Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 299 Xi Yue's Envoy Arrives at the Court to Discuss Who Will Prevail
The latest issue of the Blue Star Military Report was placed on Lord Chen Mo's desk.

This is a secret intelligence room belonging exclusively to the lord; only the lord himself is allowed to enter this space.

Even Liu Shuang, the closest living being, and Li Zelin, bound by a contract with the undead, were not qualified to view the battle reports here.

After all, many of these cases involve family situations.

After reading this dramatic and thrilling account of "A-Fu's" escape, Chen Mo felt a brief sense of relief while mourning the many innocent victims.

Whether it's a bald eagle or a four-clawed sea serpent, they have a million ways to avoid civilian casualties. Even simply opening a safe passage to the sea could save thousands of lives.

But no!
On the scales of weighing the pros and cons, the lives and fortunes of ordinary people are clearly far less valuable than the extra year of life that might be gained for those in the upper class!
Interestingly, these decision-makers at the top are elected by the people at the bottom of society, one vote at a time.

So, as the saying goes, when an avalanche occurs, no snowflake is innocent.

You chose them yourselves, my idols!

This kind of electoral politics also has a very strong social stability effect: the people at the bottom don't need to think about overthrowing the government or the tyrant. They can just endure it for a few years and then vote him out.

What a brilliant placebo!

In contrast, this starry world beneath our feet, while essentially a dog-eat-dog world, seems to lack those nauseating twists and turns.

They eat people here, and they do it openly, directly, and without any pretense.

For example, according to the latest Sky Eye report, the Xiyue Federation, which had entered a brief period of peace, is showing signs of another potential conflict.

Elder Zegen, the negotiating representative of the Xiyue Federation who had a pleasant conversation with Lord Chen Mo and received great praise from the lord, returned to Hanhai after a brief communication in Xiyue.

This elder was once a magic-based professional, but no one knows how much skill he still possesses. In any case, judging from his sunken eyes and high cheekbones after continuous travel, this old body probably can't withstand much more strain.

The lord received Zegen once again in the city lord's mansion, which now finally had a somewhat magnificent appearance.

Well, although the city lord practiced frugality, the later renovations of this city lord's mansion received donations from many forces, both large and small.

It wouldn't do to refuse, for example, elves and cats, these are all potential allies. Seeing the lord's mansion so "bare-bones", they were all heartbroken and insisted on contributing. According to Helan, refusing would easily make them suspicious.

The lord could only reluctantly impose strict standards and accept their sincere efforts!
Old man Zegen did not come alone this time; he was accompanied by a young man who looked to be about ten years old. The boy was neatly dressed, but his expression was somewhat wooden.

Upon meeting, without saying a word, Old Zegen pressed the little guy's head down and made him perform a standard, full-body prostration to Chen Mo.

"This is my grandson. He's going astray in Xiyue!"

"The younger generation in the Federation spends their days dogfighting, horse racing, gambling, and prostitution, squandering their wealth without a care in the world! They always think that their family's power and wealth are an inexhaustible gold mine, but they are completely unaware that the number of professionals in each family and clan is decreasing with each generation, and their ranks are getting lower and lower!"

"This little guy, with me keeping an eye on him, is one of the younger generation who's barely passable!"

Old Zegen tapped the little guy's forehead with his hand, his words revealing a mixture of affection and annoyance.

“I went on a mission to the Han Hai and didn’t see him for a while. He learned a lot of weird things from those noble children. I brought him along this time so he could see for himself what the young people under Lord Chen Mo’s command are doing!”

"If the lord does not mind, I am willing to pay tuition so that this child can study with the teachers of Han Hai for a period of time, to learn the rules and some skills. I hope the lord will grant my request!"

Chen Mo turned his head slightly and instructed the chief councilor beside him, Helan, "Old Helan, you arrange this matter."

Helan immediately bowed and accepted the order. Although Helan's full name was Helan Wayne, and Helan together was his surname, since the lord called him that, the chief councilor had long since changed his surname to Helan.

What Wayne? I don't know him!
The councilor said that he would take the child to see the level of education later and would make the most appropriate suggestions to the lord based on the actual situation of the territory and the enrollment standards.

