Chapter 178: I let you go to war, yet you're still thinking about my imperial concubine?

I have received the decree and thank you. I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, and will not shirk from any task.

This time the two spoke in unison, just as if they had rehearsed beforehand. Shen Tianxing also showed a satisfied smile; indeed, only by intimidating them could he obtain the result he wanted.

Very good, I am very pleased with you. Once the matter is settled, you will move to the capital, and I will grant you high office and generous stipends—of course, this comes with conditions.

After you each return to your own countries, you must find out who is truly surrendering and who is merely paying lip service. Gather as much evidence as possible; we need solid proof, not false accusations.

For anyone found not sincerely wishing to surrender, each counts as 100,000 taels of silver; the more there are, the more counted. Of course, if uncertain, simply say uncertain—if you wrongly accuse someone, you will be fined 100,000 taels.

Hearing Shen Tianxing's words, the two were overjoyed. After all, being an official is for making money, although of course there is also serving the people—though that is rare.

The key is that these two were not well regarded in their own courts and could not earn much money; upon hearing Shen Tianxing offer so much, they wished they could sprout wings and rush back to their countries.

I will obey the decree, willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, and will not shirk from any task. I will certainly settle the matter properly and smoothly; please rest assured, Your Majesty.

This time the two again spoke in unison; at this moment they were thrilled inside. Initially they had harbored thoughts of framing him, but after hearing Shen Tianxing's clear words, they abandoned that idea.

Although it sounds nice to say the penalty is a fine, if you really do something that displeases Shen Tianxing, you will lose your life.

Step back now; with your words, I am relieved and will entrust everything to you.

I will obey the decree!

Li Kailuo and Qi Dongqiang respectfully answered, then quickly withdrew from the hall; the matter of receiving the envoys was thus easily settled.

As for the content of the national letter, Shen Tianxing also read it; it was all flattering and fawning words, expressing a willingness to surrender obediently. The tone between the lines was rather servile, and Shen Tianxing merely smirked at it.

Bringing two copies of the national letter, they appear respectful and speak earnestly, but in reality they are utterly unwilling.

You're talking nonsense. Who, while the emperor is doing well, would suddenly lose the throne, and if they don't relinquish their country they will lose their lives; not rising in resistance is merely a sign of fearing death.

Making them willing is impossible, but once they see the modernized city you have built, they will probably not feel that way after all; after all, being a wealthy noble who can enjoy life is far more enjoyable than being an emperor.

That may be the reasoning, but Shen Tianxing does not believe that someone accustomed to being an emperor would so easily resign themselves.

But this is no longer something he should consider; knowing that once the Shenzhou Continent is unified he must depart, for the outside world is vast, and that is where he ought to venture.

Subsequently, Shen Tianxing arranged 200,000 troops, together with a dozen civil and military officials, to go to the two countries to handle all aspects of the handover, and at the same time bring over all members of the two countries' imperial families.

After the arrangements were made and everyone set out, news came from the Great Martial side that they had fully secured Great Martial, and Yu Qian began diligently busy himself to pacify the populace and implement Shen Tianxing's new policies.

Lin Feiyun led the troops; when departing, he asked Yu Qian whether he was willing to come along. Yu Qian replied that the Great Martial side was simply too busy, and he could not leave at all.

He must stay here to finish everything before returning, and also have Lin Feiyun, upon his return, ask Shen Tianxing to assign personnel to come help him; otherwise, who knows how long he will be busy.

Lin Feiyun was overjoyed; riding hard, he returned from Great Martial to the Great Zhou capital in less than two months—no, it should now be called Great Feng.

After meeting the two envoys, Shen Tianxing convened a court assembly, changed the state's name to Great Feng, and formally invested Qin Mingyue as empress; the others also received the positions that had originally been promised to them.

After returning to Great Feng, Lin Feiyun saw Shen Tianxing and immediately embraced his leg, tears streaming down his face.

Your Majesty, do you know how much I have suffered these past days? Yu Qian is tormenting me; although everything he says is correct, every right thing he says makes me feel tormented to the point of death.

Do you know what kind of pain that is? Knowing right from wrong yet being unable to rebut, especially when the other party is reasonable; clearly I am not at fault, but just being a little slow makes it my fault.

Trying to rebut, he counters with facts even faster, leaving me unable to respond, as if everything I said were wrong.

Shen Tianxing nodded there, saying that he had deeply felt Lin Feiyun's pain as well, but what then?

I can understand your feelings; there's nothing to be done—you're back now, so don't dwell on the unhappy things. I plan to send a few more people over there, so that Yu Qian can stay in Great Martial from now on, and unless there is something important, he won't be called back.

Shen Tianxing, too, after careful consideration, plans to build an administrative office in the Great Martial region for Yu Qian to reside in.

Furthermore, Shen Tianxing also intends to help Yu Qian marry a woman from a prominent noble family of Great Martial, so that it will be easier for him to communicate with the populace; in any case, he has no intention of letting him return.

This will absolutely be your wisest decision, but you still need to be careful: the people you send over must have extremely strong wills, otherwise they will definitely not be able to endure him.

A person can be upright, but one must not be upright in the same way as him; such a person is a blessing to the state, but for the individual it is a painful torment.

Alright, I understand you; don't come here to complain again, or I'll send you back. Speaking frankly, you should rest assured letting Yu Qian handle things on his own—have you never considered returning to take charge of the overall situation?

By no means; if you want me to go back, you'd have to call Yu Qian back, but I imagine Your Majesty would not make such a decision. Even Your Majesty herself couldn't stand it?

It must be said, Lin Feiyun also deeply understands the hardships Shen Tianxing previously endured; anyway, he himself could not bear it during this period.

Alright, that's it for now; don't say anything else, go rest first. Later your rewards will be issued, and furthermore there is a Great Cloud State that needs you to attack—after all, the other two countries have already surrendered, leaving only Great Cloud.

Lin Feiyun nodded helplessly; if he could, he would not want to go, but now he is Shen Tianxing's pawn, so he must naturally obey Shen Tianxing's orders; as for other matters, they are no longer important.

I will obey the decree; Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly handle the matters you have entrusted to me. However, the Great Cloud State is somewhat special—this country respects women and belittles men, meaning we will have to deal with female soldiers and generals. If possible, I think Your Majesty should send a few imperial concubines on a trip, preferably the Martial Emperor Noble Consort, whose ability to lead troops and fight is not inferior to mine.

If possible, I think Your Majesty could let a few imperial consorts go on a trip, preferably the Martial Emperor Noble Consort; her ability in leading armies and fighting is not inferior to mine.