The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 655 Deliberation and Setting the Tone: Swift and Decisive Actions (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

"Does Lord Chen mean to use swift and decisive measures to force the cooperation of all parties in the Thunderous Mountains? To treat those who refuse to cooperate as demons?"

During the review meeting, a lean, middle-aged man with a face as red as charcoal raised a question directly.

Today's review meeting started with a relatively simple agenda. However, the issues became increasingly pointed as it progressed.

With demons running rampant and tragedies occurring frequently, the Thunderous Suppression Division has too many things to manage, and coupled with the lack of top-level power, it is unable to cope effectively.

Furthermore, the various parties within the Thunder Mountains have adopted an ambiguous attitude, seemingly seeking to profit from the situation. There are even those who would like to add fuel to the fire, hoping to create an even bigger disturbance.

However, the overall approach was rather subtle. Most of the arguments were inferred from the results, without much substantial evidence.

Or perhaps both sides are aware of this matter, but there's a thin veil separating them.

For the Thunderous Garrison Command, this matter was quite taboo. If this secret were to be exposed, there would be no room for maneuver.

At that time, it will be a situation where neither going up nor going down is feasible.

If they respond, it will mean fighting on both sides, which will be beyond their capabilities. If they don't respond, their prestige will plummet, and even their public facade will be shattered. After that, the various factions in the Thunder Mountain Range will likely intensify their attacks, pressing forward relentlessly.

Therefore, these events were mostly discussed internally, and no real substantive negotiations were conducted with the various parties in the Thunder Mountain Range.

Given this situation, the members of the deliberation meeting naturally discussed this issue in detail.

Initially somewhat conservative, but under the deliberate guidance of some people, some viewpoints and solutions for discussion were gradually put forward.

However, despite the discussion, people had very different opinions due to their different interests and factions.

Some suggested seeking assistance from the state garrison in hopes of obtaining greater support to mitigate the impact on the area.

However, this plan was met with opposition from many people as soon as it was proposed.

The reasons for opposition are varied.

Canglong Prefecture has just experienced the Long'an Rebellion, and the current situation is outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, with resources from all sides extremely limited. Even the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command may not have much spare capacity to provide support.

Secondly, even if support were provided, it's uncertain how long it would take. Furthermore, requesting the intervention of the state garrison would imply their incompetence.

While the current situation is serious, it is clearly not that serious yet.

"This matter is highly inappropriate. In my opinion, we should maintain the status quo and keep the overall situation stable, while we gradually dismantle and eliminate the influence."

Some have suggested maintaining the status quo and stabilizing the overall situation, using time to buy space, and engaging in a protracted struggle to completely eliminate the impact of this matter.

Of course, there are also many opponents to this plan.

The rampant evil spirits and numerous tragedies have severely disrupted the peace of the surrounding area and impacted Lei Ming's interests. While the situation may be manageable for the time being, if it continues, the consequences could be extremely dire.

In fact, over time, before they could be completely eliminated, the prestige of the Thunderous Garrison Command was completely lost.

Of course, besides the opponents, there are also quite a few supporters of this plan. Most of them take an optimistic view of the matter.

However, what exactly they were planning in their hearts is truly unclear.

Most of the proposed solutions focused on maintaining stability. The most radical of them was a letter, written in the name of the Thunderous Town Pacification Office, requesting all parties in the Thunderous Mountains to remain neutral and not get involved in the matter.

There are many proposals, each with different viewpoints, and both opponents and supporters.

However, one plan gained more support: First, buy time and exert influence through the Thunderous Garrison, encouraging various factions within Thunderous City to participate. Second, send a letter requesting neutrality from all parties in the Thunderous Mountains.

While this plan has many supporters, there are still quite a few opposing opinions.

“This is not appropriate! In the name of my Thunderous Garrison, I'm afraid the various factions in the Thunderous Mountains may not give me this face.”

“That makes sense. Why not exert influence in the name of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison? I think the various forces in the Thunder Mountain Range will give us some face.”

