Chapter 1934

Zhong Shengguang stood ramrod straight, bowing to the crowd: "Everyone, sorry for the wait. Today I need to announce an important decision."

He Lingchuan immediately sensed something unusual in those words:

"Announce."

Zhong Shengguang wasn't here to consult everyone; he was here to inform them. Because he had already made up his mind.

He Lingchuan raised his hand and pressed behind his ear—ah, just as he had judged.

General Nanke looked left and right, then suddenly said: "Commander Zhong, may I ask where General Hong is?"

How could General Hong possibly miss such an important military meeting?

Yet all the generals were gathered, and only General Hong was absent—she is the pillar and soul of Panlongcheng's army.

Zhong Shengguang's expression and tone were both calm: "She's gone into seclusion again, might take a while longer."

General Hong often goes into seclusion, not for trivial matters—at least once every one or two years. As a divine incarnation, she frequently needs to borrow various powers to strengthen and enhance herself. The veteran generals present all know that each time she emerges from seclusion, she is stronger than before.

But sharp minds like He Lingchuan's could still detect a hint of something unusual.

Having just crushed Xianyou, General Hong went into seclusion—wasn't that a bit too urgent? Between Between Between Beijia is the toughest opponent; he won't let it rest.

What's more, General Between Between Between Beijia has already set out, leading his great army to press upon our borders.

Under these circumstances, General Hong rushing into seclusion—He Lingchuan could only infer she had unavoidable difficulties.

He knows one more secret than others—for example, the Ming Deng Zhan, and also Zhong Shengguang secretly plotting against Mitian.

And based on the clues he gathered from masters like Qianhuan and Miaozhantian, analyzing them, in real history Zhong Shengguang very likely succeeded.

Zhong Shengguang added: "Everyone, don't worry. What I'm about to announce is an important decision I solemnly discussed with General Hong before her seclusion."

Everyone immediately stood up.

The red-beaked hornbill's view was suddenly blocked; it hurriedly flapped its wings and flew onto He Lingchuan's shoulder.

The phrase "important decision" was emphasized twice by him today—everyone knows this is a major matter.

Zhong Shengguang knew his next words would shock the heavens and earth; he also drew a deep breath before speaking in a low voice:

"Within fifteen days, Panlongcheng will withdraw troops from Xianyou."

General Nanke exclaimed: "Ha?"

Several young generals also cried out: "What? Withdraw troops?"

The generals stared at each other, all seeing the shock on others' faces—so it wasn't a mishearing; Commander Zhong really said that.

"This was originally one of our contingency plans before attacking Xianyou's capital, which I and General Hong had agreed upon."

He Lingchuan remained silent.

General Nanke, the most straightforward, immediately fired off: "Commander Zhong, I don't understand! We put in so much effort to take Xianyou—why, why would we?"

Newly promoted General Han Wensheng also didn't get it: "Letting go of the spoils we just seized—isn't that just giving them away for free?"

With these two speaking up, others chimed in one after another—even the red-beaked hornbill on He Lingchuan's shoulder squawked twice in interference.

Commander and Vice Prefect Zhao Xianhe and a few veteran generals also frowned, not agreeing, but stayed silent.

Who could accept spitting out the fat meat already in their mouth?

Amid the clamor, Zhong Shengguang stayed silent, having basically heard all the opposing voices.

This was already within his expectations.

But before he could speak, someone spoke up first.

"Over the past months, our strategic goal in attacking Xianyou has already been achieved. Withdrawing troops now would be a wise decision!"

He used his true energy, and his voice instantly overwhelmed everyone else's.

Zhong Shengguang glanced sideways, expression calm but heart first startled then delighted—because this person was none other than He Lingchuan!

This kid had just been passionately arguing in the study for occupying Xianyou; but upon coming to the martial hall, he had shifted his stance.

Zhong Shengguang felt gratified—just this awareness, this tacit understanding, put He Lingchuan streets ahead of everyone else.

General Nanke immediately turned his fire on He Lingchuan, unsparing: "Commander……you……hah, even wanting to give up Xianyou, the biggest spoil—what strategic goal are you talking about?"

His voice grew louder, but this time no one echoed him.

The generals looked at him, then at Zhong Shengguang and He Lingchuan, and fell silent.

No mistake, no omission, no error, no flaw, no gap—everything is perfect.

They suddenly recalled: although General Hong wasn't present, this was a decision she and Zhong Shengguang had discussed. Now the renowned Tiger Wing General, mighty in military fame and far-reaching reputation, also backed Zhong Shengguang—making three of them on the same side.

Such weight—no one present could counter it.

He Lingchuan's steady voice reached every ear: "The benefits of attacking Xianyou's state, we can basically take them all; the drawbacks, we don't want to bear them now—so Commander Zhong decided to withdraw troops."

Human nature is to love gain and hate loss—so he approached from this angle.

Vice Prefect Zhao Xianhe crossed his arms: "What benefits can we take?"

"Think about it—why did we attack Xianyou in the first place?" He Lingchuan said. "Besides avenging new and old grudges, the most important reason was to eliminate this tiger-eyed arch-enemy, break Between Between Between Beijia's 'drive the tiger to devour the wolf' scheme, and again relieve the northern pressure on Panlong Wasteland!"

Xianyou and Balin's forces are strong—both are Between Between Between Beijia's pawns pressing on Panlong Wasteland, like the two claws of an evil wolf. Now Panlongcheng has cut off one claw; the wolf limps, its might greatly diminished.

"This strategic goal we've already achieved—whether or not we continue to occupy Xianyou."

The generals said nothing; they silently accepted it.

Even if Xianyou State later regains autonomy, in the short term it cannot again pose a serious threat to Panlong Wasteland.

"Second, we need to break through the northwest blockade, to bring troops, merchants, and trade into the northwest corridor." He Lingchuan said solemnly, "This point is now also easy to achieve."

Indeed. The few young generals present who revere the Tiger Wing General unconsciously nodded.

"Third, Xianyou, as a powerful northwestern state, is quite wealthy—we can exercise the rights of victors over it."

He said it tactfully, but in truth, it's just that Xianyou State's wealth accumulated over the years now belongs to Panlongcheng.

This huge chunk of fat meat is enough to make Panlongcheng eat until its mouth runs with oil.

Han Wensheng still objected: "But are we just giving up Xianyou State's land and population like that?"

"Everything has its pros and cons, and all require weighing. I just spoke of the 'advantages' of occupying Xianyou, but if we wish to continue holding Xianyou, we must inevitably consider the 'disadvantages.' He Lingchuan said slowly, 'Occupying Xianyou entails at least these several major drawbacks.'"

The War Council Hall was silent, everyone waiting to listen.

"First, governing and managing Xianyou incurs high costs. Panlongcheng and Xianyou have been enemies for over a decade; even though we have captured the capital and killed the Xianyou king, resistance sentiments across Xianyou remain high. This point, Lord Zhao understands best."