Merchant From Earth in the Magical World-Chapter 540 - 379 - Challenge Letter_2
"Can your citizens accept these Undead?"
Yan Xing sat behind his desk, annotating documents. At the same time, he answered, "The Undead are actually not as scary as one might imagine, especially skeletons that have undergone bone maintenance and repair, and zombies that have completed muscle rehydration. The Undead are very disciplined and keep their promises. In fact, city crime statistics show that Humans have always dominated the top spot by a wide margin. The rate for the Undead is the lowest. There's a reason Humans have become powerful enough to occupy the richest lands."
"Is that why you want to divide Humankind?" Karol's voice revealed some dissatisfaction. "For me personally, I'm ready to become the first empress in Human history. For Humankind, unity is what has made us the strongest race in the world. This division will greatly weaken the power of Humankind!"
"Are you questioning my decision?"
"No..." Karol walked over and sat opposite Yan Xing. "I executed your decision without hesitation, although I don't understand it. I just can't comprehend why we wouldn't pursue it, especially when we clearly *could* unify Humankind—and achieve a true unification at that."
"Unify? By force?" Yan Xing put down the documents in his hand and said to Karol, "Karol, you don't understand force. Force cannot truly unify Humankind. The territory you now control is the limit of what the Kingdom of Silvermane can manage.
"Only when multiple underlying conditions such as communication technology, transportation, production relations, economy, and ideology are all in place can we consider true unification.
"If you try to solve everything with military power, you'll find many things the military can't resolve. The military is one tool among many for solving problems, and it's not the priority option."
"I don't understand."
"Alright, I'll make it clearer," Yan Xing continued. "In the Human-controlled areas, apart from the Kingdom of Silvermane, the other regions are a significant burden. They come with rebellions, refugees, local powers, and countless complex issues we can't anticipate.
"The Kingdom of Silvermane is still developing. Do you have the capacity to support new citizens if your territory were to expand several times over? If you help them, will they be grateful to you, and feel a sense of belonging to the new Empire?
"Are your current citizens willing to lower their standard of living to help people from other regions?
"Humankind has never truly been unified, so let's not fantasize that we can achieve it single-handedly.
"You only make as much food as your own pot can hold.
"Take care of your own affairs first. Once we're truly living well, they'll naturally want to join us. Whoever wants to join must first resolve their own internal problems. A ruler shouldn't have to be the one to do the dirty work."
Though Karol had been full of resentment, she suddenly broke into a smile. "You really see human nature clearly. I saw only the shimmer of the crown, not its weight. I imagine many nobles in the Empire are now dying for me to send troops over quickly, so they can dump their troubles on me."
"It's good that you see it clearly," Yan Xing said. "Being emperor now is just an empty title. If you do right, it's expected; if you do wrong, someone will be there to tear you down. Let the Gryphon Heart Empire suffer the consequences of their own mess. We still need to focus on winning the most important battle right now. If we win, you'll be the uncrowned empress."
"How should we fight? Should Erelado and I attack the Barbaric Orcs from the north and south, while you attack Highland City from the Wildwind Highlands?"
Yan Xing said, "I'm prepared to accept the challenge Cloud Tower has issued to me."
Karol was surprised by Yan Xing's choice. "That challenge is nothing but Cloud Tower's wishful thinking! Now that the Gryphon Heart Empire is finished, we have an overwhelming advantage over the Barbaric Orcs. Whether it's military strength or weapons, we're far superior to the enemy. What era are we in that we still have to settle matters with an ancient style of duel? I disagree with giving up our advantage."
Yan Xing countered, "Have you considered that if we attack the Orcs with such force, it might provoke the ultimate creatures to join the battle?"
Karol was stunned by Yan Xing's words.
In the secular world, behind every powerful race, an ultimate creature acted as its guardian. When that race was on the brink of extinction, the ultimate creature would appear. More than a thousand years had passed since the last appearance of an ultimate creature. The struggle for world hegemony between Humans and Orcs had once incited a war between Behemoths and Angels, which in turn led other ultimate creatures to join the battle. That great war ultimately established the current world order.
Now, with the Kingdom of Silvermane, Snowland, and the Eternal Domain besieging the Orcs, it was highly likely this would draw an ultimate creature that has hitherto remained unseen into the conflict.
"Your concern is valid," Karol conceded. "Once ultimate creatures join the war, we'll no longer have control over the situation. But if we accept Cloud Tower's challenge, doesn't that mean our advantage is gone?"
Yan Xing said, "An advantage is an advantage; how could it simply vanish? The fact that we've compelled Cloud Tower to issue such an absurd challenge is an advantage in itself. This time, I've called you and Erelado here to discuss how we should fight this final battle."
"How do you want to fight it?"
...
After the disintegration of the Gryphon Heart Empire, Yan Xing of the Eternal Domain finally responded to the challenge issued by Cloud Tower.
"Abandon all schemes and intrigues, abandon all strategies and tactics. Both sides shall concentrate their strongest heroes and armies and, in the manner of our ancestors, engage in a fair battle fought for honor and faith alone.
"A contest of nothing but sword and Magic.
"I, on behalf of Thunderous Swamp, accept this confrontation.
"The location will be the plains between Riftfort and Highland City, and the time will be four months from now. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
"To ensure the fairness and integrity of this war, our side will invite heroes from all over the world willing to attend to witness this decisive battle.
"In the four months leading up to it, the Eternal Domain will fully fund the construction of viewing facilities and requests that Cloud Tower not interfere with their construction.
"We also welcome Tower Mages to supervise the construction of these facilities, to confirm they will not be used for military purposes."
What is Yan Xing up to?
The Tower Mages, finally receiving a reply, were quite puzzled. Why set up viewing facilities if it's just a battle? They couldn't understand.
But they were very satisfied that Yan Xing had agreed to this decisive battle. As a result, the advantage the Thunder Coalition had previously gained would be greatly diminished. Their hidden Thunder Alchemists, if they wished to avoid defeat, would have to reveal themselves and face the Tower Mages in a direct and honorable confrontation. Without schemes or odd Alchemical Weapons, just a contest of sword and Magic, the Tower Mages were confident.
However, the Tower Mages did not trust Yan Xing. They demanded that both sides discuss the number of participants and the weapons allowed before the final battle.
Without Anderson, the self-assured Tower Mages once again began to approach battle naively.
The Orc heroes exclaimed that the other side would never accept such demands; it was outrageous enough that Yan Xing had agreed to their challenge in the first place.
But what the Orc heroes hadn't expected was... Yan Xing agreed again.
Can't they show some respect for war?
Our ancient ancestors never fought like this!
Who negotiates how many people to send and what weapons to bring before a battle?
Is this just a children's squabble?
The Orc heroes tried to persuade the Tower Mages, arguing, "Yan Xing must be planning some trick!"
But the Tower Mages replied, "The creed of Yan Xing's family is ''Yan Xing, a man of his word!'' He wouldn't dare break his promise under the watchful eyes of the world's heroes. Doing so would greatly damage his personal credibility and reputation.
"You lot, who have never won against Yan Xing, shouldn't be telling the Tower how to fight.
"Follow us into battle in four months' time.
"After victory, the Tower will help you Orcs reclaim the lands from Humans that were once yours."
The Tower Mages were determined to have their own way.
The Orcs were helpless. Unable to comprehend why Yan Xing would act this way, they had no choice but to prepare for the final showdown alongside Cloud Tower.
They hoped that "Yan Xing, a man of his word!" was true.
