I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1767: Two Hundred - s: Victory and Defeat, Strength and Weakness

Chapter 1767: Two Hundred Chapters: Victory and Defeat, Strength and Weakness

The rapid Unparalleled City preparations for war showcased two starkly contrasting scenes.

The warriors from both the garrison and the Marshal Star Pavilion donned armor and carried swords daily, moving in small groups like swallows, traversing every inch of the river territory that could potentially become a battlefield.

Meanwhile, the city hall was entirely focused on fortifying defenses. Red Crystal, a mineral with exceptionally strong blocking properties, was being used for defensive arrangements—a task perhaps disproportionate to its value, but currently, there was no room for hesitation.

Of course, the busiest group wasn’t among these two; the intelligence personnel within the Wind Media Department were the most overburdened in this war preparation.

Whether it was tracking the movements of the Beast Taming Clan, gauging the sentiments of various clans and sects across Longzhou regarding Unparalleled City, the internal inspections, or the exchange of information between inside and outside—

As the accumulated intelligence grew, the mood among the populace became increasingly pessimistic.

Unparalleled City had no chance of victory. Even the most blindly optimistic individual would reach this conclusion after comparing the two sides’ strengths.

For centuries, the Mao Sect had nurtured numerous vassal families in Longzhou. Now, even a hint of their power was enough to send chills down people’s spines, let alone the many clans and sects raising their banners and shouting in support.

What was initially seen as assassination—a relatively mild resolution—was now perceived as complete class opposition by the aristocratic sects.

To maintain the established order, it meant sacrificing the aristocratic direct descendants for the so-called nameless commoners—a notion no aristocratic sect would endorse. Even the influential clans of Lingjiang, once highly supportive of Unparalleled Academy, were bound to remain silent at such a juncture.

The sectarian academies that had long been eyeing Unparalleled Academy with envy and waiting for cracks to appear did not stay idle upon seeing the current state. They issued proclamations one after another, acting as elders or seasoned advisors, admonishing Unparalleled City to remain upright and not to trade minor sacrifices for major losses, and the like.

Independent cultivators sympathetic to Unparalleled Academy lacked a platform to voice their support, while the overwhelming public discourse was dominated by denunciation of Red Cloud. At a glance, it seemed as if Red Cloud Mountain was teetering on a precipice, with one misstep leading to an abyss.

And this was only from external pressures. Internally, rumors began circulating at some unknown point that Mi Bai had defied objections and stubbornly insisted on going to war.

Out of curiosity, many began to inquire about who Mi Bai was and why she could compel so many reputable figures to fight alongside her.

But as the rumors spread, they turned into gossip, as if someone had started manipulating them behind the scenes. Within a few days, the entire Unparalleled City was aware that the new chairperson was a nepotistic appointment, her highest achievement in life being the education of a few war orphans—and even the wealth for that endeavor had come from her wife’s earnings as a medical practitioner.

Upon hearing this, many city dwellers felt that the vision of Mi Bai as a righteous and domineering chairperson had died, and they began to doubt whether this war-proposing legislator harbored ulterior motives.

Amidst the chaos, a beleaguered Mi Bai naturally didn’t bother to explain, nor did anyone around her dare bring it up.

Currently holding the authority of the Unparalleled Order, Mi Bai stood as the third pillar in Red Cloud’s power hierarchy, surpassed only by the Academy Director and his wife.

However, as a Wind Media Department disciple of Unparalleled City, it wasn’t appropriate to interact too closely with the wife. With no other options, the Wind Media Department resorted to sending their intelligence to the Academy Director’s office for Tang Luo to review.

After reading the internal reports on recent minor disturbances within the city, Tang Luo smiled, shook his head, and set the documents aside.

