"That's not all. But each Dragon-Torture Pillar is best used for a single purpose. Once you've collected nightmare energy with it, don't use it to gather anything else, or it will be difficult to separate later." Zhong Shengguang paused. "Of course, if you're collecting it to feed to the Dafang Pot, then it doesn't matter."
"I see!" He Lingchuan nodded repeatedly. "I see, that's great!"
The Dragon-Torture Pillar was truly a treasure. His outlandish idea seemed to be looking more and more viable.
"All right, on to serious business." Zhong Shengguang took on a grave expression. "I already know how you're handling the amnesty for the Longchuan river bandits. For now, it seems to have yielded some results, but I do not approve. Many complaints have reached my desk. The soldiers of Yuheng City and the civilians near Longchuan are all deeply dissatisfied with your approach, believing Yuheng City is feeding bandits only to cultivate a disaster. Some even made the journey all the way from Yuheng City to Panlong City specifically to file grievances against you."
It was no short distance from Yuheng City to Panlong City. He Lingchuan thought to himself that their resolve to petition higher authorities was certainly firm.
The civilians around Longchuan had previously been victims of the river bandits' plunder, so they naturally found He Lingchuan's policy of "harboring a tiger to court disaster" baffling and infuriating.
He Lingchuan opened his mouth to speak, but Zhong Shengguang waved a hand to cut him off. "I held several meetings regarding this matter. Others were equally opposed, but General Red insisted that you be given a chance. Frankly speaking, those meetings were rather unpleasant."
The senior leadership of Panlong City also believed that even if Beijia was pulling strings behind the scenes, the Longchuan river bandits were ultimately nothing more than an unpresentable rabble. Why should Yuheng City cater to them like noble lords?
Not to mention that the bandits not only pocketed road tolls, but drew salaries from Yuheng City as well, which directly hurt the city's revenues.
Instead of earning road tolls, they were paying money out of their own pockets.
It amounted to taking money from law-abiding subjects to support river bandits—an egregious practice. No wonder both the army and the populace objected.
Panlong City's habitual method for dealing with such foes was forceful conquest and armed suppression. Beat them into submission, and the enemy would naturally go soft.
Over the past ten-odd years, this approach had proven very effective across the Panlong Wasteland.
"That is why I came to Yuheng City to hear your overall plan." This was also an opportunity Zhong Shengguang was granting He Lingchuan. "I was originally supposed to come a month ago."
He Lingchuan immediately replied, "Thank you, Commander!"
Having served as an official for several months now, his emotional intelligence had soared; he knew some things did not need to be spelled out. Zhong Shengguang was supposed to have arrived a month ago, yet he had delayed until now. Why?
Putting off his journey for over a month had bought He Lingchuan time.
As long as He Lingchuan produced tangible results, that would be far more persuasive than any glib tongue.
Looking at it now, Zhong Shengguang's choice had been the right one. He Lingchuan's method had indeed cost the least while advancing the bandit-suppression campaign by a considerable leap.
Yet He Lingchuan noted that what Zhong Shengguang wanted to hear was his "overall plan"—the part Wen Daolun had omitted from his report.
Yes, He Lingchuan was well aware that Wen Daolun had sent reports back to Panlong City.
Mr. Wen had always been refined and gentle. For him to do such a thing meant he had truly been provoked beyond endurance.
However, He Lingchuan wasn't worried that the higher-ups would replace him. He deduced that Zhong Shengguang would either order him to halt the plan or summon him back to Panlong City to report in person—with the latter being far more likely. After all, He Lingchuan was now a high-ranking regional official dispatched by Panlong City to guard territory, no longer a low-ranking soldier of the past.
Zhong Shengguang still had to show him due respect.
Some things were simply far more convincing when spoken face-to-face than written in dry, lifeless reports.
Yet Zhong Shengguang's response exceeded his expectations; the man had actually come in person.
Even though the Commander's primary purpose was to meet with Lu Xun, this still demonstrated the importance he placed on He Lingchuan.
