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Pei Ji's finger moved slowly, passing over the glaring vermilion area representing the Heavenly Dao Alliance's power, and landed on Luoyang, which was marked "Zheng" (Wang Shichong).

"Our army has just defeated Liu Wuzhou, but we are exhausted. Guanzhong urgently needs to recover its strength. If we were to exert all our strength and rashly go east to fight the Tiandao Alliance, which is currently gaining momentum, even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. At that time, Dou Jiande will be in the north, watching us with predatory eyes. If he takes the opportunity to go south, how will our army cope? This is a risky move and not a foolproof strategy."

After a pause, Pei Ji, seeing Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and the others deep in thought, continued, "On the other hand, consider Wang Shichong of Luoyang! This man usurped the throne, murdered the emperor, and is ungrateful. Internally, he is disloyal and his soldiers are full of complaints. Although he commands over 100,000 troops and holds the fortified city of Luoyang, he is surrounded by enemies on all sides. To the west lies our Great Tang, to the east Dou Jiande is eyeing him, and to the south... now he is directly facing the Heavenly Alliance's army! Although his position seems stable, he is actually weak inside and already a frightened bird!"

Pei Ji's voice gradually took on a confident tone, as if he had a keen understanding of the situation: "Wang Shichong is not just a minor ailment, but a thorn in the side of our Great Tang Dynasty and the Central Plains! Removing this thorn will bring three benefits!"

"Firstly, it can break the current predicament! Our main force will not have to travel a long distance to clash head-on with the well-rested Heavenly Alliance. We only need to concentrate our forces to attack Luoyang, which they must defend. If we can quickly capture Luoyang, it will greatly boost our morale and intimidate all sides! It will show the world that our Great Tang still has the power of thunder!"

"Secondly, we can gain access to a strategic stronghold! Luoyang is located in the center of the world, with convenient transportation in all directions and control over the Grand Canal. By taking Luoyang, our Great Tang will open the gateway to the Central Plains in the east. We can then advance to Hebei and Shandong, compete with Dou Jiande and the Heavenly Alliance for the Central Plains, or retreat and rely on the double defenses of Tongguan and Luoyang to consolidate our foundation in Guanzhong. The strategic initiative will be returned to our hands!"

"Thirdly, it can cripple the Heavenly Alliance! Wang Shichong's forces are located on the flank of the Heavenly Alliance's inevitable northward route. If our Great Tang takes Luoyang, we can directly threaten the flank and logistics of the Heavenly Alliance's northward forces, forcing them to divide their troops for defense, and may even interrupt their northward momentum! At that time, our Great Tang can hold Luoyang and observe the changes in the world, whether to join forces with Dou to resist Heaven, or wait for an opportunity to act, all according to our will!"

Pei Ji concluded, his gaze fixed intently on Li Shimin: "Your Highness Prince Qin is a valiant and skilled warrior, a master strategist, and your Xuanjia Army is the elite of the land. If we can swiftly capture Luoyang with overwhelming force and kill Wang Shichong, the overall situation will be settled! At that time, our Great Tang, riding the wave of victory, can consolidate the newly allied forces of the Central Plains and then turn back to fight the Heavenly Dao Alliance to the death. This is the prudent path! This is a strategy of tackling the easy challenges first, eliminating the enemy's wings, and consolidating our foundation! I hope Your Majesty and Prince Qin will consider this carefully!"

This analysis was like clearing away the clouds to reveal the sun, pulling everyone out of their direct fear of the Heavenly Alliance and their anxiety about fighting on multiple fronts, and pointing them to a strategic goal that seemed easier to achieve and more profitable.

Li Yuan's previously ashen face gradually softened, and his eyes regained their brilliance. He murmured, "First take Luoyang... consolidate our foundation... then plan against the Heavenly Alliance... Pei Jian's words are indeed wise and prudent in governing the country!"

Li Jiancheng nodded thoughtfully: "If we can quickly capture Luoyang, it will indeed greatly alleviate the current pressure on our army. Wang Shichong is unpopular, so perhaps we can win him over from within..."

