Chapter 288: Nationwide Shock
Chapter 288: Nationwide Shock
"Can he really reverse right and wrong with just a single decree? It’s not that easy!"
"Let the Buddhist Sect stabilize their people and spread the truth. This is the perfect opportunity to undermine the emperor’s authority and ruin the Jiang Family’s incense!"
Respected Mo Yang said through gritted teeth.
Spreading the truth... Purple-striped Graceful Woman felt that these two words seemed a bit odd when put together. However, she quickly agreed and left with the Black-robed Youth.
However, just as they were about to counterattack, the signs of some top-tier Demon forces suddenly appeared in various states.
These Demon forces raised their banners and rallied spirits, river monsters, and other Demons, bypassing the border cities and infiltrating the interiors of the states. They launched attacks on the cities where the Buddhist Sect disciples gathered.
"The Buddhist Master is dead, and Dayu will fall!"
"Your Buddhist Master has already been killed by our Demon Emperor. Surrender now!"
"Kill them all!"
These Demon forces included the Dragon Gate Remnants, the Holy Palace Remnants, the Ancient Demon Hall, and the Star and Moon Academy, which, in the Demon world, was known for its extensive influence, comparable to the Dayu Hanjindian in terms of its cultivation and demon training.
The Star and Moon Academy had always maintained neutrality among the Demon forces, unlike the Void Realm Retreat. The Star and Moon Academy never involved itself in conflicts and maintained a peaceful relationship with the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, never encroaching on each other’s territory. However, this time, it had also come down the mountain to join the war against Dayu.
The leading figures among these invading Demons were all Great Demons of the Three Immortals Realm, second only to the Elders of Demon Kings in the top-tier Demon forces.
They raised their banners and commanded the attack, creating a vast and overwhelming momentum.
As one city after another was ravaged by the Demons, the accusations by the Buddhist Sect’s high-ranking officials that the emperor was favoring and protecting the culprit were instantly disproven.
A single decree could only win the trust of the people, but the rampant Demons now made many Buddhist Sect disciples realize that their Buddhist Master was indeed killed by Demons!
After all, the Demons were raising their banners and shouting it out loud!
There was no way they could disbelieve it.
...
Youzhou, Xia Clan.
Secret reports from various cities and states flooded in, and Xia Linglong, having received reassurance from the eunuch at the Imperial Palace, had returned to the council hall.
At this moment, with Demons causing chaos and raising their banners, it seemed they were about to launch a full-scale attack on Dayu, causing panic and fear among the common people.
"Is it really the Demon Emperor’s doing?"
In the council hall, many members of the Xia Clan were shocked. They had initially thought it was the young man who killed the Buddhist Master, but it turned out there was more to the story.
Xia Yuanwu and a few other elders revealed a hint of shock in their eyes.
The Xia Clan had done a lot for the emperor, and the old matriarch was skilled in taming demons. They had heard some rumors, but it was not appropriate to reveal them.
But now... the current situation seemed to confirm some of the rumors they had heard.
Xia Linglong was somewhat dazed. The reassurance from the eunuch had calmed her, but the current situation... was this the emperor’s way of covering for General Haotian?
Her thoughts wandered, until the discussion below came to an end, and someone asked how they should deploy troops to deal with the Demons invading the cities where Buddhist Sect disciples gathered in Youzhou.
Xia Linglong snapped back to reality, her mind racing. After a moment of consideration, she said:
"Given the current chaos caused by the Demons, we need to be cautious about other areas. Have the City Governor cooperate with the Buddhist Sect disciples to hold out. You should lead the troops to defend other cities and prevent the Demons from using a feint attack."
Everyone was surprised and looked at Xia Linglong with confusion.
Instead of aiding the cities under attack, she was redirecting troops to defend other cities that were still safe?
This decision seemed peculiar, not at all like something Xia Linglong would propose.
“This…”
Some people hesitated, sparking another round of debate.
Before Xia Linglong could speak, Xia Yuanwu glared and said, "Didn't you hear? Do as the Patriarch says. Do you know more than the Patriarch?"
Seeing the elder generation speak up, those who had been skeptical immediately fell silent, realizing there must be another reason.
After all, the intelligence they had seen was different from what the Patriarch possessed.
Coming from a military background, they understood that having the best intelligence was crucial for gaining the upper hand. Only decisions based on accurate information could be the most correct. Otherwise, acting on mere enthusiasm could disrupt higher-level plans and cause more harm than good.
They had heard countless military examples from long-term warfare, such as using a few thousand soldiers as bait to break the siege and achieve a great victory.
War always involves sacrifices, not just charging forward or breaking through enemy lines, but also luring, ambushing, and using elite operatives.
Therefore, the first requirement in the military was obedience!
There were no more objections in the council hall. As everyone left to execute their orders, Xia Linglong exchanged glances with a few uncles, seeing the same thoughts in their eyes.