After thanking the lord, the host and guest took their seats and drank the first round of wine. Old Zegen then stood up shakily.

"There are a few things I must tell the lord about my visit to the Vast Ocean."

"Last time, the lord said that the culprit who abused the prisoners in Xiyue should be severely punished. I also tried to communicate with the royal relatives and elders of the Federation, but I was of low status and no one paid attention to me. They even accused me of being weak and colluding with the enemy. I am ashamed to face the lord. I am ashamed!"

Chen Mo frowned slightly; clearly, this topic had stirred up some unpleasant memories for him.

However, to be fair, Zegen is one of the few sensible people in Xiyue, and he wouldn't take his anger out on others easily, so he waved his hand and said, "This has nothing to do with you. I'm just offering my opinion, and Xiyue will make her own decisions. There's no need for an elder to apologize to me."

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Lord!"

"However, after much thought, the old man still has some things he needs to explain to the lord!"

"My lord, please do not be offended. In this chaotic world, among our own kind, those who still uphold the code of pioneer knights, emphasizing forgiveness, compassion, fairness, and justice, are already one in ten thousand, let alone in a war between different races!"

"If it weren't for pandering to the lord's kindness, the elven army's conduct wouldn't be much better than Xiyue's!"

Chen Mo completely believed this.

When the elves were winning, they still maintained a certain civilized demeanor, but when they suffered their first defeat on the battlefield, the order was already given that they did not need to shelve their weapons.

If it weren't for my own battlefield coordination team working on the front lines, and if it weren't for my repeated persuasion, the two sides would inevitably have fought a morally bankrupt and messy war.

Is it hard to understand? Actually, it's not. After all, it's a territorial war between two different races.

There are numerous examples of assimilating a different race that can take decades or even centuries, and where assimilation may not even succeed in the end, or where a backlash may occur.

The extermination of an entire ethnic group often takes only a few dozen days.

This will save so much trouble!
Taking shortcuts is almost a biological instinct.

Seeing Chen Mo nod slightly, signaling him to continue, Lao Zegen was filled with mixed emotions.

With such a magnificent appearance, whose son is he?

Clearing his throat, Zegen continued, bowing, "So, prisoners of war on the battlefield are either killed or maimed. This has always been the practice in barbaric warfare. I am not defending these villains of Xiyue. It's just that there are many cruel people in the army, and the elves are well aware of this. This time, they deliberately spent money to keep them alive, which is somewhat... a consideration to... gain sympathy in front of the lord!"

Chen Mo frowned slightly, which made the old man's heart tremble, and he quickly added in a few words.

"The old man had no intention of criticizing the elves, nor did he intend to sow discord between the lord and the elves! They were simply... taking advantage of your compassion, lord, that even the orc slaves in your territory are treated well. They wanted to use this to gain more of your support."

"The old man doesn't think much of the elves, but he has a deep respect for the lord."

"Even under the command of the Four Ancient Emperors, the vast ocean is no more than this!"

The Starry World and the Eastern Xia Dynasty have something in common: the longer the history, the more perfect the characters become. The earliest leaders, according to their epics, are all paragons of virtue and saints.

The closer the era is to the present, the more detailed the information, and the more three-dimensional the characters become. People are surprised to find that most of the heroes who are praised are somewhat selfish.

Comparing Chen Mo to the Four Emperors of antiquity is not just praise; it seems to carry a different meaning as well.

"The old man's words are merely for your consideration, Lord. Among the elves, there are good and bad, and the Creek Moon Federation is also divided into good and evil!"

"Those who commit cruel acts against prisoners are the central army under the royal family. I have come here only to find a way out for pitiful people like myself in the Xiyue Federation!"

"If things settle down in the future and the elves take the northern slopes, I hope that this tribe under my command can come under the rule of the Lord of the Vast Sea, rather than live a life of subservience under the elves!"

Chen Mo widened his eyes slightly and asked with a hint of amusement, "Xi Yue has a population of tens of millions and claims to have a million armored soldiers. My Han Hai territory, even if we include the newly captured prisoners, has only a few tens of thousands of people. Why would you say such a thing, sir?"

