Chapter 422 - Four Hundred and Eighteen: Disaster
Chapter 422: Chapter Four Hundred and Eighteen: Disaster
Translator: 549690339
Therefore, the Mi Family could no longer wait. Mi Shen had speculated at the grand clan gathering in July that the Tang Clan had likely found a Minor Spiritual Realm, which had caused an explosive growth in their power. As it turns out, he was right. There is no other way to explain the origin of the Tang Clan’s Retractive Breath Technique and Vermillion Bird imprints.
In just half a year, there had been an earth-shattering change. The Tang Clan’s acquisition from the Minor Spiritual Realm definitely cannot be allowed to continue.
The longer they wait, the lower the Mi Clan’s chances of victory are. Even though this moment might not be the best for a grand battle, ever since Mi Chu left, it represents the Mi Family with the highest chance of victory.
Often times, the difference between those in power and ordinary people lies in an unwavering determination and boldness.
Having decided, the calculating leader of the Mi Clan, Mi Jin, gave his orders in a somber tone:
“Reinforce with thirty Martial Ancestors. Make sure Tang Sen and Tang Siyuan are held up in Jianglin. Also, organize a thousand Metamorphosis Squads to gather at Lingjiang Bridge and prepare for alleyway combat.”
“Elder Hu, please call on twenty Senior Elders to suppress.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Acknowledged.” Mi Hu nodded and was about to take orders when he saw the head of the Wind Media Department with furrowed brows approach them and bow.
“Elders, Leaders.” The charming but older woman, with a cold expression, greeted Clan Leader Mi Jin: “I have an urgent report. I request that you hear it before making any decisions.”
Mi Hu, who was preparing to call in the Elders from the mountains, furrowed his brows, a sense of urgency tightening his heart. A report deemed urgent by such a cold and ruthless person can only indicate something grave.
Mi Jin also stopped giving orders, signaling the woman to speak quickly with his eyes.
After taking a deep breath to calm herself, the woman began to slowly reveal the news she had just received: “Rainfall in the upper reaches of the Longjiang river has lasted for 40 days, causing the water levels to rise significantly. There is already a flood in Chengzhou, allowing the floodwaters in the Longjiang river to rage and spread. The greatest impact was felt when the floodwaters hit the middle of the Longjiang river. Here, the collapse of three monumental mountains suddenly expanded the mouth of Lingjiang, its tributary river fourfold. The originally rampaging floodwaters changed their course towards the Lingjiang where they wiped out the upstream city of Zhangtong within a day. The flood came too suddenly and too fast, killing 90% of the city’s 370,000 residents immediately. Only the Fierce Realm warriors who could float in the air survived.”
Lingjiang is a tributary of Longjiang, flowing from northwest towards the southeast. Zhangtong, the city at the river’s source, was the first city directly exposed to the flood. But being wiped out in a single day and having almost its entire population washed away was particularly horrifying.
Luckily, Zhangtong is still two thousand miles away from Xiling, which gives the Mi Clan enough time to prepare.
During natural disasters, everyone is equal, hence, an idea of fighting a great battle was immediately extinguished in Mi Jin’s mind. Though the Mi Clan’s Wind Media Department is the best in Xiling, the Tang Clan’s Wind Media Department is not far behind. He believes that the report about the change in the course of Longjiang river will reach Tang Zhi’s desk within a day at most. Now, he wants to know what this unprecedented disaster will do to the west part of Longzhou.
With an expressionless face, Mi Jin asked the woman: “Director, how long do you think the flood will last, and what magnitude will it have when it affects Xiling?”
If the direction of the Longjiang is changed for two full years and only leads to widening the river channel in Xiling a few times, it would only require moving the clan’s lands a dozen miles further to the south and rebuilding the city there.
