Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 867 - 544: The Move that Crosses Life and Death

Chapter 867: Chapter 544: The Move that Crosses Life and Death

"Bang."

The gentle closing of the elegant door in the hall was heard as Xu Yuan slumped back onto the soft couch, visibly weary.

After receiving a confident response, Hua Hong rose and left directly, leaving only Xu Yuan and Bai Muxi in the large hall.

Xu Yuan did not speak, and Bai Muxi dared not speak either.

Yet, after about the time it took for one incense stick to burn, Bai Muxi could no longer hold back. She knelt on the floor and shuffled toward Xu Yuan, her pleasing voice softly breaking the silence:

"Third Young Master... Mu Xi previously acquired some rudimentary knowledge of military formations. The requirements for military equipment in a formation are actually not high, requiring only spiritual blades to form an army."

As her words ended, Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes and glanced at her, his expression a mix of a smile and seriousness:

"Why didn’t you mention this earlier? The money has already been spent. Isn’t it a bit late to say this now?"

Bai Muxi was taken aback, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes as she quickly explained:

"Earlier you did not allow interruptions, so Mu Xi complied. Elder Hua has not gone far. If we change our minds now, he should agree."

Xu Yuan stared at her for a few moments and then gently shook his head, saying:

"I was joking."

"You were also not wrong. The main component of a military formation is indeed the people, and indeed equipping each person with a spiritual blade can initially form an army. However, once on the battlefield, without the protection of armor, the mortality rate among the soldiers would be very high. Moreover, formation patterns on armor can provide a slight boost by resonating with the military formation, so we definitely shouldn’t skimp on military equipment."

Having said this, Xu Yuan sat up slightly straighter, a hint of a smile playing on his lips:

"Xiao Bai, if I were to go to Hua Hong now, once we actually enter battle, your followers would become cannon fodder. Are you sure you want me to go to him after all?"

With the purple drapes hanging low, Bai Muxi parted her red lips and lowered her eyelids:

"...I do not."

Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows, his tone playful:

"This time you’re being honest. I thought you would say something insincere but seemingly for my benefit."

Hearing this teasing remark, Bai Muxi’s heart immediately relaxed, and she smiled:

"If Third Young Master wishes, Mu Xi can say it now."

Xu Yuan snorted lightly and waved his hand:

"Forget it, it’s not the same now."

After pondering for a moment, Bai Muxi climbed onto the soft couch and sat down by Xu Yuan’s side, giving him a neat and graceful profile as she poured him wine and said:

"Third Young Master, this action of yours might cause displeasure within the Black Scale Army."

Xu Yuan glanced at her, intrigued:

"Oh? How so? I used my own silver."

After pouring the wine, Bai Muxi’s supple body leaned slightly to the side as she extended the wine cup to Xu Yuan, softly saying:

"The citizens of the Seven Cities are independent of the Black Scale Army. As the heir to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, favoring one over another, even if it doesn’t breach any formal protocol, will inevitably cause some resentment among them."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan frowned slightly, having been preoccupied with other matters and temporarily not considering this aspect.

However, he soon found amusement in it.

Although it was just a small place, Grandfather Xu was indeed the leader of the Earth Palace Remnants, and Bai Muxi understood these interests very clearly.

The Black Scale Army might not care about such matters, but they might as well, for people do not suffer from scarcity, but from inequality.

Although the source of his silver was not from the Prime Minister’s Mansion, if it weren’t for the Earth Palace Remnants, this batch of military supplies would have been theirs.

After a moment of reflection, Xu Yuan shook his head:

"There is no need to worry about this."

"Really?" Bai Muxi was surprised.

Xu Yuan pointed towards the door and said with a light chuckle:

"Elder Hua will handle it for me. The Black Scale Army won’t know about it."

The Prime Minister’s Mansion’s finances and military affairs were completely separate.

The senior staff of the Prime Minister’s Mansion all knew that this was a line that Prime Minister would not allow to be crossed.

Anyone from the Black Scale Army who dared to interfere with the Tian’an Commerce Assembly would absolutely receive no mercy from my father.

With this restriction in place, although the scale of this shipment of military supplies was large, as long as Hua Hong and Lou Ji deliberately cover for me, the Black Scale Army will not receive a single piece of information.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan felt a surge of relief and satisfaction.

