Chapter 1096: Gan Wuliang (III)

Li Hao considered the celestial radiance of the Hao Cosmos for a while before asking, “Gan Wuliang, it seems like you have something to say. Why not speak of it?”

Gan Wuliang’s heart trembled!

“Commander, I...” he began after a pause.

“Out with it!”

Gan Wuliang took a deep breath and fell silent for a bit longer. “The commander wishes to take down an ancient city and any city will do. However, there are many New Martial seniors within our camp. Other than the city that turned traitor, they may not be willing to target the other cities, much less actively help us with the efforts.

“If the Zhengs aren’t the traitors and the Hongs are the true culprits, then if... I mean if. If the commander says we should attack the Hongs, does the commander think that Senior Zhang An and the others will agree?”

“If the Hongs are the traitors, we won’t be able to win against them even with the New Martial seniors!” frowned Li Hao.

“But if they are... and if the commander really wishes to take the risk?” murmured Gan Wuliang. “You can give many reasons for your actions. Perhaps the traitors in the Hong city have all left and gone elsewhere. Perhaps it’s something else. But so long as we can confirm that the Hongs are the traitors, the New Martial powerhouses will likely agree to help if the commander wishes to fight them.”

“Speak more frankly and don’t think about getting up to your usual tricks in front of me!” Li Hao frowned.

Gan Wuliang took a deep breath before saying, “Very well, this subordinate will be frank. I just hope... that things aren’t as I surmise! I suspect that the city that turned on New Martial isn’t just one, but multiple cities. Perhaps there weren’t that many back in the day, but after so many years, those who didn’t nurse ulterior motives have been replaced by those who do!

“There are issues with the Lius and Zhengs too! I suspect that their people are present in all of the main cities aside from Sword City. Or perhaps the same goes for Sword City as well, I just haven’t been to it yet.

“And on the contrary, I feel that the Hongs may not have turned traitor because they’re not close to the other seven. They’re a newly risen family that relies on the Sword Sovereign more. Therefore, the Hongs won’t develop too much ambition.

“But in order to more easily take down the Hongs, I think... we can go along with their preferences and deem the Hongs as the traitorous city. We can attack the city of the Hongs!”

Both Yuan Shuo and Deputy Zhou frowned at Gan Wuliang’s suggestion.

“Why do you think there’s nothing wrong with the Hongs and something wrong with the Zhengs and Lius?” Yuan Shuo’s frown deepened. “I haven’t seen any signs...”

“Perhaps Professor Yuan’s forgotten, but what we see of the ancient cities now is just part of what they were in the past. They housed tens of millions of residents at their peak. If there are powerhouses among the traitors, that means they’ve only demonstrated part of their capabilities. This is only a single corner of their city. The professor has not seen a real ancient city yet.

“The Zhengs might be covering their tracks by making a public fuss. I even suspect that they’re the ones behind the folk song and that Sun Xin spoke truly. But if the Zheng betrayal is that obvious, then that conjecture is easily disproved. But... what if they’re doing this on purpose?

“We didn’t discover much or detect anything in the city of the Zhengs,” Gan Wuliang softly addressed Yuan Shuo. “Even I didn’t sense much emotion. But there was one interesting point that I’m not sure the professor took note of. I mentioned a particular person when we visited each of the ancient cities...”

“Li Hao?”

“No, Senior Zhang An! I mentioned the senior because I previously observed in Battle Heaven that they would react with a complicated mix of emotions when I raised his name. There would be respect, worship, but also some disappointment.

“Yet when I mentioned the senior to the Zhengs and Lius, they were... completely unmoved.”

“Huh?” Yuan Shuo was puzzled, whereas Li Hao pondered over the implications.

“There were no major emotional ripples from them,” explained Gan Wuliang. “Not that much of a reaction. I asked Battle Heaven—they didn’t know that Senior Zhang An was in Evenround Martial University all this time. They learned about it from the commander and were apparently very excited, because the senior is Supreme Zhang’s grandson...”

“Yes.” Li Hao inclined his head. “Both the Ninth Division leader and Director General Wang said that if the senior was willing to visit in person, he would have the right to command the city’s army!”

“That’s the correct response.” Gan Wuliang nodded as well. “But the two cities we visited this time didn’t even ask for more details. Remember that they have descendants attending Evenround Martial!

“They were very calm upon learning that Senior Zhang An was still alive. There was neither respect nor revised expectation, just indifference. There’s something very wrong with that response.” He exhaled explosively. “I don’t have any other evidence than this, but I suspect that there’s something wrong with both of these families. It would be very dangerous for the commander to choose between them! I rather think that the danger is less if we choose the city of the Hongs!

“The Hongs have shallow foundations and fewer powerhouses left on defense. Their guardian plant spirits are also said to be weaker. In that case, based on what the Zhengs told us, we can persuade the senior and others to attack the Hongs with us!”

To put it simply, they could falsely accuse the Hongs of being the traitors. The Zhengs and Lius might even back them up with that claim.

There would be very little danger in this course of action and a high possibility of useful helpers. In Gan Wuliang’s eyes, the commander simply wanted an ancient city. It didn’t matter if it was of the traitors or not. Therefore, he approved of Director General Wang’s earlier reasoning.