Liu Wenjing stroked his beard and pondered: "Pei Jian's plan is indeed the most feasible strategy at present. However, attacking Luoyang is not an easy task. We need to plan carefully to ensure a quick victory. Otherwise, if we delay for too long, there may be unforeseen circumstances."

All eyes were ultimately focused on Li Shimin. Whether Pei Ji's strategy could be realized depended on this Prince of Qin, the most capable and valiant general of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin stood before the map, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on the location of Luoyang. His mind raced, calculating troop strength, supplies, marching routes, siege strategies, and all possible variables. Dou Jiande's reaction, the movements of the Heavenly Alliance… After a long while, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with resolute determination and burning fighting spirit!
Li Shimin turned to Li Yuan, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice resounding: "Father! Pei Jian's strategy is deeply in line with military tactics and hits the nail on the head! Your son also believes that it is not advisable to wage a full-scale war against the Heavenly Alliance at present. We should first remove Wang Shichong, this thorn in our side, open up the passage to the east, and seize the strategic location of Luoyang! Your son is willing to personally lead a large army eastward out of Tongguan and take Luoyang directly! We will surely capture the Eastern Capital and bring Wang Shichong before Your Majesty before Dou Jiande and the Heavenly Alliance! With a great victory, we will restore the prestige of our Great Tang and break this predicament!"

Seeing Li Shimin's confidence, Li Yuan felt reassured. He slammed his hand on the imperial desk and said decisively, "Very well! We shall follow Pei Jian's plan and Shimin's request! I hereby appoint you as the Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition, in command of all armies, and Pei Qing as the military supervisor. We shall launch the eastern expedition immediately to punish the traitor Wang Shichong and make sure to capture Luoyang for me!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Li Shimin and Pei Ji bowed almost simultaneously.

………………

Time flies like an arrow, passing by in the blink of an eye.

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, but deep within the headquarters of "He Xing Long," a council hall called "Lian Xin Tang" was already brightly lit.

Although named a "hall," this place is actually an extremely spacious and luxuriously furnished area. The floor is covered with a thick, floral carpet from the Western Regions, which makes no sound when stepped on. The walls are not made of ordinary bricks and stones, but inlaid with the finest sandalwood, carved with intricate and eerie lotus patterns. The lotuses are of various shapes, some are budding, some are in full bloom, and some even have traces of blood-red veins on the edges of their petals, exuding an eerie beauty, which is the symbol of the Heavenly Lotus Sect.

There were no windows in the hall; the light came entirely from the dozens of ever-burning copper lamps embedded in the walls. The lamp oil was clearly mixed with special spices, and when it burned, it emitted a cool aroma with a hint of sweetness.

Above the enormous dome, an even larger painting, "Ten Thousand Lotuses Paying Homage to the Ancestor," was depicted. At its center, a black lotus, like a vortex, attracted countless lotuses of all sizes and shapes to pay homage to it. At this moment, the hall was quiet, with only the occasional soft crackling of lamp flames and... the subtle sounds of turning pages and turning abacuses.

Wanwan sat regally on the enormous lotus throne that originally belonged to Anlong, carved from a single piece of sandalwood. The chair was so large that it made her slender and exquisite figure stand out even more.

Today, Wanwan was not wearing her signature crimson dress, but instead a more dignified dark green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). The hem of the skirt was embroidered with delicate lotus patterns in silver thread, which made her look less charming and lively, but more serene and dignified. Her cloud-like hair was also meticulously styled into an exquisite "fallen horse" bun, adorned only with a simple jade lotus hairpin, revealing her graceful swan neck.

On the large rosewood desk before her, piles of documents and account books almost overwhelmed Wanwan. To the left were details of Hexinglong's businesses and accounts across Sichuan and parts of the Central Plains; to the right were rosters, resumes, and intricate relationship charts of the Tianlian Sect's disciples and vassal forces. Wanwan held a thick account book in one hand, her slender fingers tracing the dense numbers line by line, while her other hand held a fine-tipped brush, occasionally jotting down key information or drawing markings only she understood on a piece of Xuan paper beside her. Her expression was focused, her delicate brows sometimes furrowing, sometimes relaxing, her beautiful eyes flashing with a calm, analytical light—a stark contrast to the alluring, seductive woman she once was.

