Chapter 390: Still not enough

Da Yu Prefecture, the Imperial Capital of the Holy City.

Amidst the swirling divine mist within the towering Imperial Palace, officials of all ranks residing in the capital were dressed in solemn attire, heading toward the morning court session.

News had already arrived of the incident at Mount Mount Wuliang on the remote border of Qingzhou. In this Imperial Capital, where official influence was most concentrated and complex, undercurrents had long been surging; countless people had spent the previous night sleepless.

When they first heard the news, many doubted the reliability of their intelligence. It was only after contacting acquaintances that they realized the sky had truly collapsed!

One was the Buddha Lord, the leader who bore the incense of the Buddhist Sect.

The other was a peerless genius, currently in the ascendant and dazzlingly brilliant.

Young and possessing terrifying strength, he also held illustrious military merits, with an infinitely bright future.

That two such shining stars of the human race would collide with each other was simply shocking.

The impact of this collision would spread to countless forces, large and small. Although the leader was dead, the Buddhist Sect would not simply scatter like birds and beasts. Even in ordinary martial arts sects, if one did not cut the weeds and dig up the roots, disciples would endure for years to avenge their masters, let alone a religion like the Buddhist Sect, which possessed such cohesion and faith.

The Buddhist Sect was deeply rooted. Although the Hearing Hearing Yu Huang had, hundreds of years ago, prohibited members of the Imperial family from converting to Fomen on the grounds of thin royal bloodlines and the need to produce heirs,

outside of the Imperial bloodline, many among the officials, ministers, and retired veteran generals—once illustrious dignitaries—had, either voluntarily or under secret guidance, retreated into the empty gate to cultivate a sense of quiet comfort.

Now, with the Buddha Lord beheaded and the spiritual leader of the Buddhist path executed, it would be a massive shock to these believers.

Outside the Profound Emperor Gate, a luxurious Long Que cloud carriage sped over and descended slowly.

The carriage door pushed open, and a graceful, noble figure with an immortal aura stepped out.

"The head of the Xia family has come as well."

"She hasn't attended court in years, yet she's here today."

"I heard that General General Hao Tian escaped from the Mo River, saved Youzhou and Qingzhou, and killed the leaders of three major demon forces. I fear this Xia family head has come to plead for him."

Seeing the peerlessly beautiful female general, who, though now looking like a noble lady, possessed immense prestige, many officials felt a sense of majesty after just a few glances and dared not look for long.

"That former Emperor's high official has come too. I heard he eats vegetarian food and chants Buddha, and once debated the Dao with the Buddha Lord."

Someone looked toward another spot, where an old man was walking, supported by several high-ranking officials.

Without a doubt, today's court session would be extremely intense.

As representatives of various forces arrived, inside the Imperial Palace hall, upon the dragon throne, Hearing Hearing Yu Huang sat quietly. His towering body was like a mountain, his eyes reflecting the sun and moon, carrying a deterrent force that made it impossible to look directly at him.

His eyes were deep and restrained, like a deep pool or a blue sea, impossible to fathom.

In front of the hundred officials, Xia Xia Linglong stood alone, her eyes cold and her expression calm. Behind her were several other Xia family officials currently serving in the court.

When she received the news yesterday, although she was shocked, she had rushed to Da Yu Prefecture immediately.

She knew this matter involved a great deal. Although that youth's combat power was extremely strong, this was the Da Yu Divine Dynasty, whose foundation was beyond imagination. Not to mention the True Person of the Dao Palace who sat in command of the world, even those Jiang family powerhouses who had stepped into the Immortal Gate a thousand years ago, if they returned from the Immortal Gate, would be enough to trample all monsters.

Even the Buddha Lord dared not kill openly; major forces had tacitly agreed-upon rules. Killing a leader was clearly tearing off the mask completely.

Now that the Buddha Lord was killed, the Buddhist Sect's influence was intertwined, involving countless interests. Although it posed no threat to Li Hao, they could stir up trouble in front of His Majesty.

Moreover, His Majesty needed to give them a reason to convince the public. In this way, it was possible that Li Hao's merits would be stripped to appease the public anger.

