Chapter 385
Judging by the time, it would take about early June for Mobile Cities like Jade Gate to fly to the Capital City.
Shi Lei was unsure how long Yan would need to prepare after arriving. Neither Zuo Xuanliao nor Chongyue could provide a definitive answer. It was estimated to be anywhere from a month to one or two years.
"June? That's still a long way off. Our commercial performances here will be finished by the end of April."
As Aya spoke, she held up the Sunset Band's schedule, tilting her head to check it:
"Mister Zhongli, how about May 1st? We'll contact our agents later and cancel our upcoming business activities. Once we're done with these, we can arrange a specific city and place to meet."
"Okay, shall we stay here? I'll arrive a few hours early to pick you up."
"No, we're going to other cities after our commercial performance. How about we schedule it in Columbia?"
After friendly discussions, both sides finally agreed on the time and place for the next meeting.
Shi Lei didn't linger and left the scene immediately.
He first flew back to Yan, using the Rock Constructs on Texas and Mudrock to pinpoint the location of Jade Gate. He then returned to the city to play mahjong, continuing to lull the other outsiders into a false sense of security.
As for Patriot, we'll have to wait a bit. We'll take him with us to the Capital City of Yan once all four of us have arrived.
And so, Shi Lei returned to Jade Gate first. On May 1st, he would meet with Aya and the others as agreed. Afterwards, he would take the four of them to the border between Lungmen and Ursus to Broca was waiting there as instructed.
Perhaps it was because Patriot's skull was exposed. The four Great Beasts had no interest in this last Pureblood Wendigo.
On May 4, Shi Lei arrived in Capital City.
He settled the five people in the city and flew back to the Xing Yu Inn in Jade Gate under the cover of night, intending to slowly move towards the Capital City with this vast, Mobile Cities.
Time flies by like fast-forwarding through a movie.
June 1st, 8:30 pm
The Capital City, the Prince Xian's Estate.
Last night, a torrential downpour fell, but it couldn't extinguish the lingering summer heat in my heart.
The fourth uncle of the current Great Yan True Dragon, Prince Xian Wei Wudi, sat on a long couch dressed in a magnificent robe.
To his left were ministers with whom he had good relations at court. Among them were two high-ranking officials, including the Ministers of the Six Ministries.
On the right is a monk dressed in black, who looks out of place among the others.
This morning at court, the Great Yan True Dragon promulgated a legal code aimed at weakening the power of local vassal kings.
Although the impact was not significant, it was clear to everyone that this was a test.
Once no one objects, the second, third, and fourth decrees to weaken the power of the feudal lords will come one after another.
Like a frog being slowly boiled in water, you either jump out at the beginning or slowly simmer in it and die.
"Prince Xian, we can't delay any longer. Look at Wei Yenwu, who is in charge of Lungmen and is far away, he's fine. His Majesty the Emperor's decree today is aimed at a prince of your high standing. Even if you return to your fiefdom immediately, it will be too late. You either fight for your position or you'll be at the mercy of others. Now, there is only one way out: to fight to the death. To fight to the death is to conquer the world!"
The fact that the Great Yan True Dragon is not dead and that a prince from the imperial clan has jumped out to seize power signifies a coup d'état!
The black-robed monk's bold statement about exterminating nine generations of his family shocked everyone in the room.
However, some people remained silent, some were secretly pleased, and some were observing the expressions of others.
Only Wei Wudi frowned, looking very conflicted:
"Let me... think about it some more."
"This is a golden opportunity, and it won't come again. Jade Gate will soon arrive in the Capital City. Once he joins forces with the Imperial Guards, it will be even more difficult to cause trouble again!"
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Despite the black-robed monk's advice, Wei Wudi maintained a cold expression and did not give a direct response.
Only after the other party repeatedly advised him three times did he put his left hand on his neck and shake his head by moving his neck.
However, Wei Wudi merely shook his head, without issuing a strong condemnation of the rebellion.
He sat in the main seat, staring solemnly at his retainers and ministers below without saying a word.
Wei Wudi said nothing, yet it seemed as if he had said everything. He sent a clear signal to those forces that wanted to gain credit for supporting the new emperor.
Rebellion is not something that cannot be done. It is just that certain reasons prevent it from being done at present.
As for the reasons behind them, that's something these retainers and ministers needed to consider. Could they use their positions and connections to resolve these issues?
In other words, the Prince of Xian did not express his opinion. He was waiting for a higher offer, hoping they would offer their "pledge of allegiance" themselves.
Only in this way can an uprising be launched.
Those who dare to attend this private gathering tonight are all hoping for a better future. If they were afraid of being killed for treason, they wouldn't be here in the first place.
For a moment, the room fell into a silence that lasted for five minutes before someone finally stood up to break the deadlock.
This person was the Left Vice Minister of War, responsible for managing various military affairs of the Yan, and directly accountable to the Emperor.
