#179 - Chapter 179 Zuo Wenshan's Test

"Commander, since the Red Lotus Sect plans to hold some kind of salvation ceremony in Mozhou, it means their headquarters might be there. Should we send people over to wipe them out in one fell swoop?" a division commander asked.

"No need. Let's put the Red Lotus Sect's matter aside for now. I'm actually curious to see if the Red Robe Sect's people will show up then," Zongzhen Yue said.

"But if we let them be, won't that encourage their arrogance?" the division commander asked.

"It doesn't matter, let them make noise, the more they make noise the better. As long as they don't involve the public, the bigger the commotion, the more beneficial it is to us," Zongzhen Yue said, waving his hand.

"Yes!" The division commander said no more.

"Report!"

"Enter!"

"Reporting, Commander, Mozhou City's Mayor Zuo Wenshan has arrived and wishes to see you," the soldier reported.

"Oh? Alright, bring him in!" Zongzhen Yue replied.

He understood Zuo Wenshan's purpose; he must also be here for the Red Lotus Sect's matter.

"Commander Zong, long time no see!" Zuo Wenshan said enthusiastically as he entered.

"Mayor Zuo, what brings you to me today?" Zongzhen Yue asked.

"Commander Zong, I've come today specifically to thank you. I understand that I was able to take the position of Mayor of Mozhou City and concurrently be in charge of the Suiyang Resettlement Camp thanks to your recommendation in the council," Zuo Wenshan said.

"Just a casual remark; it's also Mayor Zuo's luck. The zombie siege happened to occur in Mozhou last time, and you were also in Mozhou, so I just mentioned it in passing," Zongzhen Yue said with a smile.

"It's a small matter to you, but to us, it's a major event that determines our future and destiny. These two bottles of wine were given to me by my old partner, Gong Kaiming, before I took office in Suiyang. I don't usually drink, so I brought them along for you," Zuo Wenshan said, placing the wine beside the desk.

"Mayor Zuo, you're too kind!" Zongzhen Yue said with a smile, not refusing.

He saw that it wasn't any particularly expensive wine, so there was no need to reject the other party's good intentions.

"Hey, it's nothing good, I just hope Commander Zong doesn't mind," Zuo Wenshan said with a smile.

"Not at all. Mayor Zuo, please have a seat."

"Alright." Zuo Wenshan sat down in front of the desk.

"Mayor Zuo, I presume you have other matters to discuss today?" Zongzhen Yue asked.

"Indeed, I can't hide anything from Commander Zong. It's like this, I don't know if you've heard of the Red Lotus Sect?" Zuo Wenshan asked.

"Red Lotus Sect? ... No, I haven't," Zongzhen Yue replied after pretending to think for a while.

Since he didn't want to participate in this matter, it was best to distance himself completely.

He couldn't possibly tell him that people from the Red Lotus Sect had escaped from his place a few days ago, could he?

If that were the case, it would be a bit difficult for him to remain uninvolved.

"Is that so? Then I'll briefly report the situation to you," Zuo Wenshan was somewhat surprised by Zongzhen Yue's answer. As far as he knew, people from the Red Lotus Sect were scattering leaflets in large quantities in many resettlement camps every day. As the supreme commander of the Southeast Military Region, it was impossible for Zongzhen Yue not to have even this much information.

"Alright, Mayor Zuo, please speak," Zongzhen Yue said, appearing very serious.

"A week ago, a large number of leaflets suddenly appeared on the streets of the resettlement camp. The leaflets were distributed by a sect calling itself the Red Lotus Sect, which repeatedly claimed that the apocalypse was coming, and so on," Zuo Wenshan said.

"Oh? Is that so? Do you have one with you?" Zongzhen Yue asked.

"Oh, yes!" Zuo Wenshan took out a leaflet from his briefcase and handed it over.

Zongzhen Yue took the leaflet and looked at it with great interest.

"There's nothing to this! It just looks like an internal conflict between the Red Lotus Sect and the Red Robe Sect!" Zongzhen Yue said after reading it.

"Please take a look at this one as well," Zuo Wenshan handed over another leaflet.

Zongzhen Yue took it and continued to read.

"There's nothing to this either. Mayor Zuo, not that I'm saying anything, but you shouldn't meddle in matters of cults. Just manage your resettlement camp well," Zongzhen Yue said.

"Commander Zong is probably overlooking the fact that, besides being the person in charge of the Suiyang Resettlement Camp, I am also the Mayor of Mozhou City. Now that such a big thing has happened in Mozhou, it's impossible for me not to have any stance!" Zuo Wenshan said with difficulty.

"What you say is also true. Then what do you plan to do?" Zongzhen Yue nodded in agreement.

"I've come this time to hear Commander Zong's opinion. If you plan to剿灭(annihilate) the cult, my Suiyang Resettlement Camp is willing to fully cooperate," Zuo Wenshan said.

Upon hearing this, Zongzhen Yue couldn't help but frown. Although Zuo Wenshan's words were very subtle, he had clearly overstepped his bounds. His true purpose was to inquire about the military's next course of action.

"Oh? How does Mayor Zuo plan to fully cooperate?" Zongzhen Yue asked, his tone already revealing displeasure.

"It's like this, I plan to negotiate with the Huatong Chamber of Commerce to borrow some funds to purchase a batch of weapons and equipment to form a militia as soon as possible. We will strive to launch an encirclement and suppression campaign against the cult members hiding in Mozhou City before June 29th," Zuo Wenshan stated his plan.