Chapter 1389
The Terrifying Power of Empress Liu
Chapter 1389 The Terrifying Power of Empress Liu
Qin Yue, the general in charge of the Zhenbei Army, was a prodigy whom Empress Liu had promoted from the son of a disgraced official. He is now a top-tier war god-level general. His deputy, Lin Xiao, is her cousin. He commands 30,000 elite troops under his command, the "Wolf Fang Heavy Camp," of which 10,000 are heavy cavalrymen armed with black iron lances and heavy armor, known as the "Northern Border Meat Grinder"!
These two armies were nominally under the command of the Ministry of War, but in reality, their pay and provisions were supplied by the "Fengchi Money Shop," which she controlled privately. Qin Yue and Lin Xiao's families were all settled in "Feng'an Manor" near the capital, ostensibly for "royal protection," but in reality, it was the safest way to keep them in check.
According to her original plan, once there was a change in the capital, all that was needed was to send out an encrypted "Phoenix Pattern Token," and within ten days, the 170,000-strong army of the Northern Border could march south overnight. At that time, not to mention Wang Mang, even if the rebel armies of Liu Bang and Liu Xiu came, they would have to think twice about whether they could withstand the charge of the Northern Border cavalry.
However, Wang Mang chose to act in the dead of night. The palace gates were tightly closed, and the secret guards responsible for delivering the tokens were trapped in the secret passage of the "Phoenix Feather Tower" and were captured without even showing their faces. The 170,000-strong army was still suffering in the north and had no idea that the capital city had changed "temporary leaders".
As for influence in the martial arts world, Empress Liu's background is terrifyingly powerful.
The Great Ling Jianghu is known as "Three Mountains and Five Peaks, Seven Sects and Twelve Pavilions". Among them, the most powerful forces such as "Xuantian Sect", "Youming Pavilion" and "Hundred Flowers Valley" all have her shadow behind them.
Xuan Tian Sect Master Xuan Yangzi is a powerful figure in the late stage of the Celestial Realm. Her disciples are now spread throughout various prefectures and counties, making her both a martial arts sect and her intelligence network. Youming Pavilion Master Ye Luosha is skilled in assassination, wielding the "Hundred Ghosts Token," which allows her to mobilize the most elite assassins in the martial arts world. Several of the late emperor's political enemies died from the Youming Pavilion's "Silent Death-Taking" technique. Ye Luosha's younger sister is now the head female official in her palace. Baihua Valley is entirely populated by female cultivators. Valley Master Su Wanqing is in the mid-stage of the Celestial Realm, possessing unparalleled mastery of the "Hundred Flowers Poison Scripture," capable of both healing and killing. When Su Wanqing was ambushed during childbirth, it was Su Wanqing who led her disciples on a thousand-mile journey to her aid, pulling her back from the brink of death.
These three major sects, along with the smaller forces that rely on them, have a total of tens of thousands of cultivators, including nearly ten at the Celestial Realm and dozens at the Grandmaster Realm. If this force were activated, let alone Wang Mang, even the rebel army of Liu Bang and his two brothers might not be able to compare.
The problem was that communication between martial arts factions relied entirely on "carrier pigeons" and "martial arts tokens." Before her "Phoenix Feather Token" could be sent out of the palace, the palace was surrounded by Wang Mang's assassins.
Empress Liu knew perfectly well that Wang Mang's move was a classic case of "taking advantage of your weakness to kill you," catching her completely off guard.
Her original plan was a three-step strategy: first, use the rebel army to weaken Wang Mang and other powerful ministers in the cabinet; then, use the northern border army to deal with the rebel army; and finally, gradually consolidate imperial power. However, she has now gone too far and her plans have been ruined by Wang Mang's "blitzkrieg".
It was like when she was playing chess, she had just set up her pieces and was about to checkmate him when Wang Mang overturned the chessboard and took all her pieces away—this action was truly unethical.
But Empress Liu was, after all, the "model of Empress Wu" who had ruled the court for twenty-three years, so her panic lasted only a moment before she calmed down.
She looked at Wang Mang, who stood in the hall, playing with a jade belt hook in his hand, his eyes filled with probing and apprehension. Suddenly, she chuckled. Her laughter was not like the usual gentleness of a woman; instead, it carried the majesty of someone who had long held a high position, making Wang Mang's heart inexplicably tighten.
