188: Chapter 188: A Peaceful Relocation of the Capital Benefits All!

Su Ming looked at him. His expression was indifferent, as if confirming the other person's level of intelligence. "Are your ears not working?"

Representative Shen Zheng's face stiffened.

Chen Zhan suddenly turned his head to look at Su Ming, his eyes full of confusion.

Three thousand people? Giving them all away? Is he crazy? That's his trump card! The Foundation of his Spirit Inscription projection! Without these three thousand people, he's just a commander without an army!

Fang Yuanxing also sat up straight, his brows slightly furrowed. He had known Su Ming for so long; this kid never did business at a loss. Therefore... there must be conditions.

Fang Yuanxing stared at Su Ming's profile, waiting. Sure enough, Su Ming's next sentence came.

"But there are two prerequisites..." He held up one finger.

"First, the organization, equipment, and supplies for the three thousand people will be borne by the six cities in proportion. They fight for you, so you support them—it's only natural."

Representative Shen Zheng nodded. "Reasonable."

He held up a second finger. "Second, the Longjiang Prefecture capital will be relocated to Pingan City."

—Boom! It was as if someone had thrown a thunderclap into the meeting room.

"What?!" Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi was the first to jump up, his chair sliding backward and hitting the wall with a 'thud'.

"Relocate... relocate the capital?!"

Su Ming glanced at him, his gaze indifferent.

"Longjiang Prefecture is located deep in the inland, not bordering the wasteland, and not near the front line. Does placing the administrative hub here have any use for joint defense command?"

"The area within five hundred kilometers of Pingan City has been cleared of Wicked Beasts; it is the safest place in the entire Western Region."

"Moving the administrative hub there for unified scheduling will at least double the efficiency of the seven-city joint defense."

He said it lightly, his tone calm, but everyone present understood the weight of these words.

Relocating the capital... moving the entire administrative center of Longjiang Prefecture to Pingan City. Moving it to his turf.

What did this mean? It meant that the administrative orders, resource allocation, and military command of all seven cities would all be issued from Pingan City.

And who was the master of Pingan City? Su Ming.

This kid... City Lord Ma Chong's Adam's apple bobbed. Seven words popped into his mind: Holding the emperor hostage to command the vassals.

No, it was even more ruthless than that. He wasn't holding them hostage; he had directly slaughtered the 'emperor' and moved the throne to his own home.

Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi's face flushed red. "This... this is against protocol! Longjiang Prefecture has been a city for three hundred years, and all previous governors..."

"That was in the past. The times have changed."

Su Ming interrupted him. "You've been a Deputy for over a decade; didn't you notice a Wicked Beast sitting on top of you?"

Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi choked, his lips trembling. He couldn't utter a single word. A... a Wicked Beast?! Qin Yaotian?! How is that possible!

Representative Shen Zheng's face was livid. He stared at Su Ming, gritting his teeth. This kid was even more troublesome than he had imagined.

He was no brute. Killing was just a means. What he truly wanted was hidden behind the scenes; after two rounds of foreshadowing, he was only revealing it now.

Trading three thousand people for the relocation of the prefecture capital—on the surface, Su Ming was at a loss, giving away three thousand elite troops for free.

In reality? He used the military presence of three thousand people to trade for the political center of the entire Longjiang Prefecture.

Was military power in the hands of the six cities? No, it was still in his hands!

No matter how scattered the three thousand people were, with just one thought from Su Ming, they would instantly transform into his giant army.

Nominally dividing the troops, but in reality... the seven cities were helping him raise an army.

Fang Yuanxing's mouth twitched. Good grief! I, Fang Yuanxing, have lived for over thirty years. This is the first time I've seen someone play the 'you help me raise an army, and you even have to thank me' card with such confidence.

Principal Han Chengde stroked his beard, unable to hide the smile in his eyes. This kid... he truly deserves to be the Honorary Principal of our Longjiang Martial Arts University. What a grand vision!

Elder Yan appeared expressionless, but his eyes were shimmering. This little guy understood equivalent exchange.

Representative Shen Zheng was silent for a long time. He was weighing his options.

Qin Yaotian was dead, Longjiang Prefecture was leaderless, and headquarters couldn't possibly send a new governor in the short term. There would be a vacancy period of at least three months.

During these three months, who would coordinate the Western Region joint defense?

The eighteen-year-old youth before him held three thousand giant soldiers, grasped absolute command of a city, possessed a five-hundred-kilometer safety zone, and had speared a 7th Realm Wicked Beast.