Gan Wuliang had been the first to agree when the director general postulated that the Hongs were the traitors...

“Is this why you wouldn’t say anything before?” Li Hao glanced at him.

“Commander, this is just my... speculation. I have no proof and I’ve been searching for an opportunity to report privately to the commander.”

“Let’s set this aside.” Li Hao frowned. “So you think that either the Zhengs or the Lius could be the traitors. Where do you think their main force is concentrated?”

“The city of the Lius!”

“Why do you think that?” The young man blinked.

“Because if the Zhengs really have turned on New Martial, they won’t keep their main force at home.” Gan Wuliang didn’t mind further showing off his deductions since he’d broached the topic. “Otherwise, they would be exposed by any visit from a premier powerhouse.

“On the other hand, no one will pay attention to them if they keep their main force at the Lius. They might have even parked their army with the Zhous. They will empty out their own city to avoid suspicion!

“They’re also worried about someone revitalizing before them and growing strong enough to walk out of the ruins. Unexpected changes might happen then... So therefore, I’m guessing that there aren’t any heavyweights at the city of the Zhengs.”

This was pure speculation! He could neither be certain nor confirm his theories.

“Mmhmm, then let us choose the Zhengs!” Li Hao declared.

“Commander, this is just my guess,” Gan Wuliang cautioned. “It would be our doom if we choose wrong! I actually think it’s better if we choose to attack the Hongs instead. We can swiftly lock onto their location...”

It didn’t matter if the Hongs were loyal to New Martial or not. They were the best choice in Gan Wuliang’s eyes!

Zhang An and the rest might help them and he could use his silver tongue to relay these speculations to the other cities. They would send reinforcements then. If no powerhouses were found after they conquered the city, then it was just a simple matter of claiming that the Hongs had hid their people elsewhere.

Yuan Shuo and Deputy Zhou didn’t say a word. Gan Wuliang did not have kind thoughts in his heart, but they had to say, the Hongs were the best choice based on what he’d relayed. At the very least, it was the best choice for Li Hao since that would obtain help from Zhang An and the rest!

“There’s no need, we choose the Zhengs!” Li Hao shook his head.

“But...”

Li Hao tore through the void when Gan Wuliang wanted to say more. They reappeared in the world where they’d left.

“It’s decided. There’s no need to say anything else. I’ll pretend that you guys didn’t mention the rest.”

“Understood!” Gan Wuliang nodded, but still resigned. The commander really... was... ai!

Was it so bad to play along with the New Martial powerhouses and gain their help in the process?

......

Choosing the Zhengs was unexpected by all. Everyone thought that since they were the traitors, the entire city would be awake and thus, dangerous beyond compare. It might even be much more dangerous than the other seven cities combined!

And yet, Li Hao chose the Zhengs without a moment's hesitation after listening to Gan Wuliang’s analysis.

The man was quite conflicted; Yuan Shuo’s brows were also heavily furrowed. If they made an error in judgment... Based on their current clues, the Zhengs were the main city that had turned its back on New Martial. If they sent their entire army in, Li Hao’s side might be doomed the same day.

This was a harrowing gamble with their lives!

Not to mention, were Gan Wuliang’s considerations correct? He was just speculating and didn’t have any evidence that the Zheng city wasn’t the traitor’s base camp.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The Zheng patriarch had been an Empyrean King back in the day. After so many years and being in possession of two-thirds of the Skystar mine, he could’ve reached higher peaks since he hadn’t fallen into silence.

Exalted emperor?

They might as well commit suicide if he was an exalted emperor. They would never be able to stand against him.

Even if his main force wasn’t present in the city, Gan Wuliang was of the opinion that the family city was one of their strongholds. That meant it was very likely for revived powerhouses to be among them...

Yuan Shuo caught up to Li Hao, worry in his eyes. He hadn’t seen much on their visits, whereas Gan Wuliang was making outlandish claims. Would his disciple believe the man so easily?

That was far too dangerous!

“Li Hao.” Yuan Shuo left the rest in his rear and fell in step with the young man. “What he says is possible, but everything we’re doing is based purely off his hunches,” he transmitted. “The Zhengs are exceedingly dangerous and so are the Hongs. Perhaps the Lius are our best choice.

“If it comes down to it, we can even choose the Zhous or Martial Alliance. If worst comes to worst, we’ll just rip up the agreement ourselves!”

He knew what Li Hao was worried about, that if he didn’t handle the ancient cities properly, Zhang An and the rest would make a formal break from him.

Li Hao had too many considerations in mind. no one wanted to let matters devolve to that state, but Yuan Shuo couldn’t help himself.

“We’re no match for either New Martial, the traitors, the ones sealed by the moon, or the four nations,” the old man transmitted with a clenched jaw. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t stand a chance if we put our lives on the line in a desperate stand! Li Hao, you cannot plunge yourself into an impasse with no way out just because you’re wary of offending Zhang An and Battle Heaven!

“You can imitate the Human King if you have to! Everyone but me is an enemy. We can just... go crazy for once!”