Chapter 648

Great Wei, the imperial capital Wei Capital.

Likewise heavy snowfall, the snow in Wei Capital lacks the overbearing might of Qingqiu City's snow.

Likewise the goose-feather heavy snow, when Qingqiu City's snow falls it faintly carries a trace of iron-blood killing intent; Cold Qi freezes the snowflakes as hard as porcelain shards, and an ordinary mortal struck by a snowflake on the face may well end up with a bruise.

Wei Capital's snow, likewise goose-feather heavy snow, is light and lively, drifting with the wind, like heavenly maidens scattering blossoms, bearing a hint of poetry and elegance as it slowly settles on the ground, on the rivers, blanketing the picturesque mountains and rivers.

Within the Wei Capital imperial palace, a crystal hall built from huge slices of pure natural crystal pieced together, the present divine sovereign of Great Wei, Xiahou Lumeng, sits cross-legged behind a crystal case inlaid with seven-colored gems, gazing gently at the many officials inside the crystal hall.

Inside the crystal hall are arranged nearly a hundred small cases, each of crystal inlaid with five-colored gems; compared to Xiahou Lumeng's case before him, they merely lack two gem colors, yet possess the same pearl-like radiance, luxurious and noble.

Nearly a hundred heads of the great clans of Great Wei's divine nation sit behind the cases, each wearing long robes and tall caps, with long beards, every hair exuding an elegant aura of "scholarly charm."

Great Wei, with flourishing literary culture, the imperial house and scholar-officials share the realm; thus for any important state affair, everyone discusses and decides together.

Thus Xiahou Miao has been captured alive by Wu Tie on the Three Kingdoms battlefield for several days already; here in Wei Capital, the top figures of the state are still haggling—rescuing him is something that must be done.

But how to rescue?

Is it by forceful seizure, or by ransom at a high price?

If by forceful seizure, will the imperial house provide the troops, or the aristocratic clans, or will the imperial house and clans join forces?

If by high-price ransom, what amount is it, will the imperial house pay this sum, or must the clans also contribute something?

Moreover, why was Xiahou Miao captured alive on the Three Kingdoms battlefield?

Who bears this responsibility?

Is it the responsibility of the commanding prince Xiahou Hanhan leading the attack on Qingqiu Divine State, or of the clan officials accompanying the army? Could there be other reasons? Is there a conspiracy, is someone deliberately betraying the divine state's interests?

These top clan magnates of Great Wei, living in ease and idleness, adept at sipping clear tea with a few friends and engaging in lofty discourse, each brimming with literary vigor, their minds full of countless novel ideas, they can be called the most imaginative people of the age.

As they chatted, the topic spread out without bounds.

The Great Wei's top clans, related by blood to the Xiahou line, the head of the Cao clan—originally a branch that split from the Xiahou long ago—waved a goose-feather fan, his voice clear as a crane's cry, and solemnly put forth his speculation.

"Your Majesty, esteemed officials, could it be that Xiahou Miao's capture is actually… a conspiracy of Qingqiu and the Great Wu?"

"They are actually joining forces in secret to scheme against our Great Wei?"

"The young lord of Tushan Hall, Linghu Jiu, is actually just a bait tossed out by Linghu Qingqing, isn't he?"

"My humble speculation may sound absurd at first hearing, but what if… it turns out true? If so, our Great Wei is in peril."

Inside the crystal hall, even Xiahou Lumeng's eyes lit up, his face flushing with excitement.

This new line of thought—yes, it can work, yes it can!

If it is true, that Xiahou Miao's capture is a plot by Great Wu and Qingqiu Divine State, the two nations colluding to scheme against Great Wei… a few elders skilled at writing proclamations already have their eyes darting, beginning to draft an attacking essay against Great Wu and Qingqiu.

Xiahou Lumeng clapped vigorously, and the other nearly a hundred clan magnates also burst into applause.

For a moment thunderous applause rang out, with many shouting approval for the Cao clan head.

As the discussion grew ever more heated, they began to consider: if Xiahou Miao's capture truly is a conspiracy, then trying to seize him by force might not work—what if the mighty elders sent to retrieve him fell into a trap set by the two allied nations?

Therefore, using force is not an option.

"Ransom, ransom can avoid all danger and let us see their true intentions." Likewise a top-clan head, the Zhang clan chief waved a large fan made of black crane feathers, swinging it vigorously and shouting loudly.

"However, the ransom cost must be seriously negotiated—how much is Xiahou Miao worth, how much are we prepared to pay, and what price will the enemy demand… In the art of planning, we must thoroughly consider every possibility."

Xiahou Lumeng clapped again.

The clan heads likewise burst into applause.

