**Chapter 575: Preparation**
In the holographic projection, a Whitebeard dressed in Taoist robes sat at a long table, busy writing with a brush. Piled high on the long table were stacks of case files.
The Whitebeard Elder would occasionally pick up a case file to review, his brow furrowed so deeply it looked like the character for 'river', capable of trapping a fly. So engrossed was he that he didn't even notice Li Shimin's Holographic Projection appearing in the Room.
"Cough cough!"
It wasn't until Li Shimin coughed twice that the Whitebeard old Daoist noticed Li Shimin before him.
"His Majesty!" Yuan Tiangang looked up, saw Li Shimin, and hastily rose to bow.
"My dear minister seems very busy!" Li Shimin walked behind Yuan Tiangang with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at the case files on the long table.
He was currently only a Holographic Projection, so he naturally couldn't pick up the case files, but he saw the content of the case file Yuan Tiangang was reviewing at a glance.
"Yellow River Flood Control, proposing to capture one thousand two hundred Water Monsters for the Silt Clearing Plan, approved, issue Bounty..."
Li Shimin raised an eyebrow and read out the content of the case file: "My dear minister, using Demon Monsters for silt clearing, is this Method feasible? I remember these Demon Monsters aren't very obedient?"
Yuan Tiangang quickly explained: "His Majesty, please rest assured. Explosives have been implanted Inside the Body of these Demon Monsters. Should they attempt to Escape or harm anyone, these Devices will Explode in their skulls! They absolutely will not have a chance to Escape!"
"Hundreds of Demon Monsters were used for the excavation of the Southwest Mine. These Demon Monsters possess immense strength and are excellent at hard labor. To date, there have been no incidents!"
"That is excellent!" Li Shimin nodded, then changed the subject: "Minister Yuan, why was the matter of Flower and Fruit Mountain not reported to me!?"
Li Shimin's Gaze fell upon Yuan Tiangang's Face, staring intently into his Eyes, scrutinizing the change in his expression.
"The matter of Flower and Fruit Mountain!?" Yuan Tiangang was startled: "What happened there, in that City of Myriad Monsters? Did the Demon Monsters there make a move? His Majesty, the Demon Subduing Division did send many spies there, but there are many Demon Monsters, and those spies suffered considerable Casualties, so no Information has been transmitted?"
Li Shimin saw that Yuan Tiangang's expression didn't seem like intentional deception, and he breathed a sigh of relief: "I received Information that the Aolai Monster Kingdom on Flower and Fruit Mountain was destroyed. The Information says it was done by the Demon Subduing Division!"
"That Kingdom of Myriad Monsters was destroyed!" Yuan Tiangang's brow relaxed, and he muttered to himself: "Could it be that the Grand Governor made a move?"
Yuan Tiangang naturally knew that the Grand Governor had gone to Outer Space. Could he have returned!? Yuan Tiangang looked at Li Shimin with Doubt. Li Shimin gave him an annoyed look. If I knew, would I be asking you?
"His Majesty, please wait while this old minister checks!" Yuan Tiangang pressed a button under the long table. A curved Holographic Screen, thin as a cicada's wing, rose before him.
*Buzz*, a sound of Electric Current rang out, and the curved Holographic Screen flickered with Radiance, displaying a golden net pattern.
The net flickered with streaks of Golden Light. At the same Time, the Golden Light shone on Yuan Tiangang's Face.
"Face scan complete, Soul Information confirmed, Clearance activated, Skynet System at your service!" A mechanical Voice sounded in their ears.
Li Shimin showed surprise, clearly having never seen such a scene, but Yuan Tiangang was already accustomed to this Skynet System! "His Majesty, this is the Skynet System invented by the Grand Governor. All Mission Bounties, large and small, of the Demon Subduing Division are recorded and categorized here!"
"Skynet, retrieve Information related to Flower and Fruit Mountain!" Yuan Tiangang explained to Li Shimin as he issued a Voice Order to the Skynet System.
