The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Jie Hui first praised the Heavenly Dao Alliance, distancing himself from the "stubborn disease" in his words, as if Duzun Fort had always been a pure and aloof force.

"I am not very talented, but I have been in charge of Duzun Fort for many years. In this land of Sichuan, I have gained some reputation and accumulated some power."

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming increasingly "sincere" and "righteous": "However, one tree cannot support a forest, and no egg remains unbroken when the nest is overturned. Seeing the Alliance Leader and the heroes of the Heavenly Dao Alliance with their hearts set on the world and their ambition to bring peace to the land, I, Jie, am deeply impressed and willing to do my part!"

Jie Hui took a deep breath, as if he had made a tremendous decision, and bowed deeply to Yi Huawei:
"I, Xie, am willing to lead the entire Duzun Fortress to follow the Alliance Leader's lead and join forces for this great cause! I only hope to end this chaotic world as soon as possible and restore peace to the people of the world! These are my heartfelt words, and I plead for the lives of countless people in Sichuan and Chongqing. I hope the Alliance Leader... will not abandon me!"

Jie Hui's words were succinct and impeccable. He framed his act of surrender as a matter of serving the people and for the peace of Sichuan, and described his submission to Yi Huawei as "jointly participating in a great undertaking" and "following in the footsteps of a great horse," giving him ample face.

Upon hearing this, Song Shidao, standing to the side, showed a barely perceptible hint of surprise in his gentle eyes, which quickly turned into deep thought. He could naturally discern the cunning in Jie Hui's words, but he had to admit that, under the current circumstances, this was the most "wise" choice for Duzun Fort.

Song Yuzhi blinked her big eyes and pursed her lips, clearly not impressed by Xie Hui's excellent performance, feeling it was far less upright than her father's.

A faint, mocking smile played on Wanwan's lips as she toyed with a strand of her hair. Shan Meixian remained calm, merely picking up her teacup, her gaze lowered, lost in thought. Sun Qiniang held her breath, not daring to make a sound.

All eyes were once again focused on Yi Huawei.

Yi Huawei remained seated, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair, producing a rhythmic tapping sound. He was neither moved by Jie Hui's "deep understanding of righteousness" nor delighted by the seemingly sincere offer of allegiance.

A brief silence fell over the hall, broken only by the crackling of the charcoal fire and the rhythmic tapping, which only added to the oppressive atmosphere.

After a long pause, Yi Huawei slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calmly landing on Jie Hui's face, which held both anticipation and a hint of trepidation. He spoke softly, skipping all the insincere pleasantries and platitudes:

"Lord Jie is very kind."

Then, the tone abruptly changed, remaining calm yet leaving no room for argument:
"Since Lord Jie has mentioned the common people and wishes to join the Heavenly Dao Alliance, then some rules need to be made clear beforehand."

His gaze swept over Jie Hui, and also over Song Shidao and Song Yuzhi standing to the side.

"The Heavenly Alliance operates according to its own rules. Those who join the alliance must abide by its regulations. Firstly, within its territory, government decrees, laws, taxes, and weights and measures must all be consistent with those of the alliance, and no one may act independently."

"Secondly, all members of the alliance must not bully the weak, collude with foreign enemies, or outwardly comply while inwardly disobeying orders. Those who violate this rule will be punished according to the severity of the offense. For minor offenses, they will be stripped of their martial arts skills and expelled from the alliance; for serious offenses, they will be implicated along with their relatives."

"Third,"

Yi Huawei paused slightly, his gaze suddenly sharpening: "And the most important one—all forces that join the Heavenly Dao Alliance must unconditionally relinquish command over all their private armies, retainers, guards, and other armed forces, regardless of size, to be uniformly reorganized, dispatched, and commanded by the Alliance. The original owner may no longer directly or indirectly interfere in military affairs in any form."

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Hui's "righteous indignation" and "sincerity" froze instantly, replaced by undisguised shock! He even couldn't help but gasp softly and took a small step back.

Relinquish military power?!
This is practically uprooting him and killing him!
What enabled Duzun Fort to stand firm in Sichuan and maintain relative independence despite its marriage alliance with the Song Clan? Besides Xie Hui's title as the "Martial Arts Judge," the most important factor was his well-trained, well-equipped private army that obeyed only him! That was the foundation of his power and the basis of his survival!
Once he relinquishes his military power, what will Jie Hui have left? An empty title of "Fortress Lord"? A "high-ranking retainer" within the Heavenly Alliance who might have to be subservient to others?
This was worse than he had anticipated! He had originally thought that even if they submitted, it would be at most a nominal allegiance, with regular payments of money and provisions, and obedience to orders in major matters. He believed that the inner workings of Duzun Fortress, especially its military, would remain independent. After all, this was the norm for cooperation or submission among warlords in chaotic times!
Song Shidao nodded slightly. This was tantamount to completely cutting off the source of any potential separatism or rebellion! Song Yuzhi opened her mouth wide, looked at Yi Huawei, then at Jie Hui, whose face was ashen, and thought to herself: "Alliance Leader, this move... is too ruthless! But... it seems to make a lot of sense?"
Wanwan's mocking smile deepened, as if she had expected this to happen.

