Chapter 337 - - 335 A truly cooperative teammate_1

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So exciting, so uplifting, I really want to join in the shouting!

Behind Duge, the emotions of more than a dozen Innate Experts were similarly stirred up.

They were supported by the Fourth Prince, lacking neither food nor clothing, but likewise, their lives and fortunes were controlled by others.

They, too, wanted to fight for themselves!

Yet they were different from the soldiers below, they had their own judgment. Outnumbered, what good would it do to rally morale, when in the end, a battle that couldn’t be won still couldn’t be won!

A Half-Step Grandmaster, after all, is not a true Grandmaster!

…

The drill ground of Linyang City was not soundproof.

The voice of Duge, luring the multitude of soldiers, clearly drifted outwards.

To the common folk who heard it, it didn’t seem like much, at most they would feel a sense of injustice in their fate, a surge of desire to join the Fourth Princess’s troops and divide up the gold and silver with them.

But for those with assets at home, they started to shiver.

They had originally thought the Fourth Princess would rely on them and would restrain her military from infringing upon them.

That’s why they dared to critique Duge’s Heavenly Demon identity so freely.

But now, Duge’s blood-scented declaration had frightened them.

Only then did they remember that the Fourth Princess, after all, was a rebel, and pushing a rebel to a dead end, it was truly possible she would turn on them, and the Heavenly Demon was not a God Spirit, a Demon Head would kill.

After much thought.

The wealthy merchants in Linyang City eventually could not sit still.

On the day after Duge finished speaking, they took the initiative to deliver military supplies to Luo Shuang, spontaneously began to curry favor with the troops of the Fourth Princess, and expressed deep apologies for their previous slanderous remarks about the Imperial master.

…

Throughout Linyang City was a surge of willingness to fight, as if it had been reborn anew.

After sending away a major merchant who had come to contribute materials, a mocking smile crossed Luo Shuang’s lips, “Master, is this what we call popular sentiment?”

“Yes, this is popular sentiment,” Duge stood beside Luo Shuang and spoke with profound earnestness, “Deception is ultimately a minor tactic. A donation certificate, a promise of future wealth, may bring us temporary benefits.

But when faced with a stronger existence, deception becomes a castle in the air. At this time, deterrence is needed, to make them feel fearful, to make them realize that going against you means losing everything. Then, they will take the initiative to please you.”

“Mm,” Luo Shuang nodded and pondered for a moment, “But this way, the good reputation we’ve worked hard to build will be destroyed.”

“If we can’t get past this immediate hurdle, there won’t be any ‘afterwards’ to speak of.” Duge smiled and said, “Only by defeating Cao Lin this time and absorbing his army, will our future path be clear. I’ve taught you, reputation isn’t important. When you stand high enough, people will come forward to cast you in a favorable light…”

Huangfu Yue trembled with respect and did not dare to speak, yet her admiration for Duge had already flooded like a deluge in her heart.

Is this the Heavenly Demon?

He is far stronger than any man in this world.

“Master, Cao Lin is a Grandmaster, are you confident in fighting him?” Luo Shuang asked with concern.

“Choose the battlefield by the water, and I am fully confident in taking him down,” Duge replied.

Since becoming number one, his spiritual power had increased by twenty thousand. The control over water had improved by at least another ten percent, and with the Sea God’s Power, there was a natural advantage in water, enough to exhaust a Grandmaster to death.

“Imperial master, if we decide the battle at Yang River, we won’t have the advantage of defending a city anymore,” Huangfu Yue warned.

“Linyang is not Yutang Pass. There’s nothing defensible about this place to begin with,” Duge glanced back at her and said, “Can the walls of Linyang City stop a Grandmaster? Since they can’t, it’s natural to choose a more favorable location for myself.”

This is the difference between the high martial world and an ordinary ancient battlefield.

In the world of high martial arts.

A single Grandmaster could potentially alter the entire course of the battle with their own strength.

“Mm,” Huangfu Yue looked at Duge, suddenly saluted in a military fashion, “Imperial master, in future battles, I too, like the Imperial master, will lead the charge. Before the Imperial master takes down Cao Lin, Huangfu Yue will not take a single step back.”

Is this what it means to stir the whole body with one move?

