The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 289 You’re Useless

Cao Zhongming’s eyes were bloodshot, and he found it difficult to breathe. This was not only because Li Ye was strangling him, but also the Spiritual Qi was everywhere in his body. It was out of control, and his organs were all damaged. His injury was aggravated every moment, and the meridians might break at any time. His cultivation evaporated.

Cao Zhongming looked at Li Ye like looking at a ghost, full of fright. He originally thought that if his cultivation reached the Spiritual Master Realm, he would be able to fight with Li Ye, and his Weibo Army was strong enough to defeat Pinglu Army. However, he did not expect that the Weibo Army would be defeated first, and now he himself was suppressed facilely by Li Ye.

If one hadn’t been hit by Li Ye’s previous palm attack, one would not know the power and strength of it. At this moment, Cao Zhongming already had no fighting spirit because if Li Ye was only a little stronger than him, he would be jealous and would want to overturn him. However, Li Ye was much stronger than him, and he had no chance to fight to the death. At this time, he only had despair in his heart.

Cao Zhongming had a clear understanding of the fact that he had no capital to compete with Li Ye, and now he must rely on Li Ye’s charity to be breathing.

Cao Zhongming added with difficulty, “I would like to abalienate the North Bo and Bei, these two states, to Your Highness... Can Your Highness show mercy to Weibo?”

“Bo and Bei states? Commander Cao is really generous!” Li Ye laughed.

Cao Zhongming found it increasingly difficult to breath. He felt that he might die at any time. The Spiritual Qi was destroying his body constantly. If Li Ye continued strangling his neck and used Spiritual Qi against his meridians, he would immediately die.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, I am willing to abalienate Wei State to you... No, just leave me the lands of two states, so that Weibo Army can still exist! Even if it is a land of one state... I am willing to order the other states to surrender!”

Li Ye looked at Cao Zhongming, and his eyes were indifferent. “Commander Cao, are you out of your mind? Do you think you still have room to bargain? Let me tell you directly, even if you don’t give the order, I can use your official seal to issue an order for you. Do you think you have the chips to bargain with me?”

Cao Zhongming was desperate. He felt like he was falling into an abyss, and his eyes began to whiten. He was still struggling, and he added, “Your Highness, let me live, and I will be loyal to Your Highness. I am of the... Spiritual Master Realm, so I’m useful to Your Highness...”

“Spiritual Master Realm?” There was no emotional fluctuation on Li Ye’s face. “In my eyes, even a Spiritual Master of the Spiritual Pool is nothing. Haven’t you discovered that personally?”

“Your...Highness, I will be willing to pretend to join forces with the Longxi Prince and lure his troops to come and create a chance to set up a stagnation for Your Highness...”

“You think that Li Keyong is as stupid as you that he will still believe you now? Don’t be silly, Commander Cao, you are useless. If you give the order now while I am in a good mood, I can give you an easy death.”

Cao Zhongming’s pupils gradually expanded, and his face was full of horror and despair. “Why... Why can’t Your Highness let Weibo go, let me go...”

Li Ye looked at him, his eyes murderous. “It’s very simple. From the time you slew my messenger’s ear, your Weibo Army, your Cao family, you Cao Zhongming, have lost the possibility of continuing to exist in this world. I will tell the world by cutting off your heads that no one can afford the price of hurting my people!”

Cao Zhongming was cold all over, and his face turned ashy. His life had never been like this, full of helplessness and remorse.

Li Ye jumped down from the roof, grabbed Cao Zhongming and stepped into the political hall.

In the gusty wind, half of the walls and eaves had been destroyed, leaving the other half in ruins. Those generals and officials who were injured all shunned as they saw Li Ye approach, and their eyes were full of horror and fear. They watched Li Ye carry their commissioner to the bench like lifting a dead dog. They did not dare to even make a run for it, much less make a sound.

Everyone felt the pressure like doomsday was coming, and it was unbearable. They were just insulting Li Ye a few moments ago, and it was too late to regret it; their faces were all pale and bloodless.

