Sikong Zun’s shamelessness was not the first time, so Ling Xiao was even too lazy to argue with him about it.
He now only wanted to enter the city as quickly as possible.
Seeing Ling Xiao open the gates of Beimo City with just one sentence, the crowd’s admiration grew even stronger.
Of course, some among them felt jealousy and resentment.
For example, Sikong Zun.
For example, Jia Yun.
And most people from Shenhuang Academy.
“Commander, in my view, why bother talking nonsense with these fellows? Just kill our way in!”
In the crowd, Jia Yun said coldly.
Although every city had special protective arrays that made it hard to conquer, in Jia Yun’s opinion, they had the Phoenix Bird Knight Regiment and Sikong Zun, this array master. Conquering Beimo City should be relatively easy.
He did not care how many people died. He only cared about his own face.
These barbarians in Beimo City dared not let him enter to rest but allowed Ling Xiao and his lowly humans in. How could he tolerate that?
Sikong Zun shook his head and said, “Young Jia, we are here to subjugate the Black Crow Empire, not to kill each other. Let us wait a moment and see what method the supervisor has to make Ji Ning open the gates.”
If they could occupy Beimo City with the least cost and sideline Ji Ning, he would naturally be happy.
Using Ling Xiao a bit was not bad.
If they attacked by force, he was confident he could take Beimo City, but the losses would probably be heavy.
After all, Beimo City had stood here for over a decade without being conquered by the Black Crow Empire. There was naturally a reason for that.
Moreover, he knew in his heart why he had come. If he acted openly reckless, it would confirm his identity as a True Demon Empire spy. Then even with a thousand or ten thousand mouths, he probably could not explain it clearly.
“Very well, I will listen to the commander.”
Jia Yun cursed Sikong Zun inwardly as a hypocrite but dared not say more.
Though he was the young alliance leader of the Righteous Alliance, out here, far from the emperor, if Sikong Zun really wanted to kill him, he probably had no way to resist.
It was better to keep a low profile.
“Rest in place.”
Sikong Zun said to the messenger soldier.
“All troops hear the order: rest in place!”
The messenger soldier soon galloped off to convey the command.
The soldiers had no objections to resting in place.
After all, Ling Xiao had already entered the city. It seemed Ling Xiao had deep ties with Beimo City. Perhaps they could enter soon. Waiting a bit was nothing.
Of course, without Supervisor Ling Xiao present, they might really have rebelled. A battle would probably have been inevitable.
At this time, Ling Xiao and the others had arrived at the city lord’s mansion.
The atmosphere in Beimo City was very tense, truly giving the feeling of an approaching storm filling the towers. On the streets, wounded soldiers with bandaged heads occasionally passed, still persisting at their posts.
Ling Xiao sighed inwardly. It seemed Beimo City had just gone through a major battle. The soldiers were exhausted, no wonder they dared not let Sikong Zun enter casually.
“Ling Xiao, you finally came!”
Ji Ning personally came out from the city lord’s mansion to welcome them. He was not injured but was dusty and travel-worn, still wearing armour that looked dirty. It probably had not been removed for several days.
“General, it seems Beimo City really suffered a strong assault from the Black Crow Empire?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Let us talk inside.”
Ji Ning made a gesture of invitation, then walked while saying, “Strange to say, the Black Crow Empire had not invaded the northern border for several months. Yet just a few days before the border trial began, they suddenly attacked Beimo City.
What is most puzzling is that it is not the grain harvest season now. They were not here to rob grain.
It is also not the season when the Black Crow Empire lacks grain. They would not starve, nor need to attack Beimo City.
In the past, when the Black Crow Empire did this, it was because they lacked grain or Beimo City had a bountiful harvest. But this time it was very suspicious.”
“Does the general think there is something fishy here?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Humph, over these years, I have long seen through the thoughts of that Ice Phoenix clan emperor. He is unwilling to remain subordinate to the Righteous Alliance forever, so he wants to find ways to disintegrate the Righteous Alliance’s power. And I am one of the pillars of the Righteous Alliance.”
Ji Ning said coldly.
“The great general is also from the Righteous Alliance?”
Ling Xiao asked in surprise.
“The Righteous Alliance was founded by Ji Fuling and Yu Xuanyue, initially to quell wars, later to guide the Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix clans in electing emperors to maintain peace. It’s just that the current alliance leader’s mindset has changed a bit. The things he does are different from before.”
Ji Ning sighed and said, “That emperor wants to be a permanent ruler, so he must abolish the Righteous Alliance!”
“There is actually such a thing.”
Though Ling Xiao had long known that emperor was not simple, he still had not thought of this point.
From this perspective, the emperor and the people from the True Demon Empire were probably using each other.
“You do not like politics, so you do not understand.”
As they spoke, the two had entered the room. Someone had already prepared tea and sent it to everyone.
“General, there is a statement that might be presumptuous, but I think most of the soldiers in that expeditionary army are still good. They may not know the emperor’s thoughts. They simply want to fight the Black Crow Empire. We cannot keep letting them bake under the scorching sun, right?”
Ling Xiao led the conversation to what he wanted to say.
“This is indeed a problem. If we let them in, with the current combat power in the city, it would probably be hard to stop them from seizing power. But if we do not let them in, it confirms my crime of rebellion. The emperor would have more justification to deal with me.”
Ji Ning now had a bit of a headache.
He was an outstanding general but definitely not an outstanding strategist. He really had a headache over these matters.
“If the general trusts me, may I offer a plan?”
Ling Xiao was a cunning fellow.
Even he himself admitted this.
However, when it came to schemes, he was after all only sixteen and not that proficient.
But ever since that strange water sphere in his spirit sea shattered, he not only gained many new memories but also much fresh knowledge.
He did not know where these things came from but felt they were all good.
Especially after singing that battle song, this feeling became even stronger.
Among the many pieces of knowledge, there were those about schemes.
“Please speak, young master.”
Though Ji Ning knew Ling Xiao was the descendant of his great benefactor and master Ji Fuling, and was naturally very warm towards Ling Xiao, he did not take Ling Xiao’s words seriously.
After all, Ling Xiao was too young. Though talented, in terms of strength or wisdom, he surely could not compare to those who had lived decades or even over a hundred years.
But he could not directly refuse, so he let Ling Xiao speak for him to hear.
Knowing Ji Ning did not believe him, Ling Xiao told Ji Ning a story. This story was precisely from the newly added memories in his mind.
Those memories were truly marvellous. Ling Xiao increasingly felt that they might be the precious wealth left to him by the Human King.
