Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 424 Late Night Visitor
News from inside the Qianqing Palace.

The news quickly reached the ears of Yan Yimei, Xue Zhi, Song Senxue, Wang Bukong, Shen Tu Yuan, as well as Li Chengen, Qin Yiyan, Yang Ning, and others from Tian Ce.

The generals were all furious, their brows furrowed, and their killing intent was palpable.

"Since they are disloyal, they are of no use to us."

"Have the secret guards investigate thoroughly, and as long as they have not committed any acts of betrayal, send them to serve in other armies."

"I'll issue the approval order."

Yan Yimei's gaze was cold. How long had it been since the dark cloud of betrayal against the Prince Su's mansion had dissipated? Today, on such a joyous day as her own Emperor's coronation ceremony, so many people whose loyalty and treachery were difficult to discern had been discovered. How could she possibly have a good temper?

The fact that he did not directly order those people to be killed on the spot or to recover everything was already a result of suppressing his anger.

"clear."

Xiao Luoyang had no objection to this decision.

The Tian Ce Mansion.

Li Chengen sat at the head of the table in the mansion, coldly observing the generals of Tian Ce. Apart from General Xuanwei Cao Xueyang, who was away on campaign, everyone else, including Qin Yiyan, Xu Changhai, Zhu Jianqiu, and Yang Ning, looked extremely uncomfortable.

"You're all aware of the intelligence sent by the secret guards, aren't you?"

"More than three thousand people, less than four hundred from Cangyun, the rest are soldiers from our Tiance Mansion."

Upon hearing this, the group lowered their heads in shame.

If it weren't for His Majesty's foresight and unpredictable methods, who bestowed good fortune through the feedback from the heavens and earth at the establishment of the dynasty, allowing him to screen out these people, they wouldn't even know that the Heavenly Strategy Palace was raising ghosts.

But soon, Xu Changhai's temper flared up.

"Hmph, if it's hard to tell who's loyal and who's treacherous, then let's not try to

"I'll send them all to the front lines to fight and risk their lives."

“If they survive, it will be considered that their good deeds have made up for their mistakes. I will personally plead with His Majesty on their behalf. If they do not survive, it will be considered that they deserve to die.”

These words can be described as cold-hearted, even callous.

But none of the people present refuted it.

Only Yang Ning frowned: "Although they are not our original soldiers of Tian Ce, most of them are new recruits recruited in the last two years. However, with the various resources bestowed by His Majesty, their average level has reached the Vajra Realm."

"Two thousand five hundred Vajra Realm experts placed on the battlefield would be enough to wage a war that would destroy a nation."

"That's not punishment, but a reward for them."

Upon hearing this, Xu Changhai and the others immediately realized what was going on.

Indeed, Xu Changhai's idea was good, but with Zhu Jinzhen's training of Tian Ce and Cang Yun, more than two thousand Vajra Realm experts fighting desperately could easily start a war that would destroy a nation.

Unless it's an attack on a powerful and aggressive nation like the Mongol Yuan or the Liao Dynasty.

Otherwise, attacking small countries like Annam, Dali, Siam, and Korea would just be sending them to reap the rewards.

"Then what should we do?" Xu Changhai asked irritably.

"Easy to handle."

Zhu Jianqiu's lips curled into a cold smile: "Isn't Yang Ning's dragon in the Americas? There, for thousands of miles around, there is no human habitation, only some uncivilized natives."

"Moreover, that place is said to have many rare and exotic fruits, so they were sent to guard it."

"This way, it aligns with His Majesty's vision for dealing with them, and it avoids criticism that they were innocent and could undermine morale."

In the end, Zhu Jianqiu revealed a disdainful smile.

They had such concerns before today.

From this day forward, Zhu Jianqiu believed that as long as they recounted their experiences, they wouldn't even need to lift a finger; the 300,000 Tian Ce soldiers would be able to devour them alive.

There is absolutely no question of undermining morale!

After much deliberation, Li Chengen finally nodded.

"That's it!"

Family scandals should not be made public.

While everyone's attention was still focused on today's coronation ceremony, Tian Ce and Cang Yun began to send people to handle the matter overnight, striving to minimize all the impact.

