newbobooks Chapter 468 Emperor Mingde of Tianqi City is enraged, and Leimen is ready to go (2)
Chapter 468 Emperor Mingde of Tianqi City is enraged, and Leimen is ready to go (2)
In Jiangnan, on the shore of Taihu Lake, lies the Lei Family Fortress of the Thunderbolt Hall.
During the day, the scene of "receiving the imperial decree and expressing gratitude" in the Thunderclap Hall had already come to an end.
The imperial edict brought by Yi Bu was respectfully enshrined by Lei Luoshi in the Lei family ancestral hall, the bright yellow brocade gleaming with a not-so-soft luster under the candlelight.
In the dead of night, underground at Lei Family Fort.
Inside a brightly lit, sealed room constructed of iron and granite.
This was a secret room that only the head of the Lei family, elders, and others could enter. This was the first time so many members of the Lei family had gathered in the secret room, and the air was so heavy it was almost tangible.
The patriarch, Lei Luoshi, sat in the main seat, his face appearing particularly cold and hard in the flickering candlelight.
Below them were several white-haired elders of the Lei Clan, as well as outstanding second-generation disciples such as Lei Yunhe, Lei Hong, and Lei Qianhu.
Younger generations such as Lei Xiaoyu and Lei Xiaoyuan are not qualified to set foot in this place.
"Yunhe, is it confirmed that Yi Bu has left?" Lei Luoshi asked in a low voice.
"Reporting to the patriarch, he left Taihu Lake by boat at the beginning of the 5-7 PM." Lei Yunhe stood up and replied.
"Hmph, the Shadow Sect Master himself has come; His Majesty truly 'values' my Thunder Sect." Lei Luoshi sneered.
"What I said in the Thunderclap Hall today was specifically for Yi Bu and those eunuchs who were listening. Behind closed doors, there are some things I must say to my family!"
After saying that, Lei Luoshi's gaze swept over everyone in turn, and then he said, "This imperial decree is something my Lei Sect has no choice but to accept! You must know that it is not so simple for the Shadow Sect Master to personally deliver the decree!"
This is a test from the new emperor, a combination of kindness and severity, and a warning! If Lei Men openly defies the imperial decree, he will be giving his opponents a handle to use against him!
Don't even mention that my Lei Men will be in big trouble. Meng Sha will immediately become the target of everyone's hatred in the army. Even the current emperor's younger brother, the Prince of Langya, can't protect Meng Sha!
If that time really comes, I'm afraid my Lei Family Fortress's century-old foundation will be in danger of collapsing in an instant.
"Accepting the imperial decree is a delaying tactic, a way to protect the family, and more importantly, to ensure that Meng Sha can serve under the Prince of Langya without being implicated or suspected because of the family's affairs..."
Lei Yunhe had been holding back a lot of things to say, and hearing the patriarch's explanation finally put his mind at ease. But then he suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask:
“Patriarch, even if we accept the imperial decree, do we really need to send out all the elites of the Thunder Gate? The court clearly wants us to deal with the Wen family's medicine man. Wen Yanzhao is a rare genius in recent years!”
Before even reaching adulthood, they've already achieved the level of Divine Travel cultivation. This is a scheme by the imperial court to use one tiger to devour another; won't our Thunder Sect become cannon fodder for the court?!
"This is the second important matter." Lei Luoshi raised his hand to stop Lei Yunhe from speaking, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he continued:
"My Lei Clan has no past grudges or present animosity with the Wen family of Lingnan. But do not forget, within the treacherous path, who is the one with whom my Lei Clan has a blood feud spanning generations?"
"The Tang Clan of Sichuan!" Lei Hong gritted his teeth and spat out the four words, his eyes flashing with deep-seated hatred.
Lei Men is renowned for its firearms and thunder magic, while Tang Men is famous for its deadly poisons and unpredictable hidden weapons. The two sides had a harmonious relationship a hundred years ago.
The feud between the two sects is quite poignant. At the time, the Tang Clan of Sichuan was renowned in the martial arts world for its hidden weapons and poisons. However, the Tang Clan also operated numerous mines in Sichuan, and the need for explosives to split rocks and blast mountains was essential. And within the territory of Beili, the Lei Clan was the largest supplier of explosives!
As the year drew to a close, Leimen was busily supplying saltpeter and gunpowder needed for fireworks and firecrackers to all parts of the country.
At that time, the Tang Clan had just discovered a new mineral vein and urgently needed explosives for mining. The then-Old Master Tang sent his disciples with a deposit to the Thunder Hall in Taihu Lake to order explosives from the Thunder Clan.