The Zhang clan chief chuckled, rose slightly, bowed lightly all around, then returned to his seat, chuckling as he lifted a splendid horn cup made of rhinoceros horn, held his head high with pride, and drained the wine in one gulp.

A lovely palace maid hurried over with quick small steps, smiling as she poured a cup of wine for the Zhang clan chief.

The maid's boots are top-grade nine-refined immortal weapons; her steps are light, each stride leaving a fist-sized cluster of golden light on the ground, which after she passes blooms open like a golden lotus.

Step by step lotuses bloom, splendid and magnificent… the high-ranking palace maids of the Wei Capital imperial palace, their attire, boots, etc., all have various wonderful uses.

The flourishing wealth and elegance of Great Wei can be seen in this.

The magnates, full of enthusiasm, continued discussing the matter of Xiahou Miao.

As for the safety of Xiahou Miao, now in Wu Tie's hands, even Xiahou Lumeng himself didn't treat it as a serious concern.

Xiahou Miao is, after all, a divine being.

Moreover, he is a divine being born of the imperial Xiahou lineage.

This is not the same as an ordinary captive.

Ordinary soldiers, when captured alive, are not wantonly slaughtered unless in a grand heavenly sacrifice where captives are offered to the gods; otherwise they are not killed at will, let alone someone of Xiahou Miao's stature and cultivation.

In the constant warfare among the three states, even divine-realm experts have fallen before, and this has happened more than once.

Yet captured divinities, from ancient times to now, have always returned safely to their homeland.

In this regard, the three states share an implicit understanding… especially the royal house and its important members: unless slain outright on the battlefield, if they become captives they ultimately can return safely.

After all, who can guarantee they won't become a captive someday, right?

Wave after wave of applause issued from within the crystal hall; the guards, palace maids, and eunuchs standing near and far outside, serving, all wore smiles as they admired this splendid scene.

A red-robed senior eunuch stood at the crystal hall gate, gazing at the distant frozen lake where a long stretch of sandbar lay, and nodded seriously: "After spring comes, we must plant a row of reeds on that sandbar… and raise a few great egrets."

"Thus, next winter's snow will be nothing but sandbar, reeds, and bird silhouettes… beautiful, beautiful!"

This is Great Wei—even a chief eunuch possesses a certain aesthetic sense, able to meticulously craft for his master a living space richest in poetic charm, ensuring that each year the divine sovereign of Great Wei and the nobles within the imperial city see novel scenery in every season.

A mass of cloud-light and water-shadow came speeding from high afar.

Like Qingqiu Divine State, Wei Capital also has layered prohibitions; ordinary cultivators cannot fly or burrow through the earth.

Only those who receive the interdiction badge bestowed by the Great Wei divine sovereign, which shields them from the influence of the city-defense grand formation, may soar and flee.

Seeing the cloud-light hurtling swiftly, the several senior eunuchs stationed at the crystal hall gate shuddered; a purple-robed senior eunuch hastily flicked his finger lightly against the small jade bell hanging on the gate, its clear "ding-ding" notes instantly silencing the crystal hall.

The cloud-light plummeted rapidly from the sky, the crystal hall's doors opened, and it immediately flew inside.

Clad in embroidered hundred-flower battle robes, wearing bright silver armor, crowned with a qilin headdress, mighty and handsome to an extreme degree, the Great Wei divine sovereign's chief commander of the guard, Xiahou Tengjiao, stormed into the crystal hall and knelt on one knee with a resounding "thud."

"Your Majesty, the venerable ancestor Xiahou Miao has fallen."

Xiahou Tengjiao's face twitched slightly, his eyes a bit red…… Xiahou Yin, exactly the direct patriarch of his branch, is the biggest reliance for his branch within the Xiahou clan.

Xiahou Yin has fallen, so the future standing of his branch within the Xiahou clan will surely decline, even his position as Supreme Commander of the Divine Emperor's Guard will immediately face the most direct threat.

"Oh, Sheng Lao Zu has escaped, how wonderful." Xiahou Lu Ming really had a bit too much to drink.

For several days, everyone discussed Xiahou Yin's issue day and night, chatting freely and drinking heavily; although Xiahou Lu Ming had already reached half-step Divine Emperor realm and begun to condense a divine body, after several days of strong liquor he also felt a bit dizzy.

So, he misunderstood Xiahou Tengjiao's words.

"Your Majesty, Ancestor Xiahou Yin has fallen…… Prince An Huo Xiong of the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom stormed the Three Kingdoms battlefield and…… killed the ancestor in public." Xiahou Tengjiao's tears fell drop by drop from his eye sockets: "Your Majesty, I request, I request to go to the front lines to avenge the ancestor."