With him leading, once battle begins, all the commanders would charge into the most perilous situations; then his troops should indeed win every battle they face!

Another trendsetter, aren’t you?

Duge looked at Huangfu Yue with approval and said, “That’s good, you can change your cloak and armor to red. That way, the soldiers won’t notice any bloodstains and it won’t affect their morale. The Fourth Princess will be an empress in the future, and you will become a famous female general known throughout the lands, setting an example for all women, telling them they are in no way weaker than men…”

"Okay," Huangfu Yue's eyes also lit up, "Imperial master, rest assured, I will accomplish it."

"Report."

Suddenly, the voice of the messenger sounded from outside the door.

"Enter," Duge said.

The messenger pushed the door open, paid respects to Luo Shuang and the others, then handed a letter to Duge: "Imperial master, a person outside the camp is requesting an audience with you and has sent a letter, saying it's for your eyes only."

Duge reached for the letter, tore it open, and read the five words: "The Pagoda Suppresses the River Demon."

At last, it had come.

"The King Covers the Tiger" had several passwords.

During the second simulation battle, it wasn't really used much, so the most widely known was still "The Pagoda Suppresses the River Demon."

Although it wasn't Feng Zhong and Gao Ming who had arrived, as long as it was someone from Qiyuan Star, it was enough.

During a great battle, one more person meant one more source of strength.

Duge exhaled his True Qi, turning the letter into scraps, and said to the messenger, "Please bring the person in!"

A moment later.

A middle-aged man with a small mustache was led into the room by the messenger.

His gaze immediately locked onto Duge, and he said excitedly, "Brother Du, I've finally met you. After hearing your speech outside your camp, I was sure, Leng Shi had to be you..."

Suddenly.

He caught sight of Luo Shuang and Huangfu Yue and stopped talking abruptly.

"Imperial master, Huangfu Yue will take her leave," said Huangfu Yue, glancing at him. She saluted Luo Shuang and Duge with a fist and palm before leaving the room.

Luo Shuang looked curiously at the middle-aged man and asked, "Master, should I avoid them?"

"No need," Duge smiled and took the opportunity to build loyalty, "The princess is the ruler. She ought to be informed of all matters so she can be aware and not harbor any doubts about me."

"Master, I will never doubt you," Luo Shuang frowned slightly and quickly stated her position, standing up, "And who is this gentleman?"

Duge nodded at the man.

The middle-aged man understood, saluted Luo Shuang with a fist and palm: "Prime Minister's office staff member Zhang Yizhi of Chongming Country, at your service, Princess."

"Prime Minister's office staff member?" Luo Shuang was stunned.

Taking the lead in the conversation, Duge asked, "What does Shi Pingchuan want you to do?"

"He said he wants to work with you hand in hand, inside and outside, to take Chongming Country. That way, there's double insurance," Zhang Yizhi picked a few words he could say in front of the princess and continued, "Shi Pingchuan said that with him in the Prime Minister's position, he can offer you more help..."

Luo Shuang's eyes widened in surprise, her heart pounding at the news. The Prime Minister was one of their own, then the Prime Minister's earlier offer to fund her restoration was true!

Ha!

Work hand in hand!

Duge was noncommittal and said, "That's not a bad idea. Is he just sending you to relay a message?"

Zhang Yizhi was suddenly taken aback.

Duge shook his head with a smile, "Never mind that now. What's your attribute?"

Zhang Yizhi replied, "Coordination."

Duge asked further, "Do you have any Divine Skills?"

Zhang Yizhi glanced at Luo Shuang again, with an awkward lowering of his voice, he said, "An accomplice to a tiger, I can pull a target back to whoever I am coordinating with a hundred percent of the time."

Damn!

A monster-pulling Divine Skill!

Duge's eyes immediately lit up, "Don't go back to the Prime Minister's office, come work with me!"

Zhang Yizhi gave a dry laugh, somewhat embarrassedly said, "Brother Du, I can indeed pull the target a hundred percent of the time, but my attribute is too low. If I rashly pull a monster that's too powerful, I might get killed by it on the spot."

"Then you should all the more work with me," Duge smiled and patted his shoulder, "A month with Shi Pingchuan and your attributes haven't risen; he's too slack. I'll help you build up your attributes, and we'll skyrocket in minutes."

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