As if sensing He Lingchuan's gaze, Zhong Shengguang glanced back at him, his eyes sharp as lightning.
Just then, the doors swung open again. Several civil and military officials filed in, followed by a mystic.
Among them, Wen Daolun, Helian Chen, and General Nan Ke were familiar faces He Lingchuan recognized.
"Everyone is here." Zhong Shengguang nodded to the mystic, who immediately produced a long-handled mirror and held it high.
The handle and frame were forged from red gold engraved with passionflower motifs, set with two deep-crimson rubies along the rim—ostentatious and grand in form.
Yet set within the frame was not an ordinary mirrored surface, but an eyeball!
Indeed, a massive yellow eyeball two feet in diameter, bearing a vertical slit pupil like that of a crocodile or cat.
To be frank, seeing an eyeball severed from any living creature still darting up, down, left, and right was downright eerie.
Its gaze seemed especially sinister, particularly when fixed upon oneself.
Goosebumps prickled across He Lingchuan's back.
Fortunately, the giant eye stared at him for less than a second before turning to inspect the next person.
After several dozen breaths passed with no reaction from the eyeball, the mystic finally put it away and bowed to Zhong Shengguang. "The Dharma Eye's inspection is complete. Everyone is clean."
Only then did He Lingchuan realize that the giant eye was used to check whether anyone carried eavesdropping magic artifacts or divine abilities.
Naturally, had his scouting spider been here, it likely wouldn't have escaped that mystical gaze either.
Once the mystic exited, He Lingchuan closed the door and stood before it, barring the entrance with his body.
Zhong Shengguang pointed at the sand table. "Regarding the Xiluo Kingdom's resettlement decree, this is our second closed-door council. Last time, the seven attendees unanimously agreed that we should not return east. Today, I want to hear more perspectives."
He Lingchuan gave a start.
So the news that the Xiluo Kingdom was issuing a resettlement decree was actually true?
General Nan Ke immediately spoke up. "I've just returned from the west. Has this resettlement decree already reached Panlong City?"
"Not yet." Zhong Shengguang shook his head. "To my knowledge, the decree hasn't been promulgated. The Sovereign is still wavering."
"Then he's hesitating," General Nan Ke sneered. "Why has this news already been whipped up across the Panlong Wasteland? Who is spreading it? We should arrest them and teach them a lesson."
Another official chimed in, "Spreading unverified claims constitutes rumor-mongering, which must be punished as inciting unrest with falsehoods."
In Panlong City, that was considered a grave offense; severe cases warranted having one's tongue excised. In wartime, nothing was more feared than shaken morale among troops and civilians alike.
Helian Chen waved a hand. "The news was brought in by traveling merchants and began spreading four or five days ago. We cannot rule out deliberate agitation, but since we haven't officially debunked it yet, speculation runs rampant among the populace."
The decree remained stalled in the monarch's hands, yet merchants were already spreading word everywhere that Panlong City's soldiers and civilians were soon to return east. It was hard to believe no one was pulling the strings behind the scenes. Panlong City now sat in a dilemma:
If they refuted the rumors and the monarch truly issued the resettlement decree later, the rumors would become reality, severely damaging the credibility of Zhong Shengguang and the command;
If they didn't refute them, the rumors would run wild and directly undermine public sentiment.
Everyone knew Panlong City's formidable fighting power stemmed from their unity of purpose. Once that foundation shook, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Zhong Shengguang nodded. "Do all of you believe we shouldn't return east?"
Another senior general stood up. He Lingchuan vaguely recognized him as Ling Zhongshui. Pointing at the sand table, he said, "Even if the Baling Kingdom opens the Jinxi Corridor to us, the journey back home covers several hundred li at the very least. Not only are many stretches of the Jinxi Corridor rugged and treacherous, but they're prime ground for ambushes. Presented with such an opportunity, I don't believe those bastards in Baling wouldn't be tempted! When the time comes and we're shepherding the old and young, we'll be stretched too thin to protect head or tail, entirely unable to unleash our swift, sweeping combat power!"
The Panlong City army swept all before them across the wasteland, mostly thanks to their efficient tactics—striking like the wind and catching the enemy off guard.
If the entire city moved east—worse yet, multiple cities relocating together—those millions of people exposed on the open plains would become living targets. No matter how formidable Panlong City's forces were, protecting all of them would be impossible.
Over the past decade and more, Baling and the Xianyou Kingdom had clashed repeatedly with Panlong City, forging a deep blood feud. With such a prime opening, could they possibly resist seeking vengeance?
Try asking a rabbit not to eat grass.
"If the Sovereign truly issues the resettlement decree and we refuse it, what will the residents of the entire wasteland think?" another middle-aged scholar spoke up. "At least eight hundred thousand people across the Panlong Wasteland trace their ancestral roots to the inland. After holding back enemies for sixteen years, people have long grown war-weary. Otherwise, a decree that hasn't even been promulgated wouldn't have caused such a massive uproar."
He had dark skin and sharp, piercing eyes. He Lingchuan felt his face looked slightly familiar.
Where had he seen him before?
"Then what is your view, Lord Zhao?"
The moment the surname Zhao was uttered, He Lingchuan shuddered, suddenly remembering.
Among Panlong City's leadership, there was only one surnamed Zhao: Vice Commander Zhao Xianhe!
Not long ago, beneath the God-Descending Pillar, He Lingchuan had slain Zhao Xianhe's beloved son, Zhao Rong. And that had been done on Zhao Xianhe's own orders, placing justice above family.
