"31 in favor. Denied."
Le Yu's "immature proposal" ultimately failed to pass.
It wasn't that everyone who opposed it was a shortsighted, "bird dies for food" miser. They simply didn't believe it was the best solution.
Or rather, the tone of Le Yu's proposal didn't fit the Silver Blood Society's style.
Deception was the Silver Blood Society's policy for dealing with the outside world.
Splitting one's bets was the secret to surviving in a chaotic age.
"Although the Coastal Army runs rampant throughout East Sun District, they'll eventually leave. The true masters of this land will always be the Silver Blood Society—the merchants, officials, and Heyang Army. If we merchants all surrender to the Coastal Army, how will Governor Quan Yuan see us? What about Prefect Yun Tianhe? Commander Gai Shiwen?"
"It's essential that we show goodwill toward Lan Yan, but the Prefectural Governor's Mansion, the Provincial Administration Commission, and the Heyang Army are also forces with which we must maintain good relations."
"Don't forget, Profound Candle Prefecture is still Prefect Yun Tianhe's home ground, and East Sun District remains Governor Quan Yuan's sphere of influence."
"Even if the military expenses can be cut in half, each of us will still have to hand over at least forty percent of our assets. That will seriously affect our commercial operations for the entire coming year."
Le Yu listened to everyone's reasons with a smile and nodded.
"You all make valid points, but we still have to discuss a preliminary plan today, so please speak freely—but there's no need to spout any meaningless nonsense. Even if you want to deceive Lan Yan, you'll have to offer him a sufficiently fat bait to stall him for a while."
"Everyone has to eat shit at some point in life. It's nothing to be ashamed