Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1519 - 1512: Discussing Countermeasures

Chapter 1519: Chapter 1512: Discussing Countermeasures

"If the people of Nine Streams can solve problems, why don’t you seek their help instead of tolerating the Wuyun Sect’s bullying?" Cheng Ziang asked, puzzled.

"Er..." Upon hearing his words, the merchant displayed a slightly awkward expression. After a moment of silence, he spoke with a serious face, "Isn’t it because some people always hold on to a sliver of hope? They are just like that—if the knife isn’t held to their own necks, they will always be mere spectators. Today I got roughed up, and I accept that, because they will get roughed up tomorrow as well, at least I get to watch a good show."

"So, how are you any different from them?" Cheng Ziang frowned.

"They do it, can’t I do it?" the merchant retorted.

"Ah, with this attitude, forget about finding anyone from Nine Streams, why don’t you guys just fight it out among yourselves? Whoever wins gets to call the shots," Cheng Ziang sighed in resignation.

"Who says we’re all in this together? The marketplace is like a battlefield, and we bear grudges as if we’ve sworn to kill each other, wishing the other would drop dead instantaneously," the merchant huffed coldly.

"That’s why harmony is so important. You people..." Cheng Ziang shook his head helplessly, chose not to ask further, and left the merchant.

Although he didn’t ask many questions, Cheng Ziang felt that he had roughly understood the situation here.

The three of them continued to visit and inquire on the streets, and after synthesizing various pieces of information, they finally came to a full understanding of this small town.

This small town was called Bianzhen Town, or Opposite Shore Town. The name carried little romantic sentiment but was instead quite theatrical, with a backstory akin to Istanbul’s, traceable at least as far back as the period of great expansion by the Kyushu Empire.

Back then, when the Kyushu Empire’s army arrived here, this place was merely a village of the Shanyue people. The Kyushu soldiers found a farmer on the opposite shore of the village and asked him for the name of the place; assuming they were asking for the location, he pointed to the opposite shore and said: "Over the opposite shore."

At that time, the Kyushu language was not as popular as it is now, and the farmer was speaking in the vernacular; hence, the soldiers reported the place as Bian Village. Although the actual situation was clarified later, the name remained unchanged.

Later on, when the Kyushu Empire established a military town here, it was named Bianzhen Town, and the name has been used to this day. Even later, when the people of the Demon Clan occupied this place, they still did not change the town’s name.

Bianzhen Town is located on the border of Fengyu, only a little over twenty kilometers from the border line. This distance may seem far, but with the express roads, an invasion would only take a couple of hours.

Also due to its proximity to the border and distance from the capital, the Fengyu Dynasty’s control over this place is very limited; these towns have almost become de facto independent territories.

Moreover, what made Cheng Ziang both laugh and cry was that this was all caused by the Fengyu Dynasty itself. Their weak governance was so ineffectual that they could not even fully rule the territories around the capital, truly embodying the saying that their edicts did not go beyond the capital.

So it’s not that these towns do not want to be independent, but rather that the Imperial Court can’t actually manage them—even sending an official to collect taxes was impossible.

Such weak control from the Imperial Court led to the conception among the merchants who passed through the town that there was no need to pay taxes; they would flee if they could and would not feel the slightest bit of guilt or embarrassment.

It was also because of this that the emergence of the Wuyun Sect caused them such gnashing of teeth. The sect not only collected taxes but demanded even more than what the Imperial Court stipulated. This was unbearable for them.

Of course, Bianzhen Town had some local agriculture, but the main taxpayers were the merchants who came and went to do business.

The inconsistencies among the merchants, Cheng Ziang analyzed, were likely due to them entrusting the town mayor to seek capable individuals from Nine Streams to deal with the matter, which was why the mayor found the Advance Team.

Cheng Ziang was unsure whether preaching would be successful in such a worldly town and it wasn’t his main concern. What he was more concerned about was how the conflict between the Wuyun Sect and Bianzhen Town would be resolved.

Because if one were to take an objective stance, it seemed both parties had faults, yet also appeared innocent. It was an undeniable fact that the town had long avoided taxes. But the tax rates imposed by the Wuyun Sect were unreasonably high.

