vncnus Chapter 1: Three people not enough? Then let's have 30,000, 30,000!
Chapter 1: Three people not enough? Then let's have 30,000, 30,000!
Douluo Continent, Heaven Dou Empire.
Tian Dou City, the imperial capital.
Passing through layers of houses and markets, a palace complex that seems to soar into the clouds stands tall.
The flying eaves and brackets, like dragons reaching out their claws, are so imposing that they seem to belong to a deity, silently overlooking the heavens and the earth.
Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace.
Inside the majestic and solemn imperial palace, nearly a hundred civil and military officials stood on both sides according to their rank, each holding their breath and concentrating intently, the air thick with a suffocating solemnity.
On a high platform deep within the palace, a young man wore a dark black dragon robe, the kind of black with a hint of red, like congealed blood. Embroidered on the robe were nine five-clawed black dragons.
The boy was about ten years old, thin, with prominent cheekbones, thin lips, deep eyes like ancient wells, and a perpetually straight back.
Although young, he stood there like a mountain, majestic and imposing.
Ying Zheng!
This new master of the empire, a boy who began overseeing the country at the age of ten, has governed the entire empire in an orderly manner during his two years of regency, seemingly poised to usher in a new era.
Before Ying Zheng stood a jade platform with memorials over a foot tall, next to which was a huge bronze balance scale. On the left side of the scale was a heavy square stone, while the right side was empty.
Beside Ying Zheng stood a young man with effeminate features and deep eyes, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in the hall below.
"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
Upon hearing the words of Zhao Gao, the most trusted eunuch beside Ying Zheng, all the officials present held their breath.
A moment later, the Minister of War slowly stepped forward, his voice calm yet trembling slightly, his face deathly pale: "Your Highness... an urgent report from the northern frontier. Barbarians have invaded the border, and it is suspected that they have the Spirit Hall secretly supporting them. Our army of three thousand iron cavalry... has been completely annihilated."
As the Minister of War finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
All the officials and civil servants bowed their heads, and no one dared to speak.
Even Zhao Gao, who was standing next to Ying Zheng, had an extremely solemn expression.
Ying Zheng paused, his hand holding the memorial stopped.
Put down the memorial.
Raise your head.
His eyes opened, as if they had stung everyone present.
"Three thousand people?"
His voice was very soft.
The Minister of War instantly turned pale with fear and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die!"
Ying Zheng slowly rose to his feet, his slender figure seemingly weighing an immense weight.
In an instant...
All the civil and military officials in the main hall knelt on the ground.
He walked to the center of the hall, his dark dragon robe fluttering in the morning light. His voice was not loud, but every word struck the hearts of everyone like a hammer blow.
"A year ago, a riot of soul beasts broke out in the Star Dou Great Forest. I dispatched three thousand iron cavalry to completely suppress the soul beasts."
"Six months ago, an evil soul master slaughtered an entire village, killing hundreds of people. I dispatched three hundred royal knights, each of them a Soul Master or higher, to suppress the evil soul master. Even a Soul Douluo-level expert fell to the iron cavalry."
Ying Zheng's voice wasn't loud, but it resonated clearly in everyone's minds.
"Your Highness's divine might is awe-inspiring!"
Instantly, all the court officials present shouted respectfully.
"Now, three thousand iron cavalry have actually died at the hands of those barbarians?"
His eyes suddenly turned icy, a chilling coldness that went straight to the bone: "If three thousand men aren't enough, then use thirty thousand."
The Minister of War suddenly raised his head, and all the civil and military officials in the court gasped in shock.
"If 30,000 isn't enough, then use 300,000."
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
He walked to the entrance of the main hall and stopped.
The morning light shone in from behind him, casting a long shadow on the ground.
There was no turning back.
The voice came from the entrance of the main hall, low and calm.
"Even if I have to turn the entire northern frontier upside down, I will bury the barbarians and the Spirit Hall completely."
He turned around and looked at the court officials kneeling on the ground.
