"Of course.
"But there is a drawback to doing this.
"That is, in name, Northern Liang is still a subject of the Great Sheng Dynasty."
Chen Sanshi naturally understood this point.
But this was the other side's open scheme.
Without making use of Prince Jin's banner, they would have to continue this endless tug-of-war.
One reason Chen Sanshi was unwilling to delay was his concern that the emperor might establish his foundation.
But the most important reason was still the Mount Mang Ancestral Vein.
An Ancestral Vein Revival was not something that could happen overnight.
Yet Chen Sanshi was uncertain whether the cultivators of Tianshui Continent had some means of flooding in through the Ancestral Vein on a massive scale. If they did, it would become an even greater trouble, threatening everyone's safety.
This included the Immortal Seeking Tower and Guiyuan Sect behind Prince Jin's faction; they too were forces that needed guarding against.
Just as expected.
Most of the men Xu Wencai had sent out to win defections returned in disappointment. Many city commanders, and even the civil officials within the cities, refused to bow their heads and submit. Great Sheng had loyal ministers who would not surrender to Chen. Even civil officials were a vital link in maintaining stability behind the lines.
Thus.
Joining forces became the best strategy.
Year 77 of Longqing, July.
The Northern Liang army joined forces with Prince Jin's "New Court."
That same year, August.
Prince Jin, Cao Huan, took a forged enthronement edict and held a grand Fengshan ceremony atop Ziwei Mountain in Lingzhou, which had only recently been recovered. He worshipped Heaven and informed the ancestors, ascended the throne as emperor, and established the era name "Zhengtong." Thus began Year 1 of Zhengtong.
"I have received Heaven's blessing, inherited the great undertaking