Chapter 546

When the news that the Grassland Royal Court declared war on the Great Lan Dynasty was sent back, the public opinion in Blue Ling City changed.

Everyone thought that the imperial court should not continue to fight, and should have peace talks.

Then the news that the Northern Barbarian million-strong army invaded the northern border came.

Before people could start discussing it widely.

The news that the Son of Heaven was determined not to have peace talks and ordered Marquis of Jing'an Li Fei and True Person Xuan Chen to lead troops north spread throughout Blue Ling City.

For a time, it was boiling!

In fact, the grassroots people couldn't tell whether they should fight or have peace talks, but those who controlled public opinion were never these grassroots people.

Officials, children of aristocratic families, great scholars, famous Jianghu experts, etc., these people publicly expressed their views in public, took the lead in discussing, and public opinion was naturally driven.

The grassroots people were always the group of people who were incited.

On December 15, hundreds of Imperial College students blocked the outside of the Tai Xuan Gate of the Imperial City, protesting publicly!

Before the Mingxin Reform of the Great Lan Dynasty, the Imperial College was the highest institution of learning in the country, cultivating not only civil officials but also martial artists.

By the time the Mingxin Reform began, twelve universities were established across the country, and the 'power' of the Imperial College was dispersed.

The twelve universities were the preferred places for top dignitaries, and they needed to give a portion of quotas to students from poor families in various places, and the competition was fierce.

So a portion of the 'dignitary class' who were 'not high enough and not low enough' would still choose to send their own children to the Imperial College.

After all, after Imperial College students graduated, whether they studied literature or martial arts, they had the opportunity to enter the officialdom directly.

Now these hundreds of protesting Imperial College students represented the middle dignitary class of the Great Lan Dynasty.

And behind them, there was the will of the top dignitaries!

Imperial College students blocking the Imperial City gate to protest could also be considered a 'traditional skill' of the Great Lan Dynasty; every time such a thing happened, it meant that the situation was unstable and there was infighting within the imperial court.

The hundreds of Imperial College students protesting outside the Tai Xuan Gate were soon dispersed by the Imperial Guards.

Li Fei, who was cultivating in the Marquis Mansion, soon received the news.

"After the Imperial Guards came forward, those Imperial College students soon dispersed, and no very intense confrontation occurred."

The Marquis Mansion steward reported to Li Fei.

Li Fei nodded and let the steward continue to inquire about news.

No bloodshed occurred, which meant that the dignitaries behind it were still testing and protesting, and did not want to escalate the situation.

But Li Fei knew that this was just a beginning.

Now the Son of Heaven only ordered him and Xuan Chen to lead troops north, the army had not yet set off, and the order could still be withdrawn.

Even if the matter of sending troops was decided.

The army could also not fight after reaching the front line.

Even if they really started fighting.

After fighting for a while, they could also continue peace talks.

In short, for those who wanted peace talks, before the goal was achieved, they could all work for it.

Even though his cultivation had progressed smoothly recently and the Ten Thousand Blood Pearl had upgraded rapidly, Li Fei couldn't help but feel somewhat heavy-hearted.

He knew very well that the will of these dignitaries could not be ignored, because they themselves represented a part of the Great Lan Dynasty!

Did the Great Lan Dynasty change from an imperial system to a dual monarchy because the royal family took the initiative to want to cede power?

Of course not.

It was because the power of the aristocratic families and the dignitary class was already strong enough, strong enough that if the royal family was unwilling to rule the world with the other party, the throne would not be stable!

Among the hundred officials of the imperial court and the pavilion elders of the Central Cabinet, how many were from poor families?

In this world with extraordinary power, if there was no support from aristocratic families behind them, would civil officials who were ordinary people dare to speak loudly in the imperial court?

Ye Ye Zean could sit firmly in the position of Chief Secretary and almost hold 'half the country' in the Central Cabinet.

Besides his extraordinary personal talent, it was also because the Ye family behind him was one of the 'ten great clans', the wife he married was one of the 'ten great clans', and his proud student was still one of the 'ten great clans'!

