Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains
Chapter 930 - 930: 404, Alliance arrives, reunion after a long separation

New Yu Era, November 13, 1332

Zhaoyang Prefecture on Hexi Road, which administers three counties and one city; the city being Zhaoyang Prefecture, the counties include Wanyang, Longxiang, and Yangping. Wanyang County is situated highest to the west, with Yangping County slightly lower to the northeast, and Longxiang County, adjacent to the Tongtian River, having the lowest elevation.

The torrential rain is ongoing, and at the East City Gate of Wanyang County, Hou Yucheng and Hou Yuling, along with several experts from the Hou Clan, brave the downpour and stand on the city wall gazing eastward, their faces marked by grave expressions.

East of Wanyang County, it's already a vast expanse of water; forget the official road, even the small hills in the wilderness area are mostly submerged. Only some taller trees and areas originally higher are still somewhat visible.

If outsiders were to witness this scene, they might mistakenly think that Wanyang County is a city along the river; who could have imagined that beneath this vast expanse of water lies an entire county?

"Twenty-three days of heavy rain, the entire ninety li of Longxiang County is submerged, six cities across one county and five towns all flooded, with over four million people affected. During the evacuation, at least more than 200,000 have died. This Hedong Alliance is truly ruthless!"

"Over four million people affected, countless losses in property, and the subsequent resettlement of these four million will also exhaust a great deal of silver coins, further increasing governance costs for the counties of Wanyang and Yangping. This heavy rain has caused too much loss to Hexi."

"Thankfully, we evacuated the people early; given the River Lord's rate of rainfall, even if it were delayed by just one or two more days, at least a million more might have died."

"The floodwaters are twenty li east of Wanyang County now; how much longer do they plan to continue? The water level twenty li to the east could likely accommodate a boat carrying a million people, yet they persist. They surely don't intend to flood Wanyang County too, right?"

"It shouldn't come to that, should it?"

"Who can say for certain!"

......

Hou Yucheng ignored the chatter behind him and, after shaking off his somber demeanor, turned to the third sibling Hou Yuling beside him, quietly asking, "Third sister, last time you mentioned how many battleships the Hedong Alliance has?"

Hou Yuling's brows furrowed slightly with confusion; she had discussed the alliance's situation with her second brother Hou Yucheng three days ago, so why was he asking again now? Suddenly, she noticed Hou Yucheng signaling with his eyes towards the people behind them, immediately understanding that it was for the crowd of the Hou Clan to hear.

"The East Sea Alliance dispatched seventy Tianxu-class battleships this time, calculating full capacity, the alliance should have brought a total of seven million troops. They departed from the eastern shore ten days ago, and at normal sailing speed, they should have nearly reached the position of Longxiang County by now!"

As Hou Yucheng began asking about the Hedong Alliance situation, Nie Xinchuan, Liu Jianghong, and Bai Yunfan, among others standing behind him, were already concerned. Upon hearing Hou Yuling disclose the alliance details, they were instantly shocked and dismayed.

"Seven million troops?"

"The forces dispatched by the Hedong Alliance are surely the Holy Land's elite!"

"Doesn't that mean seven million elite from the Holy Land are about to surge into Hexi?"

"Not just them; who knows how many might come from the Great Jin in the north."

"If it escalates into a battle, what will Hexi do then?"

"The family head is in the Great Jin, and we are here to greet the Hedong Alliance. Second brother, third sister, which side does Hexi truly stand on this time? Has the family head made a decision? The Hedong Alliance is about to arrive, and if no decision is made soon, there won't be time!"

"That's right, second brother, please speak plainly so we can have peace of mind!"

......

Hou Yucheng turned to look behind him; there were over twenty people there. Although they all held important positions within the Hou Clan, he was familiar with and respected only the five individuals at the forefront: Nie Xinchuan, Liu Jianghong, Bai Yunfan, Shen Gu Yun, and Wan Xingyun.

Among them, Shen Gu Yun and Wan Xingyun are silent, while the others are engaging in the discussion. Bai Yunfan and Liu Jianghong were the ones directly questioning Hou Yucheng about the family head Hou Yuxiao's stance.

Shen Gu Yun and Wan Xingyun were bound by the means used by the eldest brother, willing to die if asked; hence, their lack of reaction to the Hedong Alliance's seven million troops is normal. Bai Yunfan and Liu Jianghong, along with the silent Nie Xinchuan, are different.

The three of them joined the clan early when the Hou Clan took control of Tongling. Apart from the five brothers of the Hou Clan and a few others, they are the earliest veterans in the clan. They have the courage to speak up and the qualification to do so.

Although Nie Xinchuan remained silent, his expression clearly showed he shared Liu Jianghong and Bai Yunfan's thoughts. He is slightly displeased with Hou Yuxiao's reluctance to clarify Hexi's stance.

Hou Yucheng turned to stare at Bai Yunfan and Liu Jianghong for over ten breaths before speaking in a deep voice, "Might you two commanders be mistaken? The family head clearly delegated us here to receive the Hedong Alliance's army landing; how can the stance be unclear?"

Liu Jianghong couldn't hold back and replied first, "Second brother, if we truly stand with the Hedong Alliance, why does the family head lead the army to Chaoxia Crossing?"

"Wasn't it said the family head made early deployments to guard against a Great Jin landing?"

"Without waiting for the Hedong army, only relying on our Hou Clan's hundreds of thousands to counter the Great Jin? Second brother, forgive my rudeness, but this is akin to throwing eggs at rocks—it's simply a joke!"

Hou Yucheng's pupils subtly contracted as he looked at Liu Jianghong bowing before him. He took a slight breath and then turned to Bai Yunfan on the other side, quietly asking, "Commander Bai, do you think the same?"