Simultaneous travel: I am a talented person in all the worlds

Chapter 429 Let's stir things up! We stirred things up so much that the northern barbarians invaded.
Imperial capital, royal palace.

Unlike the bloody and desolate atmosphere of the North, this place still maintains the last vestiges of the thousand-year-old empire's luxury and majesty.

A massive golden pillar with a coiled dragon supported the dome, and officials lined up on both sides according to their rank, all in complete silence.

On the dragon throne, the young emperor sat upright, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion and helplessness.

"Report!"

A dusty messenger rushed in, stumbling and crawling, reporting in a terrified voice:
"Lord Gozchi is dead... The 'Imperial Assassination Squad'... has been wiped out."

That short sentence resounded like a thunderclap in the hall.

The entire court was horrified and paled.

"what?!"

"Lord Gozchi is the Empire's top assassin! How could this be?"

"That assassination squad was capable of wiping out a small country! And... they're all gone?"

Discussions and exclamations rose and fell, and the entire court was instantly thrown into chaos.

The young emperor, sitting high on his throne, was already pale with fright. He could only look helplessly at the man beside him who was the only one who could remain calm and was even leisurely munching on a piece of roasted meat.

"enough."

A loud, powerful shout silenced all the other noises in the hall.

Minister Ernest tossed the bone aside and wiped his mouth with a greasy handkerchief.

"The message hasn't been fully delivered yet. Even if you gentlemen are loyal to the country and want to discuss countermeasures, you should at least have heard it all before we discuss it further."

Minister Ernest then gestured to the messenger to continue.

The messenger swallowed hard, his voice trembling, and continued to report the urgent military report from the north—

The army of the Church of War is advancing with unstoppable momentum!

In just a few days, they captured more than twenty cities in succession!
The northern defense line is riddled with holes... and has almost completely collapsed!
If the previous news was a thunderclap, then this news is like the sky falling and the earth collapsing!

The entire imperial court was in an uproar.

"Rebellion! Rebellion! A bunch of barbarians dare to call themselves a nation and cause chaos!"

"More than twenty cities! What were those generals doing? Were they all pigs?!"

"It's over... It's completely over... Those barbarians from the north are about to reach the capital!"

"We must immediately send troops to suppress them! Tear these traitors to pieces!"

Inside the council hall, officials lost their composure, and the courtiers were filled with fear.

The sounds of arguing, crying, and mutual attacks were incessant.

The young emperor turned pale with fright at the sight, but Minister Ernest remained remarkably calm.

His fat face revealed no emotion, but as he surveyed the room with his gaze, the commotion gradually subsided.

Minister Ernest glanced around at his silent, trembling colleagues, a disdainful sneer spreading across his plump face:

"Heh, what's all the noise about? A bunch of good-for-nothings who only know how to enjoy themselves in the capital, and now they're getting anxious?"

His gaze shifted to the head of the military ranks, to the man who stood like a mountain, clad in heavy armor, and who was resting with his eyes closed.

"General Bude".

The man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. He was none other than the Imperial Army's Supreme Commander, and besides Esdeath, another "strongest in the Empire," General Bud.

"Your subject is here." His voice was as steady as a bell.

"What's your opinion on the situation in the North?" Ernest asked.

General Bud had always looked down on Ernest, but with the nation in peril, he knew the gravity of the situation and said in a deep voice:
"The Church of the God of War is powerful, has gathered the people of the tribes, and is empowered by strange forces. It is no ordinary rebellion. The northern defense line has been breached. If we allow them to advance unchecked, their military might will reach the heart of Ji Province in less than half a month, threatening the safety of the capital."

"well said."

Minister Ernest nodded, as if he had expected his answer.

He turned to the young emperor on the dragon throne and calmly smiled:
"Your Majesty, this old minister has a plan that can ensure the safety of the capital."

"Speak quickly, my dear minister!" the young emperor urged.

“Abandon most of the northern region.”

Ernest made a startling statement.

"Concentrate all forces and gather them along the Huguan and Hulaoguan lines! These two passes are formidable fortresses, easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"Our army, holding its strategic positions and waiting in comfort, can firmly block the enemy from advancing south into Shanxi and Hebei. In this way, the capital can be secured and the nation's destiny can be preserved."

These words caused an uproar in both the court and the public.

"What? Abandon the North? That's nearly a fifth of the Empire's territory!"

"Absolutely not! This is ceding territory to make peace, a disgraceful and humiliating act!"

Ernest sneered:
"A bunch of fools! Land can be taken back, but if the capital is lost, every single one of you noble families will have to become slaves to the barbarians! Then we can talk about shame!"

His words left everyone speechless. Everyone understood that this was the most realistic and effective solution.

