Chapter 433: The Northern Demon Kingdom's Grand Strategy

Just then, the hall doors opened again, and several officials and military officers filed in, followed by a sorcerer.

Among them, Wen Daolun, Helian Chen, and General General Nanke were all old faces He He Lingchuan recognized.

"Everyone is here." Zhong Zhong Shengguang nodded to the sorcerer, who immediately took out a long-handled mirror and held it high.

The mirror handle and frame were made of red gold with passionflower patterns, inlaid with two deep red gemstones at the edges; the design was exaggerated and ornate.

But inside the frame was not a normal mirror surface, but an eyeball! Yes, a yellow eyeball with a diameter of two feet, and like a crocodile or a cat, it had a vertical pupil.

Honestly, it was quite creepy to see such an eyeball detached from a living creature, still darting around looking up, down, left, and right.

Especially since its gaze looked quite evil, particularly when it was staring at you.

A layer of goosebumps rose on He He Lingchuan's back.

Fortunately, the big eyeball only stared at him for less than a second before moving on to check the next person.

After a few dozen breaths, the eyeball showed no change, and the sorcerer put it away and bowed to Zhong Zhong Shengguang: "The Dharma Eye inspection is complete; everyone is clean."

Only then did He He Lingchuan understand that the big eyeball was a magic treasure used to check if anyone was carrying any monitoring artifacts or supernatural abilities.

Of course, if his scout spider were here, it probably wouldn't have been able to escape the opponent's Dharma Eye either.

After the sorcerer left, He He Lingchuan closed the door and stood in front of it with his body.

Zhong Zhong Shengguang pointed to the sand table: "Regarding the Xiluo Kingdom's Relocation Decree, this is our second closed-door meeting. The seven people who attended last time unanimously agreed that we should not return east. Today, I want to hear more opinions."

He He Lingchuan was startled.

So the news that Xiluo Kingdom had issued a Relocation Decree was actually true? General General Nanke immediately said: "I just returned from the west. Has this Relocation Decree already been sent to Panlongcheng?"

"Not yet." Zhong Zhong Shengguang shook his head, "As far as I know, the edict has not been issued yet; the monarch is still wavering."

"That means he is indecisive." General General Nanke sneered, "Why is this news already being hyped up on the Panlong Wasteland? Who is spreading it? They should be arrested and taught a lesson."

Another person said: "Spreading unverified information is a rumor; it must be punished as spreading rumors to incite confusion."

This was considered a serious crime in Panlongcheng, and those with severe cases would have their tongues cut out. In wartime, the greatest fear was the wavering of military and civilian morale.

Helian Chen waved his hand: "This news was brought in by merchants and has been spreading for four or five days. We cannot rule out the possibility that someone is spreading it intentionally, but we haven't refuted the rumor until now, so there is much speculation among the people."

The Relocation Decree was still stuck in the monarch's hands, yet merchants were spreading the news everywhere that the Panlongcheng army and civilians were about to return east; it was hard to say there wasn't someone inciting it behind the scenes. Now Panlongcheng was in a dilemma:

If they refuted the rumor and the monarch actually issued the Relocation Decree, the rumor would turn out to be true, and the prestige of Zhong Zhong Shengguang and the others would inevitably be damaged; if they didn't refute it, the rumor would run rampant and directly shake the people's hearts.

Everyone knew that Panlongcheng's powerful combat capability stemmed from the unity of the masses. Once this foundation was shaken, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhong Zhong Shengguang nodded: "Do you all believe that we should not return east?"

Another general stood up, and He He Lingchuan vaguely remembered his name was Ling Zhongshui. He pointed to the sand table and said: "Even if the Baling Kingdom opens the Jin Xi Corridor to us, the journey back to the country is at least several hundred miles. Not only is much of the Jin Xi Corridor rugged and difficult to traverse, but it is also convenient for ambushes. With such a good opportunity, I don't believe those bastards in the Baling Kingdom wouldn't be tempted! By then, we will be burdened with the old and the young, making it impossible to defend both front and rear, and we won't be able to exert our combat power to move freely at all!"

The Panlongcheng army was invincible on the wasteland, and more than half of that was due to its efficient combat capability—moving like the wind and catching the enemy off guard.

If the whole city moved east, and multiple cities moved together, these millions of people exposed in the wilderness would be like individual moving targets. No matter how tough the Panlongcheng army was, it would be difficult to protect them all.

Baling and Xianyou kingdoms had been fighting with Panlongcheng for over a decade and had long since forged a blood feud. With such a great opportunity, could they resist taking revenge?

Try telling a rabbit not to eat grass.

"If the monarch really issues the Relocation Decree and we refuse to accept it, what will the residents of the entire wasteland think?" Another middle-aged scholar spoke up, "At least 800,000 people on the entire Panlong Wasteland have ancestral roots in the interior; having resisted the enemy for sixteen years, people are long tired of war. Otherwise, this unissued eastward relocation decree wouldn't have caused such a huge shock."

He had dark skin and piercing eyes, and He He Lingchuan found his face two parts familiar.

Where had he seen him before?

"Then, in Lord Zhao's opinion?"

As soon as the surname Zhao was mentioned, He He Lingchuan gave a start and remembered.

There was only one person in the high ranks of Panlongcheng with the surname Zhao, and that was the Vice Prefect Zhao Zhao Xianhe!

Not long ago, He He Lingchuan had killed his beloved son, Zhao Rong, under the God-Descending Pillar. And that was even Zhao Zhao Xianhe's own order, sacrificing his kin for the sake of righteousness.

