Chapter 127: The Calculations of All Parties
Every time Long Chen entered the Empress’s bedchamber, he had the same feeling: Her Majesty was even more alluring than Di Luoxi!
He had already savored Di Luoxi from head to toe, inside and out, while the Empress had only ever satisfied his eyes.
Lying on the couch, the Empress made Long Chen’s heart itch like a cat’s claws.
“His Majesty has ordered this humble subject to take charge of the Ministry of Revenue again. I request that Duan Shuangshuang be reinstated as Vice Minister of Revenue, and that all the former officials be restored to their previous posts.”
The last time Jing Heng arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, he had dismissed Duan Shuangshuang and the others, replacing them with his own people.
Now that Long Chen was taking charge again, he naturally wanted the original staff back.
The Empress gave a slight nod. “Granted.”
Long Chen bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The Empress gazed quietly at him. “Anything else?”
“Nothing else.”
Then…
The Empress continued looking at Long Chen, while he lowered his head awkwardly. An ambiguous silence settled between them.
“You may withdraw.”
The Empress turned over and lay on her stomach. Her raised hips outlined a perfect, seductive curve.
Long Chen swallowed hard, suppressing the restlessness in his heart as he rose and left Phoenix Cry Palace.
Once outside, the biting chill of early spring cleared his mind considerably, and his little brother calmed down as well.
“When will I finally control Eastern Zhou and bring about a harmonious mother-daughter reunion?”
Long Chen imagined the Empress and Di Luoxi together, and the scene was simply too beautiful to contemplate.
“Stay calm! I’m a respectable eunuch!”
Long Chen drew in a deep breath of cold air and made his way to the Ministry of Revenue with a solemn expression.
The ministry was in complete disorder. Most of the officials had already fled, leaving behind only a few minor clerks.
The moment they saw Long Chen, they hid from him like mice from a cat.
With Jing Heng beheaded, his followers had scattered like monkeys abandoning a fallen tree, fleeing overnight with whatever they could carry.
Long Chen entered the main hall. It was a complete mess, with only a few worthless objects remaining.
“These people have no integrity whatsoever.”
Clearly, the underlings had learned that Jing Heng was dead and stolen everything of value from him.
Duan Shuangshuang entered from outside with several people and bowed. “This subordinate pays respects to Your Excellency.”
Long Chen smiled. “I’ll have to trouble you with managing the Ministry of Revenue from now on. I’ll be leaving for Qianjiang Commandery tomorrow. You’ll be in charge of communicating with the All Under Heaven Society and the Dragon Gang.”
Duan Shuangshuang bowed. “This subordinate obeys.”
Xu Ming of the Ministry of Works was rather dull by nature. He could handle practical matters, but he was no good at dealing with merchants.
“All right, no need to say more. You’re familiar with everything.”
Long Chen rose to leave, but Duan Shuangshuang said, “Your Excellency, please be careful in Qianjiang. I’ve heard that many people there have colluded with the pirates.”
Long Chen smiled. “I know.”
After leaving the Ministry of Revenue, Long Chen returned to the Western Palace, where Di Luoxi was waiting.
“What did Mother say?”
Di Luoxi asked anxiously.
Zhang Qian, Xuan Yi, and Qing Yue gathered around as well.
“Her Majesty told me to be careful and gave me Wu Jian too.”
Long Chen sat down and removed his court robes. Zhang Qian folded them away.
“I can’t go with you this time. Be careful on your own. Jing Tianlie and Southern Liang may both make a move against you.”
Di Luoxi was deeply worried.
Long Chen had killed Jing Heng, creating a blood feud between him and Jing Tianlie. Jing Tianlie would certainly cause trouble.
Southern Liang was no different. Long Chen had seized Caishi City, annihilated the Heavenly Might Legion, and killed two of the Five Tiger Generals. Li Chengdao might do something unpredictable.
Long Chen smiled. “What is meant to come will come. What is there to fear?”
Seeing his careless expression, Di Luoxi stepped forward and pressed him down, scolding, “Take this seriously! If you die, I’ll cut your corpse into pieces and feed it to the dogs! You’d better come back alive for this princess! Not a single part of you may be missing!”
Long Chen embraced Di Luoxi and laughed. “I’ve already lost the most important part. What else could I possibly lose?”
Di Luoxi was amused despite herself. She laughed and cursed, “Don’t you still have your fingers? If you lose even those, this princess won’t want you anymore!”
Long Chen stuck out his tongue. “Those will do too.”
Di Luoxi was rendered speechless by him. She climbed to her feet and said, “The three of you will go with him. Protect him well.”
“No,” Long Chen said. “Xuan Yi and Qing Yue should stay with you. Southern Liang still has powerful experts. In Qianjiang Commandery, what I need to guard against are concealed attacks. Zhang Qian and Wu Jian will be enough.”
