The World Online

That afternoon, Ouyang Shuo had given both of them their appointments.

The Nanjiang Governor-General House released their appointments. Xiahou Dun would take the role of Combat Logistics Department Director, moving Ge Hongliang to the Nanyang Navy Headquarters to be in charge of their logistics system.

It was best to put such a logistic-style general like Xiahou Dun in the Combat Logistics Department.

Similarly, the Nanyang Navy Headquarters was just starting up, so the help of the experienced Ge Hongliang would allow their logistic system would quickly get on the right path.

As for Xiahou Yuan, he would follow Ma Chao and the rest into the Army Military Academy.

9th month, 11th day, Consonance City.

Early in the morning, Consonance City announced a city wide alert. Especially the inner city, no random people could enter.

Consonance City was a Grade 2 Prefecture and similarly had two teleportation formations. Suddenly, the inner city formation shone with a white light, Ouyang Shuo and the Divine Martial Guards walked out.

”Wuyi, welcome!”

Bai Hua smiled, bringing Zi Luolan and the others along.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Ouyang Shuo had officially visited Consonance City.

Hence, Bai Hua had arranged an exceedingly strict and grand welcome. Not only did the four sisters all arrive, Cao Can, Cao Hong, Cao Dun, all the civil servants, and all the generals were present.

She truly gave Ouyang Shuo a lot of face.

Even though the city was put on alert, such a lineup was still spotted by some ’concerned’ people. Shortly, the news of his appearance would spread across the entire China region.

Ouyang Shuo’s sudden visit had an unusual meaning to it. Someone had mentioned earlier that when the Battle of Mengding started would depend on Ouyang Shuo.

With that, the spies of the various territories moved like they were on drugs, jumping up and down, going all out.

When the Lords behind them received the news, they all gave pretty much the same answer, ”You must find out what the goal of Qiyue Wuyi going to Consonance City is, and if he is already ready to start the war.”

The battle that would involve close to a million troops was not something that Shanhai City could start and end as they wished.

This was a huge matter for the entire territory.

To prepare for this battle, Shanhai City had already prepared for a total of half a year.

If the grain and weapons that they used in that period were calculated in terms of gold, it would break through two million. Even Shanhai City could not sustain successive battles of such a scale.

Hence, since they were going to fight, they needed to win in one swoop.

No matter which side lost, it would be enough to shake their core and even cause them to collapse.

No one dared to be cocky.

Even a power as strong as Shanhai City did not start the war right after sending their troops to the border.

...

After a simple welcoming ceremony, Ouyang Shuo and Bai Hua had a two hour long secret conversation in the reading room. Not only did Jia Xu who followed along not join, even Zi Luolan and the others were excluded from the conversation.

Only the two of them were involved in this meeting.

If Ouyang Shuo had not kept a pure and loyal image all along, people might wonder whether the two of them were having a secret meeting or a date.

In truth, his conversation with Bai Hua did not involve this battle.

The battle plan had been set long time ago and the various generals would change it flexibly, so there was no need for the two Lords to worry.

Rather, the two of them discussed the post-battle situation and the arrangements of Consonance City.

”In the future, when the time is right, Shanhai City will establish a role of Provincial Governor on the provincial grade and above. The provincial governor will be in charge of the military affairs, rations, and salary. Additionally, they will take charge of ensuring law and order. The role of provincial governor of Yunnan Province, I will leave it for you, how about that?” Ouyang Shuo raised his biggest chip regarding merging with Consonance City.

The game had expanded the map ten times. If Shanhai City occupied Yunnan Province, Chuanbei Province, and Lingnan Province, the area of the three provinces would be similar to the size of the Ancient China.

Needless to say, the territory would continue to expand in the future.

To manage such a vast territory with ancient communication standards, if Nanjiang Governor-General House was the one to communicate with the prefectures, they might get too busy and the efficiency would be reduced.

Hence, at a suitable time, he would set up the provincial governor role to help in all provincial administrative and military levels.

In the game, a provincial governor was like the Qing Dynasty governor; especially in the China region, where one province was like a country in Europe.

Becoming a provincial governor in the China region was basically Bai Hua’s limit. She would also be considered a giant amongst China region Lords.

Even Di Chen, Chun Shenjun, and the others did not rush to expand outwards but started a long digestion period after occupying one province.

Even with the strength and ability of their families, it was impossible for them to swallow an entire province right away.

Much less Bai Hua

Hence, the conditions that Ouyang Shuo raised truly tempted Bai Hua.

”You really are generous.” Bai Hua smiled. In her heart, she did find it really weird, so she followed by asking, ”What about Zi Luolan and the others, what plan do you have for them?”

