[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s":3,"chapter-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-187":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortal Through Martial Path, I Who Cannot Die Shall Ultimately Be Invincible",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2325405,4549,"Chapter 187: His Heart Filled with Rage","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-187",187,"\u003Cp>“Jiang Tu’s matter will be discussed later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Tai Xing discarded all pretense, openly declaring he would protect Jiang Tu; anyone who mentioned Jiang Tu or made things difficult for him was making things difficult for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This attitude… left the officials present feeling hollowed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emperor has gone senile!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foolish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tyrant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be better if the Crown Prince took charge as regent, while the old emperor retired peacefully to Taiji Palace to cultivate the Dao and seek immortality. Perfect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the old emperor refused to relinquish power, even seeking to strip the Crown Prince of his authority. Previously, he allowed the Crown Prince to participate in governance; now, he constantly found excuses to confine him, forbidding any contact with outer ministers, thus cutting off the Crown Prince’s chance to advise on state affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utterly absurd!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guarding the Crown Prince so fiercely, many ministers grew deeply anxious, fearing something unspeakable might happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Crown Prince himself grew increasingly debauched and erratic, as if determined to destroy himself completely. Some claimed the Crown Prince acted this way to reassure the old emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this only gave the old emperor further reason to despise the Crown Prince for neglecting his duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, everything has two sides—advantages and drawbacks. If the Crown Prince, despite being suppressed and confined, still showed resolve and continued to offer constructive advice, the old emperor would likely lie awake at night, fearing even harsher repression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By acting absurdly, however, the old emperor’s vigilance toward the Crown Prince might ease slightly; occasionally, conscience might stir, and someone might still deliver memorials to the Eastern Palace for the Crown Prince to comment on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time the old emperor defended Jiang Tu, court ministers would entertain the treasonous thought of replacing the Crown Prince. If someone now incited the Crown Prince to stage a coup, followers would flock to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no one dared step forward. Even if someone did, the Crown Prince likely lacked the courage to take that step. Even if he had the courage, the Imperial Guard was no mere puppet force. The Commander of the Imperial Guard was the old emperor’s loyal hound and falcon—don’t forget the Imperial Stable Supervision; it too housed several thousand troops, all loyal to the old emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old emperor felt no security, so he prioritized palace defense above all else, placing only trusted men in key positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, taking advantage of the Jinzhou rebels’ unrest, he replaced the officers of the Military Bureau with men he deemed reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had fully sealed off the palace and the capital—no one could stir up trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What can one do but cry out in despair!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless, unless a ninth-rank martialist—or even a Grandmaster—could be persuaded to intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Grandmaster could match a thousand troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Grandmasters were scarce resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor had it that the palace already housed a Grandmaster—but he remained the old emperor’s man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince had too few capable men under him; he could not stand against the old emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no other option, the ministers could only endure the mad old emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You may protect Jiang Tu—but pay for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers united, forcing the old emperor to open his purse: not only must supplies and rewards be sent to the Jinzhou pacification army, but the salaries of officials in the capital must also be backpaid. Not necessarily all of it—just three or five months’ worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Jiang Tu must die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the ministers united—especially when the two Grand Secretaries openly took a stand—their power was terrifying; even the old emperor, who had dominated court affairs for decades, could not ignore them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old emperor flew into a rage and smashed his most treasured fly-whisk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcing him to pay was like cutting out his flesh. Jiang Tu had just helped him amass wealth, and now they demanded he hand it all over—how absurd!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the ministers were all eyeing his little treasury, refusing him even a moment of peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could we raise taxes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! Last year the south suffered floods; this year the north faces drought. The people are in misery—Your Majesty must show mercy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are there no other options?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at present. Unless Your Majesty is willing to split half the mining taxes with the Ministry of Revenue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absurd!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, they were still fixated on his private stash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers surged forward; even the old emperor had to retreat a step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After days of back-and-forth struggle—dividing interests, dividing power, reshuffling appointments—the old emperor finally agreed to draw from his private treasury to subsidize the Ministry of Revenue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the Ministry of War rushed supplies and silver to Jinzhou. Halfway there, news arrived: the Marquis of Pingjiang led the pacification army in a fifteen-day siege, finally capturing the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over ten thousand rebels slain, tens of thousands captured—a great victory!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the rebel leader, Great Ming Wang, and his elite infantry and cavalry escaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they captured Great Ming Wang’s sworn brother, the rebel’s third-ranking leader—enough to make the old emperor beam with delight. Perhaps even the incident at Li family’s estate could now be lightly dismissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the victory report reached the capital, the gloomy Taiji Palace finally echoed with laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old emperor abandoned his stingy, harsh demeanor and ordered lavish rewards for the Marquis of Pingjiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Qingzhi is mediocre in court affairs, but he’s formidable in battle. This time, he’s finally crushed the Jinzhou rebels. Too bad Great Ming Wang and his followers got away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only under Your Sacred Majesty’s rule could such a great victory be achieved. The Marquis of Pingjiang’s triumph is entirely due to Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha…” The old emperor was delighted, especially fond of flattery. “Order that Great Ming Wang’s sworn brother be brought to the capital and flayed alive. I want the world to see the fate of those who kill officials and rebel—will anyone dare rebel again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old emperor radiated murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Defu bowed deeply in acceptance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captured rebel leaders were not merely one sworn brother—among the tens of thousands of prisoners, hundreds of minor and major commanders existed. The old emperor gave his orders: the primary rebels must all be executed; the rest to be screened—those deserving death, executed; those suitable for recruitment, enlisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old emperor’s intent was clear: to make heads roll, to kill until even the lowest peasants dared not rebel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis of Pingjiang was inwardly filled with rage, though everyone clustered around him, praising the battle—how brilliant, how masterfully commanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to his plan, had his troops followed orders, Great Ming Wang would never have escaped. The imperial army could have annihilated the rebels entirely, bringing lasting peace to Jinzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had bribed turncoats within the rebels; with so many moles inside cooperating, Great Ming Wang still escaped, along with the elite infantry and cavalry. In effect, though the rebels were defeated, their core remained intact, their foundation unshaken. With a few men rallied, they could return in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it! Such a flawless strategy, with inside traitors aiding from within—and yet the battle turned out like this? Only one sworn brother captured, tens of thousands of rabble—what kind of victory is this? Merely a face-saving illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Great Ming Wang lives and his elite forces remain, to claim the Jinzhou rebels have been utterly crushed is premature. The Jinzhou campaign is far from over—it will flare again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis of Pingjiang gazed at the rolling, endless mountains, his heart heavy with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew his mission to pacify Jinzhou was complete; he would soon return to the capital. The old emperor would never allow him to remain in Jinzhou long-term, truly commanding such a formidable army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the rebels’ potential return, it was no longer his concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the ministers acted more promptly, delivering supplies and rewards on time, the troops would never have disobeyed orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood politics!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his old temperament, any soldier who disobeyed would have been beheaded on the spot. Now, he submitted a memorial, leaving their punishment to the court.\u003C\u002Fp>",1350,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","02c8cbefd9952d6ed32f60f39ab7b74b5be27037c4506de39b7b3a3d5a059ecd","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-188","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-186",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]