Chapter 624: Dispatching Generals

What is surprising is that Linghu Qingqing dispatched the clan's chief general to supervise the army on the Three Kingdoms Battlefield.

After all, the dynasty was newly founded, and it came about through usurpation, so Linghu Qingqing could not help but guard against the military families of the previous dynasty. Consequently, more than half of the military cities on the Three Kingdoms Battlefield had their commanders replaced by members of the Linghu clan.

Facing external enemies, this was originally a good thing.

But when facing Lord Tushan Linghu Jiu, it turned into a vexing bad situation.

When Linghu Jiu's nine-tailed celestial fox banner flew high, when Linghu Jiu held the Linghu clan's ancestral Tushan Hall Seal and appeared before the formation, when the several old fogeys of the Tushan Hall lineage leaned on their canes and stood before the military city gate, the morale of the Linghu clan commanders in the city collapsed.

In just one day, over three hundred large and small military cities of the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom on the Three Kingdoms Battlefield opened their gates and surrendered.

The great army of the Wei Divine Kingdom hardly loosed an arrow before its vanguard corps marched straight into the heart of the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom.

At the same time, the troops of the Wu Divine Kingdom on the Three Kingdoms Battlefield suddenly moved out, launching a fierce assault on the panicked Divine Martial Army of the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom; within a day and night they also captured and razed over twenty strongholds, and the Divine Martial Army's pleas for help fluttered like snowflakes toward Qingqiu City.

The court of the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom was in an uproar, and public opinion also rose in clamor.

In the Qingqiu Palace, having just changed robes and wiped the blood from his beard, Linghu Qingqing returned to the court and stood before the throne, his hands resting on the dragon desk, and said word by word with utmost severity: 'The direct line of my Linghu clan's Huxiu lineage has… been completely slaughtered in the previous surprise attack.'

Gritting his teeth, Linghu Qingqing glared ferociously at the civil and military officials filling the hall.

"The so-called Lord Tushan Linghu Jiu put forward by the Wei Divine Kingdom simply does not exist…"

"The Wei Divine Kingdom is a bunch of hypocrites, full of nonsense; their words and deeds are nothing but attempts to slander and defame me. I ask all officials, for the sake of the dynasty, not to believe those rumors."

A low-ranking inspection censor from the Censorate quietly stepped out of the ranks, raised his head, looked at Linghu Qingqing, and proclaimed loudly: 'Your Majesty, the scouts of the Divine Martial Army on the Three Kingdoms Battlefield have reported that the object held by Linghu Jiu is indeed the Tushan Hall Seal controlled by the Tushan Hall lineage of the Linghu clan!'

Linghu Qingqing's body trembled slightly; he pointed at the inspection censor and laughed: 'You do not know, my Linghu clan's Huxiu lineage was slaughtered, and all the clan's tokens were looted.'

The inspection censor cut off Linghu Qingqing's words: 'However, according to the scouts' report from the Three Kingdoms Battlefield, the aura emitted by the Tushan Hall Seal suppresses the bloodlines of many Linghu clan commanders ahead, reducing their combat strength to less than one-tenth… Such power can only be awakened by the direct bloodline of the Linghu clan.'

Linghu Qingqing closed his mouth, shut his eyes, and drew a deep breath.

Yes, only the purest-blooded Linghu clan descendants can activate the Tushan Hall Seal, and its greatest power lies in suppressing the bloodline strength of any Linghu clan member; faced with the seal, they can exert less than a tenth of their power.

The Tushan Hall Seal is the Linghu clan's highest token of authority, representing the clan's dignity and the supreme authority of the celestial fox bloodline.

Even though Linghu Qingqing is the current clan head of the Linghu clan, according to clan law he has no right to hold the Tushan Hall Seal; only those residing in Huxiu, in the Tushan Hall lineage, whose blood is the purest and most noble, can possess it.

The inspection censor's words were indeed frank and straightforward, exposing Linghu Qingqing's evasions.

