Hearing the words of the Qin Emperor, all the civil and military officials revealed excited expressions, the matter of establishing the Crown Prince long forgotten. The Crown Prince could be established at any time, but the opportunity to attack the Great Wei Empire was unique. The chance for their nation to exact revenge had arrived.
"Your Majesty, I believe we can initiate a national war!" Bai Qi quickly submitted his memorial. His usual indifferent demeanor was replaced by unconcealable excitement. As a general, it was his duty to lead the grand army, expand their borders, and forge a prosperous and flourishing empire. The rise of the Qin Empire had placed immense pressure on the six nations and six sects, prompting them to unite and suppress Qin's power. Consequently, for tens of thousands of years, the Qin army had been confined within Hangu Pass, never taking a single step beyond their national borders. To attack the six nations and occupy the East Ancient Domain—this was perhaps the ambition of every true citizen of Qin.
"Your Majesty, I concur!"
"Your Majesty, I second the motion..."
Even the civil officials, including Li Si, spoke with fierce determination, their refined faces filled with Evil Qi, as if possessed by demons. Instantly, the temperature in the great hall plummeted, like an immense ice cavern chilling to the bone. Even the flickering candle flames transformed into icy blazes.
"Good!"
"By my imperial decree, initiate the national war!"
"Appoint Bai Qi as Lead General! Zhang Gan, Meng Tian, Sima Cuo, Li Xin, and Ren Xiao shall be Deputy Generals. They will lead the grand army into battle and strike directly at the imperial capital of the Great Wei Empire!"
The Qin Emperor nodded, thoroughly pleased with his officials' performance. Regardless of how intense internal power struggles became, they always united against external enemies. He could turn a blind eye to court struggles; they were unavoidable in any dynasty. All that mattered was that internal strife did not invite external disaster.
"We humbly accept your command!"
Bai Qi and the other generals walked to the center of the great hall and saluted with cupped fists. An infinite fighting spirit shone on their faces. Their bodies flickered with a blood-red light, like Demon Gods incarnate, filled with boundless killing intent and ready to wage war upon the world.
After the court session ended, the generals did not return home but went straight to the military barracks to begin mobilizing troops and appointing commanders. Their actions initially caused some alarm among the city's populace. Soon after, the imperial court announced the great victory at Anyi Pass and the news that troops were being dispatched to the Great Wei Empire.
"Excellent! The Ninth Prince flooded Anyi Pass, drowning millions of Wei soldiers!"
"With this, the Great Wei Empire has no more defensible passes! No wonder the generals were in such a hurry; they are going to war!"
"The Emperor is sagacious, the Ninth Prince is brilliant! Heaven bless our Qin Empire!"
...
Citizens gathered in groups of three and five, their faces fervent as they discussed the news. Every single one of them wholeheartedly supported this war.
The tiger-wolf people of Qin, their will to battle unceasing!
"I never thought that Little Nine, who has always been so inconspicuous, possessed such capabilities!"
In the imperial garden, the Qin Emperor and Li Si, dressed in casual attire, strolled amidst a sea of flowers. Countless blossoms vied for splendor, their fragrance perfuming the air. Any lover of flowers would surely have been captivated, reluctant to leave.
"Your Majesty, I understand your intention, but I do not support it!"
Li Si walked a step behind. Having served the Emperor for many years, he knew why he had been summoned.
"Oh?"
The Qin Emperor paused slightly, a hint of puzzlement in his voice.
"Your Majesty, do you desire a Qin Empire that dominates a region, or a Qin Dynasty that aspires to conquer the world?" Li Si countered, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Naturally, to conquer the world!" the Qin Emperor replied without hesitation, though a flicker of dimness crossed his profound eyes.
At present, the Qin Empire was merely a power confined to one corner. Forget conquering the world; it still had a long way to go even to dominate its own region. The powers on the Primordial Continent were far too numerous. Only by seizing control of an entire domain could one be considered a major power. In the East Ancient Domain, the Qin Empire could claim to be the foremost power. Yet, when looking at the entire world, compared to the forces within the three thousand domains, it was relatively obscure.
