The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 290 What Can You and I Do with Him?

The capital of Zhaoyi was Luzhou. The news that the entire Weibo was occupied by the Pinglu Army, reached them long ago. These days, the Zhaoyi commissioner, Kang Chengqian, who had been paying close attention to the battle situation at Weibo, was in constant discussion for the solution to this matter, with his trusted advisors and generals.

Unlike Cao Zhongming, the general who rose from an army, Kang Chengqian had a scholar’s background, so he was less domineering and more like a middle-aged Confucian scholar.

He looked at the advisors in the hall with a sad expression on his face, and said worriedly, “Prince An has assembled a large army in Weizhou, and he will soon arrive at Zhaoyi. The messenger of Prince of Longxi has arrived at the mansion. What should Zhaoyi do? Under these circumstances, feel free to tell me what you think.”

This issue had been discussed many times, at different times, and all the advisers held different views. In the beginning, they had the same opinion as Weibo. They all thought that they would make great achievements in the competitive world, and that they could not let Prince An enter the border and put Zhaoyi in danger.

Li Ye had been instructed to send troops to Hedong, and although his name was well known, the outsiders did not buy it at all. Although Li Ye was the Chief Imperial Secretary for governing Shandong and the commander-in-chief in charge of all the troops in the world, none of the commissioners took him seriously.

In the final analysis, no one took the imperial court seriously anymore, after the Huang Chao Uprising. What they valued now was strength, and they did not care about those so-called titles of the imperial court.

When they heard what Kang Chengqian said, all the advisors in the hall looked at a strict-looking old man. He was Kang Xigui, the secretary-general of the commissioner’s mansion, and he was also Kang Chengqian’s uncle. He had a noble status in Zhaoyi, and even Kang Chengqian had to respect him. When he did not speak, no one dared to say anything.

In the beginning, Kang Xigui took a tough stance and advocated stationing troops outside the jurisdiction.

Kang Xigui had a good reason for doing so. Even though the Pinglu Army did not enter the border when plotting against Zhaoyi, it would bring about a military disaster. No one knew what would happen. If Li Ye took a tough stance and ordered the Zhaoyi Army to coordinate the fight and offer food in the name of the imperial court, should Zhaoyi listen to him? Kang Xigui thought they should keep in touch with Hedong and fight the Pinglu Army together.

Of course, Zhaoyi also could not let the Hedong Army enter the border, so once the Zhaoyi Army fought against the Pinglu Army, they would ask Li Keyong to offer the Zhaoyi Army food and weapons. That was the reason why the Hedong messenger came to the commissioner’s mansion.

Every time Kang Xigui would end his statement with these four words “better death than dishonor!”

When he noticed that everyone was looking at him, Kang Xigui, who had closed his eyes to rest, slowly opened his eyes. Although he was old, he was still hale and hearty. And his eyes always had a majestic shine in them.

At this moment, Kang Xigui looked around the crowd and said righteously, in a firm and powerful tone, “I suggest that we let Prince An enter the border!”

In the hall, everyone went silent, after hearing his words.

Most of the advisors looked shocked and some looked blank, as if they had heard something wrong, or it was as if Kang Xigui had said something wrong. But when they saw Kang Xigui’s solemn expression, they knew that he was serious.

They looked at each other and saw the doubts in each other’s faces. Someone had proposed it before, but that person was absolutely not Kang Xigui. No one would have thought that Kang Xigui would make such a proposal.

The assistant of the commissioner’s mansion said uncertainly, “Do you mean we should take the initiative to welcome Prince An to enter the border, instead of resisting the Pinglu Army?”

Kang Xigui snorted and was displeased with the assistant’s doubts. The assistant seemed to think that Kang Xigui was too old to make the right decision. But actually, Kang Xigui was a powerful cultivator at Level 9 of Qi-refining. As he snorted with discontent, his cultivation power suppressed everyone in the hall.

At this point, the advisors confirmed Kang Xigui’s idea, but they were more puzzled than ever, instead of eliminating their doubts.

Kang Xigui cupped his hands toward Kang Chengqian and said solemnly, “Not only should we welcome him, but you should also go to the border to welcome him personally!” What he said caused an uproar in the hall.

“What? Get the commissioner to welcome him personally?”

“Go to the border to welcome him, instead of going out of the city?”

“It will be showing the utmost courtesy to go 15 kilometers out of the city to welcome a person. How can you ask the commissioner to go the border?!”

The advisors could no longer contain their shock. They were whispering to each other, and discussing about the suggestion, furiously.