But if Da Yu broke with Li Hao, it would give the demons an opportunity. Xia Xia Linglong knew that His Majesty would likely consider this, but she did not know how he would decide. After all, if he could not convince the public, those Buddhist disciples in every prefecture and city would likely rebel. Forcible suppression would also lead to endless internal strife in every prefecture!

This would likewise give the demons an opportunity to invade.

Putting herself in Hearing Hearing Yu Huang's position, Xia Xia Linglong would also feel caught in a dilemma. In the long run, he should naturally protect Li Hao's safety. After all, Li Hao was still young, and his future potential was too great; it was highly likely he would replace that True Person of the Dao Palace.

However, she did not know if His Majesty would be suspicious of that young general.

After all, merits that overshadow the master—let alone Li Hao, who was so young. If he were allowed to grow, the world might change its surname in the future! The Emperor's heart is hard to fathom; no one knew how His Majesty would choose.

But regardless, she came here in the hope that when His Majesty made his choice, he would consider the Xia family's thin face and ponder a bit more.

This is the duty she can fulfill as a subject.

"Your Majesty, your heavenly heart is clear! That General General Hao Tian killed the Buddha for a thief, defying the world's great taboo. He is simply lawless. He does not deserve the status of a Duke. He should be demoted to a commoner, made to serve his sentence, guard the frontier, and never be granted a salary again!"

Just as the court session began, an old official reported with great indignation.

"That's right, Your Majesty. That General General Hao Tian has a record of bad conduct, fought a great battle against his father, betrayed the Li family, and now has killed the Buddha for a thief, making the common people weep. He should be severely punished!"

"He cannot rely on his own merits to do whatever he wants. Otherwise, what is Imperial power? What is the morality of the world? If he is not curbed, he will only become more rampant and act even more wildly!"

"Your Majesty, General General Hao Tian is still young and has not been taught well, making it easy for him to go astray. He killed the Buddha Lord and relied on brute force. Although he has the merit of saving Liangzhou, he is doing evil with his merits and cannot be indulged. Otherwise, the world will decline sooner or later."

Successive officials submitted reports, four or five in the blink of an eye, as if they had discussed it beforehand.

Others remained silent, wanting to see the reactions of His Majesty and the various parties.

After all, this court was not the court of the Buddhist Sect. Although some were indignant, others had no connection with the Buddhist Sect. At this moment, they were worried that if General General Hao Tian were severely punished, it would be extremely unfavorable for Da Yu's current external demon threats.

Before Hearing Hearing Yu Huang could express his stance, Xia Xia Linglong had already turned around first. "You all speak lightly. If demons attack the city, I wonder if you would dare to stand on the city wall to face the enemy?"

Xia Xia Linglong sneered: "The merit of saving three prefectures is passed over lightly in your mouths. They say a scholar's pen can break a warrior's blade; your tongues are truly sharp!"

"I am a military general. If demons attack the city, in the land under my jurisdiction, I will certainly lead the army as the vanguard!"

One person stood out and looked directly at Xia Xia Linglong: "But merit is merit. Who among those present has no merit? Let alone killing the Buddha Lord, even killing commoners is a crime. If everyone relies on their merits to treat life lightly, how can the common people survive? How can the dynasty continue? Just by relying on you and me? Is that still a dynasty? What difference does it have from a bandit's den!"

Xia Xia Linglong's expression changed, her eyes looking at him coldly. The other party was not a general from the Five Great Divine General Mansions, but a general who had risen later and built his career.

But she could feel that the other party's remarks were not aimed at Li Hao, but at the Five Great Divine General Mansions' monopoly on military merits.

This brings up the issue of building merits on the battlefield by the Five Great Divine General Mansions. Special-grade or first-grade merits were generally given to close relatives, concubine-born children, or their own family members. As the head of the family, even if she did not advocate this, she could not completely prohibit it. After all, this was similar to corruption and could not be eradicated.

And other forces wanting to build a career could only survive in the cracks of the Five Great Divine General Mansions. This contradiction had existed for a long time.

These people also secretly united with each other to form a force. Although they could not contend with the Divine General Mansions, they had long been hostile in secret. On the surface, with His Majesty watching, no one would break the rules.

"That's right. If one can kill people in the street because of merits, what kind of folk customs will this bring? The common people will be in panic, and the dynasty will be briefly prosperous but will surely decline in the long run!"