Xia Linglong didn't say anything. Instead, she headed to the Xia Family's Inner Courtyard to meet the old lady living in the Farmyard.
"Among the Demons, there are indeed the Emperor's spies."
The old lady, sitting in a rocking chair with a face full of wrinkles, revealed this secret to Xia Linglong in a surprising manner.
She had been involved in this matter but had not violated the Imperial Edict, and she had not disclosed it to the current Patriarch, Xia Linglong.
This was not because she didn't trust Xia Linglong. First, this was a secret order from the Emperor himself, which could not be spread, and she did not wish to secretly disobey. Second, knowing this information would not benefit the Xia Clan; it would only cause harm.
When someone knows something, pretending to be unaware is difficult, and the responses made during long military campaigns would inevitably reveal inconsistencies.
Third, while she knew there were Demons under the Emperor's control, she did not know their identities, making the information useless.
Now that the Emperor had revealed his hand, and Xia Linglong had guessed it, there was no need to keep it a secret any longer.
Hearing the old lady's words, Xia Linglong was stunned, her breathtakingly beautiful face filled with shock.
It was true!
The Emperor's hidden agents were too deeply embedded!
This meant the current attack was clearly orchestrated by the Emperor himself.
If this news spread, many people's worldviews would be shattered.
The Human Race Emperor actually used Demons to attack the city…
"Now, the Emperor has used the hidden agents he planted a thousand years ago for that child. He truly dotes on him…"
The old lady rocked her chair and sighed, a hint of envy in her eyes.
Who in the world could receive such favor from the Emperor?
Even his brothers and the Princes might not have received such favor…
Xia Linglong was lost in thought and did not respond.
The old lady looked at her and said softly, "Do you find it hard to believe? When the Emperor first summoned me to discuss this, I was as shocked as you are now, but soon I could not help but admire the Emperor's wisdom."
Xia Linglong gazed at her intently.
The old lady continued, "Can all the Demons in the world be eradicated? Clearly not. If the Great Yu Divine Dynasty is a piece of juicy meat, there will always be flies circling it."
"But if the meat is already surrounded by flies, would new ones join?"
"No…"
Xia Linglong was stunned, feeling goosebumps rise all over her body, her hair standing on end.
This was the Emperor's grand plan?
"Those Demon factions…" she murmured.
"If my guess is correct, most of them have the Emperor's spies, allowing him to always know their movements. The Emperor's plan is to have these spies eventually replace the Demon leaders. If my guess is correct, the Star and Moon Academy… should be the deepest piece in the Emperor's chess game."
The old lady's eyes sparkled as she spoke softly.
Xia Linglong felt a tingling sensation on her scalp. She had never imagined that the Emperor could be so terrifying.
"Since the Emperor has such hidden pawns, why hasn't he used them in recent years to reduce our casualties?"
Xia Linglong's thoughts raced, and she opened her mouth slightly. If the Emperor had used the intelligence from these hidden pawns, their losses could have been greatly reduced!
After all, there were even strong figures from the Five Divine General Manors who had fallen in battle.
The old lady shook her head slightly. "Because the losses have been so severe, these pawns have been buried even deeper. I doubt even the Buddhist Master ever imagined that the Emperor could be so ruthless."
Xia Linglong was stunned.
"The Ninth Son of the Li Family, if he hadn't been so resolute and hateful towards evil, wouldn't have fallen. He broke through the encirclement alone and fought his way out of the border. The Emperor did show signs of using his hidden pawns that time, but unfortunately..."
The old lady slowly shook her head. She had always been attentive to these matters, especially after learning some of the inside stories, which allowed her to see many things that others couldn't.
"In other words, the Buddhist Master was really killed by General Haotian, but the Emperor still favors him so much that he's even willing to expose these hidden pawns that have been concealed for a thousand years?"
Xia Linglong found it hard to believe. What kind of favor would make the Emperor take such actions?
To slay the second strongest person in the world, without any suspicion or fear, and even expose his long-hidden pawns—such favor was unprecedented. Even the most favored Crown Prince of the current dynasty wouldn't receive such treatment!
The old lady's eyes also flashed with a hint of complexity.
"It is indeed an extreme form of favor, but beyond that, it's also because that young man is irreplaceable. With such talent, if he doesn't become a saint, no one else in the world will. What's hard to understand is how the Emperor can be so confident in entrusting the world to that child, treating him as the future Dao Tradition."
"Future Dao Tradition!"
Xia Linglong's pupils dilated, and her blood seemed to surge.
Those words carried immense weight!
The Buddhist Master had planned for two thousand years, spreading the Buddha Hall throughout the cities, all for the sake of one incense offering. For years, the struggle between Buddhism and Daoism was all about becoming the Dao Tradition of Dayu, to receive all of Dayu's incense offerings.
Now, General Haotian was to replace the True Person of Qian Dao Palace, becoming the future object of worship for the world?
The old lady glanced at Xia Linglong, the complexity in her eyes not fading, and whispered:
"Do you understand what this means?"
