Just as everyone nodded in agreement regarding the defense arrangements.
A slightly jarring voice broke the solemn atmosphere inside the hall.
"Wait."
The speaker stood beneath several individuals wearing golden robe.
He wore a silver-white brocade robe, had a jade belt hanging from his waist, a pale, beardless face, and his eyes revealed arrogance.
He was Zhao Feng, one of the Silver Robe Inspectors who had traveled south this time.
Zhao Feng stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the most critical location on the map, the Hengshan Ferry, before turning to look at Lu Jingchun.
"Lord Lu, since Lord You has spoken golden words and pointed out that the Hengshan Ferry is the choke point for this hunt, the defense of this area is the highest priority."
"If that Prodigy truly breaks through here, and the defending general fails to stop it, even if they leak it for just a single breath, this inescapable net will become a joke."
Speaking up to this point, he narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice:
"May I ask who the defending general of the Hengshan Ferry is?"
Lu Jingchun's expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands and replied:
"It is Yue Huaiyuan, the Demon Quelling General of County Yu Hangzhou."
Zhao Feng frowned slightly, searching his mind for the name, but found nothing.
"An unknown person... what Realm?"
"Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Feng was first stunned, then let out a cold laugh.
"Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm?"
"Lord Lu, as the Commander of the Region East of the River, you should know the strength of a Seed Lotus Realm Demon King better than anyone."
"Even if that beast is heavily wounded and fleeing, it is still in the Seed Lotus Realm! A mere Dianmo Realm cultivator, even one at Perfection, is nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a carriage in front of such a ferocious creature, collapsing at the first touch."
Zhao Feng flicked his sleeve and said loudly:
"Since this place is so vital, why not deploy heavy forces? If manpower is insufficient..."
He pointed to the several other Silver Robes beside him, as well as himself.
"We Silver Robes are all cultivators of the Seed Lotus Realm, and we came south specifically to slay Demons and eliminate evil."
"Why not let us guard the Hengshan Ferry?"
"Even sending one of us would be a hundred times more reliable than that Dianmo Realm martial artist!"
Although these words were unpleasant, they were logically sound.
Many Deputy Generals and Brigade Commanders from the Jiangdong Military Commission in the hall felt annoyed hearing this Capital Official belittle their Commander, but they had to admit the truth.
Dian Mo facing Seed Lotus was indeed a guaranteed defeat.
Facing Zhao Feng's aggression, Lu Jingchun slowly shook his head.
"Inspector Envoy Zhao, you do not know the full situation."
"The River-Flipping Demon King is inherently cunning and suspicious, and its perception of Qi fluctuations is extremely sharp."
Lu Jingchun lightly tapped the ground with the bamboo pole in his hand.
"If we were to place a Seed Lotus Realm expert there too early, that beast would be able to sense it from ten miles away."
"When that happens, it will certainly not dare to use the Hengshan Ferry, and will instead desperately try to breach other passes."
Zhao Feng frowned tightly, just about to object.
However, Lu Jingchun did not give him the chance, continuing:
"Furthermore, our current manpower is not enough to place a Seed Lotus Realm expert at all eighteen waterways. It is better to use a scheme to our advantage."
Lu Jingchun took a deep breath and drew a semicircle around the Hengshan Ferry with his finger.
"We will secretly place all the Seed Lotus Realm Lords in the surrounding waters ten miles outside the Hengshan Ferry."
"Firstly, when that beast sees that the Hengshan Ferry is lightly guarded and leads straight to the Yangtze River—a shortcut to survival—it will, nine times out of ten, attempt to break through this location."
"Secondly, once Yue Huaiyuan engages that beast, the moment the commotion starts, the Lords lying in ambush nearby can immediately rush to reinforce him, forming a surrounding net!"
This is the strategy of inviting the enemy into the jar.
Speaking to this point, Lu Jingchun paused.
"As for Yue Huaiyuan..."
"Although he has not entered the Seed Lotus Realm, he is the fiercest general under my command in the Jiangdong Military Commission. His spear technique is unparalleled in its ferocity. Even an ordinary Demon who has just entered the Seed Lotus Realm might not fare well against his spear."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Feng's tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed.
Although he was arrogant, he was not ignorant of military matters.
This arrangement was indeed the optimal solution for the current situation.
Although it was extremely dangerous for the defending general, where a slight mistake could mean death and the scattering of his Dao.
But for the sake of the overall situation, and to ensure success in a single battle.
This small sacrifice was negligible.
"Lord Lu's strategy is brilliant."
Zhao Feng nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and his tone was no longer as aggressive as before.
"Since this is a plan to lure the enemy deep in, then Yue Huaiyuan is indeed the most suitable candidate."
If his cultivation was too low, it would be suicide, unable to hold them for even a moment.