Consonance City was owned by the Consonance Studio; it was not solely owned by Bai Hua.

”If they are willing, they can receive a suitable position in the provincial governor house. If they do not mind, I would rather they find suitable positions based on their specialties.” Each one of the three had their individually strengths. Naturally, Ouyang Shuo did not want to see their talents buried.

Bai Hua nodded, Ouyang Shuo could be said to be extremely sincere.

”Can Zhang Liao’s position be kept?” Bai Hua asked.

Zhang Liao was currently the Consonance City War Fighting Legion general. If Consonance City merged with Shanhai City, a place where fierce generals gathered, he might not be able to continue to be a legion general.

No matter what, Zhang Liao was an old general that had followed Bai Hua for a long time.

Bai Hua seemed exceedingly cold, but she was actually a very humane and compassionate person. Otherwise, she would not have asked the question about Zhang Liao.

Ouyang Shuo thought about it. In the end, he nodded, ”Yes.”

After Shanhai City expanded, the role of Legion General did not belong to just Emperor Rank generals. Furthermore, Zhang Liao could be considered the pinnacle of the King Rank, and it was not much to appoint him as a Legion General.

”Let’s have a great cooperation!”

Bai Hua stretched out her tender white hand.

”Happy cooperation!”

Ouyang Shuo gently grabbed her hand with a wide smile on his face.

If an outsider saw this, they would think that these two were crazy. The war had not even started, yet they had already started planning based on the end result, truly arrogant to the max.

However, be it Ouyang Shuo or Bai Hua, they both felt that it was already in the bag.

They were the same type; arrogance was ingrained in their bones.

After preparing for so long, Ouyang Shuo had never entertained the thought of failure!

At 11 AM, Ouyang Shuo left the reading room to attend the planned new conference. In the hall, with the Quick Daily News as the head, the various media outlets were already waiting.

During the news conference, Bai Hua announced some huge news.

”From today onward, Consonance City will represent Kunming Prefecture and merge into the Nanjiang Governor-General House and be under their direct jurisdiction.” Bai Hua did a simple description.

Hua!

Even though the reporters were mentally prepared, they had not expected such news.

The notice they received was that Consonance City had an important announcement to make. Seeing Ouyang Shuo come over, the reporters naturally thought of the Battle of Mengding.

Who knew that they would hear such news?

”Consonance City merging into the Nanjiang Governor-General House? Today is not April Fools!” The reporters’ hearts collapsed, ”Consonance City itself is a giant in the wilderness. How can this happen?”

The first reporter asked, ”Lord Bai Hua, why did you suddenly make such a decision?”

”It is not sudden.” Bai Hua was not going to take the bait, ”The cooperation between us started a long time ago, and this visit by Lord Wuyi was just to make the final confirmations.”

”Can you reveal some of the specifics? Is Consonance City forced by the pressure of Shanhai City?”

”The specifics are a secret and cannot be revealed.” Bai Hua’s expression did not change, ”However, it’s a win-win situation, and there were no threats involved.”

”You should all know that this is not the first time that the Shanhai Alliance had an internal merger. Two years ago, Mulan County merged into Shanhai City. Lord Mulan Yue is currently the Governor of Zhen An Prefecture.” Ouyang Shuo did not care about the thoughts of the reporter that asked this question had and patiently explained, ”Our cooperation with Consonance City is based on mutual development.”

The interruption from Ouyang Shuo and the words he said made the reporter speechless.

Mulan Yue from an unassuming Lord had become a governor. No one could say that Ouyang Shuo was conning his allies.

Thinking about the other Lords in Lianzhou Basin, they were now nowhere to be seen.

Only Mulan Yue was still active in the wilderness and was becoming more and more eye-catching.

Ouyang Shuo’s win-win statement was not an empty check.

Hence, Ouyang Shuo was able to gain the trust of Bai Hua.

A good reputation was sometimes better than a strong army.

”A question for Lord Wuyi, is this merger because of the Battle of Mengding?” A smart reporter changed the topic to the upcoming battle.

Ouyang Shuo smiled and confidently answered, ”The cooperation between Consonance City and Shanhai City was set three months earlier, so there’s no direct relationship with the battle.”

”Of course,” Ouyang Shuo changed his words, ”After the merger, the troops of both would be commanded as one. With that, it would be good for the battle, so I would not deny that point.”

”So Lord Wuyi is really confident about this battle?”

The last to ask a question was a reporter from the Quick Daily News; he could be considered an old friend.

Ouyang Shuo stood up, facing all the media outlets, he looked ahead with determined eyes, ”I believe Shanhai City will definitely win!” Since the Yunnan City-State provoked us, they need to pay the price in blood!”

The press conference ended with that strong statement.