Kays Translations

Chapter 91: The Prime Minister is Imprisoned.

Exciting as it may be, what benefits can Li Xian gain from such political changes? Also, once the Great Xia Kingdom collapses, how will Li Xian develop? These are all issues that must be considered!

It’s important to note that many of Li Xian’s past plans were based on a “ten-year” time frame.

“How many more years does sir think the Great Xia Kingdom can hold on?” 

Xu Ren gave a bitter smile, “There’s no need to make any predictions. The current situation is like a pile of gunpowder—just a spark could ignite it. Even if we hear tomorrow that a certain county has declared independence, it wouldn’t be surprising.

However, the name of the Great Xia Kingdom might still last for another five or six years. But it will be in a state of mere existence in name only.”

Li Xian took a deep breath, “The situation has deteriorated to this point, and I’ve only just started to get things on track—I haven’t even had time to consolidate! Call everyone together; we need to discuss the future development plan.”

This meeting lasted for several days. During this time, Li Xian readjusted his development strategy. In addition, he reduced the production of glass, colored lanterns, and other products, while raising the prices of bearings, Sea Soul Silk, stainless steel, and other items that could be used for war.

Moreover, Li Xian introduced a new product—gunpowder! Since enemies already exist, Li Xian decided to sell gunpowder all over the world. Furthermore, lower-level gunpowder weapons like matchlocks also began to be sold. Through the interrogation of prisoners from the Cai Kingdom, the source of the gunpowder was revealed—it came from a strategist named Xiang Bowen, who was said to be from Zhao, one of the most powerful countries in the central part of Yingzhou.

The gunpowder issue sounded another alarm bell for Li Xian—this immortal domain has existed for tens of thousands of years, and many things have accumulated over time. What’s missing is just a spark—a bit of guidance. Just one spark could ignite the entire immortal domain!

After the meeting ended, Li Xian prepared to gather representatives from various regions stationed in Anyang to demonstrate the use of gunpowder.

While Li Xian was busy with this, the capital of the Great Xia Kingdom was in mourning—the deaths of over 27,000 soldiers plunged the city into sorrow. As for the general who led the troops, Fu Minghui, the Wang family and the three princes jointly petitioned, calling for severe punishment.

The court was in chaos. Prime Minister Ouyang Wubing, Li Yulong, and Yuan Yong, three top-ranking officials, stood at the forefront, with various other officials standing in rows behind them. The deposed captain of the guards, now holding the official title of Chief Minister of the Interior, Fu Minghui, stood alone in the center of the court.

At the top of the court sat the Emperor, who appeared sickly. Despite being a master at the Golden Core stage, the Emperor had fallen ill! After hearing about the defeat, the Emperor went into qi deviation, causing disorder in his meridians. Now his complexion was shallow, showing signs of premature aging—this is the state of great fear for cultivators: the Five Decays of Heaven and Man!

The so-called Five Decays of Heaven and Man refers to a state where one’s foundation is completely damaged, beyond recovery. This shows the magnitude of the blow the Emperor suffered. Perhaps the greatest blow is despair—watching the collapse of the kingdom but being powerless to stop it!

“Cough, cough…” The Emperor coughed several times, spitting out several mouthfuls of black and yellow foul blood.

“Are you all satisfied now?” The Emperor’s voice was hoarse and weak, with a flat tone, yet it carried a sense of utter despair. The Emperor was not unaware of the situation in the Great Xia Kingdom. He had once tried to rejuvenate the nation, which is why he adopted Li Xian’s strategy of promoting commerce and industry to strengthen the country. However, just as there were signs of improvement, everything was abruptly destroyed.

The ministers below were speechless, and no one dared to respond.

After a long while, the Emperor spoke again, “Fu Minghui is not guilty. Bringing back three thousand soldiers under such circumstances is a great merit. Reward him with ten centuries-old medicinal herbs.”

“Fu Minghui, listen to the order.”

“I am here.” Fu Minghui’s voice was loud and firm, filled with both anger towards the petty people and gratitude towards the Emperor.

The Emperor coughed a few more times before speaking again, “Immediately rebuild the Imperial Guard and expand it to… sigh… do your best.”

“I will do my utmost!” Fu Minghui replied with resolute determination.

The Emperor then looked at Li Yulong, “Li Yulong.”

“I am here.”

“Build the imperial mausoleum! You will be in charge of this task.”

“Yes.”

“However…” The Emperor’s face showed some embarrassment, “Beloved Minister Li, the national treasury is empty now, so…”

Li Yulong didn’t even blink, “Your Majesty, being tasked with overseeing the construction of the imperial mausoleum is already an honor for me. I dare not ask for too much. However, the project of building the mausoleum is vast, so I request that my son, Li Wei, be transferred back to assist.”

