Star Gate

Chapter 1017: Pacifying Four Provinces (III)

On this day, turmoil rippled through the three northern provinces. Li Hao had come. He stood at the intersection of the three provinces and gave them one day to present themselves. There were even hints of a deeper, underlying intention that they should hand over their military command and collect their troops for Silver Moon.

For those accustomed to being in power, this... was intolerable. Not to mention, Li Hao’s troops were very strong. If they went to meet the young man now, he might capture them instead.

The provincial government of the North Sea province.

“Does everyone think I should go or not?” boomed an elderly man in a resonant voice. “They say that Great Li has invaded, but we haven’t seen a single shadow of them thus far. The Skystar Commander Office wants us to meet Commander Li, but there may be no return from this meeting!”

“Then we won’t go! As strong as Li Hao is, we are beset by internal worries and external foes. He wouldn’t dare risk open hostilities with us. We’ll just ignore him. I don’t think anyone else will be going either.”

Anyone who went was a fool.

“But the Skystar Commander Office is immensely powerful and Li Hao is here in person,” someone said carefully. “If we don’t go... then he might have a bad impression of us...”

“So what?” dismissed another. “This is not the central region! He didn’t kill that many when he was there and they’re all a bunch of pushovers that bend with the wind! We’re not like that group of useless lumps!

“If Li Hao dares touch us, we have several million in our armies across the three provinces. Once unrest begins, it will lead to countless casualties. Judging from his style, Li Hao wants to be a saint. He won’t do anything to us!”

The young man’s recent actions had not gone unnoticed. He advocated education, built roads, taught people how to read, popularized martial dao...

Apart from the royal family, not many of his enemies were dead. Most of the nine ministries were still alive and only a few director generals had been arrested out of the twenty-two central provinces. The rest were taken into custody—Li Hao had not executed them.

This style of action made the handover extremely peaceful. When did transitions of power not come with an untold body count or rivers of blood? Since Li Hao wished to be a saint, they would grant him that wish!

They would ignore Li Hao and wait for the results of the battle with Great Li. If he won, then the three provinces would consider other courses of action in light of his obvious strength. If he lost, then nothing else needed to be said. The world would no longer belong to him.

“Everyone, don’t forget about his moniker as the Demon Sword. He killed a lot of people in Silver Moon before, so we shouldn’t really think that he’s a kind soul...”

These days, everyone thought that Li Hao wished to rule with a saintly hand. Hence, they didn’t fear the young man all that much. They’d forgotten about his previous title!

“That was before in small fights and scuffles. It is now the transition period between two dynasties. Since Li Hao has created the image of him loving the people as his own, he needs to follow his own rules! Otherwise, the three provinces will tremble and the number of dead soldiers will be too high to count if he utilizes violence. Can Li Hao endure the curses of an entire world?”

That made sense to the group. It was impossible to expect them to lay down the reins of power, meet Li Hao, and possibly go to their deaths in Silver Moon.

Granted, the director general of North Sea really did appear unfazed. “We must go, but not in person. We can send someone in our stead and give the excuse that we are too tied up by the unstable North Sea to set our duties aside. But since we support Commander Li’s action in holding off the enemy, we will immediately send our troops when the three northern provinces are at peace again...”

There, that was an adequate explanation.

“Send people who don’t like following orders and insist on marching against Great Li,” chuckled the director general. “I think they’ll be very willing to discuss their next course of action with Commander Li. What does everyone think?”

Nods abounded; this was a good idea. There were still people willing to withstand Great Li and proved to be quite the troublemakers when North Sea province didn’t immediately send troops. In that case, they could be tasked with negotiating with Li Hao.

If the young man truly was to mobilize his troops, he could take these people and the weak and elderly veterans.

“Then it’s settled!” North Sea province soon came to a decision, a choice echoed by the other two provinces.

There were also some rebels and freedom fighters who were willing to meet Li Hao. Others flat-out ignored the announcement. Their ruler was far away—so what even if Li Hao was nearby?

None of the three provinces would pay attention to him!

......

On this day, some traveled to the intersection of the three provinces. Most chose to stay on the sidelines. Helping Silver Moon would mean going to their deaths. Who could stand against one million supernaturals?

If Li Hao hadn’t leaked this information or any news at all, the other provinces might’ve found it within themselves to help him. Anything was open for discussion so long as their dignity was preserved. But since the young man had painted such a horrifying picture, no one wanted their troops to be decimated by Li Hao’s actions.

......

A group of powerhouses already waited at the intersections of the three provinces. Yao Si had come with a group from North Sea. Huang Yu arrived from River Origin, and Li Daozong was the fastest from Fog province. He came with Hou Xiaochen and swiftly reached the designated coordinates.

