Sudden Power

People always like to imagine others in the way they themselves think they are.

A gentle breeze blew across the pavilion. Yuan Hao glanced at the koi in the pond, his voice calm and measured. "Just like before I met the Third Young Master, I thought you would be even more flamboyant."

After saying that,

Yuan Hao bowed deeply to Xu Yuan with his hands clasped in front of him.

"I, Yuan, have entered the city without the Third Young Master's permission. I beg the Third Young Master to punish me."

"."

Xu Yuan glanced at him, slowly sat down on the stone bench in front of him, and shook his head:

"When a general is in the field, he may disobey orders. Commander Yuan's decision based on local conditions is correct. Moreover, Commander Yuan and I share the same idea, so what punishment is there for this?"

Yuan Hao abandoned his formalities, casually sat down opposite him, a hint of surprise in his eyes:

"Agree on the same idea?"

Xu Yuan looked at Yuan Hao and stated his attitude towards the whole matter directly. "I don't believe that the higher-ups of the Wanxiang Sect have any remorse."

Yuan Hao's eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his lips curled up:

"The Third Young Master is right. Only by killing can we stop the killing. Only by killing until these people are afraid can we solve the problem."

"Stop killing with killing?"

Xu Yuan stroked the rim of the wine glass, lifted it to take a small sip, and then subconsciously glanced at the warm wine pot in front of him.

This wine was actually the lowest quality yellow wine, with a bitter and astringent taste.

Upon seeing the other person's gaze, Yuan Hao explained softly:

"This is one of Mr. Yuan's little hobbies. He used to drink this when he was down on his luck, and now he's not used to drinking those fine wines."

Xu Yuan understood immediately, downed the cup of yellow wine in one gulp, and then said:

"So, Commander Yuan's Jingguan) back then was also an attempt to stop the killing with killing?"

"."

Yuan Hao also raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, looking at Xu Yuan, his voice very soft:

"No,

"That's just one of my little hobbies."

"."

silence.

Xu Yuan sighed and smiled, "It seems there's some truth to the rumors."

Yuan Hao grinned:

"However, Third Young Master, you do not match the rumors."

Maybe.

Xu Yuan shook his head, not lingering on the matter, and returned to the main topic:

"Commander Yuan, although the residential area around Pingshui Bay is large, it shouldn't be easy to hide the 3,500 people who need to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. How long will it take for the army to regroup and be fully organized?"

"It will take anywhere from three to five days."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hao also suppressed his smile, and as he spoke, he glanced in the direction of the courtyard gate:

"However, Third Young Master, there is no need to worry about this matter. Bai Zhao has already made arrangements for these things. More than a month's worth of dry rations and water have been prepared in advance in each courtyard where the soldiers are hidden."

"With such meticulous attention to detail, this person is indeed a talented individual."

"He is indeed very capable," Yuan Hao agreed wholeheartedly.

Xu Yuan paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "You should have investigated him before, right?"

Yuan Hao looked slightly surprised, but still nodded:

"We've investigated. After all, if he betrays us, these elite troops entering the city could easily be wiped out here."

"How is it?" Xu Yuan asked.

"Is the Third Young Master planning to promote him?" Yuan Hao.

"It would be such a waste for capable people to die in this Wanxiang City," Xu Yuan replied.

Yuan Hao considered for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"Although I had intelligence from the Black Scale Guard, I still came early and observed him from the shadows for most of the week. Bai Zhao had two secret meetings, one with the sect and one with the government. There was nothing unusual, except that his lust for power was a bit too strong."

He paused for a moment,

Yuan Hao chuckled and added, "Moreover, his daughter was brought over specifically these past two days."

Xu Yuan listened carefully, his expression calm.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Hao asked:

"It seems the Third Young Master already knows?"

"You used too much force, that's why it's noticeable."

"Does the young master still intend to use him?"

Why not use it?

Xu Yuan countered with a question, a picture of him comforting his daughter flashing through his mind, and smiled:

"It's all irrelevant. The Pingshui Gang is only superficially prosperous. Any real influential person in Wanxiang City could bring them to ruin. They've been cautious for decades; it would be a lie to say they don't want to climb the ranks."

"Moreover, not for the sake of power, I would actually suspect him."

"Bai Zhao has been here for almost thirty years. Does Commander Yuan think it's realistic to expect someone who has been independent for decades to remain loyal?"

"."

Yuan Hao didn't respond. Xu Yuan could say these words casually, but Yuan Hao couldn't just respond to them casually.

Xu Yuan also realized this, poured himself a full glass of yellow wine, raised it, and laughed:

"Bai Zhao's Pingshui Gang reached its limit in Wanxiang City ten years ago. If it grows any bigger, both the government and the Wanxiang Sect will deal with it. It's good that he wants to climb the ranks, and it takes courage to gamble with his relatives. With his cultivation level, he is destined not to betray us. When Commander Yuan leaves, we can take him with us."

Clink glasses and drink it all.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan asked:

"Alright, let's talk about the plan."

Yuan Hao tapped the stone table lightly with his calloused fingers, not answering, but instead asking:

"Third Young Master, what are your thoughts?"

"My thoughts?"

Xu Yuan was slightly surprised. It seemed that although Yuan Hao enjoyed killing, he had a high level of political awareness. After a pause, he asked in return, "What were the orders my father gave you?"

Yuan Hao stared at Xu Yuan and uttered a sentence:

"The Prime Minister said that the Third Young Master will be fully responsible for this matter."

"."

Xu Yuan was taken aback upon hearing this, and subconsciously glanced in the direction of the Wanxiang Mountain. After turning back, he asked somewhat uncertainly:

What does that mean?

Yuan Hao said softly:

"Literal meaning,

"The Wanxiang Sect's mountain gate is located beside Duanhai Waterfall, adjacent to Wanxiang City. If you, Third Young Master, simply wish to coerce us, I will form an array outside the city and feign an attack. If you, Third Young Master, wish to teach the Wanxiang Sect a lesson, I can destroy Wanxiang City. If you, Third Young Master, wish to annihilate the sect..."

At this point, Yuan Hao laughed, a clean and hearty laugh:

"I can wipe out the Wanxiang Sect."

"This is what the Prime Minister intends."

"."

Xu Yuan's mind went blank for a moment.

What's going on?

Wasn't the previous communication intended to have him come over for negotiations?

He was familiar with this matter; in his previous life, he had negotiated and discussed with other companies quite a bit while working at the old man's subsidiary.

Now that they have the moral high ground and the threat of force, no one can resist talking to them.

But judging from Yuan Hao's current meaning...

It seems he's become a field army commander now?

Aren't you afraid he'll mess it up?

Is his father, the Prime Minister, going straight for the high-intensity level?

Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan didn't speak immediately. He poured himself another cup of rice wine and drank it all in one gulp.

The pavilion was quiet. Yuan Hao waited patiently for Xu Yuan's orders, while Xu Yuan drank cup after cup of cheap yellow wine.

After finishing the pot of warm wine, Xu Yuan exhaled a breath of stale air and chuckled softly.

"Commander Yuan, you seem to really want me to choose the latter."

Yuan Hao smiled slightly and said without any concealment:

"Of course, such opportunities to slaughter a sect don't come often."

Xu Yuan slowly stood up, and after slightly adjusting his mindset, spoke very softly:

"I will make you do it if necessary."

Yuan Hao licked his lips, grinned, stood up, and clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"Yuan Hao, await your command, young master."

It's a bit late.

Three more solo updates and four more combined updates (for Alliance Leaders) are still owed.