txolops Chapter 243: A month later, troops will be dispatched to attack Xiqi.
Chapter 243: A month later, troops will be dispatched to attack Xiqi.
At this moment, in the Nine-Room Hall of the Shang Dynasty palace, Emperor Xin looked at the secret report in his hand and was furious when he learned that the three passes had fallen the previous year.
On the other hand, Kong Xuan and Wen Zhong had also heard about the loss of the three passes, and they were both indignant.
Wen Zhong, in particular, was eager to lead his troops to wipe out Xiqi immediately.
"Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to lead troops to conquer Xiqi!"
Wen Zhong stepped forward and bowed to Emperor Xin.
Although he learned of Taibai's plan from Kong Xuan, as a veteran official of three dynasties of the Yin Shang, he could not bear to see the Yin Shang fall to such a state.
Therefore, in his view, even if it might interfere with Taibai's plans, it was necessary to vindicate the Yin Shang dynasty.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, although the Shang Dynasty is currently in ruins, its elite forces still remain."
"If Your Majesty entrusts this task to this old minister, this old minister will surely present Ji Chang's head before Your Majesty."
Seeing that Emperor Xin remained silent, Wen Zhong earnestly offered his advice once again.
Kong Xuan, standing to the side, remained silent.
His cultivation was deeper, and he understood the dangers of the Investiture of the Gods calamity better than Wen Zhong. What he needed to do now was to prevent these two from disrupting Taibai's plans.
Di Xin sighed deeply and said to Wen Zhong:
"Grand Tutor, I also wish to annihilate Xiqi, but now is not the right time. Although Yin Shang still has soldiers capable of fighting, it lacks capable ministers to manage its internal affairs."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong fell silent for a moment.
He understood that what Di Xin said was true: supplies must be prepared before troops can move.
The high-ranking officials in the court now harbor different intentions and are untrustworthy.
If supplies are lost, even if the army manages to destroy Xiqi, unrest will occur due to the supply problem.
Fortunately, thanks to Wen Zhong's efforts, the two towns in the southeast have been pacified, and there should be no risk of further rebellion in the short term.
Now is indeed the best time to attack Xiqi, but the lack of someone to manage internal affairs is a major concern.
Just as Emperor Xin and Wen Zhong were troubled by this, Venus suddenly appeared in the Nine-Room Palace.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Upon seeing that it was Venus, Emperor Xin immediately rose from his seat.
To be honest, he had long been unable to tolerate it and wished he could immediately lead an expedition to conquer Xiqi.
With Taibai's arrival, he felt even more confident.
Even if food supplies are insufficient, with this disciple of the sage around, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Grand Preceptor, is it time to launch a campaign against Xiqi?"
"Your Majesty, it is indeed time to send troops. In one month, the army will be able to strike directly at the heart of the enemy."
Upon hearing this, Di Xin was greatly encouraged, laughed loudly several times, and then said:
"Good! Then, a month later, we will assemble a large army to wipe out the old traitor Ji Chang!"
However, there is one more matter that requires the assistance of the Imperial Advisor. The Shang Dynasty currently lacks capable administrators, and we hope that the Imperial Advisor will lend a helping hand.
Taibai nodded in agreement and looked at Kong Xuandao:
"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan, those two can be released now."
Kong Xuan raised his hand and waved it, and five-colored light appeared, revealing the figures of Bi Gan and Shang Rong in the main hall.
When Di Xin saw the two, he was both surprised and astonished, and quickly stepped down from his throne.
Bi Gan and Shang Rong also knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Majesty."
Seeing the surprised and doubtful expressions on the faces of Emperor Xin and Wen Zhong, Taibai explained:
"Many days ago, I asked Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan to save Bi Gan and Shang Rong. These two are the only suitable candidates to take charge of the government."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xin almost burst into tears.
He was originally considered a wise ruler, so how could he not be excited to see two of his most trusted ministers come back to life?
He had always believed that he was responsible for the deaths of these loyal and virtuous people, and now that he saw them return safely, he was overjoyed.
