Chapter 591: Chapter Five Hundred and Eighty-Seven: Arrangement in Order

“Why must things come to this, Patriarch Wei!” Clan Chief Tang Zhi, deeply grieved by Wei Zhao’s request, addressed the two men: “I beg the both of you to rise. I am indeed at fault for this oversight. One thing has led to another these past few days, and I have failed to arrange for your clans’ families to retreat. This is entirely my fault.”

Indeed, everyone had a sense of whether it was a genuine oversight or intentional neglect. There was really no need to dissect it, in the end, the blame lay on both clans.

At that time, when the Tang Clan was receiving the various clans of Xiling, they offered several fertile plots of land in North Mountain, symbolising that anyone could choose to live there. There were options both deep within North Mountain or on its peripheries.

If one chose to settle deep into North Mountain, their territories would be enveloped by the Tang Clan’s in the very center. Hence, almost all clans elected to station themselves on the outskirts, so that even if relationships between the clans changed, they could easily advance or retreat.

However, who could have predicted that war would break out between the Tang Mi clans before the floodwaters had receded? With the Mi Clan’s army pressing on them, those clans located on the extreme outskirts of North Mountain could only resist fiercely. As they reflected on their earnest choices to station themselves on the outskirts, Patriarchs Zhu and Wei could only regret that time could not be rewound.

But the situation had already unfolded, and regret was useless. Only when they heard that Tang Zhi was willing to arrange for their clans’ families to retreat did their faces show delight.

“Rest assured, both of you. Starting from today, I will arrange for the families of all the clans on the outskirts to retreat and treat them as the first priority in the evacuation order!” Tang Zhi’s tone was firm and decisive, as if he sought to make up for his past mistakes and start compensating the clans.

All clans have an order of priority, which is shown in the distribution of resources, and the first priority symbolises the clan’s utmost care and favouritism.

Entering the first priority not only requires birth into the direct lineage, but also substantial contributions to the clan.

Yet now Tang Zhi, on a whim, allocated all the clans’ families to the first priority. This stupefied Wei Zhao and Zhu Xin, to the point where they could not even maintain their bows and merely wished to observe Tang Zhi’s expression.

Tang Zhi sighed in relief when he saw the two of them finally stand up, saying, “Finally, you two Clan Chiefs have risen.”

“Do you truly mean what you just said, Lord Tang!?” Zhu Xin did not react to Tang Zhi’s jest, but instead pressed him further about his promise earlier: “Is the Tang Clan truly willing to arrange our clans’ family members in the first priority, whether it be for garrisoning or retreating!?”

Where would be the safest during wartime? Of course, the main camp would be the safest. Although the Mi Clan was powerful, dreaming of storming North Mountain flat in a short period of time was foolish. The martial warriors in the front line could always buy enough time for the main camp to respond as long as they didn’t suffer significant casualties.

In the worst-case scenario, they could just cover the retreat. If the families could be relocated to the main camp, what harm would there be in fighting to the death? Zhu Xin looked at Tang Zhi intently, hoping for a promise.

“In fact, we may not be able to prioritize everyone as first.” Looking at their eyes filled with anticipation, Tang Zhi, red-faced, seemed to realise that his previous promise was too heavy.

Wei Zhao and Zhu Xin’s complexions changed. Although they had somewhat anticipated that not everyone could be assigned to the first priority, as long as some individuals were included, the purpose of this journey would have been fulfilled.

“May I ask Chief Tang, how do you plan to arrange for our clans’ families?”

Tang Zhi pondered for a moment before saying to the two of them, “The three most outstanding heirs from each clan can enter the first priority. The remaining heirs will enter the second, and the concubines and female family members shall become the third priority. Do you think that this arrangement would be acceptable?”

The two of them were ecstatic beyond belief. Although they had already witnessed the grandeur of the Tang Clan these past few days, they still found it hard to believe when they experienced it one more time.

While there were not many clans from Xiling who were aligned with the Tang Clan, there were still some dozens. This meant that Tang Zhi was giving out over a hundred first-priority spots. While they were newcomers and there may have been intent to curry favors, this act alone convinced the two of them of Tang Zhi’s sincerity.

Once again, they deeply bowed to express their heartfelt gratitude. Seeing their actions, Tang Zhi hurriedly urged them to rise and quickly compile their list, even assigning the steward of the clan to assist them with their work.

The two clan chiefs, having achieved their goals, left with a few stewards, fully satisfied. Tang Zhi escorted them out until they were out of sight, before returning to the meeting hall.

The sect head, Tang Zu, was sitting in the meeting hall. Seeing Tang Zhi return, he looked delighted and praised, “Bright move, Clan Chief. You not only made all clans grateful but also avoided risks for our own disciples. Killing several birds with one stone, brilliant, truly brilliant.”

He was sitting in the back hall while Wei Zhao, Zhu Xin, and Tang Zhi were negotiating, almost laughing aloud several times.

If the two of them knew that during the future retreat, the Tang Clan’s first and second priorities would be the Mi Clan alliance’s main targets for assault, would they still be this happy?

“You flatter me, Sect Head.” Tang Zhi acted as if he had done something trivial, his expression calm.

Since the individual in question did not want to expand on it, of course, Tang Zu would not persist with the flattery, quickly switching the topic, “At present, excluding those injured and those on everyday guard duty, all of our active martial ancestors have been sent to the front lines. But with the arrival of the third group of the Mi Clan alliance in Yuxiling, the battle situation is getting more and more critical. Clan Chief, what do you plan to do next?”

“Put up the clan warriors in the front line, and bother the Sect Head to ask the three Elders currently in seclusion to come out.” After a moment’s contemplation, Clan Chief Tang Zhi placed a pile of small tokens symbolising the warriors of the branch clans onto the sand table, at the south and north sides of North Mountain.

The Mi Clan’s offense was too fierce, Yuxiling fell two months earlier than he predicted. Now, they could only employ some unconventional measures to buy time.

Hearing Tang Zhi’s words, the Sect Head nodded, “Now this seems to be the only way.”

Although the Tang Clan had Sect Head Tang Sen and were fortunate enough because of that, after all, he was only one person and couldn’t be in two places at once. To defend North Mountain, the south would be vacant, and vice versa.

The Mi Clan, as if they had decided to evade Tang Sen at all costs, relied on their robust forces to proceed on two fronts, leaving the Tang Clan hard-pressed to cope.

It wasn’t that Tang Sen had surpassed all active martial ancestors of the Tang Clan in strength, but that when faced with the combined might of the Fierce Realm, others could only evade, while he could summon the power of Golden Rock to resist. Even if he was confronted with a joint surprise attack, thanks to his Thick Soil Fierce Qilin Armor, he would only sustain light injuries.

In such a large-scale war, the significance of top-level warriors lies in stabilizing the front lines. Although Sect Head Tang Sen’s deterrence in offense was not as good as Great Elder Tang Siyuan’s, his single-handed defensive ability was equivalent to a top-level martial ancestor squad.

Even so, the strained Tang Sen could not handle both fronts, so Tang Zhi had no choice but to ask the secluded Elders to come out and stabilize the other front.

As the two were discussing arrangements for the front line, a guard at the door reported, “Representative Tang Ming from the branch clan requests an audience.”

“Quickly, let him in!” Hearing this, Tang Zhi was overjoyed, exclaiming loudly.