Was Wutan City too small for the Xiao Clan to play with on its own?
In other words, Zhang Yuan believed that the Xiao Clan should dominate Wutan City.
Xiao Zhan's heart jolted, but he was not particularly surprised by Zhang Yuan's answer.
When Zhang Yuan had been young and heard him speak of the Xiao Clan and Zhang Family's history, he had said that he would one day lead both families back to their peak. The Xiao Clan taking sole control of Wutan City was only the first step.
He lowered his head in thought for a moment before saying, "Are you planning to trap them with the charge of assassinating the Empire's Black Armored Guard?"
"If you only revealed the strength of a Peak Dou Master, they might send Da Dou Shi experts to assassinate you, and you could still scheme against them. But after this morning's battle, they will certainly know that it would take at least three Da Dou Shi to take you down. They probably will not take that risk."
Zhang Yuan shook his head. "The charge of merely surrounding and killing a Black Armored Guard captain is nowhere near enough to shake those two families. Even if they are caught, they can cut off their tails to survive."
As he spoke, he took a map of the Jia Ma Empire from his Storage Ring and laid it on the table. Then he pointed to a certain spot and said, "Uncle, what do you think of this force?"
Xiao Zhan stared at it for a while. His pupils suddenly constricted as he said in shock, "You mean they are colluding with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits!?"
The Jia Ma Empire lay in a corner of the Northwestern Region, one of the nine great regions of the Dou Qi Continent. Most of its territory consisted of plains, and it contained nine provinces. The Imperial Capital, Jia Ma Sacred City, and the Misty Cloud Sect were both located in the far north of Northern Province, while Wutan City stood in the southwestern part of Northeast Province, close to the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
The Magical Beast Mountain Range was the longest enormous mountain range within the Jia Ma Empire, nearly stretching across the entire empire. It was famous because magical beasts roamed within it, making human settlement impossible.
Such a vast mountain range naturally branched into many smaller ranges, like the fine veins in a leaf, spreading throughout the empire. The Illusionary Mist Mountain Range was one such branch in the southern part of Northeast Province. It was famous for being shrouded year-round in mist with hallucinatory effects. It was considered a minor forbidden zone in Northeast Province, with scarcely any human presence throughout the year.
The Illusionary Mist Mountain Range did not cover a particularly large area, but its location was crucial. It blocked travel and communication between several major cities in southern Northeast Province, as well as passage to Southeast Province and Eastern Province.
For this reason, the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family led local families in constructing three trade routes, one official road, and several temporary rest checkpoints within the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range.
The Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits were a gang of bandits active in the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range for more than a decade. At first, they were all Dou Masters who made their living through murder, robbery, and plundering merchant caravans. Their number had always remained at nine.
Over the past decade, the Northeast Province authorities of the Jia Ma Empire had not failed to send troops and experts to eliminate them. However, the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits possessed some secret technique that allowed them to move freely through the illusory mist, which even Dou Wang experts found difficult to withstand or see through for long. It was extremely difficult to wipe them out completely.
As long as they were not completely exterminated, they would recruit new Dou Masters to join them and continue maintaining their number at nine.
Now, three of the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits were Da Dou Shi, while the remaining six were all High-Rank Dou Masters.
All nine bandits were wanted criminals listed by the Empire, yet they had never been fully wiped out.
Nowadays, whenever merchant caravans or individuals passed through Misty Mountain, unless pressed for time, they would specifically choose suitable days to do so.
"That's right. They will collude with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits." Zhang Yuan nodded heavily.
Xiao Zhan's breathing quickened. "Where did you learn of this? Is it truly reliable? Can we directly report them to the city lord?"
The existence of the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits had practically turned Northeast Province into a laughingstock before the other provinces. After all, mere Dou Masters and Da Dou Shi had somehow evaded complete capture even after Dou Wang experts were deployed.
It was only because Northeast Province remained a main force in resisting external powers such as the Chuyun Empire that the other provinces did not mock it too harshly. But everyone from Northeast Province hated the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to the bone.
If there was evidence proving that the Jia Lie family and Ao Ba Clan were colluding with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, the entire Jia Ma Empire would have no place for them.
"As for evidence, I cannot say for now. Perhaps there is some, perhaps there is not." Zhang Yuan handed the cup to Xun Er.
Xiao Zhan froze, confused. "What do you mean?"