However, at the end of the year, Lei Men could not possibly produce that many explosives, so they could only politely inform the Tang Men disciples of the actual situation.
Now things have gotten really bad. Seeing that the Lei Clan would rather sell gunpowder and saltpeter to fireworks shops in various prefectures than to the Tang Clan for mining, the Tang Clan disciples threw down some harsh words and stormed back to Sichuan.
Upon learning of this, the then-serving Old Master Tang felt that Lei Men had disgraced the Tang Clan and vowed to teach Lei Men a lesson. He then sent people to destroy Lei Men's branches in Sichuan and their gunpowder business.
Now the two families are completely sworn enemies. The head of the Lei family is a hot-tempered person. Even though the Tang family was in the wrong first, he still dared to strike first and kill people!
He immediately led his disciples into Sichuan to settle accounts with the Tang Clan!
After the battle, the incumbent Old Master Tang died from serious injuries, the head of the Lei family also suffered serious internal injuries, and most of his disciples were poisoned to death by the Tang family, ultimately resulting in a lose-lose situation!
Since then, the two sects have been locked in a century-long feud, an irreconcilable mortal enmity.
The disciples of Lei Luoshi's family, all sharing a common hatred for the enemy, nodded in satisfaction:
"That's right. The imperial court's summons of my Thunder Clan to use thunder and fire to subdue medicine men seems reasonable. But once the news spreads that my Thunder Clan's elite have left their nest to go north to assist in the war, what do you think the Tang Clan in Sichuan will think?"
"Would they just sit idly by and watch my Lei Sect, with the help of the imperial court, achieve military merits and gain even greater prestige?"
A collective gasp filled the secret chamber. An elder exclaimed in horror, "Patriarch, are you saying... the Tang Clan might take this opportunity to launch an attack? Or even... secretly collude with the Wen Clan, who also belong to the unorthodox sects?"
"It's not a possibility, it's inevitable!" Lei Luoshi said decisively. "Those venomous snakes from the Tang Clan are best at kicking someone when they're down and taking advantage of someone's misfortune."
The Wen family concocts malevolent effigies, while the Tang Clan specializes in insidious poisons and hidden weapons; their unorthodox methods are inherently intertwined. This "favor" from the imperial court is putting the Lei Clan in a very precarious position! They face the danger of the effigies in front and are surrounded by venomous snakes from behind!
"boom!"
Lei Qianhu clenched his fist and slammed it heavily on the stone table in front of him, instantly raising a cloud of dust: "Then we shouldn't have gone!"
"Not going? The imperial decree has been received; that would be tantamount to deceiving the emperor!" Lei Luoshi looked at him. "Yunhe, Hong'er, sending you to lead the team north this time is a last resort. But you must remember—"
He leaned forward, speaking slowly and deliberately, his voice low yet heavy: "This trip is only to appease the court, preserve the reputation of Lei Men's loyalty and righteousness, and stabilize Meng Sha's situation."
The team needs to be elite, but it doesn't have to consist entirely of their direct subordinates. If they actually end up on the battlefield and encounter the Wen family's little poison master and his drug-using people, their own survival should be the top priority!
There's no need to risk your life for the imperial court, and you must not easily reveal the Lei Men's most secret methods!
The blood of Raimon cannot be shed in vain for someone else's kingdom! What you need to do is be present and cheer, not fight to the death! Understand?
"Disciple understands!" Lei Yunhe and Lei Hong exchanged a glance and replied in unison, their eyes no longer showing the excitement of the day, but only sobriety and solemnity.
"Yunhe, you are steady and methodical, and will be in charge openly. Hong'er, you are quick-witted and skilled with firearms, and will provide covert support. Select two hundred men, making sure it looks like a proper operation, while also ensuring they can move freely when necessary."
Lei Luoshi carefully instructed: "As for Xiaoyu and his gang... take a few with you, let them see the world, but keep a close eye on them, don't let them get carried away."
"Yes!" Lei Yunhe and Lei Hong replied simultaneously.
Lei Luoshi nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Lei Qianhu: "Qianhu, the house cannot be left unattended. With Yunhe and Lei Hong gone, those scoundrels from the Tang Clan may take advantage of our vulnerability to spy on us in Jiangnan."
They might even use this as an excuse to cause trouble for my Lei Family Fortress. You must keep a close eye on everything inside and outside Taihu Lake, and make sure Lei Family Fortress is guarded impenetrably!
"Don't worry, Patriarch. With me, Lei Qianhu, here, I swear to protect the Lei Clan!" Lei Qianhu suddenly stood up, his voice like thunder.
……