"Instruction accepted. Retrieval Results are as follows: A total of two thousand three hundred and seventeen pieces of Information related to Flower and Fruit Mountain are listed below—"
Almost simultaneously with Yuan Tiangang issuing the Order, the curved Holographic Screen before him flickered, and lines of Information appeared.
Yuan Tiangang looked at the dozens of pages of Information displayed on the Holographic Screen and was too lazy to scroll through them one by one: "Retrieve Information related to the destruction of Flower and Fruit Mountain!"
"Instruction accepted. Retrieval Results are as follows: A total of one piece of Information related to the destruction of Flower and Fruit Mountain!"
Looking at the single piece of Information remaining on the curved Holographic Screen, Yuan Tiangang reached out and tapped the Holographic Screen. That piece of Information immediately expanded.
"C-Level Mission Report: One Space-Based Weapon Strike, destroyed Aolai Kingdom on Flower and Fruit Mountain!"
A single, understated sentence left Yuan Tiangang speechless. He turned to look at Li Shimin, who had leaned closer. The two exchanged glances.
"If I remember correctly, in the Demon Subduing Division, this Western letter represents the most basic Mission. Minister Yuan, has your Demon Subduing Division developed so rapidly that destroying a Kingdom of Myriad Monsters is merely the simplest Mission!"
Li Shimin felt his lower eyelid twitching slightly. The Demon Subduing Division was now this powerful? Destroying a Kingdom of Myriad Monsters was only a C-Level Mission? What was the highest level Mission then? Destroying Spirit Mountain?
Thinking this way, that Bodhisattva didn't seem so terrifying anymore.
"Uh, His Majesty, there seems to be some Misunderstanding here!" Yuan Tiangang lifted his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his Forehead, then turned to operate on the Skynet System, locking onto the source of the Mission submission.
"Warhead Island! That name is quite peculiar!" Li Shimin's Holographic Projection leaned in front of the Holographic Screen, looking at the Address displayed on the Holographic Screen, finding it somewhat strange.
Yuan Tiangang directly initiated a Video call to Warhead Island through the Skynet System. After waiting quietly for over ten seconds, a short-haired girl wearing a tight suit appeared on the Holographic Screen.
"Hey, who is it? If you need something, say it quickly, I'm busy!" Lilith was calculating some Experiment Data. After the Video connected, she said without lifting her head.
Yuan Tiangang felt a bit awkward: "This old man is the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau of the Demon Subduing Division, Deputy Grand Governor Yuan Tiangang. Young lady, the Mission report for the destruction of Flower and Fruit Mountain was submitted by you!?"
Upon hearing Yuan Tiangang's words, Lilith finally took a break from her work, lifted her head, and looked at him seriously: "That's right, it was me!"
"The destruction of the Kingdom of Myriad Monsters on Flower and Fruit Mountain is such a major Matter, why did you only report it as a C-Level Mission! Was it a registration error?"
Yuan Tiangang looked at the young lady on the Holographic Screen, thinking she had made an Operation error.
"It was just destroying a Mountain Range, not destroying this Planet or this Galaxy," Lilith said indifferently: "The Space-Based Weapon used this Time doesn't even count as C-Level in the Heavenly Court's Weapon Classification! I could only fill in C-Level!"
"Cough cough—"
Hearing Lilith's careless words, Yuan Tiangang and Li Shimin exchanged glances. Li Shimin even coughed out loud.
Under Tang Song's tutelage, Li Shimin had gained a clear concept of what a Galaxy was. His limited understanding couldn't possibly imagine what kind of Weapons could destroy a Galaxy. "Young lady, could you elaborate on the Weapons you mentioned that can destroy a Galaxy?" Li Shimin asked.
Lilith picked up a Candy from the Lab Bench, tore off the Wrapping Paper, and popped it into her mouth. "Are you asking about the Black Hole Bomb, the Death Star Laser Cannon, the Cosmic Turbine, or the Dark Matter Annihilation Cannon?"
