Chapter 1609 Invite Them to Dinner

When Ye Tianlong hurriedly ran back to the Longmen Ancheng branch wearing a mask, Shangguan Xiaozhi was setting a reception banquet for just one person on the dining table.

"What's wrong?"

Shangguan Xiaozhi put down a portion of boiled cabbage, then looked at Ye Tianlong who ran in and smiled: "Are you being chased?"

The incomparable Shangguan Xiaozhi rarely wore black clothes, a black shirt, a black skirt, and black leggings that tightened her calves to outline the lines of her legs.

However, the thigh was wrapped with a layer of gauze, just like the wound she suffered when she was assassinated.

When she smiled at Ye Tianlong, she was very bright and delicate, like a blooming black rose.

"Master Shangguan, long time no see!"

Ye Tianlong looked at the charming Shangguan Xiaozhi, strode forward, opened his arms and hugged her delicate body into his arms, and bursts of fragrance came from her.

If not there were too many people watching, Ye Tianlong would have wanted to kiss her lips.

Shangguan Xiaozhi's pretty face was a little rosy. Although she would not resist Ye Tianlong, there were many subordinates in the hall, which made her somewhat shy.

"It's been a while since I've seen you."

Shangguan Xiaozhi's ears also had a hint of rouge: "By the way, what happened? Aren't you a hero who saved the beauty?"

She also obviously knew what was going on at the airport.

"Don't mention it."

Ye Tianlong looked back and replied with lingering fear: "I was saved, but I was treated as a pervert. It's not easy to be a good person these days."

He underestimated the bloodiness and courage of those college students. If he had not jumped into Canshou's car and ran away in time, he would have been chased ten streets away by them.

"It must be that it's not easy to be a pervert and escape completely. Your room is on the east side of the second floor. All your clothes, shoes and socks are prepared."

Shangguan Xiaozhi smiled and said: "You go up and take a bath first, I will warm a pot of wine, and then come down to eat."

She didn't pay much attention to Ye Tianlong's hero saving the beauty. To her, it was just a small episode and would not be of much help to the current situation.

Ye Tianlong nodded and let go of Shangguan Xiaozhi: "Okay, I'll take a shower first."

Fifteen minutes later, Ye Tianlong reappeared in the dining room in high spirits after taking a bath. He looked at the four dishes and one soup on the table and smiled at Shangguan Xiaozhi:

"So simple? I thought you could prepare eight dishes and one soup even if you didn't have a full banquet."

Ye Tianlong pulled out his chair and sat down: "I'm here to cheer. If you're being treated like this, I'm going to be depressed."

Hearing Ye Tianlong's joke, Shangguan Xiaozhi took a bottle of wine, poured Ye Tianlong a glass of daughter's red, and smiled sweetly:

“A full Manchu-Han banquet is easy, as is eight dishes and one soup, but it’s still not as good as these four dishes and one soup, because I made it myself.”

She also pointed at the wine glass and smiled: "I even warmed the wine myself. Could it be that the fragrance of Shangguan's red sleeves is not to Master Ye's taste?"

Ye Tianlong's eyes flashed with amusement: "You mean, the master of Shangguan Sect is also a dish?"

"Not only can I eat the food and wine on the table, but I can also eat the master of Shangguan Sect?"

He picked up the wine glass and played with it: "If that's the case, tonight's meal is indeed sincere."

Shangguan Xiaozhi smiled charmingly: "Shangguan seems to have always been Mr. Ye's favorite. You can eat it at any time, but you have to be willing to eat it."

Ye Tianlong's voice softened: "I like this."

"But you're right, good things always have to be left behind. For a beauty like you, just take your time."

Then, he changed the topic: "The situation is now in a confrontation stage. Do you have any ideas for the next step?"

"There are three possibilities for the next situation."

Shangguan Xiaozhi's expression became solemn: "First, continue to defend fully and find opportunities to break the situation during the confrontation."

