Chapter 35: Li Xuantian's Plan
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Li Xuantian cast him a sidelong glance. “Since you claim that both reports were true, how do you think it was possible to make every bandit on Vulture Mountain surrender without launching an attack?”
Shangguan Qi wore a bitter expression. “I cannot think of any way! If I had such an excellent method, I would have dealt with the bandits on Vulture Mountain long ago. Why would I have waited until now?”
“Hmph. Since even you have no idea, do you really believe Li Ye could accomplish it with five thousand battered troops?”
Li Xuantian was furious.
“I believe it is precisely because His Highness the Sixth Prince does not understand the conventional methods of leading troops and waging war that he was able to devise a solution none of us could imagine.”
Shangguan Qi’s mind raced as he began trying to smooth things over.
Until the truth was clear, he had to protect both Li Ye and Zhao Wudi.
If either of these two men were wrongly accused, it would be a tremendous loss to the Dayuan Dynasty.
“The Sixth Prince has no interest in court politics and prefers doing business. Perhaps that is exactly why he was able to persuade the bandits on Vulture Mountain to submit to Dayuan.”
Li Xuantian was slightly taken aback. “You mean Li Ye bribed every one of the bandits with money?”
Shangguan Qi replied with a bitter smile, “That is the only explanation I can think of. As for whether that was truly what happened, we will have to question His Highness after he returns. If Your Majesty doubts the report, why not send another eight-hundred-li courier to investigate? It is not very far. We should have the answer by tonight.”
Li Xuantian found it utterly unbelievable.
He immediately issued an order. “Send another fast courier at once to verify everything. I want him to see the captured bandits from Vulture Mountain with his own eyes.”
“Yes!”
Shangguan Qi hurriedly accepted the order.
The courier was dispatched at once.
The matter quickly sparked speculation among the people of the capital and the officials of the court.
After all, eight-hundred-li couriers were used only for matters of the utmost importance.
The messenger had just returned with the report, yet had immediately been sent out again.
Those who did not know the truth even began to wonder whether some major disaster had occurred at the frontier.
Rumors spread everywhere.
By evening, the courier finally returned.
The report was confirmed once more.
Zhao Wudi had not lied. Every bandit on Vulture Mountain had surrendered.
Moreover, not a single soldier among the five thousand troops sent by the court had been lost.
Li Xuantian and Shangguan Qi were completely stunned.
If the bandits of Vulture Mountain had not existed for two hundred years, they might have suspected that Li Ye had colluded with them.
Li Xuantian could not understand it at all. “I have sent troops against Vulture Mountain countless times, and every expedition ended in failure. Yet my Sixth Prince managed to conquer it with such ease? And the bandits surrendered to the court willingly? Could he truly be a born military prodigy?”
“This… I truly would not know what to say,” Shangguan Qi replied. “If that is really the case, could we not send His Highness the Sixth Prince to destroy the neighboring kingdoms?”
His mind had yet to catch up with the situation.
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Li Xuantian held his silence for a long while before letting out a deep sigh. “I suddenly find that I can no longer see through this son of mine. Before this, he was the least conspicuous of all my princes. Once he grew older, he unexpectedly took up commerce. I reprimanded him repeatedly, yet he refused to change. But later, I discovered that his business ventures had solved many of the court’s most urgent problems. And now, having sent him to suppress the bandits, he has won such a magnificent victory. Thinking about it carefully, the Sixth Prince seems never to have caused me any trouble, nor has he ever made a mistake.”
“I believe that is a good thing. At the very least, an outstanding prince can help ease Your Majesty’s burdens.”
Li Xuantian’s expression grew extremely solemn.
“In recent years, Cloudridge Pavilion has expanded its influence at an astonishing pace. It is no longer merely supporting the Dayuan Dynasty. Many of its disciples have also traveled to the surrounding kingdoms, teaching them their skills and strengthening their national power. Their ambitions are far from small.
