The raid was successful, even though Xia Xiao and Azhu didn't see anyone and went back to their rooms to rest. But the people of the Great Xia Alliance were still very happy, and threatened to have an extra meal and meat to celebrate.

The kitchen staff got the approval, smiled, and started to work. As soon as the war started, there were many happy events. From the emperor to the logistics staff, everyone was very happy. It was time to have a good meal to boost morale again.

The whole camp was filled with joy, and everyone was full of energy. The wounded were in a better mood than usual, and the depression caused by the pain was washed away. They gathered in groups and discussed how Xia Xiao should attack in order to escape unscathed. Everyone deified Xia Xiao with their own gossip, which was not a bad thing, because they all hoped that their injuries would heal quickly and be able to fight on the battlefield again.

The generals did not indulge in joy, and were even more nervous than usual. If they did not take advantage of this opportunity to gain a greater advantage, they would be sorry for Xia Xiao's desperate efforts. Therefore, they held a meeting and planned an active attack tomorrow.

Everyone had a dispute. Daxia was the passive party in this war and should not have taken the initiative to attack. Because it was very risky. Nanshang occupied their city and had strong defense. But they still had to try it once and began to formulate an attack route. The counselors and generals discussed and decided to give an accurate plan today, and tentatively launch the attack at dawn tomorrow.

While the offensive plan was being discussed here, Nan Shang was also reflecting on it. However, both General Tiemian and Wang Ling felt that the problem of arrogance and distrust within the company should be solved first.

The old man who had chased Xia Xiao and the others stood in front of the cultivators, and like the generals, he was one level lower than Wang Ling. Although Wang Ling asked them to sit down and was very respectful to the masters of Qu Lun and Sheng Guo realm, the words he was about to say made these masters feel embarrassed, and even felt that Wang Ling was making innuendos.

The hall-like tent was packed. With the emperor's approval and repeated promotions, Wang Ling, as the student and prince who knew Xia Xiao best, had the power to make everyone listen to him. The moment he got the power, Wang Ling no longer had to worry about his words being ignored. The strict record of the Southern Merchant Army finally did not disappoint him.

"Everyone, we have been severely damaged this time. It will be difficult for us to launch a large-scale attack in the next week. I hope you will reflect on this. I also hope you will take to heart the information I mentioned about Xia Xiao."

"How is Yew's food?"

The person who asked the question was the strongest Qulun practitioner in the Southern Business Empire, and the old man who had attacked Xia Xiao and Azhu before. He was called Ji Lao by everyone. He asked the question not because he really cared about Zishan's situation, because he thought Xia Xiao would not attack there. As for why the latter stayed, it might be because it was difficult for him to get out of the city. As long as Xia Xiao wanted to hide, he really couldn't find him.

What he did was just to tell Wang Ling not to be disrespectful because of his status. As long as Zishan had enough food and grass, he could still march and attack. Even if he had some talent, he shouldn't interfere too much in these matters. After all, he was just an outsider. Saying too much would only make him look incompetent and would not prove anything.

Ji Lao was also a member of the academy. Most of the powerful people in the Qulun Realm behind him came from the academy, so what was Wang Ling proud of? Ji Lao couldn't stand people who were high and mighty. Even the emperor had to give him some respect. But since Wang Ling was giving him a lecture in front of him and showing an extremely arrogant look, he couldn't stand it.

Facing Ji Lao's question, Wang Ling did not answer immediately, but just looked aside. The cultivator who had gone to Yew Shan earlier had returned, and now he bowed his head and said:

"Yew's loss of food and fodder is more serious than ours. I'm afraid we won't be able to fill our stomachs tomorrow."

After this was said, everyone looked at each other in disbelief, and Ji Lao was silent. Since Xia Xiao really went to Zishan, where did this guy's courage come from? Is he really as brave as a bear?

As the person who knows Xia Xiao best among the crowd, Wang Ling finally spoke:

"I've said before that since Xia Xiao has come to the battlefield, he won't stop. He's always thinking about how to defeat us, and he won't miss any chance to hurt us. He's brave and ruthless, and with Ah Zhu's perfect cooperation, he can go anywhere. To put it bluntly, even though there are so many strong people present, we can't feel him passing behind us."