Sun Qiniang and Ouyang Xu sat on the left and right sides of the lower seat in nanmu chairs, their postures respectful, even somewhat cautious.

Today, Sun Qiniang wore a rather simple, moon-white gauze dress, attempting to conceal her usual allure. However, her mature and charming figure, and the subtle charm that unconsciously emanated from her eyes and brows, were still difficult to completely hide. She held an account book in her hands, but seemed somewhat absent-minded, her gaze frequently stealing glances at Wanwan on the throne. Her eyes held a complex expression, containing both deep-seated awe and a hint of unspeakable jealousy and unease. Her fingers unconsciously twisted a handkerchief, revealing her inner turmoil. Ever since the night the "Mystic Ice Restriction" was placed upon her, she had lived in constant, invisible fear, terrified that the maddening itching would recur at any moment.

Ouyang Xu still looked like a sickly old man, his face sallow, occasionally coughing softly while covering his mouth. But compared to the terror he had displayed that night, he appeared calmer now, though beneath this calm lay a deeper gloom and submissiveness. A personnel roster lay open before him, a wolf-hair brush in his hand, seemingly checking information, but his eyes flickered, clearly indicating his mind wasn't entirely on the roster. Occasionally, he would glance at Wanwan, his gaze quickly sweeping over the categories of accounts she was reviewing, then swiftly lowering again, as if assessing the depth and intentions of this new "superior."

Besides the three of them, four middle-aged men dressed in blue robes stood with their hands at their sides, their faces expressionless. These four were the head managers or core accountants of "Hexinglong," in charge of a specific line of business. They had been summoned to explain the accounts, answer questions, and record new instructions.

Although the group kept their heads down, they couldn't help but steal glances at the young, stunningly beautiful girl in red sitting at the head of the table. This girl, who commanded such deference from powerful figures like Sun Qiniang and Ouyang Xu, filled them with astonishment and speculation. The news that Sect Master An Long had "suffered a qi deviation during cultivation, losing all his power, and that Elders Sun and Ouyang were temporarily in charge of sect affairs" had already spread among the sect's higher-ups, but they knew nothing of the details. All they knew was that the fate of the Heavenly Lotus Sect had changed.

"Snapped!"

Wanwan closed the account book in her hand with a crisp sound, breaking the silence in the hall. She raised her eyes, her gaze falling on Sun Qiniang, her voice calm:

"Elder Sun, the three salt wells of 'Hexinglong' in Yuzhou reported a production of 150,000 dan last year, but only 110,000 dan were actually stored and registered. Where did the other 40,000 dan of salt go? The accounts record it as 'transportation loss' and 'tribute to local areas,' but the loss is far too great. Also, who exactly is this so-called 'tribute'? I want to see the details of every single transaction."

Sun Qiniang's delicate body trembled slightly. She quickly put down the handkerchief in her hand, picked up another, more detailed ledger, searched through it, and forced a smile, saying, "Miss Wanwan, you are wise... This, this land of Sichuan and Chongqing, the mountain roads are rugged, and the canal transport is fraught with danger. Indeed... indeed, the losses are greater than elsewhere. As for 'tribute'... you know, the salt and iron are state-run. Although we have some connections, we still need to bribe officials at all levels. This... these specific items were previously handled personally by Sect Leader An... I only vaguely know about a few officials and a few leaders of the canal transport gangs involved..."

Her words were hesitant, and her eyes darted around, clearly indicating that there was something fishy going on.

Wanwan's lips curled into a half-smile. She didn't immediately reprimand him, but instead turned her gaze to Ouyang Xu: "Elder Ouyang, I've heard you have some connections with Liu, the leader of the Yuzhou Canal Gang? I'll leave this matter to you to verify. Within three days, I need to see the exact whereabouts of those 40,000 dan of salt, as well as the list of all those involved. Including... the parts that Anlong might have concealed before."

