"General, should we rebel? This Star Luo Empire, the Xue family has built it, why can't your family, the Dai family, take control? If it weren't for the Dai family's ancestor ascending with Tang San's ancestor ten thousand years ago, who would even know who would be the emperor of Star Luo today?" one of the generals said angrily.
"This talk cannot be spoken recklessly!" Du Lei Si quickly stood up and spoke solemnly.
Inside the military tent, Dai Hao sat at the head of the table, silent, while the other generals were visibly enraged.
"They don't even care about the General's face! Now that woman not only safely returns to the Sun and Moon Empire but is even promoted to a major general, doesn't that show utter contempt for us? Doesn't it challenge the authority of the Star Luo Empire? Now rumors in the army are saying that Xu Jiawei is nothing but a turtle hiding its head. He's not ashamed, but we, his soldiers, risked our lives for the Xu family, and now we're ashamed?" another general continued.
"Impossible! Do you think scheming for power is a game?" Du Lei Si quickly interjected. "The Star Luo Empire has ruled for thousands of years, deeply ingrained in the common people. And the strong individuals in the offering hall, do you think they're just decorations?"
"Then are we letting this go?" the general asked, unwilling to back down.
"..." Du Lei Si was helpless.
Otherwise, should I speak directly? Wouldn't that be slapping the General's face? This is truly... like the famous strategists of old!
"Enough, this matter should not be discussed further!" Dai Hao slowly opened his eyes. An unseen but overwhelming presence instantly filled the entire tent, and the generals all immediately fell silent. They still respected Dai Hao's authority, or they wouldn't dare to openly "plot" rebellion.
Seeing that Dai Hao seemed to have returned to his usual demeanor, Du Lei Si didn't feel relieved but instead was suddenly shaken.
The General, something's not quite right.
After all, when truly plotting something big, things are always calm before the storm, and when it strikes, it's like thunder.
The soldiers may cheer, but even if the Emperor hears it, he might not care too much…
"Everyone, leave. Do your duties. Don't waste any more time; otherwise, you'll face military law!" Dai Hao spoke in a deep voice.
"Yes!" The generals responded and departed.
After they left, Dai Hao waved his hand, and a layer of soul power enveloped the entire room, as if it were separated by a thin veil.
He turned to Du Lei Si, his gaze flickering with a hint of struggle. After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "Do you think, if we rebel, what are our chances of success?"
Du Lei Si's heart skipped a beat, and he gulped.
He was absolutely loyal to the Dai family, but…
"Phew…" He exhaled a breath and his eyes gradually became firm. "One percent, General, not even one percent!"
Hearing this, Dai Hao's face seemed to grow a shade paler, his body trembling slightly, and his voice became hoarse. "Tell me why."
"Our only advantage is these ten thousand soldiers. But even if we take them all and head for the capital, they're mostly just ordinary men, and there are very few soul masters. Our main strength is at a disadvantage, with only you as a Title Douluo, but in the capital…"
Du Lei Si knew the General was already fully aware of these facts. He simply needed Du Lei Si to completely cut off any remaining hope.
"At least six or more Title Douluos! Even the heads of the offering hall are deeply powerful, starting with Super Douluos."
"Just one of them could crush our ten thousand soldiers in an instant. If we weren't soul masters but Soul Engineering legions, we might have a chance with concentrated firepower. But we are just the traditional soul master system…"
A level eight Soul Engineer leading a legion could take on a Title Douluo due to concentrated firepower and flexibility.
But the traditional soul master system would be torn apart in seconds.
"As for allies, if we betray, no one will stand with us," Du Lei Si said with pessimism. "Tianhun and Douling are our enemies, and at most, they might want us to rebel and join their side—though that's impossible, as we'd have to cross vast land, and Shrek is already facing its own difficulties, so how could they help us? Mainly, they can't offer us enough benefits."
"What about the Sun and Moon Empire?" Dai Hao murmured.
Du Lei Si's eyes widened, a hint of fear flashing across his gaze. "You…"
"How many years have you served me?" Dai Hao murmured.
"Since you were twenty, General. You saved my life on the battlefield, and since then, I've been part of your White Tiger Guard," Du Lei Si replied with a complicated look.
"Let me think for a bit. Give me some time to think." Dai Hao's eyes seemed absent.
He raised his head and looked at Du Lei Si. "Send someone to the enemy side. Tell them that I, Dai Hao, can join the Sun and Moon Empire, or I can lead ten thousand soldiers into the Sun and Moon Empire, but there's only one condition: they must hand over Juzi to me!"
As he spoke, his fist slowly tightened, and his face became twisted in rage.
Emperor, since you couldn't even manage face-saving efforts, then forget about the bond between military officials. The relationship between us and the Xu family is over.
I, Dai Hao, have guarded this empire's borders for decades, keeping the enemy away. No major achievements, but plenty of hardships. But now…
"General, what if they refuse?" Du Lei Si lowered his head.
"They can't refuse!" Dai Hao's face twisted in rage.
"Can't my ten thousand soldiers defeat one mere Soul King? I want her, not the entire Mecha Battalion. I don't believe Xu Cheng would refuse!"
"If he refuses, I'll declare myself king! I'll kill my way back!" Dai Hao's eyes turned bloodshot, and his voice grew hoarse.
"Yes…" Du Lei Si sighed and turned to leave the tent.
He looked up at the night sky and the Sun and Moon Empire's military camp on the opposite side of the mountains. He waved for his trusted subordinate to come over, then whispered a few words. In the young subordinate's shocked gaze, he waved his hand calmly.
No matter what, his life was saved by the General, and he would serve loyally until the end.
But what about the General's wife and children? How would they be protected?
After all, the White Tiger Duke's residence was near the imperial capital, and everyone knew what their goal was. Once the White Tiger Duchess leaves, the imperial capital won't remain indifferent.
"Don't worry about her. It's just her reckless actions catching up to her," Dai Hao's voice sounded coldly as he gave his final orders.
"Yaoheng is recuperating in Shrek Academy's inner courtyard. Shrek probably won't hand him over, and as for Huabin… he's also in Shrek Academy, with Yaoheng taking care of him, so there's no major issue."
With that, Dai Hao closed his eyes.
Du Lei Si silently left.
Clearly, in Dai Hao's eyes, besides his two legitimate sons, the continuation of the Dai family's bloodline was of utmost importance, while the other children were of little consequence.
------------
"Bold, arrogant!"
Xu Jiawei's face changed.
A few ministers beside him spoke earnestly: "Your Majesty, it's not about whether Dai Hao wants to rebel or not, it's about whether his subordinates want to rebel. Just think about it, if they were to put the dragon robe on Dai Hao, would he rebel or not?"
"Do you think I don't know?" Xu Jiawei said irritably. "But his position is too important, the Ming Dou Mountain Range, a crucial military area. If we push him too hard, what if he defects to the Sun and Moon Empire?"
"Hmph, the Star Luo Empire is the foundation of his Dai family. I don't believe he'd dare to defect!" one of the ministers said confidently.
"If his ancestors knew, they'd probably crawl out of their graves and beat him for being such an unfilial descendant!" the finance minister chuckled.
Dai Hao's good temper (having dutifully guarded the borders for decades without asking for anything in return, showing utmost loyalty) was well known in the court. He was considered a model of loyalty and patriotism.
They truly didn't believe Dai Hao would rebel.
"Since that's the case, let's take it slow, like boiling a frog in warm water. First, send people to make contact and gradually replace some of his generals," Xu Jiawei pondered for a moment before slowly saying.
He also believed that Dai Hao would not rebel.
"Yes!"
End of Chapter.