"I'm afraid they'll just pay lip service to it, agreeing on the surface but doing things their own way behind the scenes. If that's the case, we really don't want to break off relations."

"What can be done?"

"."

As the debate escalated, one person proposed a feasible solution.

"My lords, in my opinion, it would be better to..."

The speaker was Wei Xiuming, the chief officer of the Leiming Town Patrol Office.

Although he phrased it euphemistically, his meaning was extremely clear.

The idea is to use a letter to keep all parties in Leiming neutral while also offering a small incentive to win people's hearts.

With a righteous cause and the means to make a profit, the various factions in the Thunder Mountain Range should at least quiet down a bit.

Although some profits were lost, in the grand scheme of things, this loss is entirely bearable.

His suggestion had barely been made when several voices of opposition arose.

"This is inappropriate, inappropriate, extremely inappropriate!"

"Our Thunderous Garrison is committed to a great cause, to annihilate evil spirits. Do we expect the consent of every family in Thunderous Garrison?"

"."

However, aside from a few dissenting voices, there was mostly silence.

Many have even begun to consider the feasibility of this plan.

For example, where should the bargaining chips used in the exchange be raised? And if it's a negotiation, who should be sent?

There are so many different things.

After a brief period of opposition, voices of approval actually began to emerge in the room.

"This approach isn't entirely unacceptable. However, several specific implementation measures still need to be refined."

"Interests can move people's hearts, and using interests to win them over is certainly true."

"This two-pronged approach is quite feasible. However, there are still a few points that need to be clarified."

"The families in these Thunder Mountain Range are all wolves and tigers. Simply relying on righteousness and morality is probably not enough to restrain them. It's not impossible to give them a few bites of meat while using righteousness to control them. The key is to find the right balance."

"."

As the discussion on the proposal continued, the voices of approval in the room grew louder and louder.

At first, the wording was rather tactful, expressing agreement while adding many limiting factors and points requiring consideration. But as more people agreed, the wording gradually became more direct.

"A two-pronged approach, addressing both reputation and personal gain, is reasonable."

"The words may be rough, but the reasoning is sound; it's a mature perspective."

"Agree."

"agree!"

"."

The surrounding discussions rose and fell, and for a time, they were quite enthusiastic.

However, Chen Ping'an, standing nearby, only heard the noise.

He sat there for a long time, not wanting to waste any more time, and directly expressed his opinion.

"This is inappropriate!"

As soon as Chen Ping'an spoke, the heated discussion in the room quieted down in an instant.

As in previous review meetings, Chen Ping'an mostly refrained from expressing his opinion. Even when he did finally reveal his stance, it was only after the meeting had ended and Wu Benqing had proactively inquired about his opinion.

What happened at this meeting?

Some people had doubts.

All eyes turned to Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an didn't waste any time, and concisely explained his point of view in just a few words.

The corresponding viewpoint, as it was at Wu Benqing's residence, is to act swiftly and decisively. We solemnly warn the Thunderous Garrison Command that those who harbor evil spirits will be punished as accomplices. Those who profit from the chaos will be executed without mercy!

Anyone who objects will be executed without mercy!

After Chen Ping'an finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Many people stared blankly, their faces still showing shock.

What is Lord Chen saying?
This time, not only was their stance stated, but it was also stated so directly.
Why did Lord Chen's behavior change so drastically after his trip to Canglong?
There was a long silence in the room until someone glanced at Wu Benqing, understood what was going on, and voiced their opposition.

"Lord Chen, I don't mean to disrespect you, but this plan is too radical overall, and many aspects still need to be discussed."

The speaker was a chief official from the Inner Court of the Thunderous Garrison.

With the support of the top leader Wu Benqing, he was not particularly afraid, even though he was in opposition.

Although Chen Ping'an holds a high position and wields great power, since taking office in Leiming, he has largely remained aloof from worldly affairs, neither forming cliques nor seeking to increase his influence. From a personal perspective, this undoubtedly makes him a good person. However, within this system, this subtly diminishes his standing and makes him looked down upon by others.