The 'seven great families' in the Jianghu each had a Grandmaster, appearing stronger in power than the 'ten great clans'.

But the 'ten great clans' could mobilize the Imperial Camp Army, could mobilize the experts of the Zhige Pavilion and the Zhengfa Pavilion, and could use the power of the country to show their will!

Unless the seven great families directly rebelled like the Gouchen Sword Sect and Mount Mount Baituo and broke away from the national system, they could not compare with the ten great clans in influence and right to speak.

These aristocratic families representing the elite class of the Great Lan Dynasty controlled a large amount of resources and could influence this country from all aspects!

Fighting a war relies on military force, financial resources, logistics, and even more on the hearts of the people.

Li Fei could provide military force, but financial resources, logistics, and the hearts of the people all needed the cooperation of those dignitaries in the imperial court.

A most intuitive example: Li Fei and Xuan Chen were going to lead 100,000 Imperial Guards to support the northern border.

Among these 100,000 Imperial Guards, more than 90% of the generals came from aristocratic families. If half of these people didn't want to fight, how high could the combat effectiveness of this Imperial Guard be?

And if the grassroots troops couldn't fight at all, Li Fei alone couldn't block a million troops.

He had already asked Wen Ren Zheng for advice; the battle in the northern border this time would definitely be different from the battle on the Baifeng Plain.

Boerhu couldn't possibly concentrate a million-strong army together to have a decisive battle with the Great Lan Dynasty.

That kind of decisive battle could only happen when the top combat power of both sides was not much different.

Knowing that they might encounter top experts, the Northern Barbarians would only choose to fight on multiple fronts.

A million-strong army only needed to break through the northern border defense line at multiple points, kill into the hinterland, and wantonly burn, kill, and loot to achieve its strategic goal—

Causing damage to the Great Lan Dynasty and consuming its national destiny!

And Li Fei alone, even with the addition of True Monarch Xuan Xin who might take action, could guard how many cities?

No matter how strong two people were, without the cooperation of grassroots troops, they couldn't guard the entire northern border defense line.

After sitting in the room for a while, Li Fei got up and left.

He was going to find Ye Ye Zean!

Ye Mansion.

"Marquis, please."

The Ye Mansion steward welcomed Li Fei into the main gate, then led him through the corridor and courtyard to outside a study.

Today, Ye Ye Zean rarely did not sit in the center, but asked for leave to stay at the mansion.

Li Fei walked into the study and saw the Chief Secretary with graying temples working at his desk, reviewing memorials.

He looked up at Li Fei and said very concisely: "Please sit, wait a moment."

Then he continued to work with his head down.

Li Fei sat down in the study and waited quietly.

More than ten minutes later, Ye Ye Zean finished processing the memorials on the desk.

He stood up, changed seats, and sat opposite Li Fei:

"Does the Marquis of Jing'an have something to do with me?"

Li Fei looked at the other party's somewhat exhausted expression and asked:

"The Chief Secretary specifically asked for leave to stay at home, but didn't rest, and was still working; then why ask for leave?"

Ye Ye Zean spoke bluntly: "Just hiding in the mansion."

Hiding.

Looking at the imperial court, the only person who could make this Chief Secretary need to specifically hide was probably the Son of Heaven.

Li Fei was silent for a while and asked:

"Then why is the Chief Secretary willing to see me?"

The other party could even hide from the Son of Heaven; if he didn't want to see him, this Marquis of Jing'an, he naturally had plenty of ways.

Ye Ye Zean picked up the teacup on the side, took a sip, and smiled:

"Because I intended to see you."

"Oh?"

Li Fei looked at the other party, "Does the Chief Secretary also have something to say to me?"

"Let's talk about yours first."

Ye Ye Zean put down the teacup.

Li Fei was not polite and asked directly:

"The matter of Imperial College students blocking the city gate to protest this morning, the Chief Secretary must know, right?"

Ye Ye Zean nodded.

Li Fei leaned forward slightly and looked into the other party's eyes:

"May I ask if this was instructed by the Chief Secretary?"

Ye Ye Zean shook his head: "I did not instruct it."

