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As the leader of the Thirteen Constabularies, Xing Yuanguo could see through the hidden message embedded within the Emperor’s orders.

"In peace we shall live, in separation we shall perish."

Furthermore, Xing Yuanguo’s understanding of this statement was even deeper than Fang Zhengzhi. He also considered the diplomatic implications.

A powerful empire would accept its smaller neighbours as vassals. This is something that was very common throughout history.

Sometimes, it was because the empire was in its nascent stages and had other pressing issues to settle. Other times, it was due to a stark difference in cultures, and the Empire wanted to ensure peace and relative uniformity throughout its citizens.

The relationship between the Southern Region and the Great Xia belonged to the latter.

Culture and beliefs.

Even if the Great Xia could conquer the Southern Region, they would not do so. The Southern Region was far too different from the Great Xia.

If the Great Xia tried to enforce their ideologies...

This would result in chaos and rebellions. They would need a disproportionate amount of resources to maintain peace here.

Both Emperor Lin Mubai and Xing Yuanguo were keenly aware of this fact.

As for diplomatic relations...

Any rational Emperor would use a mixture of benevolence and dominance. That being said, one would always be used more than the other.

He would not get into the details of their pros and cons right now.

However, one thing was certain. The Great Xia did not want to conquer the Southern Region. The Great Xia was not looking at immediate returns, they were looking at long-term survival.

Most people would have chosen to exert dominance.

In fact, the Great Xia had been doing just that all these years.

Even though the Southern Region declared war on the Great Xia and wanted to form an empire of their own, the Great Xia still chose the path of dominance.

The reason was simple.

Long-term survival.

This was not an empty statement.

The Southern Region was unique.

Exert Dominance?

How?

Were they going to send an arrogant official? Or were they going to dispatch soldiers as a garrison? Both these solutions were of no use.

The best way was to kill!

They would kill so much that the Southern Region would submit.

However, how many people were there in the Southern Region? Not many... if they committed genocide, this land would be barren.

As such, there was only one way the Great Xia could deal with the Southern Region. Benevolence...

When it came to benevolence...

The best method was not to bribe them with treasures, beauties, and rations. The best way was to give them aid when they needed it the most.

When Xing Yuanguo had seen the statement, "in peace we shall live, in separation we shall perish", he had already understood why Emperor Lin Mubai had sent the Minister of Law.

Wait!

Wait for the right time to help the Southern Region.

Fang Zhengzhi’s appearance had caused the war between the Great Xia and the Southern Region to be brought forward. On the surface, it seemed like the Great Xia had lost the initiative.

However...

It had also made the Great Xia irrelevant in the eyes of the Southern Region and the Demons.

With the Stable Mountain Gate broken, they would have no access to reinforcements. Furthermore, the Crown Prince could not start moving to the Icy Monkey Settlement before the examinations were over.

The Crown Prince would never have interfered with the battle between Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi. That would have been akin to announcing to the Southern Region that they were plotting to attack the capital.

As such, when Emperor Lin Mubai received news that the Stable Mountain Gate had been breached, he had already foreseen the direction of the war.

The Crown Prince was surrounded, and any victory at the Icy Monkey Settlement would be pyrrhic. In the best case scenario, they would be able to take a lone city.

A lone city that was bound to fall.

Under such circumstances...

Neither the Southern Region nor the Demons would see the Great Xia as a threat. As such, they would move on to the next steps of their plans.

They would try to gain the upper hand.

As a result, the Great Xia would be able to hide in the shadows.

They would benefit from this conflict.

Initially, the conflict seemed to be between the Great Xia and the Southern Region whilst the Demons watched from the side. However, in the blink of an eye, the Great Xia were now the bystanders.

How was this a bad thing?

When Xing Yuanguo saw the edict, he understood exactly what the Emperor meant. As such, he bided his time and waited for the right time to jump in and aid the Southern Region.

From here on out...

Things were simple.

In order to observe, he could not stay in the Icy Monkey Settlement. There was no battle there to be observed. Neither could he bring his entire army. As such, Xing Yuanguo only brought the elite squads, the Mountain Breaking Army and the Dragon Protection Squad.

As he predicted.

The Sagely Mountain City was embroiled in battle.

It was an intense battle.

The Southern Region was being beaten back as predicted. However, Xing Yuanguo could not understand how the Southern Region was able to hold out this long despite being severely disadvantaged.

Furthermore...

He could not understand why there was a sudden ceasefire.

Most importantly, the Demons actually decided to retreat despite having every advantage.

Xing Yuanguo was stunned.

He had the latest, most accurate intel. As such, he knew that the Southern Region had set up an ambush of 80,000 soldiers just outside the Sagely Mountain City. However, based on the current situation, they would be insufficient.

Even if they managed to emerge victorious, it would be pyrrhic.

As such, his plan was to wait for the reinforcements to arrive and for the battle to intensify. Just before the city was broken...

He would swoop in and save the King and the Crown Prince.

But in the end...

The city wasn’t broken!

The 80,000 soldiers didn’t show up!

And the Demons retreated!

It was no wonder Xing Yuanguo was stunned.

Under such a situation, they could not enter the city to ’rescue’ the King and the Crown Prince. If they did so now, it would have been kidnap!

Xing Yuanguo was not rash.

In fact, he was extremely calm.

He did not know what happened between the Demons and the Southern Region, but he knew that he had to be patient.