Linghu Qingqing drew a deep breath, then exhaled heavily; he suddenly swung his right hand, and a massive azure hand seal, glowing like condensed bronze, came crashing down from above the hall and hurtled straight toward the inspection censor's head.

This strike, Linghu Qingqing attacked in anger, and, vexed into fury, he exerted ninety percent of his cultivation.

This mere seventh-rank inspection censor, whose cultivation is only at the peak of the Life Pond Realm, is like an egg beneath a millstone before Linghu Qingqing's hand seal—utterly unable to withstand it.

Gongyang Sanlü suddenly blurred and rushed out of the ranks.

Above his head rose a vast river of ink script that shot into the sky, transforming into an ancient scroll that blocked Linghu Qingqing's hand seal.

Azure light radiated, runes covered it densely; the heavy hand seal violently hammered the ancient scroll that nearly covered half the hall, emitting a thunderous dull roar that made the Qingqiu Palace tremble slightly.

Yet no matter how Linghu Qingqing drove the hand seal, he could never break through Gongyang Sanlü's defense.

The young inspection censor softly sighed, shook his head, and said: 'Your Majesty, we censors of the Censorate have the duty to investigate upon hearing of wrongdoing; below, we can oversee the myriad people; above, we can impeach the sovereign.'

"Your Majesty, before the assembled officials in court, you wish to execute a humble official… this is tyrannical conduct, this is… the act of a foolish ruler!"

Moreover, more than a dozen young inspection censors of the lowest seventh rank stepped out of the ranks, standing tall beside their young colleague, glaring angrily at Linghu Qingqing: 'We, your servants, request a thorough investigation of the Three Kingdoms Battlefield affair… to give the world an explanation.'

One young inspection censor stepped forward another pace and declared solemnly and loudly: 'The ruler of a divine kingdom must bear no stain… please, Your Majesty, give the world a clear and understandable explanation.'

Linghu Qingqing was so angry his eyes turned red; his bronze hand seal struck repeatedly over a dozen times, yet still could not pierce Gongyang Sanlü's defense, and he was on the verge of ordering the Celestial Fox Guard to charge into the Qingqiu Palace and seize people.

Seeing these inspection censors band together to openly rebuke him, Linghu Qingqing burst into fury: 'What is there to investigate about the Three Kingdoms Battlefield? It's merely a matter of deploying troops and commanders—just drive the Wei traitors back.'

Linghu Qingqing jumped and shouted: 'I will personally lead the campaign and slaughter the Wei traitors to the last man!'

"Explanation, explanation… what explanation? This is entirely baseless; whom do I need to give an explanation to?"

Gongyang Sanlü gave a light cough.

Linghu Qingqing fell silent for a moment, withdrew his attack, and the oppressive terror in the Qingqiu Palace instantly dissipated.

Gongyang Sanlü also withdrew his ink-script river, lowered his head slightly, and said in a deep voice: 'Your Majesty, investigating the Three Kingdoms Battlefield affair is not about examining its battles, but about determining exactly what is going on with that Lord Tushan Linghu Jiu.'

Linghu Qingqing trembled with rage, his face turning purplish-red in an instant.

Gongyang Sanlü said in a deep voice: 'Your Majesty, I harbor no disrespect toward you… but now, rumors are rampant at court and among the populace; if Linghu Jiu's true identity cannot be ascertained and proven to be an impostor, then… it will be detrimental to Your Majesty and the imperial clan.'

Gongyang Sanlü said softly: 'Your Majesty, rumors are fearsome, public opinion is fearsome; Your Majesty, together with all the officials at court, you must give the world a reasonable and just explanation.'

Linghu Qingqing's teeth ground together with a grating 'creak'.

He certainly knew he must give the world and the civil and military officials at court a reasonable and just explanation.

Otherwise, the mighty Divine Emperor Linghu Qingqing of the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom would be driven out by his own clan, stripped of his surname—this would be a ridiculous joke; unless he slaughtered everyone under heaven, Linghu Qingqing would have no face to show before anyone.

You damned wretch, who is so vile and shameless as to resort to such despicable, underhanded tactics?

