Chapter 1051: Cooperation

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Murong Xue frowned and sighed, “Baili Jingwei isn’t so easy to fool, seeing through the empty city tactic.”

“What now? Once he figures out the ruse, it’ll be disastrous.”

Ling Yuntian turned to Zhuo Fan for help, “Sir Zhuo, what do we do next? Please tell us!”

Murong Xue smirked and got before Ling Yuntian and showing no courtesy this time as she reproached, “Sect Leader Ling, how can you still put your trust in him? It’s because of his dumb idea that we lost three lands. Asking any more of his help would lead to the loss of northern lands as well!”

“Even if you don’t listen, you’ll still lose. What’s that got to do with me? Tch.” Zhuo Fan scoffed.

Murong Xue glared at him.

Ling Yuntian ignored Murong Xue as all the elders awaited Zhuo Fan’s saving grace.

Zhuo Fan smirked, being awfully obtuse, “I’ve expected this to happen, so rest assured that everything is going according to plan.”

“Humph, more bragging. The enemy saw through your empty city tactic and yet you still say that?” Murong Xue mocked him at every chance.

Zhuo Fan smirked, “Miss Xue, restrain your wild speculation. I have never said I was using the empty city tactic, now have I? It’s only your biased assumption. I had planned for them to invade the lands from the start, to lure them in. Shouldn’t we be glad the enemy is playing alone?”

“Luring?” Everyone gasped.

Murong Xue grew more outraged, “Lure? You take us all for military ignoramus? Luring means drawing the enemy into a trap or a favorable position to attack. But from your order, the three lands’ armies have set no ambush, all going back to their bases. What’s the point in luring them into your home, to kill you?” 

“What do women know of war, it’s all about applying tactics and wisdom.” 

Zhuo Fan smirked in disdain, “Three days have passed. Have the three lands fallen back to their bases?”

“Uh, eastern lands and southern lands had sent word they did.”

Ling Yuntian nodded, “Only western lands had used a day to question the order, wasting precious time instead of following orders, but they should be on their way still.”

Zhuo Fan nodded, “Western lands, with my Clan Head in charge of the army, ha-ha-ha. He’s just like his godfather, so hiccups are bound to happen, acting as if not hearing the lord’s orders. But with his just command, while others need three days to retreat, two should be enough for him. I believe his ranks are the tightest and can reach…”

“Report!”

A disciple barged in and bowed with a jade slip in hands, “Western lands sent word their armies have reached their base, waiting for Steward Zhuo’s commands!”

Zhuo Fan grinned, “It’s been so long since anyone called me that. They’ll soon come knocking, I’m sure. There’s no avoiding it, ha-ha-ha…”

“Guard!”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed, “Each land base has a teleportation array to the northern lands. Tell all of them to come to me. Our battle will be in the northern lands!”

“Yes, sir!”

The disciple rushed to comply, while the oldies were dumbfounded. Exalted Hei Ran was even panicking, “Z-Zhuo Fan, what are you doing? Are you calling everyone here to protect northern lands? What about our homes, just let them take it?”

“If you just wanted to combine the alliance’s forces to protect one area, we would’ve long come to an agreement instead of asking for your help. It’s because we want to protect our homes as well that we found ourselves unable to come to a decision. So why…” 

Shangguan Feixiong hesitated, “Zhuo Fan, as a western lander, you should’ve sided with western lands, so why are you focusing on the desolate northern lands? Also, what did Ling Yuntian give you to play favorites?”

Ling Yuntian was frantic to deny, speaking in a solemn tone, but his smile couldn’t be hidden, “Shangguan Clan Head, I believe in Sir Zhuo to be fighting for everyone’s best interests.”

“Cut the crap! Of course you’re on his side since he’s fighting for your home. But what about our homes? Are they just going to be abandoned?”

Shangguan Feixiong roared, unable to hold it in, feeling like he was led by the nose all along.

Zhuo Fan gave him a cold look, his tone low and rough, “You’re welcome to fight if you don’t want your lands back. But if you do, stop and listen to my orders!”

The others went quiet, looking at Zhuo Fan with hope.

“Like Shangguan Clan Head said, what would be the point of taking the lead if it’s just about focusing on defending one land?”

Zhuo Fan mocked, “But would you have been able to focus without me? All of you know survival comes from standing together, but each of you have their own turf. Without me to mediate, you’d all rather die than choose any land to defend. You know deep down that I’m right.”

Shangguan Feixiong sighed, “Yes, none would agree to choose a land to protect. I am from eastern lands and would never abandon my home for northern lands. Why couldn’t the rest of you protect mine instead? Everyone must think the same thing. But even so, we’d rather die home than then become another’s sacrificial pawns. But you…”

“Gave us no choice but to abandon our homes and protect a stranger’s!” Murong Lie shouted as Shangguan Feixiong trailed off in indignation, “You played us into abandoning our homes!” 

Everyone gave a firm nod of approval.

Ling Yuntian was the only one beaming though, finding himself a winner, “Don’t be so difficult people, although Sir Zhuo hasn’t been fair, he made a hard decision for us, to unite. I promise to treat everyone with utmost respect once they come to northern lands. You’re free to feel right at home.” 

Bah!

[Way to rub it in, humph.]

Staring daggers at him, everyone grew annoyed.

“This is what the average man would do. If I had stopped here, then there’d be no point in making me the Grand Marshal of the alliance!”

While they were all morose, Zhuo Fan smiled.

That caught their attention.

Zhuo Fan continued, “When you thought of joining forces, you only thought of defending. But I have no concept of defense. I want them all brought here to attack. You need to risk things to gain something, to let your wife go, uh, that part I’d rather not. Ha-ha-ha, in any case, the abandoned lands are now juicy meat for the starved wolves. But soon, very soon, I’ll make Baili Jingwei regret even catching a whiff of that meat, forcing him to spit them back out. Worry not, every land will be back in your hands in time. That, I promise!” 

They all were filled with hope. 

[Truly?]

While doubts existed, they had no choice but to play along since they were in the same boat. With the lands lost, they could only follow through Zhuo Fan’s plan to the end to get them back.

Only Murong Xue, as usual, refused to believe any word that came out of that devil’s mouth. She only felt he was deluding them for something or somewhat.

[Rotten punk, I’m not letting you out of my sight. I’ll figure out your game!]

[With the lands lost, that leaves northern lands the only defense. I won’t let you cause destruction here as well!]

In the Double Dragon Manor, Luo Yunhai pointed at the tactical map with a frown, “Zither Sword King is marching unhinged, right on our tail. There’s nothing stopping them. And without the defenses at the border, we thought we’d last barely a month, but now I see even a week is an exaggeration. The land is doomed!”

“Steward Zhuo’s empty city tactic was seen through!” Zhuge Changfeng sighed in worry.

Even the three great minds thought Zhuo Fan used deception in his order. Now they sighed in sorrow at the loss of western lands for the tactic failing. 

The tent flap was pushed back and Tuoba Tieshan came in in distress, “There’s another order. All forces of the three lands are to use the teleportation array to go to northern lands. The final battle will be waged there!”

Everyone gasped, “Going to northern lands not to flee but to fight? Was this Steward Zhuo’s plan all along? It isn’t a deviation? To get everyone to the northern lands?”

They all were perplexed at the order.

[What is Steward Zhuo even after?]

Tuoba Tieshan sighed, “Zhuo Fan is unreadable. I just can’t see through him…”

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