……

At the same time, Beijing.

The State Guesthouse. The tranquil night was shattered by the clanging of armor.

Yu Huatian personally led a guard from the West Factory to the State Guesthouse.

The envoys from various countries who had not yet left began to curiously peek out from through the windows or cracks in the doors.

Yu Huatian flicked his cloak and led a group of West Depot guards to the door of a certain room.

Before the guards from the Western Depot could knock, the door opened automatically.

Dressed in a brocade robe, with a handsome face, Xiao Ruofeng smiled gently and humbly at Yu Huatian: "Chief Supervisor Yu, what brings you here so late at night?"

Today, Zhu Jinzhen lavishly bestowed titles and rewards upon the meritorious officials who had contributed to the pacification of the country in front of all the ministers, officials, and envoys from various countries.

Yu Huatian was among them.

The head of the Western Depot.

For Xiao Ruofeng, this was a character no easier to deal with than Zhuo Qing and the others from the Five Great Bureaus.

because……

Although Zhuo Qing is a terrestrial immortal, Yu Huatian has a name on the Investiture of the Gods. Even if his current realm is not as high as Zhuo Qing's, if the two were to fight, Zhuo Qing, who is said to be able to be killed with six palms below the level of a terrestrial immortal, would only have one way out: death.

"Although the Western Depot is far inferior to Cangyun and Tiance, it is said that after Yu Huatian's reorganization and with the approval obtained from His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the strength of the Western Depot has increased dozens of times in a short period of time."

"The head of the Western Depot, who can mobilize the power of the Western Depot and bestow it upon himself, is no less powerful than any terrestrial immortal, even if he is only a Grandmaster of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm."

This is Xiao Yi's evaluation of the West Depot and Yu Huatian after returning.

"You're too kind, Prince of Langya."

Yu Huatian returned the smile without being aggressive or arrogant. Although his tone was cold, his attitude was acceptable. His gaze followed his voice and fell on Xiao Yi, who was drinking tea at the table in the room.

"I am acting on His Majesty's orders to invite Emperor Tianwu, Xiao Yi, to the palace for a discussion."

Xiao Ruofeng's smile froze.

"Invite me?" Xiao Yi's hand paused.

"please!"

Yu Huatian nodded, made a gesture of invitation, and took half a step back, completely disregarding whether Xiao Yi, the founding emperor of the Northern Kingdom and a terrestrial being of the Celestial level, was willing.

In Yu Huatian's view now, his own emperor's will is absolutely not to be questioned.

reject?

If Yu Huatian can't persuade Xiao Yi to come back, he can break his legs and take him back.

"That's fine."

Xiao Yi put down his teacup, calmly got up, and walked towards the door.

As she brushed past Xiao Ruofeng, she heard him open his mouth as if to stop her, and immediately shook her head slightly at Xiao Ruofeng.

Xiao Ruofeng was ultimately too weak; although he was exceptionally intelligent, his knowledge was too limited.

Although the person who came to his door tonight was Yu Huatian, the supervisor of the Western Depot, the secret guards who were monitoring him outside never left. Several terrestrial celestial beings and one being who was even beyond his comprehension were watching him covetously.

How could Xiao Yi possibly refuse?
Xiao Ruofeng and Lei Mengsha escorted Xiao Yi to the entrance of the state guesthouse. Watching the departing figure of the West Depot, the two of them sighed heavily at the same time, a sense of powerlessness overwhelming them.

"Trouble!"

"Although it's unclear why His Majesty the Emperor summoned our founding emperor overnight, things are clearly not simple!" Lei Mengsha said with a worried expression.

"I know."

Xiao Ruofeng replied in a deep voice.

"But there's nothing we can do, isn't there?"

Lei Mengsha was speechless at those words. Indeed, what could they possibly do?
This is the Ming Dynasty.

We don't need many or too skilled experts.

The mere presence of the hundred Tian Ce soldiers stationed outside the state guesthouse, responsible for their safety, was enough to drive them to despair.

Three Grandmasters of Celestial Phenomena and ninety-seven Grandmasters of the Profound Realm.

The extraordinary talents of the Eighth Prince of Beili are nothing but empty fame under such power.

(End of this chapter)