"This matter will be under the full command of General Bude, who will oversee the defense of both passes and control all troops."

Ernest looked at Bud, "General, any objections?"

General Bud gave Ernest a deep look.

Although he despised this man for his manipulation of power and his disruption of the court, compared to the other fools in the court who were only good at party politics and had no real strategy, Ernest might be bad, but he was definitely not stupid.

At this critical moment, the nation was in peril, and the emperor had issued an edict ordering him to lead troops into battle to defend against foreign enemies...

This is exactly what he wanted!

"My lord, take the order!"

General Bude accepted the appointment on the spot.

A strategic decision concerning the fate of the empire was made in this short period of time.

After the next court.

The civil and military officials dispersed with varying expressions.

A group of high-ranking court officials dressed in magnificent robes, along with the heads of several long-established families in the capital with deep roots and centuries-old traditions, quietly evaded Minister Ernest's spies.

A secret meeting was held in a secluded mansion in the city.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and one of the key ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor by the late emperor, his position was second only to Ernest.

Inside the secret room, wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner.

The Minister of Finance, along with several other elder statesmen of the imperial family, gathered together, each with a face so gloomy it could drip water.

"That's unreasonable!"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer slammed his hand on the rosewood table, making the teacups vibrate.

"That fat man Ernest is increasingly disregarding us! He ceded the North with a single word, and not a single person dared to object!"

"Hmph, now he holds great power, and His Majesty listens to him without question. And that stubborn brute, Bude, only listens to His Majesty. Who can do anything about it?" another old man sneered.

"Let's leave those aside for now. I only want to ask you, what exactly is going on with the rebels?"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and his gaze swept across the assembled guests with a sharp, piercing intensity:

"After all this time, why are we still stuck in this corner of the southwest, unable to make an inch of progress? Have all the money, food, and soldiers we've invested each year been wasted?!"

"Or are you saying that at this point, you're still fighting? Still struggling?!"

These words made the atmosphere in the secret room even more oppressive. In an era with extremely low literacy rates, how difficult it was to organize and operate a force capable of sweeping across the world and possessing millions of members.

Throughout history, large-scale peasant uprisings have almost always been orchestrated by powerful figures.

Or, as in the end of the Qin Dynasty, it was secretly driven by the power of the old aristocratic families of the six states.
Alternatively, groups like the Yellow Turbans at the end of the Han Dynasty, the Red Turbans at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, and even the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom at the end of the Qing Dynasty all originated from religious groups.

Behind the latter, there are often many powerful families who hedge their bets and secretly drive the development of the situation.

There's no other way; to manage a large force effectively, being literate and able to keep accurate accounts is the bare minimum requirement.

Such valuable talent is simply impossible to mass-produce at the grassroots level in this era.

In this era, the largest official religion within the empire was called "The Way of Peace," which had little to do with the suddenly emerging, well-organized, and powerful rebel army.

So, the composition of this rebel army is pretty self-evident...

Most of the high-ranking members were illegitimate sons or protégés of the prominent families present, who had been assigned there as spies.

On one hand, they act as front men, handling shady matters and serving as the family's shadowy force.

On the other hand, Minister Ernest has gone too far in his play and gluttony over the years, and now he wields immense power and control over everything.

These old-fashioned nobles had long disliked him.

Coupled with natural disasters and man-made calamities, and the people suffering, they knew that the empire's thousand-year fortune was coming to an end, so they planned to go with the flow and support this "rebel army" in order to overturn the chessboard and reshuffle the cards.

But now, this important piece seems to be out of control.

One of the family heads spoke with a troubled expression:
"This time it really wasn't our fault. With a crisis looming, how could we be so reckless?"

Another family head echoed:

"Yes, I've sent people to inquire several times. The reply they gave was that there are internal disagreements and they're currently discussing it."

"Discuss? Discuss my ass!"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was furious and threw a teacup at him.

"They're still negotiating even though the executioner's knife is practically at our throats!"

The family head who was hit dared not speak out against his anger.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was trembling with rage. He knew all too well what kind of idiots his teammates were, and his finger quivered as he pointed at these well-dressed fools:

"Go ahead and stir things up! Keep stirring things up! Stir up the Empire's front lines until they collapse and suffer defeats, stir up chaos in the north and let the barbarians from the north invade. I'll just die with you all!"

……

Southwest, rebel headquarters.

The atmosphere was equally tense inside a council hall converted from the former governor's residence.

Dozens of high-ranking rebel generals sat around a table, their arguments nearly lifting the roof off.

There is only one point of contention:
Ultimately, should they choose to stand with the unstoppable Church of War and join them in overthrowing this corrupt empire?

Or should we temporarily side with the empire and resist the barbaric invasion of the "barbarians" from the north?

"I disagree! We must not surrender to those barbarians from the north!"

