Pacifying the Four Provinces

The Heavenly Star Dynasty was shaken to its core. Originally, when Li Hao had claimed that foreign nations from the four quarters would invade, slaughtering their loved ones and wiping out their civilization, most people had assumed he was merely concocting nonsense to terrorize them. Throughout the dynasty's two centuries of tumultuous reign, hardly anyone remained who even knew of the four border kingdoms. Everyone had assumed that the Heavenly Star Dynasty encompassed the entire world. Yet on this day, a military decree reverberated in all directions. Dali had invaded! In the north, beyond Mount Cang, Dali had mobilized an army of ten million, including a million supernaturals. They were marching across Mount Cang to conquer the Heavenly Star Dynasty. What was more, war was about to erupt on the other three fronts as well. On this day, the entire empire was plunged into bewildered shock. Did kingdoms on all four borders truly exist? And on this day, vast hosts of supernaturals began assembling and marching northward. The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office had issued an order drafting a hundred thousand supernaturals from infrastructure projects, the Nine Departments, and the imperial clan to rush to the northern territory of Silver Moon and confront the northern Dali Dynasty. To the other three continents, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office also issued commands: abandon all civil conflicts and maintain vigilance against the three great kingdoms' invasions, promising that the Governor-General's Office would lend its full support. Resisting foreign aggression required no prior internal pacification! Defending the realm was everyone's duty—for their families and friends, for their people, and for themselves. Soon, the Governor-General's Office dispatched yet another military decree across the land. All supernaturals and martial masters under heaven were permitted to answer the summons and march to the four continents to confront the enemy. Defending Heavenly Star was not the responsibility of a single house or individual! Order after order cascaded downward. In Heavenly Star Town, colossal quantities of divine energy stones were excavated. All monster plants were given a single order: produce the Spring of Life. Immense reserves of resources were hauled to the front lines. In this era of transcendence, with the network of sky screens already unfurled, operations proceeded with staggering speed. With no one to hinder them, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office functioned with ruthless efficiency. Director Zhou and Lin Hongyu took charge of logistics and oversaw Heavenly Star City. Hong Yitang was not redeployed. Li Hao had conferred upon him the post of Heavenly Star Inspector, charging him with supervising the Central Region to guard against unforeseen developments and purge any rebellions. Kong Jie and the six elderly masters remained behind as well, stationed across major provinces to oversee ongoing infrastructure work and keep a close eye on the supernaturals just in case. ... In the north, the announcement threw the entire territory into turmoil. The nineteen northern provinces had experienced ceaseless unrest over the past year, but even the turmoil in the Three Northern Provinces had been relatively small in scale. This time, however, Dali was invading from right across the border! In the Linjiang Governor-General's Office, Fan Chang beamed with uncontainable joy. "Splendid!" He was wild with excitement! In recent days, Silver Moon had dispatched troops to clear out the pirates and seize control of the North Sea waters. With their forces pressing directly upon Linjiang, he had lived in constant dread, helpless and terrified that Silver Moon would march straight into the provincial capital and take his head. Watching the Silver Moon army drive toward Linjiang, aiming straight for his seat of power, he had fallen into despair. Yet now... Dali had invaded! The Silver Moon army nearing the capital had rapidly pulled back and was already retreating from Linjiang territory. Zhao Shuguang's dream of swiftly pacifying the north had been completely derailed by Dali's invasion. How could Fan Chang not rejoice? Not only was he overjoyed, but he also gritted his teeth and sneered with cold resolve. "I have deep grudges against Li Hao and his lot. Others can surrender, but we cannot! This is our chance. Linjiang borders Mount Cang as well... A small stretch it may be, but don't forget Mount Cang connects to more than just Silver Moon!" Below, an advisor spoke in a grave voice, "Governor-General, foreign foes have breached our borders, and Silver Moon faces an invasion by millions of Dali supernaturals. If Silver Moon falls, Linjiang will be in mortal peril! The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office has also broadcasted orders that any faction across the four continents that renders meritorious service in the war may have their punishments mitigated at discretion..." "Nonsense!" Fan Chang snapped coldly, "Even after earning merit fighting the invaders, we are still to be punished? Li Hao is a laughingstock! Since ancient times, who among the warlords vying for supremacy has ever pursued crimes committed during the struggle? Only Li Hao would be so ridiculous as to pursue charges dating all the way back to the old dynasty!" In his eyes, Li Hao was far too idealistic and naive. Who among the contenders in this struggle could claim to be righteous? Was he going to slaughter every hegemon in the world? If one chose to surrender, an enlightened ruler ought to wipe the slate clean. Given Linjiang's proximity to Silver Moon, Fan Chang had actually contemplated surrendering when Li Hao swept through the Central Region. And what had Li Hao declared instead? Those found guilty would be executed! What a joke! Among the present hegemons, how many were innocent? Did surrendering mean