Ch 380: Xiao Tiansheng’s Decision
Watching Yuan Wuji and Duan Wulou, whose auras were unsteady.
The Ministers exchanged glances, a sudden chill settling in their hearts.
This Xiao Han possesses such great ability; if he were allowed to fully mature, what would become of us?
Thus, the Ministers, in perfect agreement, again presented a memorial, saying in unison: “King Xiao Tiansheng of Northern Qi’s suspicion of rebellion has been proven; we implore Your Majesty to immediately dispatch troops against the King of Northern Qi!”
“I am already aware.”
Seeing this, Emperor Yu Yang knew his actions had taken effect.
Now, the entire King of Northern Qi’s Mansion would find it difficult to survive.
He glanced at the Generals in the Imperial Court and said calmly, “I order you to assist Duan Wulou; immediately lead your troops to Xuanzhou and bring back Xiao Tiansheng and Xiao Han to the Dragon Court.”
After receiving the imperial decree, Duan Wulou did not immediately lead his troops to attack Xiao Tiansheng.
Instead, he led a group of Generals from the Imperial Court to the Dragon Court’s military camp.
After inspecting the condition of the troops, he discussed plans for the attack on Xiao Tiansheng with the Generals.
War is not child’s play; they must make foolproof preparations before acting.
The decision to launch an attack spread.
The common people of the Divine Palace Kingdom learned that the King of Northern Qi’s Mansion had truly rebelled; one by one, their expressions were filled with excitement, eager to personally go to the battlefield to fight.
Even more, those who enjoyed stirring up trouble specially fabricated numerous rumors about the King of Northern Qi’s Mansion, falling into the ears of the newly informed commoners, making them even more hostile towards the King of Northern Qi’s Mansion.
Whether the attack would succeed or fail was of little concern to the common people or the civil and military officials.
In their view, even though King Xiao Tiansheng of Northern Qi had garrisoned the border for several years and commanded an invincible army, he could still not withstand the might of the entire Divine Palace Kingdom’s attack.
While the Dragon Court was bustling with preparations for war…
With Divine Peak Mountain leading the way, a group of Jianghu people also arrived at the Dragon Court.
Upon learning that they also wished to join the expeditionary force, Emperor Yu Yang readily agreed and praised them repeatedly.
However, he did not allow them to join the army, instead letting them act as they saw fit.
Emperor Yu Yang knew that Jianghu people were always unruly.
If they were allowed to enlist, and they encountered superiors weaker than themselves, they would certainly be dissatisfied, and before they even reached Xuanzhou, they might collapse of their own accord.
The King of Northern Qi’s Mansion.
Xiao Tiansheng went to his room, opened a box, and then picked up the suit of armor stored inside, gently stroking it.
“Old friend, you can finally see the light of day again.”
This suit of armor was entirely silver-white, forged from a special metal.
Under the light from the window, numerous scratches on the armor became visible.
These scratches represented countless fierce battles, holding immense significance for Xiao Tiansheng.
Xiao Tiansheng slowly put on the armor, his gaze becoming exceptionally stern.
An intimidating might unconsciously emanated from him.
He walked out of the King of Northern Qi’s Mansion, looked at the Northern Qi army already prepared outside, and shouted, “The current Emperor Yu Yang is incompetent and tyrannical; first, he summoned my son to the palace under the pretense of a meeting, only to treat him as a hostage; then he summoned me to the palace, intending to kill me!”
“We, the Northern Qi army, have guarded our country diligently for decades at the border, yet Emperor Yu Yang has mobilized his army to kill us!”
“Do you agree to this?”
As soon as his words fell, the Northern Qi army said in unison, “We do not agree.”
“Good, then let’s attack the Dragon Court with me!”
Xiao Tiansheng raised his Cold Sparrow Sword, pointing towards the Dragon Court: “Kings, princes, and ministers—are they born superior?”
With the sun high in the sky, the Northern Qi soldiers also raised their sharp weapons; countless cold gleams flashed, all directed towards the Dragon Court!
Military orders were issued, and almost all the Northern Qi troops were ready, slowly leaving Luoshui City and heading towards the area outside Xuanzhou.
Only a few hundred veteran soldiers remained in Luoshui City of Xuanzhou.
As for Li Hanzhou, he did not go to war but remained in the main camp of Xuanzhou, responsible for suppressing petty criminals.
The so-called petty criminals were Great Zhou, which bordered the Divine Palace, and some insignificant small countries.
Xuanzhou was located at the border. The sudden removal of so many Northern Qi troops was like exposing a wound on the Divine Palace; whether it was Great Zhou or other countries, they would certainly try to take a bite.
They might even use Xuanzhou as a breakthrough point to launch an attack on the Divine Palace.
If they succeeded, the Northern Qi army would face an attack from both sides.
However, Li Hanzhou was not merely a figurehead; he also had tasks to perform.
In the deserted streets, the remaining few hundred veteran soldiers went into action, heading to places they had been watching, arresting scouts scattered throughout.
These scouts were not only from the Divine Palace Dragon Court but also from Great Zhou and other small countries.
Xiao Tiansheng had long identified some of the scouts’ true identities.
To avoid suspicion, he had always ignored them; now, there was no need for that.
Continuing to ignore them would only embolden them to transmit intelligence from here.
If the intelligence was leaked, it would have unimaginable serious consequences for Xiao Tiansheng’s side.
Some exposed scouts were captured by the veteran soldiers, bound, and thrown into the streets.
Many Luoshui City residents were standing nearby, watching this scene.
When the entire Northern Qi army marched out towards the outside of Xuanzhou, they knew that the King of Northern Qi, who had been protecting Luoshui City and Xuanzhou, had rebelled.
However, after learning about this, they did not do anything drastic.
On the one hand, King Xiao Tiansheng had treated them well, and most of them were either veterans of the past wars or descendants of veterans; some even had family members who were part of the Northern Qi army. Therefore, they were grateful to Xiao Tiansheng.
In addition, Xiao Tiansheng had explained the situation to them beforehand and did not deceive them; they were willing to act as if nothing had happened.
After all, their roots were here, and they did not want to go anywhere else.
Upon seeing these people, Li Hanzhou did not deliberately avoid them.
Instead, he revealed the appearance and features of these scouts, and had other soldiers explain the situation.
Li Hanzhou did not know how to govern the people under his rule.
He only understood one thing: sincerity begets sincerity.
If he were to hide things, it would only cause distrust among the people; conversely, if they learned some of the truth, they might accept him.
Just like now.
After learning that those bound were scouts, the people of Luoshui City showed no sympathy; their gazes were full of contempt.
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