If fighting broke out in Caishi City, capable generals would be indispensable.
On Long Chen’s side, however, victory would depend on strategy, so there was no need for so many generals.
Zhang Qian added, “Your Excellency is right. The princess needs more men at her side.”
Di Luoxi was still unwilling to take the risk, but Long Chen firmly refused. In the end, only Zhang Qian accompanied him.
When they returned to Autumn Prosperity Hall, Wu Jian was already waiting at the entrance.
“Your Excellency.”
Wu Jian had just received the Empress’s decree ordering him to accompany Long Chen in suppressing the pirates, and he was delighted.
Long Chen would be the commanding general this time. At last, Wu Jian could fight under him again.
“Commandant Wu, it has been a long time. This time, I’ll have to trouble you to accompany me in pacifying the pirates.”
Long Chen did not show too much enthusiasm, since Zhang Qian was standing nearby.
“Your Excellency, you are too kind. His Majesty has issued an order, and I will do everything in my power to assist you.”
Wu Jian likewise kept his excitement in check.
“Come inside and sit.”
Long Chen entered the main hall and took his seat. Wu Jian sat in the guest position, while Xiang Ning came over to pour the tea.
“Go to the Four Directions Tower and ask Hong Qi what is really happening with Western Xia and Southern Liang. I suspect Jing Tianlie falsified the military report.”
Zhang Qian had met Hong Qi before and immediately accepted the order, leaving the palace.
After Xiang Ning poured the tea, she withdrew as well, leaving only Long Chen and Wu Jian in the hall.
“This time, I’ll be relying on you, Uncle Wu.”
“Young General, don’t say that. I’ve dreamed of fighting alongside you.”
Wu Jian was so excited that he wished he could take the field and kill the enemy immediately.
“His Majesty has granted me only one thousand troops this time. I intend to recruit soldiers locally. After this campaign, I’ll rebuild an army belonging to the Long family.”
The task appeared simple, but was actually extremely difficult.
The local officials and bandits were deeply involved with one another. A single misstep could lead to a deadly ambush.
Long Chen had accepted this assignment precisely because he intended to rebuild an army of his own.
If he wanted to become king in this world, he needed more than an increase in cultivation. He also needed an iron army loyal to him alone.
Long Chen’s cultivation had already reached the peak of the King Realm. He was only one step away from breaking into the Martial Emperor Realm.
Yet he had never possessed an army of his own. Even Wu Jian, a former member of the Long Family Army, did not answer to his command.
This time, he would reclaim Wu Jian and establish an army of his own.
“That’s wonderful! Young General, your plan can finally begin. I’m willing to serve you with all my strength once more!”
Wu Jian’s eyes filled with tears of excitement.
“The Long Family Army will certainly be rebuilt. When that day comes, we’ll destroy Southern Liang and kill Li Chengdao to avenge our dead!”
Long Chen spoke through clenched teeth.
Wu Jian gritted his teeth and cursed, “When that day comes, I’ll tear out Li Chengdao’s heart and feed it to the dogs!”
“Uncle Wu, go make the preparations. I’ll depart first thing tomorrow morning.”
Wu Jian nodded and left Autumn Prosperity Hall.
Long Chen also began packing, with Xiang Ning helping him.
Half an hour later, Zhang Qian returned.
“Hong Qi says that Western Xia has made no significant moves, but there are indeed signs of troop mobilization in Southern Liang.”
The All Under Heaven Society had considerable influence in Western Xia, but far less in Southern Liang, so this situation made sense.
“So Jing Tianlie was lying. Nothing is wrong at Jade Buddha Pass. He simply wants to build up his own power.”
Long Chen had suspected as much, but he had still asked Hong Qi to verify it.
Zhang Qian said, “Has His Majesty been deceived?”
Long Chen smiled. “If I can figure it out, do you think Her Majesty can’t?”
Zhang Qian was puzzled. “Then why did Her Majesty let him leave? Once Jing Tianlie reaches Jade Buddha Pass and takes command of the Crimson Flame Army again, won’t that be like releasing a tiger into the mountains?”
“Keeping Jing Tianlie in the capital would give the Crimson Flame Army the chance to rebel at any moment. It’s better to send him back and deal with him gradually.”
The Empress knew that Jing Tianlie could not be brought down in a single day, so she intended to proceed slowly.
There was another reason Long Chen did not mention: the Empress still needed the Crimson Flame Army to defend against Western Xia. Jing Tianlie had recognized this as well. For now, the two sides were using each other.
Long Chen faintly sensed that the Empress intended for him to establish his own army and eventually replace Jing Tianlie in defending against Western Xia.
Di Luoxi guarded the south, Di Lingyi the north, and the west also needed a great general.
Jing Tianlie very likely knew this too.
All three sides were making their own calculations.