Li Wei is Li Xian’s second brother, currently by the side of the Crown Prince. Given the immense blunder made by the Crown Prince, Li Yulong needed to bring him back as quickly as possible.

“Approved.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After Li Yulong stepped back, the Emperor turned his gaze toward the Prime Minister, delivering the cruelest of orders with a calm voice, “Prime Minister, what about that border general, He Yaogong? Arrest him and exterminate his entire family!”

Ouyang Wubing shuddered in fear. At this time, exterminating a military general’s family would throw the Great Xia Kingdom into complete chaos. Without even thinking, he quickly responded, “Your Majesty, although He Yaogong made mistakes, he also stopped the 100,000-strong army from the Cai Kingdom from advancing south. His merits balance out his faults…”

The Emperor, still carrying the authority of a dragon, immediately interrupted the Prime Minister, “Guards! Arrest the Prime Minister and throw him into the Heavenly Prison!”

Then the Emperor turned his gaze to Yuan Yong, “Grand Marshal, arrest He Yaogong’s entire family and exterminate them!”

Yuan Yong hesitated for a moment, but finally had no choice but to grit his teeth and respond, “Yes.”

In the end, the Emperor glanced around the room and solemnly announced, “Crown Prince Xia Xu has lost virtue. He is hereby stripped of his title. The Second Prince, Xia Shu, will be made the new Crown Prince.”

No one dared to object. After all, they had just witnessed the Prime Minister being imprisoned for merely speaking a word of fairness. Wang Chuan, although deeply anxious, kept silent; the Emperor was clearly consumed by fury, and this was not the time to provoke him.

Seeing no opposition, the Emperor gave a cold snort and strode out of the hall. Only then did the gathered officials disperse, but each began to plot in their own minds.

The Emperor’s decline was now apparent, and he began construction on his imperial mausoleum. The Crown Prince was replaced, the Prime Minister was thrown into prison. One thing after another rattled the already decaying structure of the Great Xia Kingdom. That very night, General He Yaogong, stationed at the border, fled to the Cai Kingdom. However, none of his family members escaped. By noon the next day, they were all executed.

While the Great Xia Kingdom teetered on the brink of collapse, the Cai Kingdom was not faring much better. Two failed invasions of Anyang had cost them dearly, with heavy losses to their elite forces. The second campaign, in particular, saw the Cai Kingdom’s Imperial Guard being wiped out.

When Cai Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Yan Ze’an, returned to the court with initial proposals for negotiations with Li Xian, the royal court was thrown into an uproar.

The Cai Kingdom’s Emperor glared at the Prime Minister, “Oh, Prime Minister, how very capable of you. Not only did you lose the battle, but you also managed to beg for peace afterward. How thoughtful!”

Yan Ze’an sighed inwardly, knowing that no matter how much he explained, nothing would exonerate him. The situation had taken an ironic turn: while one side suffered a humiliating defeat, the other achieved a resounding victory, utterly crushing the Great Xia Kingdom’s Imperial Guard, with only a few thousand men escaping.

Yan Ze’an had practically buried Cai Kingdom’s elite forces, while Li Xian’s side achieved a decisive victory, annihilating the Great Xia Kingdom’s finest troops. The contrast was stark, making Yan Ze’an appear incompetent. No matter what hidden factors were at play, the results were undeniable.

The Cai Kingdom’s Emperor threw aside the negotiation papers from Anyang and stared coldly at Yan Ze’an. “My dear Prime Minister, do you have nothing to say for yourself?”

“I have nothing to say,” Yan Ze’an replied calmly, seemingly unbothered by his precarious position.

“Nothing to say? Very well! Guards, remove the Prime Minister’s seal of office and throw him into the dungeon to await trial.”

Yan Ze’an’s expression remained tranquil. “Wait. I do have something to say.”

“Oh? Are you going to plead your case?” sneered a courtier standing in the same faction as Yan Ze’an.

Yan Ze’an turned to give the man a disdainful look before addressing the Emperor again. “Your Majesty, before I leave, I must say this: Anyang’s potential far exceeds anything we can imagine. If…”

“Yan Ze’an, are you trying to absolve yourself?” the same courtier interjected with a mocking tone.

Yan Ze’an shot the man a glance filled with faint contempt. “Huang Fu, Cai Kingdom will surely decline under your leadership.”

Huang Fu sneered, “Oh yes, indeed. I, the one who won the battle, will surely bring Cai Kingdom to ruin.”

Many of the surrounding officials erupted in laughter, some even doubled over with amusement.

The Emperor, too, was amused by Huang Fu’s quip but still ordered Yan Ze’an’s dismissal and promptly appointed Huang Fu as the new Prime Minister.

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