Jie Hui's expression shifted rapidly, a mixture of shock, anger, and resentment flashing in his eyes. He suppressed the turmoil in his blood, his voice trembling slightly.

"...Alliance Leader...this...is this...is this too much...? Military power is the foundation of our Supreme Fortress. If we hand it over, how...how can we protect ourselves? And how...how can we serve the Alliance Leader?"

Jie Hui tried to struggle and tried to negotiate.

Yi Huawei looked at him calmly, without answering Jie Hui's question about "how to protect oneself," because in the face of absolute power and rules, such a question was meaningless. He simply added:
"This is the ironclad rule of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, without exception. Those who join the alliance must abide by this rule. Those who do not join will not be forced to."

His tone remained calm, but the will contained within it weighed heavily on Jie Hui's heart like a towering mountain.

The phrase "not forcing" carries a cold indifference—if you don't join, then continue being the sole ruler of your fortress. But under this surging tide, how long can your fortress remain "solely supreme"? Xi Ying's fate serves as a cautionary tale.

Jie Hui's face turned deathly pale instantly. He understood the decisiveness in Yi Huawei's words and the chilling threat hidden within. His gaze subconsciously swept over Wanwan and Shan Meixian beside him, recalling their swift and decisive methods in killing Xi Ying, and then thinking of the mysterious and unpredictable Yi Huawei himself, who could easily subdue the Bashu Alliance... A bone-chilling coldness shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Resist? Does he have the strength? Does he have the courage?

A deathly silence fell over the hall once more. Everyone stared at Jie Hui, awaiting his final decision. Would he relinquish the military power he held dear, in exchange for a position within the new order of the Heavenly Dao Alliance? Or would he gamble the future of the entire Duzun Fortress, even… his life, for the sake of a hollow "independence"?

Jie Hui stood there, his tall frame now appearing somewhat hunched. The imposing presence of the "Martial Arts Judge" vanished entirely before Yi Huawei's calm yet rule-like words.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly at that moment, and the air seemed to freeze.

Beads of sweat trickled down his cheeks, dripping onto the expensive Persian carpet. Xie Hui's chest heaved slightly; he was clearly undergoing an internal struggle. Military power was the symbol of his authority, the cornerstone of Duzun Fortress's standing in Sichuan, and the very foundation of his livelihood. Relinquishing it would be tantamount to cutting off his own arm, entrusting his life and fortune entirely to another.

But what if you don't pay?
His gaze involuntarily swept over Yi Huawei's calm, expressionless face again, his deep, starry eyes seemingly able to see through his every thought. The news from Sanhua Tower last night flashed through his mind: Xi Ying, that ruthless man, had mastered the lost martial art "Purple Qi Heavenly Net," yet was still easily killed like a chicken or a dog. Then he thought of Fan Zhuo and Feng Zhen of the Bashu Alliance, how respectful and submissive they were before this young lady, Wanwan…

The thought of resistance had barely arisen when it was extinguished by an even deeper chill. He had no doubt that if he uttered a single "no," the centuries-old foundation of Duzun Fortress would truly be destroyed in his hands. This alliance leader absolutely possessed the power and the resolve to do so!

The dignity of a "martial arts judge" and the pride of a regional overlord appear so pale and powerless in the face of absolute strength and ruthless rules.

Finally, Jie Hui abruptly closed his eyes, as if using up all his strength. When he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was exhaustion, the dejection after a struggle, and a trace of resigned defeat. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard; his throat was dry, and his voice was hoarse.

"Alliance Leader...you are far-sighted, everything...everything is for the stability of the world. I...will obey the Alliance Leader's orders! All the troops and guards of Duzun Fortress...a total of more than 8,300 people, their rosters, equipment, provisions and supplies...will be...completed within three days and submitted to the Alliance Leader, awaiting...awaiting reorganization and deployment!"

Xie Hui spoke these words haltingly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying the bloody pain of parting. As he finished speaking, he seemed to hunch over slightly, and the deep blue brocade robe that symbolized his authority now appeared somewhat empty.

Upon hearing this, a complex emotion flashed in Song Shidao's eyes—sympathy mixed with awe at Yi Huawei's cunning and manipulative methods. Song Yuzhi let out a soft "Ah," covering her mouth with her hand, clearly surprised that Jie Hui would actually agree to such harsh conditions.