being put to death anyway? That single declaration had shattered his ambitions. Many across the four continents had initially considered submitting, but the moment they heard those words, they all chose to wait and see, not daring to surrender. Who could claim a clear conscience? Now the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office had issued a new proclamation: if local hegemons rendered meritorious service in this four-front war, they might be spared death at discretion. What an absurdity! Merely spared from death, without rank or promotion—and prison and trials would still await them! Did they really expect him to expend massive effort, suffer catastrophic casualties, and win the war just so Li Hao wouldn't sever his head? To Fan Chang, it was nothing short of a joke! An absolute farce! No clear-headed warlord would ever make such a choice. Who would fight their hearts out against the four foreign nations just to earn the privilege of not being executed? Below, the advisor frowned slightly and urged again after a moment's thought, "Governor-General, Silver Moon possesses ferocious martial prowess and mighty armies. Although the realm remains divided, the Central Region has lost all capacity to resist them. We neighbor Silver Moon, and both the Nine Departments and the imperial clan have fallen! Linjiang has no strength to withstand Silver Moon, so this is a rare opportunity..." It was indeed a chance. Previously, none of the retainers had dared advise Fan Chang to submit, as doing so would have been sending him to his death. But now, if they raised troops immediately to assist Silver Moon against Dali, Li Hao's decree promised that even if Fan Chang was found guilty, his life would be spared once Dali was defeated. As long as he survived, hope remained. Thus, as an advisor, he felt compelled to offer counsel. Yet his words only infuriated Fan Chang. A rare opportunity? How could this be called an opportunity? Ridiculous! Glaring down at the man, Fan Chang asked in a low growl, "It seems quite a few people in Linjiang have been frightened out of their wits by Li Hao. Do you truly believe his claims about tens of thousands of Mountain Sea experts?" "Governor-General..." "Enough!" Fan Chang said flatly, "I know what I am doing. Speak of this no more!" Seeing his master's obstinacy, the advisor felt helpless, yet pressed on once more, "My lord, you must not collude with Dali! Historical records depict Dali as a savage realm from an uncivilized age with broken culture, venerating Early Martial deities. But Early Martial was long ago superseded by Neo-Martial, suffering defeat after defeat..." Colluding with Dali was the height of folly. He added hurriedly, "The people of Dali regard us as mere chattel..." "Enough!" Fan Chang's gaze turned chillingly cold. "I told you, I know what I am doing! Director Han, are you instructing me on how to conduct my affairs?" Below, the advisor sighed softly and stepped back into line, saying nothing more. A warrior clad in general's armor stepped forward and said icily, "Governor-General, there is no need to heed Han Yang's pedantic preachings. Linjiang's troops are strong and well-provisioned. If that Li Hao were truly an enlightened master, he would have dispatched envoys to open talks and promise benefits long ago, rather than threatening us with total eradication!" He continued, "Now that Dali has invaded, we should bide our time and watch. The Central Region will inevitably send reinforcements. If we can sever their relief corridor..." Fan Chang coughed lightly. That was going too far; they truly lacked the strength for such a feat. The general knew it as well and had merely mentioned it in passing. He swiftly continued, "With Dali invading, Silver Moon will surely be thrown into disarray. At the critical moment..." Fan Chang rubbed his chin, lost in thought. "Mobilize the army first. Assemble the Linjiang Guard under the Governor-General's Office. We will raise banners declaring our support for Silver Moon, gather our forces in one place, hold our ground, and primarily observe the situation!" ... At this moment, stirrings rippled across the northern territory. Some provinces mobilized their armies and marched toward Silver Moon. Others amassed their forces without moving, choosing to watch from the sidelines. Still others simply looked on with folded arms, waiting for an opportunity. When Li Hao had seized the Central Region in a single stroke, everyone had lost hope. But now that Dali had invaded and Silver Moon was pulling its forces back, an opportunity had presented itself. ... At the same time, along the coast of the North Sea, a warship soared through the sky, its Tiger Banner bearing the surname Li fluttering fiercely in the wind like a predator hungry for blood. Li Hao stood on the deck, looking down upon the North Sea. Across the North Sea lay the northern territories. Since departing Silver Moon, he had returned a few times, but always in haste, never lingering to manage the northern affairs in detail. Now, as he led his army back, a great war was imminent. Having read extensively of history, he knew all too well that moments like this brought out every sort of scoundrel. High-minded rhetoric about national duty and defending the homeland became a mockery to them; throughout history, countless people had readily played the role of puppet rulers and welcomed foreign invaders just to secure a victory. Ceding territory and submitting to servitude meant nothing to such men. Paying annual tributes was a small price in their eyes. Li Hao glanced around. Beside him stood only martial artists; none among them could perceive what was weighing on his mind. He felt fatigued—a deep, spiritual exhaustion. There were times when he wished he did not have to think so much. Yet he had no strategists to advise him. Lin Hongyu and Director Zhou were capable, but they had to hold down the Central Region to prevent unrest. Now, he had to