Di Xin: After fifteen years, I'm done playing your games!

Chaoge.

The royal palace's rear garden.

The pond was as smooth as a mirror, pavilions were scattered about, and exotic flowers and plants swayed in the gentle breeze, emitting a delicate fragrance.

Di Xin, Queen Jiang, and Consort Huang were sitting around a stone table, sipping fragrant tea and chatting casually.

Not far away, Su Daji, dressed in plain clothes, held a beautiful jade pipa in her arms.

Her delicate hands plucked the strings, producing a clear and melodious sound, like a mountain stream, soothing the soul.

The pipa in her arms was the Pipa Spirit in disguise, and it was now diligently playing the role of a musical instrument.

At Queen Jiang's feet lay a small, pure white fox, without a single stray hair, lying obediently.

Nine tails lay obediently on the ground, like the finest white velvet carpet.

Whenever the queen stroked it, the fox would fawn over her palm, showing no trace of the ferocity of a thousand-year-old fox demon.

That's Nine-tailed Fox.

Beside them, a beautiful woman dressed as a palace maid was carefully refilling everyone's tea.

She kept her head down, not daring to even breathe, for fear that if her three masters were displeased, they would turn her back into her original form and stew her into soup.

This is Nine-headed Pheasant Spirit.

The Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb gathered together; one became a musical instrument, one a pet, and one a maid.

Within this deep palace, each person plays a new role.

"Your the King seems to have had a lot more free time these past few days," Queen Jiang with a gentle smile.

With Minister Jiang here, I am naturally happy to have some peace and quiet.

"He handles all affairs of state, large and small, with remarkable efficiency, even more so than I could handle them myself."

Consort Huang covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"That's for sure. Every official in the court praises our Grand Tutor Jiang for his extraordinary talent."

"I've heard it all. Everyone in Chaoge City is saying that our Great Shang Dynasty has gained two pillars of strength."

"With one scholar and one warrior, Grand Tutor Wen in charge of external affairs and Grand Tutor Jiang in charge of internal affairs, how can the world not be at peace?"

Di Xin chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.

Just then, a palace attendant hurried over and bowed respectfully outside the pavilion.

"Your the King, Grand Tutor Jiang requests an audience."

Queen Jiang stood up and gave Di Xin a gentle smile.

"Since Your the King has matters of state to attend to, then we will not disturb you any longer."

She glanced at the little fox still acting cute at her feet and waved.

"Little one, let's go."

The Nine-tailed Fox, feeling as if granted a pardon, quickly jumped up and followed behind Queen Jiang, not forgetting to glance back at the Pheasant Spirit who was also relieved.

Consort Huang then rose to take her leave.

Su Daji, holding her pipa, rose and bowed, then left the imperial garden with the queen.

The once bustling pavilion instantly became quiet.

Di Xin.

"Announce."

"Yes."

The eunuch acknowledged the order and withdrew.

A short while later, a steady sound of footsteps approached.

Jiang Ziya was dressed in court robes, his temples were already streaked with white, but he was still in good spirits.

Over the years, as he took charge of the Shang Dynasty, his otherworldly air as a hermit faded considerably.

Instead, there was an air of authority and composure that came with long-held power.

He walked to the pavilion and bowed respectfully.

"This old minister, Jiang Shang, greets Your the King."

"Minister Jiang, you may dispense with the formalities."

Di Xin pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

"Sit."

"Thank you, Your the King."

Jiang Ziya did not refuse, and after expressing his gratitude, he sat down on the stone bench, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

Looking at the young king before him, Jiang Ziya was filled with emotion.

Time seemed to have left no trace on the Human Emperor's face; on the contrary, his unfathomable imperial aura only grew stronger.

"I wonder what Your the King has summoned this old minister for today?"

Instead of answering directly, Di Xin turned to look at the peony in full bloom in the garden and asked an unrelated question.

"Ziya, how long have you been in Chaoge?"

Jiang Ziya was slightly taken aback. Although he did not understand what he meant, he still told him the truth.

"Your the King, since I descended the mountain on my master's orders and took over the Grand Tutor's Mansion, more than fifteen years have passed."

"Fifteen years."

Di Xin let out a sigh, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Time flies.

"It has been fifteen years since Grand Tutor Wen went on his expedition to the Northern Sea."

When Wen Zhong was mentioned, Jiang Ziya's expression became more serious.

The battle in the Northern Sea is indeed strange.

Yuan Futong's seventy-two warlords seemed to have divine assistance, repeatedly rising from the ashes in dire straits.

Although Grand Tutor Wen was brave, he was held back and unable to break free.

For the past fifteen years, Great Shang Dynasty and Northern Sea have been locked in a protracted tug-of-war.

It appears calm on the surface, but Undercurrent are surging beneath.

Di Xin withdrew his gaze and fixed it on Jiang Ziya.