"Wang Mang, you're in a bit more hurry than I expected."
"I thought you would wait until the rebel army broke through the outskirts of Lingzhou before seizing power under the guise of 'serving the emperor.' I didn't expect you to be so impatient, entering the palace in the middle of the night. Aren't you afraid of being branded as a 'traitor'?"
Empress Liu picked up the hot tea that the eunuch beside her had just refilled, gently blew away the foam, and spoke in a calm tone as if she were chatting about everyday matters.
"Your Majesty is joking. This is not treason, but 'purging the court of corrupt officials and securing the country.' The court is in chaos, with powerful ministers vying for power, and the royal family is powerless to control the situation. If I do not step forward, am I supposed to watch the Great Ling Empire fall into the hands of rebels?"
"As for the infamy, I don't care. As long as I can protect Da Ling, I will accept it even if I am cursed by future generations."
Wang Mang's heart skipped a beat, but he responded with a smile.
"Loyalty? Is your loyalty to the Great Ling kingdom, or to that dragon throne?"
Empress Liu sneered. "Of the twelve prefectures in Lingzhou, eight prefects are my men. They control the grain and weapons, and with a single order, I can cut off the imperial city's supplies. In the northern prefectures of You and Jin, 170,000 border troops are under my command. Qin Yue's 'Breaking the Enemy's Iron Cavalry' can cover 500 li in three days and be at the city's gates in less than half a month. In the martial world, the Xuantian Sect, Youming Pavilion, and Baihua Valley have three Celestial Realm cultivators and tens of thousands of disciples. If I send out the 'Phoenix Feather Token,' they can raze your Death Squad—do you know all this?"
She raised her hand and pointed outside the hall.
Wang Mang's expression changed slightly. He did know that Empress Liu had a powerful background, but he didn't expect her to be this terrifying.
He thought only three of the governors of Lingzhou were Empress Liu's people, but he didn't expect there to be eight; he thought the northern border troops were only obeying the court, but he didn't expect they had all become Empress Liu's private army—this old woman is simply a "hidden big shot" with an absurd number of trump cards.
"I am naturally aware of Your Majesty's capabilities, but Your Majesty should not forget that the palace gates are now in my hands. No post horses or carrier pigeons can leave, and your secret orders cannot be sent out. Even if those governors, border generals, and martial arts sects want to help you, they do not know the situation in the capital."
"Let me be frank with you, my assassins have already taken control of all the communication routes in the imperial city. Even if you have a Celestial Realm cultivator as a backup, they still can't get in—after all, Surtur's fiery aura is no joke."
Wang Mang composed himself, his tone remaining calm.
He pointed to Surtur beside him, who was playing with the "Burning Branch." His red hair and beard glowed red in the candlelight, and the heat emanating from him raised the temperature in the hall considerably. The oppressive aura of a peak war god would make even a peak Celestial Realm cultivator think twice.
"Your Majesty, I do not wish to force you, but merely to cooperate with you—if you hand over the Imperial Seal and the royal decree, and assist me in controlling the court, I will ensure your peaceful old age. As for your other schemes, as long as they do not oppose me, I will not pursue them."
Wang Mang then realized that this model of Empress Wu, who had held power for decades, actually possessed terrifyingly deep inner strength, so he didn't dare to push her too far. He cupped his hands slightly and spoke with a hint of sincerity in his tone.
"Cooperation? Wang Mang, you certainly know how to talk. You want me to hand over the Imperial Seal and the royal decree, simply so you can rightfully control Da Ling, and perhaps even go further in the future."
Empress Liu smiled, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
However, she's not too bothered by it now. It's just a matter of the winner taking all the credit, and she's just one step behind.
Anyway, Wang Mang doesn't dare to kill me now, so I'll just take a break for a while and settle the score when she comes up with her backup plan!
Empress Liu then clapped her hands, and several female officials quickly entered the hall. The one in the lead was dressed in a light purple palace dress. She was tall and slender with a beautiful face and a calm and capable demeanor. She resembled Empress Liu in some ways, but had a unique aura.
"Ruyi, you will cooperate with Grand Secretary Wang to take over the palace."
Empress Liu gave instructions to the head female official in a calm and even tone.
(End of this chapter)