"Shocking! Has he gone mad?"
Even the usually calm Emperor of Sun and Moon had a hard time holding it together. Looking at the list handed to him by Xu Cheng, he initially smiled, but his smile gradually faded. His hand tightened around the armrest of the wooden chair, and the veins on his hand bulged, indicating his troubled state of mind.
"This matter shouldn't have been allowed by you," Xu Cheng leisurely sipped his tea. After all, it was a case where the person was caught red-handed, and the evidence was irrefutable.
In just one night, Xu Cheng dispatched half of the Evil Monarch Soul Master Corps and the third regiment of the Fire Phoenix stationed outside Mingdu, transforming all the clues they had gathered into results. Not only did they capture several big fish, but countless military officials in Mingdu were also arrested.
It was as if dark clouds had gathered over Mingdu, and the city seemed to be on the brink of a storm.
As the upheaval in Mingdu unfolded, countless once-arrogant military officials were dragged out by soldiers of the Soul Master Corps. Those who complied were directly arrested, while those who resisted were beaten first before being apprehended.
Common folk peered out of their windows, often hearing cries like, "I have spilled blood for the empire! Let me see the emperor!" or "Which regiment are you from? Do you know who I am?… Slap! How dare you… Slap!… Sob, sob..."
The guards had cold expressions, and even Soul Douluo-level experts, after being shackled with restraining soul-guiding devices, had their faces swollen when they were dragged into prison. Their colleagues, who were also imprisoned, could hardly recognize them.
As for the one Soul Douluo-level military officer who refused to be shackled and attempted to resist, his residence was bombarded by hundreds of level-seven long-range fixed soul-guided cannons. None of his family members survived.
This sent a wave of fear through everyone.
The crimson and dark purple armor was well known to belong to a particular faction, but after the event in the palace three years ago, it was the first time they had revealed their fangs.
This iron-fisted approach and swift action left countless factions uneasy.
More people began to wonder why, despite such a massive disturbance in the imperial city, the Royal Soul Master Corps did not act, and what the supreme ruler sitting on the throne would think after hearing the news…
"The entire Mingde Hall, five hundred seventy-two people, including students, among which one hundred seven have participated in black-market trading. They know exactly what they're doing! And in the military, the mastermind points directly to a vice commander of the Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps! This is one of the highest levels of the national military! I never expected that they'd be involved in such treasonous acts," Xu Zhen said, heartbroken.
"You, as the emperor, the Supreme Ruler, should be the one to say this," Xu Cheng sipped his tea and glanced at this acting emperor. So the demands for emperors have become so high nowadays? No one can sit securely without an Oscar-winning performance.
At first, he really thought this old man was a fool, the type of emperor who was once wise and mighty but now spends his time researching immortality pills in the inner palace.
However, after interacting with him, Xu Cheng realized that he was not as he had imagined.
His control over the empire was both secretive and powerful.
In other words, if the Fourth Prince ever had the "I could replace him" thought, he'd probably never know when he'd be stabbed in the back by his own subordinates...
Xu Cheng didn't believe that the emperor was unaware of these things, and it was even possible that he had secretly given the orders. Perhaps he had intended to fatten them up and then execute them, using them to fill the national coffers—essentially, a covert deal with the former three kingdoms.
"Sigh…" Xu Zhen sighed, pulling his sleeves together, looking like an old man.
"Ah Cheng, let me be clear about this matter. Although I did turn a blind eye, it's true that in recent years I've neglected management. I never expected that Mingde Hall and the military were so deeply infiltrated... Your Fourth Brother and the Crown Prince are quite capable," Xu Zhen continued.
"Even the Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps—I'm afraid the Corps Commander is involved as well..."
Xu Zhen didn't continue, but after half a lifetime as a royal, his sharp eyes could see clearly. Although the evidence pointed to the vice commander, it seemed the commander had completely distanced himself from the situation, but...
"However, you were right to do this. If the highest commander of a Soul Master Corps were imprisoned, the entire Corps' morale would crumble."
He sighed deeply.
Looking at Xu Cheng, who was calmly drinking his tea, the young man seemed unfazed.
"As for the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince, what are your thoughts?" Xu Zhen lazily sat back in his chair with his hands in his sleeves.
"Xu Jiran is a fool, and the Crown Prince is clever but lacks power. He won't amount to much," Xu Cheng answered flatly.
"That's still your brother..." Xu Zhen said, irritated.
"Call him after he dies. It won't be too late," Xu Cheng replied with a smile.
Xu Zhen: "..."
After a long silence, his expression grew complicated. "To the death?"
"If they are willing to die with dignity, it's best. If they aren't, I'll help them die with dignity..." Xu Cheng sipped his tea.
"Sigh… That's just like I was when I was young..." Xu Zhen lamented.
Among all the princes, he favored Xu Cheng the most for this reason—this child inherited his looks and, even more importantly, his personality.
