Chapter 664: Chapter 660: Final Battle – Alliance of the Auspicious Cloud Valley
“Those of us who have gathered here today are actually the losers of this disaster.”
“Take the Tang n, for instance. Their millennial establishment in Xiling is destroyed, the territory in North Mountain is breached, the nsmen are forced to disperse, and now they are pursued by the strongest mystical bird guards of Longzhou. I myself am unsure about how many could survive.”
People in the hall looked at each other, not understanding why the opening was so heavy. They couldn’t understand why Tang Zhi would openly disclose these facts to everyone.
Thinking about the post-war ruins of North Mountain, they couldn’t help but remember their own pasts.
Just like Tang Zhi said, everyone here is a failure of this disaster. They once lived carefree lives across various cities and regions, every single one of them were chiefs respected by theirmunities.
But now, they can only disce their nsmen to the wilderness, even securing food to fill their stomachs has be a frequent issue.
Will the future be better? At this moment, no one could offer a sure answer. Even though the flood had passed, the entire Longzhou Westndscape had changed. Many aristocratic families turned to banditry due to desperation, and many strong individuals struggled to seize this opportunity to rise in status.
The formerly peaceful Longzhou West had be a yground for the ambitious and bandits. There are no rules here, only power.
Who can confidently im they can ensure their family’s survival in such a tumultuous situation?
When we were young, everyone thought of themselves as potential kings of the world. It’s only when we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders that we understand the effort needed just to take care of those around us. We’re left with no energy to think of anything else.<div>
Watching the Tang n, despite its strength, fall into such a fragmented state, the previously cheerful Martial Hall fell silent. Many n chiefs see the future of their families in the Tang n. It feels as if an invisible hand is strangling them, causing the suffocating feeling to grow stronger, evident in their somber faces.
“So, just because we’re the losers of this disaster, we should just stand by and watch our ns fall?” Tang Zhi scanned the hall and decisively said, “No, I will find everyone willing to ride out the storm with the Tang n. Over these three thousand miles of water, we will rebuild a new city!”
“Since the ancestors of the Tang n could turn Xiling into the brightest pearl of Lingjiang, we still can! So now, I extend an invitation to all of you, is anyone willing to join this alliance?”
Everyone was surprised at Tang Zhi’s words, but only a few were moved.
Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a bull. Though they are unhappy with the current situation of their ns, they have no interest in bing vassals to another.
After all, the choice of course is most reassuring when it’s in one’s own hands. Many people in the room were already considering leaving.
However, there are always those interested in the alliance, like the Cui Family of Lanshan City.
Lanshan City is a mountain city itself. Aran Mountain is the number one sacred mountain in Longzhou West. The city built around Aran Mountain was naturally unaffected by the flood. However, the Cui family wanted to take advantage of this situation and rise to power, but ended up being expelled by several major ns in Lanshan City. They then sought refuge with Tang Zuo.
There are many ns like the Cuis. If the usual noble familiese to North Mountain for a few mouths of food, they haverger ambitions from the beginning.
To put it bluntly, while the Tang n wants to use them, they also want to use the Tang n.
Therefore, when Tang Zhi proposed the alliance, Cui Ying from Lanshan City promptly asked, “n Chief Tang, since I, Cui, am here today, I do recognize the benevolence of the Tang n. However, I have some questions about this sudden proposal of an alliance. I wonder what nature this alliance holds, what obligations do the ns that join the alliance have? Since it’s a n alliance, there certainly is a lead and secondary role. Who will hold the position of the leader of the alliance and what would be their authority?”
Compared to the general reluctance to form an alliance, Cui Ying clearly wants to understand these issues before deciding whether to join. After all, the Cui Family of Lanshan City is still in a state of exile. If they can have a stable ce to stay, it would be a good thing for them.
Tang Zhi looked deeply at Cui Ying before lightlyughing, “The questions Brother Cui asked are precisely what I was about to discuss.”
“This alliance is not for the private benefits of the Tang n, but to unite all the ns who lost their homes in the disaster. Together, we can resist the drastic changes that wille to Longzhou in the future. Like Brother Cui said, an alliance should have a leader. Naturally, the position of the first alliance leader should be held by the Tang n.”
All previous humility seemed like a facade, no one expected Tang Zhi to outright dere that the first alliance leader belongs to the Tang n before everyone. This ruthlessly domineering statement left many n chiefs in the hall frowning, looking at the man on the high tform.
“On what basis?” Cui Ying immediately asked aloud, “Is it because the Tang n is the strongest? Does that mean we allied ns will always be limited by you and what’s the difference between this and bing a vassal of the Tang n?”
His words stirred up amotion in the hall. Everyone felt the Tang n’s ambition revealed and everyone felt threatened.
But Tang Zhi remained calm, waiting until themotion subsided before dering, “Of course there is a difference. When I say the alliance is not for one n’s private benefit, I do mean it. Firstly, every n that joins the alliance can nominate a representative. Although the leader of the alliance has the greatest power, all decisions of the alliance have to be decided by a council vote. Few obey the many. I believe everyone present can ept this, right?”
“Oh?” Cui Ying raised an eyebrow, “You mean, n Chief Tang, every family that joins the alliance can nominate a representative, not taking into ount power and status?”<div>
“Of course, but joining the alliance is not without its requirements.” Tang Zhi nodded, “Only ns that have at least three members from the Fierce Realm are recognized and are eligible to send a representative. But even for a n with the strength of the Cui Family of Lanshan City, they still only have one representative.”
All the families present were carefully selected by the Wind Media Department. There are dozens of ns from various cities and regions, each n has at least a hundred years of history and at least three members that are from the Fierce Realm. So faced with Tang Zhi’s requirements, everyone felt it was reasonable.
If everyone was initially resistant, now they were interested, curious about what Tang Zhi would say next.
Only Cui Ying remained skeptical, “May I ask, n Chief Tang, since the alliance is a council system, why must the first alliance leader be from the Tang family of Xiling?”<div>
“Because serving as the alliance leader is not only about honor, but also about bringing tangible benefits to the alliance.” Tang Zhi continues with the same unruffled grin, responding confidently.
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