Chapter 393: Lulansi's Plan

Lulansi's words left Luoning very surprised.

A Level 7 Great Magus, even someone like Aierlong possesses no small amount of combat power; under normal circumstances, who could pose a threat to such a person?

"What happened? Were they attacked by a Magic Beast while gathering herbs in the mountains?"

He did not know that Milosilafu and Lulansi had discussed selling Magic Potions that alleviate the Soul Devouring Surge to Heimang City.

If he possessed this piece of information, he would have guessed it had something to do with the Haide Family.

"A while ago, specifically on the morning of the 9th, Aosen's castle was subjected to a violent attack. Although there were no civilians around the castle, quite a few people still heard a massive booming sound."

"Subsequently, the entire Knight Order of Heimang City was mobilized to search the whole city. Although it is unknown who they were searching for, the matter became known to everyone. And from that day on, the entire Heimang City has only allowed entry, not exit."

The reason Lulansi possessed this information was because he had informants in Heimang City.

It was just that his informants could only bring back this much news; more detailed circumstances remained unknown.

"The old Dean went to Heimang Castle?"

Lulansi nodded, "Yes, he went to resell the Magic Potions he had previously sold to me to Aosen."

"I had Meilongnika inquire about it; Milosilafu did indeed set off from Wushan Town at the beginning of March, accompanied by his guard Bulefu and others, heading in the direction of Heimang City. Calculating the time, he would have arrived around the 9th."

Luoning sat down; to tell the truth, he still found it hard to believe this was real.

"Even if Aosen is insane, he wouldn't go so far as to lay a hand on the old Dean, would he? Is this information authentic?"

Whether it is a noble or a commoner, there is always a purpose when taking action against others.

What could Aosen gain from attacking Milosilafu?

Land, money?

Milosilafu has no land, and as for money, he cannot carry much on his person; moreover, the Haide Family is not poor, so they would not offend the old Dean for the sake of a few tens of thousands of gold coins.

As for a purely retaliatory act, that seems even more impossible.

"I also cannot understand it."

In Lulansi's view, Milosilafu being able to sell Magic Potions that alleviate the Soul Devouring Surge to Aosen was very favorable news for the latter.

After all, although this potion cannot eradicate the ailment, it does indeed alleviate some of the symptoms.

Even if it were a bit expensive, Aosen should have been very happy; why would he turn around and take action against Milosilafu?

Furthermore, this kind of move is clearly giving Wushan Castle an excuse to hold them accountable.

This move is too abnormal.

"Grandfather, what do you intend to do?"

Lulansi finding him was clearly not just to tell him this piece of intelligence; otherwise, he could have just stated it clearly in a letter.

"Meilongnika sent people to deliver my letter to Heimang City. Nominally, it is to express concern for the situation at Heimang Castle, but in reality, it is to demand that Balindun come to Wushan Castle in Aosen's stead to provide an explanation for this matter."

Luoning nodded slightly.

Logically speaking, vassals have a period of time each year when they need to come to Wushan Castle to "perform labor"; for example, some Counts will specifically serve as a Groom for their suzerain for a period of time each year.

This is not absolute; some vassals who do not have the time or do not want the hardship can also substitute service with gold coins or other valuable items.

But when a suzerain specifically names a certain vassal to come, the other party must respond.

Balindun is not Lulansi's vassal, but he will inherit the title of Count in the future, and since Lulansi is using the pretext of "in Aosen's stead," the other party has no reason not to come.

"Balindun hasn't been to Wushan Castle in all these years; I wonder how he will respond?" Luoning was somewhat curious.

Lulansi said: "I have already had Meilongnika gather the Third Knight Order, and at the same time, I have had Kabier's Second Knight Order ready as well."

Luoning was startled; was this to take action against Heimang City?

He looked at the map on the wall behind him; Wushan Town and Cuican City are adjacent, and one can reach Heimang City by heading east from either.

Lulansi deployed the Second and Third Knight Orders in this area, and he arranged for people he absolutely trusted; it seems the old man had long seen that Aosen was the type of person who needed to be disciplined.

