newbobooks Chapter 467 Emperor Mingde of Tianqi City is enraged; Leimen is ready to go.
Chapter 467 Emperor Mingde of Tianqi City is enraged; Leimen is ready to go.
Inside the Zichen Palace, the glazed palace lanterns burned continuously, casting flickering light on Xiao Ruojin's face, which was contorted with anger.
Kneeling before him were Jin Xian, who had just been pulled from the ruins of the Dali Temple, wrapped in bandages and barely breathing, and several Imperial Guard captains who had escaped serious injury but were now trembling like leaves.
"Baili Dongjun... he, he just stood there on the roof, and with one sword... one sword strike, a huge nine-headed fire phoenix appeared! It was as if the sky had collapsed..."
A guard who looked to be in his early thirties spoke incoherently, his eyes still etched with lingering fear:
"Eunuch Jinxian... flew away, the Dali Temple... is gone... the people... were taken away too..."
"Trash! A bunch of trash!"
Xiao Ruojin slammed the teacup in her hand to the ground, shattering the fine celadon instantly. The scalding tea splashed all over the kneeling people, but no one dared to move.
His chest heaved violently, and his face turned ashen.
The Hu family of thirty-six disappeared silently in Tianqi. He was already furious and secretly sent out skilled officers from the Directorate of Ceremonial to hunt them down, but they came up empty-handed.
Now, Hu Bufei has been kidnapped right under his nose, and his most trusted Jin Xian has been seriously injured, and the inner courtyard of Dali Temple has been razed to the ground!
This is blatant provocation! It's a resounding slap in the face to this new emperor!
"Baili Dongjun... what a fine Lord of Snow Moon City!"
Xiao Ruojin spat out the name through clenched teeth, his eyes filled with a murderous intent that almost materialized. He abruptly turned to Jin Xuan, his voice trembling with extreme anger:
"Draft an imperial edict! Send it by express mail over 800 li to the Prince of Langya! Order him to immediately divide his troops, change course and head north, and first raze Snow Moon City to the ground for me!"
"I order the wanted criminal Hu Bufei and all the traitors of Xueyue City to be executed on the spot!"
The air in the hall suddenly froze. Even the heavily injured Jin Xian managed to lift her head.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Jin Xuan knelt down with a thud, her head touching the ground, but her voice was unusually clear and calm, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
"Why not?!" Xiao Ruojin shouted sternly.
Jin Xuan prostrated herself on the ground, speaking rapidly: "Your Majesty, the army of the Prince of Langya has already marched hundreds of miles south. To divide our forces and march north now would be a great taboo for military strategists, requiring a long and arduous campaign!"
A hundred thousand troops are stationed outside the Luochen Shu Road in the southwest, eyeing the area covetously, and there are also unknown figures from the Wen family's medicine-making group.
If, due to a moment of anger, the army tasked with suppressing the rebellion suffers setbacks, or even... a crushing defeat, then the foundation of the nation will be shaken, and the world will be in grave danger!
He paused, and seeing that Xiao Ruojin's face was still ashen but she did not interrupt him again, he continued in a low voice:
"Although Baili Dongjun's actions this time were arrogant and domineering, he was using the pretext of 'helping those in need' and 'saving family friends'."
He did not harm any of the Imperial Guards, nor did he storm the palace. If Your Majesty were to launch a campaign against him with the imperial army, the justification for the campaign would be somewhat far-fetched, and the people of the world might criticize Your Majesty's magnanimity.
Secondly... Snow Moon City is located in a strategically important area in the northern border, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Baili Dongjun's cultivation level is unpredictable, and he has probably already reached the peak of martial arts. He is not someone that ordinary people can deal with!
Not to mention the assistance of experts like Sikong Changfeng, Yin Luoxia, and the Tongtian Pavilion of Snow Moon City. What price would the imperial court have to pay under such a powerful attack? And what would become of the war in the southwest then?
Xiao Ruojin stared intently at Jinxuan, her fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
He knew perfectly well that Jinxuan was right, but he just couldn't swallow his anger!
