Emperor Xianwu finally looked at Yao Jingyi and said in a meaningful tone, "Chancellery Secretariat, your guest's name is Zhou Qi, right?"
Yao Jingyi lowered his head. "Yes."
"Killing thieves has merit." Emperor Xianwu said, "I will reward you with one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stone and one Lower Profound Grade Cultivation Method."
He paused and added, "Tell him that the court will not mistreat those who have meritorious service."
Yao Jingyi was moved in his heart, lowered his head and said, "On behalf of Zhou Qi, I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness."
Emperor Xianwu waved his hands, leaned on the dragon chair, and closed his eyes again.
"Retreat from the court."
The ministers retreated like the tide.
When we walked out of the Tai Chi Hall, everyone's backs were wet.
No one dared to speak.
No one dared to whisper to each other.
After the end of the dynasty, Emperor Xianwu did not return to the harem, but went straight to Imperial Study.
Huangfu Song followed, walked through the many corridors, and walked into the small but heavily guarded room.
The door is closed.
Emperor Xianwu sat down behind the desk, picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then looked at Huangfu Song.
"Sit."
Huangfu Song sat down opposite, with his back straight.
Emperor Xianwu put down the teacup, Opening the Mountain Gate: "Qingling Mountains, you know what to do."
Huangfu Song nodded. "I understand that Champion Marquis's people are disguised as bandits. If they don't show their flags, I will fight in the name of suppressing bandits."
"If they raise their flag, it will be a blatant rebellion. I will return to Beijing immediately to defend it."
Emperor Xianwu glanced at him and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
Huangfu Song has been with him for thirty years and has always done things properly.
"I want you to annihilate them all," Emperor Xianwu said. "This time, you must knock the mountain and Zhenhu to let Champion Marquis know that his hand is stretched too far."
He paused and his eyes became deep. "But if he sends someone to help..."
Huangfu Song continued, "That means he is ready to take action."
Emperor Xianwu didn't answer the call, picked up the tea cup and took another sip.
After a moment of silence, Huangfu Song suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, that Zhou Qi..."
"What?"
"I saw him yesterday." Huangfu Song said, "Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer Peak, twenty-two years old, this son has amazing talent. If he can use it for his own use..."
"I know." Emperor Xianwu interrupted him, "This kind of person cannot be bribed by giving him a few spiritual stones."
He put down the teacup and leaned back on the chair. "Unfortunately, I can't give you too much. Golden Core Cultivation Manual is the lifeblood of the royal family and will never be passed on to others."
Huangfu Song Silence.
He knows how difficult it is to obtain Golden Core Cultivation Manual. He has been fighting for it for decades without being rewarded.
Emperor Xianwu continued, "I'm just worried that if Champion Marquis doesn't kill him, he will come to win over him!"
Huangfu Song frowned. "Your Majesty, how strong is Champion Marquis now?"
Emperor Xianwu heard this, let out a breath, and leaned back on the chair behind him. "The news from the spies, Half-Step Golden Core Realm, is the same as mine."
Huangfu Song was shocked, as expected.
"Your Majesty, in this case, Zhou Qi will be of great use!"
Emperor Xianwu glanced at Huangfu Song: "I know."
"That Champion Marquis has two masters from Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer, and I, Imperial City, can only take that Zhou Qi and you with me, only four of them."
"If Zhou Qi betrays the truth, there will indeed be endless troubles."
There was silence in the room.
After a long time, Emperor Xianwu said, "Well, let's add another reward. Take one 'Qi Condensation Pill' from my private treasury. Profound Tier, Mid-Grade will help Foundation Establishment break through. Although he can't use it, he can give it to others."
Huangfu Song felt something in his heart.
Qi Condensation Pill is an elixir refined from the royal family's secret recipe. It has the effect of helping Qi Refinement Realm break through Foundation Establishment. It cannot be purchased on the market.
Giving this elixir is more sincere than giving a spiritual stone, because it is scarce and has a price but no market.
"In addition," Emperor Xianwu paused and lowered his voice a little, "Send someone to keep an eye on him. Don't let him notice. You just need to know who he is in contact with."
Huangfu Song frowned slightly. "Your Majesty, this..."
"I know what you want to say," Emperor Xianwu turned around and looked at him, "It is necessary to be on guard against others. I cannot completely trust him."
"If he really has second thoughts, I must know in advance."