After throwing Cao Zhongming on the bench, Li Ye swept his eyes over the generals and officials. He then casually ordered two advisers indisputably, “You, write a military order to command the Weibo Army to surrender. You, prepare the commissioner’s seal and let your Commander Cao sign it!”

The two men that were chosen were shocked and did not dare to delay. They quickly acted according to the order.

Cao Zhongming trembled on the table like a stray dog; he lost all his authority. He had no intention to sign the order, but he did not dare to defy Li Ye. At this moment, he knew that he would die yet he had to help Li Ye do things, and help Li Ye take Weibo. The feeling was really unspeakable.

Li Ye glanced at the crowd and smiled slightly. “You are all famous and named members of Weibo Army. If you want to live, after Commander Cao has signed his order, you have to take the lead to implement it. I believe that everyone here is wise and know what to do. I can enter the commissioner Manor of Weizhou City alone, so naturally, I can go into your manor if I want to. If you disobey me, I won’t mind asking for a cup of tea at your homes.”

Having heard this, generals and officials’ faces all changed slightly. Even a Spiritual Master of the Spiritual Pool could not go one round with Li Ye. Even if they ordered more protection for their families, it would be useless. They were not necessarily safe even if they stayed in the military camp.

However, some people had always been brave and cared nothing for death. They couldn’t recognize the situation. They thought that Li Ye was alone and could not pursue all of them. At this time, they exchanged glances and planned to leave here and then discuss it later.

But at this moment, Li Ye suddenly shouted. “You Daniao!”

You Daniao, the nine-tail Demon Fox, along with Su Emei and others, were the highest cultivation masters under Li Ye’s command. Naturally, they followed Li Ye. Having heard Li Ye’s order, they flew in from all directions, landing beside him.

Three Great Cultivators, one Yang Spiritual Master, and two Yin Spiritual Master showed up. Once they appeared, they exuded their cultivation unreservedly to exert pressure. Everyone’s facial expression had changed dramatically, and then they knelt on the ground one after another.

The Son of God twisted his shoulders and added fiercely, “From this day forth, my name is Song Qianshu, You Daniao sounds too indecent.”

“Do as you please,” Li Ye added faintly, “remember these people’s faces. If they don’t act in accordance with Commander Cao’s order, and dare to fight against the Pinglu Army, you can deal with them in the future.”

The Son of God stalled hands. “Piece of cake.”

The generals and officials looked at each other while groveling on the ground. Even if they were brave enough before, this time they completely converged their minds and dared not even to have the notion of making troubles again. After all, not being afraid of death and getting killed were totally different.

After the adviser wrote the order, Li Ye let Cao Zhongming cover the big seal and sign. Then, Cao Zhongming was paralyzed on the ground, driven to distraction, as if all of his strength had been exhausted.

He looked up desperately and stared at Li Ye. When he saw Li Ye was looking at the military order with a smile and seemed to be in a good mood, suddenly a glimmer of hope rose in his heart, and he begged. “Prince An, Your Highness, you are destined to achieve great things. The Tang Empire is inevitably going to prosper in Your Highness’s hands, and it could even return to the heights of prosperity! Your Highness, you are so honored, why do you take offence at a small potato like me? I have done what you ask me to do, so it is useful to keep me and I can let Weibo Army listen to you. There must be someone dissatisfied if you kill me, and they may make troubles, Your Highness...”

Li Ye took a look at Cao Zhongming and smiled. “Commander Cao has a point.”

Cao Zhongming was overjoyed, and the fire of hope burned in his eyes. “Your Highness is willing to forgive me this time?”

Li Ye kept smiling. “I don’t want to.”

“Your Highness...” Cao Zhongming was frozen and his face was full of puzzlement.

Li Yi waved his hand and flashed a stream of light. The Spiritual Qi Wind Blade brushed over Cao Zhongming’s neck.

Cao Zhongming’s head fell from his shoulders and rolled to the ground. It took a few turns before staying still, and there was still that look of disbelief on his face. He did not believe that Li Ye was so ruthless until his last moments.

“Parade the head of the commissioner in Weibo.” Li Ye took a look at Cao Zhongming’s head. “There is no use in keeping you. I do not need your prestige to subdue Weibo Army. My own prestige is enough.”

