Chapter 1192: Chapter 640: Imperial Court Assembly
In Da Li City, when news from Qing Province reached here, it immediately shook the entire city three times over.
"Tell me, how exactly should we deal with Ghost Ridge Palace? I asked you to contribute funds, and you failed to understand, sending troops is met with complaints, and now even Qing Province is lost. How am I to account to our ancestors?"
Within the Fude Hall of the Imperial City, Emperor Yongren Wei Cheng had a grim expression, heavily striking the arm of the dragon throne, angrily scolding the civil and military officials below him.
The civil and military officials were all silent, understanding why Wei Cheng was so furious.
Qingzhou produces grain, Qing Province is rich, Ghost Ridge Palace occupies two provinces, and has even united with Chongzhou Demon Path, causing their force to rapidly expand.
Along with the presence of the Purple Mansion Demon Su Jie, if he so desires, he could occupy Jingzhou at any time.
Jingzhou borders Da Li City, so it’s no exaggeration to say that by then, Ghost Ridge Palace could directly neighbor Da Li City and the entire court of civil and military officials.
Thinking of that scenario, even the civil and military officials felt anxious and restless.
"Your Majesty, I believe that Ghost Ridge Palace has reached a point where we must eliminate it."
Xu Qing, the Minister of Ministry of Industry, stepped forward, face sorrowful, saying: "Had we acted against Ghost Ridge Palace earlier, the situation wouldn’t have deteriorated to this point.
Now that Qing Province is occupied by Ghost Ridge Palace, giving them money and grain. If left unchecked, their force will grow rapidly."
Zuo Min from the Ministry of Revenue blew out his beard and glared, swearing: "Mr. Xu, are you blaming me? Saying to eliminate Ghost Ridge Palace is easy enough, but where will the military funds come from, where will the soldiers come from?"
Yue Zhifeng, the Minister of War, also stood out, kneeling on the ground in a state of anxiousness, "Your Majesty, our Ministry of War is willing to relieve you of your worries, but we are in a tough spot as well!
Years of continuous reduction in military funds, the Divine Eagle Empire eyes us covetously from the north, and there are many rebellions internally, our troops are already stretched thin."
The civil and military officials present divided into two factions, debating and contesting whether to dispatch troops or not.
However, this time, the proposal to dispatch troops to Ghost Ridge Palace gained more support than before.
After all, merely imagining being neighboring Su Jie made many civil and military officials inevitably anxious.
"Your Majesty, Master Zhang from the Heavenly Patrol Department seeks an audience."
Suddenly, a servant hurriedly entered Fude Hall to report the situation.
The sound of the argument inside the hall diminished significantly, as the civil and military officials instinctively looked outside the hall.
There, a man clad in a black embroidered robe entered the hall, his hair slightly graying, yet his face was ageless.
Seeing Zhang Qingcang, the civil and military officials were somewhat surprised.
Due to its special nature, the Heavenly Patrol Department normally doesn’t attend court; whenever they do, it usually signifies major events.
"Minister Zhang Qingcang, I request an urgent audience with Your Majesty."
Zhang Qingcang brushed off his robes, bowing toward Wei Cheng on the dragon throne, as a Purple Mansion aura quietly emerged, instantly calming the previously contentious court.
"Speak your mind, Aiqing."
Wei Cheng performed a courtesy gesture, indicating his respect for Zhang Qingcang as a Purple Mansion Great Power.
"Two matters!"
Zhang Qingcang first produced an envelope, speaking gravely: "This is a letter from Qingzhou, penned by the Sect Master of Ghost Ridge Palace, Purple Mansion Realm Demon Su Jie himself."
Swish!
Countless pairs of eyes fell simultaneously on the envelope in Zhang Qingcang’s hand.
"Due to pursuing Esoteric Buddhism, our White Tiger Hall Master Qin Yushang ventured alone into Chongzhou, and after confrontations between Buddha and Demon, fell into Su Jie’s hands. Now Su Jie has written, demanding insights into the Royal Family’s Cave Void Realm as a condition for a hostage exchange."