Huangfu Song was silent for a moment, cupped his fists and said, "I obey your order."
Emperor Xianwu walked back to the desk, sat down, and picked up the tea cup again.
"The candidate must be well selected, and we must not alert others. I don't want to push a master from Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer to Champion Marquis."
"I understand."
Huangfu Song stood up and resigned.
Huangfu Song acted very quickly. On the second day alone, he led 5,000 elite troops out of Beijing and destroyed seven Qingling Mountains cottages within three days.
Killed more than ten monks Foundation Establishment, and countless monks Qi Refining.
However, just as he was preparing to pursue the victory, spies came to report that all the remaining bandits had withdrawn overnight, and the stronghold personnel had left the stronghold empty.
Huangfu Song did not pursue, and withdrew his troops and returned to Beijing to resume his operations.
At the same time.
Regarding the matter of "Champion Marquis sending people to Beijing to cause trouble", Emperor Xianwu sent an envoy to Blackstone City to convey the order and hold him accountable.
The messenger arrived in front of the house, but Marquis Residence the door was closed.
The messenger stood outside the door and waited for half an hour.
The door finally opened.
The person who came out was the chief butler Manager Meng, who was in his sixties, with gray hair and a perfectly apologetic look on his face.
"My lord, it is really unfortunate that the Marquis has relapsed from his old injury and is bedridden. He cannot receive the order in person. I hope you will understand me."
The envoy frowned. "The old injury has recurred? I have come to hold you accountable on your majesty's order, but the Marquis is missing. How can I get back on my feet?"
Manager Meng sighed, with a look of helplessness on his face. "My lord, please forgive me, but the Marquis is so seriously injured that he can't even get out of bed."
The envoy stared at him and said in a bad tone, "Then the envoy can go in and read out the imperial edict in front of the bed, right?"
Manager Meng shook his head and bent even lower. "The doctor said you can't see outsiders for fear of infecting outsiders."
The messenger's face was ashen, but he had nothing to say.
Champion Marquis Estate is not a place he can force his way into.
He gritted his teeth, took the edict from the attendant behind him, unfolded it in front of everyone, and read it aloud.
After reading it out, he handed the imperial edict to Manager Meng: "Please ask Butler Meng to pass it on to the Marquis. Your Majesty's words are all on it."
Manager Meng took the imperial edict with both hands and bowed respectfully. "I will definitely forward it to you."
The messenger snorted coldly, turned around, mounted his horse, and left without looking back.
The news was sent back to Yongjing, Emperor Xianwu and Imperial Study were silent for a long time after listening to the messenger's report.
"Calling him sick?" He finally spoke, his tone was terrifyingly calm, "He is determined."
After that, he issued three decrees:
First, Yongjing City will be under martial law from now on, City Defense Army will be on duty in three shifts, and all people entering and exiting will be strictly inspected.
Second, Taiwei Huangfu Song led his troops back to the defense and stationed his troops in the camp in the north of the city, ready for orders at any time.
Third, send more scouts to the passes on the northern border to monitor every move in the direction of Blackstone City day and night.
When the decree came out, the atmosphere at Yongjing City suddenly became tense.
There were several times more soldiers on the street, the queue at the city gate was longer than usual, and the guards looked at the road signs much more carefully.
Although the people didn't know what exactly happened, everyone felt the depressing feeling that a storm was coming.
The next morning at court, the officials argued endlessly about the matter.
Minister of War Lu Zhengyuan advocated a postponement, believing that since Champion Marquis had not publicly pulled the flag, the court should not take the initiative to intensify the conflict.
"The first thing to do is to comfort people and take care of them slowly."
Yao Jingyi immediately refuted. "His people have all come to the capital, how can we appease him? Wait until he comes to the city to make plans?"
The two sides couldn't argue, and there was a quarrel in the court.
Emperor Xianwu never expressed his position. He just leaned on the dragon chair with his eyes half closed, as if he was taking a nap.
After the dynasty was dismissed, he summoned Ministry of Revenue and Minister of War alone and said only four words: "Prepare food and equipment."
The two ministers looked at each other, neither dared to disobey, and bowed their heads to accept the order.
From that day on, Ministry of Revenue's grain truck and Ministry of War's machinery truck began to be dispatched overnight, one truck after another, quietly driving to the camp in the north of the city.
The cloud of war has already settled on Yongjing City.