That wretch Linghu Jiu, deserving of death by slicing, actually shows no regard for clan interests, even colluding with the Wei traitors, driving him into this miserable plight.

Moreover, after his accession, that damned brood of descendants and clansmen, Linghu Qingqing has been mobilizing manpower to investigate the Huxiu ambush… he also wants to know exactly who those scoundrels are who dared to strike his own kin, and he cannot tolerate such a fearsome enemy lurking in the shadows.

Yet after all this time, he has not managed to uncover even a trace of a clue.

On the contrary, Linghu Jiu has appeared in the Wei Divine Kingdom and even cooperated with it in attacking the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom!

That Lord Tushan Linghu Jiu, Linghu Qingqing certainly knows he is genuine, not an impostor. As that young inspection censor said, only the Linghu clan members with the purest bloodline can activate the Tushan Hall Seal, and its lethal effect on Linghu clan members is overwhelming!

But… the veins on Linghu Qingqing's temples throbbed wildly; he truly cannot bring himself to accept that Linghu Jiu is real.

"Grand Tutor… can the Grand Tutor believe me?" Linghu Qingqing, forced into a corner, looked at Gongyang Sanlü with a purplish-red face and asked in a deep tone.

"Your servant, of course I believe Your Majesty." Gongyang Sanlü wanted to smile, but as the present Grand Tutor he must maintain dignity and composure… he knows Linghu Qingqing's temper, and if he dared to laugh now, that old military commander would certainly dare to order a killing.

Of course he would not kill Gongyang Sanlü, but the descendants of the Censorate whom Gongyang Sanlü prompted to jump out and make Linghu Qingqing look bad are in danger.

One's own disciples still ought to be protected.

So giving Linghu Qingqing a bit of embarrassment is enough; we must not provoke him further.

"That Linghu Jiu is a fake." Linghu Qingqing stared solemnly at Gongyang Sanlü and repeated: 'That Linghu Jiu is a fake!'

Linghu Qingqing must determine that Linghu Jiu is a counterfeit defective good; otherwise, his imperial foundation, his control over the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom's core, and the vast latent power of the Linghu family will run into trouble—serious trouble.

After all, the Tushan Hall Seal is deadly serious; some old immortals of the Linghu clan still recognize only this thing!

"We all know he's fake. But the world doesn't know." Gongyang Sanlü solemnly looked at Linghu Qingqing: "Only when the so-called Linghu Jiu's head from the Three Kingdoms Battlefield appears before the world will the world know he's fake."

Gongyang Sanlü waved his hand, and the dozen or so inspection censors obediently, like well-behaved children from someone else's family since childhood, returned to the ranks without a word.

Gongyang Sanlü also bowed to Linghu Qingqing, then leisurely walked back into the ranks.

The embarrassment had been given, the provocation had been given, Linghu Qingqing's anger had reached its peak; it was time to call it quits. Gongyang Sanlü was an old hand at gauging this timing.

Linghu Qingqing slowly sat upon the throne.

Even if all the civil and military officials knew that Linghu Jiu could not be fake, as long as this bunch of scoundrels kept silent and pretended Linghu Jiu was a fraud, Linghu Qingqing would save face considerably.

Silently channeling his power, he suppressed the blood qi on the noodle skin; Linghu Qingqing placed his right hand on the throne's armrest, his fingers lightly tapping it, producing a "ding-ding" sound.

On the Three Kingdoms Battlefield side, the situation must be swiftly reversed.

Otherwise, if the Great Wei Divine State and the Great Wu Divine State were to break through from the Three Kingdoms Battlefield and directly invade the heartland of the Green Hill Divine State, the entire southwest, the entire west, would be utterly devastated. What's worse, the ancestral lands of the Linghu clan lie to the west; though a prior surprise attack could be excused, if the Great Wei or Great Wu were to seize them outright, the Linghu clan would lose all face.

However, the Linghu clan-born commanders on the Three Kingdoms Battlefield are essentially completely useless.