"The last resettlement decree Xiluo issued to Panlong City did not end well, directly costing us forty thousand elite soldiers, thirty thousand civilians, and Vice Commander Jing. But the situation is different this time. Our homeland has suffered rebel attacks, the capital is in grave peril, and the northern demon kingdom is willing to dispatch reinforcements to assist Xiluo's imperial court army in purging the rebels in the Heshun region. In exchange, it offers to mediate the conflict between our country, Baling, and Xianyou—meaning relocating Panlong's inhabitants back and handing this territory over to the other two nations."
"Does Lord Zhao actually believe the demon kingdom's terms make sense? That bunch of old monsters stirs up trouble everywhere, eager to see the world burn. What good intentions could they possibly have for us?" General Nan Ke remarked coldly. "Besides, the Panlong Wasteland was our territory to begin with. Why should we hand it over to Baling and Xianyou on a silver platter?"
"Does anyone present not know what you just said?" Zhao Xianhe remained expressionless. "I merely suggest we prepare for both possibilities. What will we do if relocation becomes unavoidable?"
Ling Zhongshui crossed his arms. "If we refuse to move, what can they do to us?"
"Public sentiment cannot be defied lightly. If we do not relocate, we must lay bare the stakes and convince the people; otherwise, how can we maintain our footing hereafter?" Zhao Xianhe shook his head. "For all we know, Baling and Xianyou might even hope we dig in our heels, using the opportunity to sow discord."
Actions that went against public will rang hollow, no matter how grand the pretexts found for them.
"If the other side sees that this trick works and uses it again later?" Zhao Xianhe continued. "The Sovereign calls for resettlement once more, and once more we refuse. After several rounds like this, do you think the city folk won't sneak away on their own?"
Though the road home was fraught with countless perils, there was at least hope.
So long as a sliver of hope remained, people would take the risk.
When the hearts of the people yearned to return home, could you catch and stop every single one?
If someone set a precedent, fleeing east would turn into an unstoppable trend.
Wen Daolun let out a long sigh. "In the art of war, attacking the mind is supreme."
Once Panlong City was no longer of one mind from top to bottom, its combat power would immediately plummet.
General Red had remained silent all along. Helian Chen asked her, "What does General Red think?"
Her voice was cold. "First, the Sovereign of Xiluo does not want Zhong Shengguang to return. For so many years, Xiluo has never dared summon us home, precisely out of fear that Panlong City's fierce, wolfish army could easily turn its blades toward the capital."
The monarch harbored deep suspicion toward every feudatory prince. If nothing else, the primary cause of turmoil within Xiluo right now was a rebellion by feudatory princes. If the Sovereign summoned Panlong City's grand army back home, it would be unleashing a tiger to devour wolves. When the wolves were eaten, what would be done about the tiger that had entered through the door?
The Panlong army was far stronger than the forces of any feudatory prince.
To make a worse assumption: if Zhong Shengguang used the return to stage a revolt, carve out independent territory, or force the palace's hand again, worsening the crisis of warlords, wouldn't the Sovereign of Xiluo regret it bitterly?
Therefore, the Sovereign of Xiluo would rather consider foreign aid than dare summon Zhong Shengguang back.
After all, foreign aid had no roots in the homeland; everyone feared and guarded against foreigners, making it naturally impossible for them to win the people's hearts.
Every person seated here understood these principles.
General Red looked around at everyone. "Second: do all of you truly wish to return?"
Once that question was posed, everyone fell silent.
He Lingchuan gave an inward thumbs-up. What a question.
Those eligible to attend this council were Panlong City's highest echelon, wealthy and powerful, living at the very apex of this pyramid. Over the past decade and more, they had cultivated Panlong City, acquiring vast properties and tying their interests deeply to this land. If they left, they would suffer the greatest losses.
This was human nature, having nothing to do with whether one was corrupt or incorruptible.
What benefit did returning east hold for them? Returning to Xiluo was fraught with uncertainty; their existing assets would shrink overnight, and their wealth would plummet.
The Panlong Wasteland was vast, the Chipa Plateau rich in resources, and the population large. What was so bad about staying?
The third soul-searching question: "So, who are the people that actually want to return?"
It was the common folk who had relocated to the Panlong Wasteland from the interior and now longed to return to their roots in old age, along with the young people who harbored deep curiosity about their ancestral homeland.
General Red continued, "The northern demon kingdom thinks it has laid out an open scheme that leaves us no choice. In truth, we do not need to choose at all."
"Do not need to choose?" General Nan Ke was greatly surprised. "Are you saying we hold our ground and act as though we never received the resettlement decree? But that is also a choice."
Inaction was in itself a stance.
Wen Daolun, whose brows had been tightly knit the entire time, finally spoke. "I believe General Red means we must step outside the constraints set by the demon kingdom. We cannot merely choose between staying or leaving."
General Nan Ke grumbled, "Old Wen, that's not fair. With these millions of people, it's either stay or leave. Are you saying there's a third choice?"
"We were all led astray by General Zhao, fixating on how to respond once the resettlement decree is issued." Wen Daolun turned to Zhong Shengguang. "If the Sovereign does not issue the resettlement decree, wouldn't the whole problem vanish?"
Zhong Shengguang asked him, "We are ten thousand li away. How do we influence the Sovereign's decision?"
General Red walked up to the sand table and drew her sword, pointing it forward. "The Sovereign of Xiluo is indecisive and prone to wavering. We cannot afford to wait. Therefore, Panlong City shall make the decision for him."
A decision?
Her voice rang out like clashing iron, reverberating in everyone's ears:
"Proclaim to the entire city and mobilize the whole army: we fight our way back!"
Chapter 423