CHAPTER 976: CHAPTER 675: DRIVING THE DEMON CHIEF OUT OF THE TERRITORY, SETTING UP A GRAND STRATEGY_2

Whether it’s the current Puppet City Lord or the original City Lord, even with the mind of Tongtian, I might have to contend with the three City Lords.

The other three City Lords sneered in their hearts, everything was within their plan.

"Although the Youzhou City Lord is circling around us, in the face of absolute power, he can only bow down."

"If they want a share of the spoils, they should first see if their strength is strong enough. Although they drove away the bandits, in the end, we’ve mastered the method."

The three City Lords laughed heartily, finally excluding Youzhou City.

Everything Youzhou City did was tantamount to making a wedding dress for them.

The Spirit Stones mined during this period were equivalent to their reward.

However, just as they were rejoicing, a subordinate from Tianyang City rushed in.

"It’s not good, my lord! The group of Demon Chiefs from Dongwen Mountain has come down the mountain, like locusts passing through, heading straight for the Spirit Mine!"

The Tianyang City Lord’s face changed upon hearing this: "How could this be, those Demon Chiefs from Dongwen Mountain usually mind their own business, what’s happening today?"

The other two City Lords also felt odd: "Truly strange, could the Spirit Mine be so attractive to these bandits?"

Du Feng, who learned of this news, couldn’t help but mutter: "My lord, with Xiu Huang being so high-profile, wouldn’t it arouse suspicion?"

The two stood on the distant mountain peak, Wang Yang’s hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering without wind.

"No worries, it doesn’t matter what method is used, what’s important is that it can have an impact on them."

Du Feng felt a little puzzled by Wang Yang’s calmness: "If that’s the case, the other three City Lords will definitely suspect this is part of our plan, what should we do if it’s reported to Linzhou?"

Wang Yang paused: "Will such matters really be reported to Linzhou?"

"Well... if it affects the Four Cities too much, it will definitely be reported to Linzhou."

"What will be the consequence if reported to Linzhou?"

"Generally, the State City of Linzhou will send people down to suppress and cleanse violently, such situations have occurred 30 years ago, so even though our forces are strong, we dare not act recklessly."

Hearing Du Feng’s words, Wang Yang didn’t take it to heart, smiling at Du Feng: "If I’m not mistaken, such situations have a huge impact on the local City Lord, right?"

Du Feng responded decisively: "My lord is right, once reported to the State City, it only proves the local City Lord’s incompetence, leading to removal and a new selection."

If that’s the case, Wang Yang would not be worried at all.

Unless pushed to the limit, these people certainly wouldn’t report to the State City.

Wang Yang suddenly asked: "Du Feng, have you heard of ’boiling a frog in warm water’?"

Du Feng was stunned for a moment: "Your subordinate has never heard of it."

Wang Yang explained slowly: "The concept of ’boiling a frog in warm water’ is to put a frog in a pot, starting with normal water temperature, then gradually increasing the heat, unconsciously cooking the frog to death."

Du Feng was somewhat unable to understand: "Could it really be that the frog would remain unaware in warm water?"

Wang Yang shook his head: "Perhaps some would, but most frogs would surely feel it, however, that’s not the point. The important thing is to turn the Three Cities’ Lords into frogs that cannot feel the change in water temperature."

This made Du Feng’s face change, being an enemy of someone like Wang Yang was truly a disaster.

Du Feng couldn’t help but ask: "What exactly is your plan, my lord?"

Following behind Wang Yang, one could always learn more and broaden their horizons, as Wang Yang’s plans were completely beyond what he could perceive.

"It’s quite simple, we imitate and connect the bandits from the Four Cities, forming an enormous force, attacking wherever the blade points?"

Du Feng nodded, this plan was indeed impeccable.

Under the complete suppression of Wang Yang’s power, it was certainly possible to connect and gather these people.

However, if this was all, it was clearly not enough, after all, no matter how strong these bandits were, they could not defeat a regular army.

"Naturally, this is just the first step."

Wang Yang raised his second finger, "As for the second step, it is to create endless trouble for the Three Cities’ Lords with these bandits, while the Spirit Mine remains infected, they will have no choice but to divert attention to handle these bandits."

"Du Feng, in such a situation, what do you think their choice would be?"

Wang Yang asked Du Feng.

After thinking for a moment, Du Feng spoke: "If according to the previous plan, only the people of Youzhou City can drive away these bandits, we must re-enter the situation, and could even take the lead."

"Exactly, in the context of sending relief, as the strengths and weaknesses change, not only must they consider bandits within their territories, but also whether the Spirit Mine can be safely mined, after long stretches, they would fall into our hands within half a year."

Wang Yang raised his third finger: "The third step, which is also the final step, during this time, using our secret power to support Youzhou City, possibly controlling all the mining rights of the Spirit Mine, by then the so-called Four Cities will just be one city."

Du Feng was astonished, this plan was truly ingenious.

But there was still a part Du Feng couldn’t understand.

"But during this process, wouldn’t the Three Cities’ Lords notice, and they certainly won’t easily give up their mining rights?"

Wang Yang chuckled: "This is the cleverness of boiling the frog in warm water, if rushed, they would not agree, but human nature is not like that."

After speaking, Wang Yang turned and left, while Du Feng looked at the distant Spirit Mine, lost in thought.

Just as Wang Yang predicted, once Dongwen Mountain was occupied, interference reappeared around the Spirit Mine...

The Puppet City Lord personally led troops to the front, yet this time, soldiers from the other three cities also participated.

Xiu Huang stood at a distance, facing him were the troops led by the Youzhou City Lord.

Youzhou City had more than three thousand people, while the Demon Chiefs from Dongwen Mountain numbered only a few hundred, but their strength was no less, and they were not constrained like a regular army.

Beside him, the Demon Chiefs from Thousand Peaks Mountain whispered: "Xiu Huang, Family Head, this is the Youzhou City Lord, be careful."

"Rest assured, I naturally have a plan."

Xiu Huang took a step forward and shouted into the distance: "Hmph! Why should the Spirit Mine be mined by you? Why can’t we from Dongwen Mountain have a share?"

The Puppet City Lord smirked inwardly, yet showed no sign of it: "You bandit devils, daring to mine the Spirit Mine, wishful thinking!"

"Since that’s the case, don’t blame us for being rude, brothers, let’s seize the Spirit Mine, and become Heavenly Demons, roaming freely within the Four Cities!"

With a shout, Xiu Huang led his men forward, as the soldiers led by the Youzhou City Lord advanced to drive them back.

The other three City Lords watched with concern from afar: "It seems the news is spreading, many bandits have set sights on the Spirit Mine."

"The Youzhou City Lord was able to deal with earlier bandits, can he handle this time..."

Under the observation of the Three Cities’ Lords, the Youzhou City Lord did not disappoint and drove all the Demon Chiefs from Dongwen Mountain out of the area!

"This time Youzhou City Lord came out on top, but next time you might not be so lucky, I refuse to believe you can maintain such a large force continuously."

After leaving a harsh word, Xiu Huang led the Demon Chiefs away.

The other three City Lords breathed a sigh of relief.

When the Youzhou City Lord returned, the three of them wore smiles on their faces.

"The Youzhou City Lord is indeed brave, defeating these bandits in such a short time!"

The Puppet City Lord spoke directly: "Since you three think so, and I have contributed accordingly, shouldn’t the mining rights return to a quarter?"