“Worse still, they have won over many court officials. Even the princes hold them in great admiration. I absolutely cannot allow Cloudridge Pavilion to control the imperial court.”
“If His Highness the Sixth Prince is truly so capable, perhaps it would be better to cultivate him carefully and have him deal with Cloudridge Pavilion.”
Shangguan Qi finally understood Li Xuantian’s intentions.
“That is indeed my plan. After all, he is the only one who does not care about Cloudridge Pavilion.”
Cloudridge Pavilion styled itself the foremost immortal sect beneath the heavens, placing itself above imperial authority.
This had earned it the profound respect of countless people.
That situation had to be broken.
Everyone in the realm had to learn the true face of Cloudridge Pavilion.
But could the Sixth Prince truly shoulder such a responsibility?
Li Xuantian found himself troubled once more.
No matter how powerful Cloudridge Pavilion became, it would be helpless before the imperial army.
However, rumors claimed that its pavilion master was a Grandmaster capable of taking an enemy commander’s head amid an army of thousands.
If the Dayuan Dynasty moved against Cloudridge Pavilion, he would possess the strength to assassinate Li Xuantian directly, leaving the emperor utterly powerless to defend himself.
That was the true reason the imperial court feared Cloudridge Pavilion so deeply.
The emperors of the Dayuan Dynasty, generation after generation, had all regarded Cloudridge Pavilion with grave apprehension.
They had also searched constantly for a way to surpass it in martial power.
But experts at the Grandmaster level could not be cultivated.
The necessary martial arts techniques did not even exist.
At most, they could train experts below the Grandmaster realm.
As Cloudridge Pavilion continued expanding its influence, the Dayuan Dynasty was finding it increasingly difficult to withstand the pressure.
On the surface, the dynasty appeared to grow ever stronger, yet sooner or later it might fall under Cloudridge Pavilion’s control.
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“If His Highness the Sixth Prince truly lives up to expectations and can stand against Cloudridge Pavilion, how will Your Majesty decide?”
Shangguan Qi had finally thrown caution to the wind and asked the question directly.
If any other official had heard those words, he would have been drenched in cold sweat.
They implied abolishing the Crown Prince and making Li Ye the heir apparent.
Such a decision would shake the entire court.
Every official who supported the Crown Prince would soon be suppressed and purged.
Everything would be done to prepare for Li Ye’s ascent to the throne.
A sharp gleam flashed through Li Xuantian’s eyes.
“If he can shoulder such a responsibility, then after my death, I will certainly pass the throne to him.”
“I understand!” Shangguan Qi said. “There is no point in speculating. We can only give it a try. We must see not only whether the Sixth Prince has the ability to oppose Cloudridge Pavilion, but also whether he has the fortune to survive. If Cloudridge Pavilion is driven to desperation and sends assassins after him, the most important thing will be whether he can stay alive.”
Li Xuantian slammed his palm onto the table.
“Then let us try! Have the secret guards under your command protect Li Ye with all their strength. Do everything possible to intensify the conflict between Li Ye and Shi Wushuang.”
“I obey Your Majesty’s decree!”
Shangguan Qi continued, “By the way, now that we have won this battle, should we make the news public?”
“Of course! Let everyone know that the Sixth Prince is a military prodigy. Let those hidden monsters and schemers lurking in the shadows start moving as well.”
A murderous intent appeared on Li Xuantian’s face.
Before long, astonishing news spread throughout the capital.
The Sixth Prince had led five thousand soldiers to a great victory.
All the bandits of Vulture Mountain had surrendered and were being escorted back to the capital.
The news quickly spread across the entire city.
Everyone found it utterly unbelievable.
The most useless of the Sixth Princes had actually achieved such an astonishing military triumph.
Everyone’s first reaction was that it had to be false.
Surely some other general had commanded the battle and merely allowed the Sixth Prince to claim the credit.
No one could understand why the emperor had made such an arrangement.
Instead of rejoicing, the people began questioning the emperor’s motives.
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