Chapter 284: Not Enough
Chapter 284: Not Enough
Dayu Province, Imperial Holy City.
In the majestic Divine Mist Imperial Palace, officials of all ranks from the Imperial Capital were solemnly dressed and heading to the court for the day. News of the incident at Wuliang Mountain in the distant Qingzhou border had already spread, causing undercurrents of unrest in this city where officials and their powers were most concentrated and complex. Many had spent a sleepless night.
When they first heard the news, many doubted their intelligence sources, but after confirming with acquaintances, they realized the situation was indeed dire!
One was a Buddhist Master, the bearer of the incense of the Buddhist Sect and its leader.
The other was a World-Class Prodigy, who had recently risen to prominence, shining brightly with formidable strength and remarkable achievements, and a limitless future ahead.
Two such luminous stars of the Human Race colliding with each other was simply shocking.
The impact of this collision would ripple through countless large and small factions. Even though the leader is dead, the Buddhist Sect would not disintegrate. Even ordinary martial sects, if not completely eradicated, have disciples who would bide their time for years to avenge their masters. How much more so for a religious organization like the Buddhist Sect, which has strong cohesion and faith.
The Buddhist Sect has deep roots. Although Emperor Yu banned members of the imperial bloodline from joining the Buddhist Sect hundreds of years ago, citing the thinning of the royal lineage and the need to produce more heirs, many former officials, ministers, and retired generals, whether voluntarily or under covert influence, have entered monastic life for a serene and comfortable existence.
Now, with the Buddhist Master slain and the leader of the Buddhist path struck down, it will be a massive blow to these followers of Buddhism.
Outside Xuanhuang Gate, a luxurious Dragon Phoenix Cloud Carriage flew swiftly and landed gently.
The carriage door opened, and a regal and elegant figure stepped out.
"The Patriarch of the Xia Clan has arrived."
"He hasn't attended court for many years, yet he came today."
"It's said that General Haotian escaped from the Mourning River, subsequently saving Youzhou and Qingzhou, and slaying the leaders of three major demon factions. The Xia Clan must be here to plead for his clemency."
Seeing the stunningly beautiful female general, who, though now a noblewoman, still carried immense prestige, many officials dared not look for long, feeling a sense of awe.
"Another former high-ranking official of the Former Emperor has arrived. I heard he practices vegetarianism and Buddhism and once discussed matters with the Buddhist Master."
Someone pointed to another area where an old man was being supported by several high-ranking officials.
There was no doubt that today's court session would be extremely intense.
As representatives from various factions arrived, the grand hall of the Imperial Palace filled up. On the Dragon Throne, Emperor Yu sat quietly, his imposing figure like a mountain, his eyes like the sun and moon, radiating an awe-inspiring presence that no one could bear to look at directly.
His gaze was deep and inward, like a deep pool or a vast sea, impossible to fathom.
At the front of the hall, Xia Linglong stood alone, her eyes cold and her expression calm. Behind her were several other Xia Clan officials who held positions in the court.
When she first received the news yesterday, she was deeply shaken but immediately rushed to Dayu Province.
She knew the matter was highly significant. Although the young man's combat strength was formidable, this was the Dayu Divine Dynasty, with a foundation that exceeded imagination. Not to mention the True Person of Qian Dao Palace who guarded the realm, even the Jiang Family experts who entered the Immortal Gate a thousand years ago, if they returned, could crush all monsters.
Even the Buddhist Master would not dare to kill openly. Various factions had unspoken rules, and slaying a leader was a clear declaration of war.
Now that the Buddhist Master was dead, the Buddhist Sect's influence was deeply entrenched, entangled with countless interests. Although it posed no threat to Li Hao, they could still stir up trouble before the emperor.
Moreover, the emperor needed a reason to appease the masses. In such a scenario, there was a possibility that Li Hao's honors would be stripped to quell public anger.
