Bringing The Farm To Live In Another World - Chapter 16451

Chapter 16449. Warlords

Gongliang Juewen glanced at the others and then spoke, “We underestimated the Blood Slaughter Sect’s strength before. This time, we must be careful. For the third line of defense, I plan to build another one behind it. However, this will change the overall layout. What are your thoughts on this?”

Upon hearing Gongliang Juewen’s words, everyone understood what he meant. Building a defensive line was never a simple matter. Take the third line of defense Wu Qian mentioned, for example. Although only a few bases were built on the third line, what about the other cities? Should they be defended? If the other cities also needed to be defended, how should they be defended? Furthermore, there were also some sects and aristocratic families along the third line of defense. Those sects and families all had their own territories. How should these territories be defended? If their territories were defended, how should their bases be defended? These were all problems.

Most importantly, whether it’s a sect or a powerful family, they control either the markets or the cities. These markets and cities are all important distribution centers for resources. Whether it’s independent cultivators or ordinary people, they all have to buy whatever resources they need from these places. But if they concentrate all the people from various powerful families and sects at the base, where will those independent cultivators and ordinary people buy resources? These are all problems.

That’s why Gongliang Juewen asked this question, and everyone felt a headache after hearing Gongliang Juewen’s words, because this matter was indeed difficult to solve.

At this moment, an official suddenly stepped forward, bowed to Gongliang Juewen, and said, “Your Majesty, this matter is actually quite easy to resolve. The places where various sects and aristocratic families reside cannot be left unguarded, but our bases are even more crucial. Therefore, in my opinion, we can increase the number of permanent guards at our bases. The people of each sect and aristocratic family can continue to manage their own markets and cities, but if any base is attacked, they must come to its aid immediately. At the same time, we should draw manpower from sects, aristocratic families, and the army to strengthen the bases’ defenses. In each market and city, only those who can maintain order are needed. However, we must also establish a patrol team to ensure the safety of each market and city. We cannot allow the weakening of the city’s defenses to allow troublemakers to cause problems. If anyone does cause trouble, then…” “The patrol teams will directly arrest these people and send them to the base, forcibly placing restrictions on them so they can fight the enemy in wartime. This is their punishment, and I believe that will resolve the issue.”

Everyone understood his meaning immediately. His intention was quite simple: each sect and family should concentrate most of their forces at the bases, leaving only a small number of people in each market and city to maintain order. A patrol team would then be formed to arrest anyone causing trouble in the cities or markets and send them to the bases. When the war with the Blood Slaughter Sect begins, they would be used as cannon fodder. Furthermore, if the bases were attacked, the people in the markets and cities would have to go to their aid.

This was one method, but it seemed that each family and sect would be left without its own defensive capabilities, which made the sect leaders and their leaders quite uneasy.

Gongliang Juewen frowned. He agreed with the plan, but he worried that the families and sects wouldn’t agree, hence his reaction.

So Gongliang Juewen waved his hand and said, “Step back.” The official acknowledged and withdrew. Gongliang Juewen glanced at everyone and then said, “Our current situation is actually quite dangerous. If we can’t unite completely, we’re likely to be defeated by the Blood Slaughter Sect. However, relying on just one family’s strength is insufficient to defeat them. Therefore, General Wu’s suggestion of establishing a large base is feasible, but it will affect everyone. I think it would be better to establish bases based on each family’s current location, and each base should be as large as possible, encompassing other sects or sects in the surrounding area.” “All the people from your families will be moved to the base. As for the territories of the sects and aristocratic families, only a small number of people will remain for defense. The patrol teams will also be led by each of your families. What do you think?”

As soon as Gongliang Juewen said this, Qingxuan and the others’ expressions changed. Those who could come here to hold this meeting were all from major sects and aristocratic families. Each of them had its own small alliance, and Gongliang Juewen knew about this. Now, Gongliang Juewen was directly asking those sects and aristocratic families to integrate the power of their small alliances and put them under unified command. This was no longer the kind of small alliances as before. This was equivalent to an officially recognized force, which was extremely important.