chart every step on his own. Silver Moon had risen too swiftly, leaving him critically short of administrative and strategic talent. He looked down at the North Sea, which had not yet thawed. Across the frozen sea lay the Three Northern Provinces: Beihai, Heyuan, and Wu Province. Like daggers thrust into the North Sea, they formed the northern bridgeheads. Behind them lay Linjiang, the heartland of the north, bordering the Yun River—a tributary of the North Sea. And farther still lay Silver Moon Province. The Three Northern Provinces had been wracked by relentless turmoil, leaving countless civilians displaced over the past several months. Now, with Dali's forces penetrating the north, a fresh wave of refugees had erupted. Thousands of commoners were currently trekking across the frozen expanse, dragging their families along in desperate flight. The ice sheet was not as thick as before and showed signs of cracking. Should it break, anyone plunging into the frigid waters would surely drown. Yet in their frenzy to escape the north, they could afford no caution. Just then, Li Hao's warship glided through the air above. People looked up and caught sight of the banner, their voices trembling with excitement. "It's Governor-General Li!" "Yes, I recognize the Tiger Banner!" "Governor-General Li has returned to the north! Should we still run? I heard he's leading an army to Silver Moon to confront the Dali Dynasty..." "We'd better keep running. They say the people of Dali are man-eating beasts. Governor-General Li and his men might not win..." High above, Li Hao waved his hand. A wave of frost cascaded down, reinforcing the ice of the North Sea until it became solid as bedrock. His voice carried far across the frozen waters: "People of the north, you may make your way to the Central Region! Shelter and work will be provided there. Help the supernaturals in each region with infrastructure projects, and food will be guaranteed! Within three months at most, the north will be pacified. When spring returns and the flowers bloom, all of you may return to your homes!" With those words, the warship crossed the North Sea. Li Hao's resounding voice echoed across Beihai Province. A handful of sky screens flickered to life, projecting his figure. "All hostilities in the Three Northern Provinces must cease immediately! The heads of the administrative, military, inspection, and night patroller departments of the Three Northern Provinces are to report to me without delay! The insurgent populace in all regions shall elect representatives to meet with me as well! In this hour of national crisis, we must unite our strength to repel foreign aggression!" Across the Three Northern Provinces, powerhouses received the message, but to them, Li Hao's words sounded overly simplistic. Could a war be halted the moment someone willed it? It was never that simple! ... On the warship, Yao Si said in a heavy voice, "I fear it won't be that simple. I know about the war in the Three Northern Provinces. Ever since General Kou fell, the three provinces have been mired in chaos. Moreover, it's said that after the first resurgence, the unrest was partially fueled by the Three Great Organizations, who have now entered the north and likely lurk within these provinces." He was uncertain what Li Hao intended. Ordering the three provinces to halt their fighting now would be extraordinarily difficult and might easily leave Li Hao bogged down here. Li Hao nodded, having already reached a decision. "If the Three Northern Provinces refuse to obey, I may lack the reach to deal with the other three fronts for now, but the north must be stabilized first! We will execute a decapitation strategy: eliminate all rebel commanders, provincial chief administrators, and military commanders without exception! We will take command of their armies and march them into Silver Moon..." Everyone present felt a jolt in their hearts! Li Hao had been pursuing gentle, conciliatory policies lately, leading them to believe he intended to govern the dynasty with virtuous benevolence. Yet today, he was declaring that he would slaughter them all, regardless of right or wrong. Huang Yu said in a low voice, "Governor-General, this matter warrants careful deliberation..." "No!" Li Hao shook his head. "With the nation in peril and foreign foes invading, if they still refuse to cease fighting, unite against the enemy, and surrender their military authority, then these people have no reason to exist! It will cause brief turmoil, but at a time like this, ruthlessness is mandatory! They all assume I won't dare touch them right now. They are dead wrong!" Li Hao bared his teeth in a cold smile. "I showed leniency before because I wanted a peaceful transition! But if they think Li Hao is unwilling or unable to kill, they could not be more mistaken! If the leadership of the three provinces does not appear before me by nightfall, kill them all! If those who hold military command do not show up, storm their barracks and decapitate them!" "Commander Yu and the other generals will be responsible for rounding up the troops. Execute any who riot, and execute any who desert. Under no circumstances can these armies be allowed to dissolve! Even if they must be used as cannon fodder on the battlefield, these troops must not scatter!" A chill ran through everyone's spine. Even as cannon fodder! The forces of the three provinces numbered over a million. Yet Li Hao understood far better than the rest that the regional warlords' armies were already rotten to the core. If they disbanded, the havoc they wreaked upon the populace might well exceed the devastation caused by Dali. Therefore, he had to act swiftly and decisively, steeling his heart. Even if these troops were to be completely wiped out in Mount Cang by Dali, they could not be allowed to disperse. Otherwise, like a fine-toothed comb scraping through the land, they would plunge the entire north into utter ruin. Without another word, Li