Chapter 610: Chapter Six Hundred and Six: Unity is Strength

“What are we waiting for?” The shift from anger to delight by Mi Jin surprised everyone in the silent room, as members of the Mi Clan’s martial ancestors couldn’t help but look up.

“Immediately arrange for bodyguards, and send the Clan Leader Hu and the four martial ancestors to the Hundred Herbs Immortal Mansion. It is necessary for the martial ancestors to completely recover.”

Although they had known that the clan would not abandon them, Mi Jin’s performance at this time still moved them deeply. However, warriors were not proficient at expressing their feelings. Even if they were moved, others could only see their shrinking pupils.

Facing clan leader Mi Jin’s immediate decision to arrange for everyone to leave, Clan Leader Hu Mi still had doubts: “Clan leader, we are in the middle of a war between two clans, and our departure at this moment may inevitably undermine military morale. Why not wait for the situation to stabilize and then seek medical treatment?”

As the clan leader, Hu Mi had to consider the overall situation. Leaving now would inevitably reveal several pieces of information to the people of Animal Valley at South Ridge.

The first is that the elite joint team sent to launch a surprise attack behind North Mountain had suffered a major defeat, and the five martial ancestors including Hu Mi were seriously injured and had to go to Kunwu for treatment.

The second is whether the Mi Clan, having lost a large number of top martial ancestors, can still lead the clans to capture North Mountain.

The seven major prestige clans invested in the Mi Clan to form family alliances. At the moment, the Mi Clan had not brought them any tangible benefits, and this battle had already made people feel tired. If the Mi Clan could take East Ridge in one fell swoop, it would be a win-win situation. But now, this kind of offensive and defensive tug-of-war is the most testing for morale. The withdrawal of Hu Mi and the others provided the seven clans with the best reason to cease fighting.

“If your own martial ancestors retreat, what are we fighting for?”

Once it had progressed to this point, it would be impossible to reassemble a large army capable of breaking through the North Mountain defense lines.

As the clan leader, Mi Hu had a clear view. Mi Jin’s decision now was not just a matter of whether to treat the injuries, but the impact this decision would bring. It could render all the efforts and hard work of the Mi Clan over the past few days completely in vain.

Mi Hu of course did not want to lose his own arms, but he was even less willing to let the Mi Clan miss this great opportunity to defeat the Tang Clan because of his own reasons. If he had to choose, he would be willing to trade his arms for a decisive victory for the clan.

After listening to Mi Hu’s words, the other four martial ancestors who also lost their arms understood the key point, and their eyes became determined.

“Good! Good!! With the family united, how can we not succeed!” Mi Jin excitedly stepped forward and patted Mi Hu’s broad shoulders, “Clan Leader Hu, rest assured, within a year, our united army will break through the North Mountain defense line. Let’s send you off with this great victory!”

Mi Jin, who walked out of the silent room, had a calm face, but there was a firm look in his eyes.

“How is the assembly of the reinforcements from the three families I requested?”

Two days ago, Mi Jin had ordered seven clans to reorganize a joint team consisting of no less than thirty martial ancestors within three days. It was originally intended to supplement the strength of the frontline alliance and consolidate the advantage, so it was not considered urgent. But now the situation had changed, and he urgently needed this joint team to appear to stabilize morale.

The news of the defeat and death of Mi Hu and others could not be concealed. With such a morale-boosting victory and even two martial ancestors prisoners, Mi Jin could almost predict how the Tang Clan would boost morale to bolster their crumbling southwestern defense line.

Additionally, with the reinforcement of defense personnel, with the current frontal forces of the United Army, it would be impossible to capture the northwestern foothills within a year. Therefore, he needed this team to appear immediately!

“Father, there’s a small problem with this joint team.” Mi Zhu explained in a low voice: “The joint army has been consumed for so long and still cannot capture North Mountain, which has already caused complaints among the seven major clans. Not withdrawing the martial ancestors in the joint army is only taking into account the commitment at that time, but they actually don’t want to fight anymore. The order to assemble was issued two days ago, but so far, except for the three martial ancestors of the Cao family, the remaining six clans have not sent anyone to the assembly point. According to the news from Wind Media, the clan leaders have been dragging their feet and saying that they have few forces, and they have sent all the martial ancestors to the front line and can no longer send martial ancestors to the war!”

“Oh? Is it?” Mi Jin replied casually to Mi Zhu’s words. “What do you think?”

“I think, except for the Cao Clan, the other six clans are just perfunctory us!” Not often asked for his opinion by his father, Mi Zhu quickly expressed his judgement: “Not to mention others, any of the Pan, Bie, Bai, and Wan clans can’t pull out five or six standby martial ancestor squads. Are they taking us for fools if they say that they have no foundations after a few hundred years of operation!”

Walking in the empty corridor of the medicinal valley, Mi Zhu could hardly suppress his anger: “In my opinion, these people are despising our clan. If they fail to assemble tomorrow, they should be cut off their rations for two months. They need to know the authority of our Mi Clan!”

Mi Jin listened to Mi Zhu’s words quietly until his angry breathing subsided, then he turned his head and said lightly, “Don’t let anger make decisions for you.”

The perfunctory attitude of the six clans was obvious, but the ultimate reason was not the disrespect of the clan as stated by Mi Zhu, but a more important one – interest.

Including Cao Xiong, all seven major prestige clans had not seen any benefit in this offensive and defensive war that could make them fight to the death. Therefore, their lackluster performance had always been within Mi Jin’s expectations.

From the beginning, this united army was not the main force for siege. Mi Jin just wanted them to make a show of force. The promised benefits may seem generous to outsiders, but for cunning clan leaders like foxes, they were not enough to wage a desperate fight.

However, the serious injuries of Hu Mi and others led to the lack of high-end combat power in the Mi Clan. This gap had to be filled by the seven major clans. What he had to do now was to give the seven major clans a reason to go all out!

“Write an invitation for me, saying that there will be a feast tonight at the Panyun Terrace, and invite the chiefs of the seven major prestige clans for a reunion and discussion on the big issue.” Mi Jin instructed Mi Zhu.

That night, the Panyun Terrace on the top floor of Panyun Building was filled with glazed lanterns, extremely magnificent.

The chiefs of the seven major prestige clans, except for Cao Xiong who was far away on the front line, all came. They enjoyed the dances, tasted the fine wine.

There was spiritual food and meat all over the table, and the jade cup was full of fine wine. The scene of extravagant festivity was like a feast in a disaster year, as hot as the celebration of a bumper year.

The several clan heads toasted with Mi Jin at the banquet but did not mention the so-called major issue. It seemed that this was just an ordinary banquet, and Mi Jin, as host, did not rush but just accompanied everyone in drinking the wine.

It was not until the moon was hanging in the middle of the sky and the starlit night was glowing brightly that Mi Jin, feeling a little tipsy, put down the wine glass in his hand and clapped his hands.

The dancing girls, who were still scantily clad in the cold winter months, came out in single file carrying jade boxes. After placing them on the tables of the clan leaders, they left quietly, leaving only a lingering fragrance behind.