: So-Called "Fairness"

Author: Gu Zhenren

2025-02-10

According to the military decree issued by Du Tiechuan, even if the Red Flower Camp bought up their entire quota of heavy armor, it still wouldn't be enough to equip all their soldiers.

With the major battle approaching, all the armies had been expanding recruitment and conducting frequent training drills these days.

This left Ning Zhuo in a dilemma.

Should he choose Mu Lan or Liu Er?

The more Ning Zhuo thought about it, the harder the decision became.

Both were Golden Core stage cultivators.

In terms of combat power, Mu Lan was clearly superior.

Once she used her divine ability, the Sincere Swan Arrow, paired with her Red Phoenix Bow and Fierce Heart Arrows, her combat power would skyrocket to an exaggerated level—reaching the point of rivaling a peak Nascent Soul cultivator!

As for Liu Er's combat power, it was also quite considerable, ranking at the top tier among Golden Core cultivators.

In terms of status, Mu Lan was the sole heir of the Mu General's Mansion in Liangzhu Country, firmly part of the upper echelons. However, the entire Mu General's Mansion was in a precarious situation, eyed covetously by the court. Even the King of Liangzhu Country had attempted to abolish it.

Liu Er also had status, even a more impressive background—he was a royal clansman of the Blood Slaughter Imperial Dynasty. But while this status would place him high above in the Blood Slaughter Imperial Dynasty, nowadays, it wasn't particularly advantageous, merely an empty title.

Moreover, Liu Er's mixed human-demon bloodline identity was quite unwelcome in the mainstream cultivation world.

In terms of financial resources.

Mu Lan was poor, Liu Er even poorer.

In terms of connections.

Even though Mu Lan and the Mu General's Mansion were in a difficult position, they still had some connections within the Liangzhu court.

Liu Er was quite weak in this aspect, but through the Yin-Yang Unity Pot, Ning Zhuo could vaguely sense that Liu Er's origins weren't as simple and superficial as they appeared.

Mu Lan and Ning Zhuo had a husband-wife relationship, but it was essentially an alliance of interests.

The alliance of interests between Liu Er and Ning Zhuo was actually closer and more solid than that between Mu Lan and Ning Zhuo. Because long ago, Ning Zhuo had started investing in the Three Generals Camp.

To this day, Ning Zhuo remained the biggest financial backer of the Three Generals Camp!

Ning Zhuo fell silent for a moment, unconsciously stroking the mechanism ring on his finger.

Unfortunately, this situation didn't involve his personal safety, so the mechanism ring remained motionless, showing no reaction.

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "Generals, I have a rather unrefined idea."

"Have you two ever considered... merging into one army?"

Ning Zhuo glanced at Mu Lan, then looked at Liu Er: "We have limited heavy armor, enough only for a little over half our soldiers."

"In this situation, the Three Generals Camp could discharge some soldiers and merge into the Red Flower Camp."

"After this major battle concludes, we can separate and rebuild our formations. That would be acceptable."

Mu Lan's eyes lit up: "That's a pretty good method."

"Normally, my Red Flower Camp would absolutely not accept so many outsiders. Mainly because the Red Flower Battle Formation requires skilled hands and years of training."

"For us, more soldiers aren't necessarily better."

"But this major battle is meant to implement Marshal Du's military tactic, Iron Torrent Sweeps the Plains. Therefore, the Red Flower Battle Formation can't be formed, and we might even win in a single battle. So, adding many outsiders is acceptable."

In contrast, Liu Er showed a troubled expression: "General Mu Lan, Military Advisor, please allow me to return and consider this."

Mu Lan snorted coldly: "Then you'd better decide quickly."

She stopped looking at Liu Er and turned her gaze to Ning Zhuo: "Husband, let's not talk about other things for now. Let's go together to the quartermaster's to buy our full quota."

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands and smiled wryly: "General Mu Lan, it's better to just call me by my name or military title. Our relationship was also a twist of fate, not to be taken seriously."

Mu Lan waved her hand: "I am a daughter of a military family, never concerned with trivial matters like reputation."

"In the peril of war, compared to life and death, what does mere reputation matter?"

"Life and death are the big issues!"

"Let's hurry and go."

Mu Lan urged repeatedly. Ning Zhuo had no choice but to apologize to Liu Er and leave with Mu Lan.

Liu Er, displeased and heavy-hearted, headed back towards the Three Generals Camp.

"I bear a royal mandate and have aspired since childhood to establish a nation for demon cultivators."

"My master advised me to maintain an independent status if possible."

"If I cannot lead my own army, it will be difficult for merits to be allocated to me. After all, I am just a mixed-blood half-demon."

"Ah, Master, where are you? What should I do?"

Liu Er estimated that the best scenario would be for Ning Zhuo to favor the Three Generals Camp and allocate all the heavy armor in hand to them.

But putting himself in Ning Zhuo's shoes, he felt this possibility was extremely slim.

