CHAPTER 358: CHAPTER 319 HONEST PERSON

Xiao Ting gazed at the body of Yu Canghai in silence for a long time, "He was the highest commander on White Rat Star."

"Now he is no longer."

Gao Xuan said leisurely, "According to wartime precedent, with Yu Canghai dead, you automatically take over as the highest commander."

Xiao Ting smiled bitterly; Gao Xuan made it sound so easy.

The military values hierarchy above all, and subordinates overtaking superiors is taboo. Killing the highest commander on your own initiative fundamentally disrupts military regulations.

Even though the Xiao Family holds significant power in the military, doing such a thing still can’t win over the crowd.

Moreover, the Yu Family is not made of clay. Once the news spreads, the Xiao Family will find themselves in a precarious position. It might even spark dissent within the Xiao Family itself.

"There are still chiefs of staff ahead of me..."

Xiao Ting said with difficulty, "Key bases are all run by the Yu Family’s direct lineage. The Yu Family has been operating on White Rat Star for decades, and most of the military personnel are theirs. With Yu Canghai dead, it’s a big problem."

"I believe the chief of staff is willing to hand over command authority."

Gao Xuan softly reassured Xiao Ting, "Right now, your task is to control the military and prevent any unrest."

Xiao Ting looked at the room full of bodies, "I’m afraid that will be very difficult."

"I’ve taken care of the Insect Race."

Gao Xuan said, "Now all you need to do is something very simple: gather the Assault Master to control the base, and detain all the high-ranking members of the Yu Family. Kill anyone who disobeys orders."

Gao Xuan understood Xiao Ting’s concerns. After all, she hadn’t seen such large-scale events before. While she was competent, she lacked the audacity, which was normal.

Military rules had penetrated her very bones.

That’s why she was extremely terrified and unsettled upon seeing Yu Canghai killed.

In essence, by openly killing Yu Canghai, he had indeed severely violated the rules. This was completely different from the business with Lan Chang’an.

However, Gao Xuan didn’t mind.

Having activated the Mechanical Battle Cicada, he could already sweep across the Twelve Star Domain. Any resistance force was insignificant under absolute power.

Rules and traditions did not bind him in any way.

Gao Xuan wanted Xiao Ting to control the base to avoid unnecessary battles and to keep the situation confined to the upper ranks, preventing it from spreading across the entire combat force.

"First control the chief of staff, seize control of external communications, and take control of the Yu Family’s direct lineage in the command office..."

Gao Xuan assisted Xiao Ting in making plans, "Now that there are few elites left in the Yu Family, with the Assault Master’s help, you can surely control the command office."

Xiao Ting was still very uneasy, but things had progressed to this point, and she could only trust Gao Xuan and follow his plans.

The chief of staff, named Yu Hui’an, was quite old, well over two hundred years.

Precisely because of his age, this man maintained his composure.

Seeing the bodies of Yu Canghai and other Yu Family elites, he remained fairly calm—at least he didn’t shout or intend to draw his sword and fight.

Yu Hui’an stood quietly in the room, watching Gao Xuan silently.

"Yu Canghai colluded with the Alien Race, betrayed the Alliance, and was slain by me."

Gao Xuan said coldly, "You’re not an accomplice of Yu Canghai, are you?"

Yu Hui’an slowly shook his head, "I know nothing."

"Good, you will transfer command authority to Xiao Ting and keep the other members of the Yu Family in check."

Gao Xuan said, "Don’t worry, things will be clarified. We won’t let a single bad person get away, nor will we wrong a good person."

Yu Hui’an frowned and, after a moment of thought, said, "I am willing to cooperate."

Xiao Ting was a bit surprised; Yu Hui’an agreed to cooperate too easily, as if he conceded without much resistance?

No matter what Yu Hui’an thought internally, he still fulfilled his duties and urgently convened all the high-ranking military officers for a meeting.

Once these senior officers entered the main command, all direct lineage members of the Yu Family were controlled and detained in a room.

Xiao Ting merely confiscated their weapons, and with everyone gathered in the room, each showed angry faces mixed with some unease.

A high-ranking officer from the Yu Family asked, "Chief, where is the highest commander? What is Xiao Ting doing, is she trying to seize power directly? Is she crazy?"

Yu Hui’an shook his head slightly, "The highest commander was killed by Gao Xuan."

"Ah!"

The multitude of Yu Family senior members were shocked; openly killing the highest commander in the military, has the Xiao Family gone insane?

An impassioned individual said, "This is rebellion, according to military law, it’s punishable by death. We must rise and resist."

Everyone nodded in agreement, "That’s right, we can’t just let the Xiao Family do whatever they want!"

"Let’s go back immediately, organize a counterattack on the base!"

"That’s right, we have a million-strong army, they only have twenty thousand, wiping them out would be effortless..."

"Damn it, if only we knew, we wouldn’t have come to the base for this meeting."

They grew more and more agitated, all standing up, ready to make a joint effort.

They were very dissatisfied with Yu Hui’an as well; if it weren’t for Yu Hui’an calling them here, they wouldn’t be in such a passive position.

But in front of Yu Hui’an, they couldn’t say much.

As the group was discussing the details of their actions, Yu Hui’an spoke up, "Don’t bother struggling. Xiao Ting left you here unguarded, so you’d expose yourselves."

The group looked discontentedly at Yu Hui’an; not participating in the discussion was one thing, but dampening their spirits?

Yu Hui’an didn’t look at them; he lowered his eyes and sighed lightly, "Canghai together with Ling Ji and other seven Silver Sword Heroes were killed by a single strike from Gao Xuan. They were defenseless."

As he spoke, he shook his head repeatedly, recalling the scene in the command room that deeply shocked him.

