Chapter 1161 – When the General Is Abroad (2/2)

The Prince of Xiang's substitute got up from the ground, tidied his clothes, and smiled at the Tang Old Master. ”Sir's words are incorrect.”

He had naturally prepared himself for death, but one had to admit that his ability to remain so calm made him seem rather elegant.

”His Highness naturally does not wish to affect the foundation of the Human race.”

The substitute looked around him and continued, ”He entrusted me with the mission of telling everyone that before this esteemed audience enters Xuelao City and burns down the Demon Palace, the army will not take one step into the capital.”

Peng Shihai harshly questioned, ”Then what if we immediately return south? Will he commit his treasonous deed? Does he want to threaten us with this?”

The substitute sternly reproved, ”Wrong again! His Highness said that if this esteemed audience unexpectedly chooses to return south, then he will tie his hands and wait to be jailed, though he will view you all with contempt.”

Some of the people in the tent drily laughed, though this quickly stopped. This was not the time for laughter, and these words, upon careful thought, seemed to be edged with ice.

”Does His Highness really think he can succeed?”

Divine General He Ming raised his head and stared into the substitute's eyes. ”Do you really think that he can succeed?”

The substitute smiled and said, ”At the start, I also thought that it was the ravings of a madman, but His Highness ended up convincing me.”

The entire strength of the Great Zhou Dynasty was currently gathered outside Xuelao City. If the Prince of Xiang's goal was to fight his way into the capital, occupy the Imperial Palace, and force the emperor to abdicate, it truly would be very easy. The problem was, how many people would support him in the aftermath?

Chen Changsheng would assuredly lead the Orthodoxy in a counterattack, and he had the cultivation sects represented by Holy Maiden Peak and the Mount Li Sword Sect, and also the noble clans represented by the Tang clan. Even if the Prince of Xiang temporarily had no need to worry about Chen Changsheng's relationship with the future female Emperor of the Demi-humans, just these forces alone were hard to resist.

So why was the Prince of Xiang still bold enough to rebel? It could only be that he was sure that Chen Changsheng and the Li Palace, and the factions that supported them, would have no effect on him.

Where did his confidence spring from?

No matter how one saw it, the first prerequisite was Shang Xingzhou's stance, which side he had chosen to stand on.

Many gazes turned to the small carriage outside the tent.

The Prince of Xiang's substitute smiled and said, ”His Highness requests the venerable Daoist to be at ease. He will assuredly prioritize the world and will not act rashly.”

It appeared that the Prince of Xiang had truly entrusted his hopes to Shang Xingzhou.

And it truly was only Shang Xingzhou that could intimidate Chen Changsheng in the aftermath, either through his status as teacher or his seniority in the Orthodoxy.

And the entire continent knew that Shang Xingzhou did not like Chen Changsheng.

As long as the Human race could unite the world, as long as Taizong's descendants remained on the throne, just who was actually the emperor did not seem important.

If Yuren died, the Prince of Xiang would unquestionably be the best candidate for the throne.

But the entire continent knew that Shang Xingzhou liked Yuren.

Why was the Prince of Xiang willing to wager that Shang Xingzhou would support him?

The tent became extremely quiet, everyone staring at the small carriage and waiting for Shang Xingzhou's decision.

The Tang Old Master suddenly left the tent, because he knew what Shang Xingzhou would do. If it were him, he would make the same choice.

The young Daoist boy lifted up the carriage curtain and jumped out of the carriage. He looked at the generals and experts in the tent and said in his young and uncertain voice, ”Ancestor says that we're just about to break into the city, so these trifling matters can be discussed later.”

Several cold gasps could be heard in the quiet tent.

Everyone was flabbergasted.

His most beloved student was about to die in a shameless rebellion, yet he was treating it with such indifference…

In the venerable Daoist's eyes, the extermination of the demons really was more important than anything else.

Respect was one thing, but obedience was another. Not everyone would heed Shang Xingzhou's will, and many of the generals looked to Divine General He Ming.

Divine General He Ming had been the commanding general personally chosen by the emperor, and many people had their theories on why he had been chosen.

”His Majesty said to me that when the general is abroad, there are some orders from the sovereign that he cannot obey, that a general is not blind.”

He Ming added, ”And there has not even been a decree from the capital.”

The tent fell into an uproar. No one had expected him to take this stance.

Xue He's cheeks were bulging. He was clearly furious.

Linghai Zhiwang's complexion was even gloomier, his hands trembling within his sleeves. He had already prepared himself to strike.

One person looked to a certain corner, where Wang Po had been standing the entire time. The Wu clan head and the elders of Mount Li's Sword Hall were standing by him.

They had maintained silence all this time, not even glancing at Chen Changsheng, but everyone knew that they would stand on Chen Changsheng's side, perhaps standing together with Xu Yourong.

Chen Changsheng was not looking at Xu Yourong, but calmly staring at the young Daoist boy standing next to the carriage. He seemed to be in a daze.

Somebody coughed.

He came to his senses and said, ”So be it.”