"After all, Ning Zhuo and Mu Lan are husband and wife. Moreover, Mu Lan's status is noble, her background far superior to mine."

"Although Ning Zhuo is young and passionate, he comes from a great clan and is sufficiently skilled at weighing pros and cons."

"If he ultimately chooses to favor the Red Flower Camp, I wouldn't be surprised and would completely understand."

"What should I do?"

Ning Zhuo had provided too much support to the Three Generals Camp. Liu Er now realized he had no grounds to persuade Ning Zhuo.

Liu Er then thought of the Yin-Yang Unity Pot.

"If I gift this item to him, would it make Ning Zhuo favor us more?"

He shook his head with a bitter smile.

As he approached the main gate of the Three Generals Camp, a new idea occurred to Liu Er.

He thought of a person.

"Perhaps I can ask him for help?"

White Jade Camp.

Shuang Jing stood before the commander's tent, smiling as he welcomed Ning Zhuo's arrival.

"Young friend Ning Zhuo, please come in." Shuang Jing gestured.

Ning Zhuo immediately bowed, expressing that he was immensely honored to receive such courtesy from Lord Shuang Jing.

Although he had once vehemently refused Shuang Jing's recruitment attempt, after the Mu Lan incident, he had hosted a banquet for those involved. Using his own methods, he had actually greatly improved his relationships with all parties.

Including his relationship with Shuang Jing.

Shuang Jing looked at the young man in white before him, inwardly sighing at Ning Zhuo's strange fortune. Previously, he would never have imagined that this sixteen-year-old, mere Foundation Establishment cultivator would become Mu Lan's husband and the son-in-law of the Mu General's Mansion!

The reason he stood welcoming before the tent was naturally not because of Ning Zhuo himself, but because of this identity tied to the Mu General's Mansion.

Ning Zhuo was led into the tent and quickly stated his purpose.

It turned out that although the White Jade Camp had a quota for heavy armor, they hadn't used a single one.

This wasn't because the White Jade Camp lacked the funds to purchase them, but because they were too wealthy, with ample military supplies. They already possessed superior heavy armor of their own, making external purchases unnecessary.

After the ambush battle, the White Jade Camp suffered heavy casualties, and due to the Old Monster in the Stone's plundering, they lost more than half of their military supplies.

But after returning to Canglin Immortal City for rest and reorganization, Shuang Jing vigorously rebuilt the White Jade Camp.

His financial resources were indeed not as ample as before, but the forces behind him were exerting effort, providing new support, contributing both money and personnel.

And his aunt, Shuang Ling, was a招牌 (flagship) Nascent Soul level figure within the Liangzhu royal family,本身就财力雄厚 (herself immensely wealthy), and even better than Shuang Jing at leveraging family and ally resources.

Shuang Ling's arrival brought a huge investment to the White Jade Camp.

While the Three Generals Camp, Red Flower Camp, Barbarian Demon Camp, and Golden Halberd Army, under the new military orders, attacked the Thousand Peaks Forest,

and they fought fiercely, conquering all the way, the White Jade Camp had been resting and training frantically in Woodwheel Town, their momentum growing day by day.

Hearing Ning Zhuo's request, Shuang Jing took a sip of tea. He didn't agree immediately, but nor did he refuse outright.

He was considering what conditions to propose would be appropriate.

Just then, the general's seal in his bosom trembled slightly, secretly conveying a piece of latest intelligence to him.

"Oh? Liu Er is also coming to visit me?"

"How interesting..."

Shuang Jing looked at Ning Zhuo and suddenly conceived a plan.

He smiled slightly and said to Ning Zhuo, "Young friend Ning Zhuo, I must trouble you to wait in the inner room for a short while. I have another guest I need to attend to."

Although Ning Zhuo and Liu Er were closely connected, he didn't inform Ning Zhuo of the visitor's identity.

Ning Zhuo smiled and immediately stood up: "The guest follows the host's convenience."

He then followed Shuang Jing's direction, entered the inner room, and sat down.

Shuang Jing pointed to a bookshelf nearby: "I have some leisure books here, young friend Ning Zhuo might as well read a couple to pass the time. I'll deal with the visitor quickly, and we can continue our discussion."

Liu Er followed a Golden Core level deputy general, moving through the White Jade Camp grounds.

Tall white jade stone walls surrounded the camp. Anti-cavalry barriers were all carved from white jade, layered with talismans.

Watchtowers were properly constructed towers, standing tall and upright. The tops of the towers were spacious, each equipped with mechanical crossbows.

On the flagpoles fluttered the White Jade Army flags. The dragon patterns embroidered with silver thread had gleaming eyes, as if ready to spread their wings and fly at any moment.

The soldiers trained in the wide grounds, each riding a goat, galloping and leaping about.

This made Liu Er particularly envious, as up to now, the Three Generals Camp hadn't been equipped with mounts.