Everyone turned back subconsciously, but this tiny movement made everyone feel fearful. Because they had already determined his height in their hearts, it would be difficult to change in the future. If someone praised the enemy like this in normal times, both the Iron-faced General and the practitioners would scold him, but Wang Ling would say something even more exaggerated.

"Xia Xiao is a person who can change destiny. We stand against him, which means we are going against destiny. It is difficult to go against destiny. Senior Ji must have discovered that when he hides his aura, we really can't sense it at all. I mentioned some problems when I just came back, but no one cared. Yesterday afternoon, I got the power given by my father to dispatch soldiers and practitioners to guard the granary square. How many people cooperated? Although I am not very good, I may guess what Xia Xiao thinks, but everyone disappointed me."

"Except for the counselors, most of the people present are cultivators. The perception of cultivators is several times stronger than that of ordinary people, even ten times stronger. But why didn't anyone put out the fire in time after discovering the fire? When I arrived, there were only ten cultivators on the scene. Where were the others? There are tens of thousands of cultivators in Fujikawa. Where are they? Those cultivators who haven't arrived yet, do they think that they have a higher status than ordinary people, so they can be high and mighty and must be held in the hands of others? Or do they think that they have the position of generals and everything should be done by subordinates? On weekdays, my Nanshang treats cultivators with courtesy, and the salary and treatment are not bad, but your performance is really chilling."

"After the fire was put out, there were only thirteen practitioners, including me and the general. Even if we tried our best, we didn't save much food and grass. We couldn't restore what was burned by the fire. But if there were more people, could we save more food and grass? Putting that aside, are everyone's temperaments a little too arrogant or even lazy? And the most important thing is that I clearly explained that the soldiers and practitioners would guard the granary together, so why was it the patrol team that discovered the fire? The soldiers guarding the food and grass were all sleeping, or did everyone think that as long as the practitioners were there, they could be lazy. Everyone here, who dares to say that their practice can reach the sky and become a god? Since you don't have that capital, you must do your duty! The discipline of our army must be redefined."

"The soldiers guarding the granary have been dealt with according to military law, and everyone has been informed of the seriousness of the matter. When you go back, tell your own troops to cheer up, rest well during breaks, and make no mistakes when standing guard!"

The Iron-faced General felt that Wang Ling's tone was a bit harsh and the scope of attack was wide, so he had to end the topic. Ji Lao understood what he meant. Although the Iron-faced General was ruthless and even killed the people of Daxia and issued an order to massacre the city, he was not a good person, but he was a good enough general. However, Ji Lao asked Wang Ling:

"Your Highness, what do you think we should do next?"

"It will take a long time for food and grass to arrive. For now, we can only use the food from Heitai to survive for the next few days. But we can't be idle during these few days. If they attack, we will also launch an attack."

"How to attack?"

This marching plan had nothing to do with Ji Lao, but he still asked in order to know how much Wang Ling had in mind. Wang Ling had already thought about it and told the story:

"Based on my understanding of Xia Xiao, his surprise attack this time must be more than this. He has never been a conservative person. Facing the loss of his country, he must be more adventurous than usual. He wants to expand his advantage, so Daxia will definitely have an offensive trend in the next few days. We are ready to attack. As long as they dare to leave the barracks and come, we will destroy them and leave no one alive."

Ji Lao nodded slightly. It was feasible, but he asked:

"What if they don't come?"

"Xia Xiao may not come, but Daxia will definitely have an army attacking."

He seemed to smell something, and when he looked at Ji Lao, his eyes contained other emotions, like a question. When everyone left, only Wang Ling and Ji Lao were left, the former still did not let go of his attitude, and the latter asked:

"Is this how His Majesty taught you to respect your elders?"

Wang Ling was already dissatisfied with Ji Lao in his heart. Every time the latter looked at him, there was a hint of contempt in his eyes, as if he looked down on him. When he said this, Wang Ling immediately raised his eyes, and the intimacy between them became stronger.

When they looked at each other, Wang Ling was not afraid of Ji Lao. When he reached that age, even in less than a few years, he would definitely be able to surpass Ji Lao. His talent was much stronger than his, so he opened his mouth and said:

"Father only taught me to respect the strong."

"What do you mean? Are you saying that I can't defeat you? Do you know that when I was training in the academy, you were still in His Majesty's body and had not been raised yet?"

"Senior Ji, you have not made any achievements or done anything in the past few years. As a powerful person in Qulun, you have let Xia Xiao escape from your hands twice. What qualifications do you have to take advantage of your age?"

