Chapter 2099: From the Very Beginning, Avoid the Pitfall

Compared to funds, He Lingchuan valued the hidden effect of this agreement more:

Now, Ling Mountain has already made a substantial investment of real money in Panlongcheng, and every year they simply wait for dividends.

P股 determines the mind, interests determine friends and foes. With this bond of interest, He Lingchuan believed the relationship between Panlongcheng and Ling Mountain would become stronger; in real history, the scene where Qianhuan sold out Panlongcheng—would it possibly be delayed or even not happen?

Otherwise, that would be smashing Ling Mountain's own rice bowl.

Having come to this point, he would bind Panlongcheng and Ling Mountain together through these agreements, through shared interests.

He Lingchuan had no confidence—whether the information about the Great Expansion Heavenly Pearl he "unintentionally" leaked could reach Qianhuan True Person, and whether Qianhuan True Person would believe it.

That same year, Panlongcheng also intervened in two wars in the south, including responding to the request of the Four-Nation Alliance.

If it wanted to open a second overseas trade route, it had to expand its influence outward; it could not always maintain the appearance of being kind to others. Although Zhong Shengguang did not like resorting to force for everything, for these small states, military deterrence often worked better than gentle persuasion.

Seeing that he had been burdened with worries lately, Sun Fuling asked: "The relationship between Panlongcheng and Ling Mountain—is it already repaired? What else troubles you?"

"Has the cultivation method promised by Ling Mountain arrived?"

"It has arrived, in three batches, with a large quantity and complete categories." Sun Fuling said this with a smile that crinkled her eyes, "Not yet fully tallied, but at least over five hundred methods of heart techniques and divine abilities, some of which are very powerful; we will immediately assign someone to transcribe them."

"Then that's good. Panlongcheng being able to keep up with this round of spiritual revival will surely see rapid growth in strength!" He Lingchuan let out a long sigh, "I'm just thinking, inviting deities is easy, sending them away is hard. Commander Zhong probably already regrets the deep cooperation with Ling Mountain?"

Sun Fuling softly said: "There is no regret medicine in the world; we can only keep moving forward."

"Panlongcheng's various concessions to Ling Mountain today are also unavoidable, something we have to do now that it has come to this." As he happened to pass through the South City Gate, He Lingchuan gazed at the black flood dragon on the wall, "If I were also a regional lord or a sovereign of a state, I would certainly learn from Panlongcheng's lesson, insisting on independence and self-reliance from the very beginning, drawing clear boundaries with Ling Mountain!"

The best way to deal with Ling Mountain is to have fewer disputes and more dialogue.

Fortunately, the Flash Gold Plains have just opened a new chapter; he has the ability to avoid this great pitfall and re-examine the future relationship between Cangyan State and Ling Mountain.

Even if he started out penniless and barefoot, with a difficult beginning, he wants to give Cangyan's development a good start!

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In the bright spring sunlight, Bailie once again welcomed a great harvest.

Thanks to the frequent outbreaks of Imperial Flow Paste, the winter wheat matured early, the heavy ears of wheat bending the stalks. On both sides of the official road, golden waves of wheat rolled.

The palm harvesting was also in full swing,

Bailie's eastern side is a vast palm forest; when spring harvest season arrives, temporary and hired workers swarm into the field, working busily in the forest with great enthusiasm.

But on this day, suddenly the sound of horse hooves came from the east, a large force rushed in from outside the forest!

The farmers looked up, dropped their tools and tasks, and ran for their legs, shouting as they ran: "Ya State bandits have come, run fast, run fast!"

During the harvest season, Bailie reaps agriculture and forestry, while Ya State comes to reap Bailie; over the years, this has almost become a fixed pattern. Bailie's farmers also have no heart to resist, having long cultivated the habit of avoiding its sharp edge.

In past years, as long as these farms honestly obeyed and handed over their produce, Ya State people would loot and leave, not causing many casualties.

After all, their target was just money and grain oil; these farms were like their leek fields—if you don't dig up the roots, after cutting one batch, another can still grow.

But this time is different!

After the Ya State army looted money and goods, they did not immediately retreat, but instead gathered the villagers and townspeople together, driving them back to Ya State like herding sheep!

They not only wanted money and goods, but surprisingly also wanted people!

Such greed immediately triggered extreme panic among the Bailie populace.

What fate awaits the Bailie people taken captive? One can guess with their knees—it must surely be miserable!

Bailie has repeatedly negotiated with Ya State, hoping to retrieve the captured population, to no avail.

Ya State pays no attention to it, still doing as it pleases.

When the news reached Cangyan State, Du Shan glanced at the intelligence and eagerly sought an audience with He Lingchuan:

"Your Majesty, a great opportunity!"

Whenever this fellow says the four words "great opportunity," he has a belly full of bad ideas. Below, he submitted a military code; He Lingchuan was personally revising it, and upon hearing this, he did not stop his pen: "Speak, I'll listen."

"Ya State is again large-scale looting in Bailie; this time they not only loot wealth and grain, but also capture people. Bailie has tried multiple negotiations without success, so these two sides will likely go to war again."

He Lingchuan only devoted half his mind to the conversation: "Hmm, because Mu State previously ignored Between Between Between Beijia's ceasefire overture, Between Between Between Beijia intensified its attack, so Mu State's western front has recently been fighting fiercely. I have received intelligence here,

that Between Between Between Beijia ordered Ya State to cooperate. But Ya State lacks the courage to directly send troops against Mu State, possibly choosing a compromise—harassing Bailie under Mu State's protection."

He exhaled: "Speaking of which, our spies planted in Between Between Between Beijia and Ya State are not bad; only Mu State lacks some."

Du Shan nodded: "Yes, the agents stationed in Mu State have been sending back intelligence that is not timely enough. I will reassign personnel."

"Returning to Bailie."

"Yes. Mu State recently coerced Ya State to withdraw from the Flash Gold Plains; now it should not want to cause trouble again. Bailie seeks aid from Mu State, but does not receive substantive assistance."

Ya State withdrew troops due to Mu State's coercion, harboring a belly full of resentment; Mu State certainly knows this. If the other side appropriately vents its anger, Mu State will neither see big nor small.

As for whether what was taken from Bailie was money or people, Mu State would not care.

Ling Guang sat on the table grinding ink; hearing this, he asked curiously: "Ya State used to only loot things; why has it now begun to loot people?"

He Lingchuan stroked its head, smiling without speaking.

Or Du Shan gave it an explanation:

"The more specific reasons, I have not yet received in this office; but at least there are two causes for Ya State's motive to loot people."

He raised one finger: "First, the unification of the Flash Gold Plains and the rise of Cangyan State have made Ya State deeply wary. Ya State is not far from Mu State, originally under its threat; now with our strong rise, Ya State, caught in the middle, must feel deeply uneasy."

The newly established Cangyan State borders Ya State, an immovable neighbor; not long ago they became enemies, giving each other no good looks. Given that Cangyan State's territory is too large, Ya State is extremely vigilant.

After Cangyan State was established, Ya State was sandwiched between Mu State and Cangyan State.

When people feel threatened, they want to arm themselves; nations are the same—after feeling threatened, they plan to expand their armies and prepare for war, increasing military strength.