"Now, do you understand my intention?"
Li Yang's voice had shed its city lord's majesty, leaving only straightforward honesty and a shared ambition:
"The Ghost City is the closest to my Yang City, so close that it makes me restless and unable to eat or sleep!"
"If those white mists and those ghosts are not restricted, do you think they will stay obediently in that city?"
"No! They are spreading, like a plague."
"Today we can wander around Ghost City, but tomorrow we might drift to the outskirts of Yang City. Those strange things will threaten this place sooner or later."
Li Yang placed his hands on the table and leaned forward:
"More importantly, the value of that ghost town is far greater than it appears on the surface!"
"Do you think that Zhongzhou invested heavily there back then, hiring three legendary architects to build this thirteenth city, just for its appearance? Just to be a decoration?"
A shrewd glint flashed in Li Yang's eyes, and his voice carried a seductive quality:
"The area beneath that city isn't a swamp..."
Ma Yuanbai paused, clearly understanding the meaning behind Li Yang's words: if the underground wasn't a swamp, then it could only be... a mine!
Moreover, the fact that the Central Plains government went to such lengths to acquire it must mean that it is a priceless mine!
Li Yang caught Ma Yuanbai's momentary shock, but then changed the subject again:
"Therefore, I will find an opportunity to guide Li Yu to the Ghost City. This is not a coincidence, but to create an opportunity for your Seventh Regiment to 'take root' in Zhongzhou."
"A truly enormous city that belongs to you all!"
Li Yang's voice was inflammatory, and his eyes were sharp:
"Once you successfully eliminate the hidden dangers and gain a firm foothold, I, Li Yang, representing Yangcheng, am willing to become your closest ally!"
"Share resources, trade, and intelligence! Even... unite the two cities."
"A joint effort?" Ma Yuanbai looked up.
A flicker of ambition flashed in Li Yang's eyes, and he lowered his voice considerably:
"I am leaving Yang. I might as well join Li Yu's forces with the strength of Yang City! I can then break away from those bossy officials and follow Li Yu to fight for a freer and stronger future."
Ma Yuanbai's pupils constricted sharply, and his heart pounded wildly.
Li Yang's blueprint was too grand, even too dangerous!
He never expected Li Yang to go to such lengths, leading the entire Yangcheng city to surrender to Li Yu.
I never imagined that Li Yang's ambition and determination would be so great!
In the past, he would have considered this a complete fantasy, and he would never have believed Li Yang's words.
But Li Yang's heartfelt pledge of allegiance carried a twisted sense of reality!
Li Yang leaned back slowly: "Being tied to Li Yu is our core interest, which aligns with our goals! Deputy Commander Ma, what do you think?"
Ma Yuanbai remained silent for a long time, his mind in turmoil.
The cries of our compatriots on the scorched earth of Feiyan District, the hardships of being displaced in the Seventh Regiment... all sorts of thoughts surged into my mind.
Ultimately, the desire for such a vast foundation triumphed over hesitation and fear.
Ma Yuanbai raised his head, his gaze gradually hardening, and said in a dry voice:
"It's worth a try."
Although Ma Yuanbai's answer was ambiguous, Li Yang still smiled and said:
"Then it's a pleasure to cooperate."
He seemed to have anticipated Ma Yuanbai's concerns, and without saying anything more, he pushed a thick document in front of Ma Yuanbai: "This is my sincerity, and also the key to success."
Ma Yuanbai picked it up, puzzled, and when he opened it, his pupils dilated again.
This is an outrageously detailed map of the city's internal structure!
The precise coordinates of various core facilities and defensive weapons in the city are clearly marked on it.
All vital points and key areas are clearly visible.
This is no ordinary intelligence; it's practically a copy of Kangcheng's design blueprint!
Ma Yuanbai looked at Li Yang in surprise. Not only had the other party obtained it, but he had also clearly been eyeing that ghost city for a long time!
Now that they are in a cooperative relationship, Li Yang directly revealed the important information he knew:
"Zhongzhou is currently gathering troops, preparing to expand outwards and annex the entire continent. The higher-ups are all focused on the front lines, and resources and manpower are being allocated to that area."
"They can't control the ghost town for the time being, so this is a good opportunity, but just like that, you can only rely on yourselves."
Li Yang then pointed out several key locations on the map to Ma Yuanbai: "Power, water, weapons facilities... Control these, and this empty city will be your Seventh Regiment's for the taking!"
Li Yang stood up, patted Ma Yuanbai on the shoulder, and gave him a meaningful look:
"I wish you success, Deputy Commander Ma."
"I hope we'll meet again in this new city next time."
"Then we can discuss our plans together!" Li Yang laughed and turned to leave.
Ma Yuanbai was left alone, facing the scalding hot documents and the clear map.
My heart is surging with excitement, yet I feel like I'm walking on thin ice...
"Rumble..."
Thunder rumbled across the sky.
Ma Yuanbai was suddenly jolted awake from his reverie, the sound of thunder and rain outside the window pulling him back to reality.
Li Yang's words echoed in his mind like a curse.
The value of the ghost city, Zhongzhou's attitude towards Li Yu, Li Yang's promise... and the blood and fire of hatred in Feiyan District!
Looking at the shadowy, silent gathering of the Seventh Regiment members before him, Ma Yuanbai felt a mix of emotions.
He knew that once this operation began, it would be like an arrow on a bowstring, with no possibility of turning back.
But he still decided to take a gamble, risking everything he and the Seventh Regiment had to achieve a future that none of the Seventh Regiment members had ever dared to imagine.
Ma Yuanbai looked up, his sharp gaze fixed on the city wall.
The city's defensive cannon, which stood silently like a steel behemoth, was now surrounded only by a few listless Thunder Bureau guards on patrol.
Kangcheng was indeed sparsely patrolled and poorly defended.
Li Yang is right, such opportunities are fleeting!
Since Li Yu isn't going to fight, then Ma Yuanbai can be the villain!
For the future of the Seventh Regiment, he must fight for his brothers today to secure this "home" before him!
Ma Yuanbai had already memorized the plan that Li Yang had mentioned along the way:
First Battalion, led by Zhao Xiong, launched a surprise attack and seized control of the core power hub and backup energy station, cutting off the city's energy lifeline!
Second Battalion, led by Black Sand, will simultaneously control all the city's defensive cannon positions and occupy the city walls and high ground fortifications! Primary objective: disable the cannons!
The Third Battalion, led by Lin Yong, controlled the streets, city gates, and all entrances and exits.
The remaining awakened ones split into several groups and quickly took control of all the armories and facilities in the city.
Furthermore, with Shi Tuo Yan Ken's assistance, responsible for paralyzing all the command personnel of the Thunder Bureau branch using special methods, there would be absolutely no problem with him taking action.
In this way, Shi Tuo Yan alone can directly control the entire command chain in Kangcheng, instantly dismantling Kangcheng's already weak command core. This not only minimizes the resistance to the Seventh Regiment's operation but also saves a lot of trouble later.
The last trace of hesitation in Ma Yuanbai's eyes was replaced by a cold resolve, and he murmured:
Everything is ready, except for the east wind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