"My lord, you are too modest!"

"Even the fattest earth beast can't beat a third-tier Terrorclaw! The giants on the Frost Plains, even at full strength, still couldn't withstand a second-tier attack."

To be honest, not only Chen Mo, but even his subordinates, who blindly trusted and fanatically worshipped their lord, felt that the old man's praise was far too blatant and exaggerated. Unexpectedly, the old man then changed the subject and said something that even Chen Mo hadn't anticipated.

"My lord, in the days since I left the Vast Sea and returned to Stream Moon, I have spent every single day pondering and reflecting on your actions and policies. After returning, I also consulted many classic texts recording the rise and fall of great nations. By comparing the two, I have finally managed to gain some understanding!"

"From the very beginning, the Vast Ocean Territory has not followed the crooked path of ordinary separatist forces plundering and expanding, nor the narrow path of a small country with few people living in seclusion. It has followed the grand road! It is heading towards the strategy of becoming a great nation spanning thousands of miles!"

"Many of the strategies employed by a lord are actually useless when applied to a small country."

Elder Zegen bowed to Liu Shuang, who was sitting next to Chen Mo and was somewhat drowsy: "To be frank with you, Madam, for example, in Yunwu Territory, Earl Liuyun is quite kind to his people and is diligent in training his troops, but when the Green Pine Army arrives, he still loses everything and retreats in disgrace if he is not careful."

"Therefore, if you want to practice benevolent governance, you must also be able to stop the enemy!"

Chen Mo sat up straight, his legs unconsciously and slowly trembling.

"The old man has been thinking about this day and night, looking at the map again and again, and has barely managed to figure out some of the lord's plans."

"Looking out over the vast sea, to the north it is on good terms with the Misty Moon Divine Court, keeping the orcs at the foot of Flag Mountain, and to the west it has defeated Zircon, so the Green Pine Kingdom and the Emerald Duchy dare not look eastward."

"The southern elves are subservient, the Stream Moon Federation is weak, and the Silver Kingdom has no ambition. The vast plains are all the backyard of the Vast Sea. To the east, we have allied with the sea creatures, and the Naga are the lord's wings. Whether it is the Sky Dome or the Moonlit Realm, the possibility of harassing us from the sea has been cut off."

"This grand scheme, with its intricate details and interconnected steps, is beyond my ability to describe!"

Chen Mo fell silent.

Was this old man deliberately praising himself, or did he overdo his self-promotion?
This analysis sounds plausible and has a grand vision, but for Chen Mo, many of these were simply trades that followed the trend, and the war was mostly a matter of passive defense.

His analysis actually gave off a sense of profound foresight and a comprehensive overview.

Just as Chen Mo was still pondering, the old man finally revealed his true intentions.

"My lord, there are some things I have to say, though they may not be to your liking, but I still hope you can consider them."

Chen Mo nodded: "Please speak!"

"The elves might be able to defeat Xiyue, but they definitely can't control her!"

"The elves are inherently arrogant and self-important, and they do not take the human race seriously. If they had not once regarded the human race as mere vassals, how could they have provoked such various resistances?"

This is one of the most interesting historical cases: when the humans were under the elves' command, they were well-fed but felt disrespected, so they followed the heavens and raised the banner of rebellion.

Then, it seems that respect has indeed been gained, but the food is still not enough to fill our stomachs!
The old man continued, "Moreover, the elves only have a few million people. If a small clan controls a large one, there will inevitably be endless conflicts in the future."

"Although the elves have taken in some commoners under the lord's benevolence in Qingze City, problems will inevitably arise as time goes on and trivial matters accumulate."

"At that time, in places where the elves cannot control or manage, ambitious individuals within the human race will inevitably seize the opportunity to rise up, fill power vacancies, and even further incite racial conflict and provoke rebellion."

"The banks of the Beilu River will likely be anything but peaceful in the future!"

"Please consider this, my lord!"

Chen Mo suddenly felt a sense of awe. Just listening to these words, the old man's insight and predictions about the future situation were quite incisive.

The young lord cleared his throat and asked, "So, in your opinion, how should this be handled?"

