CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 168: ZHUGE LIANG GOES TO THE EAST BORDER_1

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I am completely confident!" Zhuge Liang replied confidently, his expression serious.

Li Si and many other ministers frowned slightly, wanting to say something. However, seeing the calm expression on Qin Wudao’s face, they closed their mouths.

"Good! I shall trust you this once!"

Qin Wudao pondered for a while, recalling the information about Zhuge Liang in his mind. He knew the latter was not a rash person and agreed to this risky decision. It was indeed a risky move, but there was no other way around it!

There were too many battlefronts opened up, and the enemies they faced were too formidable. The only forces the Qin Empire could rely on were the defensive armies around the Imperial Capital. However, these armies’ combat power could not match that of the forces of the Divine Court of Light. Thus, there wasn’t much difference between going and not going!

"As you decree!"

"I will take my leave to prepare!"

Zhuge Liang respectfully saluted and slowly exited the main hall, his steps steady and relaxed, as if he faced no pressure at all.

After finalizing the plan, Qin Wudao had no interest in further discussions. He chatted briefly, then allowed the ministers to retire. He stayed alone in his study, reviewing memoranda.

Not long after, a ripple appeared in the Void. Li Ru’s figure emerged, standing quietly off to the side as he observed the busy Qin Wudao.

"Is there any news?" Qin Wudao asked, looking up as he finished the memoranda in his hands.

"Your Majesty, this is news from the northwest region. The Scorpion Clan has invaded again!" Li Ru replied with a slight bow.

Upon hearing this, Qin Wudao was greatly shocked and asked anxiously, "Such important news, why didn’t you report it sooner?"

His heart also sank. At this moment, the Scorpion Clan’s invasion was like a deathblow to the Qin Empire, bringing with it the danger of the empire’s downfall.

"Your Majesty, please let me finish. When the Scorpion Clan invaded, Nie Feng of the Divine Court of Light faced the enemy alone, unleashing his King Saint cultivation to repel the Scorpion Clan’s army!" Seeing Qin Wudao’s anxious appearance, Li Ru’s cold face revealed a slight smile as he continued.

"A King Saint!"

Upon hearing that the crisis had been averted, Qin Wudao breathed a sigh of relief, but his face immediately turned serious. He asked with puzzlement, "Isn’t Nie Feng’s cultivation at the Supreme Saint Realm?"

The Supreme Saint and the King Saint! The gap between these two was like the difference between heaven and earth. Even a powerful Supreme Saint was still a subordinate within a king-level power, whereas a King Saint expert was capable of establishing their own king-level force.

"This is also what puzzles me!" Li Ru lowered his head. Various guesses flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t confirm them.

"Notify the Department of Households to prepare an extravagant gift for Nie Feng. He has helped us solve a major problem; we must express our gratitude!" After giving the orders, Qin Wudao seemed to have thought of something. He seriously advised, "Remember, handle this matter discreetly. Do not let anyone find out!"

"I understand!" Li Ru nodded thoughtfully. After a moment’s hesitation, he reported quietly, "Your Majesty, regarding the matter you asked me to investigate last time, I have results. Before the former emperor sought you out, the Prime Minister paid a visit to the Tai Chi Palace!"

Qin Wudao looked up abruptly, his gaze sharp as a knife, capable of penetrating all things, making one dare not look directly at him. This result was completely unexpected.

"Li Si has contributed greatly to the Qin Empire. I had never thought of dismissing him as Prime Minister. However, this time, he has gone too far!" Qin Wudao spoke in a low voice, clenching his fists tightly, his anger uncontainable.

He did hold a relative amount of trust in Li Si. But he had not anticipated that Li Si would bypass him to directly seek out the former emperor to discuss selecting an empress. To put it mildly, this was an act of disrespect, a breach of the taboo against deceiving the emperor. To put it seriously, Li Si was aligning with the former emperor, guilty of instigating the former emperor to participate in politics. No matter which crime it was, it was enough to have Li Si executed. A new ruler brings his own officials! No king would tolerate such behavior!

