Chapter 554: First Volume, Chapter 554: Near-Caused Internal War

First Volume, Chapter 554: Near-Caused Internal War

Whether the Jingdu Garrison or the Central Plains Imperial Party, they are all merely embroidered pillows lacking battlefield experience.

After generations of sedimentation, the ferocity of the founding army has long been worn away.

As for the troops stockpiled in each Zhou Fu, they are not even worthy to be called opponents.

In contrast, the Northern Border Troops have always stood on the First Line of Shedynasty's territory, facing off against the Tiger Wolf Elite Troops of the North Di.

Their battlefield experience is incomparably greater than that of the Jingdu Garrison or the Central Plains Imperial Party.

A bunch of useless fools who can't even defeat the North Di dare to boast against the Northern Border Troops?

If pushed too far, we'll march our army straight in and crush these so-called elite troops!

The fierce killing intent in Qin Feng's words startled even Qin Tianhu, sending shivers down his scalp.

This powerful clan leader who dares challenge the Sage face-to-face, even at the risk of sparking an internal war…

Is he really the same petty merchant who once groveled at the Liang Emperor's feet, head bowed and eyes downcast?

The Liang Emperor's expression remained calm as he stared at Qin Feng.

Only Zhang Xiuye, standing beside the Dragon Case, noticed the Liang Emperor's hands beneath the Shushu trembling slightly.

Was it out of rage, regret, or perhaps… fear?

Only the Liang Emperor himself knew his true Heart Realm at this moment.

After a long silence, the Liang Emperor spoke slowly: "Marquis Qin, though the various armies lack experience confronting the North Di…"

"They are rich in talent; even if only one in a hundred proves suitable, we can still find a proper candidate."

His implication: Your Northern Border Troops may be strong, but can they truly fight against the entire Shedynasty?

Even by attrition, we can wear the Northern Border Troops to death!

Qin Feng dismissed this with indifference, his tone light and unconcerned.

"More people does not necessarily mean better—after all, more mouths mean more discord."

"Moreover, within this diplomatic envoy group, there are bound to be rotten apples. What if they deliberately sabotage the Two Nations' Peace Talks?"

Qin Feng's words struck straight at the Liang Emperor's vulnerable point.

Don't forget—the Powerful Clans of Nan Jing are watching closely. If needed, I'll ally with them!

Only when battle breaks out will loyalty and treachery become clear.

Are the Jingdu Garrison, the Central Plains Imperial Party, and the garrisons of each Zhou Fu truly united, ironclad, and of one mind?

The Liang Emperor took a slow breath.

This subtle gesture signaled that in this covert struggle and verbal duel, the Liang Emperor was already on the defensive.

Qin Feng holds only the Northern Border, yet its Combat Effectiveness is unquestionable.

In comparison, the Liang Emperor holds the entire Shedynasty.

The barefoot fear no one in shoes—no matter how this Internal War unfolds, the one who suffers will always be the Liang Emperor.

Neither Qin Feng nor the Liang Emperor wishes to ignite an Internal War.

Neither even entertains the thought—but their words and actions reveal a determination to destroy each other.

And…

This standoff is also the Liang Emperor's final test.

He tests Qin Feng's resolve, seeking any chance to seize his military authority.

The proof is clear: Qin Feng is now a Hedgehog—anyone who touches him will be left with hands full of blood.

Seizing command? Impossible!

What crushed the Liang Emperor most was that whether it was Er Huang Zi Li Qian or himself standing against Qin Feng…

In the past, every faction in court would have immediately condemned such a man who dared defy authority.

Now, the entire Grand Hall was utterly silent.

Not a single Civil and Military Official spoke up.

Silence had become alignment—Qin Feng's momentum was so overwhelming that even the Liang Emperor must avoid his sharp edge.

As for seizing command…

It must be done slowly, like boiling a frog—From Long-Term Planning.

The Liang Emperor drew a breath, let it circulate within his body as if clearing his thoughts, then exhaled slowly.

His gaze regained calmness, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Marquis Qin speaks wisely—replacing generals mid-battle is never wise."

"The Two Nations' Peace Talks must involve the Qin Family."

"As for trust and suspicion, they are merely the delusions of certain individuals seeking to undermine the relationship between sovereign and subject—nothing to worry about."

Speaking thus, the Liang Emperor slowly turned his head, his gaze settling on Er Huang Zi Li Qian.

Though his heart burned with resentment, at this moment he could only perform the Bitter-Meat Stratagem to appease the Qin Clan.

Under all eyes, the Liang Emperor silently picked up the gilded, hollow-carved dragon-patterned paperweight from the Shushu.

He hurled it with force.

The paperweight struck Er Huang Zi Li Qian squarely on the head, blood slowly trickling down.

Li Qian knelt on the ground, silent, letting the blood flow down his cheeks.

"Worthless!"

The Liang Emperor rose, glaring at Li Qian: "Marquis Qin is a hero of the National War, who fought bloody battles to defend Shedynasty, exhausting himself utterly."

"You, as a Prince, have no concrete evidence—only rumors and speculation—and yet you dare to brand Marquis Qin as Zhen E?"

"Unthinkable!"

"How should the ministers of Heaven and its people view Me?"

"Is it only when all under Heaven point at My back and call Me a petty man who discards the bow once the birds are gone, who hunts down the dog once the rabbits are dead, that you will be satisfied?!"

Li Qian's fists had long been clenched until they creaked.

But he had no choice but to play along with the Liang Emperor's Bitter-Meat Stratagem.

"Son-Minister deserves death."

The Liang Emperor snorted: "Hmph, good-for-nothing! Punish you by returning to the palace to copy the Imperial Ancestral Precedent three hundred times!"

Li Qian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, calmed his inner resentment, and bowed with clasped hands.

"Son-Minister... accepts the punishment."

The Liang Emperor ignored Li Qian entirely, his gaze sweeping across the Civil and Military Ministers, deliberately skipping over Qin Feng.

He spoke with solemn gravity: "Listen well, all of you."

"If anyone dares to slander loyal ministers based on mere hearsay, I shall punish them without mercy!"

The officials present could not fail to understand.

The implied meaning: to destroy Qin Feng, you must have irrefutable proof—something that can settle the matter once and for all.

If you lack decisive leverage, do not provoke Qin Feng again.

"Dismissed!"

The Liang Emperor turned and walked away; behind the Screen, he suddenly stopped.

He stood motionless, breathing deeply, his hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

Zhang Xiuye stood beside him, not daring to breathe, silently guarding.

For the first time in the Grand Hall of today's court session, the Liang Emperor felt what despair truly meant.

Even when facing the Northern Di armies at the Northern Border, he had never felt this weakness, this helplessness.

He knew full well that Qin Feng held power capable of severely threatening the imperial authority.

Yet the Liang Emperor could not move against him.

After today's events, the officials of the Ministry of War and the Taolin Party would grow even more devoted to Qin Feng.

With the combined strength of the Imperial Court and the Northern Border, Qin Feng had become a far more formidable version of the Lin Family.

The very thing the Liang Emperor feared most had finally come to pass.

He had personally nurtured a terrifying force that slipped beyond his control.

The Lin Family had not yet been eradicated, and now the Qin Family had risen.

The Liang Emperor staggered a few steps, his heart filled with sorrow—had he truly made a mistake?

His once-prized Hedging Art had become... a sieve.

It filtered out the weak, leaving only the most intractable powerhouses behind.

The Powerful Clans of Nan Jing, the Lin Family, the Qin Family...

Each one alone could keep him awake at night, unable to eat.