Hao briskly issued commands: "Yao Si, take a detachment of experts and a thousand Demon Hunters to locate the Beihai provincial garrison. Await my orders and take control of the Beihai army at a moment's notice." "Huang Yu, you will do the same for the Heyuan garrison." Both men had commanded major forces before and were fully capable of handling the assignment. Li Hao surveyed the group. While these experts were formidable in battle, few possessed leadership experience. His gaze soon landed on the Ninth Division Commander. "Ninth Division Commander... you will take a team to seize the Wu Province garrison, with Hou Xiaochen assisting you!" The Ninth Division Commander paused slightly. "Me?" "Yes!" The Ninth Division Commander remained silent for a moment before nodding. "What if they mutiny?" "Kill them!" The commander asked no further questions. With Li Hao's explicit order, the matter became simple. Li Hao turned back to the crowd. "There are also multiple rebel bands in the Three Northern Provinces, both strong and weak. Naturally, they call themselves insurgent armies. Whether they are rebels or insurgents, it makes little difference right now... Who can lead men to take over their forces?" Everyone looked at one another, feeling awkward. None of them possessed experience in that regard. Li Hao frowned slightly. Huang Yu spoke up, "Use powerful martial artists as the heads of the decapitation squads, paired with military officers who have command experience. They do not need to be overwhelmingly powerful!" Saying so, he looked toward several regiment commanders from Battle Heaven City. "These commanders once led formations in the Battle Heaven Army. Though they were only thousand-man regiment commanders, they possess the necessary experience. Backed by disciplined soldiers, they will be more than capable of taking command!" Li Hao turned his gaze to the regiment commanders. Catching his look, the Seventh Regiment Commander said somewhat sheepishly, "We..." Li Hao chuckled. "Seventh Regiment Commander, you once said that as long as one has the courage to dream it, it can be done! They are merely a rabble of irregulars, completely beneath comparison to the Battle Heaven Army! The Three Northern Provinces must be secured, for they are the northern continent's bridgehead. Our rapid advance and subsequent reinforcements must all pass through them." He continued, "And then there is Linjiang... Fan Chang of Linjiang is sinister and ruthless, having blockaded Silver Moon for years. We will wipe out the upper echelons of Linjiang directly. I previously held back for fear of triggering unrest, but now... he can no longer be spared!" He paused, then declared, "Within a single day, I want the four provinces forcibly subdued, their local armies requisitioned, and a clear corridor established linking Silver Moon, the Three Northern Provinces, and Linjiang!" After a brief hesitation, Li Hao looked at one man. "Qian Wuliang!" "Present!" Qian Wuliang, the vicious scholar, stepped forward hastily, a look of trepidation on his face. Li Hao studied him. "Since joining my banner, you haven't performed any significant duties. The only suggestion you offered was to abandon the three outlying continents to their fate..." "Governor-General, I..." "No faction can consist purely of good, virtuous people. There must always be a few unscrupulous, ruthless minds..." Qian Wuliang swallowed hard. Was this praise or condemnation? Li Hao continued, "You have a sharp eye for human nature. Linjiang is in utter chaos, and its army is rotten through and through. The Linjiang garrison outnumbers Silver Moon's, boasting over five hundred thousand men. If I give you a thousand Demon Hunters and assign Bright Sword, Jade Rakshasa, and Southern Fist to assist you, can you swiftly bring Linjiang under control?" Qian Wuliang felt a tremor run through him. Three Silver Moon martial masters placed under his command... In the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, no one surpassed those Silver Moon martial masters in standing; even Lin Hongyu, who had surrendered her forces, was treated with less deference than them. Yet now, Li Hao was putting him in charge of taking Linjiang. He felt intensely nervous. Li Hao added, "Speed is paramount in war. You may make use of the Demon Hunter Army's earth-drilling shuttles. If you have any other requests, state them now!" Suppressing his inner tremor, Qian Wuliang felt a surge of excitement. He gritted his teeth and replied immediately, "I am honored by the Governor-General's trust and will spare no effort! In addition to these forces... I request ten million divine energy stones and a thousand drops of the Spring of Life..." Many in the room glared at him in outrage! Qian Wuliang added at once, "Should the mission succeed, I will bring these resources back!" Li Hao nodded. "Granted!" Qian Wuliang was ecstatic! He promptly said, "Furthermore... there is no need for Senior Southern Fist and the others to accompany me. It will suffice if... if Senior Sky Sword comes along." At these words, Southern Fist and his companions bristled with anger. Was this punk looking down on them? Qian Wuliang explained hurriedly, "Seniors, please take no offense. It is not that I look down upon you; rather, Senior Sky Sword's blade is somewhat swifter..." That reason was sheer nonsense. In truth, Qian Wuliang felt that not only were they less formidable than Sky Sword, but they were also prone to ceaseless chatter—especially Southern Fist, who was disobedient and loved stirring up trouble. Sky Sword, on the other hand, was far easier to deal with. Though cold and aloof, whatever you asked him to do, he would do without asking excessive questions. Furthermore, having two women along would only complicate matters. He felt that taking Sky Sword alone would be far simpler and more effective than bringing all three. This was his very first opportunity to render meritorious service; he could