237 Military Action on All Sides (1/2)
Tie Zheng broke free and continued his tirade, ”It is you people, greedy for life and fearful of death, who allowed the culprit to go scot-free! Things are so clear but you all can actually pretend that it’s not. If you have guts, follow me to wipe out the Northern Marshal’s residence!”
Both the generals turned away without saying another word.
They honestly dared not speak to this fellow anymore. Any further words and they might really be hauled along to battle it out at the Residence of Northern Marshal. In spite of this, they were exchanging whispers as they went on their way.
”It’s not like Marshal Tie doesn’t make sense!”
”Nobody says he doesn’t! It’s just that even if he were right, some things can’t be spoken out loud like this! After all, Yang Botao still has his position!”
”So what if his status is higher? I’ve long felt that something was wrong with Yang Botao!”
”Forget it. If it weren’t for what happened today, would you dare say so?”
”Never mind… Say, do you think the Supreme Wind who appeared last night was real?”
”I hope he is.”
”Me too. But if he is, then Yang Botao… is a goner.”
”So be it. As long as Lord Supreme Wind is still alive, what importance does Yang Botao carry?”
”True. If Lord Supreme Wind is still alive, maybe Lord Supreme Flame is too. And Supreme Earth, Supreme Water and the rest, they might all still be here!”
”I hope so…”
…
Yang Botao returned to his residence with heavy steps, burdened by the bleakness of his future, his gaze dimmed.
He could vaguely feel the approach of his impending doom; the fact that he had not been punished right in the assembly was already a tribute to his years of contribution.
The vague sense of doom had been lingering in his heart today even before the morning assembly. It was just that he had hoped to be lucky with how he had suppressed the hundreds of Deicide Bow archers last night and several preparations he made prior to this, but the reality had been spoken. The Nine Supremes were far too important to the Empire of Yutang. A word of theirs fared much higher than his accumulated merits.
This was a hopeless truth, his reality!
”Call to assemble! Meeting!”
…
When Tie Zheng returned to his residence, he made the same command – ”Call to assemble!”
”Assemble fifty thousand men at once. Upon assembling, depart and head on to surround the Residence of Northern Troop Marshal immediately! Make sure that the daily affairs are not hindered; other than that, no one is allowed to enter nor exit!”
”With my summons, shut all four gates of Tiantang City! Martial law will be imposed from today onwards, only entrance is allowed! No one goes out!”
”Gather the experts in the military! Cultivators of the fifth level and above are to be ready to mobilize upon my summons!”
”Gather Deicide Bow archers, ready their aim at the Residence of Northern Troop Marshal! Kill anyone who makes a rash attempt to enter. Even if it’s a bird from the outside, it is not allowed to be admitted!”
Tie Zheng’s commands rang clearly, one after another.
”Marshal, uh… this is without the royal decree nor tiger talisman… To direct the army personally is a severe crime!” Tie Zheng’s aide was beyond worried; ever since he worked for this eastern troop marshal, shock and surprise were his daily constants.
Tie Zheng was bold and reckless, outrageously so!
Whenever his temper rose, he cared for nothing and erupted without a sliver of rationality left to temper his actions.
”This marshal shall be held accountable for whatever consequences there will be! Just do as you’re told, no more words!” Tie Zheng bellowed.
It was still this line. The aide sighed inwardly.
If the emperor were not benevolent beyond belief, Tie Zheng, who could contribute even more merits, would have been sentenced to nine familial extermination time and again.
”Yes, I shall arrange the manpower immediately!”
”I’d rather be convicted of sedition than to allow the culprit who harmed the Nine Supremes Lords to run free!”
Tie Zheng hollered again, ”Order to the troops, set out to the Nine Supremes Lords’ altar! Once we act, heads shall become our tribute!”
At the same time, generals of the western troops who guarded the capital began to mass.
”Shut the city gate!”
”Follow the whereabouts closely!”
”All Deicide Bow archers, get ready!”
”Gather the experts, be ready to move anytime!”
At the southern front...
”Assemble!”
”War call from now onwards! Anyone must report their whereabouts before doing anything, even if it’s just going to the toilet! Nobody goes home even if someone is your family passes away!”
”Guard the base heavily, be prepared to strike at any time!”
”Deicide Bows, all archers stand ready! Ten mystical steel arrows to one bow!”
…
All the military bases around Tiantang City were engulfed in a solemnly violent aura. The soldiers were brimming with killing intent, their faces hard and merciless.
The portraits of the Nine Supremes were laid out, pasted on the walls respectfully.