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Comfortable, transparent!

At that moment, everyone in the hall could only feel invigorated and instantly developed a feeling of regret – as if they had missed much by not meeting Tang Zuo sooner.

Why were so many Martial Ancestors gathering here? Was it to merely laud and flatter each other?

No, it was for their starving clansmen at home. Tang Zuo’s proposal had undoubtedly won the hearts of the people, boosting their confidence in this alliance.

After a round of cheers, someone in the crowd asked, “May Captain Tang tell us how we can assist in reclaiming our ancestral lands?”

The statement seemed to suggest that they were at the Tang Clan’s disposal, but Tang Zuo couldn’t ignore the implicative nuances within it.

The simple word “assist” had clearly dictated the hierarchy. In this context, the helpers were expected to exert minimal efforts and given the utmost freedom.

After all, my role is to aid you, I’m not your subordinate, and I bear no obligation to fight unto death for you.

It has to be said, those who become the heads of their clans are cunning. Who would willingly put themselves in danger? Although it was just a simple query, Tang Zuo knew if he gave an unsatisfactory response, the hard-earned momentum, and popular support could quickly crumble.

Luckily, he had prepared for these contingencies and casually responded, “Brother, you’ve touched on the exact point of my concerns. You all come from various regions and groups within Longzhou. Hasty unification might overlook certain aspects. After all, everyone present here, elites of their respective cities, already has a proven method of warfare. With my limited ability, how could I assume the heavy responsibility of central command? After thinking it through, I believe the best strategy is for you to retain your current standing and collaborate with the Tang Clan during the campaign.”

What do noble families fear the most? Losing their options and sense of control. While they hope to get grains from the Tang Clan, no one is willing to surrender their power. It’s better to let them find their own way than forcing them into an uncomfortable partnership that could leave their clans worse off at the end.

No matter what the original intent of the Tang Clan was, this arrangement reassures everyone in the cavernous hall. The alliance, at least, takes care of their concerns.

Tang Zuo, who has gotten off to a good start, continued addressing the crowd. “Moreover, since you’re all here to assist our clan, we will ensure that none of you face peril. We will deal with the threats posed by the Mi Clan Alliance in the Fierce Realm. For every friend here who is willing to assist in the fight, our clan will provide a high-grade Spirit Armor and a Life Creation Pill – these items would not be claimed back after the war.”

The generous pledge evoked gasps of astonishment in the crowd. While the tale of the Tang Clan’s wealth had been circulating for over a century, this was the first time they had felt it tangibly.

Billions worth of resources were handed out to helpers without a second thought; such an act would have been inconceivable in the past. This showcases a wealth equivalent to the affluent families of Zhongzhou.

This exhibition of wealth boosted the people’s faith in the Tang Clan, who seemed unconcerned about the countless forces in the Mi Clan Alliance.

Several noble families were willing to go into battle, hoping to reap greater rewards.

Tang Zuo responded to these noble families with a noncommittal smile and a nod, giving an impression of acknowledgment without taking them seriously, making the Tang Clan’s actual strength even more elusive.

Once the hubbub in the hall subsided, Tang Zuo furthered, “Additionally, I hereby, on behalf of my clan, promise you that every martial artist from the Mi Clan Alliance you strike down will be counted as military merit. For each transformation warrior, there will be a grain reward of ten thousand pounds, which can also be exchanged for a hundred pounds of Spiritual Food or meat. For each one in the Fierce Realm, the reward will be fifty thousand pounds of grains, which could be exchanged for five thousand pounds of Spiritual Food or meat. This way, when you return to your clans, you have something to show for your efforts!”

Following his words, several famished heads of houses gasped for air, eager to join the brawl, bring back heads in exchange for grains.

If the prior conditions were meant to ensure that everyone–those who had travelled far and wide–did not have rear-end concerns, these terms provided a fantastic appeal.

The calamitous year had just ended, and almost all the well-organized clans were in dire need of grain. There seemed no easier way to secure grains than this–killing the transformation warriors of the Mi Clan Alliance in exchange for military merit. It was akin to ripe apples hanging from a low tree, waiting to be harvested.

Though the initial battle cry might have been an attempt to make a good impression on Tang Zuo, these martial artists now considered every slain Mi Clan Alliance warrior as their personal conquest. How to kill as many warriors as possible within a limited time became the foremost thought.

Rumour had it that there were several tens of thousands of transformation alliance soldiers besieging the auspicious cloud valley. As long as a hundred of them were killed, they could gather enough grains to go back home. It seemed like a pie falling from the sky, almost unbelievable.

While many martial artists were physically present in Cloud Peak, their minds had already drifted to the battlefield, unable to contain their anticipation.

Tang Zuo saw their restiveness. As the person in charge of this plan, he thought it necessary to dampen this enthusiasm since any leak would do no good to anyone.

A soft cough rang out across the hall, bringing everyone’s attention back to the stage. Tang Zuo, with a smile, joked, “Everyone, there’s no need to hurry. The Mi Clan, a group of petty thieves who believe their victory is assured, are besieging the Auspicious Cloud Valley and building fortifications. They won’t leave. Don’t worry that we, the Tang Clan, won’t have enough grain to provide. Those families well-informed would know that for the past two years, we’ve been buying grain on a large scale for a brewery project. So we have mountains of grain, and the billions we’re offering you are but a drop in the bucket. We guarantee that you’ll receive every grain promised, and there won’t be a single grain of old or rotten grain in the lot!”

Several heads of houses, who were brought back to their senses, flushed hearing Tang Zuo’s words for they felt they were the target of his jest.

On hearing Tang Zuo’s offer, many had thought of joining the fight at once, bringing back heads in exchange for grain, and then leaving with bags full of it.

At this point, compared with Spirit Armor or elixirs, grains are, of course, more attractive. But on sober reflection, the heads of almost 300 Fierce Realm fighters in the hall, even if they killed only half of the Mi Clan Alliance transformation warriors, would still require billions of pounds of grain.

If it were an ordinary year, there would have been no doubts about the might of the Tang Clan. But in a calamitous year, even the most confident would hesitate. Now hearing Tang Zuo mention the brewery, they suddenly realized why the Tang Clan had an endless supply of grains in a year of disaster.

This news first came from the Mi Clan before spreading across Lingjiang, which was later validated by several Tang Clan delegates. That had put it beyond doubt and consequently made all families owning breweries in their industries wary of the Tang Clan.

Many wine connoisseurs from neighboring cities were anticipating the Tang Clan Brewery’s launch, curious to discover the secret recipes the Tang Clan traders had obtained from the Kingdom of Wine to monopolize the business in Xiling, a flourishing city.

However, instead of establishing new breweries in Xiling, they heard the Tang Clan was buying up lands. Now that Tang Zuo had mentioned it, the crowd realized the truth.

Indeed, setting up a monopoly brewery in Xiling City would require billions of pounds of grain as the minimum investment.