This was probably the significance of being of the Direct Lineage.

Other high-level figures in the Prime Minister’s Mansion might be skeptical or even hostile towards this Crown Prince, but Elder Hua and elder sister Lou Ji were firmly on his side.

Taking the wine cup, he drained it in one gulp.

Xu Yuan chuckled softly,

"Still, thank you. I was thinking about other matters just now and didn’t notice this."

Bai Muxi’s clear eyes blinked as she softly said,

"Other matters... Muxi is willing to share the burden with you."

After a brief pause, Xu Yuan replied in a soft voice,

"I was thinking about how to handle the last words Elder Hua said to me."

"The last words?"

"Those Sects responsible for producing military weapons."

"..."

Xiao Bai’s eyes showed a hint of embarrassment; she didn’t know how to respond.

This was because it involved areas she was not familiar with.

The Seven City Alliance was only so large; the production of weaponry was typically handled directly by priests like her, and the concept of ’Sect’ simply didn’t exist in the Underground Palace.

Realizing her discomfort, Xu Yuan didn’t mind and casually continued,

"Elder Hua’s last words were to remind me that these people are trying to form a military-industrial complex."

"Military-industrial complex?" Xiao Bai looked puzzled.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan explained with a smile,

"It’s a massive interest group composed of military production and military institutions."

After a brief thought, Bai Muxi said softly,

"But... aren’t those Sects under the Tian’an Commerce Assembly? They shouldn’t be able to connect with the Black Scale Army, right? Also, the scattered Sects can hardly form a scale."

"That’s the current situation."

Xu Yuan’s voice carried a hint of helplessness as he continued softly, "If the war escalates, for the sake of production efficiency, these commercial guilds responsible for producing military equipment are likely to be integrated. After all, even the simplest Spiritual Blade has to be passed through over a dozen hands before it can turn from raw ore into a weapon, not to mention more complex large military equipment."

At this point, Xu Yuan sighed lightly and handed the empty wine cup back to Xiao Bai,

"And if the conflict worsens, these metallurgical armament Sects will likely be allowed to directly interface with the Black Scale Army."

Holding the wine cup, Bai Muxi’s delicate fingers resembling sheep fat jade caressed it gently, inadvertently showing a trace of worry in her eyes.

She understood the implications of his words.

If it came to that, the military production capacity and combat power of the Prime Minister’s Mansion would be fully unleashed, but simultaneously, the power of this group of people would expand indefinitely, potentially large enough to influence the entire direction of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Her thoughts flashed briefly before Bai Muxi suddenly chuckled softly,

"Why worry, Young Master? Isn’t Minister Xu still here?"

Even if it eventually comes to what the young master has described, this group would still be Xu Yinhe’s direct lineage. As long as Minister Xu is willing, dealing with them wouldn’t be difficult.

Hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled, agreeing,

"You’re right, perhaps I am worrying over nothing."

After saying this, Xu Yuan did not dwell on the matter further, but his inner worries did not diminish at all.

His father certainly had control over these people, but the issue was his father’s health was not great, and he had openly stated he only had about twenty years left.

If the war could end within twenty years, the military-industrial complex that rose from the war would be dismantled again. However, if the conflict lasted beyond that time, this mess would be left for Xu Yuan to handle.

At that thought, Xu Yuan suddenly remembered Yuan Hao.

That madman who loved killing.

In an instant, as the thought arose, Xu Yuan inadvertently opened his mouth, then closed it, and finally let out a gentle laugh.

He suddenly realized that his father had already prepared for this situation long ago.

Yuan Hao was a key left to him by his father.

Eradicating the Myriad Manifestation Sect, battling the Barbarian Tribes, exterminating the Northern Frontier— these were Xu Yinhe accumulating military merits for Yuan Hao, allowing him to continually rise in rank within the Black Scale Army. In future conflicts, Yuan Hao would likely progressively replace Zong Qingsheng and become the Commander of the Black Scale Army.

And when everything was over, Yuan Hao’s reputation would reach its peak,

and then,

he would fall brilliantly like a meteor from that summit.

"Third Young Master...the killer will always be killed; how could someone like me meet a good end?"

Those were the words Yuan Hao said to Xu Yuan when they first met.

And they were also the moves set by the father, decades ago, to protect his son’s future after his death.