Hearing these words, Kang Chengqian was also puzzled, but he just smiled bitterly, but his face was devoid of any other expression.

A young inspector stood up and cupped his fists toward Kang Chengqian and the others. He exclaimed vehemently, “Secretary-general, I don’t agree with you! At present, troubled times are around the corner, and the imperial court exists in name only. Which is the most powerful vassal state in the world? It’s not Xuanwu or Pinglu, but Hedong! Why? Hedong has a vast territory, 11 prefectures, and many people! There are 300,000 armored soldiers in the Hedong Army. What’s more, the northern border troops are very powerful, and the elite Shatuo cavalry is invincible!”

“Hedong is in Shanxi. With a favorable geographical position, it overlooks the world and it’s easier to defend than to attack. What’s more, the Taiyuan Office is a well protected place with high city walls and deep ditches! So how dare Prince An attack Hedong with only 100,000 Pinglu soldiers! He forced Li Keyong to go to Qing Prefecture and report on his work. And his accusation of Li Keyong’s revolt is unwarranted! Prince An knows that he should not be sending troops to Hedong, but he is still going to do it anyway! Why?”

“It’s only an excuse. In the name of sending troops to Hedong, Prince An’s real intention is to annex the neighboring vassal states and expand his own forces!”

“Prince An and Li Keyong have a lifelong feud. In the final analysis, his sending troops this time is a personal grudge! Now, he wants to occupy Weibo and Zhaoyi, and lay a foundation for the fight with Li Keyong in the future! Therefore, Prince An’s wild ambition is abundantly clear! If the commissioner welcomes the Pinglu Army to enter Zhaoyi, it’s no different from letting a wolf into the sheepfold! If so, Zhaoyi will be in danger!”

The inspector’s remark was cadenced, emotionally charged, sensible, and reasonable. No one could argue with that.

All the advisors in the hall, whether they agreed with him or not, were infected by his spirit. Many of them admired him. He had an extraordinary demeanor. But some were lost in their own thoughts.

This inspector’s name was Guo Zhangming, and it was said that he was Guo Ziyi’s descendant. Although he was young, he was the most famous, talented young person in Zhaoyi. In daily life, Kang Chengqian appreciated his ability very much and wanted to cultivate him in particular. If he did not have such a high status and was not talented, he would not have dared to disobey Kang Xigui.

Now, of course, there was another reason. Previously, Kang Xigui was on his side and resisted the entry of the Pinglu Army. Kang Xigui’s sudden “defection” was beyond Guo Zhangming’s expectation, and also made him feel betrayed, so he could not maintain his calm.

Kang Xigui was not touched by Guo Zhangming’s sincere words at all. Instead, he snorted and sat there, motionless. He glanced at Guo Zhangming and asked, “Are there any military warriors of Militarism in Zhaoyi?”

Guo Zhangming was a little stunned. Realizing what Kang Xigui meant, he immediately said loudly, “Although there are no military warriors of Militarism in Zhaoyi, our soldiers are loyal and brave...”

“I just asked if there were. You just need to answer yes or no.” Kang Xigui interrupted Guo Zhangming, coldly.

Guo Zhangming blushed. He wanted to say something, but hesitated. He was overwhelmed by excitement. Zhaoyi was in the north of the Yellow River, so it had not experienced the Huang Chao Uprising, it wasn’t the border, and there were few wars, so there were no military warriors of Militarism.

“No, but...” Guo Zhangming still wanted to say something.

Kang Xigui interrupted, looking directly at him, and asked, “At the bank of the Yellow River, Shangguan Qingcheng of the Pinglu Army charged forward and defeated 10,000 cavalrymen of the Weibo Army with 3,000 elite cavalrymen. It also showed her cultivation of the general of Militarism! I want to ask who can resist Shangguan Qingcheng’s charge in Zhaoyi. Inspector, you?”

Guo Zhangming opened his mouth, but he could not say anything.

That day, at the bank of the Yellow River, Shangguan Qingcheng made a desperate fight and defeated Cao Xijin face to face, with absolute inferior forces. She gained fame because of that battle! There were many vassal states in the world, and there were military warriors of Militarism, but the general of Militarism... In the whole world, among those so-called famous and brave generals, no one dared to say that he could resist Shangguan Qingcheng face to face, to say nothing of defeating her!

Guo Zhangming’s face darkened, but Kang Xigui didn’t intend to let him go. He continued to ask, “If there is only Shangguan Qingcheng, that will be okay. I want to ask you if the Zhaoyi Army has ever experienced bloody battles all these years, and if there is a group of real invincible elite.”