"A Divine Body falls, a golden age rises!"
"The Ninth Prince slew Chu Jiangqiong, suppressing the Sun Divine Body. This shows that the special physique awakened by the Ninth Prince is exceptionally powerful, and he holds the promise of advancing to become a supreme emperor in the future!"
"The East Ancient Domain is too small. For the Ninth Prince to remain in the East Ancient Domain is like a dragon stranded on a shallow beach. Wouldn't making him the Crown Prince be an underutilization of such great talent?" Li Si explained, his words very direct, almost explicitly stating that the position of Crown Prince would become a burden to Qin Wudao.
The Qin Emperor pondered for a moment and found it to be true. The Qin Empire only possessed Saint Realm Martial Artists. While their strength was considerable, nurturing a supreme emperor was undoubtedly an extravagant hope.
"I understand. Once the turmoil of the six states is resolved, I will have the Ancestors take Little Nine to travel the continent and seek his fortune!" After a moment of silence, the Qin Emperor, having thought things through, gazed at the endless sky and sighed.
"Your Majesty is sagacious!" Li Si breathed a sigh of relief and saluted with a smile.
In the imperial court, his staunch support for Qin Xiaolong had been precisely to prevent the Qin Emperor from appointing Qin Wudao. Having been his minister for many years, he knew the Qin Emperor too well. He was certain that after the court session, the Emperor would seek him out to discuss the matter. Then, he could explain his reasons.
"You, still as cunning as ever!" the Qin Emperor said, before his figure flickered and vanished from the imperial garden. With a great war looming, he had much to do and was in no mood to appreciate flowers.
"Such beautiful flowers, what a pity no one is here to admire them!" Li Si stood with his hands clasped behind his back, swaying gently as he walked, each step covering a distance of five to six meters. If an outsider were present, they would surely be dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe their eyes.
Shortening the land to inches!
This was a technique that only powerhouses at the Saint Realm, who had gained initial mastery over space, could execute.
In everyone's eyes, Li Si had secured his position as Prime Minister due to his strong administrative abilities; his cultivation was thought to be not high, only at the Fasang Realm.
So how could one explain the scene unfolding before them?
...
At the same time the Qin Empire mobilized its troops, the Great Wei Empire also learned of the destruction of Anyi Pass and the tragic deaths of their million-strong army. This news struck like a thunderbolt, horrifying all the royalty and nobility. The name of 'Little Slaughter God' Qin Wudao resounded even more throughout the East Ancient Domain, as dazzling as the sun in the sky.
"'Worthless fool! An army of three million, all lost due to Pang Juan's incompetence! Pass down my decree: exterminate the entire Pang clan!'"
Inside the Imperial Hall, the Emperor of Wei was seething. Disregarding the objections of his officials, he ordered Pang Juan's entire family to be beheaded in the public market—from white-haired elders down to suckling infants.
This sent chills down the spines of many generals, who believed that punishment should not extend to an offender's family. Pang Juan died on the battlefield today, yet his entire clan faced extermination. If they themselves were defeated tomorrow, what fate would await them? In this world, not even a War God reborn could guarantee eternal victory.
"My beloved generals, who among you is willing to lead the army and halt the advance of the Qin forces?" After venting his fury, the Emperor of Wei regained his imperial composure and commanded with authority, his sharp gaze sweeping over the assembled generals.
This time, all the generals remained silent, their heads bowed.
"'What? Have the pillars of Great Wei been frightened by the Qin army?'" After waiting for a long while without a response, the Emperor of Wei slammed his hand on the dragon throne and asked in displeasure.
Your Majesty, it's not the Qin army they fear; it is you! Gongsun Yan sighed inwardly, also deeply disapproving of the Emperor of Wei's actions. Although it wasn't his family that had perished, he couldn't help but feel a sense of vicarious sorrow, like a fox grieving for a dead rabbit.