not afford any blunders. Li Hao nodded slightly upon hearing this. "Very well, Senior Sky Sword shall accompany you!" Turning to Southern Fist and the others, he said, "The rest of you, head straight for the Mount Cang region at top speed. I will be detained here for a day and cannot return to Silver Moon immediately. Senior Southern Fist, you hold the rank of company commander in Battle Heaven City. Accompany Director Wang to the city and have them deploy five thousand troops. Combined with the Battle Heaven forces here, we will field ten thousand!" Seeing that he had an assignment, Director Wang did not refuse. He nodded. "I have no objection... but we will need an official mobilization order from the Ninth Division Commander, as he is currently the highest-ranking military officer." Without hesitation, the Ninth Division Commander drew out a token, handed it to him, and said in a low voice, "Mobilize the resurrected Ninth Division. Take a thousand Inspector Guards as well to make up for previous losses." "Understood!" Director Wang nodded, and with that, everyone dispersed to their assignments, fanning out in all directions. Once they were gone, Li Hao sent out another communication across all channels: before nightfall, the leadership of the three provinces had to come see him. He would await them at the junction of the three provinces. A few people remained by his side, including Liu Long. Seeing Li Hao lost in thought, the others hesitated to approach. Liu Long, however, walked over and asked softly, "If those people truly don't show up... setting them aside, are you really going to throw those armies into Mount Cang?" When Li Hao remained still, nothing happened; but once he moved, rivers of blood and mountains of corpses followed. Throwing those ordinary troops into Mount Cang—regardless of whether they could resist Dali or even had the will to do so—would mean virtually certain death once they entered the fray. The combined armies of the three provinces and Linjiang exceeded two million. That was a staggering number. It could mean over a million casualties! A million sounded like a mere number, but Liu Long could picture just how horrific that slaughter would be. Li Hao fell silent for a long moment before murmuring, "Boss, tell me, is there any hope left for the armies of the Three Northern Provinces and Linjiang? Back then, I saw with my own eyes how they colluded with pirates and slaughtered the common folk. In the north, aside from Silver Moon, the armies everywhere else are rotten to the core!" "Still... not everyone can master their own destiny," Liu Long said softly. "They have officers and commanders; they were merely following orders..." Li Hao nodded. "That is why, if we take command smoothly and these troops remain orderly and obedient, I won't march them to their deaths! But if they refuse to obey and continue stirring up trouble... I will drive them into Mount Cang to fight Dali to the bitter end. And if they all die... then let them die!" It might bring him endless infamy, but Li Hao did not care. He had always hoped to achieve these transformations through gentle measures, but if that proved impossible, he had no choice. A quick, decisive blow was required! ... Throughout that day, unrest rippled through the Three Northern Provinces. Li Hao had arrived. Waiting at the junction of the three provinces, he had given them a single day to present themselves before him, hinting that they must surrender military authority, assemble their troops, and march to Silver Moon. To men who held power, enduring such an ultimatum was nearly impossible. Furthermore, Li Hao commanded formidable military strength; going to see him now carried a high risk of being taken captive on the spot. In Beihai Province, at the General Administration Bureau, an elderly man spoke in a resonant voice, "Gentlemen, should we go or not? Dali's invasion... we have yet to see any sign of Dali, yet the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office demands that we meet with this Governor-General Li. If we go, we may never return!" "Then we don't go! Formidable as Li Hao may be, he is beset by troubles both within and without. He wouldn't dare recklessly fall out with us right now. Simply ignore him... I doubt anyone else will go either." Only a fool would go. Yet someone cautioned, "The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office possesses immense strength, and Li Hao has returned in person at the head of an army. If we don't go, we must beware of leaving a terrible impression on him..." "What is there to fear?" someone scoffed dismissively. "This isn't the Central Region! Looking at Li Hao's recent conduct, he hasn't executed many people in the Central Region at all. Those spineless cowards in the Central Region folded at the first gust of wind, but we are no soft-boned weaklings! If Li Hao dares touch us, the three provinces have millions of troops... If unrest breaks out, casualties will be countless. Since Li Hao wants to play the saint, he won't do anything to us!" Everyone had observed Li Hao's recent actions—promoting education, building roads, eradicating illiteracy, spreading martial arts... Up to this point, aside from some deaths within the imperial clan, hardly anyone from the Nine Departments had been executed. And among the twenty-two provinces of the Central Region, only a few governors-general had been removed from office; a few had died, while the rest were merely imprisoned, spared from Li Hao's blade. Such moderation gave the transition of power in the Central Region an appearance of gentle peace. Throughout history, which dynastic transition had not been accompanied by rivers of blood and mountains of corpses? Since Li Hao wanted to be a saint, they would indulge him! They would simply ignore him! They would wait until he fought Dali and see the outcome. If he won and proved truly invincible, they would reconsider. If he lost, there would be no need to