Chapter 2173: The Return of Blade Edge Harbor

Cangyan secretly reached an agreement with Ya State, pulling the rug out from under Mu State and fleeing, leaving Mu State stuck in the quagmire of Ya State's war, while he turned around to seize Bailie. Isn't this stealing Mu State's home?

Why didn't Mu State not only not get angry, but also sign an agreement with Cangyan?

Can Mu State even tolerate this? Is this still the prosperous powerful state they remember?

How exactly did Cangyan pull this off?

The most critical issue is, with Mu State putting on this face, how is Jing State supposed to respond, what should we do!

Amid Jing State's panic and disarray, the Dragon God Army suddenly turned westward, abandoning Blade Edge Harbor and charging into Jing State's territory!

According to forward scouts, that army of over one hundred thousand had banners blotting out the sky, and wherever their battle armor and steel flow passed, even the original color of the ground could not be seen.

In less than an hour, three border outposts and military cities were captured!

King Jing was so frightened his soul flew and scattered, immediately sending a letter seeking peace, returning Blade Edge Harbor!

What will the Nine Abysses Great Emperor do?

Continue the advance, or just take back Blade Edge Harbor and call it a day?

When Mu Emperor summoned You Huan, You Huan gave the latter inference.

"The Nine Abysses Great Emperor has ample reason to take back Bailie and Blade Edge Harbor, but taking Jing State is not." This is his judgment, "Besides, Cangyan State's territory is already vast enough; Jing State's little place is like chicken ribs to it—taking it would only increase friction with my state, not worth the loss."

"After Cangyan State committed these two outrageous acts, it should not continue challenging Mu State's dignity and bearing; at the same time, it must show all neighboring countries it is not extremely greedy. Therefore, I believe it is likely to see good and stop."

You Huan's words were confirmed half a day later:

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor agreed to Jing State's request.

After Cangyan and Jing State completed the handover of Blade Edge Harbor, the Dragon God Army withdrew from Jing State's territory without the slightest hesitation or reluctance—

Just like when they withdrew from Ya State, clean and decisive.

And Cangyan immediately announced to the world that Blade Edge Harbor's free port status remains unchanged, taxes have not increased, and it remains open for business with all forces.

In short, aside from the change in sovereignty, everything else remains the same.

For the merchants and residents of Blade Edge Harbor, aside from seeing the Dragon God Army stationed there, they actually feel no change in daily life.

This is because, although the original management team of Blade Edge Harbor has been largely replaced, the one key person was retained:

Wu Tiju.

He has served locally for over ten years, knows Blade Edge Harbor especially well, his business skills are proficient, and he manages effectively.

Of course, most importantly, when King Jing received Cangyan's final ultimatum, Wu Tiju personally rushed to the Dragon God Army's main camp and directly defected to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor!

He and the Nine Abysses Great Emperor are old acquaintances, so now, leveraging this connection, he voluntarily brought his entire family to join Cangyan State, becoming a glorious Cangyan citizen.

Wu Tiju sees things clearly: losing his position as Blade Edge Harbor Tiju, even if he returns to Jing State in the future, he won't get any good position; on the contrary, Cangyan State is like the rising sun, with limitless prospects.

People move toward higher ground. For someone like him, a small figure, choice matters more than effort.

Isn't it better to follow behind the Nine Abysses Great Emperor and ride Cangyan's national fortune than to return to Jing State and live a life that keeps getting worse?

He Lingchuan indeed needs a veteran to ensure Blade Edge Harbor operates smoothly during the handover, while also knowing how to handle various emergencies, so he specially appointed Wu Tiju to the original post.

He clearly understands that whether it's Mu State or Jing State, as long as there is resentment, they might openly or secretly obstruct Blade Edge Harbor's trade. Wu Tiju is a veteran, he handles this aspect with ease, familiar with both sides' officialdom, far better than newly appointed officials.

Wu Tiju's official rank remains unchanged, but his status has invisibly risen several levels, from a Jing State official to becoming Cangyan's Harbor Affairs Director.

Thus, Blade Edge Harbor, after being forcibly leased for fifty years, has finally returned to Bailie, and the Nine Abysses Great Emperor has become the undisputed overall winner.

Compared to the untroubled handover of Blade Edge Harbor, Mu State immediately afterward experienced a thunderclap-like major event:

Guo Shaoping stepped down as Grand Assistant, returning to the Assistant Terrace Pavilion to continue serving; Mu Emperor appointed Assistant Terrace Pavilion official You Huan as the new Grand Assistant of Great Mu, effective immediately!

Overnight, You Huan climbed to the peak of Mu State's power, one man below, ten thousand above.

This Grand Assistant appointment once again demonstrates Mu Emperor's supreme authority.

After the inauguration ceremony, countless colleagues came to congratulate.

You Huan fulfilled his prior promise, booking the Suze Qingxi venue for seven days and seven nights, inviting everyone to drink tea and watch performances, celebrating lavishly.

For three consecutive days, he stayed overnight at Suze Qingxi, not returning to his residence.

While asleep, the air was filled with an intoxicating fragrance; upon waking, beautiful women like flowers and jade stood before him.

By day, everyone saw him with a radiant face and spirited bearing.

Spring wind in full triumph, nothing surpasses this.

……

After the agreement between Cangyan and Mu State was signed, Mu State quickly withdrew thirty thousand troops from the Bailie border, directly committing them to the southern Ya State war.

Fighting on two fronts, its troops were already stretched thin. Being able to reach an agreement with Cangyan, both military and civilian in Mu State actually breathed a sigh of relief.

The Dragon God Army also withdrew from Bailie back into Cangyan territory; Bailie, as the ancestral land of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, will have half its troops swapped with the Dragon God Army.

On the Mu State-Cangyan border and the Ya State-Cangyan border, only minimal troops remain stationed, still bearing the duty of safeguarding border trade safety.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror still felt regret: "How come the agreements reached with Ya State and Mu State are so lenient? It would feel great to really fleece them one big time!"

These two agreements didn't gain much advantage, not really fitting the master's winner status.

He Lingchuan laughed and scolded: "Do you think I'm like the Ya King, with short-sighted vision?"

"Ah?"

"Ya State lacks no brave and fierce generals, but suffers because the Ya King doesn't know moderation. You think Mu State sent troops this time for no reason? Besides my bait being well thrown, it's also because Mu State utterly detests Ya State." He Lingchuan didn't forget to praise himself, "Ya State has long been two-faced and three-bladed, constantly jumping around behind Mu State's back, so Mu State finally made up its mind, determined to give it a bloody lesson."

"Think carefully, Cangyan's strong rise is merely superficial; behind Bei Jia are heavenly demons and great immortals, behind Mu State are spiritual mountains and true immortals—what do we have behind us?"

"Uh..." Indeed, no ultimate power of shocking level.

The abilities of the great heavenly demon and true immortal, the Soul-Capturing Mirror has witnessed in the Overturned Sea.

"If we also push Mu State to the point of unbearable endurance, and it disregards everything to send out a true immortal, then..." He Lingchuan didn't continue, just shrugged his shoulders.

"A common man's anger can still make blood flow five steps—what if it were a true immortal's anger?"

"Besides, Mu State's economic and military strength is also stronger than ours, beyond doubt." However, He Lingchuan is not pessimistic, "Although that's the case, as long as we strive for enough space to develop quickly, these problems will eventually be resolved."

Changes in heaven and earth always proceed silently and subtly.

He and Cangyan State, as long as they proceed step by step with solid footing, will always have an opportunity.