The first to bear the brunt was Secretary Qiu.

"I've received intelligence that forces from the eastern, southern, and northern districts are restless, intending to prevent you from completing the unification of the west. Meanwhile, Hanjing has also received negotiation invitations from many countries."

"While called negotiations, their true purpose is delay."

"Right now, Great Han is being restrained from multiple sides. The higher-ups are already preparing for war. At worst, it'll be a bloody mess. You be extra careful over there; people will be coming to support you soon."

Lu Ding listened, feeling both surprised and not surprised.

The first two sentences were still within his expectations.

But starting from 'Great Han is being restrained from multiple sides,' Secretary Qiu's subsequent words fell outside Lu Ding's expectations.

According to the normal plot development, shouldn't it be: 'Now that Great Han is being restrained from multiple sides, we can't help you much. You'll need to hold out on your own for now, await the negotiation results, be cautious in all matters, and absolutely must not act recklessly.'

Words like that, which consequently force the protagonist to act with restraint.

Ultimately facing adversity, then fighting a bloody path to a glorious climax?

How come when it comes to me, it's: 'Now that Great Han is being restrained from multiple sides, so we're not going to indulge them at all. We'll just blow up right in their faces, damn it!!!'

You wait, our reinforcements are coming right away.

Who's afraid of who!!!

Let's fight them!!

"Could it be because I'm not the protagonist, more like a villain? So the forces behind me don't know how to be cowardly?" Lu Ding pondered.

Great Han's fighting spirit, its temper, was within his expectations.

But Great Han's approach of being so tough and unyielding was somewhat impulsively outside the realm of reason.

Even Lu Ding felt it was impulsive.

Since Secretary Qiu said Great Han was being restrained, then Great Han's situation, saying it was caught between two fires would be an understatement; it was at least being surrounded on all sides.

After all, Great Han wanting to build a new city was precisely to break through the joint targeting and blockade by the surrounding major powers and nations.

Great Han's development speed was too fast; they simply didn't dare let Great Han expand freely.

Now that the new city was being re-established, these powers and nations were definitely going to get serious.

Although Great Han was strong, it wasn't strong enough to have sufficient dominance to 1 v N. Otherwise, it wouldn't have needed to develop a new city.

So Lu Ding said.

"Don't rush, negotiate with them first."

On the other end of the phone.

Elder Shui rushed right up to the phone.

"What's there to negotiate? Isn't your life a life? You little brat, you don't know how to be careful at all!"

"And this matter isn't just for you, it's for Great Han. The past is the past, now is now. The new city matter has always been a thorn in Great Han's heart. We lost before, but now we're going to win!!!!"

"If we don't fight, Great Han remains in a stalemate, unable to develop freely. They are incense tips, igniting at a touch. You've stirred up such a small commotion, and they immediately ignite. Well, we of Great Han are gunpowder, exploding at a touch! If they dare ignite, we dare explode!"

"Kidney deficiency doesn't fear frequent night urination, a greedy glutton coughs up more phlegm, idle chatter produces empty words, a broody hen shivers, cluck cluck, who's afraid of who? Screw his horse, let's do it!!!!"

"Brothers of the Craft never drag their feet or make excuses, we'll directly make that bastard hurt!!!"

Lu Ding smiled. Besides being very temperamental, Elder Shui was also someone who could spout all sorts of catchy rhymes off the cuff.

"Please listen to me. If they want to negotiate, you negotiate with them. I'm not arrogant, but I still have confidence."

"You and those leaders, the higher-ups drag things out with them, I'll play with them down here."

"Just like you said, who's afraid of who? Screw his horse, let's do it!!!"

"The fact that they don't dare start a war directly shows they have reservations."

Secretary Qiu spoke up from his side: "That's true. Once a fight breaks out, whether they win or we win, it'll be a devastating blow, killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of our own."

"In a one-on-one fight, Great Han fears no one. But two fists are no match for four hands, and a fierce tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves."

Lu Ding responded: "So, if they aren't pushed to desperation, they definitely won't dare to jump over the wall in desperation and self-destruct. Then why should we self-destruct?"

"To put it bluntly, the new city is our territory. Us taking back our territory isn't a huge loss for them; they have no need to self-destruct."

"Even if they can imagine that Great Han reclaiming the new city will lead to rapid development and settling accounts after the fact."

"But how many people can make the sacrifice before autumn, risking everything they have to fight us for a total loss? By then, if Great Han suffers heavy losses, their allies will turn into their new enemies, devouring their territories."

"Our foundational structures are different from theirs. Great Han's realm is the people's realm. Their realms belong to a single family, a single surname. If they fight and incur losses, that single surname becomes unstable, the realm changes hands. If we fight and incur losses, the people remain, the nation remains; there will always be successors."

"Anyway, you just negotiate with them, pinning them on this point. I'll fight them down here. Let's see who's more awesome!"

"There will definitely be those who aren't united."

*Slap!!!*

A sound of someone slapping a table came from the other side.

Elder Shui spoke: "Makes sense. I'll go assassinate a few of their old emperor geezers, sect leaders, sacred land lords, all sorts of messy leaders. Make them lose their heads, throw their military morale into chaos."

Lu Ding and Secretary Qiu spoke up simultaneously to stop him: "No, no, no, Elder Shui, please stay steady. We have the home-field advantage right now. If you go to others' homes, then they'll have the home-field advantage."

"Rushing over recklessly is an easy way to get yourself killed."

"Just watch how I play with them. I'm born with a busy fate; I can't stay idle."

With Lu Ding's persuasion, Elder Shui finally sat down.

But his tone was still somewhat displeased as he said: "Then you be careful. I'm heading over there first. I need to be present for these talks. My hands are itching; if anyone dares raise their voice at me... hmph hmph....."

"Alright, alright, you go, you go. I'll hang up first on my end."

Lu Ding hung up the phone.

He connected to the secret technique information from Yuwen Longyuan's side.

["Have urgent matters to discuss. Come to the Nowhere Room quickly. Waiting for you."]

After sensing this message, Lu Ding said:

"I'm quite popular; everyone's looking for me everywhere."

Putting down the phone,

Lu Ding formed hand seals and entered the Nowhere Room.

Inside the Nowhere Room, he saw Yuwen Longyuan and an unfamiliar figure had already been waiting for some time.

Seeing Lu Ding enter.

Yuwen Longyuan stood up to greet him: "Quick, quick, quick, sit, sit."

Lu Ding pulled over a stool and sat down: "If there's something, say it directly. I'm very busy."

The Pu Guan next to him rolled his eyes. *Let's test him first.*

Then he stood up with a *slap*.

"How dare you speak to the Dragon Commander like that!!?"

Lu Ding backhanded him with a slap.

Pu Guan didn't even have time to react.

With a cry, "Aiya, my mother......"

He flew directly into a corner and curled up.

Lu Ding glanced at him: "Don't you dare act tough with me in the Nowhere Room. If you have something to say, give me your location. I'll come find you, and we'll talk in reality." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Pu Guan, covering his face, felt a surge of joy in his heart. *Isn't this the chance to notify the Grand Guardian?*

*You, this fish that slipped through the net, are quite something. I can't deal with you, but I don't believe the Grand Guardian can't deal with you.*

"That's what you said, alright!!!"

"Then let's meet in reality for a clash. I'll be waiting for you at the Three Reefs where the Mouth of the Evil Prison meets the sea. You must come!!!"