Chapter 342: Chapter 231: Pacifying the Demon Calamity, Interrogating the Captives
"Forgive my ignorance, Young Clan Leader, but how will this benefit the clan?" Song Chang’an asked, confused.
Gazing at the few people present, Song Changsheng knew the others shared Song Chang’an’s doubts. His expression turned serious as he said, "The clan suffered heavy losses in the last battle, and we are now facing a financial crisis.
To resolve it, we can only increase our income and cut our spending.
The clan is in a crucial phase of development, so cutting spending is not an option. That leaves only one path: increasing our income.
I have divided this income-generating plan into two different approaches: long-term and short-term.
Let’s start with the long-term plan. The Demon Wolves’ rampage has vacated numerous Spirit Mountains and mineral veins within the Moon Viewing Mountain Range. We can use this opportunity to develop the plains beside the River of Grace, three hundred li from Vast Mist Peak. We will relocate a Spiritual Vein there to establish a new Marketplace, one under the sole control of our Song Clan. I can state with certainty that within ten years, it will surpass Liuyun Marketplace in scale.
You all understand the profits a Marketplace can generate, but operating one is not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires a significant upfront investment, which is why it can only be a long-term plan, pursued gradually.
Now for the short-term. The Moon Viewing Mountain Range currently has many vacant Spirit Mountains and mineral veins. While they belong to the clan, we lack the power to control them all at present. We should follow the old strategy of one of our ancestors and auction them off to Loose Cultivators.
This course of action has two major benefits. First, it will bolster the overall strength within the Moon Viewing Mountain Range.
Second, it will allow the clan to quickly acquire a trove of resources to replenish our Treasure Vault.
Finally, there are the Demon Wolf materials we seized. I have already found a buyer. One trip is all it will take to trade them for a large quantity of Spirit Stones to replenish the Treasure Vault. At that point, the financial crisis will naturally resolve itself.
However, you must all understand that everything I’ve mentioned requires a stable Ling Province. Only when Ling Province is at peace can we establish our Marketplace and attract Loose Cultivators to trade.
Likewise, only with a stable Ling Province can the Spirit Mountains and mineral veins in the Moon Viewing Mountain Range be successfully auctioned. It’s also the only way I can free myself up to travel to Yuan Province and sell the Demon Beast Materials.
Therefore, it is imperative for the clan that we end the war in the Liuyun Mountain Range as soon as possible.
Besides, we won’t be helping them for free. According to reports from the Wind Language Hall’s Hidden Scouts, the situation in the Liuyun Mountain Range is grim. We just have to let the news of our victory spread, and they’ll come knocking on our door for help, just like last time."
As Song Changsheng finished speaking, understanding dawned on everyone. They had only been thinking of using this opportunity to wear down the strength of the Liuyun Sect and the Martial Spirit Sect, not about these broader implications.
"In that case, we really do need to drive those beasts out as soon as possible. But if we send the [Black Star Ship], aren’t we revealing one of our trump cards?" Song Lutong said, scratching his head.
Song Changsheng smiled. "I want them to know.
The clan’s strength has been severely depleted by the great battle, and with the Clan Leader in seclusion attempting a breakthrough, there’s no telling who might get greedy.
Sending out the [Black Star Ship] serves two purposes. First, it’s a show of force to deter any would-be opportunists. Second, it’s to minimize our own casualties.
We’ve all seen the combat prowess of a Quasi-Celestial Ship. Without a Great Demon present, those Demon Wolves pose almost no threat to it. Even if it were to be outmatched, it could rely on its speed to retreat in time, keeping losses to an absolute minimum."
In truth, there was something else Song Changsheng left unsaid. The [Black Star Ship]’s existence could not be kept secret. During the great battle, an unknown number of eyes had been watching, both openly and in the shadows. Its cover was already blown; the news simply hadn’t spread widely yet.
Rather than trying to hide it, it was better to put it on full display.
The ship was a superweapon, after all. It possessed the power to threaten even a Purple Mansion Cultivator. On a battlefield of Foundation Establishment experts, it would be a complete, one-sided slaughter, provided it had enough power.
When the time came, anyone who dared to move against the Song Clan would have to think twice.
Song Changsheng’s explanation was logical and well-reasoned. He successfully convinced the others, and the resolution passed without issue.
Events unfolded more or less as Song Changsheng had predicted. The only deviation was that they didn’t even need to leak the news intentionally—the Yu Clan had already spread word to the Liuyun Mountain Range that the Great Demon had been slain.
Du Huating and Liu Hongye were both shocked and overjoyed at the news. They were shocked that the Song Clan had managed to annihilate the main force of the Silver Moon Demon Wolf clan so quickly.
They were overjoyed because the Song Clan was now free, giving them hope of breaking the stalemate in the Liuyun Mountain Range.
They were also well aware that the Song Clan would not help them for free, even if they were allies in name.
In all honesty, they knew that if the roles were reversed and they had been the first to crush the Demon Wolf army, they would have demanded an exorbitant price to help the Song Clan, bleeding them dry.
Therefore, when composing their plea for aid, Du Huating and Liu Hongye, representing the powers behind them, made sure to show sufficient sincerity, making an offer they were sure the Song Clan would find tempting.
They had no choice. Circumstances were dire. The continuous days of battle had caused them grievous losses, and they had to break the stalemate as soon as possible.
Of course, after learning that the Great Demon had been slain, Liu Hongye had released the information to the Demon Wolf army, hoping it would cause them to retreat. Instead, the Demon Wolves remained completely unfazed, and the frequency of their attacks actually intensified.
He had truly shot himself in the foot, a fact that made him utterly miserable...
Inside the Minor Affairs Hall, Song Changsheng held the joint letter from Du Huating and Liu Hongye requesting aid. The corner of his mouth twitched upward into a slight smile.
’They certainly know how to play the game,’ he thought. They had directly promised a reward of one hundred fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. For the Song Clan in its current state, this was an enormous sum.
Adding this to the two hundred thousand Spirit Stones’ worth of materials they had provided earlier, it was clear the Martial Spirit Sect would have to tighten its belt for a very long time to come.
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