The Emperor Made His Move (Part 3)
"You've all heard of Offering Wu Zhao, haven't you?" The Great Tang Emperor, seated on his Imperial Throne, looked down at all the Civil and Military Officials below and said, "Wu Zhao and Zhuge Xiang are two newly Hall of Honored Guests connoisseurs. Our Connoisseurship doesn't value mere cultivation strength, but rather their Special Ability."
After a slight pause, the emperor continued speaking, and all the Civil and Military Officials below listened attentively to his words, not daring to even breathe loudly, let alone interrupt.
Although the emperor's words were very calm, they could all sense that his tone was like the calm before a storm, sending a chill down their spines.
"I believe you all already know about Zhuge Consecrated's Special Ability, which is that his Heavenly Demon Zen Sound can convert all evil people in the world and make them reform. I believe you are also aware of Zhuge Consecrated's achievements. As for Offering Wu Zhao's strangeness, I believe not many of you know about it."
"National Fortune is something all countries need, and it is related to the rise and fall of a nation. It is the most precious thing a country has, and Offering Wu Zhao, possesses a piece of National Fortune within her..."
"Hiss..." The National Fortune had reached this level, and naturally all the Civil and Military Officials knew about it. After all, only a small number of people knew that Wu Zhao possessed the Wu Zhao's National Fortune. Therefore, upon hearing the emperor's words that Wu Zhao actually possessed a National Fortune, all the Civil and Military Officials gasped and exclaimed in surprise. They knew very well what the National Fortune meant.
"Your Majesty, the National Fortune a nation resides in the body of its ruler. How could Offering Wu Zhao, possibly possess a share of the National Fortune?" Shocked by the existence of the National Fortune's fate, many more people began to question it.
The existence of a nation's National Fortune is extremely precious, but possessing it is even more impossible. A nation is born with its own National Fortune, which converges on the ruler—this is common knowledge known to all.
"My esteemed ministers, there is no need for doubt. How could I be mistaken about the National Fortune? That Offering Wu Zhao, entered the Imperial Hundred Emperors Tomb of the Qin Great Qin Empire by chance. When the Great Qin Dynasty annihilated the Six Nations, the obsessions of the Six Nations Imperial Clans converged, so that the remaining obsessions of the Six Nations did not dissipate but instead gathered together, and now they are concentrated on Offering Wu Zhao." The emperor was naturally not surprised by the doubts of the Civil and Military Officials below; their reactions were exactly as he had expected.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! With this National Fortune, our Great Tang will surely prosper for thousands of years to come..." After hearing the emperor's words and dispelling their doubts, the Civil and Military Officials in the Great Hall shouted in unison, their voices of congratulations rising and falling.
The emperor raised his hand and gently pressed it down, signaling all Civil and Military Officials to quiet down. Then, he continued, "A few days ago, my general discovered that King Fenghe was secretly amassing a large army. Some people suggested that King Fenghe harbored rebellious intentions. Originally, I didn't take it to heart, after all, he is my brother. However, recently, I received news that King Fenghe has married Offering Wu Zhao. This has made me think more deeply."
The emperor's words sent shockwaves through the Civil and Military Officials below. At this moment, Civil and Military Officials finally understood what the emperor meant: he was going to take action against the King Fenghe?
One was the reigning emperor, and the other was a prince. This internal strife could be considered fratricide, causing a hurricane-like upheaval in the Great Tang Dynasty. However, the emperor's military campaign was justified as a rebellion. Which monarch in the land could accept such a move?
Did the King Fenghe secretly amass a large army? No one knew the answer to this question. The Civil and Military Officials in the Great Hall were even more skeptical. How many troops did the King Fenghe amass? Where were they located? Had someone informed on him? Who informed him? The Imperial Capital did not answer any of these questions, remaining vague and ambiguous.
However, even if these were just fabrications by the emperor, the fact remains that the King Fenghe married Wu Zhao. A prince with the Imperial Clan blood who also had his hands in the National Fortune is bound to raise suspicions.
Why marry someone who carries the Wu Zhao of the National Fortune? Doesn't the King Fenghe know how to avoid suspicion? Besides, who wouldn't want to marry Wu Zhao? Even if she were an ordinary person, no one would think much of it, but it's the King Fenghe's Mansion.
Those with the Imperial Clan blood—just for that reason alone, which emperor wouldn't have second thoughts? With the Imperial Throne in danger, who would show mercy?
"Your Majesty, King Fenghe possesses the blood of the Great Tang Imperial Family and has been granted the title of prince, enjoying all the riches and honors of the world. Yet, he has no self-respect and dares to covet the Imperial Throne. Such a depraved and rebellious scoundrel! Your humble servant is willing to take the lead and capture him alive before Your Majesty..."
After learning of the emperor's purpose, many officials in the court eagerly offered to be the first to go to the King Fenghe to demonstrate their loyalty.
