Chapter 140: Crisis at the Wang Ting

"Since the Champion Marquis has already annihilated the 600,000-strong army of Chu and recaptured Yushan Fortress, will he now launch a full-scale attack on the Chongshan Fortress of Chu?"

Shen Lingwei asked, filled with anticipation.

This was a heaven-sent opportunity; occupying the Chongshan Fortress of Chu would be no different than holding a sword to Chu's throat.

In this way, Great Wei could exert a powerful deterrent against Great Chu.

If a war were to break out in the future, Great Wei would hold the dominant advantage.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Champion Marquis has not launched an attack on Chongshan Fortress, but has instead led an army of 200,000 north to reinforce the Xianbei Royal Court."

"Hmm?"

"Hmm?"

"Hmm?"

Once these words were spoken.

The gazes of everyone in the imperial court could not help but focus on the messenger who had delivered the report.

To pass up the fat meat right in front of him and instead go to the trouble of supporting the Xianbei for no reward? Is this Champion Marquis crazy!

Such a question popped into the minds of many.

Some even wondered if there was something wrong with their own ears.

"You, say that again?"

Shen Lingwei furrowed her brows tightly; she also suspected that she might have misheard.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Champion Marquis indeed did not attack Chongshan Fortress, but instead headed north to support the Xianbei. This is a letter written in the personal hand of the Duke of Chen!"

The messenger hurriedly handed the letter from his bosom to the attendant eunuch.

After receiving the letter, the eunuch hurriedly handed it to Shen Lingwei.

After receiving the letter, Shen Lingwei read it through carefully.

Her tightly furrowed brows still did not relax.

"What on earth is this guy up to?"

Shen Lingwei was puzzled.

The letter did not explain the specific purpose of Chu Feng supporting the Xianbei, only stating that Chu Feng must have his reasons for doing so.

"Your Majesty, this move by the Champion Marquis is clearly disregarding the imperial court. There was clearly a perfect opportunity to occupy the Chongshan Fortress of Chu in one fell swoop, yet he led his army north to the Xianbei; this is undoubtedly a contempt for the dignity of the imperial court and the royal family."

Right Chancellor Zhuang Hui had finally caught an opportunity, "Your subject requests that Your Majesty revoke the Champion Marquis's military authority, have him brought back to the Capital to face justice, and dispatch another capable general to take the opportunity to attack Chongshan Fortress!"

"We second this!"

"We second this!"

The officials who were on good terms with the Right Chancellor immediately began to take Zhuang Hui's side.

They all expressed that Chu Feng had delayed the military opportunity and lost the perfect chance to occupy the military fortress of Great Chu.

They also demanded that his military authority be revoked and that he be escorted back to the Capital to face justice.

"Heh, ignorant. Do you really think the imperial court can suppress this Champion Marquis who fears neither heaven nor earth?"

Shen Lingwei sneered inwardly.

She herself was already scrambling to curry favor with him, even to the point of being willing to give her own body.

And yet, you bunch of old fossils are here fanning the flames against me.

"Left Chancellor, what is your wise opinion?"

The Left Chancellor, who had been resting his eyes, slowly opened them and bowed, saying,

"Your Majesty, a general in the field is not bound by the orders of his sovereign. Since the Champion Marquis chose to do this, there must be a reason.

First, it can be affirmed that the Champion Marquis would absolutely not disregard the safety of the imperial court; since he made this choice, he must have his own plans."

After finishing, the Left Chancellor cast a look at Shen Lingwei.

Shen Lingwei understood instantly, knowing that the following matters probably could not be spoken of in public.

"This matter is set aside for now. Court dismissed!"

Imperial Study.

After the court was dismissed, Zuo Xian was invited here by Shen Lingwei.

"Left Chancellor, what exactly were the words you did not continue to say in the imperial court?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to reports from scouts, the Champion Marquis originally intended to conquer Chongshan Fortress three days later, but on the day before the attack, the Xianbei messenger Helante sought out the Champion Marquis.

The two had a secret conversation in the room for a while, and the Champion Marquis immediately changed his battle plan."

"Do you know what they discussed?"

"It is unclear. I only know that the situation for the Xianbei is currently very bad; Great Zhao and Great Chu have combined a 500,000-strong army to attack the Xianbei. This messenger once had a chance encounter with the Champion Marquis at Xianliang Temple, and their relationship is quite deep; the other party even extended an olive branch to the Champion Marquis."

"I am aware of this matter; I heard you mention it last time."

"There is one more thing that Your Majesty should also be aware of!"

"Oh? Which matter?"

"The matter of the Champion Marquis being attacked by Wuyun Daoren of the Hunyuan Sect outside the Capital."

"This..."

Shen Lingwei lowered her phoenix eyes, "Could it be that this matter is related to Helante?"

"It is highly likely!"

The Left Chancellor continued, "Presumably, Helante must have given the Champion Marquis a warning; otherwise, that sneak attack would have inevitably had a significant impact on the Champion Marquis. The Champion Marquis therefore owes the other party a favor."

"But even so, he shouldn't have repaid it like this, right? This price is too high!"

To abandon Chongshan Fortress and turn to charge a thousand miles to support the Xianbei Royal Court—this trade is too much of a loss.