Li Fei believed that the other party was not lying, and there was no need for it.

"But your keeping silent is itself a stance."

Li Fei said.

"Not bad, because I don't favor sending troops."

Ye Ye Zean was also very direct today.

When the late Emperor was on the throne, the strength of the imperial power was second only to the Taizu period, because the late Emperor had the support of two top experts, Wen Ren Zheng and Yun Shu.

Power is the cornerstone of authority!

Suppressing aristocratic families, promoting reforms, conquering Northern Barbarians, establishing the Lan Xun Pavilion... if the imperial power were not strong enough, these achievements would certainly not have been achieved.

And there was another important reason for this—the late Emperor had the full support of Chief Secretary Ye Ye Zean.

Although the monarch and minister had mutual checks and balances, they cooperated better.

And if this Chief Secretary was unwilling to cooperate with the Son of Heaven, then many things could not proceed smoothly.

That was why Li Fei came directly to find him.

"Does the Chief Secretary think our chances of winning are not high?"

"No, I believe in your ability and also believe in the potential of the Great Lan Dynasty. If we really want to fight with all our might, we might not lose."

Ye Ye Zean gave an answer that Li Fei did not expect:

"But I don't hope for you to take risks."

"Ah?"

Li Fei was stunned.

Ye Ye Zean looked at him: "I know that as long as the war starts, you will definitely go to the front line to fight. I don't want to take this risk."

"..."

"The reason why the late Emperor valued you so much was because he placed the hope of the future of the Great Lan Dynasty on you. Li Fei, letting you go to war is gambling with the national destiny of the Great Lan Dynasty!"

"..."

Li Fei didn't expect Ye Ye Zean to be unwilling to send troops for this reason.

"You let His Majesty wait for you for three years, which shows that you are confident in breaking through to the peak within three years. Since that is the case, I would rather the Great Lan Dynasty wait three years before starting the war."

Ye Ye Zean said his thoughts.

Li Fei took a deep breath and looked at the Chief Secretary in front of him:

"But I am not willing to wait for these three years!"

If they wanted peace talks, it would inevitably involve ceding territory and paying indemnities.

I don't know how many people's fates would change, and I don't know how much humiliation the Great Lan Dynasty would have to swallow to exchange for three years of peace!

"Chief Secretary, from the first day I stepped on the path of cultivation, I told myself—what I seek is to live happily!"

"If I have to use other people's lives and sacrifices to exchange for my growth, I am destined to be unable to live happily!"

"Hiding in Blue Ling City to cultivate for three years in a cowardly way, and going out to fight for life and death, fighting in blood and fire for three years, the latter is more likely to allow me to break through the realm!"

Li Fei's eyes were firm, and he looked at Ye Ye Zean.

Ye Ye Zean was silent for a long time and sighed:

"Have you ever thought that if you go to the northern border this time, it is very likely that the Buddhist sect will take action against you?"

People with discerning eyes could see that Li Fei had a bright future and had a great chance of becoming the next number one person in the world!

So how could the enemies of the Great Lan Dynasty sit by and watch Li Fei grow up safely?

Once on the battlefield, even True Monarch Xuan Xin couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't die, let alone Li Fei, who was below the peak?

The risk of the battlefield itself, plus the possibility of being attacked by top experts.

This was the reason why Ye Ye Zean didn't want Li Fei to take risks.

The risk was indeed too great!

Li Fei was helpless.

He was indeed not a match for top experts now, and even with the Ten Thousand Blood Pearl, he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't die.

He wanted to take risks, but Ye Ye Zean was unwilling to gamble with the future of the Great Lan Dynasty.

Neither of them could convince the other.

December 16.

The Son of Heaven did not withdraw the order, and Li Fei did not retreat because of Ye Ye Zean's words.

Today, Li Fei and Xuan Chen would lead 100,000 Imperial Guards on an expedition!

But before that, outside the Imperial City.

Right in front of the Tai Xuan Gate where the Imperial College students protested yesterday, the imperial court was going to hold a swearing-in ceremony before the expedition!

At 5:00 AM, a thin mist was still condensing outside the Tai Xuan Gate.

