Chapter 1167: Ways of Fighting (II)

Li Hao quickly went on the initiative and said, “We don’t need to spend further effort on the issue of traitors. The Ninth Division leader shall continue to recover. Time is of the essence and we cannot delay any further. Trouble is even greater now that something’s gone awry with Wu Peng!

“I have an idea—if Wu Peng is in cahoots with the Zhengs, then I might make unexpected gains if I pretend to be Wu Peng. Can everyone tell me more details about Wu Peng, such as his life and network of connections...” The young man wrapped up the topic of Wu Peng’s death with a few words. The Eighth Division leader wanted to discuss it further, but didn’t know how to raise the topic.

When he saw that Li Hao still held the commander’s armor, Yang Wei wanted to ask for it back. But he was swiftly dissuaded of that notion when the young man said that he wanted to pose as Wu Peng and deceive the enemy.

The young man had use for that suit of armor!

“And to make the act more realistic, I’m wondering if I should temporarily take over Wu Peng’s position as commander of the reserve defenders? According to wartime regulations, I have the right to do so if the two guardians and various division leaders agree!”

“......” A quiet hush stole over the scene. Commander of the reserve defenders! That was the highest rank among the army at present. Even the Ninth Division leader was only acting commander for the moment.

“How can we permit that?!” protested an urgent Eighth Division leader. They could never allow that! Even if the commander truly was a turncoat, it should be Li Daozong who took over the position. How could an outsider like Li Hao take over a senior position instead?

It could not be permitted even if the arrangement was temporary!

Though they said it was temporary now, what if Li Hao refused to relinquish the position in the future? It wasn’t easy to remove a commander. Would the two guardians be able to set aside their dignity in the future and demand Li Hao’s exit?

If they didn’t, he would officially be the commander! That would make him first in the chain of command for the reserve defenders! Li Hao definitely had other schemes in mind!

If Yang Wei was thinking so, the same absolutely went for the others. Even Li Daozong was looking at the young man with a complicated gaze.

You plotted for this early on, didn’t you? You didn’t even suggest that the position go to me, someone about to be promoted to commander of the main force. You jumped right to it.

“Don’t be worried, everyone,” Li Hao said softly. “I won’t need the position after I eliminate the Zhengs and will naturally return it. I, Li Hao, do not seek to be a mere commander now, do I?”

“......” The rest didn’t know what to say. They looked at each other instead. Were they able to refuse?

Why did it feel like they’d let the fox into the henhouse by partnering with Li Hao this time? The young man was so much more on the attack now!

The old turtle had felt a wave of helplessness when Wu Peng died. That helplessness was even more deeply rooted now! Li Hao said that he wanted to pose as Wu Peng so he could penetrate deep behind enemy lines and deliver a devastating blow. That was a grave risk fraught with danger, not a pleasure jaunt. It seemed only reasonable that they give him commander-level clearance to make the front more compelling.

It would be very dangerous for Li Hao if they did not give him the position—it might even be the death of the young man. How was that a partnership between the two sides then?

Therefore, they had no choice but to extend the position to Li Hao!

The old turtle was extremely conflicted, whereas General Pagoda sighed to itself.

“We can give you the position, so long as the division leaders aren’t opposed. Then we hereby utilize wartime regulations after a meeting of the three sides and appoint Commander Li as the reserve defender commander!”

“General Pagoda!” gasped Yang Wei.

“Does the Eighth Division leader not agree? Then we can forget it,” Li Hao said softly. “Let’s do it this way then—you can have the position and be in charge of eliminating the traitorous Zhengs. The enemy is only an Empyrean King, that’s no big deal. Of course, impetuous brutes love pretending to be stronger than they are.

“My only concern is that not only are such fools unable to resolve the enemy, but they drag everyone else down with them instead! Some people insist on throwing themselves against a brick wall, even though they can’t topple it. It’s fine if they cause their own death, but oftentimes, they implicate their comrades, friends, family, and still think they haven’t done anything wrong at the end of the day. We must stay far away from those kinds of people!”

Yang Wei flew into a rage. Those words were too insulting!

“Ahem!” coughed the old turtle as he interrupted the two. “Let’s do as Commander Li says. Everything is out of interest for killing enemies and eliminating traitors. Yang Wei, let’s execute the order unless you have a better idea in mind!”

The Eighth Division leader was left wordless; Li Hao smiled faintly in triumph. Capsize Sea silently clucked its tongue with amazement.

Granted, this kind of outcome was only possible because Battle Heaven was willing to bow its head in compromise. Otherwise, the position wouldn’t be Li Hao’s no matter what he said.

In the past, it’d been the young man who relied on Battle Heaven more. But now, the opposite seemed to be true. Battle Heaven depended more on Li Hao.

The two guardians said no more and looked at the Ninth Division leader. “Daozong, do you have any opinions otherwise?”

“...none,” replied Li Daozong after a period of silence. “It’s just... forget it. Let us proceed as such!”

He didn’t know what to say either. He only knew that Li Hao was very different compared to before. The young man had backed them into this corner at some unknown point in time. This was the only decision they could make, easily bequeathing the position of Battle Heaven’s most highly ranked commander to the lad.

Li Daozong didn’t know how to describe his emotions. He would say that he liked the previous Li Hao more. The young man then wouldn’t have used any plots or tricks against them. If he wanted to be the commander, he would’ve outright said so. For example, he would’ve said that he wanted to be commander so he could lord it over them.