While handing over the envelope, Zhang Qingcang concisely explained the contents of the letter.
He deliberately held onto the letter for several days, presenting it now that the situation in Qing Province was resolved, all for the sake of his beloved disciple.
He had studied Su Jie’s past actions, aware that if the Heavenly Patrol Department had dispatched reinforcements before Ghost Ridge Palace attacked Qing Province, Su Jie might have done something rash.
Now that Qing Province had fallen to Ghost Ridge Palace, the Royal Family would likely not force the Heavenly Patrol Department into action, avoiding many troubles.
With a somber face, Wei Cheng read the envelope quietly, then decisively responded without much hesitation.
"Zhang Aiqing, the legacy of Emperor Tian Wu does not countenance exchange."
Zhang Qingcang seemed to have anticipated this answer, his expression calm as water, replying: "I understand and will directly reject Su Jie’s demand."
Zhang Qingcang nodded sharply, having anticipated this outcome when he chose to come at this timing.
"Master Zhang, regarding the loss of Qing Province, your Heavenly Patrol Department cannot shirk responsibility. I recall that the largest Sect in Qing Province, Fire Cloud Palace, had sent people to seek assistance, yet the Heavenly Patrol Department remained unmoved, which is a grave dereliction of duty."
Xu Qing suddenly stepped forward, recalling that individuals from Fire Cloud Palace had approached him not long ago, offering as much as 200,000 Spirit Stones, asking for his aid in contacting the Heavenly Patrol Department.
Yet in the end, the Heavenly Patrol Department disregarded this, showing no deference to him as the Minister of Ministry of Industry.
"If so, it seems someone below did not pay attention, I will remind them when I return."
Zhang Qingcang lightly glossed over it, his tone unwavering.
"Master Zhang, I believe from now on, the Heavenly Patrol Department must strike hard against Ghost Ridge Palace, at least freeing Qing Province from their control, which is crucial for the Da Li Dynasty."
Xu Qing felt that he was ignored by Zhang Qingcang, knelt on the ground with both legs, and asked Wei Cheng for orders.
"Zhang Aiqing, does the Heavenly Patrol Department have the confidence to defeat Ghost Ridge Palace and retake the land of Qing Province."
Wei Cheng pondered for a few seconds and asked Zhang Qingcang.
"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Patrol Department is currently burdened with other responsibilities! It is difficult to undertake this important task."
Zhang Qingcang’s expression was indifferent as he tactfully refused Wei Cheng’s request.
The Heavenly Patrol Department is indeed the sword of the Da Li Royal Family, but it also depends on the situation.
When the royal family declines, the imperial power retreats from various places of the Da Li Dynasty, and naturally, the power of the imperial authority will also wane in the Heavenly Patrol Department.
After all, the Da Li Dynasty is now too poor, often unable to afford the expenses to train personnel for the Heavenly Patrol Department, and many resources are acquired by the Department’s own efforts.
Be aware that, regardless of the era, the most crucial factor in controlling an army is financial issues.
In many dynasties, even when impoverished to death, the court insisted that the generals cannot dispense military pay on their own.
The purpose is to make soldiers aware that it’s the Emperor feeding them, and following the Emperor ensures food on the table.
When a military has financial independence, it’s worth pondering to whom they truly listen.
Take the current Heavenly Patrol Department, for example. Zhang Qingcang’s personal strength and prestige is claimed to be the best in the Da Li Dynasty, and his repute in the Department surpasses the low presence of the imperial authority.
Moreover, Zhang Qingcang was a latecomer, joining the Heavenly Patrol Department only after cultivating the Daoist Platform Realm. He wasn’t nurtured by the Department from childhood, and therein lies no blind loyalty to the imperial authority.
All these factors result in Zhang Qingcang’s indifferent and tactful response, in reply to Wei Cheng’s prior outright refusal to exchange hostages.
Wei Cheng understood the subtext but was helpless.