The capital was not broken and the King and the Crown Prince were still in the city.

He would wait.

Wait for the Demons to double back. He would wait for the next opportunity.

Of course, he also sent people to tail the Demons and find out where they were headed towards.

Before long...

He was rewarded with new intel.

"Xing Hou, the Demons are headed towards the Iron Hill Settlement!"

"Iron Hill Settlement?" Xing Yuanguo was shocked.

At that moment, he began thinking about the possibilities. Why would the Demons rush over? Was there a battle there?

That’s impossible... there are no soldiers in the Iron Hill Settlement... hang on, could it be that the 80,000 soldiers went there instead of the Sagely Mountain City?

Why would they go to the Iron Hill Settlement...

"Oh no! I see now!"

Xing Yuanguo was an experienced general and he could guess the direction of the battle. He also understood what would happen at the Iron Hill Settlement.

He was now faced with two choices.

His first option was to stay put here. His second option was to reinforce the Southern Region at the Iron Hill Settlement. The first option would prevent an excessive loss of lives.

The second option would go against the Emperor’s wishes and may also result in complete annihilation.

"Qingsui, what do you think I should do?" Xing Yuanguo turned to Xing Qingsui.

"Erm... I think that we should get to the Iron Hill Settlement!" Xing Qingsui’s eyes glimmered. He hesitated initially but shrugged it off with steely determination.

"What about Young Master Nangong?" Xing Yuanguo turned towards Nangong Hao.

"I am just an academic. When it comes to battle, I will follow your orders."

"Okay then, pass the order, we will head for the Iron Hill Settlement!" Xing Yuanguo chose the second option without hesitation.

This had nothing to do with arrogance or a want to be recognized.

It was because...

He was Xing Hou of the Stabilization Constabulary!

"Yes, sir!" The soldier responded.

...

Fang Zhengzhi had guessed that Xing Yuanguo would have brought the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army here. It was true that they had come.

But...

They had left.

The result was no surprise.

Fang Zhengzhi tried many ways to attract Xing Yuanguo’s attention.

For example, he chose to walk slowly through the capital, changing into his signature blue long sleeved shirt as he did so.

In his mind...

Since Xing Yuanguo had come to the Sagely Mountain City to wait, he would definitely send in some spies!

However...

Fang Zhengzhi’s methods did not pay off.

"So they are at the foot of the hill." Fang Zhengzhi felt like he had overestimated Xing Yuanguo.

The most dangerous place was also the safest!

This was something that had been recorded in the annals of history!

As the leader of the Stabilization Constabulary, how can he choose to hide at the foot of the hill? He should be braver!

Fang Zhengzhi did not approve of that decision.

But, he could understand it.

In order to draw attention to himself, Fang Zhengzhi tried to walk towards the more secluded areas, making funny noises as he did so.

"Hahahaha..."

"Hehehe!"

"Hohoho... gagaga..."

"..."

He literally made every sound one could possibly think of. However, to his disappointment...

Apart from drawing queer looks from Princess Shan Yu and Crown Prince Shan Ling.

It was no use.

It was just as quiet as before.

"Crown Prince, Princess, what color do you like?" Fang Zhengzhi did not lose hope. He decided to announce his companions.

He was virtually shouting it out at this point.

He was sure that Xing Yuanguo would definitely look out when he heard something like that.

However...

It was still silent.

Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu were now at a loss.

"Color?" Shan Ling glanced at Fang Zhengzhi, too lazy to answer such a stupid question. Why is he asking about color?

Shouldn’t he be linking up with the Great Xia army?

They were almost at the foot of the Sagely Mountain, yet, they had yet to see any soldiers.

Shan Ling was beginning to doubt Fang Zhengzhi’s words.

How can someone sent by the Emperor have no way of contacting the soldiers?

Was he faking it?

Did they fall for another one of his tricks?

Shan Ling wondered to himself.

However, he decided to dismiss that suspicion. After all, Fang Zhengzhi had the Emperor’s token in his hand.

In Shan Ling’s mind...

No matter how audacious and shameless Fang Zhengzhi was, he would never give a fake order. This was a crime that was punishable by death!

No one would dare to do it.

Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi was a young rank four official with boundless potential. He was not going to risk it all in this way.

Wait!

Shan Ling decided to wait!

Of course, if they reached the foot of the hill and Fang Zhengzhi had no way of contacting the two elite squads, then it would mean that he was lying all along.

There was no Dragon Protection Squad or Mountain Breaking Army.

The 80,000 soldiers at the Iron Hill Settlement were dead meat.

As such...

Was there any point in keeping him alive?

Shan Ling clenched his fists as he watched Fang Zhengzhi swagger ahead. Then, he unclenched them slowly.

Princess Shan Yu was slightly different.

She did not doubt Fang Zhengzhi’s words.

She was curious as to why Fang Zhengzhi would ask such a question? What was he trying to do?

Or...

Was he going to buy clothes for her?

But why would a Princess need someone to buy clothes for her?

"I like white clothes, pure white. I do not like having other colors on it. Furthermore, it must be low cut, so that my neck seems longer..." Princess Shan Yu laid out all her conditions for clothes.

"Are you stupid? With a low cut, who would be looking at your neck?" Even though Fang Zhengzhi didn’t know why Princess Shan Yu would talk about clothes...

He still felt a need to correct her idea.