“Our Zhaoyi soldiers are also brave and bold...” Obviously, Guo Zhangming had no confidence while he was saying these, but he did not want to show the white feather, either.

Kang Xigui sneered. “Our Zhaoyi soldiers are brave and bold. How about the Weibo soldiers? In the battle of Bozhou, 50,000 Weibo soldiers defended a city, but it was captured within a few days, and 50,000 reinforcements were also defeated! Who can resist such a Pinglu Army?”

Guo Zhangming was speechless.

Kang Xigui looked around the crowd in the hall, his gaze seemingly charged with electricity. “Are there any great cultivators who are in the Spiritual Master Realm in Zhaoyi?”

No one spoke. Meeting Kang Xigui’s eyes, all the advisors lowered their heads, unconsciously. Cao Zhongming was the only one who was in the Spiritual Master Realm in Weibo, but he had reached the Spiritual Master Realm only recently. Zhaoyi was weaker than Weibo, and there was no one in the Spiritual Master Realm.

Kang Xigui then said coldly, “In the battle of Weizhou, Prince An went straight into the Weibo commissioner’s mansion and beheaded Cao Zhongming in full view of the public! The people there saw four cultivators who were in the Spiritual Master Realm! What does that mean? If Prince An did the same to our Zhaoyi commissioner’s mansion, who will protect the commissioner? Who can protect the commissioner?”

When he said these last words, the hall became so quiet that one could actually hear a pin drop. Guo Zhangming bowed his head as well.

“Inspector is right that Prince An’s wild ambition is abundantly clear, but what can we do? Even though you and I know about this, who can stop him?”

Kang Xigui’s voice was cold, with a trace of murderous intent. “Prince An has great forces. Even if he wants Zhaoyi, what can we do? In the final analysis, Prince An is not afraid that we can see through his intention, because it is useless to do so! He has the strength to make his intention open and aboveboard. If we disobey him, we will die! Who in this hall wants to die? Who wants the commissioner to die? Isn’t the lesson from Cao Zhongming not bloody enough? Not enough for you to recognize the reality?”

The murderous intent in Kang Xigui’s words was overwhelming.

In the hall, no one wanted to refute that, because they could not. Many of them secretly wiped away their sweat and felt cold pricklings on their backs.

Kang Xigui looked at Kang Chengqian, cupped his hands and said, “Commissioner, the Pinglu Army has already gathered in Weizhou and will soon come to our Zhaoyi. At this time, you have to go out and welcome them! The Imperial Army is going to suppress the rebels, so how can you not welcome them? The Pinglu Army is the Imperial Army, not because they are righteous, but because they are powerful! If you go and welcome the Imperial Army, it shows your loyalty to the Tang Empire. Prince An executed treacherous officials, killed eunuchs, and quelled the rebellion. All he wanted to do is to help the country. Prince An has a good reputation. If you can try your best to help him, he will rely heavily on you. At least, he won’t make things difficult for you! This is the only way to keep you safe and keep Zhaoyi safe! Otherwise, we will only be repeating Weibo’s mistake!”

Kang Chengqian nodded and had to admit this reality. Since the advisors had no objection, he knew that all of them agreed. He stood up and saluted Kang Xigui. “Thanks for your guidance.”

After saluting, he looked at the crowd and made up his mind. “Prepare the things that will help the soldiers. I’m going to welcome Prince An and the Imperial Army personally!”

The advisors looked at each other and got up in succession. They bowed to Kang Chengqian. “You are wise, commissioner!”

Kang Chengqian secretly sighed. “Next, let us discuss how to cooperate with Prince An to fight.”

In fact, Zhaoyi had another way, which was to be allies with Hedong. If the Hedong Army did not enter the border, the Zhaoyi Army would not be able to defeat the Pinglu Army, but if the Hedong Army entered the border, whether they won or not, the Zhaoyi Army would be accused of rebellion. This was the hidden danger.

In addition, if the Hedong Army won, no one could guarantee that Li Keyong would not take this opportunity to plot against Zhaoyi. Even if Li Keyong promised not to do that, no one would believe him.

At present, Li Ye’s fight with Li Keyong was one for the battle of power. Zhaoyi could not gain advantages from both sides, so it had to choose to stand by one side.

Since they had to choose one side, they would naturally choose the powerful one. Only in this way could they gain benefits. There was a general of Militarism, elite soldiers, and four cultivators who were in the Spiritual Master Realm in the Pinglu Army. Of course, it was the powerful one.