"It seems they have no intention of letting the Grand Tutor return."

"Those people want to use the Northern Sea to bring down my great Great Shang Dynasty, and they want to use time to wear down my spirit."

"They want to stall, but I have no interest in playing this boring game with them."

Jiang Ziya's heart skipped a beat.

"Your the King means..."

"Accelerate the Tribulation."

These four words, uttered lightly by Di Xin, carried a bloody stench.

"There's no point in continuing like this."

"Since this pool isn't muddy enough, then let me stir it up myself."

Jiang Ziya straightened his back. He knew that this Human Emperor must have come up with some earth-shattering plan again.

"May I ask, Your the King, what are your plans?"

Di Xin pulled out a scroll of silk that had been prepared beforehand from his sleeve and casually tossed it onto the stone table.

"Take a look at this."

Jiang Ziya held the silk scroll in both hands and slowly unfurled it.

The first thing you see are three menacing characters: "Edict of Recommendation".

He continued looking down, and the more he looked, the tighter his pupils contracted.

The knuckles of the hand gripping the silk scroll were slightly white from the force.

After reading the last word, he slammed the silk scroll shut, looked up at Di Xin, and his heart was filled with turmoil.

This is hardly a law.

This is clearly a dragon-slaying sword that slays without drawing blood!

A plan that can shred all the feudal lords under heaven to pieces, making them fight each other to the death!

"Your the King..."

Jiang Ziya's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Is Your the King trying to... incite all the feudal lords to rebel?"

This is not a question, but a certainty.

Once this Edict of Recommendation is promulgated throughout the land, it will drive the eight hundred regional lords to their doom!

"Good."

Di Xin readily admitted it, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remained calm.

"I intend to completely unify the Human Clan and establish a truly unified dynasty."

"This so-called system of enfeoffment has long been a hindrance to the development of the Human Clan, and it's time to sweep it into the dustbin of history."

"These feudal lords ruled their own territories, wielding military, financial, and personnel power, and obeying orders but not summons."

"They've lived like this for far too long, so long that they've forgotten who really owns this world."

"Let's take advantage of this Tribulation to wipe out these cancerous growths and eradicate them completely."

Jiang Ziya gently placed the silk scroll on the stone table, his fingers unconsciously stroking it.

"Your the King's move is truly brilliant."

Once this decree is issued, the feudal lords of the land will only have two paths to take.

Alternatively, they could accept the Recommendation and watch helplessly as their family's power was dismantled and ultimately destroyed.

Alternatively, disobeying the imperial decree would be considered treason, and the Great Shang Dynasty would have a legitimate reason to send troops to suppress it.

Either path is a dead end.

A strange smile appeared on Jiang Ziya's face.

"Moreover, this Edict of Recommendation..."

"The Marquis Ji Chang of the West, will probably be the first to get restless."

"He's known for having a hundred sons."

If the Edict of Recommendation were truly implemented, even if the territory of Xiqi were incredibly wealthy and vast, dividing it among a hundred people would be... well...

"Therefore, Edict of Recommendation, Ji Chang had no choice but to rebel."

"If he doesn't rebel, Xiqi will be completely wiped out in internal strife."

Jiang Ziya calmed himself down. Although the plan was ingenious, he still had concerns.

"Your the King, this plan will inevitably plunge the world into chaos."

"The eight hundred vassal lords who were initially in a wait-and-see mode will likely mostly stand against the Great Shang Dynasty for the sake of their own interests."

"At that time, war will break out everywhere, and the whole world will be our enemy."

He looked at Di Xin and asked the most crucial question.

"Your the King, are you confident you can withstand the siege of all the feudal lords in the land?"

Upon hearing this, Di Xin chuckled lightly, his laughter carrying an air of unparalleled confidence and composure.

"Ziya."

"You've been with the Great Shang Dynasty Great Shang Dynasty for fifteen years; you should know its foundation better than anyone else."

Jiang Ziya remained silent for a moment.

"Your subject understands."

"Since Your the King has made up your mind, then let us proceed according to Your the King's wishes."

"As for the Clarify Sect, our Jie Interception Sect will handle it."

As for the wars and conflicts of this mortal realm...

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Ziya's eyes.

"Although my cultivation is lacking, I am not inferior to others in troop deployment."

"If those feudal lords dare to rebel, I will quell their rebellion one by one on behalf of Your the King!"

"If they dare to rebel, I will show them what the Great Shang Dynasty cavalry truly is!"

Di Xin turned around, looked at this strategist who would be celebrated by later generations, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

"Ziya, go and prepare."

With a wave of his sleeve, Di Xin settled the Qiankun.

"We will meet tomorrow."

"I will formally issue the Edict of Recommendation in the Nine Chamber Hall, before all civil and military officials."

"I will let the world hear the sound of thunder."

Jiang Ziya bowed in respect.

"Yes."

"My lord, I obey the order."