If his cultivation was too high, it would scare the fish away, and the bait would not be taken.
Perfection in the Ink-Dipping Realm was just right—a hard bone, neither too big nor too small, that could just manage to lodge in the throat.
Everyone in the hall nodded secretly upon hearing this.
While many people from the Jiangdong Military Commission felt nervous for Yue Huaiyuan, they understood that this was the only way.
They could only secretly pray that the old general would be lucky.
The three golden robe Inspector Envoys also narrowed their eyes slightly, offering no objection.
They had clearly given their tacit approval to the plan.
Seeing that no one else had any objections, Lu Jingchun breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Since the strategy is set."
"Then I ask all Lords to take your positions immediately!"
"The day after tomorrow, at noon."
"The Hunt at Taihu Lake!"
...As the military orders were issued, the generals in the hall filed out one after another.
The previously crowded and noisy Main Hall of the General Bureau instantly became empty.
Only Lu Jingchun and the three golden robe Inspector Envoys remained.
Lu Jingchun wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, just about to excuse himself to arrange the specific matters.
"Lord Lu."
Lu Jingchun stopped in his tracks and quickly turned around.
He saw Granny Liu, with her kind eyes and brows, smiling sweetly at him.
Lu Jingchun's heart tightened, and he bowed, saying, "Lord Liu, do you have any other instructions?"
"It's not an instruction."
Granny Liu waved her hand, exchanged a look with the hunched old man beside her, and a strange expression flashed in her eyes.
"It's not official business; it's a small private matter."
"I heard that a few days ago, the General Bureau sent a Silver Robe Inspector south—a very young girl. I wonder if Lord Lu has met her?"
A young girl?
After a brief thought, the cold, aloof, silver-white figure appeared in Lu Jingchun's mind.
This kind of characteristic was too easy to recognize.
"Is Lord Liu referring to Jiang Yuechu, Inspector Jiang?"
"Yes, yes, that's the name."
Lu Jingchun dared not be negligent and quickly said, "Of course I have met her."
"Although Inspector Jiang is young, her methods are impressive."
"Soon after entering the Region East of the River, she killed two powerful Ink Dot Realm Demons in City Dan Positive, lifting the siege of a County. This matter is now a widely celebrated story in the Region East of the River."
Hearing this.
You Wujiang, who had been expressionless, raised an eyebrow slightly.
Granny Liu's smile deepened, and she nodded repeatedly.
"She is capable."
"Since you have met her, does Lord Lu know... where she is now?"
"This..."
Lu Jingchun was taken aback.
A trace of hesitation appeared on his face.
He genuinely didn't know.
He had intentionally sent Disciples to accompany her to other Counties to slay Demons, wanting this Prodigy to avoid the current spotlight.
As for later... he vaguely remembered Yue Huaiyuan's victory report, which stated that thanks to Inspector Jiang, the Demon plague in County Yu Hangzhou had been resolved.
"Replying to Lord Liu."
Lu Jingchun carefully chose his words and honestly said, "Inspector Jiang's whereabouts are uncertain. This subordinate... truly does not know her exact location."
Seeing Granny Liu slightly furrow her brow.
He quickly added, "However, news came from County Yu Hangzhou a few days ago that Inspector Jiang helped General Yue defeat a powerful Demon there."
"After the matter in County Yu Hangzhou was concluded, she most likely followed the official road to other severely affected Counties to slay Demons and eliminate evil."
In his view, this was perfectly reasonable.
Since Jiang Yuechu hadn't reported to the Suzhou General Bureau, she must have gone elsewhere to accumulate achievements.
After all, this place was about to become a battlefield for the Seed Lotus Realm and even the Mountain-Gazing Realm.
A mere Middle Ink Dot Realm cultivator, no matter how much of a Prodigy, was not qualified to get involved.
"She went to other areas..."
Granny Liu murmured to herself, nodding thoughtfully.
"That's fine."
Although she really wanted to meet this girl with such prodigious Aptitude, there was no rush.
If she was wandering outside, then let her be.
If this girl truly didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth and plunged headfirst into Taihu Lake, that would be trouble.
"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Lu."
Granny Liu returned to her kind and amiable appearance and waved her hand.
"Go and attend to your duties."
"Understood!"
Lu Jingchun cupped his fist in salute and slowly withdrew.
It wasn't until he walked out of the main hall and felt the cool breeze outside that he finally let out a long breath.
He looked back at the deep, secluded entrance.
He muttered to himself inwardly.
She was a Dianmo Realm cultivator at seventeen after all, and even someone like Granny Liu had to specifically inquire about her.
However... Lu Jingchun shook his head, casting these distracting thoughts aside.
The most urgent matter was tomorrow's great battle.
As for where Jiang Yuechu went... who cares.
As long as she didn't come to Taihu Lake and cause trouble.