300 Map Delivery (1/2)
Before a nation perishes, there were bound to be omens!
Beauty She twisted a piece of bamboo leaf and thought to herself, ”The late emperor could have lived for ten plus years more but he got ruined by Sister Dowager. Now, the minister Wang Qiao has too become a puppet of us demons. It is not hard for an internal conflict to happen in Da Chu…”
However, she had some doubts.
After paying such a huge price, many amongst the demons were still too worried and were preparing to have two strings to one's bow.
Other than the current land, the demons were already searching for new islands and lands in the vast seas. They were preparing to sow a batch of seeds of the demons on these new lands to preserve their elemental energy.
One obvious plan and one clandestine plan, this was how the demons planned to strike back.
As for those demons who harmed humans, they were merely defeatists who have given up.
”The heavenly trend cannot be opposed!”
As Beauty She thought of how despondently the Saint said that with a tinge of savagery, she unknowingly felt her heart became heavier.
”My demon race has dominated for centuries! Used to and still is! The world will still be in our hands in the future!”
”Provoking massive outbreaks of chaos is to eradicate all the brilliant human minds, whenever a human rise up, we will suppress him. All in all, we must stir internal conflict amongst the humans and cause them to deplete their own elemental energy!”
Beauty She's expression turned cold and her eyes sparkled with a blue-green essence, ”Mere humans, how dare they vie for the throne of master of all races!”
Moments later, she stood up and left, leaving behind two evenly dissected pieces of bamboo leaves that were slowly falling.
...
At the Pier in Black Lake District.
”Sir, latest intelligence from the capital!”
Xu Ting had only rested for less than half a day before he got interrupted. After reading a few lines of the letter, an uneasy look appeared on his face.
”Minister plans to rebel!”
Although it was a few simple words, it was utterly shocking for Xu Ting.
”Initially, I thought troubled times were ahead of us, looks like I am already in a troubled world now…”
Xu Ting gave a wry smile, with his intellect, he could already predict the chain of events that would happen thereafter.
”I thought I was fast enough, I guess I'm too slow now! Way too slow!”
Once Wang Qiao usurped the throne, he could make use of clearing rebels as a reason to eradicate anyone he deemed disloyal to him and the burden of righteousness could literally be thrown aside.
With how smoothly things went, Xu Ting felt as though he was in a dream.
”There's no problem with Golden Lake Prefecture, however, there is more than one prefecture around Golden Court Lake! For our family to rise, we still require more strength and we have to continue with capturing the pirates, but however, at a much faster pace!”
He gritted his teeth, ”We have to continue with the plans of hiding troops in the lake, just that…”
Even though he had the support of his family, it was demanding to support thousands of people. Furthermore, the supply of troops ahead of him was never-ending.
Also, it was too conspicuous to have it carried out in Golden Lake Prefecture.
”I definitely have to look for a more suitable place to allocate the remaining big group of troops…, the leaders of the pirates and their family members definitely have to be placed ashore to control them with ease, while the rest do not have to and can be placed in the lake, in the lake…, in the lake.…”
Xu Ting tugged his hair in frustration.
He finally understood that no matter how good a plan was, once executed, numerous unexpected issues would arise. Such situations tested the abilities of commanders.
”Small islands in the lake are too scattered! If they were so spread out, how could I rule them together?”
Xu Ting pondered.
In order to hide the troops in the lake, the most crucial problem to solve was where would the base be.
If they were to use those larger islands, it would be easily discovered by the fishermen who fish in the lake daily and also the numerous pirates in the area.
Unless…
”Sir!”
As he was deep in thoughts and scribbled on his desk, time past unknowingly and it was already dark outside.
A lovely maid carrying an oil lamp and meal boxes came forward.
”Luan'er?”
Xu Ting's gaze softened as he saw her, ”What brought you over personally?”
”I was told to specially come take care of you since you worked so hard on eradicating the pirates!”
Li Luan lit up the room, opened the meal boxes and laid out the dishes. There was a plate of roast chicken, a plate of drool-inducing braised pork leg, two plates vegetables and one bottle of wine. They were all Xu Ting's favourites.
”Haha, Luan'er knows me the best!”
After receiving a pair of chopsticks from Li Luan, Xu Ting took a bite and sang praises immediately, ”Your skills have improved… I better eat more today! Eh, how come there's no fish?”
On the shores of Golden Court Lake, fish was the most common dish.
Since he started eradicating the pirates, he seized countless dried fish. Hence, he asked curiously.
”Fish…”
Li Luan smiled unconvincingly, ”Sir, you wanted fish?”
”No! I'm already of sick of it…”
Xu Ting seemed like he remembered something and shook his hands.
In spite of that, Li Luan's face was still pale, it was as though dark clouds were looming over her.
As a thoughtful person, Xu Ting immediately realised the change in atmosphere. ”Do you have something that is troubling you…?”
”Indeed!”