lame man's leg had been broken during a robbery three years ago, after which he could no longer ride. He was left in the fortress to be a stable hand, constantly forking hay and cleaning horse manure.

Tao Lin's gaze sharpened. "Come here! What did you see?"