......

The intersection of the three provinces.

This was a flat plain with no inhabitants. It was where the three provinces fought most often and many soldiers had died there. People continued to stream in, all of them heavily out of breath.

A massive battleship hovered in the air, waiting silently. Li Hao sat on the deck; three seats were placed in front of him. One day was sufficient for the three provinces to send their people.

The sky was dark.

Light flared into existence on the ship and Li Hao’s voice carried out, “Since everyone has come, let us convene aboard the ship. We are in critical times, so I won’t waste time on formalities!”

Many heavyweights had arrived, but they were just Solars and Novas. There wasn’t a single Arcanus! There were some troops stationed near the plains as well, but not many. All three provinces together had provided fewer than ten thousand soldiers. There were some freedom fighters mixed within.

Twenty or so people quickly set foot on the deck, seeing the young man. Li Hao swept his eyes over varying expressions of distress, fury, resolution, and terror.

“Has no one come from the four leaders of the three provinces?” asked Li Hao.

“In response to the commander,” replied a chubby middle-aged man. “The officials of my Fog province had to stay behind and defend our home due to a sudden change in the situation...”

“What sudden change?” snorted the middle-aged man from the North Sea province. “I’ll be frank, Commander Li. There are very few willing to fight in Silver Moon. This is all that’s willing from my side—five thousand troops under my direct command. It is all that North Sea can afford to offer! I will head to Silver Moon with the commander. It... would be wise to have no hopes for those who have not come!”

The words emboldened others. Although this was the truth, the North Sea representative had been too blunt. Li Hao wasn’t able to do anything to them despite his irritation. Anyone who’d answered his summons was likely a thorn in the side of their leaders.

“Alright, I understand. Please take a seat, everyone.” Li Hao smiled and nodded.

Judging from the middle-aged man’s demeanor, he wasn’t too pleased with the situation. “The commander is... much more worth meeting in person than to know you by reputation!”

How could the young man still smile at a time like this!

“Can it be that the commander has lied to the world and Great Li hasn’t attacked us at all?” snorted the man.

“How can that be?” chuckled Li Hao. “I wouldn’t need to lie about this matter.”

“Then how is the commander in the mood to spend a day here? Speed is an army’s greatest asset! The three provinces obviously can’t send out soldiers en masse. You should be heading straight for Silver Moon, not waiting here for news you’ll never receive!”

“What is this general’s name?” Li Hao looked at him with some surprise.

“Yue Hongchang!”

“I know this person,” transmitted Yu Luocha next to Li Hao. “The North Sea army is split into six units. He was the leader of the first unit, but offended the previous General Kou of the three northern provinces and later offended the current director general of North Sea province. He was demoted again and again until he became just a regular ranking officer. His troops are the aged and infirm—he doesn’t have a full contingent. Based on what he says, he only has five thousand men.”

Yu Hongchang was strong enough himself—peak Nova. It looked like he’d cleared a few acupoints, but not that many.

Li Hao inclined his head and looked at the others who’d presented themselves for the meeting. They introduced themselves. Some had come with soldiers, but the number was very low. Yue Hongchang had come with the most.

Fog province had sent one hundred guards for the fatty, the rest didn’t have a single one. River Origin had sent a martial and a civil official. They led three thousand troops that were also aged and infirm.

Apart from that, some freedom fighter leaders had come with several thousand troops. Not all of them were here as a portion had been left back at camp to prevent enemy attacks.

“Disaster is at hand and there are several million soldiers among the three provinces,” Li Hao said with emotion. “Only ten thousand have come and one ranking officer. This really is...”

“Our country is not like a country and our home is not like a home,” Yue Hongchang said brusquely. “It’s just another emperor! Whether it is the Lis ruling the world or Great Li, or someone else... who cares so long as it isn’t themselves?”

Disaster is at hand?

He found it laughable that Li Hao voiced these words and suddenly felt that an idealist like the young man may not be able to fend off Great Li. Demon Sword used to be a resolute and decisive purpose. Now he was so incredibly gentle. Could such a person stand against an invading army?

Their books recorded Great Li as a nation of savage beasts.

Li Hao smiled and said nothing further. A sky canopy appeared in front of him. “Everyone is right, as is General Yue. There’s no rush, let’s wait and see.”

“Since you still have time, you should be heading to Silver Moon right this very moment,” Yue Hongchang snapped irritably. “We are several thousand kilometers away from Silver Moon. What is the point of wasting time here?”

“General Yue certainly has an explosive temper, no wonder you’ve offended a great deal of people...”

Yue Hongchang didn’t say a word. He stared frostily at Li Hao. An explosive temper? Fine, so you have a great temper. What now?