Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1440 - 1433: Cooperation, Not Subordination

Chapter 1440: Chapter 1433: Cooperation, Not Subordination

"Our intelligence indicates that Yichuan Long might lead troops to actively attack the Demon Clan’s army," Cheng Ziang said.

"Actively attack?" Upon hearing this, Zisu and Yunji’s ears immediately perked up.

"Yichuan Long is a young and powerful military officer. As long as he can persuade his father, he is sure to launch an offensive and lift the Demon Clan army’s encirclement and standoff against the Yichuan Clan," Cheng Ziang analyzed.

"Do you have any evidence?" Yunji asked with a serious face.

"No, it’s just my personal guess," Cheng Ziang said.

"If Yichuan Long does launch an attack, we indeed have to be wary," Zisu nodded in agreement, "Yichuan Long is one of the rare generals in Kyushu. He commands an extremely elite light cavalry unit that cannot be ignored. The last offensive by the Demon Clan army was defeated by the cavalry of the Dongsheng Empire."

In Kyushu, the term general doesn’t refer to just anyone, but specifically those who are both capable leaders and commanders. These individuals are almost entirely nobility family troops, as only the Nine Thousand Battalion has generals who double as commanders. The Dongsheng military has always been implementing a policy where leaders and commanders are distinct.

"Furthermore, this guy Yichuan Long... he’s dangerous. We’ve dealt with him before. If it weren’t for our luck, we would have likely been annihilated by him," Cheng Ziang said hesitantly.

"It’s more than just luck, isn’t it?" Zisu said with a barely there smile, squinting at Yichuan Ying.

"What do you mean?" Cheng Ziang asked, without revealing any emotion.

"Yichuan Ying is Yichuan Long’s younger sister, from the same parents. You relied on having Yichuan Ying in hand to avoid Yichuan Long’s pursuit, right?" Zisu asked, dropping her smile.

"Listen, Yichuan Long is loyal to the Yichuan Clan, and he won’t easily change anything for his sister. I know what you’re thinking, but let’s be clear: trying to use Yichuan Ying to threaten Yichuan Long is essentially impossible," Cheng Ziang said gravely.

"Is it that Yichuan Long won’t take the bait, or that you aren’t willing?" Zisu continued.

"Both. We’re not willing either. Yichuan Ying was invited by us. Please understand this point clearly — she’s not someone we stole or a captive. You have no right to demand, even less to coerce her into doing anything. She has entirely broken ties with the Yichuan Clan," Cheng Ziang said with a stern expression.

"Just talking, no need to be so serious," Zisu suddenly smiled wryly, then continued, "In this regard, you’re exactly like Luo’er."

"What kind of captain, that kind of team member," Cheng Ziang said, pursing his lips.

"I don’t know what you’re thinking, but Yichuan Ying is a valuable strategic resource. With her, we could save many lives," Yunji suddenly interjected.

"With her, indeed, fewer Demon Clan troops would die, but correspondingly, more from the Yichuan Clan would perish," Cheng Ziang turned to look at her and said.

"Isn’t that good?" Yunji asked, as if it were obvious.

"Of course not," Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but start lecturing, "The purpose of war is to achieve some political aim, not simply to kill people. There are many ways to slaughter, but war is the most resource-intensive and the least efficient."

"No need to lecture me, I know this better than you," Yunji said calmly.

"Yunji, if you’re thinking of using Yichuan Ying to control Yichuan Long, you’ll be sorely disappointed," Zisu smiled and said, "Yichuan Long is blindly loyal to the Yichuan Clan. If you attempt to use Yichuan Ying to stop the march of Yichuan Long’s iron hoofs, he will not falter but instead will just trample straight ahead. In the end, he will pin the crime of killing his sister on your heads and launch relentless attacks against you."

"How do you know more about Yichuan Long than we do?" Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but glance at her and ask.

"The deeds of Yichuan Long have spread throughout Kyushu. It shouldn’t be too difficult to piece together his rough personality based on the information known. This is simply what we intelligence folks excel at," Zisu shrugged, her face exuding confidence.

"But no matter what, having Yichuan Ying in our hands, we still have a backup plan," Yunji still didn’t intend to let go of Yichuan Ying.

"Save it, Yichuan Ying is our own person, not a captive to be disposed of by you. It seems like you’re quite clueless. When did the Demon Clan’s army and our Advance Team merge into one?" Cheng Ziang frowned and said.

"If you’re going to say that, then don’t bring her back with you. We’ll take care of her," Yunji retorted.

"Yunji, calm down," Zisu coughed lightly and looked at Cheng Ziang before saying to her, "Indeed, just as he said, the Advance Team is not subordinated to the Demon Clan’s army. We have no right to boss them around."

"Then, ask for authorization from their chief!" Yunji said.

"I understand Luo’er; he would not agree," Zisu shrugged.

"They are living under someone else’s roof; do they still have the right to refuse?" Yunji asked, puzzled.

"Yunji," Zisu raised her voice slightly, frowning slightly as she spoke, "From Lingyuan City to Wufeng City, to Ziye Ning, securing Big South East Peace. Along this path, guests from the Western Continent have given us a lot of help. Our relationship with them is not one of shelter but of cooperation. Do you understand?"

"What does it matter?" Yunji looked at her, then at Cheng Ziang, dismissively.

"It matters not. But still, I hope you could be a bit more polite to them. Our tradition is to treat outsiders well and seek their assistance. And as you have seen, we indeed received much help, which is why we’ve been able to win repeatedly. I know you’re eager to accrue merits, but please don’t make mistakes on such fundamental principles. I’d rather not reprimand you in person, but today, you seem to have overstepped," Zisu said sternly.

Hearing this, and seeing her expression, Yunji felt aggrieved but bit back her words, turning her head and pursing her lips in silence.

"As for you," having dealt with Yunji, Zisu turned toward Cheng Ziang and others, "First, I apologize for Yunji’s rudeness on her behalf. She really was too impatient. You indeed have the right to deal with your own people, and we should not interfere. But as partners, we still hope to have your assistance."

"If it’s just about giving assistance, that’s easy to say, as there is nothing much to refuse. But if you still intend to target Yichuan Ying, I can only advise you to give up on that idea," Cheng Ziang stated expressionlessly.

"Don’t worry, Yichuan Ying is your person, handle her as you wish, we absolutely won’t force you, nor her," Zisu assured.

Yichuan Ying looked on uneasily at their conversation, completely clueless about what Cheng Ziang was arguing about with these two Demon Clan women. As mentioned earlier, Yichuan Ying was thoroughly illiterate, barely managing her own language, let alone understanding the Demon Clan’s language.

Luckily, they had Cheng Ziang and his team, bona fide scholars. Without going into others, just Cheng Ziang alone was proficient in Chinese, Tasta, Demon Clan language, and Kyushu language.

Even Feng, who had joined the Advance Team only a few years ago, had basically mastered these four languages, although not fluently enough, often switching to Tasta language when agitated.

"Alright," Zisu clapped her hands, shifting the topic back, "We’re drifting off-topic. Mr. Cheng Ziang believes that Yichuan Long will initiate an offensive. We must be alert."

"If he comes, then it’s war. Our forces are always ready," Yunji said confidently.

Zisu nodded, then turned to Cheng Ziang, "Now that Mr. Cheng Ziang has successfully strained the relationships between the Yichuan Family and the Dangyang Family, I think it’s time to take the offensive, at least take down one or two cities and then consider other matters."

"How the battle is fought is up to you, you make the arrangements. I only have one requirement, don’t keep an eye on us at all times. We’re merely military observers and don’t directly command the combat," Cheng Ziang shrugged.

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