Chapter 220: The Sun-Moon Empire Declares War, Xu Jiawei's Melancholy
Time returned to the present.
The positions of the first two national masters of the Sun-Moon Empire had been determined.
As for the remaining one, under the cover-up of Xu Tianran and Jing Hongchen, Xu Tianran finally claimed he accepted his fate privately, and then nothing more was said.
Moreover, Xu Tianran replaced most of the ministers of the previous dynasty, especially those in strategically significant positions, almost all of whom were swapped with his former subordinates.
This wave was indeed a major shift in power within the royal family of the Sun-Moon Empire.
The newly appointed ministers were naturally elated, as this was tantamount to a promotion and salary increase.
The displaced ministers certainly had objections, but almost none dared to voice them.
After all, with a new emperor, a major court overhaul was expected.
Unless they were neutral ministers with significant contributions, most were either dismissed or transferred, with the luckiest ones reassigned outside Mingdu, far from the Sun-Moon Empire's power center.
Under Lin Qinghan's instructions, after Xu Tianran reorganized the court, he issued his first military order.
"From now on, national resources will be tilted toward the army, and a war will be launched against the three countries originally belonging to Douluo Continent in five years."
Xu Tianran calmly outlined the subsequent war plan, which was also the most significant announcement of his first court appearance.
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Two days later, in the palace of Xingluo City, Xingluo Empire.
"Brother, have you heard? The new emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire, Xu Tianran, openly declared he would launch a war against the three countries of the original Douluo Continent in five years."
Due to Lin Qinghan's request, Xu Tianran did not conceal his order and even publicized it.
Even with the medieval intelligence system of Douluo Continent, the news reached the Xingluo Empire two days later.
As a princess wielding real power, Xu Jiujiu managed Xingluo City's intelligence network alongside Xu Jiawei, so she received the news immediately.
"Yes, little sister. I learned of this yesterday, and I'm troubled by it now."
It was early morning, before the morning court, but Xu Jiawei was already dressed in imperial attire. He looked weary, clearly having not slept all night.
"The new emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire seems very young and radical. Brother, can we fight in five years?"
Xu Jiujiu was also dressed formally. Despite light makeup, her eyes betrayed deep anxiety, though her face showed no haggardness.
Since the White Tiger Duke Dai Hao's death years ago, the Sun-Moon Empire's army had grown far more aggressive on the Mingdou Mountains battlefield.
Later, they even deployed a Soul Master Corps equipped with linked soul guides.
As the Xingluo Empire, long battling the Sun-Moon Empire in the Mingdou Mountains, they now keenly felt their adversary's strength.
That small Sun-Moon Empire Soul Master Corps required over fifteen Soul Saints or three Soul Douluos to contend with.
A corps of low-level soul masters was like a rabbit facing a lion before such a force, and an army of ordinary soldiers, even tens of thousands strong, couldn't breach the defense of a medium-sized Sun-Moon Empire soul master corps.
How many Soul Saints and Soul Douluos did the Xingluo Empire have? Even with the nation's full might, gathering a four-digit number was likely impossible.
And even if they mustered such high-level soul masters, without Title Douluo or linked soul guides, they couldn't decisively impact a battle against the Sun-Moon Empire's ace soul guide corps.
As for Super Douluo, the Xingluo Empire had only a handful of named ones. Without Shrek Academy's support, even combining the three original Douluo Continent nations, they might not muster ten.
"Based on our current understanding of the Sun-Moon Empire, without Shrek Academy's support and the unity of the three original Douluo Continent nations, our chance of victory is nearly zero."
Xu Jiawei's bloodshot eyes closed in pain as he spoke.
This wise emperor, born at an unfortunate time, seemed to foresee the Xingluo Empire's grim future.
"Can't we resist with just our nation's strength? Why is the Sun-Moon Empire so powerful? Is it because of their soul guides?"
Hearing her brother, the emperor, speak so despairingly, Xu Jiujiu bit her lower lip.
Even with light makeup, her dejection was evident.
As a royal princess, Xu Jiujiu had a strong sense of national pride. Beyond that, if the Xingluo Empire fell, her fate as its princess would be dire.
"Little sister, you'll soon be twenty-one, right? I once suggested you get engaged to Lin Qinghan, though he's over five years younger. Now, Lin Qinghan is of marriageable age."
Xu Jiawei glanced at his beloved sister, masking his dejection and shifting the topic.
"As a royal princess, you're late to marry. You once said you were satisfied with Lin Qinghan. It's time to wed him."
"Brother, I have no objection to the betrothal with Lin Qinghan, but… he may not agree to bind himself to the Xingluo royal family."
The conversation had been about the nation's future, so Xu Jiawei's abrupt shift to her marriage caught Xu Jiujiu off guard. Despite her refined upbringing, she felt uneasy.
Xu Jiujiu held Lin Qinghan in high regard. As her fiancé, he was strikingly handsome and an unprecedented genius.
His current achievements made Xu Jiujiu wonder if anyone could surpass him.
Her deepest memory of him, however, was his openness about his relationships with other girls—more than one, three years ago—leaving a lasting impression.
When they first met, before he knew her identity, Lin Qinghan had made a strong impact on the young Xu Jiujiu.
Aside from his playboy tendencies, Lin Qinghan left a positive impression, or she wouldn't have agreed to the marriage.
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(End of this chapter)