If Dayu and Li Hao were to break ties, it would give the Demons an opportunity to exploit the situation. Xia Linglong knew that the emperor must be considering these factors, but she was unsure how he would decide. After all, if he could not win the support of the people, the disciples of the Buddhist Sect from various states and cities might rebel. Suppressing them by force would only lead to constant internal strife!
This would similarly provide the Demons with a chance to invade.
If Xia Linglong were to put herself in Emperor Yu's position, she would also feel torn. In the long term, it would be best to protect Li Hao, who is still young and has enormous potential, possibly even surpassing the True Person of the Daoist Palace.
However, she was unsure if the emperor harbored suspicions toward the young General. After all, his achievements had already begun to overshadow the emperor's authority. Moreover, Li Hao was so young that if left unchecked, he might even change the fate of the nation!
The emperor's thoughts were hard to fathom, and no one knew how he would ultimately decide.
Regardless, she had come here hoping that the emperor would consider the Xia Clan's loyal service and think more carefully about the matter.
This was the duty she owed as a loyal subject.
"Your Majesty, you are wise and just! General Haotian, who has killed a Buddha, has committed a grave sin, defying the will of the heavens. He does not deserve the rank of Duke and should be demoted to a commoner, serving in atonement by defending the frontier, never to receive any favors again!"
As soon as the court convened, an elderly official, his emotions running high, made this plea.
"Indeed, Your Majesty, General Haotian has a history of misdeeds. He fought his own father, betrayed the Li Family, and now has killed a Buddha, causing the people to weep. He must be punished severely!"
"He cannot rely on his past achievements to act without restraint. What does he think of the emperor's authority? What does he think of the moral code of the nation? If we do not curb his actions now, he will only become more rampant and uncontrollable!"
"Your Majesty, General Haotian is still young and has not been properly guided, making it easy for him to go astray. He killed a Buddhist Master and acted with brute force, even though he has saved Liangzhou. However, using his achievements to commit evil cannot be tolerated. If we do not act, the nation will eventually decline."
Several officials followed, one after another, as if they had planned it in advance.
The others remained silent, watching the emperor's and the various factions' reactions.
After all, this court was not solely the Buddhist Sect's domain. While some officials were indignant, others had no ties to the Buddhist Sect and were now concerned that severely punishing General Haotian might be detrimental to Dayu's current struggle against the Demons.
Before Emperor Yu could respond, Xia Linglong turned around.
"You all speak so easily. If the Demons attack the city, would any of you dare to stand on the city walls to face them?"
Xia Linglong sneered, "The feat of saving three states is dismissed so lightly by your words. They say a scholar's pen can cut a warrior's sword, and your tongues are indeed sharp!"
"I am a military general. If the Demons attack, I will lead my troops to the front lines in my jurisdiction!"
One official stepped forward, looking directly at Xia Linglong. "But merits are one thing. Who here has no merit? Killing a Buddhist Master is a crime, and so is killing a commoner. If everyone uses their merits to belittle life, how can the commoners survive? How can the dynasty continue? Would it even be a dynasty, or just a den of bandits?"
Xia Linglong's face darkened, her eyes cold and piercing. The man was not from the Five Divine General Manors but a rising star who had earned his own merits.
However, she sensed that his words were not directed at Li Hao but at the Five Divine General Manors' monopoly on military achievements.
This issue of the Five Divine General Manors' achievements on the battlefield was a long-standing one. Special or first-class merits were often given to close relatives or family members. As the Patriarch, she could not entirely prohibit this, as it was akin to corruption and could not be eradicated.
Other factions had to survive in the cracks left by the Five Divine General Manors, and this conflict had been ongoing.
These factions had secretly united, forming a force that, while unable to challenge the Divine General Manors, had been opposing them in secret. With the emperor's watchful eye, no one dared to break the rules openly.
"You are right. If one can kill on the streets because of their merits, what kind of society would that create? The commoners would live in constant fear, and the dynasty's brief prosperity would inevitably decline!"
