People naturally gravitated toward strength. Of course they would join the side that kept winning.

“How does Father intend to fight this campaign?”

“I have discussed it with my advisers and generals. The southern rebels have suffered defeats before, but the moment the tide turns against them, they retreat into the lakes and marshes. The waterways inside connect in every direction, and the terrain is far too complicated. Pursuing and exterminating them is extremely difficult.”

He Lingchuan summed it up, “Defeating them is easy. Eradicating them is hard.”

For rebels and bandits, Longchuan was practically blessed terrain. More than a century ago, Yuheng City had faced the same problem.

“Exactly.”

He Lingchuan propped his chin on one hand and studied the sand table. “Do the southern rebels remain holed up inside Longchuan the entire time? If they’re truly that clever, they’ll be...