Zhu Wuyuan didn't believe Zhang Yu could complete this task, the Four Great Families didn't believe Zhang Yu could complete this task, to be precise, no one believed Zhang Yu could complete this task.
Under normal circumstances, unless one possesses overwhelming strength, it would take more than a year, let alone ten years.
In everyone's eyes, a Princes who had been living away from home simply did not have the strength, let alone the Four Great Families.
"Hahaha, let's see how Sheng Yu gets out of this mess!"
"What other way can this be resolved? They'll just have to obediently abolish the monarchy."
The people, determined to overthrow the imperial system, were abuzz with discussion, as if they could see the dawn of victory.
Zhang Yu secretly transmitted his voice to Sima Sheng: "How many of the Rebel Army in the world are your men?"
He feared that Zhu Wuyuan would nitpick and play word games, so he first needed to know the exact information about his side.
"Nine out of ten Rebel Army in the world are our people."
Sima Sheng thought for a moment and then answered.
"Eight or nine? Be specific."
Zhang Yu was meticulous and, to avoid being Zhu Wuyuan Confucius, he needed to understand the situation clearly.
"More than 90%, if not more."
The most powerful factions are all under our control.
"As for those insignificant small bands of bandits, we disdain to interfere," Sima Sheng replied after a moment's thought.
Zhang Yu had already made up his mind, and turned to Zhu Wuyuan:
"May I ask the Prime Minister, what is the basis for the claim of 'sweeping away all Rebel Army throughout the land'?"
If it were a matter of killing every single rebel and eliminating all traitors in the land, I could not do it, and I believe no one could.
Even the most prosperous dynasties in history were not immune to sporadic disturbances.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Wuyuan's heart stirred.
Why did he ask such detailed questions?
Is there really a solution?
No, absolutely not.
The Military Aura in the Eastern Sheng Kingdom are complex and intertwined, consisting of dozens of groups of varying sizes that support each other. They cannot be quelled by one person in a short period of time.
"If we were to truly pursue a complete extermination, it would appear as if Benxiang was deliberately making things difficult, which is unreasonable."
After a moment's consideration, Zhu Wuyuan said, "As long as you can eliminate all the main Rebel Army forces of more than ten thousand men, you will have succeeded."
Zhang Yu turned his head to look at Sima Sheng, who nodded almost imperceptibly.
Zhang Yu and Sima Sheng secretly communicated telepathically, after which Sima Sheng quietly withdrew and disappeared without a trace.
Although Zhu Wuyuan had doubts upon seeing this, he did not investigate further.
He then turned to look directly at Zhang Yu:
When does Your Highness plan to depart?
The timeframe is negotiable; if one year isn't enough, ten years is also acceptable.
There's no need for such trouble; they're just a bunch of the Rebel Army, a day is enough.
Zhang Yu was confident and spoke slowly.
Everyone was stunned by these words.
This was an impossible task to complete, yet Zhang Yu claimed he could finish it in a day—that's utter nonsense.
Upon hearing Zhang Yu's reply, Zhu Wuyuan felt a sweet taste in his throat and almost couldn't suppress his anger.
He stared intently at Zhang Yu, as if trying to find even the slightest trace of a joke on that excessively young face, but he found nothing.
Those eyes were as calm as an ancient well, without the slightest hint of bluffing. Instead, they seemed like the casual remark of a chess player who had already made his move.
The square was first deathly silent, then it exploded like boiling water.
"One day?"
Is he talking in his sleep?
"Hahaha!
He said he could quell all the Rebel Army in the world in a day? Are you kidding us?
"He's gone mad, Sheng Yu has really gone mad."
The members of the Four Great Families, including Murong Bai, who remained loyal to the Imperial Family, were all struck dumb, frozen in place as if by lightning.
They never imagined that Zhang Yu would utter such nonsensical nonsense in front of hundreds of millions of people.
Even if you're going to give up entirely, does it have to be this attention-seeking?
"Cough cough."
Murong Bai coughed twice and said urgently in a low voice:
"Your Highness, although Zhu Wuyuan is deliberately making things difficult, we don't need to pay attention to him; we can find another way."
Why say such... such nonsense in front of the entire nation?
Standing to the side, Old Master Wang, his face ashen, hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over:
"Prime Minister, Your Highness is unwell today and must have said something incoherent just now. Please don't take it seriously."
Zhu Wuyuan chuckled, his tone full of sarcasm:
"We understand, we Your Highness. His Highness is just being childish and playing around with us."
These words drew a burst of laughter from the crowd supporting him in the square, the laughter surging like a tide, almost drowning Zhang Yu.
Is it funny?
Zhang Yu remained calm, as if detached from the matter, and said in a nonchalant tone:
"I said one day, and it's one day; it might not even take a day."
The various Rebel Army will soon send envoys to surrender. Please be patient and wait a moment.
"Your Highness, are you... are you going to abandon the last shred of dignity for the Sheng Family?"
