Shan Yuchuan knew that once martial artists from other schools arrived, the situation might become subject to reversals.
Fortunately, Anbei Dao lay on the periphery of Zhongjing; for any school to dispatch personnel here was no simple feat.
Unless the so-called "mutinous" troops truly breached Center City, deployment required approval from the Administration Council, the Martial Artists Council, the Defense Bureau, and the security department.
Securing signatures from every one of these departments could not be accomplished in mere days, even under the most expedited procedures.
This window of time was precisely the opening they needed.
The moment Shan Yuchuan returned to Center City, he contacted the Disposal Bureau, led his personal guard into the Government Affairs Hall, and demanded an emergency security meeting under wartime authority.
During the meeting, the Government Affairs Hall's chief administrator cited poor health, announced on the spot that he was checking into a hospital for medical treatment, and handed over full authority to the deputy chief administrator to handle affairs.
Immediately following this, the Municipal Council was convened at the Government Affairs Hall's request. A multitude of small and medium enterprises, organizations, institutions, and representatives from the lower and middle strata of society were invited to attend, and a vote on joining the Skyline was called.
Naturally, hardliners within the Municipal Council voiced vehement opposition. However, after evidence of crimes was presented against each obstinate figure and personnel from the Disposal Bureau escorted them away one after another, the remainder quickly opted for compromise.
At the same time, they retracted the previous slanderous claims of a "mutiny" and issued a formal clarification.
Shan Yuchuan observed the entire proceedings. In truth, even if these people had refused to compromise, he would not have hesitated to step in and purge every dissident.
Times were not what they had been in Jibei Dao. What did it matter if a local council was dismantled? At worst, they could simply prop up another one.
Since the former imperial household could take the initiative to attack them, it was equally plausible that these local council members had colluded with the former imperial household to plot against Center City.
In fact, he had long prepared himself to bear sole responsibility in the aftermath of a purge. As long as the conservative faction's power was eradicated, it would be well worth it even if he were arrested and imprisoned afterward.
Yet matters did not escalate to that point.
Moreover, supporters from various other strata within Center City were far more numerous this time than he had anticipated; the vast majority of small and medium companies and institutions endorsed joining the Skyline.
They were not fools. If the Anbei Dao convergence zone were secured, they would all reap immense benefits from it. With figures from the military and civil administration taking the lead, what reason did they have to fear?
Thus, after merely a single night, by five in the morning, the Anbei Dao City Hall and Municipal Council jointly announced that Anbei Dao Center City was officially joining the Skyline Project.
From then on, following the Center Cities of Jibei Dao, Haidong Dao, Shannan Dao, Longyou Dao, Hedong Dao, and others, Anbei Dao Center City became yet another city to join the Skyline.
Congratulatory telegrams poured in from Jibei Dao and other Center Cities. Of course, setting up the equipment to link their fields still required installation; it could not be accomplished overnight.
As soon as the news broke, it immediately triggered a massive shockwave. Yet right on its heels came another piece of news—unknown to the general public, but detonating like a thunderclap among Great Shun's upper and middle echelons.
During negotiations, the former imperial household's forces in the Anbei Dao convergence zone had launched a sneak attack on the Great Shun garrison; however, the garrison swiftly sent out an urgent distress call, and with the aid of a martial artist who arrived shortly after, General Who Conquers the North Zong Chi, General of Chariots and Cavalry Wan Ke, and others of the former imperial household were slain on the battlefield.
Furthermore, in the subsequent counteroffensive, the former imperial household's Dinghai Army and local garrison were completely wiped out.
By comparison, the report of Nan Shuguang secretly obstructing the army only to be executed became an insignificant trifle.
The swiftness of the shift—a tempestuous upheaval occurring virtually overnight—exceeded everyone's expectations.
In fact, the Refined Practice and Convergence factions had already noticed subtle signs beforehand. Upon receiving the news, they immediately dispatched the personnel they had prepared in advance, with their various departments mobilizing in unison, yet they were still one step too late.
Shan Yuchuan had acted with staggering speed. The Enterprising Faction was exceptionally well-prepared this time, having drawn up multiple contingency plans; their success was hardly a surprise.
Yet the crux still lay on the battlefield. It was precisely because things had gone so smoothly on the front lines that Shan Yuchuan could turn back so quickly; otherwise, there would have been no time at all to pull this off.
Only from ambiguous intelligence received afterward did the Conservative Faction learn the true reason the operation had progressed so rapidly and yielded such immense gains: a martial artist from Dongxuan View happened to be nearby at the time and, upon receiving the distress signal, swiftly joined the battle.
It was also this individual who had slain the two former imperial generals.
They did not believe for a second that this was a coincidence; it had to be a premeditated arrangement by the Enterprising Faction. However, as to the exact identity of this martial artist, the report did not specify.
Yet among Dongxuan View martial artists capable of forging such military exploits while operating freely without constraint, a certain person leaped into their minds almost instantly.
If it was him, it was not the least bit surprising. Never mind just these two; even if the former imperial household sent a few more, it would likely be futile.
Furthermore, with the situation reaching this point, they all faced another pressing issue.
Suffering such a grievous blow, would the former imperial household tear away all pretense of civility and likewise dispatch Dongxuan View martial artists to target Center Cities everywhere?
