Chapter 354 (1/2)
”Wu Feng is eliminated? Who eliminated Wu Feng? Is it Nangong Hao? Or is it Yan Xiu?” No matter how many times Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was answered, he was still in somewhat of a disbelief.
”None of them… the person who eliminated Wu Feng is… Fang Zhengzhi!” Su Qing shook his head, took a deep breath and spoke.
”Fang Zhengzhi?!” This time, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's expression changed for real and immediately stood up from his chair.
His initial lazy expression changed to one of immense shock at this moment and his pale white pace turned somewhat pink. His feminine and tender eyes was tightly fixated on Su Qing's face.
He couldn't believe it.
”Based on intelligence reports, last night, Fang Zhengzhi had eliminated Chen Feiyu. After which, at noon, he eliminated Wu Feng. Both of these incidents occurred in the Thunderous Lion Settlement.” Su Qing could understand Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's feelings completely.
However…
Reality was reality.
He could only speak the truth. However, even he himself wasn't able to understand how did Fang Zhengzhi accomplish such a thing.
It has to be made known that the Thunderous Lion Settlement was Chen Feiyu's settlement. Furthermore, most importantly, Chen Feiyu had over ten thousand soldiers.
Not even mentioning that Chen Feiyu wasn't at all weaker than Fang Zhengzhi.
Just based on those ten thousand soldiers, if each of them spat at Fang Zhengzhi, it might even be possible to drown him.
Leveraging on the fact that Chen Feiyu and Wu Feng were fighting among one another to reap the rewards?
But, this probability was equally low.
Wu Feng's abilities ranked him third in the Rising Dragon Roll. Just based on abilities and powers alone, he ranked above Fang Zhengzhi. In addition to the almost twenty thousand soldiers strong army in Wu Feng's hands.
Taking the head of the enemy general from among tens of thousands of soldiers?
Su Qing didn't believe that Fang Zhengzhi had this ability. Moreover, Wu Feng was an expert in the Dao of Music. The offensive power behind this, not mentioning that Fang Zhengzhi was alone.
Even if there was five Fang Zhengzhi-s coming at him at one go, it would still be almost impossible for him to close in.
Su Qing couldn't understand what had happened within the Thunderous Lion Settlement. Crown Prince Lin Tianrong couldn't understand either. Hence, what was left was silence.
After exactly an hour of silence.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong finally returned back onto his chair. After all, he was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, the chief examiner of this court combat examination.
”How is the current situation like?” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong tried his best to remain calm. He had to consider the entire situation. Because, he knew very clearly all the plans that the Great Xia Dynasty had in mind during this military movement into the Southern Mountain Range.
Initially, the entire plan was being carried out smoothly and as planned one step at a time. However, there seemed to be a small accident at the moment. This was an accident that was out of his control.
Hence…
The most important thing for him to do now was to grasp this accident within his hands, or, discreetly destroy this accident.
”Based on the rules of the combat examination, after Fang Zhengzhi eliminated Wu Feng, all the military forces and territories under Wu Feng would now be completely under Fang Zhengzhi's control. Hence…” When Su Qing neared the end of his sentence, he sounded somewhat hesitant.
”You mean, at this moment, the Thunderous Lion Settlement, the s.h.i.+ Zun Settlement and the Yan Ya Settlement are all controlled by Fang Zhengzhi?” When Crown Prince Lin Tianrong heard this, he felt somewhat giddy.
He was really a little giddy. Among the four main settlements, three were taken by Fang Zhengzhi. This accident was truly larger than what he had imagined.
”Yes, based on the rules of the combat examination…”
”I don't care about the rules of the combat examination! Send the order, the journey starts now. I want to go to the Thunderous Lion Settlement, I cannot allow Fang Zhengzhi to act so blasphemously!”
”Your Highness, I fear this is somewhat inappropriate. If Your Highness goes to the Thunderous Lion Settlement now, not only will you break the rules of the court examination, you might even raise suspicions on the Southern Mountain Range's side. If, by some unfortunate circ.u.mstance, the Southern Mountain Range plan is disrupted, I fear there might be movements on King Duan's side. Your Highness, you must not forget that King Duan is the real person in charge of the military!” When Su Qing heard this, he immediately stepped in and advised.
