Star Luo Imperial Palace, morning court.
Crash!
The Star Luo Emperor swept all the documents on his desk to the floor in one motion.
The anger on his face was extremely obvious.
"Useless, all useless!"
"My Star Luo Empire's provincial capitals haven't fallen in three hundred years!"
"A mere unknown junior using my imperial brother's title falsely could take down Tianxing City - don't you all feel ashamed!"
The Star Luo Emperor took a deep breath, trying to maintain imperial authority.
His fists clenched until they turned white.
Dai Ya - of course he remembered this niece.
He just hadn't expected that the little girl who escaped seventeen years ago would actually amount to something.
Taking advantage of the Star Luo Empire's war with Spirit Hall, she suddenly struck, seizing a southern province.
This made him feel deeply fearful.
After all, this niece of his possessed natural inheritance rights to the throne!
In other words, even if Dai Ya captured Star Luo City and killed him, it wouldn't count as rebellion.
Based on this special circumstance, Dai Ya had become as important in the Star Luo Emperor's mind as Spirit Hall's invasion.
Star Luo's finances were extremely tight due to the war.
Originally he had planned to take a breather before pacifying the southern rebellion.
Now it seemed he couldn't tolerate it any longer.
"Your Majesty, this minister has something to say."
The speaker was the elderly Political Affairs Minister Zhao Wenzhuo.
The Star Luo Emperor's eyes showed some fatigue as he glanced at Zhao Wenzhuo.
Although Zhao Wenzhuo was straightforward by nature, he had accomplished many practical things for the Star Luo Empire over the years.
Hopefully he had a good solution.
"Beloved minister, please speak."
Zhao Wenzhuo bowed: "The bandits of Tianxing Province were able to break through the provincial capital because the local people were starving to the point of cannibalism, giving the bandits an opportunity."
The Star Luo Emperor's eyes turned dark - was this saying he governed poorly?
But he wasn't petty enough to not tolerate even half a sentence of criticism.
The Star Luo Emperor didn't speak, continuing to listen to Zhao Wenzhuo.
Zhao Wenzhuo continued: "Your Majesty could exempt Tianxing Province and surrounding areas from taxes and send grain for disaster relief."
"These bandits, having lost their popular support, would collapse without attacking."
"Hmph, Minister Zhao is truly confused!" A middle-aged man with a mustache in purple-gold robes stepped forward to refute: "Are the bandits occupying Tianxing Province ordinary bandits?"
"Their goal isn't to fill their stomachs, but to take the heads of all the court officials!"
Seeing the purple-robed middle-aged man speak, the Star Luo Emperor's expression relaxed considerably.
At critical moments, he still had to rely on his in-laws!
Though Zhao Wenzhuo had patriotic intentions, he lacked patriotic talent.
The Star Luo Emperor smiled at the purple-robed middle-aged man, waving his hand: "Brother Lingmao, do you have a good strategy?"
Zhu Lingmao, the current Hell Cat Duke, Zhu Zhuqing's father.
At the same time, he was also the Star Luo Emperor's brother-in-law and Imperial Chancellor.
Although the Star Luo Emperor addressed Zhu Lingmao intimately, Zhu Lingmao didn't presume upon this familiarity, holding his court tablet with a solemn expression:
"This minister believes the southern enemy must be taken seriously, otherwise internal and external troubles will only be disadvantageous to our Star Luo if dragged out."
"This minister requests to serve as Grand Marshal for Suppressing Bandits and personally lead the expedition!"
"My beloved minister's request to serve the country should not be refused, but where shall we deploy troops?" The Star Luo Emperor looked melancholy - his brother-in-law hadn't gotten to the key point either.
Did he lack commanding generals?
The Star Luo Empire had talent for commanding, though not many, there were still several.
The key was how to deploy troops and where to raise military funds.
Currently, Star Luo's main forces were almost entirely used to resist Spirit Hall. Deploying main forces wasn't realistic - they could only recruit new armies separately.
Moreover, the national treasury wasn't abundant.
If fighting on two fronts simultaneously, Star Luo's already meager resources would quickly be exhausted.
Zhu Lingmao bowed: "This minister believes troops can be recruited from various sect disciples."
"Our Star Luo has one hundred thirty-three major and minor spirit master sects."
"For a hundred years, the empire has treated them with great courtesy - it's time for them to contribute."
These words made the Star Luo Emperor's eyes brighten.
This was indeed a good strategy of drawing from the bottom of the pot.
If the Star Luo Empire fell, these sects certainly couldn't escape either.
So recruiting sect forces was only natural.
Moreover, sect power wasn't to be underestimated.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect alone with its affiliates had over a hundred thousand people.
Recruiting ten thousand troops would be more than sufficient.
Adding other sect forces, they could recruit fifty thousand elite troops!
Then having Zhu Lingmao take an imperial edict to integrate local garrison forces in Tianxing Province - assembling fifty thousand wouldn't be a problem.
One hundred thousand troops - the Star Luo Emperor didn't believe they couldn't eliminate a mere rebel!
"My beloved minister truly deserves to be the empire's chancellor and my right-hand man!" The Star Luo Emperor was extremely pleased, as if the southern rebellion could be settled with a snap of his fingers.
"Your Majesty praises me too much. Actually, this was all thought up by my beloved son-in-law, Prince Mubai."
"Oh?" The Star Luo Emperor raised an eyebrow: "Didn't I have him stay in Heaven Dou City? How would he know about the southern rebellion?"
Zhu Lingmao pretended to look apologetic: "Please forgive this minister's crime of knowing but not reporting. Prince Mubai returned two days ago."
"Prince Mubai was worried about the country - I hope Your Majesty will forgive him."
"This child..." The Star Luo Emperor supported himself on the dragon throne, sighing lightly.
Although he had been stern in his recent letters forbidding Dai Mubai's return, it was mostly selfish motives.
The Star Luo Empire didn't lack one spirit saint like Dai Mubai.
But if Spirit Hall defeated the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai staying in Heaven Dou City would still have a chance at survival, preserving a bloodline for the Star Luo royal family.
Of course, this couldn't be said openly, as it concerned imperial authority.
He hadn't expected Dai Mubai to completely ignore his father's deeper intentions and secretly run back.
Now that things had come to this, he could only accept it.
"What did my disobedient son bring back?" the Star Luo Emperor asked, looking up.
Zhu Lingmao said: "Prince Mubai wants to serve as vanguard, leading his friends to pacify the southern rebellion together."
The Star Luo Emperor pondered for a moment.
The southern rebellion was just small-scale fighting.
With large armies following and expert masters from various sects like clouds, there shouldn't be much danger.
So be it.
Let Dai Mubai gain some experience.
As Star Luo's crown prince, Dai Mubai couldn't stay in an ivory tower forever.
"I approve!" The Star Luo Emperor waved his hand majestically.
Then he called over the court scribe:
"Transmit my edict: Appoint Hell Cat Duke Zhu Lingmao as Grand Marshal for Southern Pacification, Crown Prince Dai Mubai as Deputy Marshal and Vanguard General, recruit fifty thousand troops, and set a date to campaign against the southern rebellion!"
"Additionally, permit Zhu Lingmao to establish a command headquarters and personally appoint generals. Appointed personnel need only be reported to me for record."
"This minister receives the edict!" Zhu Lingmao held his court tablet, heart surging with excitement as he solemnly accepted the command.
He hadn't fought a war in twenty years.
His cold blood had long yearned to boil again.
This battle wasn't just for the Star Luo Empire, but for the Hell Cat family!
To clear obstacles for his daughter and son-in-law's future!
(End of Chapter)