Chapter 1041: Xie Sheng is Numb

The entire country was shocked.

The active declaration of war by Tsarist Russia seemed to happen suddenly, catching everyone off guard.

But it seemed that everything was actually quite logical. A superpower like Tsarist Russia, currently in a period of developmental opportunity, would absolutely not be willing to see a powerful nation like Longyan sleeping soundly by its side.

Previously.

There were still the powerful Xiongnu and the powerful Grassland Royal Court acting as a buffer zone between Tsarist Russia and Longyan. However, as the Xiongnu were beaten by Liu Zheng until they fled in terror and could no longer form a combat force, the Iron Wood City on the grassland had also become Liu Zheng's "partner." After he returned to the grassland, they stopped their encroachment on the Zhongyuan lands and honestly accepted aid and technical support from Liangzhou.

The Grassland Royal Court also logically became a vassal state of the Longyan Dynasty.

Coupled with Liu Zheng's continuous expansion from the Western Regions into the Northwest lands, there was no longer a buffer zone between Longyan and Tsarist Russia. As both countries developed and grew stronger, conflict seemed inevitable.

And Liu Zheng's Liaodong plan had only accelerated everything.

The Boli region, Kuye Island, and the Wusuli River—these originally ownerless lands—could have previously buffered the conflict between the two countries. But Liu Zheng had forcibly snatched them up and begun incorporating them into the territory of Longyan.

This, naturally, caused a disaster.

How could Tsarist Russia tolerate this?

What kind of temper did Peter the Great have? How could he watch the Longyan people encroach upon his territory step by step?

Fight!

In an instant.

A massive army of five hundred thousand came surging over.

The people on the scene were all furious.

"Preposterous!"

"Preposterous!"

"These barbarians are simply too unreasonable!"

"Fight! Emperor..."

A group of Feudatory Kings and civil and military officials were filled with righteous indignation at this moment; instead of blaming Liu Zheng for provoking Tsarist Russia, they were incensed. The Longyan people were like this: first, they valued the ancestral temples and the state above all; second, they valued their national sentiment. At this point, these places were already all part of Longyan, so why should they be ceded to you?

Not a single inch of national territory can be yielded!

"Emperor, my Pingzhou is willing to send an army of one hundred thousand to resist the barbarians!"

"Emperor, my Jizhou..."

"Emperor, my Liangzhou..."

One by one, the Feudatory Kings stood up.

At this moment.

Prince Zhao, Xie Sheng, was stunned.

What?

Tsarist Russia? Wouldn't that be right above my head... well, at most there was a grassland in between, but it really wasn't far. By this distance, I should be the major province closest to this battlefield...

He was numb.

Xie Sheng was numb on the spot.

His Youzhou Sudden Cavalry had already begun mobilizing troops and generals, planning to scheme for the Zhongyuan... his generals and soldiers were already restless... and at this time, you tell me that Tsarist Russia is attacking?

Is this some kind of joke?

Xie Tianyao nodded with satisfaction upon seeing the reaction of these Feudatory Kings.

Opening up territory and expanding land had always been the dream of every emperor in Longyan since ancient times. He was lucky; in his later years, Liu Zheng had emerged, allowing him to expand the territory and achieve merit that would last for generations. At this time, the territory of Longyan had reached its largest stage in history, and the Longyan people had never yielded a single inch of land!

How could he possibly yield!

"Fight!"

"Kill!"

Every Feudatory King was the same.

Xie Tianyao's gaze, however, slowly landed on the face of Prince Zhao, Xie Sheng.

Others also looked over one after another.

Xie Sheng felt like dying... his own troops were intended to come to the Zhongyuan to fight for power and the throne! But now...

For a moment...

He looked at his partners.

The ones from Jizhou...

Then the ones from Pingzhou, then...

These Feudatory Kings, however, all refused to look at him.

This...

Xie Sheng panicked.

What about his camp? What about the Old Aristocrats?

Didn't we agree to do this together?

Was it dismantled so quickly?

Liu Zheng also looked over slowly.

In truth, he had not expected Tsarist Russia to suddenly declare war; it was indeed somewhat sudden and unexpected... but looking at it now, this did not seem to be entirely a bad thing. At least, if Prince Zhao, Xie Sheng, of Youzhou wanted to stir up some trouble, it would not be so easy anymore.

The current situation was indeed a bit subtle.

And also quite funny.

On one side was the struggle for the throne, and on the other was a war for the nation.

This suddenly seemed to make the very complex situation in Longyan begin to clear up. Liu Zheng suddenly felt that his previous analysis of the situation in Longyan was actually somewhat incorrect. Previously, he believed that the pros and cons between the Feudal System and the Commandery-County System lay in the fact that the Feudal System was prone to collapse when facing external enemies, while the Commandery-County System was more united in this regard. But looking at it now, different historical environments produced different changes.

The traditional culture of Longyan destined these Feudatory Kings to be loyal to the imperial family.

Respecting the Emperor and the ancestral temples and altars of the state is the primary ideology.

Under these circumstances, it could actually have been completely avoided—the situation where, when foreign enemies invade, these Feudatory Kings lead the enemies to attack the imperial house...

At this moment.

The unity displayed by these people is for this very reason.

"Emperor, the Mao have the hearts of wolves and wild ambitions; we must block them outside! Chuan Shu is willing to offer one million shi of grain!"

"The Jingchu Navy is also willing to go to battle!"

One by one, the Feudatory Kings stood up.

In an instant.

The atmosphere of the entire venue became intense.

Everyone was shouting.

Everyone was in high spirits.

This kind of atmosphere, appearing at the Crown Prince's grand funeral, was indeed somewhat incongruous.

But.

This is the Longyan people.

Even these Feudatory Kings from the places furthest from the battlefield stood up one by one.

Xie Sheng was numb.

Completely numb.

Xie Tianyao's gaze had become increasingly cold and sinister.

"Prince Zhao, what is the meaning of this..."

Xie Tianyao's vicious voice had already rung out.

The others also began to realize—yes... Youzhou is the closest to the battlefield, yet now Prince Zhao has not said a single word. The other Feudatory Kings have all made their intentions known...

Suddenly.

Everyone's expression changed.

Could it be...

Does this Prince Zhao have some rebellious heart?

Zhu Zhen also said gloomily: "How many troops does Prince Zhao intend to send out?"

At this critical juncture, the Scholar-officials naturally also wanted to resist the enemy with all their hearts.

Beads of sweat instantly covered the forehead of Prince Zhao, Xie Sheng.

What to do?

His grand ambitions were on the verge of being realized... as long as he reached Lishan tomorrow, and once the Crown Prince was buried and Xie Tianyao announced the successor, his troops and horses could set out... Xie Tianyao did not have many days left, but in these few remaining days... such a thing had actually happened.

Swish, swish, swish.

Imperial Guards had already picked up their weapons and begun to aim them at Xie Sheng.

"Emperor, Emperor, I, I, I, I was just calculating in my heart, calculating in my heart..."

Xie Sheng dared not talk nonsense anymore and hurriedly prostrated himself.

Xie Tianyao watched him quietly.

Xie Sheng's whole body began to tremble, and he gripped the ground with both hands: "The thirty thousand Youzhou Sudden Cavalry, the entire army shall be deployed!"

The entire army shall be deployed!

When he said these words, Xie Sheng felt as if his heart had died.