But the fact that such a high-ranking official with so much power was present in the Prince Xian's Estate shows that the political structure within the Yan was not a solid monolith.
Upon seeing the Left Vice Minister of War rise, all eyes turned to him. He bowed slightly and presented his pledge of allegiance to Wei Wudi, who sat at the head of the table.
"Prince Xian, recently His Majesty has strengthened his control over the Ministry of War after drafting the decree to reduce the power of the princes. In the past, I could mobilize troops on my own, but now it requires the approval of both the Left and Right Vice Ministers and the Minister of War."
However, King Xian need not worry. As the ancients said, "A skilled craftsman must first have the right tools." Although I cannot mobilize troops, I can provide ample weapons and armor.
Several months ago, I built an underground forge outside the city, capable of manufacturing the equipment needed for the uprising overnight. I also raised many Fowlbeast on the surface, so that even the loudest forging activity in the workshop could be concealed. The materials and craftsmen are all readily available. With these weapons and armor, what worries does King Xian have about the success of his great undertaking?"
The Left Vice Minister of War risked his life to show what he could do to help Prince Xian rebel. At this point, it would be utterly despicable for Wei Wudi to feign ignorance.
He shook his head, seemingly unconvinced:
"This matter cannot be accomplished with sufficient weapons and equipment alone. Moreover, it is a matter of great importance; failure would mean losing one's head. Although His Majesty the Emperor has acted very unfairly in the matter of reducing the power of the princes, he is, after all, the only true dragon of the Great Yan. No matter how much he treats us princes as less than human, it is not a violation of the law."
As a prince of the Wei clan, disobeying the decree to reduce the power of the princes would be considered defying the imperial edict. And defying the edict would mean being labeled a traitor. If the uprising failed, I would surely face certain death. Alas, it's a difficult situation."
Prince Xian merely stated that rebellion was extremely difficult; he did not immediately end the gathering. This indicated that the assistance provided by the Left Vice Minister of War was insufficient to persuade him to launch an uprising.
The ministers immediately understood, and inwardly cursed this man who wouldn't Liberi unless he saw Casters.
Two or three minutes later, a man dressed as a general stood up. He clasped his hands in a fist salute, looked at Wei Wudi, and, under the watchful eyes of many, presented his second pledge of allegiance:
"Having weapons without soldiers is just scrap metal. Throughout history, the struggle for imperial power has always been about who has the strongest fist. If you don't have elite troops and capable generals under your command, no matter how loudly you shout slogans, it's useless."
Although I, as a general, cannot command the Imperial Guards within the city to submit to Prince Xian's command, the capital region, which protects the Capital City, is home to no fewer than 100,000 elite troops. Most of the garrison commanders among them are my former subordinates.
As long as Prince Xian is willing to rise up, they will surely respond with overwhelming support. Innovation and reform are about to begin!
This general and the Left Vice Minister of War, though not yet involved in this power game, are openly and covertly suppressing each other, hoping to seize the credit for supporting the emperor.
Seeing this, the black-robed monk urged again:
"Prince Xian, the Emperor's intentions are quite clear this time. He's first weakening the other vassal kings and seeing their reaction. If there's no resistance, he'll slowly weaken them, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water. This will reduce the military power held by the other vassal kings. When the Emperor decides to take action against you one day, you'll have no allies left to resist."
Upon hearing this, the other ministers echoed his sentiments.
They promised Wei Wudi that they would provide him with necessary supplies such as food and money after the uprising.
"Yes, Prince Xian, don't hesitate any longer. Everything is ready now, all that's missing is your approval!"
"His Majesty has stated on more than one occasion in his early years that he wanted Wei Yenwu to become emperor. Now, weakening the major clans may be to clear obstacles for him to return to the capital and ascend the throne. Our family has been on good terms with Prince Xian for generations, and we cannot allow an outsider to ruin our business in the Capital City."
Hearing their various promises, Wei Wudi raised his hand to signal everyone to stop, and shook his head regretfully:
"No, let's forget about the rebellion. His Majesty the Emperor may be unkind to me, but I cannot be unjust to him. I can pretend I never heard your nonsense just now."
The monk was heartbroken to see that his earnest persuasion had failed. He stared at Wei Wudi with a look of utter disappointment and frustration.
"Your Majesty, Prince Xian!"
"Stop, let's not talk about this anymore. It's getting dark, you should all go back and rest."
Wei Wudi made his stance clear, formally rejecting the idea of rebellion. He then gestured for the guests to leave, allowing the ministers and retainers, who displayed various expressions, to depart.
King Xian's achievements today are inseparable from his usual caution. His life motto comes from a proverb in the Yan: "Better safe than sorry."
Wei Wudi was initially quite tempted by the idea of rebellion. Since the His Majesty the Emperor, he had a reason to rise up in rebellion.
However, when Wei Wudi heard that these people could provide weapons and armor, 100,000 elite troops, a million bushels of grain, and help open the city gates—resources necessary for a rebellion—he realized something was amiss and snapped out of his elation.
