Chapter 407: Congenital Arrogance
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
The light brightened up the stone house, shining on the golden parchment in the hands of the Minister of Rites, causing the parchment to glow.
The decree represented the wishes of the Emperor.
Going against it meant going against the Emperor's orders.
Yan Qing clenched his fists tightly. Even though he was the leader of the Dragon Protection Squad, he would not go against the will of the Emperor.
After all, this had nothing to do with life or death. This had to do with his honor and the reputation of the 13 Constabularies.
But...
He did not want to stand by and watch this golden opportunity to disappear. This concerned the lives of thousands of Great Xia Dynasty soldiers.
"Minister, if this delay causes this opportunity to slip and kills the army where it stands, will you take responsibility?" Yan Qing's voice was icy
"If we fail to come to an agreement, I will pay for it with my life!" The Minister had a steely determination.
Then, without taking a breath, he continued. "Diplomacy should always take precedence
"Without it?"
"There would be no order, no value system. The leader of a country can use diplomacy to allow his country to prosper."
"Only diplomats can ensure that the power stays with the throne."
"War!"
"War is definitely a way to resolve conflicts."
"However, the best method to win is always to do so without any losses on either side. Diplomacy has to be tried first."
"If we just use force without discretion, would we be any different from barbarians?"
The Minister straightened his back as he finished. Even though he was aged, his eyes continued to glimmer with vitality.
"Stubborn!" Yan Qing bellowed when he heard this. He felt a wave of rage well up in his chest as he did so.
The Minister has his point.
However, even though it was a well thought out argument...
This was a battlefield... and the battlefield was unforgiving.
As such, there were many things that could not be measured using theories. The Minister thought that the victory put them in a good position to negotiate.
However, in the grand scheme of the war, victory here was insignificant. The Southern Region continued to hold the advantage.
Where would they have the chips to negotiate?
Furthermore, there were the Demons. The Demons would never allow the negotiation to happen!
Stubborn!
Yan Qing could not think of any other words to describe the glow in the Minister's eyes.
They were two people with very different ideals.
They each had their own points and ideas. At the end of the day, there was no absolute right or wrong. As a result, Yan Qing was exasperated.
"It doesn't matter what you call me, I will continue to stand my ground. Furthermore, this is the will of the Emperor. Will Official Yan ignore the will of the Emperor?" The Minister ignored that outburst.
The will of the Emperor?
Xing Yuanguo squinted.
Xing Yuanguo had spent most of his life interacting with the Emperor. The Emperor did have his weaknesses.
He pampered Ping Yang too much and would sometimes use some questionable tactics.
But...
When it came to international relations, the Emperor had never made a single mistake.
That was how he managed to build the Great Xia Dynasty into the powerful empire it now was.
Something was wrong!
Xing Yuanguo frowned. Normally, there would be some delay for the situation here to reach the capital, but it could not have taken too long.
A day or two at most.
As such, Fang Zhengzhi's actions in the Thunderous Lion region would have reached the eyes and ears of the Emperor.
As such...
The Emperor would have definitely expected Fang Zhengzhi to strike at the Icy Monkey Settlement!
Once that battle unfolded, the plan would be spoilt.
The Emperor would definitely have expected this.
Furthermore, the falling of the Mountain Stabilizing Pass happened days before. Yet, the Emperor did not send people to retake the pass, choosing instead to send the Minister of Rites.
What was the aim?
"Minister, could you please let me take a look at the decree?" Xing Yuanguo spoke once again, his tone calm.
"The Emperor's decree? Erm... if Xing Hou wants to take a look, by all means!" The Minister hesitated, then nodded and unfurled the decree.
Xing Yuanguo.
The commander of the Mountain Breaking Army, the leader of the 13 Constabularies, the pillar of the Great Xia Dynasty. Even the Emperor showed this man respect and valued his opinions.
If not for that.
The Minister would not have rushed all the way here to prevent the next attack.
Xing Yuanguo did not say anything else. He nodded and began to examine the decree.
Lines of words were written on the golden parchment.
Right at the bottom was the Emperor's personal seal.
The gist of it was that the Emperor wanted to talk terms with the Southern Region. He had the Minister lead those discussions in a show of sincerity.
After reading it, Xing Yuanguo frowned again and read it from the beginning...
Time passed slowly.
The atmosphere inside the house was tense. The decree was short, but Xing Yuanguo read it repeatedly for an hour.
The Minister's patience was wearing thin.
However, he did not speak.
After all...
He was facing Xing Yuanguo, someone the Emperor treated as his own brother.
Yan Qing did not speak either.
Even though he knew that the battle would become more dangerous as time passed and their chances of a sneak attack would be lower, he did not speak.
The reason was the same. The person in front of him was Xing Yuanguo.
He could maintain his cool on a battlefield regardless of the situation. This was a man with an even fiercer reputation than King Duan.
There was only one other person who was equally calm. That was Nangong Hao. He too was examining the words on the Emperor's decree.
"I understand!" Xing Yuanguo's voice rang out, breaking the silence in the room. At the same time, he rolled up the parchment and handed it back to the Minister respectfully.
The Minister's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to say it. He was waiting for Xing Yuanguo's decision.
"Minister, it must have been difficult for you. I I'll send 500 soldiers along with you to ensure your safety!" Xing Yuanguo added.
"That means... Xing Hou... plans to..." The Minister was ecstatic, but he was careful.
"Obey the order!"
"Xing Hou is wise. I will head straight for the Sagely Mountain City right away and carry out the wishes of the Emperor!"
"Qingsui, have 500 elite soldiers follow the Minister!" Xing Yuanguo turned to Xing Qingsui.
"Father, this..." Xing Qingsui was unwilling to accept the outcome.
"This is an order!"
"Yes, Father!" Xing Qingsui's expression changed as he grit his teeth and exited the house with the Minister.
Watching the two of them leave...
Yan Qing's expression changed as well. He bit his lip and clenched his fists but did not say anything.
"When do we leave?" Nangong Hao stood up and pressed a hand on Yan Qing's shoulder, his expression calm.
Xing Yuanguo did not speak. He looked out the window towards the broken cliff at the edge of the valley...
The night was quiet and the wind continued to pummel the city, howling as it did so. It brought with it the stench of blood.
There was a blade that glowed, stuck to the top of the cliff.
This was Traceless.
The sword of the Sagely Battle God Meng Tian.
Fang Zhengzhi had been kicked off the cliff by Yun Qingwu and did not have a chance to take his sword with him.
Even though Yun Qingwu had Bai Xing and Wu Ji, Chu Guyan was on that cliff as well. As such, she could not get the blade either.
As for Chi Guyan...
She did not even look at the sword when she left.
This sword was hidden in Meng Tian's parallel dimension. It was a blade that everyone wanted to own.
When this blade was removed from the World of the Sage, even the Crown Prince and King Duan tried to fight for it.
But now, this blade was stuck on the cliff, exposed to the elements. It looked down on the world from its vantage point. Yet, no one could take it away.
It was determined not to leave.
This was a power and arrogance it possessed.
Power and arrogance it was born with.
There was another possibility...
It was waiting!
...