The mockery on Wanwan's lips finally turned into a knowing smile, as if to say, "You're smart enough to know your place." Sun Qiniang didn't dare to breathe loudly, feeling that the alliance leader's power was truly so great!
Yi Huawei's face remained expressionless, as if Jie Hui's submission was entirely expected. He nodded slightly, his tone still calm:

“Excellent. Lord Jie is a man of great wisdom and compassion for the common people. I am very pleased.”

Without offering any further reassurance, Yi Huawei skipped that step and began announcing the next steps, his tone clear and organized, as if he were setting up a pre-planned game of chess:

"Now that Lord Jie has made his decision, the land of Sichuan needs to be integrated into the Heavenly Dao Alliance system as soon as possible to reassure the people and restore order."

His gaze first fell on Wanwan: "Wanwan."

"Alliance Leader, Wanwan is here!"

Wanwan immediately dropped her joking expression, stepped forward, curtsied, and her pretty face became solemn.

"You and Lord Jie will jointly be responsible for all internal political affairs in Sichuan. The existing commercial network of 'Hexinglong' and the local connections of Duzunbao need to be sorted out and integrated as soon as possible. We need to measure the land, verify the household registration, rectify the officialdom, appease the displaced people, restore production, and unblock trade routes. You can discuss the specific details with Lord Jie, referring to the established laws and regulations in Jiangnan and Lingnan within the alliance, and adapt them to local conditions. If there are any unresolved issues, we will report them to higher authorities."

He entrusted Wanwan with the reins of domestic affairs, yet also arranged for the local strongman Xie Hui to assist him. This served both to utilize Xie Hui's local experience and as a form of invisible checks and balances. Although Wanwan was young, she was shrewd and had the support of Yi Huawei behind her, which was enough to suppress any potential disturbances.

"Yes! Wanwan accepts the order! I will cooperate sincerely with Lord Jie and live up to the Alliance Leader's expectations!"

Wanwan responded loudly, her eyes sparkling with excitement and eagerness. She glanced at Jie Hui provocatively, whose face stiffened, but he could only manage a smile that was more like a grimace. He cupped his hands and said, "This old man... will certainly do his best to cooperate with Miss Wanwan."

Yi Huawei turned his gaze to Song Shidao: "Shidao."

Song Shidao had already anticipated the arrangements, and calmly stood up: "Alliance Leader, please give your orders."

"Within the territory of Sichuan, all armed forces of the forces that have submitted to you, including the troops handed over by Duzun Fort, the original armed forces of the Bashu Alliance, and the people available to the Tianlian Sect, will be under your responsibility for unified reorganization and training."

Yi Huawei's tone was trusting: "Your previous reorganization of the Jingling military was quite effective. I am at ease entrusting this matter to you. The reorganization principle will be based on the alliance's military system, eliminating the weak and retaining the strong, and clearly defining orders. Fan Zhuo, Feng Zhen, and others can serve as your deputies to assist you. Later, I will transfer a group of key personnel familiar with the military system from other places to lend you a helping hand."

Yi Huawei entrusted the important task of reorganizing the army to Song Shidao. Song Shidao was an upright and capable man, and the Song Clan had close ties with the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Having him in charge of military power would not only ensure the smooth progress of the reorganization but also put Yi Huawei at ease. Appointing Fan Zhuo and Feng Zhen as deputies was both a way to utilize their familiarity with the local situation and a means of appeasement and integration into the system.

With a solemn expression, Song Shidao cupped his hands and said, "Shidao will do his utmost to complete the reorganization as soon as possible and train a fighting force for the Alliance Leader!"

Yi Huawei nodded slightly and concluded, "The integration needs to be carried out swiftly. Wanwan and Lord Jie, the internal affairs sorting needs to show initial results within a month. Shidao, the initial reorganization of the army also needs to be completed simultaneously."

His gaze swept over the three men, and Yi Huawei's tone carried an undeniable decisiveness: "One month from now, the Heavenly Dao Alliance will officially announce to the world that Sichuan will henceforth be incorporated into the Alliance's territory!"

"Yes!"

Wanwan, Jiehui, and Song Shidao responded in unison. Their voices echoed within the Lotus Heart Hall.

Looking at the scene before her, and seeing how Yi Huawei had clearly allocated the military and political power of the vast Sichuan province in just a few words, Song Yuzhi blinked her big eyes and thought to herself: "The leader's demeanor is even more impressive than my father's!"

Jie Hui felt a bitter taste in his mouth, but he knew that from this moment on, the fate of Duzun Fortress was completely tied to this mysterious and powerful Heavenly Dao Alliance Leader. He had no choice but to follow suit. (End of Chapter)