Chapter 120: Public opinion was overwhelming

“If Your Majesty does not agree, this old subject will kneel here until he dies!”

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji suddenly raised his head and shouted angrily.

He was gambling!

He had staked everything!

The matter had already blown up.

The entire population of Changancheng had gathered here.

No matter what.

This time, he would mobilize the entire strength of the nation to tear Qin Mu into pieces!

The furious Li Er still yielded!

Your Majesty!

You must agree, whether you want to or not!

“Zhangsun Wuji, what is this? Are you forcing me?”

Li Er’s face was terrifyingly gloomy.

As a political master, he understood everything.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s actions were purely to force him into a war with Great Qin!

But what time was it now?

The Great Tang was at a critical moment of reform!

The books had already arrived.

A full 100,000 books meant that in the next few years, they could cultivate over ten thousand scholars from humble backgrounds.

“460”

Such a large number of talents would be enough for Li Er to flex his muscles and clear out all the aristocratic families in the upper echelons of the imperial court.

What the Great Tang needed most right now was time!

Developing quietly was the right path!

Yet at this critical juncture, you, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji, for the sake of your own private interests, want to use the state’s power to avenge your son?

You are quite something, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji!

Li Er was so angry his teeth itched; he wished he could just cut Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji down with one strike.

“Your Majesty, I implore you to dispatch troops against Great Qin. My Empress Zhangsun family will never forget Your Majesty’s great kindness for generations to come!”

“For the Great Tang, for Your Majesty, we are all willing to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy!”

“Great Qin has the ambition of a wolf; they have bullied our Great Tang too much. Even the Empress and Princess Princess Changle are still in Qin Mu’s hands.”

“Such a great humiliation—I cannot bear it any longer. I would rather die on the battlefield than suffer such indignity.”

On Zhuque Avenue, over a thousand members of the Empress Zhangsun family all knelt on the ground, shouting loudly.

They were filled with righteous indignation and passion, wishing they could immediately go to the battlefield to die.

“You!”

Li Er was trembling with rage, pointing at Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji and the clansmen behind him, unable to speak.

Is this the trusted confidant I relied on most?

Now they are actually colluding to force me!

“Duke of Zhao, calm down!”

“In such a public place, where do you put His Majesty?”

Fang Fang Xuanling really couldn’t watch anymore.

As far as the current situation was concerned.

The Great Tang absolutely could not go to war with Great Qin!

Various reforms within the imperial court were blocked at every turn, and disputes between the aristocratic families and the humble scholars were constant.

Conflicts of interest were countless.

Even the Five Surnames and Seven Clans and the Guanlong nobility had complaints about Li Er’s actions.

These forces were the foundation upon which Li Er currently held his throne.

Seeing that the Great Tang’s rule was already precarious.

If they were to rashly go to war with Great Qin, the consequences would be unimaginable!

The worst-case scenario.

The Great Tang’s empire might not even be preserved!

“This old subject dares not! It is just that Great Qin has bullied our Great Tang too much. The Empress Zhangsun family has an Empress imprisoned and a son killed by Qin Mu! Qin Mu’s actions are not just bullying our Empress Zhangsun family; he is also slapping Your Majesty in the face!”

“Any man of spirit in the Great Tang could never tolerate another country treating our Empress and Princess in such a way, insulting the dignity of our Great Tang!”

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s voice echoed over Changancheng.

These words were no longer meant for Li Er, but for the onlookers around them.

These words were no longer meant for Li Er to hear, but for the onlookers gathered around.

They were all subjects of the Great Tang!

“You!”

“Guards, take Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji into custody at the Duke of Zhao’s Prefecture!”

Li Er could no longer endure it.

Before the situation deteriorated further, this farce had to end!

“Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhao is not wrong! I also petition to go to war with Great Qin!”

“Right! Great Qin has insulted us too much. If we continue to swallow our pride, how will the surrounding nations mock us?”

“If it cannot be endured, there is no need to endure it any longer!”

“Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!”

“Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!”

Just as Li Er was about to explode, the crowds on both sides of Zhuque Avenue began to voice their support for Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji.

They kept shouting the word ‘revenge’.

The terrifying momentum left Li Er struggling to breathe.

Fine beads of sweat also seeped out on Fang Fang Xuanling’s forehead.

This is...

The power of public opinion!

“Your Majesty, what should we do?”

Fang Fang Xuanling kept wiping the sweat from his forehead, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Having experienced so many grand scenes, no one had ever seen such a spectacle!

Being forced to this point by both ministers and subjects.

Throughout history, only Li Er had ever received such treatment!

In the history books a hundred years from now.

This incident would likely ensure Li Er could never recover his reputation.

“What else can I do?”

Li Er clenched his fists, the veins on his temples bulging.

He was angry to the extreme, but could only force himself to endure it.

Otherwise, what?

Bring Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji to justice and incite the wrath of the people?

Those aristocratic families were all watching for Li Er’s mistakes!

If he fell right into their trap, the reforms would be even more remote...

“Hoo... hoo...”

Li Er took deep breaths and slowly stepped forward.

In an instant, Zhuque Avenue fell silent.

Tens of thousands of eyes were quietly staring at Li Er.

“I announce that from this day forward, the Great Tang declares war on Great Qin. I swear to avenge the Empress and Empress Zhangsun Chong!”

Li Er raised his hands high, his majestic voice resounding through the heavens and earth.

“Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!”

Everyone shouted excitedly.

The Zhuque Avenue, which stretched for dozens of miles, was now Wu Li Ke a boiling pot.

And Li Er felt as if all the strength in his body had been drained away.

He was tottering!

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

Fang Fang Xuanling hurriedly supported the collapsing Li Er.

“I am fine, I am perfectly fine!”

“Return to the palace!”

Li Er glared fiercely at Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji, said nothing, and walked toward the palace with a staggering gait.

Once Li Er had walked far away, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji slowly raised his head.

A trace of an imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Qin Mu! Great Qin!

Hahaha!

Perish!

I will make you accompany Chong’er in death!

The Imperial Palace, Ganlu Hall.

“Crash! Bang! Clatter!”

The sounds of various things being smashed came continuously from inside the hall.

The Ganlu Hall was in a state of chaos.

Li Er held a precious sword in his hand, kicked over the imperial desk, and used the sword to hack at the various decorations around him.

Priceless treasures were smashed to pieces one after another.

“Scoundrels! Scoundrels!”

Li Er was angry to the extreme, roaring wildly and venting his frustration.

He had never been threatened Wu Li Ke this in his life!

Even back at the Budalagong.

Qin Mu had never made such an intense move.

A great humiliation!

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”

Fang Fang Xuanling kept wiping his sweat, both nervous and fearful, while also worrying about the losses that would come from going to war with Great Qin.

That would be...

An incalculable loss!

What to do?

Everything was beyond saving.

“Calm my anger, my foot!” Li Er cursed, panting heavily: “Issue the decree: once the Duke of Su, Cheng Cheng Yaojin, returns from his campaign in the Western Regions, he is to lead 200,000 troops to attack Great Qin!”