Taking back his eyes, Li Ye sent the order down and looked at the night sky from the ruins. “From now on, there is no Weibo Commissioner in the Tang Empire.”

...

There were six states in Weibo, and Bozhou had been taken by Pinglu Army while it didn’t take long for the Pinglu Army to take the other five states, after Li Ye head into Weizhou.

Of course, there were battles, for some states did not wish to surrender, but none could hold on for three days under the violent siege of the Pinglu army. When they met a difficult opponent, Li Ye would order You Daniao and others to cut off the opposing General’s head. Without a leader, any brave soldier would lose their fighting spirit.

Later, Li Ye petitioned to Li Yan, suggesting that the Weibo Commissioner be eliminated and turned six states of Weibo into one state under the direct jurisdiction of the court. Basically saying that it would be directly under the imperial court, however, now that Li Ye was in charge of Shandong, so it would be under his jurisdiction.

Not surprisingly, the imperial court adhered to Li Ye’s petition. The reduction of the vassal states would strengthen the imperial court, so the imperial court had no reason to oppose it.

Next, it was time that Li Zhen and other civil servants show their strengths. They reorganized six states of Weibo in accordance with the model of Li Ye reorganizing Pinglu, which were killing corrupt officials, investigating evil officials, and eliminating the trouble makers. They redistributed the confiscated farmlands and housing lands, letting people have houses and lands.

After doing so, the general morale of the Weizhou six states was reinvigorated, and countless people came to Li Ye’s side.

After that, it would be the specific governance, including the construction of farmland water conservancy, the distribution of seed tools for land reclamation, the gathering of appeasement, the promulgation of new laws and regulations, and the abolition of multifarious taxes, which further enhanced Li Ye’s prestige in Weibo. It would stabilize Li Ye’s reign over Weibo.

As for the Weibo Army, after the war, there were less than 100,000 soldiers left. For these arrogant soldiers who had already rotted to the roots, Li Ye had no intention of recruiting them. After careful selections, only ten or twenty thousand people were left, and the rest were all scattered and distributed to various counties and states to open up wasteland and grow food grain and were managed by the local authorities.

With a bureaucratic team trained by Pinglu, Li Ye had replaced half the officials of Weibo’s six states. Countless Pinglu officials had been promoted to a higher rank to rule.

Before long, Li Ye’s cultivation increased again exponentially.

After pacifying the scourge of the demons of Pinglu, Li Ye had already won the hearts and minds of the Pinglu people, and his cultivation had already made progress. He had established order in Weizhou and brought peace to the people, and his cultivation had reached the threshold of Yang Spiritual Master. After all, Weibo was much more wealthy than Pinglu, and Weibo’s people were more prosperous.

At this point, the elevation of his cultivation would slow down, and those who did not immediately surrender would not be reconciled for a while, and it would take a long time to govern.

When Li Zhen and other civil servants showed their strengths in Weibo, Pinglu Army did not linger much longer. Just during one month, after stabilizing the order of the counties and states, Pinglu Army had regrouped and prepared to enter Zhaoyi. They were headed straight to Hedong. Of course, the army also stationed a small part in the counties.

On this day, Li Ye left Weizhou with Su Emei, You Daniao, the nine-tail Demon Fox and others, and flew into Zhaoyi.

“The Zhaoyi commissioner rules the land of five states. Whether it’s wealth or military power, it is not on Weibo’s level, but it was not to be underestimated. Zhaoyi may have a relationship with Li Keyong because Zhaoyi is adjacent to Hedong. It is possible that they join forces with Li Keyong.”

Li Ye walked on the clouds and said to everyone, “After the Weibo war, it has proved that the beheading the leader plan is very feasible. Capturing the Zhaoyi commissioner and rendering them leaderless will make the battle smoother for the army. Before attacking the city, behead the main generals defending the city is the only way to win quickly. Although this is not good for the growth of the army, it is important for the battle in Hedong now. Thus, we can ignore the downside this time, but before that, we must first determine the attitude of the Zhaoyi commissioner.”