But the Li Hao now would not do so. He would not openly speak of his intentions! He would force them to voluntarily acquiesce. If they didn’t, that refusal planted a ticking bomb between them. The young man hadn’t even killed Wu Peng himself—he did so through the guardian!

Li Hao had changed.

Meanwhile, the young man continued wearing a small smile on his face, as if not knowing what everyone was thinking. On the contrary, he was very much aware of what was going through their minds. However, what was gone could not return.

I once wanted to demonstrate my sincerity and use a true heart to influence everyone. I’d wanted to have both sides take a step back and come to a mutually acceptable agreement. But... it turns out that we can’t do that.

These New Martial people—even my longest running partner of Battle Heaven—carry some hints of reluctance whenever they cooperate with me. Or put it another way, they want to firmly grasp the initiative in their own hands. But that is not possible.

Li Hao had known that it wouldn’t be possible the day he fought at Boundless. He had to be the one to call the shots! Otherwise, he would not enter any partnership that forced him to be on the back foot!

If I’m not the one in charge, those who are hurt in the end will either be me or the people around me. Teacher and the rest are already gone. I can’t permit anything else to happen to the rest!

It’s you guys who taught me to do things this way!

It’s you guys who said that I lack the tyrannical style of the Human King. I don’t need that, I just need you guys to do as I say. Just that is enough!

Moments later, the old turtle’s voice rang through Battle Heaven.

“Commander Wu Peng of the Reserve Defenders was gravely injured in battle many years ago. His core origin has fully dissipated today and he has passed on in name and spirit. This is the greatest sorrow and tragedy of the Battle Heaven Army and Battle Heaven...

“The army cannot be without a leader! Eighth Division leader Yang Wei and Ninth Division leader Li Daozong jointly recommend Eleventh Division leader Li Hao to temporarily oversee the duties of commander of the reserves!

“The city lord manor, General Pagoda, and the army have convened and passed this measure in accordance with wartime regulations! Li Hao is to lead the reserve defenders!”

“I am greatly honored and reverential of this immense distinction!” Li Hao’s voice rang out. “I will do my utmost and my best in fulfilling my duties! I will lead the Battle Heaven Army to a better future!”

Some of the reawakened soldiers froze in the city streets. They did not understand! The commander had fallen? It was an immense tragedy, albeit one they were slightly prepared for since he had not awakened all these years. It was to be expected that he would drift away into eternal sleep...

The announcement was crafted with input from the senior levels. There was no need to announce right this moment that Wu Peng had betrayed New Martial. That would only adversely impact the army’s morale.

Death could arouse their fighting spirit more.

Currents of mental strength gathered within the city with a deep hum.

“Felicitations to Commander Li!”

“Felicitations to Battle Heaven!” The shouts reverberated in all directions!

No further words were needed and neither was there too much resistance to the personnel change. The army’s faith was that it didn’t matter who was in charge. It was enough for the army to still exist and be able to fight.

However, some confusion did swirl. Why wasn’t the Ninth Division leader tapped for the position and Li Hao, a powerhouse of the new age, tasked with it instead?

Li Hao donned the orange armor and shone brightly in all directions. His face was obscured by the visor and he took to the air.

“I, Li Hao, will spare no effort in revitalizing all of our brothers! March on the four corners of the world with me! We will glorify the might of New Martial and Silver Moon! We will slay all traitors, all invaders, all Red Moon intruders, and anything having to do with those who resist!

“As a descendant of the Li family, I have a duty and responsibility to lead everyone back to the side of the Human King and Supreme Zhang! The heart of Battle Heaven will never be extinguished!

“Battle Heaven!”

“Battle Heaven!”

“Battle Heaven!” The city erupted with cheers. The phrase ‘heart of Battle Heaven’ seemed to strike a chord in everyone. Those with just lingering obsessions left in their armor also cried out with fervor!

“From today forth, the remnants of the Skystar Army will be redistributed into the reserve defenders and join the Eleventh Division,” Li Hao instructed. “Troop leader Zhao Long will temporarily take over as division leader!”

Zhao Long was the strongest among the Silver Armors of the Skystar Army. He was an Immortal, and a very strong one.

Combining the Skystar Army into the Eleventh Division was also to make command easier. Since they were part of the same army, open lines of communication could be restored. With Li Hao now in control of the nine base stations, he could easily adjust communication channels at will.

In this way, they would communicate more easily with each other and he would no longer have to command them as a third party. He would outright be their superior officer; there was no difficulty in a Battle Heaven commander recruiting new troops.

He would not have been able to do so previously in his position as a division leader.

The one thousand Skystar troops stirred with surprise. It wasn’t an unpalatable development since the Battle Heaven Army was a major army and they were just a minor one. Li Hao’s status as commander was the equivalent of their commander-in-chief, and even higher.

“Yes, sir!” assented the troop leaders.

“Zhao Long receives his orders!” called out the Immortal level Silver Armor. “From henceforth, the designation of the Skystar Army is hereby cancelled! We are soldiers of the Eleventh Division of the Battle Heaven Army from today on!”

Li Hao inclined his head. Meanwhile, the Eighth Division and Ninth Division leader looked on with complicated looks.