This is crucial; it’s about having a legitimate reason to act. Frankly, if Gongliang Juewen were doing this normally, he would be courting death. He’s essentially nurturing warlords, allowing them to legally wield power and influence. Taking this step is easy, but taking it back is incredibly difficult. It’s suicidal. The consequence is that even if they defeat the Blood Slaughter Sect, these small alliances will become even more united, potentially rendering him, the emperor, powerless.

Gongliang Juewen understands this. If he hadn’t joined the Blood Slaughter Sect, this move would indeed have been a blunder. But since he joined, he doesn’t care if these people become powerful and influential. In his view, they can’t possibly defeat the Blood Slaughter Sect, so what’s there to worry about?

Gongliang Juewen’s words struck a chord with those powerful families and sects. Didn’t they want to annex the smaller families and sects? Of course they did, they dreamed of it. But they couldn’t do it before because Gongliang Juewen wouldn’t allow them to grow stronger in this way, and the smaller families and sects wouldn’t agree either. If they were pushed too far, they might side with the royal family. So, the powerful families and sects could only control the smaller families and sects through alliances.

However, with Gongliang Juewen’s order, they could legally and legitimately annex those smaller families and sects. Those smaller families and sects wouldn’t even have a place to complain to, so the larger families and sects were naturally tempted.

Gongliang Juewen looked at the people and then said, “However, each defensive line still needs a commander. This commander is responsible for leading the entire defensive line. If a base is attacked, this commander can mobilize people from other bases to provide support within a specified time. The people at each base must obey his orders. What do you all think?”

Qingxuan and the others thought about it and nodded in agreement. They couldn’t possibly give up this opportunity. This was a legitimate chance to annex other smaller forces and strengthen themselves. If they missed it, they might never have another chance. As for setting up a commander, it didn’t matter. After all, Gongliang Juewen had said that this commander only had the authority to mobilize them when the Blood Slaughter Sect attacked. If the Blood Slaughter Sect didn’t attack, they could completely disregard the commander’s orders.

Having understood this, Qingxuan and the others naturally agreed. Gongliang Juewen then said, “Wu Qian will be the commander of the third defensive line. Let’s also determine the scope of the third defensive line.”

Everyone’s eyes fell on the map again, and then they began to delineate the scope of the third defensive line. A defensive line cannot be small; it must have a certain depth. The number of bases and the location of each base must be carefully studied.

Moreover, they not only need to build the third defensive line, but also the fourth, fifth, and sixth defensive lines, and the commanders must be determined.

When Wan Hai proposed to determine the fourth, fifth, and sixth defensive lines as well, Gongliang Juewen did not object, and even determined the commanders of these three defensive lines. Wu Qian will be the commander of the third defensive line, and Tie Huanshan will be the commander of the fourth defensive line. Tie Huanshan is the sect leader of the Ironclad Sect, and the Ironclad Sect is located at the fourth defensive line, so he will be the commander of the fourth defensive line.

The commander of the fifth defensive line was Shi Zhongyu, the head of the Shi family. The Shi family was a large clan, and the major city where the Shi family was located was situated at the fifth defensive line. Therefore, Shi Zhongyu was chosen to command the fifth defensive line.

The commander of the sixth defensive line was Gongliang Ziyu. Gongliang Ziyu was a member of the royal family and possessed considerable strength. A major city controlled by the royal family was located at the sixth defensive line, so this position fell to Gongliang Ziyu.

The selection of these commanders was quite deliberate. Wu Qian was a general in the military, Tie Huanshan was the sect leader, Shi Zhongyu was the head of a powerful family, and Gongliang Ziyu was a member of the royal family. Each of these forces had someone serving as commander, leaving no room for complaint. This was essentially a compromise among all parties. Although it wasn’t explicitly stated, everyone understood that they had to do it this way; otherwise, no one would be satisfied, and if everyone was dissatisfied, the war could not be fought.

Once Gongliang Juewen saw that the commanders had all been chosen, he continued, “Although we have divided the defenses into different lines, there is one thing everyone must remember: the lines must cooperate well. You cannot just focus on your own line and ignore the others. Our divine kingdom is a unified whole, and the enemy we face is also a unified whole. So, if any line breaks down and needs support, those on other lines must go to its aid. If anyone dares not to go, don’t blame me for being ruthless. I will unite everyone to deal with those who disobey orders first, and then deal with their sect or family. Do you all understand?” Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, and then responded in unison.