"I keep my word!"
moment.
The entire court of officials was instantly visibly shaken, and knelt down, saying, "Your Highness is wise!"
Ying Zheng walked back to the throne and sat down.
He picked up the memorial and continued reviewing it.
After reviewing the documents, he picked up a copper coin and placed it on the right side of the scale.
The scales swayed slightly, but it seemed like a drop in the ocean to try and move the giant rock next to it.
"Report—A cardinal from the Spirit Hall requests an audience, accompanied by three hundred men."
Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials present instantly became solemn.
All the officials present knew that the Spirit Hall had come to demonstrate its power to the Heaven Dou Empire.
Ying Zheng didn't look up: "Let him in."
The guard hesitated for a moment, then spoke up: "Your Highness, they brought weapons—"
Ying Zheng turned a page of the memorial.
Zhao Gao laughed, turned around and walked out of the main hall.
A moment later, heavy footsteps filled the entire hall.
The cardinal of the Spirit Hall stood in the center, with three hundred Spirit Hall knights in gleaming armor behind him, filling the entire hall to capacity.
He did not bow, but simply nodded slightly to Ying Zheng above.
"Crown Prince of Heaven Dou. Cardinal Zhao Wuji of the Spirit Hall greets Your Highness."
"Zhao Wuji?"
"Immovable King Zhao Wuji?"
Ying Zheng raised his head and looked at him.
The cardinal's expression changed: "No, it's just a coincidence of names—"
Ying Zheng lowered his head and continued reviewing the memorials.
"Yeah?"
"Then continue."
The cardinal's momentum was interrupted, and his expression turned quite unpleasant.
"Your Highness, His Holiness the Pope of the Spirit Hall has instructed me to convey to you that the Spirit Hall is willing to support the Heaven Dou Empire, on the condition that the Heaven Dou Empire supports the Spirit Hall's missionary work. Furthermore, the Spirit Hall has the right to intervene in certain aspects of the Empire's political and legal system."
Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials present turned extremely grim.
What are you doing?
Do they want to openly interfere in the internal affairs of their Heavenly Dou Empire?
Ying Zheng continued reviewing memorials, seemingly oblivious, and placed a copper coin on the scales again, causing the scales to sway once more.
Seeing this, Cardinal Zhao Wuji of the Spirit Hall's expression darkened further, his voice turning cold: "Your Highness, please think carefully. Aren't you afraid of the arrival of powerful figures from the Spirit Hall?"
Ying Zheng put down the memorial and stood up.
He walked slowly, but every step was the same.
Not too fast, not too slow, not too far, not too near, just like it had been measured.
The main hall was very quiet.
"I'm afraid—"
His voice was very soft, and the cardinal was stunned.
"I fear that the people will not have enough to eat, I fear that the northern border will attack, I fear that officials will be corrupt, I fear that the national treasury will be empty, and I fear that the army will not be able to win."
Ying Zheng looked into the cardinal's eyes.
"But I—am not afraid of the Spirit Hall!"
Upon hearing this, Cardinal Zhao Wuji's face flushed red and then turned pale.
Ying Zheng turned around, walked back to his seat, sat down, and picked up the memorial again.
"Preaching is acceptable, but interfering in politics is not. This is my bottom line. If Your Holiness the Pope wants to talk, I welcome it; if she wants to fight, I will also engage."
He turned a page.
"see a visitor out!"
Zhao Gao stepped forward, smiling obsequiously at the cardinal: "My lord, please!"
Looking at Ying Zheng's calm expression, Cardinal Zhao Wuji's face was terrifyingly gloomy, his fists clenched as if he were about to explode in anger at any moment.
However, he eventually loosened his fist and waved his hand.
Inside the main hall, the three hundred Spirit Hall knights retreated with heavy footsteps.
After reviewing a memorial, Ying Zheng picked up a copper coin and placed it on the right side of the scale.
The scales shifted again, but still didn't level.