Ouyang Xu coughed twice, his sallow face expressionless. He stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a hoarse voice, "Cough... I understand. I will certainly... cough cough... investigate thoroughly."

He felt a chill run down his spine. Wanwan's move was a double-edged sword. It was not only to audit the accounts and recover the losses, but also to test his and Sun Qiniang's loyalty and abilities, and more importantly, to use this opportunity to uproot any hidden forces in Anlong.

Wanwan nodded and picked up another booklet, which contained records of the production and sales of Shu brocade.

“Jinxiufang in Chengdu Prefecture is our largest Shu brocade workshop, with more than 500 weavers and 300 looms of various types. However, our output in the past six months has decreased by 30% compared to the same period last year. The reasons are ‘unstable supply of raw materials’ and ‘loss of skilled weavers’?”

Wanwan tapped the records in the booklet with her fingertips, then looked up at Sun Qiniang: "Elder Sun, as far as I know, the production of silk in Sichuan and Chongqing has not decreased. Why is the supply unstable? Is there a problem in the procurement process, or is someone deliberately hoarding and raising prices? As for the loss of weavers... 'Hexinglong' pays the lowest wages among its peers in Chengdu Prefecture, and they often delay or deduct wages. Is that true?"

Sun Qiniang's forehead was slightly sweaty. She picked up a handkerchief and wiped it, saying awkwardly, "This... the procurement of raw materials has always been handled by Du... Du Li's nephew, Du Huai Ren. Perhaps... perhaps he's not doing a good job. As for the weavers' wages... in the past, Sect Leader An thought that these lowly craftsmen were lucky to even have food to eat, so..."

"So you can exploit people at will and drain the pond to catch all the fish?"

Wanwan interrupted her, her tone still calm, yet it exerted an invisible pressure on Sun Qiniang: "Pass on my message: First, immediately replace Du Huai Ren, and have Elder Ouyang recommend a reliable person to temporarily take over the position of raw material procurement. Second, starting this month, the wages of all weavers at 'Jinxiufang' will be increased by 20%, and any outstanding wages must be settled within five days. Third, send someone to investigate whether any other forces are maliciously hoarding silk in the market; if so, report it."

After a pause, Wanwan's voice turned slightly cold: "What the Heavenly Alliance wants is not a 'Hexinglong' riddled with internal problems and full of complaints. The Alliance Leader once said that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. If the artisans and farmers at the bottom cannot survive, no matter how many salt wells and looms we have, they will be nothing but castles in the air. I hope the two elders can understand these principles."

Sun Qiniang and Ouyang Xu exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. They had originally thought that Wanwan taking over would simply be a change in name only, continuing the same exploitative practices, but they never expected her to proactively raise wages and purge the parasites? This was completely out of character for the Demonic Sect! However, considering her unfathomable backing and the excruciating "Mysterious Ice Restriction," the two dared not say more and could only reply in unison, "Yes, we will obey your orders, Miss."

Wanwan said no more and continued to bury herself in her documents. She read extremely quickly, and her memory was astonishing; often, she could grasp the key issues with just a few glances. She would occasionally ask Sun Qiniang for details of a particular business deal, or have Ouyang Xu explain the background and relationships of a certain vassal power. Her questions were often incisive and to the point, leaving even the two seasoned veterans of the demonic sects, who had spent years navigating the complexities of the martial world, somewhat overwhelmed and sweating profusely.

In this process, Wanwan gained a more direct and profound understanding of the Tianlian Sect's vast commercial empire and intricate interpersonal network. It was indeed a behemoth built on money and profit, permeating every aspect of the lives of the people of Sichuan and Chongqing, but it also had its share of internal problems. Anlong barely maintained a balance through his martial arts skills and shrewdness, but beneath the surface, undercurrents were already surging. (End of Chapter)