Although they were both his flesh and blood, as an emperor, his heart was cold.
Perhaps he hadn't realized it, but after establishing his heir, he only regarded the heir as his true son. The rest… were just pawns.
"This matter, how do you plan to handle it?" Xu Zhen asked, collecting his emotions.
"…"
Xu Cheng fell silent.
To govern a great nation is as difficult as cooking a small fish. To become a qualified emperor is extremely challenging, because these parasites in the empire cannot be eradicated in any dynasty or region.
Just like a certain official, "I don't understand..."
When one building was repaired, his subordinates would tear it down and pocket the materials, even from those closest to him...
"Recruit some, suppress some, and kill some. I don't care about the black market trading of soul-guided devices, even the Sun and Moon Empire has its underground market. But what I can't tolerate is when the newly developed soul-guiding devices from yesterday are suddenly on the tables of the former three kingdoms today, even the missile-type ones..." Xu Cheng squinted his eyes.
He did this with a purpose.
The so-called reason for action had to be justified.
If he simply slapped them for being displeasing, then it would be a character flaw, but with this excuse, if he didn't kill them, they'd have to kneel and thank him.
After all, the Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps had been secretly making advances with the Fourth Prince...
As for the Evil Monarch Soul Master Corps and the Fire Phoenix Soul Master Corps, how could they be so clean?
"Not bad," Xu Zhen nodded in satisfaction.
It seemed his worries were unnecessary.
The next day.
The Mingdu military announced that the vice commander of the Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps had been executed, and people panicked. Countless military officers tried to find out the status of those captured, but the prison was tightly sealed. Usually friendly colleagues were now resolute, refusing even a storage soul-guide device containing a million gold soul coins.
Many high-ranking officers in the military were on edge. In this line of work, who didn't have some dirt on them?
But soon, another message came.
Most of the officers from the Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps arrested were released without charge. The rest, a few, were charged with treason and executed on the spot.
Hearing this, many high-ranking officials finally sighed in relief, wiping the sweat off their brows.
Quickly, the military headquarters issued a statement.
A regiment commander from the Evil Monarch Soul Master Corps would temporarily replace the vice commander of the Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps. The Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps commander, who had previously operated independently from the military, did not give an order but immediately expressed approval of the appointment, warmly welcoming the new commander and hoping for an early transition...
Thus, another round of political upheaval in the court was complete.
Countless people looked at the calm prime minister in the court, feeling a sense of pity.
Play? How do you play?
Someone's pressing your head down and beating you, and you can't fight back at all...
In a certain royal mansion.
"That damn Xu Cheng! I %￥#@..."
Wearing white robes, Xu Jiran's face was twisted in fury. He swept the equipment off the desk and kicked a palace maid to the side.
"This isn't a strict investigation of traitors! This is all aimed at me! The dead… half of them are mine... I..."
"Your Highness…"
A servant, with a sorrowful expression, cautiously entered.
"What is it? Speak!" Xu Jiran impatiently demanded.
"He… he said... he said..." the servant stuttered.
"What did he say?" Xu Jiran's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, grabbing the servant by the collar, his eyes wide in rage. "Speak faster or I'll kill your whole family!"
"He said… You're not to contact him again, he's afraid Xu Cheng will misunderstand..." the servant sobbed.
"He… he…" Xu Jiran suddenly felt cold all over.
He knew that the Royal Dragon Soul Master Corps was greedy for wealth, so he had handed over many of the businesses and forces controlled by his royal mansion to gain their support. Although the prime minister had warned him that such greedy people were untrustworthy, he had no choice but to do so for the throne. He never imagined that Xu Cheng would expose them so quickly...
"Spit!"
He coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.
"Quick! Someone! His Highness has fallen!"
The entire royal mansion was in chaos...
Listening to the report about his second brother being so angry that he vomited blood, Xu Tianran sat in his wheelchair, gently casting his fishing line, watching the koi in the pond fighting for the bait. His expression remained indifferent.
After a long time, he said calmly, "Our power has not been affected, has it?"
The servant's face turned grim. "Yes, we did have two of our loyalists, one a regiment commander in the Fear Claw Soul Master Corps and the other in the Royal Soul Master Corps, who were arrested. One was killed during the resistance."
Xu Tianran slowly closed his eyes, his palm clenched tightly.
These were his only loyal forces, hidden deep for so long that he would never use them unless necessary. But he hadn't expected Xu Cheng to be able to investigate so thoroughly...
"To be able to trace things to this extent, it seems the entire Mingdu is thoroughly infiltrated by his people," Xu Tianran said indifferently.
"How did he manage it..."
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"First cut, then report, imperial power authorized! Mingdu is an open book before us! This is the Military Intelligence Department!" Shi Xing said solemnly to his subordinates.
(End of Chapter)