Xia Linglong came back to her senses, seeing a hint of sorrow in the old lady's eyes. She suddenly realized the gravity of the situation, feeling as if her heart had sunk to the bottom of a pit.
With the future Dao Tradition appearing, did it also mean that the current True Person was nearing the end?
...
Apart from Youzhou, many figures in other regions were observing the chaotic demon attacks across the land.
A few old hands had vaguely discerned some traces behind the demons but dared not be certain.
Perhaps only the Xia Clan could confirm it, as they were experts in the techniques to lock down the demons' lifelines.
But such a matter couldn't be probed lightly; it was like touching a dragon's whiskers.
When the demons attacked the Buddhist Sect gatherings in various regions, the Arhats in the Buddhist Sect were both shocked and enraged, seething with anger.
The Buddhist Master had just died, and now the demons were launching an attack. Moreover, their Buddhist Master had truly been killed by these demons!
Many who had escaped from Wuliang Mountain and witnessed Li Hao slaying the Buddhist Master were now wavering. With the imperial edict and the demon attacks, coupled with the long-standing belief in the demons' evil and the dangers of demon arts, their doubts were deepening.
"Kill!"
"Revenge for the Buddhist Master!"
"The Buddha is merciful; I will slay the demons!"
Many monks of the Buddhist Sect removed their robes and donned armor, engaging in fierce battles with the demons.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace's court.
The ministers who had previously condemned Li Hao were now trembling with fear. Some even claimed to be seriously ill, staying home to recuperate and not daring to attend court.
Emperor Yu sat on the Dragon Throne, tossing the files from the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Ministry of Punishments.
“Before the truth has been revealed, those who rashly demanded to strip the Duke of his rank and remove the general’s name, how dare you so easily slander loyal and capable officials? Do you know your crimes?”
Though his voice was not loud, these stern words nearly made many legs turn to jelly.
Question? How could they question?
The Demon Suppression Bureau and the Ministry of Punishments were two extremely powerful departments. The Ministry of Punishments was under the control of the Li Family, and if the Li Family were biased, it could be understood. However, the Demon Suppression Bureau was directly managed by the emperor.
Moreover, news of the chaos in various cities had already quietly reached the Imperial City.
With the truth out, who dared to argue?
Emperor Yu looked at the pale-faced ministers and let out a cold snort. He then ordered Eunuch Chu Jiuyue to pass the command.
Soon, wails and cries echoed through the grand hall.
One by one, those who had been bribed by the Buddhist Sect or who were believers themselves were dragged out of the hall.
They tried to plead their case, but the emperor clearly had no intention of listening.
Before the Xuan Emperor's Gate, heads rolled, and blood splattered.
When other ministers returned home after the court session, they could still see eunuchs cleaning the area. However, the blood, once washed away by water, only spread wider, becoming even more noticeable and glaring.
...
On the other side, the two graceful women, who were about to contact the Buddhist Sect to spread the truth, received news from the Tianji Hall. They were stunned, greatly shocked, and immediately furious, ordering the Tianji Hall to quickly command the demons to retreat.
Who had made them represent the demons and take the blame?
They had planned to use this incident to crush that troublesome young man.
However, despite the frantic calls from the elders of various demon factions, it was too late.
The Dayu emperor's counterattack was too swift and fierce, without any warning, quickly shattering their plans and not following their intended path.
They say human hearts are unpredictable and prone to suspicion, but the emperor did not act as they had hoped. He even went to great lengths to protect that young man.
“I thought only we had infiltrated the Human Race, but it turns out these damned humans had also planted spies among us!”
The black-robed youth, regaining his composure, was so angry his face turned red. With the situation as it was, the Buddhist Sect was now utterly useless.
Even if the two Bodhisattvas and some Buddhist disciples could still be utilized, they were few in number and weak. Any Divine General Manor could easily suppress them, and they would not be able to cause any significant waves in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Without the lower and middle-ranking Buddhist Sect disciples inciting the people’s unrest, there would be no chaos. Any forced mobilization would only result in the decapitation of the Bodhisattvas, Buddhist disciples, and a few Arhats, who were the only ones who truly believed in the truth. The rest had already turned their weapons against the demons.
“The Buddhist Sect is a bunch of useless trash…”
The graceful woman with the purple stripes also had a grim expression. In the end, she decided it was no longer necessary to continue negotiating with the Buddhist Sect and returned to the Secret Hall outside Dayu Province.
After explaining the situation, the old man with the cane fell into silence.
The fall of a Buddhist Master, a major event, had been easily resolved by the emperor, who cleverly turned the countless Buddhist Sect disciples causing riots in the Nineteen Provinces into his sharpest spear, redirecting their wrath at the demons.
It was too ruthless.
“Report to the Holy Son and let him decide.”
Respected Mo Yang’s eyes flashed with a fierce light. “Since he is feigning an attack, let’s give him a real one!”
(End of Chapter)
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