"The last Relocation Decree Xiluo issued to Panlongcheng did not end well, directly leading to the loss of 40,000 elites, 30,000 civilians, and Lord Jing. But the situation is different this time; the motherland is being attacked by rebels, the capital is in danger, and the Northern Demon Kingdom is willing to send reinforcements to assist the Xiluo court army in clearing out the rebels around Heshu. As a condition of exchange, it wants to mediate the conflict between our country and Baling and Xianyou, which means relocating the Panlong residents back and handing this place over to the two opposing countries."

"Does Lord Zhao really think the conditions offered by the Demon Kingdom are reasonable? These old demons stir up trouble everywhere, fearing nothing but peace in the world; what good intentions could they have for us?" General General Nanke said coldly, "Besides, the Panlong Wasteland is our territory to begin with; why should we hand it over to Baling and Xianyou?"

"Who here doesn't know what you've said?" Zhao Zhao Xianhe was expressionless, "I am only suggesting that we must prepare for both possibilities. If we must move, what should we do then?"

Ling Zhongshui crossed his arms in front of his chest: "If we don't move, what can they do to us?"

"The will of the people cannot be defied. If we don't move, we must analyze the pros and cons and convince the people; otherwise, how can we stand our ground in the future?" Zhao Zhao Xianhe shook his head, "Perhaps Baling and Xianyou also hope we stay put so they can take the opportunity to divide the people's hearts."

Any act that goes against the will of the people is pale, no matter how high-sounding the reasons found.

"If the opponent sees that this trick works, what if they use it again in a few days?" Zhao Zhao Xianhe continued, "The monarch will want to relocate us again, and we will refuse again. If this repeats several times, do you think the city residents won't flee on their own?"

Although the journey back was full of dangers, at least there was still hope.

As long as there was a glimmer of hope, someone would take the risk.

If the people's hearts are set on returning, can you stop every single one of them without a single leak? If this sets a precedent and an example for other city residents, and private flight to return east becomes a trend, it will be unstoppable.

Wen Daolun sighed: "In the art of war, attacking the heart is paramount."

Once Panlongcheng was not united from top to bottom, its combat power would be immediately weakened.

General Hong had remained silent, and Helian Chen asked her: "What does General Hong think?"

Her voice was icy: "First, the Xiluo monarch does not want Zhong Zhong Shengguang to return. Xiluo has not dared to summon us back for so many years precisely because they fear that Panlongcheng's army of tigers and wolves could easily point their swords at the capital."

The monarch is deeply wary of every vassal king. Not to mention anything else, the main reason for the current turmoil in Xiluo is the rebellion of vassal kings; if the monarch summons the Panlongcheng army back, that is called driving away a tiger to swallow a wolf. Once the wolf is eaten, what will they do about the tiger that has entered the gate? The Panlong army is more powerful than the army of any other vassal king.

To make a worse assumption, if Zhong Zhong Shengguang took the opportunity of returning to the country to rebel, declare himself a ruler, or force the palace again, the problem of the vassal kings would be further exacerbated; wouldn't the Xiluo monarch regret it to the point of his intestines turning green?

Therefore, the Xiluo monarch would rather consider foreign aid than summon Zhong Zhong Shengguang back.

After all, foreign aid has no roots in the country; everyone fears it, and it cannot naturally win the hearts of the people.

Everyone present understood these truths.

General Hong looked around at everyone: "Secondly, do you all really want to go back?"

When this question came out, everyone fell silent.

He He Lingchuan secretly gave a thumbs up; well asked.

Those who could attend the meeting were all high-ranking officials of Panlongcheng, with power and influence; it could be said that they lived at the very top of this pyramid. Over the past decade or so, they had deeply cultivated Panlongcheng, established a large amount of property, and had the deepest interest binding with this place. Once they left, they would suffer the greatest losses.

This is human nature, regardless of whether one is incorruptible or not.

What good would returning east do for them? Returning to Xiluo would be full of uncertainty, and the existing property in their hands would immediately shrink, with their wealth greatly devalued.

The Panlong Wasteland is so large, the Chipa Plateau is so rich in resources, and the population is so numerous; what is wrong with staying? The third question of the soul: "So, who exactly are the people who want to go back?"

It is the civilians who moved from the interior to the Panlong Wasteland and are now thinking of returning to their roots, as well as the young people who are deeply curious about their homeland.

General Hong added: "The Northern Demon Kingdom thinks it has made a grand strategy, and we have no choice. In fact, we don't need to choose at all."

"No need to choose?" General General Nanke was very surprised, "Does that mean we stand our ground and act as if we didn't receive the Relocation Decree? But that is also a choice."

Inaction is, in itself, a stance.

Wen Daolun had been frowning the whole time, and only then did he speak: "I think General Hong means that we must jump out of the Demon Kingdom's constraints and cannot simply make a decision between staying and leaving."

General General Nanke was dissatisfied: "Old Wen, that's not fair; these millions of people are either leaving or staying. Are you saying there is a third option?"

"We have all been led into a ditch by General Zhao, thinking about how to deal with the Relocation Decree if it is issued." Wen Daolun turned to Zhong Zhong Shengguang and said, "If the monarch doesn't issue the Relocation Decree, wouldn't there be no problem at all?"

Zhong Zhong Shengguang asked him: "We are ten thousand miles away; how can we influence the monarch's decision?"

General Hong walked to the sand table and pointed with her sword: "The Xiluo monarch is indecisive and often flip-flops; we cannot afford to wait. Therefore, Panlongcheng must make a quick decision for him."

A decision?

Her voice was sonorous and powerful, echoing in everyone's ears:

"Declare it to the whole city, mobilize the whole army, we are fighting our way back!"

(End of chapter)