"Do you really want to take action?"

Luoning asked: "If we take action, two Knight Orders don't seem to be enough, right?"

"For the time being, it is just to put pressure on the other party; I have no intention of taking action immediately."

Lulansi explained: "If Balindun does not come to Wushan Castle, and at the same time I find evidence that Milosilafu was attacked in Heimang City, that will be when I take action."

There seemed to be Thunder flickering in his gaze; he seemed to want to use this battle to announce to the outside world that the former Thunder Marquis had returned.

"Heimang City has two Knight Orders, and adding Aosen's vassals, they can probably scrape together one Knight Order, totaling three."

Lulansi laughed: "Besides the five existing ones, Wushan Castle has newly formed three more; although the newly formed ones don't possess much combat power yet, they are enough to guard the territory."

Luoning caught the meaning in the other party's words.

"So if we really have to go to war, you intend to have all five of the old Knight Orders mobilized?"

"No, not only will your Fifth Knight Order not move, I will also have the newly formed Eighth Knight Order stationed in Anbian City; that side needs defense."

Luoning nodded; this was in preparation for the uprising of the new generation of the Bolante Bandit Group.

"Three against three, even if we win, there will be significant casualties."

Luoning said, "Are we not issuing a mobilization order?"

In his view, if one is going to fight, one should fight a battle with abundant troops; a evenly matched fight is not advisable, not to mention that the old Dean's incident is not just a matter for his Wushan Castle alone.

Lulansi naturally had thought of this point as well.

He laughed and said: "Don't forget, this military expedition is primarily to stand up for Milosilafu. He is not only the Dean of the Wushan Extraordinary Academy and my Honorary Count, but also an Honorary Viscount of the Kingdom, as well as the representative of the Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce in the Wushan Territory."

"If something really happened to him, regardless of whether the Kingdom sends troops or not, the Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce will absolutely not stand idly by."

If a regional manager is attacked and the Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce does not stand up, its prestige will be severely suppressed, and there is no guarantee that such things won't happen frequently in the future.

For such a large Magic Chamber of Commerce, this is a serious negative impact.

Lulansi continued: "They have over a dozen branches in our Wushan Territory, each managed by a Great Mage or even a Chief Mage, and in addition, they are equipped with specialized Knight Squads. If this group joins the battle, their power will be no less than that of a Knight Order."

Luoning did have some understanding of this.

The Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce in Muma City has always been doing business with the Wubei Territory, and every time they send Magic Potion materials to Aierlong, they are escorted by a Knight Squad.

At the beginning, the materials purchased were few and of low value, so the team was led by an Advanced Knight; later, as the transaction amounts grew, it became a team led by the Bronze Knight Luobinsun.

The Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce has such a team at its branch in Muma City, and it is likely the same in other places.

If they were to be mobilized, they would indeed be a force not to be underestimated, just as Lulansi said.

"Then the time required for this mobilization would be quite long," Luoning said.

"We are not in a hurry."

Lulansi stroked his white beard, looking completely composed.

"What I want is for that piece of land in Heimang City to once again obey the orders of Wushan Castle. If Aosen and the others do not want to head toward a war that would lead to the destruction of the Haide Family, they can trade their own lives or freedom for the continuation of the Haide Family."

If a real fight breaks out, there will be losses regardless of who wins or loses.

If Aosen and Balindun are willing to plead guilty and accept punishment, relying on the marriage alliance between the Wushan Family and the Haide Family, they might still be able to leave a path of survival for the descendants of the other family.

Of course, regardless of what happens, the Haide Family will no longer be the masters of Heimang City.

Luoning expressed his approval of this approach by Lulansi.

Subduing the enemy without fighting; taking back Heimang City through relatively peaceful means and stripping the Haide Family of their Count title is a rather suitable choice from the perspective of Wushan Territory facing the powerful neighbors on all sides.

It is just unclear what choice Heimang City will make while Wushan Castle is mobilizing.

Will Balindun come to Wushan Castle? (End of chapter)