"Many thanks to the Imperial Advisor for leaving behind such pillars for the survival of the Yin Shang dynasty."
'
"Thank you, Senior Master, for saving the two prime ministers."
Taibai simply waved his hand at Di Xin and Wen Zhong's thanks, indicating that they didn't need to worry about it.
After Shang Rong and Bi Gan understood the whole story, they also kowtowed repeatedly to Kong Xuan and Tai Bai to express their deep gratitude.
Taibai felt a pang of emotion. If these two had died, they could have been listed on the Investiture of the Gods, enjoying divine status and immortality.
Now that they remain in the human world, they will inevitably fall into the cycle of reincarnation in the future.
Thinking of this, Taibai sighed softly to himself.
He raised his hand and pointed at the center of Bi Gan's and Shang Rong's foreheads, respectively transmitting agricultural strategies and the teachings of rites and music into their minds.
In Taibai's view, if they could promote these ideas throughout the world, they might become wise men of the human race and enter the Fire Cloud Cave in the future, which would be a kind of compensation for them.
The two sensed the information in their minds and were about to express their gratitude when Taibai raised his hand to stop them.
Time is of the essence; Taibai's trip is only to inform others of the arrangements, and he must return to Lintong Pass as soon as possible afterward.
"Your Majesty, you must remember that the great calamity of heaven and earth has not yet ended. Your two wise ministers, Shang Rong and Bigan..."
It is not yet appropriate to reveal them to the court officials; it would be better to change their identities first.
They will act in the shadows. Once everything is in place, Your Majesty can muster your troops and await the opportune moment to quell the rebellion in Xiqi in one fell swoop.
After explaining everything clearly, Taibai's figure swayed slightly and then disappeared from the Nine-Room Hall.
Kong Xuan and Wen Zhong, watching Tai Bai move freely in and out of the human royal palace, couldn't help but feel envious.
However, they were well aware of the difference. Taibai held the Kongtong Seal, a treasure of the human race, which was recognized by the fortune. Therefore, the fortune dragon above the palace would not hinder him in the slightest.
But if it were them, and they were to use magic recklessly in this King's Palace, or try to escape so easily, the Dragon of Fortune would probably immediately unleash a thunderous strike, annihilating them both body and soul.
The two exchanged a glance and both saw envy in each other's eyes.
In this place where humanity's fortunes are at their peak, even those with extraordinary cultivation must still abide by the rules of the human world.
Meanwhile, far away in Lintong Pass, Randeng had remained secluded for several days.
Instead of focusing on cultivation, he was constantly activating secret techniques in his room, attempting to make contact with the two Western Saints.
This calamity of the conferment of gods is fraught with unpredictable circumstances, and he is truly uneasy.
In his view, neither the Chan Sect nor Kunpeng were good people.
If these people conspire against him, he will likely perish instantly, his millennia of cultivation vanishing into nothingness.
Right now, the only people he can count on are those two saints in the West.
Unfortunately, the heavens are shrouded in darkness and confusion, and the Western religion is located in a very remote area, so the transmission of spiritual energy is often blocked.
Ran Deng made several attempts to contact them, but all his efforts were in vain, and he received no response whatsoever.
His life was at stake, so he dared not give up.
Therefore, even if he did not receive the message, he would still concentrate his divine sense again and again to send out secret messages to the west, with a lingering gloom between his brows.
As darkness fell outside the window, the wind howled through the pass. Ran Deng sat alone under the lamp, his face half-lit and half-shadowed by the flickering candlelight.
After each message was delivered, he would remain silent for a moment, but all he was met with was silence.
This silence is more unsettling than any clear ominous sign.
He sighed softly, closed his eyes again to concentrate, and a faint light flashed at his fingertips as another hidden message headed west.
He knew that in this great calamity affecting the three realms, one wrong step would mean eternal annihilation.
At this moment, all he could do was wait for a response from the West.
Looking across the entire primordial world, only the two Western Saints could save him.
"We must contact the two Western Saints as soon as possible and have them take me away."