However, whether they looked down on him or not, Chen Ping'an's status was undeniable, and no one dared to truly express their thoughts.

Even in private discussions, they mostly dare not mention it.

At most, it's just something I think to myself.

Chen Ping'an didn't look at him.

He simply watched the others in the room quietly.

After a brief pause, new voices of opposition arose.

"I admire Lord Chen's opinion, but Leiming's current situation cannot withstand such turmoil. For the sake of the greater good, I urge you to consider this carefully."

The speaker was a refined middle-aged man, whose attitude was respectful, but whose opposition was extremely clear.

Chen Pingan remained silent.

After the first two people objected, the remaining people became much bolder.

Especially after seeing that Chen Ping'an did not have any strong reaction, and after receiving Wu Benqing's tacit instruction, some people even raised questions to his face.

Compared to the previous speakers' more tactful remarks, his words were undoubtedly more intense.

The person questioning him was a thin, middle-aged man with a charred face. Chen Ping'an glanced at him, said nothing, and simply sat quietly.

Dissenting voices rose up one after another in the room.

To them, Chen Ping'an's words were undoubtedly a thunderbolt. Previously, the greatest wish of all the forces in the Thunder Mountain Range during their discussions was to remain neutral in this matter.

The best outcome would be if they could remain neutral.

Therefore, whether it's a letter or using benefits to win someone over, it's something worth discussing and considering.

If this strategic objective can be achieved, it will be a great improvement and benefit to Lei Ming's current situation.

but now
What Chen Ping'an said completely overturned their imagination.

There was no appeasement, no discussion, no negotiation; only ruthless methods. The goal was not simply to keep the various factions in the Thunder Mountains neutral, nor even to get them to provide some intelligence. It was to get them to completely abandon their positions and fully commit themselves to the matter.

They didn't use incentives or moral persuasion, but rather truly ruthless and iron-fisted methods.

The methods are ruthless, simple, and direct, like an ironclad rule: once violated, there is no mercy!

If Chen Pingan had made his proposal today in a simpler and more feasible way, they would have given him some face. Even if it were slightly more exaggerated, they would have gritted their teeth and admitted it.

but now
Not at all!

Iron-fisted methods, swift and decisive action, seemingly simple in just a few words, but how can one actually accomplish such a feat?
If that's really the case, then what's the difference between that and courting death?
Sending this letter will not only fail to gain help from Lei Ming's various factions, but will likely also completely enrage them, tipping the scales in favor of the remnants of evil.

If the two sides unite, the situation will only deteriorate further.

Thunder's current predicament will not only remain unresolved, but will become even worse!
Such an action may feel good, but it is actually naive. It only considers one's own thoughts and completely disregards the bigger picture!

A ruthless approach requires strength to back it up!
With Lei Ming and Wu Benqing poisoned, and Gu Luping seriously injured, how did they acquire this meager strength?

Even if we take a step back and assume that the Thunderous Town Guardian Division was at its peak, its alliance with the Thunderous Branch of the Qiankun Division only gave it an advantage over the various forces in the Thunderous Mountains.

If they wanted to resort to ruthless methods, they simply didn't have the strength or the power to do so!

Even with the combined forces of various factions within Thunder City, their overall strength still falls far short of a one-sided crushing victory.

Even if war breaks out, the final result will only be heavy losses.

Ultimately, the deep-seated hatred led to a growing rift between the two sides, and the situation deteriorated further.

Rather than that, it would be better to have mutual benefits.

At least the losses are far less than the former, and there is still some benefit from the other party's assistance.

Why not do such a thing?
Furthermore, whether he can control all the forces in Thunder is another matter.

With each party holding its own position and harboring different intentions, how could they be so easily integrated and controlled?

This brute thinks far too simply!

"Lord Chen, the bigger picture is more important!"