A group of people died standing still, like lifelike wax figures.

This was indeed the excellent balance and restraint of many experts, and even more so, the astonishing speed of the Gao Xuan Sword. Before Yu Canghai and the others could exert their strength, he dispatched them with one swift stroke.

Yu Hui’an, himself a Silver Sword Hero, deeply understood how terrifying this swordsmanship was.

The high-ranking officers of the Yu family were quite capable and courageous. But against an inhuman opponent like Gao Xuan, all schemes and abilities were meaningless.

Of course, he could choose not to gather everyone.

A group of high-ranking officers of the Yu family, holding military power, could still resist Gao Xuan for a while. But the outcome of such a confrontation would be extremely devastating.

Yu Hui’an also believed such resistance was meaningless.

After all, the military wasn’t the private army of the Yu family. Leading troops in battle against Gao Xuan would achieve nothing, only plunging White Rat Star into further chaos.

Gao Xuan would find a way to deal with them anyway.

Without a solution for Gao Xuan, they couldn’t win.

Seeing this, Yu Hui’an simply gave up all resistance. This way, they still had a chance to survive.

Although Gao Xuan was ruthless and cold-blooded, he wouldn’t kill indiscriminately. This was evident from the outcome of the Lan family.

Although the Lan family suffered a significant loss of power, dropping from the top tier to the first class, they at least preserved their family lineage.

As long as the people remained, the family heritage endured, and there was always a chance to rise again.

Facing Gao Xuan head-on would spell doom for the Yu family. No matter how others chose, Yu Hui’an had to choose the safest path.

Yu Hui’an couldn’t force others to choose, but he could explain the reasoning clearly, letting them decide for themselves.

No matter their temperament, all the high-level members of the Yu family were smart. Fools couldn’t become high-ranking officials.

Regardless of their background, to become officials, they had to play and compete with people. While their professional abilities might be lacking, they were well-versed in human nature and insight.

The noble families on Taurus couldn’t deal with Gao Xuan either. Golden powerhouses they hired were directly eliminated by Gao Xuan. What use was holding an army then?

The group quickly quieted down once they realized the gravity of the situation.

No one was willing to risk their life. With Yu Hui’an as the composed leader, there was no need for them to act rashly.

Once the Yu family became compliant, the situation was easier to manage.

Xiao Ting took control of internal and external communications, and without interference from the Yu family, she smoothly took charge of the garrison on White Rat Star.

After straightening out the situation, she immediately contacted Patriarch Xiao Jun and provided a detailed report.

Xiao Jun was also greatly shocked. Killing the commanding military officer was a grave taboo.

However, with Gao Xuan having already killed Yu Canghai, there was no turning back. They had to fully support Gao Xuan at this point.

Honestly speaking, Xiao Jun didn’t like such overbearing force.

Acting without regard to reason and rules might have short-term satisfaction. But the cost was the destruction of order, making it challenging to enforce rules on others in the future.

The negative effects of this would take an extended period to dissipate.

But this time, it was Yu Canghai who tried to plot against Gao Xuan. Worse yet, he intended to deploy multiple nuclear bombs. Insane and wicked.

With Xiao Ting gaining legal command, she could access all communication and command records. This was undeniable evidence.

Given the gravity of the situation, Xiao Jun instructed Xiao Ting to pacify the troops, avoiding inciting military unrest. Full cooperation with Gao Xuan was essential.

Xiao Jun also made emergency arrangements on Golden Horse Star to prevent the Yu family from acting out of desperation.

Unfortunately, the distance between planets was vast. Xiao Ting only had two assault masters at her disposal, and even though they were elite, they were few compared to the local forces on White Rat Star.

Xiao Jun was concerned, yet he had no better methods.

The entire Xiao family mobilized to prepare for the impending chaos.

Seven days later, Xiao Cheng arrived with a reorganized interstellar fleet, taking full control of White Rat Star.

Xiao Ting accompanied Gao Xuan on a flying ship back to Taurus.

Twelve days later, Xiao Ting and Gao Xuan arrived on Taurus.

They accessed the military terminal base, where Xiao Jun personally led a team to welcome Gao Xuan.

After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, Xiao Jun spoke to Gao Xuan with a grave expression: "The situation is not looking good."

"Has the Yu family caused trouble?" Gao Xuan asked.

Xiao Jun sighed and said, "The Yu family, in alliance with the Wang and Lin families, is demanding a reasonable explanation for the matter concerning Yu Canghai."

"Otherwise?"

Gao Xuan was somewhat curious about what other tricks the great noble families could pull.

"Otherwise, the Yu family threatens to take extreme measures. To perish with us."

"What kind of extreme measures?"

"They may have planted a nuclear bomb in Golden Source City."

Xiao Jun chuckled wryly, a simple and brutal tactic, but one that was quite effective.

This underwater city, if its protective layer were breached, likely not many would survive. Not to mention the destructive power of the nuclear bomb itself, sufficient to annihilate the humans in Golden Source City.

"So, what explanation do they seek?"

Gao Xuan wasn’t surprised by such a tactic. His presence disrupted the balance on Taurus, so it was natural for the opposition to prepare some deadly tactics to equalize matters. He was eager to know their demands.

"They demand that you must leave the Twelve Star Domain forever."

Before Gao Xuan could speak, Xiao Jun firmly stated, "Such unreasonable demands, I of course, disapprove."

Gao Xuan chuckled, "Is this the stance of all three families?"

Curiously, he asked Xiao Jun, "Am I appearing too compliant?"

Xiao Jun looked at the exuberant and expressive demeanor reflected on Gao Xuan’s brow and eventually chose to remain silent.

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