Resist? With what would he resist? Representative Shen Zheng closed his eyes.

"This matter must be reported to headquarters." Su Ming nodded. "Feel free."

He didn't force him; in fact, his tone was easygoing. Because he knew the outcome. Headquarters would agree. There was no other choice.

Of the seven cities in the Western Region, six were bleeding, and one was farming. Who was in charge? The answer was already laid out on the table.

Su Ming leaned back in his chair. The star abyss spear stood beside him, its Spirit Inscription shimmering.

"But this matter..." "Must be finalized today. I don't want to waste too much time on this."

Su Ming's voice was not loud. It could even be called light, but the air in the meeting room suddenly grew heavy.

"In exchange..." He held up one finger. "My three thousand Wilderness Suppression Bureau soldiers, including myself, will personally help the six cities clear out the Wicked Beasts and monsters inside and outside the cities, including Longjiang Prefecture."

He held up a second finger. "The original resource quota of Pingan City will be split equally among the six cities."

As his voice fell, the several city lords exchanged glances. A gleam flashed in their eyes.

Three thousand thirty-two-meter-tall Obsidian Giants—they had just seen that footage with their own eyes: one step, one Fourth Level Wicked Beast, a crushing sweep.

This kind of combat power helping them clear Wicked Beasts? Combat power given for free? And resources split equally?

Pingan City's resource quota was no small amount! Plus three thousand people helping to clear Wicked Beasts... this was basically getting an elite army for free, plus a windfall.

What was there to hesitate about?

Representative Shen Zheng couldn't sit still. He stood up abruptly, his chair sliding back half a foot.

"This is against protocol!" His voice rose. "Relocating the capital involves the entire administrative structure of Longjiang Prefecture and concerns the administrative jurisdiction of over ten million people. This is not something a single city lord can unilaterally decide! This matter must be reported to headquarters for approval, following the complete approval process..."

"Clang!" The Star Abyss Spear struck the floor. A crisp sound exploded. Representative Shen Zheng shuddered all over.

The rest of his words were stuck in his throat. He couldn't force them out.

The image of that god of slaughter slaying a 7th Realm Wicked Beast with one spear strike was still replaying in his mind. His body was more honest than his brain.

He sat back down in his chair with a thud.

Su Ming stood up. His movements were slow. He pressed his hands against the tabletop, looking down at Representative Shen Zheng. His gaze was indifferent, as if looking at an insignificant commodity.

"Local administrative affairs are handled by local administrative departments themselves." Su Ming's voice was calm.

"In what way is it against protocol?"

"The Wicked Beasts you cannot kill, I will kill. The Wicked Beasts you dare not slaughter, I will slaughter. All dangers, I, Su Ming, will shoulder alone. You all just need to sit back and enjoy the peace."

"Why not?"

"Or is it..." His tone sank. "Representative Shen would rather watch the frontline soldiers continue to bleed and sacrifice themselves?"

"You... you're spouting nonsense!" Representative Shen Zheng's face was livid. His fists were clenched tight.

The whole room was silent. Dead silent. No one spoke; even the sound of teacups clinking against the table had ceased.

The city lords were weighing their options. Their brains were turning fast; three thousand giant soldiers helping them clear Wicked Beasts outside the cities was equivalent to cutting the annual casualty figures by more than half, plus the resource quota from Pingan City split among them...

From any angle, this was a free benefit. The only cost? Acknowledging Pingan City as the new administrative center.

What was there to hesitate about? Anyway, the current Longjiang Prefecture wasn't doing its job properly.

Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi couldn't sit still. "But... but Longjiang Prefecture has been a city for three hundred years, and the administrative system is intricate..."

"After the capital is relocated." Su Ming interrupted. "Longjiang Prefecture will be renamed Longjiang City."

Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi was stunned. What was the difference?

Su Ming glanced at him. "Since it is no longer the capital, there is naturally no need to re-elect a governor."

Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi opened his mouth, then closed it. He realized it instantly: if it wasn't the capital, there was no need for a governor; if there was no need for a governor, then the existing administrative structure...

Qin Yaotian was dead. The governor position was vacant; if filled by order of succession... he was the Secretary-General. The second-in-command of Longjiang.

"Actually... it's not that complicated." Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi slowly straightened his posture. His face looked calm, but the corners of his mouth were twitching uncontrollably.