I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 524 - 288: Well Battle Strategy, Melee Strategy

Chapter 524: Chapter 288: Well Battle Strategy, Melee Strategy

Xuanzhou’s trouble naturally caused some small-scale chaos, but after Gu Shanhai’s Heart Demon Dao Soldiers took a stroll through the area and made an example out of a few, everything quickly settled down.

When others kill, bodies and parts are left behind, but with the Heart Demon Dao Soldiers, there wasn’t even a drop of blood. Onlookers were silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to lift a finger.

It was initially thought that Gu Shanhai had only brought Xu En and his three thousand Dao Soldiers, but the true ruthless force turned out to be Gu Shanhai himself.

If those in charge couldn’t reason with them, then Gu Shanhai simply taught them physics; understanding was optimal but irrelevant—anyway, a dead man could no longer cause problems.

Now, at night, the Heart Demon Dao Soldiers still patrolled like spectral apparitions. These seemingly normal Dao Soldiers were actually filled with demons and ghosts.

Afterwards, things went smoothly.

It was mainly because they had already been culled once by Jiang Lu’s forces and now dared not openly rebel, resorting instead to underhanded tactics unfit for public view. With Gu Shanhai’s new show of force as a warning, they ultimately yielded to preserve their own lives, choosing submission over resistance.

"The progress is very good. The transformation of the entire Xuanzhou should be completed before the new year," Gu Shanhai observed the reported figures with satisfaction.

The quicker Xuanzhou’s maritime development progressed, the more resources Gu Shanhai would acquire.

As for others coming to steal the fruits of his labor, that was practically impossible. Anyone who tried would need to weigh their standing, which, within the Royal Faction, nobody could surpass except Jiang Lu, and Jiang Lu wouldn’t possibly do such a thing.

Recently, there had been a resurgence in military activity, with ambitious expansions.

Aside from Jiang Lu, Prince Xi, Luo Chuan also took steps forward once again.

The situation in Dalong, having barely recovered, was dragged back into the flames of war.

And then there was Prince Yan, who also began to wage wars abroad. The three powers seemed to have an unspoken agreement not to clash directly, perhaps due to the vast distances and lack of common borders.

Besides these three, there were others who rose like legends. Gu Shanhai, using his Prophetic Divination, knew of these occurrences, but in terms of power, they didn’t compare to the three main factions.

For Gu Shanhai, all these events comprised vital intelligence.

It was fortunate that Xuanzhou, surrounded by sea on three sides and with undeveloped maritime technology, prevented the desperate noble families from colluding with foreign enemies for self-preservation.

It wasn’t an improbable scenario, but their unique geographic location left them without options.

Even if they desired allegiance with Luo Chuan, Zhou Ding, or other lords, aid could not reach them without crossing the entire realm of the Liang Wang Party.

Apart from Zhou Ding, who possessed unique spatial abilities, no one else could manage this feat. Why would Zhou Ding, no fool, bother traversing much of Dalong to rescue these noble families for little gain and risk becoming an enemy of Jiang Lu? The venture seemed futile and thankless.

Of course, they could launch a direct attack, but with the conquest of the provinces held by the Liang Wang Party complete, did they need these nobles’ recognition?

Thus, within many factions, Xuanzhou was no mere chicken rib—it was a bone, deemed valuable only because Gu Shanhai turned waste into treasure. In the hands of any other, Xuanzhou would not merit even a glance.

The sea was inherently incompatible with the rest of Dalong.

"Speaking of which, these barbarians really are pitiable. They intended to invade Dalong in its moment of weakness, only to run into Zhou Ding and get skinned for their troubles."

Gu Shanhai read through the latest intelligence. Not long ago, Zhou Ding’s forces encountered the looting barbarian troops as they marched east, resulting in their swift annihilation. Next, he took numerous barbarian prisoners as guides and shifted course to raid the steppes.

The acquired livestock and materials alone represented a tremendous bounty.

It was this gain that emboldened Zhou Ding to embark on a campaign. He didn’t eradicate the barbarians; clearly, he intended to harvest them like leeks with each passing season.

Actually, Zhou Ding’s actions were a way for him to eliminate future troubles. Otherwise, his troops could have been caught between barbarian raids from behind and enemies at the front, leading to a highly unfavorable situation.

Gu Shanhai glanced again at the situation with Luo Chuan. Before setting out on the campaign, Luo Chuan implemented the Nine-Grades Law. After reviewing the policy, Gu Shanhai noted it was somewhat similar to Wei Jin’s Nine-rank Official System, adopted to secure loyalty from the noble families, effectively removing any chance of advancement for ordinary people.

The policy judged one’s family background, reputation, and ability. If you had connections that could aid the court, and a good reputation, you could become an official; ability was secondary.

Character was immaterial; what mattered was your usefulness to the court.

Under the system of recommending filial and incorrupt scholars, securing a famed mentor to help promote one’s cause meant the lower classes still had a path upward. But now that road was completely blocked.

Yet, it was precisely this move that secured Luo Chuan’s rear.

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