"Martial arts can kill demons, and civil officials can govern the country. This is an eternal truth. If force is used to suppress everything, the common people will certainly not dare to speak, but what will happen in the long run?"

Successive ministers spoke up.

Xia Xia Linglong's expression was gloomy. She knew that from a common-sense perspective, as long as the other party insisted that killing was a crime, which conformed to the national law of the Da Yu Divine Dynasty, she could not argue.

"Now the world is in chaos with demons. You have lived in this Imperial City for too long; I fear you have forgotten what demons look like. When demons attack, I wonder if you can still reason with the demons with your iron teeth?" Xia Xia Linglong said.

"We are reasoning with General Xia. Could it be that General Xia wants to compare herself to a demon?"

"We pursue the Dao of the ancient sages and pride ourselves on being the primates of all things. We do not compare ourselves to pigs, dogs, and wild beasts. Yet now, we disregard life and morality has collapsed?"

"That's right. The country has national laws. Even if General General Hao Tian has peerless talent and high merits, he killed the Buddha Lord and committed a great mistake. How can he be indulged?"

"Today he dares to kill the Buddha Lord; tomorrow, will he not dare to kill the True Person, to kill us?"

"How is he different from a demon?!"

Others were all shouting angrily in a jumble.

Xia Xia Linglong was simply angered to the point of laughter, but she knew it was difficult for her to explain the truth to these guys.

Unless she used force to suppress them, but that would also be equivalent to defeat.

"I think you are the demons. Could it be that demons invaded your homes and bewitched you, causing you to lose your minds?"

Nearby, another part of the great scholars from the Hanlin Academy saw that Xia Xia Linglong could not win against seven or eight mouths and also spoke up one after another.

"The matter has not been investigated clearly, yet you dare to say that General General Hao Tian, who suppressed the demons in three prefectures, is no different from a demon?!"

"I think you have wolfish ambitions, trying to harm the loyal subjects of our Da Yu. Your Majesty, I suggest we should first investigate their mansions to see if there are demons invading and causing chaos!"

"That's right. The merit of three prefectures, what kind of merit is that? In my opinion, he could be conferred as a Divine General. Do you dare to despise a Divine General?"

"This matter is full of doubts and has not been investigated clearly. You are so arbitrary; what is your intention? Do you want our Da Yu to lose a great general of the ages?!"

With the addition of others, the argument suddenly became even more intense.

Xia Xia Linglong opened her mouth slightly, watching the two sides of civil officials arguing. In the end, she chose to observe quietly from the side. Although she was eloquent, she was still somewhat lacking compared to these guys.

She turned her head to look at His Majesty, but saw that his expression had not changed at all, neither happy nor worried. She could not help but feel worried in her heart, not knowing what His Majesty was thinking.

As the argument lasted for a long time and the words gradually began to repeat, Chu Chu Jiuyue in the court coughed lightly.

His voice was light, but it extinguished these arguments.

Everyone stopped one after another and looked at His Majesty.

Hearing Hearing Yu Huang's expression was calm, and he said: "What you ministers say is reasonable, but reason is for the common people to hear, and for us to hear, because we are human. But how would demons listen? Now that there are external demon threats, you ministers say you want to strip General General Hao Tian of his merits. May I ask, after stripping his merits, if demons attack, who can replace him in battle?"

Hearing Hearing Hearing Yu Huang's words, many people looked at each other. Those who stood on Xia Xia Linglong's side looked quietly at those who had previously denounced Li Hao.

As expected of His Majesty... Xia Xia Linglong sighed inwardly, not arguing but directly discussing the most practical problem.

However, she did not know if His Majesty's move was to take Li Hao's side or to worry about external demon threats.

After a brief silence, an old man from before said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, the minister received a petition from the Buddhist Bodhisattva. The Buddhist Sect promises that if Your Majesty gives the Buddhist Sect justice, the Buddhist Sect is willing to send eight million Buddhist disciples to serve and participate in the war."

Hearing his words, many people's expressions changed slightly. They did not expect the Buddhist Sect to be so resolute.

Taking eight million Buddhist disciples to exchange for Li Hao.

"Eight million disciples..."

Hearing Hearing Yu Huang murmured softly and said calmly: "I fear it is still not enough."

(End of chapter)