Tapping his fingers on the table, Zhang Yuan said, "Uncle, I studied the Xiao Clan's intelligence reports from the past few years. When Xiao Clan merchant caravans traveled south for trade, they were robbed by the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits several times. The Jia Lie family and Ao Ba Clan have suffered the same, but each time, only inexpensive daily supplies were taken. Don't you find that strange?"
Xiao Zhan frowned in thought. "You believe they have an understanding with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, using these robberies to transport supplies as payment for passage?"
Zhang Yuan nodded.
Xiao Zhan sighed. "That possibility is indeed very high, but it is still only your speculation. Without solid evidence, it will not work. So many years have already passed. They will not possibly let us catch them by the tail."
Zhang Yuan smiled as if everything were under his control. "Uncle, why search for evidence from the past? Whether they colluded before or not, wouldn't it be enough to prove that they are colluding now?"
Xiao Zhan wore a puzzled expression.
Zhang Yuan explained calmly, "The Black Armored Guard is rotating with the Dragon Guard and will be stationed at Qingyun Town for the next three years."
"Qingyun Town lies at the intersection of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Southeast Province, and Eastern Province. If I lead my men from Wutan City to Qingyun Town by a detour, it will take more than half a month longer. Even if we leave today, we will miss our military deadline. Therefore, we must take the official road through Misty Mountain."
"This is the season when the mist in Misty Mountain is especially dense. Major merchant caravans either travel together or wait at the checkpoints for the mist to clear before setting out, but I must pass through as quickly as possible."
"Heaven's timing, favorable terrain, and human advantage have all been handed to them. What do you think they will do?"
Hiss!
Xiao Zhan slapped his thigh, his eyes shining brightly.
Zhang Yuan was only sixteen and already a One-Star Da Dou Shi. He could even crush Jia Lie Bi across realms. Such talent was exceedingly rare throughout the history of the Jia Ma Empire. Now that he had joined the Empire's military, he would certainly receive attention and cultivation.
It would probably not take many years for him to become a Dou Ling, then rise to become the commander of the Black Armored Guard.
At that point, could the Jia Lie family and Ao Ba Clan still maintain their footing in Wutan City?
No!
And with every step they retreated, they would retreat further still. The two families would gradually decline as they watched the Xiao Clan rise again.
As long as those two families did not want that day to come, they would certainly take the risk and make one final desperate gamble.
And colluding with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits was the perfect method Zhang Yuan had delivered to them. Naturally, they would step into the trap.
No wonder Zhang Yuan had said it did not matter whether they had colluded in the past, because they would definitely collude very soon.
What a ruthless scheme!
And Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa would never see it coming.
If Xiao Yan were present, he would surely shout, "Entrapment!"
"Uncle, make preparations." Zhang Yuan stood. "There will be a battle in a few days. I will first go see our city lord and find out whether he can be used."
Xiao Zhan readily agreed.
That night, Zhang Yuan openly entered the city lord's residence and held a "secret meeting" with City Lord Lin Zhengqing for nearly two hours.
Not long afterward, news spread that Lin Zhengqing thought highly of Zhang Yuan and intended to recommend a Black Armored Guard commander to him.
The next morning, the Mittel Auction House also released news that it would cooperate with the Xiao Clan to establish a merchant caravan specifically traveling between Qingyun Town and Wutan City. Independent mercenaries and wandering cultivators interested in joining the guard unit could sign up.
When these two pieces of news reached Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa, they finally made up their minds to eliminate Zhang Yuan.
As long as Zhang Yuan died, whether it was the city lord's favor or the Mittel Auction House's cooperation, it would all vanish like smoke.
At that point, they would not even need to join forces to suppress the Xiao Clan. They could still maintain the former balance.
For a time, undercurrents surged through Wutan City, though the surface remained calm.
Time passed like a galloping white horse, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
Before Wutan City's gates, Zhang Yuan and his personal guards sat atop Silver-Horned Black Rhinoceros Horses, fully armed and ready to depart. There was one more person in the group than when they had returned: Xiao Boyuan, who had broken through to Dou Master after taking the Lightning Pattern Pill and had voluntarily become Zhang Yuan's personal guard again.
The Xiao Clan's senior members and direct descendants, Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni of Mittel, and City Lord Lin Zhengqing had all personally come to see them off.
After a round of pleasantries, Zhang Yuan prepared to lead his men away.
At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted from the direction of the city gates, drawing everyone's attention.
Jia Lie Qing, the Great Elder of the Jia Lie family, and Ao Ba Pa, the clan leader of Ao Ba Clan, hurried over with their men.
"Captain Zhang Yuan, please wait!"
(End of Chapter)
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