Yun Xiaoxiao stepped forward at the right moment and said, "The subordinates have investigated thoroughly. Most of the rumors circulating within the city originated from the servants within the councilors’ estates. Initially, they portrayed Mr. Mi as pedantic and foolishly bookish; yet, as they spread, they evolved into the current version. It seems the councilors of the city hall hold significant grievances against Mr. Mi. Were it not for the timing of war preparations, petitions against him would have flooded in by now."

The sheer speed at which such negative rumors had proliferated in just a few days, coupled with the Wind Media Department’s apparent failure to suppress them—instead appearing to enjoy the spectacle—puzzled Tang Luo.

Seeing the director’s stern, curious gaze, Yun Xiaoxiao quickly realized her earlier remarks had overstepped. She hurriedly apologized and stepped aside.

"No need for tension."

Tang Luo casually intertwined his fingers and rested them on the desk. "The Academy merely finds it curious why the Wind Media Department dislikes Chairperson Mi."

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiaoxiao turned pale with fright but could only confess honestly: "It’s not a matter of liking or disliking; the entire Wind Media Department simply believes this individual’s intellect is unworthy of her position."

"Oh? Elaborate."

Tang Luo asked with intrigue, "Why do they feel this way?"

"Just observing how Mr. Mi has acted in recent days—it reeks of pedantry at every turn."

Yun Xiaoxiao, having decided to speak openly, withheld nothing: "Take the issue of confronting the enemy, for example. There’s truly no worse timing than now. Apart from ourselves, the entirety of Longzhou views Ten Thousand Beasts Manor as the aggrieved party in this conflict. Once this preconceived notion is established, reversing it becomes exceedingly difficult. Even if some recognize its fallacy, their stubbornness will drive them to persist down this mistaken path."

"And yet, during that day’s legislative assembly, Mr. Mi insisted on discussing strategic doctrine, speaking of the Heavenly Dao being on our side—an utterly tone-deaf approach."

"Though I personally detest Elder Du Ting’s frame-up against Commander Meng, at its core, it was meant to shield Unparalleled City from the calamity of war—a prudent move from a broader perspective. Mr. Mi’s rhetoric, while uplifting, served no practical purpose, only exacerbating the city’s precarious situation."

As an intelligence operative, Yun Xiaoxiao valued pragmatism—the meeting of reality and circumstance.

To rouse Unparalleled City’s warriors into a state of fervent morale was commendable, but, in doing so, the city’s obstinacy had invited intensified disdain from the rest of Longzhou.

Such exchanges could hardly be deemed wise. To be blunt, even an ordinary soldier from the garrison given enough time could devise strategies to temporarily cool tensions. Yet the highly anticipated Mr. Mi failed to deliver any remarkable solutions.

This explained the attitude shared between city hall and the Wind Media Department. Hearing these thoughts laid bare, Tang Luo chuckled and posed with amusement: "So, you believe the decisions lack intelligence?"

"Indeed—they could be called outright foolish."

Yun Xiaoxiao spared no criticism as her expression turned cold: "What’s even more unpleasant is that he enjoys playing the oracle, spouting notions like the Heavenly Dao being on his side. It’s nothing but leveraging his knowledge of the director’s identity. But he doesn’t consider that such crucial matters wouldn’t escape the notice of the Du Family’s three elders. Why, then, do they still choose to endure humiliation and compromise? Beyond safeguarding Unparalleled City’s overarching interests, a significant factor is their regard for the relationship between the director and the Xu Clan."

"After all, now even Xiehe is aware that the director has been confined by Langhuan Sword Master. Were he to appear rashly in front of the world, how could Ying City account for it? Betraying the Sword Master’s shelter would come at immense cost!"

Listening to the torrent of grievances, Tang Luo responded with a bemused expression: "So this is your line of reasoning."

"Uh..."

Yun Xiaoxiao, caught off guard, hesitated: "Is it not?"

"Mr. Mi’s Heavenly Dao is not reliant upon the Academy."

Tang Luo replied calmly, "This level of victory is unrelated to the strength apparent before us."