discuss anything further; the realm would no longer belong to the Li family. "Gentlemen... do not forget that Li Hao bears the title of Demon Sword... He killed plenty of people back in Silver Moon. You must not assume he possesses a gentle temperament..." Right now, everyone was taking advantage of Li Hao's desire to act like a saint, shedding their fear of him. Yet had they truly forgotten his moniker? "That was in the past, mere petty squabbles! Now we are in the midst of a dynastic transition... Since Li Hao has crafted an image of loving the people like his own children, he must adhere to it! If he moves against us, the three provinces will immediately plunge into chaos, with countless routing soldiers... Can Li Hao endure the condemnation of the entire realm?" The others found this reasoning sound upon reflection. Demanding that they appear before Li Hao, relinquish their authority, and perhaps even march off to die in Silver Moon was indeed asking too much of them. Of course, the administrative director of Beihai was not entirely without fear. He added, "We still must send someone, but we won't go ourselves. We'll send representatives to say that domestic affairs are too pressing, that Beihai is unstable, and that we cannot abandon our posts for the moment... However, we will express support for Governor-General Li's resistance against the enemy. Once the unrest in the three provinces is quelled, we will immediately dispatch troops to assist..." Appearances had to be maintained. The director chuckled. "Send a few troublesome officers who insist on marching out to fight Dali... I imagine they will be more than eager to go discuss matters with Governor-General Li. What do you all think?" The others nodded in approval; it was an ingenious solution. There were indeed people eager to resist Dali; just today, someone had proposed deploying troops to Silver Moon to engage the enemy. Those stubborn troublemakers were a headache, so sending them to negotiate with Li Hao was ideal. If Li Hao insisted on troops from the three provinces, they would let those officers lead some elderly, weak, and disabled soldiers to him. "Then it is settled!" Beihai Province swiftly came to a decision. The other two provinces adopted similar stances. As for the rebel and insurgent forces across the three provinces, a few were willing to meet Li Hao, while most paid him no heed at all, treating him as though he did not exist. The emperor was far away, and even if Li Hao was nearby, what of it? The three provinces would almost certainly ignore him! ... Throughout that day, while a handful traveled toward the junction of the three provinces, the vast majority watched coldly from afar. Marching to Silver Moon to assist in battle was suicidal; who would want to face a million supernaturals? Had Li Hao kept the full intelligence under wraps or downplayed the threat, people might have sent aid to keep up appearances. But by painting such a terrifying picture, he ensured that no one wanted their military strength consumed in his war. ... Meanwhile, groups of powerful figures had already arrived outside the capital cities of the three provinces. In Beihai, Yao Si led his men as they crept into position. In Heyuan, Huang Yu rushed to the front line. Toward Wu Province, the Ninth Division Commander moved fastest of all, reaching the designated location alongside Hou Xiaochen. ... At the junction of the three provinces lay an uninhabited plain, the most frequent battleground of their conflicts, stained with the blood of countless fallen soldiers. Now, a small number of figures arrived one after another, gasping for breath. In the center of the plain, a colossal warship hovered silently in the air, waiting. Li Hao sat upon the deck before three rows of seats. A full day was more than enough time for people from the three provinces to arrive. Night fell. Lanterns illuminated the warship as Li Hao's voice rolled outward: "Now that you have arrived, please come aboard. The war is pressing, so I will dispense with pleasantries!" Soon, a number of figures hurried up—all individuals of martial prowess. Yet they were merely Three Suns and Rising Light experts. Not a single Divine Power practitioner was among them! A few small detachments had gathered near the plain, but their numbers were sparse; combining all three factions, there were barely ten thousand men, along with a few insurgent bands. Roughly twenty people stepped onto the deck, coming face-to-face with the youthful Li Hao. Li Hao surveyed them one by one. Some wore bitter expressions, some looked indignant, some showed resolute determination, and others trembled with dread. Li Hao spoke: "Has not a single head of the four departments across the Three Northern Provinces come?" From the crowd, a pudgy middle-aged man said hastily, "Reporting to the Governor-General, the leaders of Wu Province had to remain behind to handle sudden internal emergencies, guarding the homeland just in case..." A middle-aged officer from Beihai snorted coldly and cut in bluntly, "What sudden emergencies? Governor-General Li, I'll speak plainly. Few people are willing to fight in Silver Moon. Beihai has only these men, and I brought five thousand soldiers from my command. That is all the military strength Beihai can provide! I will accompany you to Silver Moon... As for those who didn't come, don't count on them!" At his words, several attendees trembled even more. Though true, speaking so bluntly was reckless; if Li Hao flew into a rage and could not reach the absent leaders, those present might bear the brunt of his fury. Li Hao smiled and nodded. "Very well, I understand. Please take your seats, everyone." Seeing his calm demeanor, the blunt officer felt annoyed and snorted. "Governor-General, meeting you in person truly falls short of your reputation!" Smiling at a moment like this? He added coldly, "Could it be that you deceived the realm, and Dali hasn't invaded at all?" "How could