Chapter 576: Massive Death Roll Call

The Great King spoke recklessly, he himself didn't realize it, and the Northern Border Army didn't either.

The soldiers on the outskirts all knelt down, shouting in unison: "Your Highness, may your joy be endless!"

Again and again came the cries of "long life without end, forever receiving blessings"; Bai Li Jing dared to respond whether he ascended the throne or not.

The Great King decided to kill a monkey to show the chickens how tough he is; he rebelliously lifted his chin at Lord Zhe Tian, pointing at Du Weiyue and saying: "He defies the Great King! Zhe Tian, go give him a lesson! Let the world see the Great King's rules."

The troublemaker began to do evil.

The Lord Zhe Tian, who had been watching the excitement, was singled out; it opened its fearsome huge wings—one flap lifted it into the air, the second already placed it above Du Weiyue. Everyone on the platform widened their eyes. Is the Northern Border King going to let this hunting-capable eagle or hawk teach Lord Du a lesson? Oh, I've heard that the grassland hunting hawks are extremely fierce, able to snatch prey directly. Some scholar-officials hurt their own kind, and, angry, the Northern Border King actually let beasts humiliate scholar-officials in public!

Not giving them time to think, the platform changed instantly; Lord Zhe Tian, with one flap of its wing in midair, centered on Du Weiyue, froze out a lump of ice one meter in diameter.

Bad news: the shape isn't as good as what we just practiced; good news: Du Weiyue's head successfully emerged outside and he could still breathe. This task counts as a success—no wonder the Great King spent so long practicing catching Lord Zhe Tian in the sleeping palace. Du Weiyue must not die today; if he dies, the Du clan's provisions will surely fly away.

The Great King felt pleased; don't think he doesn't know these people behind his back say he relies on his strong army to do as he pleases. Look, without the Xuan Jia Cavalry, he can rely on his beloved pet to do as he pleases. Feeling proud, he secretly pinched his waist in his heart.

Lord Zhe Tian's flashy move exceeded the understanding of the people of Chang'an; previously only the grassland barbarians had the privilege to see Lord Zhe Tian perform his stunt. When marching south to retake Chang'an and facing the Jin people, the Great King had never used this cheat.

On the Divine Platform, besides the Northern Border Army who remained calm as before, everyone else was terrified, including the eunuchs and palace maids in charge of the feast.

Some couldn't help crying out, some were so scared they knelt down, some panicked and instinctively wanted to flee; everyone was like a startled bird, and Lord Zhe Tian watched with relish.

But trying to run now is useless—the Northern Border Army had already surrounded the Divine Platform tight, each with a calm, unmoving face like a mountain; the Great King hadn't even taken out his sickle, and no one present was allowed to leave.

By now, any perceptive person knows what's going on—today is the Hongmen Banquet! Indeed, from the moment the Northern Border Army personally delivered the invitation, one should have realized.

Du Weiyue's chest downwards was frozen in the ice block; the bone‑chilling cold reminded him this was no illusion—that bird really froze him immobile with a single flap of its wings. His teeth clenched uncontrollably; he gritted his teeth hard, while Wei Kai beside him, after the shock, was left feeling fearful.

This Northern Border King… is not ordinary.

Wei Kai looked again at the Great King; no matter how he looked, his expression was unpleasant. He chose to whisper his advice: "Bo Ning, just yield. He… has nothing he wouldn't dare; don't throw away your life." Du Weiyue's face turned ashen; something beyond his comprehension was happening to him, leaving him both frightened and angry, but…

The Great King knew he couldn't put aside the arrogant airs of the aristocratic clans, and he didn't regard this man's feudal‑prince background highly. Going back three hundred years, the Baili clan was merely an obscure third‑rate scholar‑officer family, steadily placed low on Du Weiyue's contempt ranking.

The Great King had rebelled; there was no need for the foolish Old Zhang to support him anymore. He let out harsh words, turned, and marched up the steps—was there still a place the Great King couldn't sit?

He sat down.

The Great King felt the throne was a bit high as he sat, and he happily swung his legs. The seat was hard and big, actually not very comfortable, but now that someone opposed his sitting, the Great King found it splendid. Work was so dull; the Great King needed some excitement.

Feeling pleased, he didn't delay, pulling a long face as he began roll‑call. Under the Great Jin system of Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, Bai Li Jun, upon taking the top three dukes positions, had replaced them with his own people; except for the Grand Commander, who is also the Marquis of Defending North and still in prison, the other two, when the Earl of Dongdu attacked the Jianzhang Palace, had already followed the short‑lived Emperor Guanglie to the grave. The Great King could only start roll‑call from the Nine Ministers, and the first unlucky one was the Minister of Rites, Cheng Guang, at the head.

Old Man Cheng, ever since the Great King publicly said he would install Bai Li Jun's harem at his home, has become more honest; usually he's like an invisible person, never approaching him anymore. Recently, when officials have business and often block the door to request an audience, this old man has never shown up once.

"Minister of Rites Cheng, do you think the Great King can sit in this position?"

Cheng Guang was looking at Du Weiyue, whose eyebrows were frosted over; upon hearing his own name, his heart pounded wildly.

"The Emperor Xiaozhang‑appointed successor Emperor Taihe has already passed, Your Highness, your efforts southward to aid the state have merit; although you haven't ascended the throne yet, this old subject thinks you may sit in this position." What he didn't say was: "You should hurry up and ascend the throne, so it would be proper and legitimate." The current situation is that you enjoy the emperor's powers, yet you neglect the duties you should fulfill—good things are all credited to you.

The Great King let him be and continued roll‑call: "Grand Ancestral Master?"

The Ancestral Master cursed under his breath, his face a mask of respect: "I subject believe Your Highness can sit." Whether you can sit or not, you already are. That strange bird flew back and perched on the dragon‑carved pillar behind the Great King's throne; he didn't even dare lift his head to look at the Great King—it was too uncanny.

The Great King nodded, went through all the surviving Nine Ministers; as expected, none had the same lack of tact as Du Weiyue.

"It seems no one objects to the Great King sitting here, so Lord Du is just an exception? Well, the Great King isn't petty; a single exception compared to the assembled worthies who understand the greater good can be overlooked, and this matter is settled."

Du Weiyue felt his blood had probably already frozen; otherwise he would surely be vomiting blood by now.

The Great King clapped his hands in satisfaction: "Let the feast begin!"

This time Zhang Xu reacted much faster, quickly ordering the Director of Feasts's palace maids to start "serving the dishes". Hmm, this meal was so easy to finish it was over as soon as it began……