At this time, it was already bustling with noise, and tens of thousands of people gathered around the square outside the Tai Xuan Gate like a tide.

Old men leaned on wooden canes and squeezed under the eaves, children rode on their fathers' shoulders and gnawed on candied haws, merchants turned bamboo baskets upside down as footstools, and headscarves fluttered in the morning breeze.

The square in front was guarded by Imperial Guards, and 3,000 black-armored soldiers lined up in a square formation, waiting on the square.

Viewing platforms had already been built around the square, and there was a reviewing stand at the very front.

Starting at 7:00 AM, ministers walked out of the Imperial City one after another, came to the square, and sat on the viewing platforms around.

When a group of people whose skin color, hairstyle, and clothing were obviously different walked into the square, there was a commotion all around.

The diplomatic mission of the seven Western Continent nations had arrived!

These people were also on the invitation list for today's viewing.

Seven dukes led dozens of Western Continent envoys to the corresponding viewing area and sat on the viewing platform.

These people all had smiles on their faces and looked relaxed.

Regarding this swearing-in ceremony today, they thought that this was the Great Lan Dynasty wanting to let the seven Western Continent nations see its determination.

But they didn't care.

Regarding the disputes in the imperial court of the Great Lan Dynasty, they had their own news channels and were already well aware of them.

With the current situation of the Great Lan Dynasty, the worse the subsequent situation was, the more initiative the Western Continent mission could occupy in the negotiations, and the more benefits they could strive for!

"Lord Zhao."

Duke Miller suddenly spoke, asking Zhao Fei, a member of the Central Cabinet who was accompanying him.

He pointed to the 3,000 black-armored soldiers lined up in the center of the square: "Is this your country's Imperial Camp Army?"

Zhao Fei nodded: "Not bad."

He said proudly: "If these 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers form a military array, they are enough to contend with the dukes of your Glory level!"

This remark made the dukes present look sideways one after another.

Duke Zeke, who truly possessed the combat power of a Glory Duke, just chuckled upon hearing this and did not express his opinion.

At 8:00 AM sharp, a red-gold morning sun jumped out from the east, illuminating the entire Blue Ling City.

Nine morning bells came from deep within the nine-layered palace, and then the melodious sound of horns sounded.

Suddenly, there was the sound of iron armor clashing in the Imperial Guard square formation, but the 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers clad in black armor brushed their long spears to the ground in unison, and the cold light connected into a silver sea in the morning light.

Qi and blood were like wolf smoke, and the evil spirit shook the heavens and clouds!

"His Majesty has arrived—"

Under the Tai Xuan Gate, 800 Imperial Guards lined up along the imperial road in a wild goose wing formation, and twelve strong men carried the dragon chariot out of the city gate.

Behind the twelve-string white jade bead curtain hanging from the top of the chariot, Qin Qin Ziheng sat like a pine in a black-end twelve-chapter pattern crown robe.

Li Fei and Xuan Chen followed on the left and right of the dragon chariot.

One was in a golden robe, with sharp edges exposed.

One was in a Daoist robe, with the demeanor of an immortal.

The whole audience stood up and saluted, and the outside of the square knelt down in a large area, shouting long live.

The dragon chariot entered the venue and stopped behind the reviewing stand.

After the whole audience quieted down, the eunuch before the imperial throne, Feng Cheng, climbed onto the reviewing stand, took out an imperial edict, and read loudly:

"Now the barbarians are rampant, invading the border, ruining my people, destroying my country; this is truly the time for jackals to devour people, and the day for warriors to cross their spears!

In the past, Taizu swept across the six directions, and 3,000 iron cavalry settled the universe!

Ren Sect pacified the Northern Barbarians, and 100,000 tiger troops swept away the wolf smoke!

Now you all hold frosty blades and line up the stars and clouds, carrying wind and thunder to shake the mountains and rivers; this is the time for men to serve the country!

Specially confer Marquis of Jing'an Li Fei as the Great General Conquering the North, True Person Xuan Chen as the Army Supervisor, leading 100,000 royal troops to conquer the north, and sweep away the barbarians for me!"