that be?" Li Hao gave a light laugh. "I would not stoop to inventing such news." "Then how can you afford to waste a whole day lingering here? Speed is paramount in war! It is obvious the three provinces will not mobilize on a large scale. You should have marched straight for Silver Moon rather than waiting here for an impossible response!" Li Hao looked at him with slight surprise and smiled. "What is your name, General?" "Yue Hongchang!" Beside Li Hao, Jade Rakshasa, who had remained behind temporarily, transmitted her voice swiftly: "I know of this man. The Beihai garrison is divided into six divisions, and he was originally commander of one. But he successively offended former Governor-General Kou and the current Beihai Administrative Director, suffering demotion after demotion. Now he holds only the rank of myriad-commander, placed in charge of the elderly, weak, and disabled. His unit is undermanned—just five thousand men, exactly as he stated." This Yue Hongchang possessed decent strength, sitting at the peak of Rising Light. He appeared to have opened some apertures as well, though not many. Li Hao nodded slightly and looked at the others, who introduced themselves one after another. Several had brought troops, though their numbers were pitifully small, with Yue Hongchang's force being the largest. Wu Province had sent only a hundred-man escort guarding the pudgy man, with no one else. Heyuan had sent one civil official and one military officer leading three thousand troops, likewise composed of the frail and elderly. Aside from them, several rebel leaders had brought a few thousand men, though they had not brought their full contingents, leaving portions behind to guard against ambushes. Li Hao sighed with emotion. "With the nation in peril and millions of soldiers across the three provinces... barely ten thousand men have arrived, and the highest-ranking officer is a mere myriad-commander. How truly remarkable..." Yue Hongchang retorted bluntly, "When the nation ceases to be a nation and homes cease to be homes, it merely amounts to changing emperors! Whether the Li family rules, or Dali, or someone else... so long as it isn't themselves, who cares?" National peril? He found Li Hao's words laughable, suddenly feeling that an idealist like Li Hao might well fail to repel Dali. The Demon Sword had once been decisive and ruthless, but now he seemed so gentle and soft. Could such a man withstand Dali's invasion? In historical records, Dali was a horde of beast-like savages. Li Hao chuckled and nodded without arguing further. A massive sky screen materialized before him. "What everyone says makes sense, and General Yue is not wrong... Let us not be in a rush; watch first, then speak." Yue Hongchang grew irritated. "While there is still time, we should strike camp and march for Silver Moon! We are thousands of li away; what is the point of squandering time here?" "You certainly have a fierce temper, General Yue. No wonder you offended so many people..." Yue Hongchang held his tongue, staring coldly at Li Hao. A fierce temper? And what good had Li Hao's lack of temper done him? Just then, multiple smaller windows appeared on the screen. Yue Hongchang had paid them little heed at first, but suddenly froze, staring at one of the views. "The Beihai General Administration Bureau..." He recognized it immediately. Others gasped, "The Wu Province military camp..." "The Heyuan Governor-General's Office?" Everyone was stunned. How could those places appear on the screen? Li Hao smiled faintly, golden armor manifesting over his body as he spoke in a calm, measured voice: "Those who ought to come have arrived. Those who have not... have no need to remain. Attack! Eradicate them entirely and seize command of the armies!" The moment the words left his lips, beneath the shocked gazes of the onlookers, deafening roars erupted across the screens. In Beihai, Yao Si threw a punch that shattered the earth and tore the sky. The Beihai General Administration building collapsed in an instant, unleashing screams of agony and wails of terror. A figure flew into the air, roaring furiously, "Who dares—" Boom! Yao Si struck with another punch, tearing the void apart and blasting the man into flying fragments. Yue Hongchang's face drained of all color. "The Beihai Marshal..." All the high-ranking officials had gathered at the General Administration Bureau for a meeting today, making it all too easy to wipe them out in a single stroke! The mighty Beihai Marshal, who had already crossed into the Divine Power realm, was obliterated by a single punch from Yao Si! Under Yue Hongchang's horrified gaze, the high-ranking officials of Beihai were slaughtered on the spot, helpless to resist. Within breaths, except for the weak and ordinary clerks, every powerhouse in the Beihai General Administration Bureau was dead! Yao Si held aloft a severed, aged head, speaking in a low voice toward the projection: "The Beihai Administrative Director has been executed! Governor-General, I am heading to take command of the military camp... Beihai is experiencing some localized unrest..." Li Hao's voice carried across: "Go. Make it swift. Pay no heed to minor chaos; a little localized unrest is far better than chaos across the entire world!" "Understood!" The view shifted rapidly toward the military camp, where battle cries and screams erupted. At this moment, every window on the screen displayed the slaughter of high-ranking officials across the three provinces. Before Li Hao, several attendees turned pale as ghosts, paralyzed with terror. Sipping his tea, Li Hao looked at the group with a faint smile. "General Yue, what do you think of this?" Yue Hongchang's mouth worked wordlessly for several moments before he managed, "A righteous slaughter... but... there were innocent people among them..." "Who is innocent?" Li Hao smiled faintly. "At this critical juncture, they still refused to contribute the slightest effort. How could