Compared to the White Jade Camp, even with Ning Zhuo's support, the Three Generals Camp still seemed shabby and poor.

Liu Er stood before the commander's tent and announced his request for an audience.

Ning Zhuo in the inner room, hearing the familiar voice, started to rise.

Shuang Jing immediately activated the tent's power, confining Ning Zhuo to the inner room. Although Ning Zhuo could move freely inside, no sound could escape.

Shuang Jing, wearing a slight smile, leisurely took a sip of tea before speaking: "Enter."

Liu Er bowed his head, slightly lifted a corner of the tent flap, then with a respectful expression, stooped and entered the tent.

Incense burned inside the tent, filling it with a serene fragrance.

Shuang Jing sat imposingly above, his demeanor majestic, eyes profound. Every movement exuded a noble arrogance.

"Liu Er, what brings you here?" Shuang Jing asked directly, his tone flat. He didn't invite Liu Er to sit, his attitude not particularly courteous.

Liu Er saluted with clasped fists: "Lord Shuang Jing, this humble general has come because I heard you still have a quota for heavy armor, and I wish to request it."

"During the previous ambush battle, my Three Generals Camp helped the Red Flower Camp break free from Ma Feitui's entanglement. The Red Flower Camp came to reinforce your army, so my Three Generals Camp indirectly contributed."

"I ask that you consider this and accommodate us."

Shuang Jing remained silent for a long time.

Liu Er felt disappointed and puzzled, so he slowly raised his head. He saw Shuang Jing leisurely drinking his tea, calmly watching him. That sculpted face was full of arrogance and aloofness, his gaze carrying a strong sense of looking down.

"Liu Er."

Shuang Jing spoke: "You seem to underestimate the difficulty of this matter."

"Admittedly, I could use my quota to purchase heavy armor from the quartermaster and transfer it to you."

"But this isn't actually what Marshal Du wants to see."

Liu Er was slightly taken aback.

Shuang Jing continued: "Marshal Du, this person, appears fair and just, but actually harbors his own designs."

"Do you think this heavy armor quota was simply allocated evenly by the quartermaster based on the number of heavy armors?"

"Haha, don't be so naive."

"This is Marshal Du's deliberate arrangement!"

"He intentionally made the heavy armor quota less than the total needed for your armies, to induce you to merge and reduce troop numbers."

"Ultimately, using the Iron Torrent Sweeps the Plains as the standard, to eliminate unqualified armies."

"Eliminated armies will no longer share in the battle merits, saving a large amount of military supplies."

"Do you know how much he invested in building the review platform this time?"

Shuang Jing held up three fingers: "A conservative estimate is at least three million top-grade spirit stones!"

"So, he wants to sell the heavy armor at a high price."

"And also eliminate a large number of your personnel, streamlining the entire army."

"After this major battle, the remaining friendly armies will almost certainly be those enhanced by the military tactic Iron Torrent Sweeps the Plains. Therefore, they will all owe him gratitude, feel indebted to him, even pledge loyalty."

"This is Marshal Du's method. Even if you know about it, you're forced to comply."

"So, while it seems like I'm doing you a small favor, I'm actually disrupting Marshal Du's plan."

"The intangible cost I would pay is much greater than you imagine, even hard to measure. Do you understand?"

Liu Er stood dumbfounded, frozen in place, speechless for a moment.

Liangzhu Country was short on troops. The main several primary armies all had their own defensive lines to guard. Moving one affected the whole, so the King of Liangzhu hadn't mobilized them.

This time, he recruited from various sources, even issuing a Call for Talents decree, recruiting many new armies.

Weren't the Three Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang themselves recruited through the Call for Talents, using their own funds to form the Three Generals Camp?

Nobles like Shuang Jing weren't originally from the regular army either. This time, he and his family behind him saw the opportunity and chose to fund the formation of an army to participate in this great campaign.

This meant that the army commanded by Du Tiechuan consisted mostly of new armies, each with their own origins and backgrounds.

Except for the Vanguard Army.

The Vanguard Army was a regular army of Liangzhu Country, but unfortunately, it was currently enveloped in poisonous miasma, its situation unclear.

Du Tiechuan truly lived up to being one of the Supreme Generals. After Princess Jiqiao Shuang Ling's Mountain-Treading Wheel mechanism plan failed, he immediately switched to a second plan.

The grand tactic Iron Torrent Sweeps the Plains, before dealing with the enemy in the Thousand Peaks Forest, first internally consolidated, unified pace, making everyone gather more closely around Du Tiechuan than before!

Shuang Jing tapped the table with his finger, admiringly saying: "It must be said, Marshal Du's methods are quite brilliant."

"Clearly eliminating dissidents, yet done so openly and honorably that no one can find fault."

"Moreover, he uses both carrot and stick, not just relying on hardness."

"Do you think the so-called Iron Skin Meat Armor Technique was just released by his deputy personally?"

Shuang Jing sneered: "Du Tiechuan must have authorized this!"

(End of )