Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 238 The seal is loose
Qin Yongsheng turned around abruptly, and the imperial jade pendant at his waist emitted a dragon's roar.

He stared at the Grand Historian's terrified face, then suddenly revealed a sinister smile: "Issue my decree that, effective immediately, the entire Fenglei Kingdom shall be placed under martial law."

He then said to the eunuch Laifu beside him, "Summon Marquis Jifeng."

Ji Fenghou Ji Su had thwarted the westward advance of the Mo Lin army twelve years ago, and Qin Yongsheng still trusted him quite a bit.

Before long, Ji Fenghou Ji Su hurriedly arrived at the observatory. He was wearing a black armor and his steps were steady, but there were still some beads of sweat on his forehead.

Upon seeing Qin Yongsheng, Ji Su knelt on one knee and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I am Ji Fenghou Ji Su, and I await Your Majesty's command."

Qin Yongsheng slightly raised his hand, gesturing for him to stand up, then looked towards the northern horizon and said in a deep voice, "Ji Su, how much do you know about the current situation of the Mo Lin Army in the Great Yu Kingdom?"

Ji Su stood up, frowned slightly, and after a moment of thought, said, "Your Majesty, since Gu Changzhou reorganized the Mo Lin Army, its strength has greatly increased. Whether it is military system, training, or equipment, there has been a qualitative improvement. The Xuanjia Guards are the elite of the elite, and their Nine Palaces Star Array is extremely powerful. In addition, their Star Armor, Xuan Iron Sword, and other magical weapons should not be underestimated. Moreover, Gu Changzhou is a man of both wisdom and courage, and is by no means an ordinary person."

Qin Yongsheng snorted coldly and said, "Hmph, it is this Gu Changzhou who is making me unable to eat or sleep at night. On the surface, he says he is dealing with Tianxu Palace, but behind the scenes he is creating Molin spy. Who knows what he is up to! I suspect that their Dayu Kingdom is planning to take action against my Fenglei Kingdom."

Ji Su was startled, but his face remained calm. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Your Majesty, although the Great Yu Kingdom now has the Mo Lin Army, our Feng Lei Kingdom is not without the power to fight back. Twelve years ago, to prevent them from advancing westward, we laid down many defensive fortifications on the border, and we have not relaxed our efforts over the years. Moreover, we still have many secret weapons that we have not yet used."

Qin Yongsheng turned around, a hint of urgency in his eyes: "Oh? Tell me, what secret weapons do you have? We must prepare now, we can't just sit here and wait to die."

Ji Su nodded slightly and explained in detail: "Your Majesty, firstly, we have hidden a batch of mechanical puppets in a secluded place in the border mountains. These puppets were meticulously crafted by the country's top mechanics. They are not only incredibly strong, but can also fire poisoned crossbow bolts, making them extremely powerful."

Secondly, we have also secretly cultivated a team of assassins, all of whom are highly skilled, loyal to His Majesty, and capable of carrying out special missions at critical moments.

Thirdly, I have already ordered preparations to be made at the water sources along the border. In the event of war, a special powder can be released to incapacitate the enemy's horses and soldiers.

Qin Yongsheng listened to Ji Su's report, his expression gradually softening. He nodded and said, "Very good, these preparations are timely. However, these alone are not enough. I order you to immediately begin gathering the elite troops in the country for intensive training. In addition, send people to contact the Holy Xuan Kingdom and Min Yue Kingdom to see if an alliance can be formed to jointly resist the Great Yu Kingdom."

Ji Su clasped his hands in acceptance of the order: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost. However, contacting other countries will not be easy. The Holy Xuan Kingdom has always been outwardly friendly but inwardly hostile, and most of the smaller countries are hesitant and may not be willing to fight against Yu the Great with us."

Qin Yongsheng's eyes narrowed, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "No matter how difficult it is, we must do it! I can give them enough benefits—gold, silver, treasures, and rare gems—as long as they are willing to form an alliance with us. If that doesn't work, we'll find a way to create some trouble so that they have no choice but to stand on our side."

Ji Su sighed inwardly, but still replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my best." Qin Yongsheng then remembered something else and said, "There are still those Mo Lin spies; we must find a way to eliminate them. I've heard that these spies are distributed throughout various prefectures and counties, and their intelligence-gathering capabilities are extremely strong. If we don't eliminate them, our every move may be known to them. Do you have any ideas?"

Ji Su pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, Mo Lin's spies are extremely well hidden, and it will not be easy to completely eradicate them. However, I can send people to investigate secretly, find their contact points and key figures, and then take them down one by one. At the same time, we can also strengthen intelligence control within the country to prevent them from obtaining important information."

Qin Yongsheng nodded in satisfaction: "Okay, we'll do it your way. Remember, this must be done in secret; we can't alert them."

Ji Su clasped his hands in a fist and said, “Your Majesty, I obey your decree. Your Majesty, I have another matter to discuss, but I am unsure whether I should speak of it.”

Qin Yongsheng raised an eyebrow slightly: "Speak freely." Ji Su considered his words carefully and said: "Your Majesty, the situation is tense now. While we are strengthening military preparations, we cannot neglect the people's livelihood at home. If the preparations for war lead to public discontent, it may affect the stability of the country."

Qin Yongsheng frowned, somewhat displeased, but suppressed his anger and said, "Ji Su, I understand. Rest assured, I will try my best to appease the people without affecting our war preparations. However, if war truly breaks out, some sacrifices will be necessary."

Ji Su felt helpless, but could only reply, "Yes, Your Majesty. I understand."

Qin Yongsheng waved his hand: "Alright, you may leave now. Get on with the things I have instructed as soon as possible."

Ji Su bowed again, then turned and left.

After Ji Su left, Qin Yongsheng stood alone on the observatory, gazing at the starry sky, but his worries did not lessen.

He knew that the current situation was like the calm before the storm, and a major war might be inevitable.

Just as he was deep in thought, a blood-red meteor suddenly streaked across the sky, trailing a long flame, and fell toward the direction of the Wind and Thunder Kingdom.

Qin Yongsheng's pupils contracted, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

"Could this be an omen?"

He muttered to himself, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

Meanwhile, in a secret valley in the Fenglei Kingdom, a mysterious light shot into the sky, illuminating the entire night.

The light was an eerie purple, carrying a chilling pressure.

On an ancient altar in the valley, a mysterious stone tablet, which was sealed there, suddenly trembled, and the runes on it flickered with an eerie light.

It turns out that this stone tablet was obtained by the founding emperor of the Fenglei Kingdom from a mysterious ruin, which is said to seal a powerful evil force.

For thousands of years, it has been sealed here and guarded by people sent by emperors of all dynasties.

But now, the seal seems to be loosening.

Upon receiving the news, Qin Yongsheng immediately led a group of experts to the secret valley.

When they arrived, the valley was filled with a thick, nauseating aura of evil.

As Qin Yongsheng gazed at the ancient altar, a surge of impulse welled up within him, a desire to approach and examine it more closely.