Li Fei and Xuan Chen climbed onto the reviewing stand, facing the dragon chariot, and cupped their hands in salute:

"This minister, accepts the decree!"

Then Li Fei took the imperial edict from Feng Cheng's hand.

On the dragon chariot, the voice of the Son of Heaven sounded:

"Where the banner points, it is the royal way; where the sharp edge points, all turn to powder! I am in the nine heavens, waiting for your song of triumph!"

This voice was magnificent, distant, and grand.

It seemed to roll down from the nine heavens and resound through the human world!

Li Fei's expression was stern:

"This minister, will definitely not fail the trust!"

Next, it should be his turn, this newly appointed Great General Conquering the North, to speak and announce the expedition.

Li Fei turned around, looked at the 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers in the center of the square, and was just about to speak, when a voice suddenly came from the viewing platform:

"Emperor, this foreign minister has something to say!"

Whoosh—

There was a commotion in the audience, and Li Fei and the civil and military officials looked over one after another.

I saw Duke Zeke stepping out from the viewing platform where the Western Continent mission was located.

Li Fei and this Duke of the Deni Kingdom looked at each other, and the other party's eyes were playful.

"Are you an envoy of the Deni Kingdom?"

The voice of Qin Qin Ziheng came from the dragon chariot.

His tone was calm, without any anger because the other party suddenly interrupted the swearing-in ceremony.

Zeke put his hand on his chest and bent slightly:

"Your Majesty, this foreign minister is the Duke of the Deni Kingdom, Zeke Lane."

"Zeke, have you been moved by watching this swearing-in ceremony?"

Qin Qin Ziheng asked.

Zeke: "Your Majesty is wise, this foreign minister is indeed moved."

Saying that, he suddenly pointed to Zhao Fei on the side:

"Just now, this Lord Zhao said in front of us that if these 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers in the square form a military array, they are enough to contend with extraordinary people like this foreign minister."

Zhao Fei was shocked, not expecting Zeke to use this sentence to make an issue, and felt something bad in his heart.

Sure enough, Zeke continued:

"This foreign minister is very curious about this; since today is a swearing-in ceremony, why not let this foreign minister have a fight with these 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers, let Your Majesty review it, and by the way, let us foreigners see what is called the world's heroic army and the style of a great country!"

As his voice fell, the commotion at the scene became even greater.

If 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers formed a 3,000-person military array, they were indeed enough to contend with a Grandmaster at the peak of the Li Dao realm.

But since Zeke dared to take the initiative to challenge, he must have something to rely on.

If these 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers lost in front of everyone, the Northern Expedition Army would lose its morale before it even set off.

The Great Lan Dynasty would also lose all face!

And even if they won in the end, the 3,000 Imperial Camp soldiers would inevitably suffer losses, which would also be unfavorable for the subsequent expedition.

But if they refused Zeke, it would look like they were afraid of the other party, not daring to fight even if they had 3,000 against one.

The military morale would also be affected.

No matter how you chose, it was unfavorable!

"Duke Zeke."

On the reviewing stand, Li Fei said loudly:

"You previously said that you wanted to spar with this Marquis; it's better to choose a day than to hit the day!"

Zeke looked at Li Fei, his expression calm:

"Fine."

Fighting the Imperial Camp Army was of course the best result, and Li Fei standing out to take over this challenge was also within his expectation.

But what Li Fei said next was completely beyond his expectation:

"In the past, your seven nations joined forces, and still couldn't contend with my Great Lan Dynasty.

Today, if this Marquis fights you one-on-one, even if I win, it will be difficult to show the majesty of a great country."

Saying that, Li Fei's gaze swept over the seven dukes on the viewing platform:

"Duke Zeke, Duke Miller, Duke Duke Saina..."

He called out the names of the seven dukes one by one, his voice like thunder, resounding through the whole city:

"Come, you seven go together!"

"Back then, my Great Lan Dynasty fought seven nations as one; today, this Marquis will also fight seven as one, so that you may know what is the style of a great country!"

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(End of chapter)