Xiahou Lu Ming finally heard Xiahou Tengjiao's words clearly.

Inside the Crystal Palace, the heads of nearly a hundred great clans had stiffened faces, their maintained fair and moist complexions turned deathly pale, like a group of corpses smeared with chalk, that stiff, that lifeless.

"This…… breaks the rules……" The head of the Cao clan shook his feather fan vigorously.

"How dare you, young Huo Xiong……" The head of the Zhang clan angrily shook his crane-feather large fan.

"Insane."

"Unreasonable."

"Simply, unfilial."

Inside the Crystal Palace, the top figures of the Wei Divine Kingdom all rose in anger, each standing up and lavishly criticizing Wu Tie with ornate language.

Xiahou Lu Ming's eyes began to bloodshot, he stared fixedly at Xiahou Tengjiao and asked through gritted teeth: "Is the news certain?"

Xiahou Tengjiao nodded firmly.

Xiahou Lu Ming quickly glanced at the nobles and great clans' bigwigs inside the Crystal Palace.

In Great Wei, the royal clan never held absolute advantage; it is actually just a leader elected by the aristocratic clan alliance.

Losing a Divine Emperor realm venerable of the clan is, for the Xiahou clan, a heart-wrenching pain.

This loss cannot go unanswered.

Xiahou Lu Ming rose and said in a deep voice: "Gentlemen officials, Young Huo Xiong's act is utterly shameless…… Today he can kill our clan's venerable; tomorrow, perhaps each clan's ancestor will fall to his hands."

The head of the Cao clan said in a deep voice: "The boy deserves death."

The head of the Zhang clan shouted: "Kill him with all force."

The clan heads all expressed their stance: Wu Tie's behavior of capturing prisoners alive and then publicly executing them has already broken the psychological bottom line of these Great Wei bigwigs.

Too cruel, too brutal, too unreasonable, too unjust.

Wu Tie's actions have already threatened the safety of these bigwigs and the many clan venerables behind them.

Thus, nearly a hundred top noble great clans of Great Wei unanimously agreed, passing unanimously a kill order against Prince An Huo Xiong.

Huo Xiong must die.

Moreover, he must die before the public, die under everyone's eyes, and die in the most miserable way possible.

Otherwise, it would not be enough to deter the world, not enough to show Great Wei's might, not enough to show Great Wei's resolve.

Finally, after a brief five-hour negotiation, Xiahou Lu Ming and the other bigwigs reached a decision.

In just five hours, such a major decision could be made—unprecedented efficiency in the history of the Great Wei imperial court.

The Xiahou clan dispatched two Divine Emperor realm Elders; the Cao and Zhang clans and the other eight strongest aristocratic clans each sent one Divine Emperor realm venerable; the royal clan also sent a state-protection divine artifact to the Three Kingdoms battlefield to assassinate Prince An Huo Xiong.

As for the many other aristocratic great clans, they must continue to provide troops, supplies, and equipment, rushing to the Three Kingdoms battlefield to seek a swift, effective offensive and strive to expand their battlefield advantage over the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom.

Of course, although this decision has been made, actually implementing it still requires some time.

For example, which two Divine Emperor realm Elders the Xiahou clan will send needs careful consideration and interest weighing within the royal clan.

Xiahou Yin has already fallen; if one of the Elders sent out also dies…… how should the clan's internal benefit division be handled?

The other ten top aristocratic clans also have such considerations; the battlefield is perilous, not a place for literary pursuits or poetry—it is where people die……

Even if no one dies, if a clan venerable suffers heavy injury and his strength sharply declines for a time, the clan will also have various undercurrents surging within.

How to handle these relations, which clan venerable to dispatch…… this must be decided through a serious family elder council.

So, Xiahou Lu Ming estimated that about ten days or half a month more are needed before this revenge strike team of twelve Divine Emperor realm powerhouses can set out.

However, this efficiency is already quite good.

Great Wei's scholarly demeanor cannot be like those barbaric martial men of Great Wu, who rush about as urgently as if their buttocks were on fire.

One must stay calm, have order, and follow procedure step by step.

Moreover, setting out after ten days or half a month, the Elders dispatched can march together with the reinforcements sent by each household.

Twelve Elders setting out together is a spectacle not seen in the Wei Divine Kingdom for many years; we cannot let the twelve Elders go alone. These reinforcements can serve as an honor guard to add grandeur to their departure.

Wu Tie has already returned from the Three Kingdoms battlefield to the White Wolf River defense line, beginning to take over the military cities and prisoners returned by Great Wu.

In just a few hours, Wu Tie had already received a commendation order from Linghu Qingqing.

Linghu Qingqing expressed great satisfaction with Wu Tie's bold slaying of Xiahou Yin.