"Warriors can slay demons, and Civil Ministers can govern the nation—this is an eternal truth. If we suppress everything with brute force, the commoners may not dare to speak, but what will be the long-term consequences?"
Several ministers spoke up in succession.
Xia Linglong's face darkened. She knew that from a logical standpoint, as long as the other side insisted that killing was a crime, which aligned with the laws of the Dayu Divine Dynasty, she would have no grounds to argue.
"With demons rampant across the land, you have all been living in the Imperial City for too long and perhaps have forgotten what demons look like. When the demons attack, I wonder if you will still be able to reason with them using just your iron teeth", Xia Linglong said.
"We are trying to reason with General Xia. Are you comparing yourself to demons?"
"We follow the Great Dao of the ancient sages, considering ourselves the pinnacle of creation, not to be compared with pigs and dogs. Yet, we now disregard life and morality?"
"Indeed, the nation has its laws. Even if General Haotian is a prodigy of unmatched talent and great merit, he still committed a grave error by killing a Buddhist Master. How can we simply cover for him?"
"Today he dares to kill a Buddhist Master; tomorrow, will he not dare to kill a True Person or even us?"
"How is he any different from a demon?!"
Others chimed in, angrily denouncing her.
Xia Linglong was almost amused by their words, but she knew it would be difficult to reason with these people.
Unless she used force to suppress them, but that would mean she had already lost.
"I see you are the real demons. Have your homes been invaded by demons, or have you been bewitched by them and lost your minds?"
Beside her, a group of scholars from the Hanjin Academy, seeing that Xia Linglong could not argue with so many, also joined in.
"The matter has not been thoroughly investigated, and you dare to say that General Haotian, who suppressed the demons in three provinces, is no different from a demon?!"
"I see your true intentions. You are trying to harm the loyal subjects of Dayu. Your Majesty, I suggest we investigate their homes first to see if they have been invaded by demons!"
"Indeed, the merit of the three provinces is immense. In my view, they should all be ennobled as Divine Generals. How dare you look down on Divine Generals?"
"The matter is shrouded in doubt and has not been clarified. What are your true intentions in making such hasty judgments, risking the loss of a great general for Dayu?!"
With the addition of others, the debate became even more intense.
Xia Linglong opened her mouth slightly, watching the two sides of civil ministers argue. In the end, she chose to observe from the side. While she was eloquent, she was still at a disadvantage compared to these people in the art of debate.
She turned to look at the emperor, whose expression remained unchanged, showing neither joy nor worry. She couldn't help but feel anxious, unsure of how the emperor was considering the matter.
As the debate continued, the arguments began to repeat themselves. Eunuch Chu Jiuyue, standing in the court, lightly coughed.
Though his voice was soft, it was enough to silence the debate.
Everyone stopped and looked at the emperor.
Emperor Yu's face was calm as he said, "All of you have made valid points, but reason is for the commoners and for us, because we are of the human race. But how can demons understand reason? With the external threat of demons, you all say that General Haotian's honors should be stripped. If his honors are taken away, who will step up to fight the demons when they attack?"
Hearing the emperor's words, many exchanged glances. Those who supported Xia Linglong quietly looked at those who had previously denounced Li Hao.
No wonder he is the emperor, Xia Linglong thought to herself. He doesn't engage in pointless arguments but directly addresses the most practical issues.
However, she wasn't sure if the emperor was supporting Li Hao or simply concerned about the external threat of demons.
After a brief silence, an elderly minister shakily said, "Your Majesty, I have received a petition from the Buddhist Sect's Bodhisattva. The Buddhist Sect promises that if Your Majesty grants them justice, they will contribute eight million Buddhist disciples to serve and fight in the war."
Hearing his words, many faces changed, surprised by the Buddhist Sect's resolve.
Trading eight million disciples for Li Hao.
"Eight million disciples..."
Emperor Yu murmured softly, then said calmly, "I fear that is not enough."
(End of Chapter)
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