Li Shimin listened dazedly as Lilith listed over ten types of Weapons. He suddenly felt his mouth go dry: "Young lady, are these Weapons you mentioned real, like Artillery?"
"Artillery?" Lilith looked at Li Shimin with a strange Gaze, but quickly realized that the person before her was not a Reincarnator but a Native.
"Of course they're real, but these Weapons are not deployed in This World!" Lilith shook her head, a look of regret on her Face: "Otherwise, that Monkey wouldn't have escaped!"
Lilith still felt regret over the Escape of the Experiment Subject, the King of Ten Thousand Monsters. Based on her Observation of that Monkey's Physique, if it could be Cloned, she believed the Seraph's Physique could definitely be raised by a significant stage.
"Do you have anything else? If not, I'm hanging up!"
Thinking of the Loss of such a good Experiment Subject, Lilith felt a pang of heartache. Without waiting for the two to reply, she unilaterally hung up the Video and busied herself with her Experiment.
"His Majesty, these Outer Realm Visitor are people personally recruited by the Grand Governor. Their temperaments are inevitably a bit eccentric!" Yuan Tiangang quickly reassured Li Shimin, seeing his stunned Look.
It took Li Shimin a while to recover from his shock. He waved his hand towards Yuan Tiangang, "I'm fine! It's Normal for extraordinary individuals to act unrestrainedly!"
Yuan Tiangang then explained: "His Majesty, the Demon Subduing Division's case files are sorted by rank. C-Level Mission reports are generally handled directly by the lower-level Demon Subduing Division Government Offices and are not reported up to the Headquarters at all, which is why there was a delay!"
Li Shimin waved his hand, his Complexion somewhat strange: "No matter. Perhaps in the Heavenly Court, eradicating such a Monster Kingdom is indeed an insignificant minor Matter!"
Hearing Li Shimin's words, Yuan Tiangang also fell silent. In their hearts, both felt a sense of awe and yearning towards the legendary Heavenly Court.
"His Majesty, I see in the case files that the Monster Kingdom was destroyed just a few hours ago..." Yuan Tiangang looked at Li Shimin, hesitating to speak.
"That is precisely the Reason I came to find you!" Li Shimin flicked his sleeve and recounted everything Master Jiaxiang had said to Yuan Tiangang.
Yuan Tiangang felt a pang of toothache. A Bodhisattva suspected to be from the Upper Realm had descended, and this Son of Heaven actually wanted to kill the Buddha.
He somewhat regretted getting involved in the Demon Subduing Division's Matters, but back then, he had lost a game of chess and a bet to Tang Song, and having given his word, he had no choice but to manage these Matters for him first.
"His Majesty, the Grand Governor has gone to the Nine Heavens Outer Space. Should we perhaps slow down and wait until the Grand Governor returns before discussing this further?" Yuan Tiangang advised tactfully.
Li Shimin, however, snorted coldly: "That Bodhisattva wants to kill me. Can't I kill him? In the eyes of the Director, am I a good-for-nothing who only knows how to hide under Uncle Tang's Wings?"
Upon hearing Li Shimin address him by his Position, Yuan Tiangang immediately understood that this Son of Heaven was truly angered. He quickly bowed: "This minister dares not! It is just that His Majesty's person is worth a thousand pieces of Gold, and you must not act like a Porcelain pot hitting a clay pot!"
While bowing, Yuan Tiangang also felt somewhat puzzled. When did this Son of Heaven become so close to the Grand Governor, calling him Uncle Tang so naturally?
Hearing Yuan Tiangang compare himself and the Upper Realm Bodhisattva to porcelain and a clay pot, Li Shimin's Complexion softened slightly. The desire to execute that Upper Realm Bodhisattva was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, nor was it due to arrogance or delusion. He wanted to achieve some impressive Merits before Tang Song returned to show this Heavenly Emperor Uncle.
