Zhao Xing said, "Didn’t I just explain? Our Minister of Agriculture Supervision’s planting capacity overflowed, so I just casually looked at others. It was pure coincidence."
Even a ghost wouldn’t believe that.
You were so well-prepared, almost sticking a gun in the Fire Demon Clan’s face, and then saying it wasn’t intentional... Who would believe that?
Clearly, you had your eyes on the Fire Demon Clan for a long time!
Zhao Xing took a tactical sip of water.
Whether you believe it or not, I believe it.
Liao Rulong listened to the conversation between Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie and sensed some meaning.
The Fire Demon Clan could be fought, and with a relatively easy method.
The prerequisite was to obtain the Fifth-tier Earth Fire Lotus at the bottom of the Flame Mountain Range. It didn’t have to be a mature plant, seeds or seedlings would work.
If they could get it, the Flame Mountain Range would no longer be an insurmountable barrier.
Attacking Fire Dragon Pass from the inside would be significantly easier.
The strategist ’Pu Zhong’ behind Liao Rulong was contemplating the latter half of Zhao Xing’s words.
Zhao Xing had such a clear understanding of these things, he probably even figured out how to steal the Earth Fire Lotus.
He might still be holding back, leaving an unfinished feeling.
With Zhao Xing’s explanation,
Liao Rulong and his men lost the mood to drink and immediately prepared to discuss the attack on Fire Dragon Pass with Pu Zhong and other commanders.
"Capital Commandant, let Chen Shijie stay here, call them when the army moves out." As they were about to leave the ninety-second city, Pu Zhong suddenly whispered to Liao Rulong.
"Hmm? Why?" Liao Rulong looked puzzled at Pu Zhong.
"The two Military Ministers of Agriculture might still have specific planting discussions." Pu Zhong said.
Pu Zhong realized that Zhao Xing had more to say.
He guessed Zhao Xing might only want to discuss it with Chen Shijie.
Probably to give the credit to Chen Shijie?
After all, Chen Shijie was the one he trusted and was closest to.
Liao Rulong, the main general he had only recently met, had some things that couldn’t be easily said.
"Old Chen." Zhao Xing called Chen Shijie into a separate room outside the city. "This time, to steal the Earth Fire Lotus from Fire Dragon Pass, I’ll go with you."
"You’re coming too?" Chen Shijie said, "It’s not necessary; I can take people to steal it."
"No, I must go." Zhao Xing said, "Fire Dragon Pass is not simple; the Earth Fire Lotus is a highly valued treasure of the Fire Demon Clan, full of traps and complex terrain along the way."
"With me, your success will be greater."
Chen Shijie didn’t understand where Zhao Xing’s confidence came from.
But seeing Zhao Xing’s insistence, he nodded, "Alright, I will tell Liao Rulong to transfer you to the front line."
"The action team must be led by you." Zhao Xing said, "Don’t let an outsider command."
"Why do I feel like you’re emphasizing this point just to take command?" Chen Shijie looked at Zhao Xing with a smirk.
"Is it that obvious?" Zhao Xing looked up.
"I’ll definitely get the command of the action team." Chen Shijie said, "Is there anything else you want to say?"
"Go to the Military Realm and find the book ’Southern Barbarian Curios’, and its author." Zhao Xing said, "His name is Zhang Chunfang."
"During Emperor Wen’s period, he was an envoy to various Southern Barbarian tribes."
"He wrote ’Southern Barbarian Curios’, so he must have seen the Earth Fire Lotus. I suspect he knows a lot about the Fire Demon Clan, and there should be records about the Fire Demon Clan geography in the Military Realm."
Chen Shijie nodded, "Alright."
The materials in the Military Realm were vast as smoke. Without Zhao Xing’s reminder, Chen Shijie wouldn’t know where to start if he wanted to learn about the Fire Demon Clan.
"Also, prepare some traps. This list is what I came up with after reading that book; it might come in handy."
Chen Shijie looked at the list and didn’t know what to say, "And you say you weren’t planning against the Fire Demon Clan?"
"Alright, that’s all. Call me when you set off." Zhao Xing said.
"You don’t necessarily have to go." Chen Shijie reiterated, "It’s still dangerous."
"I know high-level escape techniques, you don’t have to worry about me." Zhao Xing smiled.
"..." Chen Shijie always felt Zhao Xing was a monster.
For others, mastering a high-level technique during seventh-rank was enough to be called a genius.
But for Zhao Xing, it was like eating and drinking water.
"How many high-level techniques do you know?"
"Not many, just nine."
"The way you said ’just’ makes me want to hit you." Chen Shijie’s mouth twitched. "Alright, then you’ll come along."
After parting with Chen Shijie, Zhao Xing returned to his room.
Actually, if it were someone else, he wouldn’t personally go to Fire Dragon Pass and risk danger.
So why was Zhao Xing doing this?
There were two reasons. First, defeating Fire Dragon Pass had immense benefits. As long as they could get a share in Qinggang Mine, he, Long Xiao, Chen Shijie, and even many others could gain noble titles.
They might be able to leap several levels at once, from Baron to Marquis.
Because this was the biggest opportunity for merit in the early stages.
Second, Zhao Xing had the detailed military strategy and trap diagrams of Fire Dragon Pass in his mind.
He knew the paths of the underground magma rivers, how to harvest the Earth Fire Lotus, and the approximate defensive strength during Emperor Jing’s period. Only Zhao Xing knew these strategies.
If he didn’t go personally, Old Chen and the others would surely face many setbacks, and it wouldn’t be so smooth.
If he went along, even just a small reminder would make the plan much smoother.
The last reason was that Zhao Xing wanted to try changing Chen Shijie’s fate.
By revealing the Earth Fire Lotus and letting Chen Shijie be the one to devise and lead the plan,
capturing Fire Dragon Pass would heavily credit Old Chen.
He wanted to quickly push Chen Shijie’s military merit to over a million!
In this way, even if Old Chen died, he could transform into a Yin God Body, essentially buying insurance.