He had given He Lingchuan the most direct opportunity, hoping He Lingchuan would make the most of it.
This was no time to play dumb or hide his cards. He Lingchuan had to convince the supreme ruler of Panlong City:
"Yuheng City's foremost mission is to keep the Longchuan trade route open and secure, not to see how many river bandits we can wipe out. With this main artery intact, the entire Panlong Wasteland can continuously receive reinforcements of money, grain, and manpower from the outside world, allowing Panlong City to grow stronger! For instance, Mr. Lu's visit and our future interactions with Lingshan must both be predicated on clear trade routes. By comparison, Yuheng City's own revenues are insignificant."
Zhong Shengguang gave an assenting grunt. Considering the full picture from his perspective, there was indeed merit to this calculation.
In a sense, the Longchuan trade route was another lifeline for Panlong City.
"Yet to accomplish this, we cannot rely on Panlong City and the Gale Army. Continuous warfare rages across the Panlong Wasteland, and Baling has recently violated our borders again. Where would the Gale Army find the surplus strength to look after us here?" He Lingchuan sighed. "In the end, only when the Yuheng Army becomes strong on its own can we safeguard the Longchuan trade route and Panlong's eastern gateway."
Zhong Shengguang listened in silence.
"You mentioned earlier that Panlong City's true crisis stems from Beijia. So long as Mitian remains, so long as the Dafang Pot exists, it will never let Panlong City off. Only by eliminating the source of unrest in the former territories of Xiji as quickly as possible and forging the Yuheng Army into a battle-tested force can we form a mutual defense and watch each other's backs with Panlong City," He Lingchuan said slowly. "This window of opportunity is very brief. Yuheng City cannot afford to waste time on internal chaos in Xiji and its puppet troops."
"Go on."
"Therefore, if we are to suppress the Longchuan river bandits at all, we must do so swiftly," He Lingchuan continued. "They have always enjoyed covert support from Jintao and Beijia. We must cut through the tangled mess quickly, lest internal troubles and external threats conspire together, making the hole bigger and bigger."
Who could outlast Beijia in a war of attrition? Yuheng City certainly could not, which was why speed was paramount!
"Qianjin Stronghold and the Globe Amaranth Gang took the lead in accepting amnesty, and now internal chaos reigns across Longchuan. Fu Shanlie led the Xiji puppet troops in ambushing and killing the Globe Amaranth Gang's chief, Xu Zeshou. Now several bandit gangs, including Qianjin Stronghold and the Globe Amaranth Gang, have united to resist them. Taking advantage of this, I planted many Yuheng Army soldiers among them. Our scouts and informants are now everywhere within Longchuan."
Every day brought new developments inside Longchuan. The residents of Yuheng City did not know, and even Panlong City might not be aware.
"The situation is looking great right now, so we should add more fuel to the fire! Half of Longchuan is already under our control. All that remains is to eliminate the Xiji puppet troops, and the bandit menace will be wiped out!"
"Wiped out?" Zhong Shengguang laughed. "How do you know those bandits from Qianjin Stronghold won't turn traitor again? You recruited them with silver, not through the terror of military might. They lack awe and revere nothing, while possessing cunning in abundance. Once the situation changes, how can they not harbor two minds?"
In the past, he had shown no mercy when clearing bandit dens in the Panlong Desert. For those who committed heinous crimes, he slaughtered the entire den down to the last person, leaving none alive. Only when the Panlong Army's fearsome reputation as bloodthirsty reapers spread far and wide did other hardened bandits surrender at the mere sight of their banners.
To entice them with profit like He Lingchuan did meant the Longchuan river bandits neither feared their might nor felt gratitude for their virtue, leaving hidden perils for the future.
He Lingchuan shook his head. "Quite the contrary. My method will resolve the Longchuan bandit menace and give Yuheng City firm control over the entire territory of Xiji—without shedding a drop of blood, and once and for all!"
Chapter 882