Otherwise, once he left This World, with the infinite Lifespan of Immortals and Gods, his Nominal Nephew might be forgotten by Uncle Tang in just a few years.
To be a Human Emperor or to be an Immortal? Was that even a question? He needed to let Heavenly Emperor Uncle see his Value, even if it meant exhausting the Great Tang Dynasty's national strength.
Of course, Li Shimin would not explicitly state this to Yuan Tiangang.
"My dear minister, can I use a Body Double to Set a Trap and lure that Deity and Buddha?" Li Shimin asked thoughtfully.
This was also the main Reason Li Shimin came to find Yuan Tiangang. The General who was skilled in warfare, the Heaven-Tactic General, was not a Brute. He wanted to set a trap to kill that Bodhisattva, but he didn't want to personally take the Adventure.
If he could use a Body Double to lure the Bodhisattva, that would be ideal.
After hearing the implied meaning in Li Shimin's words, Yuan Tiangang's Look relaxed. He then pondered for a long while before frowning and looking at Li Shimin:
"His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and your travels naturally carry Imperial Cloud Qi. Any Cultivator possesses the Qi Observation Ability. Your Majesty wanting to employ the Method of substituting the plum with a peach to deceive that Deity and Buddha might be somewhat difficult, however..."
Just as Li Shimin was listening to Yuan Tiangang's words and showing a disappointed expression, Yuan Tiangang changed the subject: "Although This World does not have Methods to conceal Cloud Qi, those extraordinary individuals from the Outer Realms recruited by the Grand Governor might have a Method!"
Li Shimin's Eyes shone brightly: "My dear minister, ask those extraordinary individuals for me. If anyone can help me execute that Demonic Monk, I will reward them handsomely!"
"This minister will Contact those extraordinary individuals immediately!"
"Right, my dear minister, you might as well inquire about the Space-Based Weapon that young lady mentioned for me, and see if it can be borrowed for me to use!"
Inside Daming Palace, after ending the Video call with Yuan Tiangang, Li Shimin issued a Decree, Summoning Zhangsun Wuji, Cheng Yaojin, and other Old Ministers into the Imperial Palace.
No one knew what he discussed with these Confidants.
However, not long after these civil and military Important Ministers returned to their respective homes, a piece of Information spread throughout the Capital City.
In ten days, His Majesty the Emperor would travel to Mount Zhongnan for Heaven Worship, sacrificing to the Heavenly Emperor, Burn Paper Offerings to Inform the Heavens, and seek the Heavenly Emperor's Blessing and Protection for the Great Tang Dynasty's Subjects.
There were no Secrets within the Imperial Palace. Soon, a Rumor spread that His Majesty's trip to Mount Zhongnan was because Consort Jing wanted to take Princess Danxia to see her Master at Mount Zhongnan, and His Majesty, unable to bear parting with his Favored Consort, was going to Mount Zhongnan for Heaven Worship.
Consort Jing was a Favored Consort recently taken in by Li Shimin. She was originally a Female Daoist from Qingxu Abbey and was later brought into the palace.
Consort Jing was already beautiful, and her Secluded Cultivation and Meditation gave her an Ethereal Demeanor, making her quite favored by Li Shimin in the Imperial Palace.
Out of love for her, even the Daughter she bore was highly Valued by Li Shimin. Because her mother liked the evening glow of the Mount Zhongnan Mountain Range, she was given the name Danxia and Mount Zhongnan was Granted Land to her as her fief. This Princess Danxia also became a Favorite in the Inner Palace for a Time.
Outside Chang'an City, to the southeast, was still that Temple. Three Old Monks sat cross-legged on Meditation Cushions.
"Senior Brother Jiaxiang, have you confirmed the Truth of the News? This Son of Heaven is not an Incompetent Fool, how could he be Seduced by Beauty!?"
(end of chapter)