My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 355 Beast
The soldiers were the first to rush into the government office.

In an instant, the government office became unusually quiet.

In the courtyard, many officials who were carrying out their duties were only slightly stopped when they saw soldiers rushing in; they did not appear flustered.

In just a few days, they had experienced this situation many times.

People kept running around, and the government office was always being forcibly broken into. The officials seemed to have gotten used to it. They didn't panic or resist. They just stood quietly on both sides, waiting for things to end.

Fan Zigai sized up the officials.

Among these people were many high-ranking officials. Fan Zigai could see several vice ministers and ministers such as junior ministers from various temples. Most of them were older and had the calmest expressions. The temporary government office was not large, and the officials seemed a bit crowded. The high-ranking officials gathered together to discuss matters.

Fan Zigai bowed slightly to them, and they returned the bow.

Fan Zigai asked, "Where is Master Su?"

He looked at the two young officials beside him. Most of these young officials were subordinates of the ministers. Their numbers were quite good, and they were unlikely to be implicated in such a major event as a rebellion. Moreover, their physical condition was much better than that of the old ministers.

"Go and bring Lord Su here."

“I have an imperial edict to read.”

The two officials agreed and then walked into the inner room.

Fan Zigai stood there, looking at the officials around him. "Gentlemen," he said, "the turmoil in the court will soon be over. There is no need for panic. We will set off tomorrow to return to the Central Plains."

While Fan Zigai was calming things down, Su Wei followed the two young men slowly out of the inner room.

His expression was solemn. From the moment he appeared, he had been staring intently at Fan Zigai in front of him.

"Mr. Su."

Fan Zigai was the first to bow.

Su Wei did not return the greeting. He glanced at the crowd behind Fan Zigai and the soldiers guarding the entrance and exit.

"Lord Fan, didn't we agree that you would take up your post tomorrow? Why are you here in such a hurry?"

Fan Zigai said very seriously, "His Majesty does not like to postpone things. He believes that things that can be done today should not be delayed until tomorrow. Therefore, he has asked me to take office ahead of schedule. Lord Su, I have His Majesty's decree here."

"During this turmoil in the court, Lord Su failed to fulfill his duties, causing the army to be attacked by mutinous soldiers, which almost led to a major disaster. Because of your past merits, your crimes can be pardoned. However, you will have to make do for a while. Please stay in the government office temporarily, and I will send someone to take good care of you."

Hearing Fan Zigai's words, disbelief flashed in Su Wei's eyes.

"So, the turmoil in the court was instigated by me?"

"Lord Su, the imperial edict is here."

Fan Zigai raised the imperial edict in his hand, and Su Wei's lips trembled. "I have been working diligently since the expedition. The Grand Secretary died of illness, the Minister of War died of illness, the Prince of Guan died of illness, and the Minister of Works fell ill. All matters have fallen on my shoulders. I am busy day and night, working from dawn till dusk. The logistics of a million-strong army, the laborers along the way, and the memorials from the rear are all handled by me here."

"Now you're saying I failed to fulfill my duties??"

Su Wei became somewhat agitated. He looked at the officials on his left and right and asked, "Do you all also feel that I have not been dutiful enough?"

The officials in the government office looked at Su Wei, and both the veteran officials and the young people looked extremely dissatisfied.

Fan Zigai brought so many people here, clearly intending to take over the administration of the court from their group.

You were out there suffering and being beaten, and now you're coming here trying to seize our power?
When we were working day and night, exhausting many of our colleagues, why didn't anyone talk about being dutiful or responsible?
Fan Zigai frowned, his eyes turning somewhat unfriendly.

"Lord Su, are you defying the imperial edict?"

Su Wei seemed not to hear Fan Zigai's words. He complained to himself, "When we went to war, I advised him that we couldn't do it this way. With a million soldiers and millions of laborers going to war, the country would definitely be in chaos. But he wouldn't listen to me. He even threatened me with my son, so I didn't dare to say anything more. But what was the result?"

