Chapter 796

First Volume, Chapter 796: Journey to the Wang Du

While Lin Quqi busied himself constructing the Tianji Camp Compound for Qin Cheng Clan, Qin Feng's poem "Po Zhen Zi" rode the Dongfang wind, spreading farther and farther.

In Dongzhou of the Liang Kingdom, a heavy snow fell last night, covering Mount Taishan in silver, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

At the Xinggong below the mountain, the Liang Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward Jingdu, murmuring to himself.

"Horses gallop like the Delu, bows crack like thunder—fulfilling the sovereign's quest for Heaven and Earth, winning fame in life and after death. Alas, white hair has come!"

"Qin Feng, you always manage to surprise me."

The thought of not seeing Qin Feng again for a long time filled the Liang Emperor with melancholy.

Though the Liang Emperor feared Qin Feng more than anyone under Heaven, he knew that only Qin Feng truly understood him; without Qin Feng, the Liang Emperor's life would be lonely indeed.

The Liang Emperor sighed softly and turned to the Qiyang Commandery Princess, who had journeyed from Jingdu.

"Qiyang, you need not speak—I know everything."

"The agreed deadline has arrived, yet there has been no movement in subduing the Jiangnan Lin Family—clearly, the seventh prince hit an iron plate; even as acting emperor, he cannot command the Qin Family."

"Given the seventh prince's nature, knowing he cannot subdue the Lin Family, he will surely consolidate his position with all his strength."

"How many officials and political factions in Jingzhong have now defected to the seventh prince?"

Facing the Liang Emperor's question, the Qiyang Commandery Princess felt an overwhelming heaviness.

Logically, she should not have come to see the Liang Emperor—after all, Li Yong had gradually seized power in Jingdu; if she drew too close to the Liang Emperor, she might implicate her mother.

Yet it was precisely her mother, the Chang Princess, who had ordered her to come.

Blood is thicker than water; even though the Chang Princess had sided with the Empress, she could not fully betray the Liang Emperor—some words still needed to be passed on.

The Qiyang Commandery Princess bit her thin lips and spoke softly: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Party has now fully pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince; apart from the Taolin Party and the upright scholar-officials, no one resists the Crown Prince."

This outcome matched the Liang Emperor's expectations closely.

After all, the Imperial Party owed loyalty only to the reigning emperor; from the moment the Liang Emperor decided on his eastern hunt, his imperial throne had become nominal in reality.

The Liang Emperor never expected Li Yong to willingly return the throne, so even though the deadline had passed, he had no intention of returning to Jingdu.

Seeing the Liang Emperor remain silent, the Qiyang Commandery Princess felt even heavier: "Your Majesty, if you know this, why did you ever decide on the eastern hunt?"

The Liang Emperor's gloomy expression finally broke into a smile.

"Qiyang, do you think I've lost? Hahaha, rest assured—this throne, the seventh prince cannot hold."

"Even if he controls the Imperial Party and has the support of the Grand Tutor and the Empress, he lacks the two most vital forces: the Taolin Party led by the Qin Family, and the upright scholar-officials led by Chen Zheng—neither will submit to the seventh prince."

"The Qin Family holds half the realm's political power; Qin Tianhu is the Grand Commandant, while the upright scholar-officials control the position of 'Shao Bao'; with Chen Zheng's character, he will never yield to the seventh prince."

"If Chen Zheng remains neutral, even the Qin Family alone can render the seventh prince's efforts as empty as a basket of water."

Seeing the Liang Emperor's high regard for the Qin Family, the Qiyang Commandery Princess felt puzzled.

"Your Majesty, now that the Crown Prince controls all state affairs, he could simply strip the Qin Family of their titles and offices."

At this, the Liang Emperor burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha, Qiyang, you're still too young, and you overestimate the meaning of 'emperor.'"

"The things a sovereign can do are actually very limited—far from the all-powerful image you imagine."

"Authority never flows from top to bottom, but from bottom to top. The emperor's power comes from the support of the Manchu Civil and Military; without popular backing, the emperor is worthless."

"I could not even depose a single Minister of State—how could today's seventh prince depose one of the Three Dukes? Hahaha, the greatest joke in the world."

Saying this, the Liang Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes brimming with confidence.

"Rest assured—without the support of the two major factions, the seventh prince's edicts won't even make it past the Door of Jingdu."

"As for the Imperial Party and the Grand Tutor, they are no longer what they once were; even if the Qin Family alone unites the entire Taolin Party, just the Qin Family and the Northern Border alone are enough to make the Imperial Party and the Grand Tutor tremble."

"Do you know how far the once-impoverished little county town has grown under Qin Feng's governance?"

"Beixi County has become the foremost strong county of Shedynasty! Economically, the entire Northern Border looks to Beixi County as its leader—even if the court cuts all financial support to the Northern Border, Beixi County can sustain itself."

"Militarily, the Northern Border is composed of battle-hardened Border Army, Tiger Wolf Elite Troops. Beixi County alone has two layers of Wengcheng, with troops, grain, money, and people stockpiled beyond count. In all of Heaven, no one can storm Beixi County head-on."

"Politically, Beixi County influences Shedynasty, Bei Di, Gaoshan Country, Yuezhao Kingdom, and others. Now, even though Qin Feng is in Bei Di and has not yet entered the Di Royal Capital, he has already turned Bei Di upside down—this alone speaks volumes."

The Qiyang Commandery Princess knew Beixi County was strong, but she never imagined it had grown to this extent.

No wonder whoever sat on the throne feared Beixi County above all else; if anyone in all of Shedynasty had the power to directly point a sword at Jingdu and overthrow Shedynasty, it could only be Qin Feng.

The Liang Emperor had once been powerless against Qin Feng, helplessly watching the Northern Border grow—this had been his deepest wound.

But everything has two sides; what was once his wound had now become his trump card.

As long as Qin Feng remains loyal to the Liang Emperor, no one can displace his throne—even if they do, it will only be temporary.

At this moment, the Qiyang Commandery Princess finally understood why the Liang Emperor had chosen the eastern hunt, and why he remained unshaken in this situation.

As long as Qin Feng returns to Shedynasty, he can reverse the tide!

"Qin Feng…"

The Qiyang Commandery Princess bit her lip, her emotions tangled: "Are you the savior of Shedynasty… or its harbinger of doom?"

Unbeknownst to her, the Liang Emperor—who had always feared Qin Feng—now felt increasingly calm.

Upon learning Qin Feng had reached into Bei Di, the Liang Emperor realized Qin Feng had no interest in the throne.

Even if the Liang Emperor voluntarily performed Shan Rang and handed the nation to Qin Feng, Qin Feng would refuse without hesitation.

The reason was simple: Qin Feng's vision extended far beyond just Shedynasty!

"Jing Qianying, Jing Yushu… Hahaha, Qin Feng, I want to see how you push the Bei Di Princess all the way to the top!"

…

After lingering in Yucheng for several days, Qin Feng finally set out on his journey to the Di Royal Capital.

At this moment, Qin Feng's mood was extremely excited—not because he had made a fortune in Yucheng, but because Xie Yun'er and Liu Hongyan had sent someone to deliver the brewed baijiu to him.