Murong Bai was so anxious that the veins on his forehead bulged, and he almost stomped his foot.
Murong Qiushui covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes full of disdain:
"With this level of ability, you still want to be the emperor of the Eastern Sheng Kingdom?"
This is utterly nonsensical.
Zhu Wuyuan also dropped his feigned smile, his gaze suddenly sharpening as he said in a deep voice, "Sheng Yu, are you... truly..."
"When have I ever joked with you?" Zhang Yu replied calmly.
"Good!"
A cold glint flashed in Zhu Wuyuan's eyes:
"Since you insist on this, then I will play along with you to the very end."
People from all over the country are here to witness this; they're just waiting a moment.
If no one comes to your rescue, you'll have to bear this shameful fate yourself, and you can't blame anyone else!
He sneered inwardly, thinking, "Even if I gave you ten years, what difference would it make, let alone a day?"
"Since you've chosen to die, then don't blame me."
Zhu Wuyuan had already devised a vicious plan, waiting only for the right moment to crush Zhang Yu completely in front of millions of people, ensuring he would never rise again.
"Hahaha, Sheng Yu is actually serious!"
The square was filled with murmurs and discussions; some people were there to watch the spectacle, while others sneered.
When they learned that Zhang Yu not only did not back down, but insisted that hundreds of millions of his people wait with him for another day, a cold glint appeared in the eyes of many.
A moment later, the once noisy square fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on Zhang Yu as if watching a madman about to be executed, waiting to see how he would end up.
Zhang Yu, however, was not in a hurry at all. He leisurely ordered someone to bring over a grand chair and sat down in full view of everyone.
He picked up his teacup, sipped his tea, and chatted, as if the tension and ridicule around him had nothing to do with him.
Murong Bai and the others were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, pacing back and forth, and in the end they could only shake their heads helplessly.
They sighed inwardly, lamenting the misfortune of the Imperial Family; their ancestors' century-old legacy was about to be ruined by an unreliable descendant of the Imperial Family.
Old Master Wang could no longer contain himself; he knelt down on both knees and roared to the sky:
"By the late Emperor and all the Sheng Family Ancestor, it is not that we are disloyal, but... we are powerless to reverse the situation."
This roar, tinged with endless sorrow, echoed throughout the entire square.
The elders of the Four Great Families were also filled with indignation, but they had no words to say anything.
"Alas... so be it, it seems the Sheng Family's fate is sealed."
Murong Bai seemed to age ten years in an instant, collapsing to the ground in despair, his eyes filled with hopelessness.
Murong Qiushui quickly stepped forward to help him up, and whispered words of advice:
"Grandpa, he asked for his own death, why did you do it?"
Without the suppression of the Imperial Family for the past three years, and with the Prime Minister leading us to work diligently and make the Eastern Sheng Kingdom increasingly prosperous.
Why must you cling to that outdated system and insist on reviving the Imperial Family?
These words also reflect the sentiments of the younger generation of the Four Great Families.
Many of them secretly admired Zhu Wuyuan's reforms and were already dissatisfied with the corruption of the Imperial Family.
Murong Bai remained silent, only sighing inwardly:
I tried my best.
Then, he glanced at Zhang Yu with disappointment, as if he were looking at a hopeless stranger.
Time passed slowly in the oppressive atmosphere. The sun gradually set, casting golden rays across the square, but it could not dispel the heavy awkwardness.
Zhu Wuyuan finally couldn't hold back any longer and snorted coldly:
"Sheng Yu, I am busy with state affairs and do not have time to waste with you any longer."
As night falls, this farce should come to an end.
"That's right, we've spent the whole day with you, that's enough."
"The Prime Minister is extremely busy; he has no time to waste with you."
Court officials and the common people echoed his sentiments, and accusations rose and fell.
At this moment, even the members of the Four Great Families, including Murong Bai, who were still loyal to the Imperial Family, were completely disappointed and no longer defended Zhang Yu.
"It's not even a day yet, what's the rush?"
Zhang Yu glanced at the setting sun on the horizon, his expression remaining calm.
Murong Qiushui seized the opportunity to step forward and loudly rebuked, "It's fine for a lazy Princes like you, but the Prime Minister bears the weight of state affairs; how can he indulge your nonsense?"
These words drew more agreement, Zhu Wuyuan a cold bow and said, "I'm afraid I won't keep you company."
Having said that, he turned and left, his back view resolute.
In his mind, Sheng Yu had already ruined his own future and had no chance of inheriting the throne. He could finally proceed with the plan to abolish the imperial system with peace of mind.
"Exactly, I don't have time to play with him anymore."
"How boring. I thought I'd see something exciting, but it was just a waste of a day."
In the Image Jade Token, officials and commoners from various prefectures shook their heads, their faces filled with mockery, preparing to disperse.
As the crowd began to stir, and some even turned to leave, just then—
An official from the Eastern Sheng Kingdom in charge of intelligence suddenly had his Image Jade Token light up.