Tian Hun Empire, Imperial Palace.
Smack—
The Tian Hun Emperor slammed his palm down, breaking the armrest.
"What audacity from the Sun-Moon Empire! What audacity from Xu Tianran! The peace agreement was just reached, and already it's been violated!"
Anger surged unchecked through the hall.
The imperial ministers present bowed their heads, all remaining silent.
But without exception, their expressions were grim.
What the Sun-Moon Empire had done was utterly disgraceful.
One must understand—Nine Treasures City was one of the Tian Hun Empire's important cities, the city with the highest tax revenue, the economic center of the Tian Hun Empire, and not far from the imperial capital. Yet overnight, this prosperous city was destroyed!
Now, they had lost both face and substance. Damn it all, they had all been "played" by the Sun-Moon Empire and Xu Tianran!
How could the Tian Hun Emperor not be furious?
Beneath his towering rage, the ministers remained silent.
Once the Tian Hun Emperor had calmed himself, the imperial chancellor stepped forward, "Your Majesty, what is most important now is the reconstruction of Nine Treasures City. Although Nine Treasures City was destroyed and its former prosperity reduced to ashes, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect still stands. Though they have suffered some losses, there is no major harm. With their assistance, restoring Nine Treasures City is not a problem. Additionally, the population outside Nine Treasures City is now less than one in a hundred—we need to migrate people there."
"Migrate? How to migrate?"
The Tian Hun Emperor exhaled a turbid breath, his face regaining its composure, showing none of the towering rage from moments before.
He looked at the chancellor, "Because Nine Treasures City just suffered a large-scale attack due to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, we know there likely won't be a next time, but what about the common people? What will they think?"
"Migration benefits, merchant assistance... there will always be those who are tempted."
The chancellor had long prepared his response, "And distant relocations won't work, but nearby populations who knew of Nine Treasures City's former prosperity should suffice. If city populations won't work, then migrate from the countryside. According to my knowledge, that Chen Junting's place of growth before age six was in a village. Since that's the case, why not relocate them there?"
"Then see to it that you quickly produce a plan for this matter."
Then, the Tian Hun Emperor looked toward Wei Na, "Has any message come back from Sect Leader Du? What is the situation at Shrek Academy?"
"It has come back."
Wei Na nodded, then informed them of roughly everything that had happened at Shrek City. When the imperial ministers present finished listening, strange lights flickered in all their eyes.
"Hahaha—"
The Tian Hun Emperor's laughter broke the peculiar silence.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"
Three consecutive "excellent"s caused the accumulated rage and depression in his heart from Nine Treasures City's destruction to completely dissipate.
"The Sun-Moon Empire and Holy Spirit Cult have truly lost their wife and their army! This attack was meant to cripple us, yet who would have thought the results would be completely opposite. Two battlefields, one Limit Douluo fallen at each. Now, the Holy Spirit Cult's high-end combat strength has withered completely, and their spirit beasts on that side are difficult to trust. I see what powerful external aid Xu Tianran still has to compensate for top-tier combat strength."
Presently, their original Douluo Three Empires side had two Limit Douluo in top combat strength. And in military terms, with the "friendly sponsorship" from the Sun-Moon Empire, their strength had also greatly increased. Though they couldn't compare to the elite Sun-Moon army, the three empires united—quantity was sufficient to compensate for lack of quality!
Thus, "Ministers, the Sun-Moon Empire acts against the tide, tears up the treaty, destroys our city—this is open provocation. Three days hence, I intend to declare to the continent, sending invitations to Star Luo, Dou Ling, Shrek Academy, and other major powers of the original Douluo Continent to discuss alliance and thoroughly launch a war of national annihilation against the Sun-Moon Empire."
"How about it?"
The Tian Hun Emperor's dragon-like gaze swept over his ministers.
His tone clearly showed determination to succeed.
The ministers exchanged glances, finally directing their gazes toward the chancellor, and even the Tian Hun Emperor followed suit.
Instantly, this put immense pressure on the composed chancellor.
After a moment of silence, the chancellor stepped forward from the ranks.
"Your Majesty. This subject opposes."