“Clan Leader, it’s not just the Longjiang changing course, it’s also experiencing an unprecedented flood that happens once in a thousand years. The Lingjiang river which is less than a fifth the size of Longjiang can’t withstand the surging waters of Longjiang. This flood disaster will at least affect an area of over a hundred thousand li in western Longzhou. The major cities on both sides of the Lingjiang will be the ones that suffer the most from the flood!”
The woman pointed at the full map of Longzhou hanging on the wall of the media office: “Especially Xiling city, Clear Water County, and Shen Ping. Among the cities at risk, these three face the greatest danger and are most likely to be destroyed!”
Located in the middle of Lingjiang, Xiling is surrounded by plains to the south and mountains to the north. The city of Xiling is lower than the surrounding areas, making it a major port city. While its geographical location is advantageous during normal times, at present, its low-lying terrain means it will be submerged by the flood. Moreover, South City is even lower in elevation than North City.
So, when the flood eventually hits Xiling, one can imagine the predicament that the Mi family will find themselves in.
More terrifying is the fact that a change in Longjiang’s course means that a vast volume of water will reformulate the Lingjiang’s river channel. Judging from the vastness of Longjiang and its surroundings, one can conjecture the impact the change of course will have on the cities on both banks of the Lingjiang river. However, this is what separates the strong and ordinary individuals. While the woman could only see the huge risk the change in Longjiang’s course could bring, Mi Jin saw opportunity in the first instance.
Even though the disaster causes widespread destruction, it can also represent a beginning, where everything is destroyed but ready to be built anew. The Mi and Tang Families have been in a stalemate in Xiling for a thousand years, perhaps this flood represents a sign from the heavens to separate the two families once and for all.
In terms of victory and defeat, it depends on who can harness more power and attract more warriors in this disaster.
It’s just a flood. The Wancheng Treasure Ship can conquer the Endless Sea, so it certainly won’t be castrated by a flood.
In this disaster which will affect the entire western area of Longzhou, the Mi Family has already secured an invincible position. In terms of naval warfare, the Mi and Tang Families are the best in Longzhou. However, if a winner had to be declared, the Mi Clan’s Xian Bird Feather Guards would take the lead!
As for how to take advantage of this disaster for the greatest benefit, Mi Jin already had a plan in his heart. He told the twelve elders present: “You have all heard what the Director said. Now is not the best time for clan warfare, but it is the time to resist the once-in-a-thousand-year disaster in Longzhou. Thus, I propose that we activate the wartime statutes and centralize control.”
The elders looked at each other and nodded, saying to Mi Jin: “We await your orders, Clan Leader.”
With the full support of the Elder Council, the leader of the Mi Clan was full of confidence. He began to issue orders, pointing at the map of Longjiang.
“Execute my orders.”
“Call for all the craftsmen of the Mi Clan, occupy all the mountains due south, southeast, and southwest of Xiling. Start logging and building camps! Within three days, I want all the mountains south of Lingjiang to belong to the Mi Clan.”
“Acknowledged!” Several elders in charge of mining and construction took the orders and left.
“Convene all merchant ships to the downstream immediately. Collect the grain along the city wall. No one can return without a permit from the Clan Leader.” “Acknowledged!” The sixth elder in charge of the Mi Clan’s merchant fleet also nodded, taking the orders and leaving.
“Elder Hu, please go to Jianglin and end this battle!” After he announced those two important missions, Mi Jin addressed Mi Hu.
“Acknowledged!”
As the few elders and Mi Hu left, Mi Jin stood before the map. He took several darts and placed them on several mountains to the east and west of Xiling.
The mountains directly north and south of Xiling were long covered by the two clans’ influence, so there was no need to mention them. But now, the mountains on the east and west sides became the focus. News of the flood two thousand miles away would only reach the city’s Wind Media Department when the disasters are already about five hundred miles away. During this spread of a thousand and five hundred miles, there is a lot of room for operation.
Using the eastern and western mountains in exchange for the city’s land, it is believed that no small clan leader can resist such a temptation.