It is completely picking up a sesame seed while losing a watermelon.

"That's right, so Helante must have offered another reason that the Champion Marquis could not refuse. If my old self guesses correctly, this reason is very likely to concern the Champion Marquis's life!"

"What!!"

Shen Lingwei was shocked and turned pale.

This thought was truly too explosive.

Concerning the Champion Marquis's life.

At this moment, Shen Lingwei had completely bound the fate of Great Wei together with Chu Feng.

If something went wrong for Chu Feng, then Great Wei would inevitably be affected as a result.

"Of course, these are just my old self's conjectures; we have no way of knowing the specifics."

Shen Lingwei let her thoughts wander and raised this question: "Left Chancellor, is there any force capable of threatening the Champion Marquis?"

"This..."

The Left Chancellor stroked his beard, "With the Champion Marquis's current strength, there are not many people who can threaten him, but there is indeed one force that has this capability, and they have already made a move against the Champion Marquis!"

"Which force is it?" Shen Lingwei pressed.

"The Netherworld Society!"

"The Netherworld Society!"

Shen Lingwei's pretty face instantly turned deathly pale.

A pair of delicate fists were even subconsciously clenched tight.

Xianbei Royal Court.

At this moment, the Royal Court had been completely and utterly surrounded by the joint forces of Zhao Guo and Chu.

Of course.

Among them was his own most beloved younger brother, the Sovereign Prince Tuoba Ying.

"Imperial Brother, surrender!"

Dressed in a yellow robe, Tuoba Ying said triumphantly, "You have no way to escape now; if you surrender, I can still consider our fraternal bond and spare your life!"

"Tuoba Ying, you traitor!"

Tuoba Hu, clad in armor, pointed at the distant Tuoba Ying and cursed loudly.

He never expected that his closest younger brother would actually betray him, colluding with the two nations of Great Zhao and Great Chu to come and attack him.

"Hmph, those who understand the times are heroes. Imperial Brother, your era has already passed!"

Tuoba Ying leisurely shook the horse whip in his hand, "This is the last warning I will give you, otherwise..."

Whoosh!

Tuoba Hu could not be bothered to waste words with the other party.

He immediately shot an arrow toward him.

"You!"

Tuoba Ying was furious.

This arrow flew directly past his scalp.

If not for his quick reaction, that arrow just now would have definitely cost him his life.

"Brother Tuoba, why waste words with him? Kill him and you will be the new Xianbei Emperor!"

"That's right, everyone attack together, kill him!"

"Good!"

Great Chu general Feng Guangyu, Great Zhao general Liu Yude, and Xianbei Sovereign Prince Tuoba Ying.

The three of them flew together to attack Tuoba Hu.

"Miaohan!"

"Your daughter is here!"

A heroic woman dressed in a red robe appeared abruptly by Tuoba Hu's side.

She was Tuoba Miaohan, Tuoba Hu's youngest daughter.

"I will attract their attention in a moment; you take the opportunity to break out with Qifu Tao!"

"No, I want to fight alongside Father Emperor and shed the last drop of blood for Xianbei!"

"Qifu Tao!"

"Your subject is here!"

"Cover the Princess and leave!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

As the words fell.

Tuoba Hu held a large saber and flew to engage the three in a fierce battle.

"Father Emperor!"

"Princess, follow me and leave quickly!"

At this moment, quite a few enemy troops had already breached the Royal Court.

While protecting Tuoba Miaohan, Qifu Tao led her to fight their way out of the encirclement.

"That woman is Tuoba Hu's youngest daughter, catch her quickly!"

"Haha, she's so beautiful, I'm going to catch her and present her to the General!"

"Don't grab, damn it, this one belongs to our Great Chu!"

"Get lost, our Great Zhao laid eyes on her first."

Two formidable teams immediately noticed their side.

There was no other way!

Tuoba Miaohan was simply too eye-catching.

This caused two elite units from Great Chu and Great Zhao to set their sights on them.

"Princess, hurry and go!"

Qifu Tao knew that he and his subordinates were no match for these two elite units.

He could only take Tuoba Miaohan and retreat while fighting.

Along the way, Qifu Tao's subordinates died one after another at the hands of the enemy.

Even he himself was now suffering from heavy injuries.

Thump!

Qifu Tao finally could not bear the injuries on his body any longer, and he collapsed to the ground with a thump.

"Prime Minister!"

"Pri... Princess, hurry... hurry and flee!"

Qifu Tao used his last bit of strength to urge Tuoba Miaohan to leave quickly.

Tuoba Miaohan could not bear to leave, but having no other choice, she had to flee alone.

As a result, she had not run far before her path was blocked by two Grandmasters.

"Haha, little beauty, where are you running to?"

"You..."

Tuoba Miaohan gritted her teeth.

At this moment, she only had Innate cultivation, so she was simply no match for these two people.

"How should we split this woman?"

"How else could we split her? Of course, whoever catches her first gets her!"

The two Grandmasters lunged toward Tuoba Miaohan at the same time.

Tuoba Miaohan was stunned on the spot, for a moment not knowing what to do.

At the most critical moment.

Two arrows were heading straight this way at an extremely fast speed.