A young general, clad in magnificent soft armor and exuding an air of nobility, slammed his fist on the table and declared loudly, "We are subjects of the empire! How can we associate with those barbarians?"

"That's exactly right,"

A middle-aged general, dressed in fine clothes and with refined manners, nodded in agreement.

"Now that the northern barbarians have invaded, it is the perfect opportunity for us to drive out the barbarians and win the hearts of the people! As long as we send troops to repel the northern barbarian invasion, and then march our army into the capital, who in the world will not welcome our royal army with food and drink?"

This statement immediately garnered support from many people.

These people mostly came from distinguished backgrounds, and their speech and behavior exuded an undeniable sense of superiority. They were the "spies" planted by various powerful families within the rebel army.

For them, the emergence of the Church of the God of War was a nightmare from heaven.

They already knew the fate of those powerful families in the north through secret reports.

Surrender? Sure.

However, after surrendering, all family property was confiscated, and the clan members had to start all over again, relying on their military achievements to gain status, which was absolutely unacceptable to them.

Compared to the ferocious Church of War, the decaying empire seemed "friendly".

However, the generals of the other faction roared in fury.

"Fuck your mother's fart!"

A burly man with a full beard and a towering build slammed his hand on the table, pointed at his nose, and angrily shouted,
"Citizens of the Empire? When those noble lords forced us to the brink of starvation and ruin, why didn't you call us citizens of the Empire then? Now you remember us? Too late!"

A burly man with a dark complexion and arms covered in knife scars standing next to him also sneered:

"Why are we rebelling? Isn't it because this entire cannibalistic empire is rotten to the core?!"

"Now a war god church has come from the north. They're killing corrupt officials, slaughtering evil gentry, and overthrowing this decaying empire! Aren't they doing the same things we're doing now and want to do?!"

"I've sent someone to check!"

The bearded man nodded in agreement, "Where they live, no matter your background, as long as you dare to pick up a sword and fight, you can gain power and status! That's the kind of world we want!"

His words were like oil being poured onto a raging fire, instantly igniting the fury of all the generals who came from humble backgrounds. Most of them had similar experiences, and their hatred for the empire had long been ingrained in their bones.

The Church of War's "merit-based" rule and its attitude towards the common people showed them a new and hopeful world.

"You brute! Stop talking nonsense!"

The refined middle-aged general's face turned ashen with rage. "The Church of the God of War is a barbarian cult, and its intentions are surely treacherous! You are inviting wolves into the house, plunging the world into misery!"

"All I know is that the Empire, this 'domestic wolf,' has almost devoured us 'sheep'! Now that an 'outsider wolf' has come to kill the 'domestic wolf,' I'd be more than happy to hand it the knife!"

The bearded man roared, "And you bunch of hypocrites spouting morality, don't think I don't know your background! Aren't you just dogs kept by those powerful families?"

"I tolerated you before because the situation was unclear, for the sake of the bigger picture! Now that the Church of War is here, I don't have to tolerate you anymore!"

Before he finished speaking, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes!

"Do it!"

With a loud shout, more than a dozen grassroots generals instantly drew their swords and rose up. Their movements were as fast as lightning and perfectly synchronized, clearly indicating that it was premeditated!

"Qiang——!"

A flash of blade, a splatter of blood!
The refined middle-aged general and his men were completely taken aback when the other side dared to make a move right there in the council hall. Caught off guard, several of them were immediately cut down.

"Are you crazy! Are you trying to rebel?"

The middle-aged scholar-general was filled with shock and rage, and spoke recklessly. He drew his sword to parry, but the bearded man's powerful slash sent his sword flying.

"I was a traitor to begin with!"

The bearded man grinned maliciously, kicked him to the ground, and raised his thick-backed broadsword high in the air. "Go to hell, you aristocratic dog!"

puff!

Heads rolled off, and blood stained the luxurious carpet.

The council hall instantly transformed into a battlefield, filled with shouts of battle, screams of agony, and the clash of weapons.

The grassroots generals, who had long harbored resentment, erupted at this moment, each one like a tiger descending from the mountain. The generals from the aristocratic families, on the other hand, mostly rose to their positions by virtue of their literacy and the faction's provision of lives, supplies, and provisions. They were no match for these desperados.

When the doors of the Hall of Righteous Gathering were reopened, the bearded man, covered in blood, walked out carrying the head of the middle-aged scholar-general.

Upon seeing this, the guards who had already assembled outside shouted in unison:
"The general is mighty!"

The bearded man raised the head high, his voice booming like thunder:
"Issue my order! All traitors and lackeys of noble families who are loyal to the Empire shall be executed without exception! From this day forward, the entire rebel army shall be under the command of the God of War!"

(End of this chapter)