"The previous Lei Ming case had already created a rift between the two sides. If things continue like this, it will likely force the other side to back down completely and turn them to the other side!"

"Lord Chen, please reconsider. The thunder is deafening, and millions of people can no longer endure this turmoil!"

"Mr. Chen"

The people in the room, with solemn expressions and earnest words, voiced their opposition one after another.

Of course, there were some who spoke strongly, like the dark-skinned middle-aged man who questioned them on the spot.

Faced with the comments of the crowd, Wu Benqing remained silent, sitting high in his seat.

Today's situation was deliberately arranged by him and is a key part of his series of schemes.

Chen Ping'an, the rough-and-tumble swordsman, acted rashly, and he didn't stop him. The other party had a special identity, and if he stopped him, he could actually put him in a difficult position, making it seem like he was hesitant, timid, and indecisive.

Given the current chaotic situation, coupled with Chen Ping'an's involvement, his own predicament may not be much better.

But now, things are different.

Wu Benqing's expression remained unchanged, but he was actually watching Chen Ping'an, who was caught in the crossfire of questioning and attacks from the crowd, with great interest.

It was thanks to Chen Ping'an's fierce words and radical plan that things turned out so well.

Otherwise, given Mang Dao's status, it would be quite difficult for him to create such a situation.

"Foolish talk."

Chen Pingan spoke.

One sentence silenced the room and halted the wave of opposition.

"This move will anger the other side? Why don't you ask them why they weren't afraid of angering us when they did this before?"

They are indeed jackals! But have you all forgotten that we are the true masters of this thunder! Demons rage, jackals wreak havoc; what we must give them is not meat, but swords and arrows!

Chen Ping'an's voice was cold, and his calm eyes swept across the scene.

"The greater good is paramount, but I'd like to ask you all, what exactly constitutes the greater good?"

Silence fell over the arena; for a moment, no one dared to answer. Only then did someone remember the formidable reputation that Mang Dao had previously earned.

"Without the overall situation of my Zhenfu Division, it's better to do without it!"

Chen Ping'an's words were cold and indifferent.

Under the imposing presence comparable to that of a top-tier grandmaster, everyone in the arena fell silent. Those who had previously spoken out vehemently were now completely terrified and remained silent.

Even worse, some of them turned pale.

Only at this moment did they truly understand the style of the "Mangdao" (a nickname for a ruthless and aggressive man) and the meaning of the name "Mangdao Chen Ping'an".

This was the first time Chen Ping'an had publicly expressed his opinions at the deliberation meeting of the Thunderous Garrison Command, asserting his stance with unparalleled force.

After a moment of silence, Wu Benqing spoke, breaking the deadlock.

"What Lord Chen said makes some sense. Although I disagree, since Lord Chen's words are so earnest, he must have already made plans. So why not proceed as Lord Chen suggested? What do you all think?"

Wu Benqing smiled warmly and spoke naturally.

For a moment, the crowd was unsure of his attitude. Even those who had figured out his meaning dared not gamble rashly.

After all, this matter involves setting the tone, and if the gamble is wrong, it's no joke.

Furthermore, their previous strong opposition was immediately replaced by agreement upon Wu Benqing's suggestion, making their intention to take sides all too obvious. While it may not affect the overall situation, personally, it has severely offended Lord Chen.

Therefore, many people pretend to be ignorant and remain silent.

"Hmm? Nobody's saying anything?" Wu Benqing looked around with a smile, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

Just as someone was bracing themselves to answer, a calm and collected voice rang out from the side.

"I have no opinion."

The deliberation meeting finally came to a close.

To Chen Ping'an's surprise, the first person to stand up and agree was Feng Wuhen.

Although he and Feng Wuhen had many interactions, they didn't actually have a deep relationship.

He had noticed this when he first made the suggestion, as Feng Wuhen had remained silent. Even after he expressed his opinion, Feng Wuhen had not uttered any objections.

Until Wu Benqing asked the question, Feng Wuhen was the first to stand up and express his opinion.