These fellows are unreliable. Especially when facing the Tushan Hall seal, they cannot be counted on at all.

Only by selecting a reliable group of commanders from among the civil and military officials...

Linghu Qingqing looked left and right... The commanders sent to the Three Kingdoms Battlefield had best be simple-minded, not colluding with Linghu Jiu; otherwise, if they were a bit clever and Linghu Jiu persuaded them, it would be a big problem.

Moreover, troops cannot be drawn from the Southwest Battlefield.

The pressure on the Great Wu Divine State to destroy the Jin army is also not small; if troops were drawn from the Southwest Battlefield, the Great Wu Divine State has already breached Bilin Prefecture and entered Tianwu Prefecture, leaving the entire Southwest Battlefield extremely passive, and drawing more troops would...

Linghu Qingqing's gaze fell upon the current head of the Xiang clan, also a prominent senior official in the military department, Xiang Zhan.

Unlike the Xiang clan's burly, hulking brutes, Xiang Zhan, though also over ten feet tall with extremely broad shoulders, has a well-proportioned physique, his every move bearing the bearing of a dignitary, utterly lacking the savage coarseness of those Xiang martial generals.

Standing among the military officers' ranks, the dignified-looking Xiang Zhan is also exceptionally conspicuous; compared to them, he is like a red-crowned crane standing among a pack of fierce tigers and wild boars, truly a sight to behold.

Linghu Qingqing laughed and said: "Xiang Zhan, my beloved official, the Three Kingdoms Battlefield—will you take charge as overseer?"

Xiang Zhan gave a dry cough, quickly glanced at Linghu Qingqing, his face slightly flushing.

It seems the matter of the Xiang clan losing soldiers but not commanders in the Southwest Battlefield has reached Linghu Qingqing's ears. The troops under the Xiang clan's command were slaughtered to the last man, and even their private army's halberdiers were completely wiped out, leaving only a few thousand Xiang-born officers.

As for the Three Kingdoms Battlefield, there are troops, but unfortunately the Linghu clan commanders stationed there have become unreliable.

Replacing the Linghu clan's kinsmen with Xiang clan commanders to oversee the great army of the Three Kingdoms Battlefield and pit it against the Great Wei Divine State is truly a match made in heaven!

Xiang Zhan strode out of the ranks and bowed deeply to Linghu Qingqing: "Your subject receives the edict... However, the Great Wei Divine State advances menacingly; all supplies and equipment, especially warships and fortresses, please Your Majesty allocate more."

Linghu Qingqing smiled and nodded; this is exactly as it should be.

He waved his hand and Linghu Qingqing laughed: "Very well, beloved official, however much supplies you think are needed, just go to the Ministry of War and requisition them; I will approve all. But please, beloved official, swiftly gather the many valiant generals of the Xiang clan and rush to the Three Kingdoms Battlefield—there must be no delay in military affairs."

Xiang Zhan loudly assented.

After a quarter of an hour, holding the imperial edict, command arrow, overseer's seal, and supervisor's precious sword, fully equipped, Xiang Zhan hurried back to his residence in great haste.

Not long after, Xiang Zhan's roar nearly overturned the entire Xiang manor.

These past few days, Xiang Zhan has been participating in military affairs at the Ministry of War; all family matters are handled by the clan elders and his own brothers.

Xiang Zhan never expected that the clan members he had withdrawn from the Southwest Battlefield would all have met disaster in Demon-Suppressing City... and moreover, they were all captured alive by Prince An.

Oh, no, not all were captured alive—one died, and it was Xiang Zha, one of the Xiang clan's Five Tigers of the younger generation, Xiang Zhan's own direct grandson, Xiang Zha!

Xiang Zhan sat there, stunned.

Moreover, the news that the many Xiang clan commanders preparing to march to the Three Kingdoms Battlefield had been wiped out in one sweep by Prince An quickly spread throughout Green Hill City.

The city was in an uproar.

The gate of the generals was in an uproar.

The Ministry of War was in an uproar.

Linghu Qingqing remained silent in the inner palace for half a day.