"Second, if I continue to attack Anseong according to the initial policy, then I must come up with a good strategy to break the situation, otherwise the entire army will be annihilated."

She revealed a hint of regret: "Third, abandon Ancheng and evacuate completely. After consolidating the power of the cities in the south, we can mobilize elite troops to fight in Ancheng."

"The first situation requires a lot of money and manpower. After all, Ancheng is the opponent's territory, and our supplies are not as convenient as the Xuanjia Army."

"The costs of confrontation would also be quite high."

She looked at Ye Tianlong and said, "I estimated that for four thousand people, the daily basic expenses would be one million, not including logistical operations."

The per capita living cost of 250 is indeed a large number, but many people come here by air, and Ye Tianlong can also understand this cost.

"To add up all kinds of hidden costs, as well as personnel salaries and casualty expenses, it costs at least two million a day."

Shangguan Xiaozhi gave a figure: "Two million a day, sixty million a month, seven to eight billion for a year of confrontation."

"Coupled with the suppression of Anseong officials, or the death of brothers in fierce fighting during the period, one billion may not be enough to defeat them."

She looked at Ye Tianlong and smiled helplessly: "An city costs Longmen one billion every year. Thinking about it makes me feel a little uncomfortable."

Ye Tianlong narrowed his eyes slightly, took a sip of Nuerhong and said: "Actually, one billion is nothing. What I'm afraid of is that we will still be facing each other a year later."

"That is not only burning money, but also exhausting and demoralizing people. A protracted war is the most demoralizing thing."

His fingers rubbed the edge of the cup: "And Ancheng is the territory of the Xuanjia Army, and our long-term endurance is not as good as others."

Perseverance can only be a temporary solution, not a long-term one.

"The first option is not advisable, and neither is the third option."

Shangguan Xiaozhi gave Ye Tianlong a piece of ribs, and he hesitated before speaking:

"Comprehensive withdrawal and resumption of fighting in the future may seem like the lowest cost and can preserve our strength, but it will be a huge blow to the morale of the entire Longmen."

"Now Longmen is sweeping across the entire south. If the nail in Ancheng is not removed, the resistance in other cities will inevitably become fierce."

"Even those gangs that have been conquered may have new ideas and become ready to take action."

She told Ye Tianlong her worries: "There are still many remnants of the Thirteen Leagues in Guangcheng and Shencheng, and there is a high probability that they will stab us in the back."

Ye Tianlong smiled faintly: "Complete evacuation is definitely not possible, otherwise I wouldn't show up in Ancheng and just let you come back."

Shangguan Xiaozhi's red lips parted slightly: "The first and third options are not advisable, so only the second option is left."

"After a brief confrontation to recuperate, the two sides decided to show off again, but this plan is also very risky."

"If we win, we will certainly capture Anseong. If we fail, our entire army will be annihilated, and it will trigger changes in the third plan."

She looked at Ye Tianlong expectantly: "So there must be a feasible strategy to break the situation."

Ye Tianlong suddenly asked: "How many people are there in the Xuanjia Army now?"

Shangguan Xiaozhi replied softly: "I read the intelligence update half an hour ago. The Xuanjia Army now has up to 7,000 people."

"There are almost three thousand people who belong to the direct lineage of the Xuanjia Army, and the other four thousand people are small gangs who have taken refuge."

"I heard that eight established medium-sized gangs also intend to form an alliance with the Xuanjia Army. Their number exceeds 10,000."

Shangguan Xiaozhi sighed quietly: "Once these people become cannon fodder for the Xuanjia Army, life in Longmen will probably be ten times harder than it is now."

"Send them an invitation."

Ye Tianlong suddenly said: "I will treat them to dinner at noon tomorrow."

Shangguan Xiaoyi was stunned: "Invite them to dinner? Will they come?"

Ye Tianlong smiled: "If the invitations are ready, they will definitely come."