This thought made every one of them tense up. Consequently, on the public opinion front, they leveled accusations against the Skyline faction for sabotaging peace talks and demanded the dispatch of an investigative team to conduct a thorough inquiry;
at the same time, they immediately tightened defenses, placing martial artists and active conscious entities across every Center City on combat readiness to guard against surprise assaults by the former imperial household.
The public condemnations were practically harmless to the Enterprising Faction, amounting to nothing more than a war of words.
By now, Great Shun's occupation of the Anbei Dao convergence zone had become an established fact. Under no circumstances would the Great Shun government surrender ground it had already seized, meaning no investigation could ever gain traction.
Conversely, the high alert across Center Cities everywhere allowed the Enterprising Faction to achieve its goals.
First of all, bolstering defenses incurred costs, which not only disrupted productive activities across regions but also tied down substantial combat strength. It might even necessitate withdrawing a significant number of formidable martial artists from the Ring of the World, something the state would never agree to.
Secondly, after this incident, the former imperial household would never trust Great Shun again. If Great Shun could strike them once, it could strike them a second time. Even if the former imperial household claimed it was still willing to trust and negotiate, not even the Conservative Faction would dare believe it.
With mutual trust shattered beyond repair, it would be far better to fight to the bitter end, completely topple the former imperial household, and resolve the trouble once and for all.
What they could foresee, the former imperial household could naturally foresee as well. Thus, various strategic assessment teams concluded that within the coming days, it was highly likely another major battle would erupt in Anbei Dao.
***
Ministry of National Security.
Chen Chuan sat in his office, browsing through the reports that had arrived over the past day.
Due to their spiritual connection, he was fully aware of everything his avatar had done.
Now, he was pondering whether an avatar alone could hold the line if General of Agile Cavalry Yuan Congye arrived with his forces.
Ultimately composed of only a portion of tissue, an avatar struggled to manifest a complete external visage, and thus could not bring forth the greatest methods of the Visage of Man.
Moreover, there was another issue: during the battle on Tianji Peak, those Federation martial artists had hailed from different corporations and sects. They were largely unfamiliar with one another; while coordination existed, it fell far short of tacit, seamless cooperation.
The former imperial household was different. Bound by strict hierarchies, their martial artists were bound to execute coordinated and effective combat, unleashing a battle prowess far exceeding their sheer numbers.
For instance, if certain aberrant powers merely hindered an opponent for half a beat at a pivotal moment, it could determine the outcome of the entire fight.
Therefore, it would be best for him to go in person.
It all depended on what the Great Shun administration had in mind.
According to his judgment, with matters having reached this stage, there was no turning back—only pressing forward. Thus, the likelihood of him being deployed there was quite high.
As he was pondering, Shenyu sent a message: "Greetings, Commissioner Chen. Commissioner Huang requests a connection. Do you permit it?"
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow. After brief consideration, he said, "Connect."
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
Moments later, on the chair across his office desk, Huang Quji's simulated image materialized.
He nodded toward Chen Chuan. "Commissioner Chen."
Chen Chuan nodded in return from where he sat. "Commissioner Huang, is there something you need?"
Huang Quji stood up, walked over to the territorial map of Great Shun, looked at it, and then turned back. "Commissioner Chen, what happened in Anbei Dao—that was your doing, wasn't it?"
Chen Chuan looked at him and said calmly, "Commissioner Huang, if you are asking whether I eliminated the former imperial commanders who threatened us, I can tell you: yes, I did. I believe an official announcement will be made in a couple of days."
With that, he picked up a cup of dew drink and took a slow sip.
Huang Quji said with a solemn expression, "Commissioner Chen, I want to ask you something: Do you believe that simply because you possess strength, you can do whatever you please and arbitrarily tear down the nation's existing order?"
Chen Chuan said in a level tone, "Commissioner Huang, the person you are describing is not me. If it were, you would not have the opportunity to say those words to my face right now."
Huang Quji took a few steps forward, coming up to the desk to meet his gaze, and said in a heavy voice, "Commissioner Chen, what you did was exceedingly dangerous.
"If the former imperial household had launched an all-out counterattack without regard for the consequences, it would have wrought catastrophic devastation upon Center Cities everywhere. Do you have any idea how many civilians would have been killed or injured?"
Chen Chuan looked at him and answered earnestly, "Commissioner Huang, you are also a commissioner of the Ministry of National Security, and you should understand the former imperial household's circumstances very well. What I want to say is that this threat did not arise just now; it has existed ever since the former imperial household retreated into the convergence zones."
Sitting there, he reached out and pointed toward the territorial map on the wall.
"Ever since Great Shun was founded, it has dedicated itself to wiping out these remnants and eliminating the threat hanging over our people's heads that you speak of. If we do nothing, that threat will persist indefinitely until it becomes reality one day.
"Are we supposed to shrink back, or even let them have their way, simply out of fear that the former imperial household might strike back?
"Commissioner Huang, indulging and compromising with a threat will never secure what you desire. Only by taking the initiative and pulling the danger out by its roots can greater catastrophe be averted."
Right then, the telephone on the desk rang. He reached out and picked up the receiver. "Chen Chuan speaking."
Ren Xinshan's voice came through: "Commissioner Chen, do you have time right now?"
Chen Chuan glanced at Commissioner Huang. "I do."
"Then come with me to the Administration Council. Someone higher up wishes to meet with you and consult on a few matters."
Chen Chuan felt a slight stir within. "Understood. I will be there shortly."
Chapter 1392