Elder Zegen was overjoyed and immediately replied, "With such a small number of elves, apart from the old forest lands, we could only accommodate one or two cities at most! Besides, the old capital of Silvermoon is in the north, within Greenpine territory, and we will have to return there sooner or later."

"In my humble opinion, Xiyue can be given one or two cities to the elves, but the administration of the entire territory should not be handed over to the elves!"

"My lord, you can support the elves to suppress the southern kingdoms, while also promoting the human tribes to restrain the elves."

"In the future, elves will be the lord's sword, while humans will be the lord's granary and source of wealth."

“If the elves are obedient, they will be provided with money and food. If they have any other improper thoughts, the lord can give an order and all the human tribes can sever ties with them and refuse to provide any military supplies.”

"Conversely, if humans are obedient, the elves will be their protectors; if humans are disobedient, the elves can instantly become a steel knife held to their throats!"

"For the elves, they can now focus on restoring their homeland without worrying about money or supplies, or having to distribute manpower and manage mundane affairs. For the humans, no longer being bullied by other races, and with such a compassionate lord, life will surely get better and better. It's a win-win situation."

Councilor Helan immediately stood up: "Excellent eloquence! Excellent calculation!"

As one of the few sensible people in the territory, he worried that the lord would be misled by the other party's words, so he had to somewhat rashly intervene.

"My lord, this old fellow speaks eloquently, but at his core he still uses the same old tricks of the powerful and wealthy. Don't be fooled by him."

"The elves don't have the ability to manage Xiyue, and my Hanhai doesn't have that many people! According to his method, the final local administrators will still be these local powerful families, centuries-old clans..."

Chen Mo smiled and waved his hand; how could he not know this principle?

To put it bluntly, this old man must believe that Xiyue will inevitably be unable to defeat the elves who have the support of the Vast Ocean in the future, so he has already begun to "plan his country" in advance!

"It's alright, I like dealing with smart people who understand things quickly and can make sense easily."

"Elder Zegen, I have two questions that I would like to trouble you to answer."

"First, are you representing your own tribe, or can you represent the thirteen tribes of the Xiyue Federation?"

"Secondly, what can you offer me?"

Chen Mo didn't mention the matter of the Xiyue Monarch. Regardless of the monarchy system, as long as the monarch still has troops under his command, he cannot be captured without resistance. Moreover, the monarch of the Hein family, based on information from various channels, did not seem like a ruler at all, so he was not included in Chen Mo's considerations at all.

Zegen bowed deeply once again.

"In reply to your question, Lord, I am here only on behalf of my own tribe. But if you are willing to give me a chance, I will immediately return to Xiyue and visit all the tribes in the Federation! There are at least three or four tribes that should be able to understand the bigger picture and are willing to serve you, Lord."

"As for what I can do for the lord..."

"I am ashamed. Last time, under the witness of the lord, we signed a ceasefire with the elves. However, the royal faction in the Federation is restless. I'm afraid... I'm afraid this agreement may not last until that day."

“Xiyue...Xiyue Federation may renege on the agreement.”

"I am ashamed to face the lord's trust, I am filled with remorse!"

This is selling intelligence; it seems the old man has indeed made up his mind.

Chen Mo let out a slow sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Alright, I can see that you're being somewhat sincere! However, the content of this message is a bit too vague."

"Let me guess what your emperor plans to do?"

"Could it be that the 'North Wind' Legion has abandoned its auxiliary troops and set up camp, pretending to still be stationed in the same place, while its main force has already circled around to the upper reaches of the North Mountain River?"

"Did they ostensibly withdraw the troops from the northern front of the council, but then dispatch two large legions from the central region, traveling by day and night, and have already reached the outskirts of the Changfeng Hills?"

"Did they bribe a group of mercenaries? Are they planning to launch a surprise attack from within Whitestone City?"

With each word Chen Mo spoke, the old man's face paled a little more. Finally, he could no longer stand. Even though he knew Chen Mo disliked kneeling, he couldn't help but kneel down with a "plop."

"Okay, get up."

"Tell me, is there anything else I don't know?"

(End of this chapter)