"presumptuous!"

Before Ji Lao raised his hand, Wang Ling fell to the ground, smashing the table and chairs, sinking into the ground, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. He coughed twice in a very embarrassing way, but there was still a smile on his face. Wang Ling knew that Ji Lao didn't dare to do anything to him, and his cold words were just fart in Wang Ling's ears.

"If it weren't for the fact that I don't want to be a conquered nation, and if it weren't for the fact that Your Majesty personally invited me to come out, do you think I would be willing to get involved?"

"There is nothing wrong with you joining the war. I should thank you for your help, but you don't know Xia Xiao, you don't understand Xia Xiao, you don't even know Da Xia, and you don't understand their alliance. But I know, why did you ignore me when I said it, and even acted disdainful. Is this your way as a senior? If you only represent yourself, I will definitely not go against you, and I will even reflect on myself, but why do you tell others not to worry about me and just do what they should do?"

"Because you only have eyes for Xia Xiao! I don't know what grudge you have with him, but everything you do is centered on him. Are you possessed or obsessed? As a prince, you are short-sighted and narrow-minded. The army can listen to your orders, and you have some brains, but if the practitioners all listen to you, who will take precautions? Do you think you have considered all the factors? What you have thought of is only one tenth! The soldiers can't say anything about you, and they dare not say anything about you, but I dare!"

Ji Lao stood in front of Wang Ling and cursed him mercilessly. At first, Wang Ling was fine and wanted to fight back, unwilling to lose. But when he mentioned Xia Xiao, Wang Ling was like a big fish with its scales plucked out, and shouted:

"Shut up!"

"What? What I said is not the truth? The plan drawn up by the counselors must be different from what you think. Should you then reflect on yourself and agree with them? Or should you make a scene with them like you are doing now and modify the original correct plan with your own identity?"

"I don't!"

Wang Ling didn't want to admit that he did so much just for Xia Xiao. He was the prince of the Southern Shang Empire and should have a patriotic heart! He did all this to defeat Daxia, to make his father trample the six countries under his feet and make it the leader of the seven countries. But he couldn't say a word of all these words. It seemed that he knew it was an excuse and it was difficult to say.

Ji Lao stared into Wang Ling's eyes, his gaze piercing through his disguises and breaking through his defenses, as if he saw the deepest part of his heart, a side that he himself did not understand. Qu Lun's strength and the power he had accumulated over the years allowed him to understand Wang Ling's heart, but his white eyebrows knitted, and the snow-white beard that dragged to his chest trembled slightly, moving with his head.

"Boy, there is too much darkness hidden under your bright appearance. If you don't release and adjust in time, not only will you not become a talent, but you are also destined to be inferior to Xia Xiao."

Ji Lao bent his knees and knelt on one knee in front of Wang Ling, who was embedded in the ground, and said very solemnly:

"Be careful, don't fall into the devil's way, otherwise the academy will not let you go. Also, people live for themselves, it's hard for others, so take care of yourself!"

Wang Ling gathered all his strength and was about to speak, but he remained silent. Ji Lao's words made him feel cold, as if this would come true sooner or later. When he reacted, he didn't know how much time had passed, and Ji Lao was nowhere to be found.

The tent was empty, and the ground was back to normal without any cracks. Wang Ling was soaked in cold sweat, and when he sat up, he was full of disbelief, but he didn't know what to do. At this time, Wang Ling should have a beautiful and intimate woman by his side to accompany him and listen to his inner thoughts, but he always felt proud that secular people were not worthy of him, and always liked to look up to the sky, but there were too few people in the sky and too far away, and he might never be able to touch them.

"Am I really wrong?"

Wang Ling asked himself, but never got an answer. He walked out of the tent. It was a sunny day, but in the ruined building not far away, he heard the sound of counselors arguing. They competed to express their opinions, and their battlefield was on paper and between tongues.

Wang Ling listened, his heart sank, and he suddenly thought of Xia Xiao. What would he do if he encountered something difficult to solve? Would he keep it to himself or tell others?

In the Great Xia Army Camp, Xia Xiao, who was covered in wounds, bandaged himself and lay down to sleep. After a busy night, he should have a good sleep. As for those difficult problems, he knew they were difficult to solve, so he was not in a hurry to start, at least he had to wait until he was in better condition!