"Very well, my beloved ministers, I am Human Heart gratified by your loyalty." Regardless of whether it was genuine or not, the emperor smiled upon hearing the words of his Civil and Military Officials below, and then announced, "However, I already have someone in mind for the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies to deal with the King Fenghe this time."
"Zhuge Consecrated, you are the only one qualified to Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies this time," the Great Tang Emperor announced, his gaze falling on Zhuge Xiang.
The emperor's words startled everyone present. Not only the Civil and Military Officials in the Great Hall, but even Zhuge Xiang himself was slightly taken aback.
Zhuge Xiang didn't know why the emperor Imperial Edict ordering him to participate in the political discussion in the Great Hall. But no matter how much he planned, Zhuge Xiang never expected that the emperor would make him the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies to attack King Fenghe.
"Me? Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I am only at the Gathering Origin Stage. Not only is my cultivation low, but I also have no prestige in the army. How can I be the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies?" Slightly surprised, Zhuge Xiang hurriedly said to the emperor.
He was on the same side as King Fenghe, but the emperor actually appointed him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies?
Once he truly assumes the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, should he eliminate King Fenghe or not? If he eliminates him, what will happen to his own mission? And what about Li Zhi, Wu Zhao, and the others, who are all going against his original intentions?
But not destroy them? With the power of the Imperial Clan, how could a mere prince withstand a full-scale attack? Besides, if they couldn't be destroyed, he, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, would be even more responsible.
"Zhuge Consecrated, don't underestimate yourself. Although your cultivation level is not high, who dares to ignore your abilities and the achievement of converting the Great Belly Ghost King? As for your reputation in the army?"
At this point, the Great Tang Emperor's words were filled with the supreme authority of a monarch. "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are the king's subjects. Those armies are all my armies. I now appoint you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies. Who dares to disobey? I will surely cut off their head."
"We will certainly follow Zhuge Consecrated's orders..." Upon hearing the emperor's words, the generals below spoke up one by one, loudly echoing and responding to the emperor's words.
"Since that's the case, this humble subject obeys..." The Imperial Capital put it this way, how could he refuse the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies? Left with no other choice, Zhuge Xiang could only agree. As for what would happen next? He could only wait and see.
"Very well, Zhuge Consecrated as the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies. I hereby appoint General Old General Wang to lead 100,000 troops to annihilate the King Fenghe's Mansion. If anyone disobeys, they shall be killed without mercy..." Upon hearing Zhuge Xiang's agreement, the emperor spoke and assigned General Wang, the most prestigious Old General Wang among the military officers, and 100,000 troops to Zhuge Xiang.
No secrets stay hidden forever. The news that the Great Tang Emperor was going to take action against the King Fenghe spread like wildfire; how could it possibly be kept secret?
Not to mention, the emperor had no intention of hiding the news at all. He revealed it directly in front of all the civil Civil and Military Officials. Naturally, the news swept through the entire Great Tang like a hurricane.
Things have come to this point. Originally, Zhuge Xiang was planning to overthrow the emperor together with King Fenghe, while also gathering clues about the emperor being replaced. However, he did not expect that the emperor would make such a move, putting Zhuge Xiang at the forefront of the fight against King Fenghe.
At this point, he was already on Fenglang Point. It would be inappropriate to go and discuss the next steps with King Fenghe and the others. If someone with ulterior motives saw this, the consequences would be unimaginable. However, things had come to this point, and if he didn't discuss it, he might make a mistake later.
Reaching this point is like walking on a tightrope over a precipice; one wrong step and you're crushed to pieces, run over by the state apparatus, leaving no trace of your remains.
"That's right, the Demon Transformation Bottle..." A flash of inspiration struck Zhuge Xiang. He entered Demon Hand Mountain, temporarily took out the Demon Transformation Bottle, and sent his Demon Incarnation flying towards the King Fenghe's Mansion.
The Demon Incarnation possesses all of Zhuge Xiang's equipment, Skill, and cultivation, essentially a Clone of Zhuge Xiang's Demonic True Body.
"What kind of demon dares to trespass into my King Fenghe's Mansion?" This time, before Zhuge Xiang even fly in, two powerful Cultivator appeared and blocked his way.
Clearly, the news from the Imperial Palace had put the King Fenghe's Mansion on high alert, and their defenses were much more stringent than when Zhuge Xiang had arrived.
"Please ask King Fenghe to come out and say that an old friend has come to visit." At this moment, in front of everyone, Zhuge Xiang dared not reveal his name and could only resort to this cryptic remark.
"An old friend?" Zhuge Xiang was sized up. He looked like a demon, not human at all, but his cultivation was not high. Could he be an old friend of the prince?
Half-believing, half-doubting, but judging from Zhuge Xiang's appearance, he was no ordinary person. At this critical juncture, fearing they might delay the prince's important matter, one of the Cultivator went inside to report after observing him, while the others kept a watchful eye on Zhuge Xiang, some openly, some covertly. (To be continued...)