Because all of this has gone too smoothly.
It's as if... there's an invisible, unseen hand pushing me forward.
If you fall into the trap and agree to the rebellion, it's tantamount to embarking on a path of no return, with no way to turn back.
The supplies they've promised can't be guaranteed to be delivered when the time comes. Meanwhile, the Great Yan True Dragon can rightfully uproot the Xian King's forces.
Wei Wudi realized this, which is why he wasn't swayed and agreed on the spot. The more he thought about it, the more flawed the rebellion plan seemed.
First, regarding troop strength, the most elite soldiers of Yan will join the Imperial Guards. Those with slightly less ability will be assigned to the three cities in the capital region. Even if 100,000 elite troops could be mobilized, they would not have an advantage against the Imperial Guards.
Moreover, the emperor was stationed in the Capital City, making him the defender. Given the similar numbers, the attacker would be at a significant disadvantage.
In terms of individual soldier quality, they can't compare.
In terms of geographical advantages, it can't compete.
Wei Wudi even suspected that there were spies sent by the emperor among those attending the gathering tonight. Every move after the rebellion would be under constant surveillance.
How can we play like this?
Now that we've lost all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support, rebellion seems like a dead end. Our courage and passion alone won't get us anywhere.
Having understood all this, Wei Wudi was very resistant to the crowd's instigation and adopted a posture of seeing the guests off.
Before long, the ministers and retainers left the Prince Xian's Estate one after another. Inside, only Wei Wudi remained.
He cleared the area before the assembly, ensuring that there were no the Knave or guards within several hundred meters. They were afraid of overhearing things they shouldn't and needlessly inviting death upon themselves.
The flickering light from the candlestick illuminated the exquisite patterns on the screen. Suddenly, the flame began to flash, and a dark shadow abruptly appeared in the corner of the beam.
The other party was wearing a beast-like mask; he was none other than the leader of the Mountain Sea Cult in the Capital City, codenamed Ghost Face.
"President."
Before revealing himself, Ghost Face had already confirmed that there were no outsiders within a radius of several hundred meters before reporting:
"The plan executed by Jade Gate failed. A man codenamed Zhongli captured Ya alive and handed it over to Jade Gate's Grandmaster Chongyue for safekeeping."
Wei Wudi frowned upon hearing this, quite surprised by the outcome:
"No way, even He could be captured alive? Just who is this Zhongli you're talking about?"
Currently, the only entity capable of defeating the Great Beast alone is another Great Beast. Even a powerful figure from the Celestial Masters' Manor would not be able to defeat the Great Beast single-handedly.
Ghost Face kept a close watch on his surroundings, becoming extremely alert at the slightest disturbance, and explained:
"According to our undercover agent in the Si Sui Tai, this man codenamed Zhongli is their accomplice who was brought in to reseal Sui. In addition, I just checked with my informant in the Ministry of Revenue, and there is no information about him. At present, we can only confirm that Zhongli is not from Yan. We cannot obtain the information from Lungmen, and we know nothing else."
Upon hearing this, Wei Wudi felt a mixture of joy and worry.
If Zhongli's purpose was to target the Sui Beast, then the plan to seal it would have been carried out several years earlier.
Once the Celestial Masters' Manor and the Imperial Guards are ready, they will forcibly awaken Sui. Then, while he is weakened, they will reseal him, ensuring a thousand years of favorable weather for the Yan.
When Wei Wudi was young, he was very playful and liked to wander around. Once, he accidentally wandered into the imperial tombs north of the city and discovered the Sui that was sealed there. When he left, he also picked up a dragon scale that had fallen off its body.
From that moment on, Wei Wudi knew that humanity had its limits. He then devoted considerable effort to establishing the underground organization 'Mountain Sea Cult' within the territory of Yan.
Another reason he didn't agree to the ministers' rebellion tonight was that he felt these humans were untrustworthy.
If we really want to overthrow the emperor, awakening the Sui Beast is the best solution.
Faced with absolute power, the 100,000 Imperial Guards were nothing more than ants that would vanish in the blink of an eye.
Wei Wudi has delayed the rescue for years because he hasn't found a suitable opportunity. He's spent a considerable amount of money just bribing those retired Celestial Masters' Manor.
The current prosperity of the Great Yan Dynasty was achieved through the slaughter of countless compatriots. Wei Wudi felt it was his duty to rescue it. The Mountain Sea Cult was also a grassroots underground organization founded on the idea of resurrecting the Great Beast.
Where is Zhongli now?
"Still in Jade Gate City, expected to arrive in the Capital City tomorrow morning. After the handover, they will enter the city at noon."
Wei Wudi frowned and gave the order:
"Keep a close eye on Zhongli's movements and report to me immediately if anything happens. Remember, never expose yourself. If you really can't track him down, stop immediately. Anyone who can capture Great Beast alive is definitely not an ordinary person."