"Your Majesty, shall we?" Li Ru made a throat-cutting gesture, his eyes overflowing with malice.

"No need. Let’s ignore this matter; pretend we don’t know!" Qin Wudao shook his head. He was unhappy, but he wouldn’t go as far as to kill a meritorious minister over this incident.

"As you wish!" After Li Ru saluted, his figure flickered and disappeared.

「Camp of the Thirty-six Route Armies」

"Has the Qin Empire given a reply yet?" In a massive tent, Wang Shou, clad in armor, surveyed a sand table of the Qin Empire. His general’s aura filled the Void with a palpable killing intent.

On both sides of the sand table, thirty-six generals sat, all at the Saint Realm.

The strongest among them was a martial artist wielding double hammers who had broken through to the Great Saint realm.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, no reply yet!" The numerous generals shook their heads, looking at Wang Shou with eager anticipation, their desire for war strong. Taking over the Qin Empire would mean expanding their territories and accumulating merit, which would be hugely beneficial for their promotions.

"In that case, order the Thirty-six Route Armies to attack the Qin Empire!" Wang Shou’s expression darkened, and he gave the chilling command. Terrifying killing intent burst forth, dyeing everything in the tent blood-red, as if fresh blood were flowing.

Within the killing intent, it was as if legions were battling!

Within the killing intent, it was as if millions of corpses were floating and sinking!

"KILL! KILL! KILL!" The thirty-six generals knelt on one knee, shouting loudly. Their own killing intent involuntarily erupted and merged with Wang Shou’s. In the crimson light, ghostly figures flickered, as if it were the depths of hell.

After deciding to go to war, Wang Shou personally formulated battle plans and mobilized the troops.

Command after command was issued from his mouth.

At this moment, he shed the scholarly elegance and frailty of a civil official, appearing more like a general commanding on the battlefield, demonstrating remarkable military demeanor.

The city nearest to Wang Shou’s army was Cangshui City. It was a large city and a vital hub for commercial trade between the Nine Dao Domains and the Realm of Light, flourishing yet with a worrisome military capacity.

Because it was close to the Divine Court of Light, the previous Great Cang Empire had not established defenses in Cangshui City. More accurately, they had not dared to, fearing it would provoke the Divine Court of Light.

After the Qin Empire had vanquished the Great Cang Empire, it too had overlooked Cangshui City’s defenses due to the ensuing chaos from the wars.

As a result, this major city had merely a thousand soldiers for its defense.

"No... Not good! The enemy is attacking!" A few terrified scouts rushed into the City Lord’s mansion, dropping to their knees and reporting, their fear-stricken faces completely drained of color. For them, the Divine Court of Light was simply too terrifying!

After waiting for a while without receiving a response, the scouts tentatively lifted their heads. They saw two figures in the hall: the City Lord, standing with utmost respect to the side, and an elegant figure holding a feather fan, seated in the main position.

"You may leave," Zhuge Liang said, fanning himself lightly, his tone calm. "Notify the garrison and have them close the eastern city gate."

The scouts were taken aback. They didn’t recognize Zhuge Liang and turned to look at the City Lord.

"Why are you just standing there? This is the Deputy Prime Minister of the Qin Empire! Hurry and close the city gates!" the City Lord shouted sternly.

In truth, when Wang Shou’s army had exited the Divine Gate, he too had been extremely anxious. It was only Zhuge Liang’s arrival that allowed him to heave a sigh of relief.

In his view, the Imperial Court had managed to withstand the invasions of the Qunxian Sect and the Sea Clan, and even defeat the Scorpion Clan. Therefore, dealing with the invasion of the Divine Court of Light should be relatively easy. After all, the Qunxian Sect, Sea Clan, Scorpion Clan, and Divine Court of Light were all king-level powers!