Return to the City: The Strongest King

Song Xiaodong glanced at everyone, thought for a moment, and said, "Starting a war now doesn't seem appropriate to me."

Huyan Lie immediately asked, "And why is that?"

Song Xiaodong replied, "Firstly, the real war has yet to begin; we do not know the situation of the other two cities. If we directly engage Flying Eagle City now, it would be a brutal war. Regardless of whether we win or lose, the losses will be severe, and our city's strength significantly diminished. Should the other two cities come attacking, we would have no power to resist."

After pausing for a moment, Song Xiaodong continued, "However, if we don't fight, with Flying Eagle City acting in this manner and we don't respond, that would also be inappropriate. It would make people think our Black Dragon City is easy to bully."

Everyone frowned, and an impatient person said, "Mr. Song, your words are like saying nothing at all. Do you have a definitive stance on whether to fight or not?"

Song Xiaodong smiled slightly and said, "We certainly must fight, but absolutely cannot directly engage them head-on. Even if we win in the end, it would be difficult to gain benefits. Therefore, we need to use other methods to fight, aiming to achieve victory with minimal losses."

"And how should that be done?" Huyan Lie's eyes lit up.

Song Xiaodong said, "Our city is originally the weakest among the four. To achieve final victory in this war, we need sufficient strategy. If we clearly understand the consequences of directly engaging Flying Eagle City, then let me suggest another method. If we unite with White Tiger City, which borders us and attack Flying Eagle City together, what would the result be?"

A clan leader immediately glared and said, "White Tiger City is our enemy; we would never cooperate with them."

Another one promptly said, "Indeed, in the last war, many of our warriors died at the hands of White Tiger City people, and many of their warriors died by ours. How could they possibly cooperate with us?"

Song Xiaodong looked at them, suddenly recalling a phrase — simple-minded. People here might be too closed-minded, doing everything straightforward, making Song Xiaodong feel their minds are really quite simple.

Nodding, Song Xiaodong said, "White Tiger City is our enemy — but that's from past wars. Now, with this looming war, our consideration should be how we can achieve victory. Collaborating with White Tiger City, at the smallest cost, our losses would be significantly reduced; then we can engulf Flying Eagle City. At that time, both of our cities would divide Flying Eagle City's territory, greatly increasing our strength. Joining forces to defeat the last city, then only we and White Tiger City would remain here. If we ceasefire then, it would be two cities sharing this world; if not, it's us contesting the realm with White Tiger City in the end."

In the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, this would be the strategy of alliance, and in military arts, it's about distant friendships and attacking near; it's all straightforward logic, but people here are quite stubborn and truly haven't thought of these twists and turns.

Following Song Xiaodong's train of thought, the crowd suddenly found this a desirable proposition; Huyan Lie suppressed his inner excitement and asked, "But how would White Tiger City agree to cooperate with us?"

"Indeed, we've always been enemies with White Tiger City; if our people enter their city, they'd surely be killed straight away."

"Correct, anyone from other cities coming here would be killed likewise."

"People can't get through; how then to negotiate?"

Over the past few days, Song Xiaodong saw every man here, without exception, had a dragon head tattoo on their shoulders. And during the clashes with Flying Eagle City, those people's shoulders had a mighty eagle.

Men from these four cities are extremely easy to distinguish.

Song Xiaodong smiled slightly and said, "You all have markers on your bodies, but I don't. So I'll make a trip to White Tiger City; presumably, I won't be killed directly, and then I can chat with their City Lord."

Huyan Lie shook his head and said, "No way, that's too dangerous. If Mr. Song comes to harm, it'd be the greatest loss to our city."

Song Xiaodong said, "Lord Huyan, I think this risk is worth taking, and since everyone needs manpower now, presumably White Tiger City would also want to recruit me."

Huyan Lie frowned and said, "Mr. Song wouldn't be looking to leave us, would you?"

Song Xiaodong chuckled and said, "Lord Huyan holds me in such regard; how could I possibly act like a fickle villain?"

Old Master of the Cao Family immediately interjected, "Then make a solemn oath!"

Song Xiaodong said without hesitation, "No problem, though I'm unsure what kind of oath counts as a solemn one?"

Old Master of the Cao Family said, "Swear by the Python God; if you betray our Black Dragon City, the Python God will come for you."

Song Xiaodong, somewhat dismissive of this, questioned the use of swearing by the Python God, as he had escaped from the mouth of the Python God himself. Nevertheless, his expression turned serious when he stated, "I, Song Xiaodong, pledge to the Python God that I regard Black Dragon City as my home and will not betray Black Dragon City. Should I violate this oath, the Python God shall entangle me."

People here take oaths very seriously; seeing Song Xiaodong speak so, they all felt quite satisfied. Huyan Lie said, "Mr. Song, you are an important figure in our Black Dragon City. I really don't want you to take this risk."

Song Xiaodong smiled slightly and said, "I believe this risk is worth taking."