If the extra taxes the Wuyun Sect collected were for the Fengyu Dynasty, then it would not be objectionable, at least it could be considered as some form of punitive fine. However, in reality, the Wuyun Sect only turned over to the Dynasty the stipulated amount and kept the surplus for themselves, which was quite unrighteous.

Therefore, the best way to perfectly resolve this matter is to have both parties sit down and talk about a reasonable tax rate.

As for other solutions, whether it’s removing the Wuyun Sect or ignoring it, neither is quite appropriate. After all, the Wuyun Sect is working for the Imperial Court and has its backing.

The Advance Team still needs to pass through Fengyu territory. Although the Fengyu Dynasty’s governance is a mess, they are still Fengyu’s ruling group, and we cannot afford to offend them. Moreover, with the Dongsheng Empire backing Fengyu, they are even less to be trifled with.

Putting their thoughts aside, Cheng Ziang and the other two returned to their residence, and while having dinner, they reported to Luo’er the intelligence they had gathered on the streets.

After listening to Cheng Ziang’s report, Tangmo shook his head and sneered, "It takes two hands to clap, and it’s no coincidence that birds of a feather flock together."

"I have already introduced ourselves to them, so I expect they will be coming to us soon," Cheng Ziang said indifferently.

"When they come, we must host them well," Hu Daoke said as he began to assemble his Yuanzi machine gun.

"Hey, hey, hey, stay calm. We’re looking to negotiate, not to cause trouble. It won’t be good if someone gets killed," Cheng Ziang said, waving his hands.

"They don’t care about human lives," Hu Daoke said.

"But we do care, damn it, we are the civilized force!" Cheng Ziang said.

"Do you dare to put your hand on your heart and say that you’re civilized..." Hu Daoke was at a loss for words.

"Anyway, let’s make good contact and communicate properly. I believe that anything can be resolved through communication," Luo’er said seriously.

"What if they don’t want to talk nicely with us?" Cheng Ziang asked with a half-smile.

"Then we fight until they are willing," Luo’er said, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, "There’s a saying that goes, ’Reading is for arguing with others in a reasonable way, and force is for making others listen to your reasoning.’ I’m not kind-hearted, and I’ve stressed many times that I care more about your safety than that of strangers."

"It feels so troublesome. If only we could just get rid of these people, like cutting through the mess with a sharp knife, then we wouldn’t have any issues," Hu Daoke complained.

"Each person is a node in social connections, and killing someone is like removing a node. This would cause all social connections tied to that person to disappear, and we would find it difficult to do anything," Luo’er patiently explained.

"What does that mean?" Hu Daoke asked, puzzled.

"Telling him about reason won’t work; you have to give examples," Cheng Ziang said with a laugh, shaking his head as he explained, "It’s like the knight on a chessboard, not limited by moves, and it can eventually check the general. But if we remove all the grids from the chessboard, then the knight won’t be able to move. Each grid on the chessboard represents a social node, and that’s the reason why we need to preserve the nodes."

"I still don’t get it," Hu Daoke said, scratching his head.

"Let me give you a simple example," Cheng Ziang sighed and looked at him, "If you and Luo’er weren’t acquainted, and you wanted to get in touch with Luo’er, you would have to go through Sister Moumou. If I were to take out Sister Moumou, you and Luo’er might never meet in this lifetime. Sister Moumou represents the social node between you two. Only through her can you meet Luo’er. You got it now?"

"Why do you have to use me as an example?" Tangmo said, dissatisfied.

"I said it’s just an example. You can only blame your younger brother for not being very bright," Cheng Ziang shrugged and said.

"Hey, you’re insulting me, right?" It dawned on Hu Daoke.

"Alright, alright, enough with the quarreling," Luo’er waved his hand to break up the commotion, then said earnestly to Cheng Ziang, "When they arrive, try to speak nicely with them, without using violence. But if it really comes to a fight, don’t hold back. Little Ke is somewhat right; these people probably really don’t care much about human lives. We need to give them a little lesson so they will be willing to listen to our demands."