He had just ascended the throne and was not yet firmly established when the Baili family rebelled and he was humiliated by Baili Dongjun. If he did not react, where would his authority be?
"Are we just going to let him be so arrogant? Let the whole world think that I, the emperor, am a coward who can only take insults?!" Xiao Ruojin's voice was gloomy.
Jinxuan raised her head, a shrewd calculation flashing in her eyes:
“Your Majesty, the court has its own strategies, and the martial world has its own rules… Baili Dongjun is a member of the martial world; he relies on martial arts influence and personal martial prowess. To deal with a member of the martial world, I suggest we use the methods of the martial world.”
"The methods of the martial arts world?" Xiao Ruojin narrowed her eyes.
"Your Majesty is wise..." Jin Xuan lowered her voice, "Below the Shadow Sect, isn't there also the 'Dark River'?"
underground river.
These two words seemed to lower the temperature in the hall. They represented the Shadow Sect's true, shadowy side, specializing in assassinations, massacres, and eliminating anyone who stood in their way.
Unlike the Shadow Sect, which still needs to consider imperial orders and rules, the Dark River Sect acts only with regard to results and is ruthless in its methods.
“Bai Li Dongjun’s martial arts are too high, and he has many experts around him. Dark River may not be able to succeed.” Xiao Ruojin pondered.
"Your Majesty, the one who is about to move the underground river may not be Baili Dongjun himself."
Jin Xuan's voice was even softer, but every word was clear, "Hu Bufei was rescued and must be hiding in Snow Moon City. For a cripple who has lost his official position and is accused of 'colluding with the enemy,' living is a matter of loyalty to Baili Dongjun!"
His death... for His Majesty, removes a thorn in his side, and also cripples Baili Dongjun, causing him pain but preventing him from openly using it as a pretext to stir up trouble again. This is a warning shot.
"Besides," Jinxuan continued, "is Snow Moon City really a monolithic entity? Baili Dongjun is a heavy drinker and overly sentimental;
However, Sikong Changfeng's lover is currently pregnant, Yin Luoxia is in charge of a great deal of affairs in the city, and the young man named Luohe has no power in Snow Moon City, but he is the younger brother of the previous city lord Luoshui...
If we find even the slightest opening, the underground river will keep them busy and overwhelmed.
Matters of the martial world should be left to the martial world; even if there are deaths and injuries, they have nothing to do with the imperial court! Your Majesty only needs to remain seated on your high platform and observe the situation calmly!
Once the southwest is pacified, and we have more time to spare, what is a mere Snowmoon City worth?
Xiao Ruojin fell silent. He slowly walked back to the throne, his fingers unconsciously tapping the cold armrest.
Yes, the most important thing now is the Southwest, Baili Luochen, and Wen Yanzhao's medicine man who might turn the tide of the war.
No matter how arrogant Baili Dongjun is, it's just a minor ailment at present.
Using the Dark River, this poisoned dagger, to stir up trouble in Snow Moon City not only vented our anger but also diverted Baili Dongjun's attention, allowed us to test his strength, and avoided the trouble and risks of the imperial court directly intervening.
Killing several birds with one stone: Jinxuan's martial arts skills are not as good as her master Zhuoqing's, but her cunning is far superior to Zhuoqing's!
"The Transmission of the Shadow Sect's Divination!"
Xiao Ruojin finally spoke, his voice regaining its imperial coldness and composure, "Tell him that no matter what method he uses, Snow Moon City... needs to be thrown into chaos!"
"Hu Bufei cannot live. As for how to kill him, let the Shadow Sect handle that. I only care about the result!"
"Yes! This servant will go and do it right away!" A hint of smugness flashed in Jinxuan's eyes as she bowed and withdrew.
Soon, a secret order was sent from the deepest shadows of the palace, crossing the many palace walls and flowing to some unknown corner of Tianqi City.
That was the Dark River's stronghold in Tianqi City.
The river was silent, yet its depths were unfathomable.
……