Currently, the Da Li Royal Family needs to rely on the Heavenly Patrol Department, which houses two Purple Mansion figures. Particularly with Zhang Qingcang, the world’s top expert, Wei Cheng doesn’t dare to hold them accountable.
The imperial authority must compromise with its own sharpened sword; otherwise, the Heavenly Patrol Department could become a double-edged blade, harming others and itself.
After Zhang Qingcang finished speaking, the Fude Hall fell into a silence akin to a cicada in the cold.
Careful consideration reveals Zhang Qingcang is childless and treats the adopted Qin Yushang as his own. Now living under the threat of Ghost Ridge Palace holding Qin Yushang, it’s clearly unlikely for Zhang Qingcang to ignore Qin Yushang’s situation and deploy troops.
Mainly regarding Ghost Ridge Palace, the responsibility of the Heavenly Patrol Department is limited. The south has always been a weak region for the Department, most of whose resources are focused on the Divine Eagle Empire; otherwise, the nominal forces wouldn’t have resisted the Empire’s southward expansion.
However, understanding is one thing, and now civil and military officials secretly marveled.
Although many of them are involved in various shady activities, openly infringing on the imperial authority’s interests, in front of the Emperor, they dare not show such a bad attitude.
"Zhang..."
Xu Qing opened his mouth, ready to speak, but saw Zhang Qingcang suddenly turn his head.
"Who might you be?"
The sudden question dumbfounded Xu Qing, who soon became furious and said, "I am the Minister of Ministry of Industry, Xu Qing. Zhang Director has a short memory."
"The last time I attended court was two years ago. Age brings forgetfulness, and I’ve forgotten many people."
Zhang Qingcang displayed a subtle, intriguing smile, and an invisible aura locked onto Xu Qing, mildly saying, "Mr. Xu, how many family members do you have? I might pay a visit to your household someday?"
On hearing this, Xu Qing’s legs instantly weakened; he could hear the threat in Zhang Qingcang’s words, implying wiping out his entire family for a disagreeable word!
Cold sweat drenched his back, and Xu Qing seemed to finally remember that Zhang Qingcang was a Purple Mansion Realm expert; for him, wiping out a family was no harder than swatting a fly.
Many among the civil and military officials showed schadenfreude in their eyes. Xu Qing, being the Minister of Ministry of Industry, managed matters of cultivation, water control, engineering, forging, transportation, and state-run mining for the Da Li Dynasty.
The most significant among these was managing numerous directly-operated spirit material production sites, including several large Spirit Stone Mines.
Owing to the enormous power he wielded, Xu Qing was always flamboyant in court, and had now hit a hard wall.
"Zhang... Zhang Director, I wanted to inquire about a recent batch of Jinxia Star Silk acquired by the Ministry of Industry. This spiritual material fabric can be used to create Magic Robes, resistant to water and fire, and effectively counteract Magic. I plan to donate over a hundred sets to the Heavenly Patrol Department to have a Jinxia suit tailored for each high-level official as recognition for their service to the state."
Xu Qing’s body trembled as he bowed ninety degrees to Zhang Qingcang, performing a face-changing act right there.
"One thousand sets."
Zhang Qingcang nonchalantly spoke, multiplying the number tenfold in one sentence, making Xu Qing pay dearly as a consequence for his slip of the tongue.
With the title of the Purple Mansion Realm and the reputation of the world’s top expert, one could indeed act at will, even in front of Wei Cheng, the Emperor.
"Good!"
Xu Qing felt a pang of pain in his heart but had no choice but to agree to the domineering Zhang Qingcang.
This is because Zhang Qingcang evidently wouldn’t engage in palace intrigue or political struggles with him but instead opted for direct threats of extermination. Who wouldn’t fear such threats reinforced by formidable power?
A few faint laughs were heard, making Xu Qing’s face flush, too afraid to speak further.
"Enough, Zhang Aiqing, if you have another issue, speak up together."
Wei Cheng interjected to stop this farce; otherwise, with Zhang Qingcang’s rampage, there was no need for the court session, watching Zhang Qingcang reprimand others was enough.