"In this expedition, hundreds of thousands of civilian laborers have died. The officials who escorted them dared not report the casualties among the soldiers. The casualties among the soldiers were even more severe. The number of casualties I have already investigated is around 140,000, and this is not even the most accurate figure."

"Summoning troops is one thing, but every time we go to war, he has to interfere—the Liao River, Liaodong City, and this surprise attack with heavy loads." Su Wei suddenly laughed. "When I first received the military order, I knew something big was going to happen. The first thing was the edict he issued to you, Fan Zigai. I was thinking of appeasing the generals as soon as possible, but he was the first to back down and reveal Yuwen Shu's position. Once Yuwen Shu came out, things got out of control. But now, all of this is my fault???"

Fan Zigai placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his face grim.

"Guards, take Su Wei away."

Su Wei suddenly raised his head and stared straight into Fan Zigai's eyes.

"Fan Zigai"

"Tell me, which is more important, the world or your reputation?"

Fan Zigai noticed his expression and realized something was wrong, and was immediately alarmed.

Su Wei shouted, "Why aren't you doing it yet?!"

"Bang~~~"

Something flew over, and Fan Zigai felt a strong gust of wind.

A golden mace flew out and struck Fan Zigai squarely on the head. Before Fan Zigai could even react, his head shattered, and he staggered before falling heavily to the ground.

At the doorway of the inner room where Su Wei had just come out, Li Xuanba remained motionless, still in the position of throwing the hammer.

As everyone realized what was happening, his accompanying officials screamed, and soldiers in the distance began to rush towards them.

Li Xuanba, wielding a short spear, charged towards the group. Qin Qiong and Yang Xuanzong led their soldiers out from the side gates. When the two sides clashed, Qin Qiong was the first to charge, slashing left and right. Fan Zigai's most capable general couldn't even withstand a single round against him, his head being cleaved off. The soldiers collapsed at the first touch, followed by the accompanying officials.

Without hesitation, Li Xuanba picked up the golden mace and began to strike the people.

Qin Qiong was the first to charge to the door, killing the few who ran the fastest. Then he led his soldiers to block the entrance, preventing anyone from escaping.

The accompanying officials had been dreaming of replacing Su Wei and others and becoming high-ranking officials, but now their dreams had been shattered by the hammer.

Zhao Yuanshu's pants were already wet. He knelt on the ground, looking at Li Xuanba rushing towards him, and cried out, "My Lord!! It's me!! It's me!! Spare me!!"

"Bang!!"

His pleas for mercy didn't last long.

Their presence at the emperor's side already indicated their stance.

These people... they are all Pei Yun's accomplices!
When Li Xuanba put away his hammer and looked around, the whole world was blood red. At his feet lay piles of severed limbs. He was like a wild beast out of control, his body stained with blood, standing amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, searching for his next prey.

Su Wei had lived for over seventy years and was quite worldly-wise, but the kind of slaughter he was witnessing was something he had never seen before. He took a few steps back in fear, not daring to look in Li Xuanba's direction.

If Su Wei was like this, the other officials in the government office were even more terrified. They trembled all over. It was the first time they had ever seen the behavior of the Guanzhong warriors in a frenzy. When these people were completely enraged, nothing could stop them. This scene became a nightmare that the officials would never forget for the rest of their lives.

Li Xuanba put away his hammer and carefully wiped away the bloodstains on it. However, he found that no matter how he wiped, the bloodstains on the hammer could not be removed. He rubbed harder and harder until Qin Qiong grabbed his arm, and only then did he calm down.

Li Xuanba turned to look at Su Wei.

"Mr. Su."

Su Wei trembled and hurriedly stepped forward, "General."

"The rebels have been quelled; you may give the order now."

"Their sudden arrival must be for another rebellion. There must be rebels causing trouble at the city gates and the camp. I must go there to quell the rebellion."

"I entrust the important affairs of the court to the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."

"I will definitely take care of it, I will definitely take care of it."

(End of this chapter)