Over the next few days, rumors flew everywhere across the Western Three Commanderies of the Eastern Territories, growing fiercer by the day. They even showed signs of spreading eastward, into Huaixi and Hebei, and as far as the Eastern Capital, the Jin Region, and Jiangdu.
In fact, however, the senior leaders of the Exorcising the Dragon Gang at the center of the maelstrom had calmed down by then and swiftly begun substantive discussions-Zhang and Li promptly discussed the most fundamental division of interests, Xu Dalang yielded, Fifth Wang Lang stated his position, and Dan Tonghai received the letter in Hebei and quickly sent a response.
They dared not do otherwise. How far had they really come yet?
If a major internal clash truly erupted, their prosperity would turn to decline, leaving them to perish on their own and proving the charge that they were a disorderly mob with no future.
So, judging deeds rather than hearts, and setting aside certain private sordid dealings and ugly displays, the outward speed of their compromises and reconciliation was still remarkable... In a few swift moves, it seemed as though this crisis had never happened at all.
Conversely, though, this could not stop the rumors from erupting and spreading.
The reasons could not have been simpler.
First, although public rumors and the actual crisis were somewhat misaligned—the former focused on Zhang Xing and Li Shu's supposed longstanding antagonism, while the latter centered more on practical issues such as the Eastern Territories Powerful Clans maintaining private troops, withholding revenue, and interfering in judicial and personnel affairs—the two did not contradict each other. Li Shu had held firm until now partly because he had his own locally oriented regional command staff, and partly because those domineering local powerholders had served as his shield. Those powerholders' unchecked