"Nine Treasures City still needs reconstruction, the people also need comfort, and even the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Shrek Academy need time to recuperate..."
"Are you telling me to swallow this insult!?" Before the Tian Hun Chancellor could finish speaking, he faced the Tian Hun Emperor's questioning.
"Not swallow it, but postpone it."
"Postpone."
The Tian Hun Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, "Postpone for how long?"
"Half a year."
The chancellor cupped his hands, "Only half a year is needed for the impact of this matter to be resolved. And we can also make thorough and adequate preparations before the war. This way, we might even make the Sun-Moon Empire lower their guard. Then after secretly reaching an alliance, we can directly dispatch troops and catch them off guard."
"Good."
The Tian Hun Emperor pointed at the chancellor, "I give you half a year! Half a year later, I will proceed with the alliance and launch the war of national annihilation. However, since the Sun-Moon Empire suffered such heavy losses in this soul hunting operation, if I make no moves, it will surely make them suspicious."
Speaking thus, the Tian Hun Emperor looked toward the Minister of Military Affairs.
"Li Gu!"
"This subject is present."
Minister of Military Affairs Li Gu stepped forward, respectfully awaiting orders.
"Gather the Tian Hun Navy. Take advantage of the situation to seize the nearest Sun-Moon Empire island in our maritime territory for me, also catching them off guard. After taking it, then tell them this is the price."
"Yes!"
...
Sun-Moon Empire, Imperial Palace.
Crash—
Xu Tianran swept both arms across, sending all the memorials on the desk flying. "Bastards! So many people sent, and a sneak attack at that, yet nearly all died, even the two Limit Douluo Zhongli Wu and Ye Xishui fell there! Could it be that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Shrek Academy are truly that strong?! Huh?! Tell me!"
For a moment, everyone in the study fell silent as cicadas in winter, none daring to make a sound, deeply afraid of further enraging His Majesty in his fury.
Suppressing the rage in his heart, Xu Tianran's icy gaze swept over the bowed and silent crowd, finally stopping on Jing Hongchen.
It was this brief pause that caused cold sweat to instantly cover Jing Hongchen's back, his heart rising to his throat.
Until... "Remember this! Since in this operation, most of you didn't show your faces, then as for this soul hunting operation, the Sun-Moon Empire never participated! Everything was the Holy Spirit Cult acting on their own! No matter what, never admit to it under pain of death! As for those whose faces were seen, I will declare to the outside that they were degenerates colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult—the Empire no longer recognizes their status. And I will find some death row prisoners as scapegoats, then publicly execute them. Going forward, those people will live under assumed names and not show their faces."
"Yes."
Then, Xu Tianran spoke again.
"Everyone withdraw. Hall Master Hongchen, remain."
Everyone immediately felt relieved, giving Jing Hongchen "may the gods help you" looks before hurriedly exiting the study.
After all, better you than me.
Just as Jing Hongchen was silently cursing these fellows for their lack of loyalty, Xu Tianran spoke, "Hall Master Hongchen, I have two tasks for you. If you complete them well, you may redeem your crimes. If you don't complete them well..."
"Multiple crimes will be punished together!"
"This old subject accepts the command!"
Facing the icy words, how could Jing Hongchen hesitate? After readily agreeing, he then asked, "Your Majesty, may I know what matters these are?"
Xu Tianran had a eunuch fetch a map from the shelf, spread it open, then pointed to an island located in the empire's maritime territory.
"I anticipate that given the Tian Hun's temperament, upon learning we suffered such heavy losses in this operation, they certainly won't let it go, and may even think to catch us off guard. Therefore, this island closest to the Tian Hun Empire is their best target."
Xu Tianran's gaze fixed on Jing Hongchen, "I assign you the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineers, and the navy of the surrounding maritime territory is also at your disposal. I have only two requirements: first, make a grand show of it! Second, fight a defensive battle for me, with the result being a great victory."
"Understood?"
"This old subject understands."
Jing Hongchen bowed his head and cupped his hands in acknowledgment, then glanced upward and asked tentatively, "Then Your Majesty, what is the second matter?"
"This second matter..."
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