Wu Benqing's question just now was not simple. It seemed like an ordinary inquiry, but in reality it was full of probing and scheming.

Feng Wuhen wasn't saying that people couldn't express their opinions. In fact, Wu Benqing himself was guiding everyone towards expressing agreement.

However, as the chief retainer of the Thunderous Suppression Division's Offering Pavilion, the right time for Feng Wuhen to express his opinion is definitely not now. Nor will he be the first to do so.

If he were to express his opinion afterward, and most people present had already understood his meaning, then no one could find fault with him.

But after Wu Benqing finished speaking, and everyone fell silent, he was the first to stand up and express his agreement. That made a big difference.

If Wu Benqing hadn't expressed his disagreement with the plan, Feng Wuhen's actions could have been seen as a show of solidarity among top leaders and a firm support for Wu Benqing's decision to become the top leader.

The problem is that Wu Benqing's words clearly implied disagreement. However, in his subsequent remarks, he tried to steer the crowd toward agreement.

The timing of making this statement is very important.

Feng Wuhen's actions undoubtedly revealed his stance. His considerations on this matter differed from Wu Benqing's. Between Wu Benqing and Chen Ping'an, he leaned more towards Chen Ping'an!

Those who have made it to this level and are able to participate in this review meeting are the most shrewd of the shrewd.

Although Feng Wuhen only said one sentence, everyone undoubtedly understood his stance and inclination.

This move is also a show of support for Chen Ping'an.

Given this context, his support and endorsement are all the more precious.

Wu Benqing was undoubtedly unhappy with Feng Wuhen's final actions.

Today's meeting was specially arranged by him for Chen Ping'an.

Since Chen Ping'an is going to do it, then let him do it. He can't stop him, and he doesn't want to.

Chen Ping'an's entry into the situation alone meant a reversal of positions between the two sides. This also meant he completely escaped the unfavorable situation under the oversight system.

But simply knowing how is not enough for him.

What he truly wanted was to drag Chen Ping'an into the scheme and taint him with its filth.

The current situation stems from this.

By using opposing voices from all sides, they portrayed Chen Ping'an as acting unilaterally.

In addition, there are a series of other measures.

The intention was to distance himself from all involvement and make Chen Ping'an the target of public criticism.

If the situation goes smoothly, his supervision is beneficial. If it doesn't go smoothly, the one who insists on going his own way will bear all the blame.

However, Wu Benqing hadn't expected that this scheme would actually trick Feng Wuhen into revealing himself.

This makes the matter seem more legitimate.

However, it doesn't matter. Although Feng Wuhen is one of the four giants, he has only been in his new position for a short time and is still relatively inexperienced, so his influence is limited and won't affect the overall situation. However, Chen Ping'an did get a free advantage.

The hasty planning led to a momentary oversight.

But it's nothing serious; the bigger picture isn't something that a mere Feng Wuhen can influence.

Even a grandmaster of his caliber would find it extremely difficult to reverse a situation like the Thunderclap Situation. Let alone Chen Ping'an, who hasn't even reached the mid-stage of the Jade Balance Realm yet.

With this in mind, Wu Benqing felt confident of victory and made arrangements with peace of mind.

"By the way, let's talk to the Gu family and tell them to act when the time is right!" Wu Benqing said calmly, sitting in the large chair.

"Yes." A voice came from the shadows.

The decision made by the Leiming Town Pacification Commission was quickly relayed down through the various government offices.

In an instant, public opinion began to rise, causing a great uproar and becoming quite a hot topic.

Supporters were excited, feeling that the powerful leader of the Thunderous Garrison, whom they had not seen for many years, had finally appeared.

Some scoff at this, arguing that youthful passion solves nothing. Without real strength to back it up, no matter how many grand pronouncements one makes, they will ultimately be difficult to put into practice.

The situation is extremely difficult and cannot be easily resolved with just a few words.

There are many opinions here, but more of them are about the Thunderous Garrison Command.
Heaven has changed.

(End of this chapter)