any of them be considered innocent? Ordinary civilians are one thing, but these were high officials whose salaries were drawn from the very lifeblood of the people! If they refuse to serve now, what use is there in keeping them alive?" He continued, "This is merely the beginning. Once we take command of the three provinces' armies, any who riot will be killed, and any who rebel will be killed! The rest will all be marched to the Mount Cang region... What do you think, General Yue?" Yue Hongchang's face was completely bloodless. "Relying on them... to repel Dali?" "Can it not be done?" "This..." Looking at Li Hao's unruffled expression, Yue Hongchang finally whispered after a long silence, "Governor-General... you truly live up to your title as the Demon Sword!" When this man needed to be ruthless, he was more merciless than anyone. Li Hao silently watched the massive screen, observing the rivers of blood and the execution of countless powerhouses. Mutinous soldiers were cut down instantly; when powerful figures made their move, hundreds and thousands fell with each blow, and even a mutiny of ten thousand was extinguished in moments! A Thousand-Battler martial master could match a thousand men, and these experts far surpassed Thousand-Battlers. Rivers of blood flowed through the three provinces, corpses carpeting the ground. Li Hao simply watched in silence. Before him, several people had completely broken down in terror, some even soiling themselves. After a long while, Li Hao spoke in a measured tone: "Tomorrow, broadcast these developments to the public. Whether regional factions choose to rebel or submit... let them do as they wish! The nineteen northern provinces must each provide at least a hundred thousand soldiers and a thousand supernaturals. Any that fail to arrive will be executed without mercy!" "Understood!" An officer promptly acknowledged the order, preparing to transmit the command for tomorrow's broadcast. ... At that exact moment, in the Linjiang Governor-General's Office, Qian Wuliang beamed as he presented an array of treasures, making Fan Chang's eyes gleam with greed as he swallowed hard. Meanwhile, Qian Wuliang exchanged glances with several figures in the crowd, scanned the hall to evaluate the situation, glanced at the motionless Sky Sword, and sent several voice transmissions indicating who should be killed and who spared. "General Qian, what is the meaning of this...?" Fan Chang had never imagined that Li Hao's camp would dispatch someone bearing gifts, hoping he would send troops to assist. It seemed almost laughable. Qian Wuliang beamed. "A modest gift for the Governor-General, a token of our esteem..." With that, he sent a final transmission. In the next instant, Sky Sword unleashed a stroke that split the heavens! Fan Chang's face twisted in horror. Just as he moved to retaliate, a figure beside him drove a blade through his abdomen with vicious force. Shaken and enraged, Fan Chang whipped his head around, only to see Sky Sword's blade descending upon him! The treacherous retainer looked at Qian Wuliang with terrified ecstasy, while Qian Wuliang gave a radiant smile. "You may take thirty percent of the treasures here..." "Thank you, General!" Pandemonium erupted in the hall as the others reacted. Those attempting to flee were instantly cut down by their own comrades. Sky Sword's blade crashed down with a thunderous roar, severing Fan Chang's head, his expression frozen in disbelief. Qian Wuliang surveyed the hall with a broad, beaming smile. "There are benefits for everyone! As long as you help us smoothly assume command of the military camp... this is merely the beginning!" He then transmitted to Sky Sword: "Once we take command of the barracks, slaughter everyone in this room, save for a chosen few!" Sky Sword's expression shifted slightly. Was going back on their word truly wise? "None of them are good people... Besides, it's my command, so what does it matter? It has nothing to do with the Governor-General!" Still smiling, Qian Wuliang singled out the handful of individuals to be spared. He could perceive emotions with absolute clarity, discerning who harbored rampant greed and who carried malice. It was precisely because of this ability that he had effortlessly persuaded several men to help him eliminate Fan Chang. Sky Sword felt a chill run through him. If this man ever became an enemy, he had to be eliminated immediately. Today, Sky Sword had witnessed how Qian Wuliang used his silver tongue to effortlessly sway Fan Chang's trusted confidants into betraying him! Such capability was terrifying! If he could do this to Fan Chang today, he could do the same to Li Hao tomorrow. He could tell who was greedy, who was cowardly, who feared death, and who harbored divided loyalties. It was an unnerving talent. The Governor-General's decision to send him to Linjiang had indeed yielded astonishing results. Fan Chang's Governor-General's Office had been heavily guarded, and although Fan Chang was powerful and possessed many formidable subordinates, internal strife had erupted, turning his own men against him. Qian Wuliang stepped forward, picked up Fan Chang's severed head, and shook his head in pity. "Truly courting death. To still dream of colluding with Dali at a time like this... what an absolute fool!" He turned to Sky Sword with a deferential smile. "Senior, you need not worry. I can only perceive the thoughts of the weak; the minds of true powerhouses remain entirely beyond my sight. You need not fear any treacherous intent from me. Furthermore, the Governor-General is brilliant and martial. I can see that every soldier under his command respects him wholeheartedly; he will surely forge a glorious era surpassing Neo-Martial!" Sky Sword remained silent. Unlike Southern Fist, he had no interest in listening to flattering drivel. He would report everything that had transpired today to Li Hao. Whether to keep this man would depend on Li Hao's own judgment.