”Don't tell me my brother dares to badmouth me in front of Father Emperor?”
”If I am King Duan, now only will I badmouth you, I will ask the Emperor to strip you of all your powers to host the court examination. After all, if the Southern Mountain Range plan succeeds, the rewards will be great!”
”I dare him!”
”Your Highness, please think this through carefully!” When Su Qing finished his sentence, he immediately knelt down onto the ground.
When Crown Prince Lin Tianrong saw Su Qing kneeling down, a faint light flashed in his soft eyes. However, in the end, he didn't continue to maintain his stand.
”Smas.h.!.+” The golden flower on the table shattered onto the ground.
”Rise, in your opinion, what course of action should we take?” After a long while of silence, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong finally waved his hands towards Su Qing and signalled for him to stand up.
”Your Highness, it wouldn't harm to pa.s.s down a secret order to ensure that Fang Zhengzhi can only do as he wishes within the three main settlements. However, he must not go near the Icy Monkey Settlement and raise any conflicts with Nangong Hao. In this case, things may still be controlled.”
”You think that Fang Zhengzhi would dare to attack Nangong Hao?!” When Crown Prince Lin Tianrong heard this, he was somewhat taken aback. He knew very clearly how important this Southern Mountain Range plan was.
Nangong Hao!
Must not be affected!
”Wu Feng wouldn't dare to. Chen Feiyu wouldn't dare to. Yan Xiu wouldn't dare to. However, Fang Zhengzhi might!” Su Qing replied confidently.
”He will definitely be defeated, without a doubt! But… I'm afraid that he would cause trouble. If he orders a brute force attack on the Icy Monkey Settlement, resulting in heavy casualties among the military forces of our Great Xia, things might be messed up.”
”If this is the case, would it be more appropriate to send to order to Nangong Hao for him to avoid fighting?”
”Your Highness, don't you remember that Nangong Hao only listens to the Emperor? Furthermore, Nangong Hao definitely has enough reason and drive to battle Fang Zhengzhi.” Su Qing reminded.
”What you said does make some sense. Let's do it this way, you will personally make a trip to the Thunderous Lion Settlement and pa.s.s the order for me.”
”This… I fear I am unable to go.”
”Why?”
”Don't tell me that Your Highness had forgotten that during the court theory examination, there had been some conflicts between me and Fang Zhengzhi?” When Su Qing recalled the scene during the court theory examination, his expression darkened somewhat.
”Then, who do you feel is more appropriate for this?” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong nodded.
”Xing Qingsui!” A glow flashed in Su Qing's eyes. However, he still hesitated for a moment before finally voicing out the name.
”Xing Qingsui? Yes… It is indeed better for him to go. However, Xing Qingsui has the Mountain Breaking Army of the Stabilisation Constabulary with him. If he is ordered to enter the Thunderous Lion Settlement, will it expose things?” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was evidently somewhat surprised by Su Qing's suggestion and his expression seemed somewhat hesitant.
”Your Highness, you can order for him to make the journey alone. If he was to journey to the Thunderous Lion Settlement secretly, things naturally wouldn't be exposed.” When Su Qing saw the Crown Prince's expression, he thought for a moment and suggested.
”Alright, bring my order token and personally invite Xing Qingsui over. I will personally explain to him everything that was planned and arranged.” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong stayed silent for a moment, but finally nodded his head.
”Roger!” Su Qing nodded and withdrew with his head bowed.
After leaving the military tent. Su Qing stabilised himself and raised his head lightly to gaze at the white clouds in the sky. An icy glow flashed across his eyes.
”Personally give the order? The position of the Stabilisation Constabulary in the Great Xia indeed cannot be matched by anybody else, regardless whether it is the current Emperor, or the Crown Prince, or King Duan… Looks like it is time for some action!”
At the same time news of Fang Zhengzhi's elimination of Wu Feng and Chen Feiyu reached Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's military tent, a soldier in rattan armour also entered Princess Shan Yu's tent.