I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 657 Bloodbath in the Capital! Managing subordinates like dogs!
July of the first year of Xingping reign of the Dayong era.

Just like in June, Huang Tiandao, which swept across eighteen states, suddenly collapsed amidst everyone's shock and surprise.

Similarly, no one would have imagined that the powerful Prime Minister Shangguan, who had dominated the government of the Great Yong Dynasty for over two hundred years, would fall so unexpectedly and die in a muddle at the hands of the weak new emperor, whom everyone jokingly called the "puppet emperor."

And this is what a chaotic world is like.

Sudden changes in the world, rise and fall, prosperity and decline are but a fleeting moment.

Those who stand tall and look far ahead today, brimming with arrogance, may fall into the abyss and be reduced to dust tomorrow.

This is true of Prime Minister Shangguan Ding.

Over the years, the Shangguan clan, which relied on its overwhelming power to look down on the world and even the imperial Ji clan, could not escape such a fate.

The roar that announced Shangguan Ding's defeat echoed from the ruins of Weiyang Palace.

A bloody purge, destined to be a bloodbath, inevitably followed.

On that day, the towering grand mansion that stood in the most prestigious place in the capital city collapsed with a crash.

The prepared red-clad guards, along with a large number of armored imperial soldiers, surrounded the entire Prime Minister's residence almost instantly, making it as solid as an iron barrel.

When that massive restrictive formation completely enveloped them, the fate of the Shangguan clan, which had been prominent in the Dayong Dynasty for over two hundred years, was already sealed.

Regardless of gender, not even chickens or dogs will be spared!
Not only people, but even the livestock kept in the mansion were exterminated!
During this process, some of Shangguan's relatives and cronies noticed something was wrong and rushed over to try to rescue them.

Unfortunately, the guards and imperial guards dressed in crimson brocade robes had clearly made preparations in advance.

Especially those red-clad guards who appeared out of nowhere, their strength was astonishingly powerful.

After several fierce exchanges, a reinforcement used his supernatural powers to break through the red brocade robe covering the opponent, and immediately exclaimed in horror.

"They're the South China Sea Merfolk!"

wrong!

Not only the merfolk, but also... the dragons!
"He's gone mad! He's gone mad! That brat Ji Yin has truly gone mad!"

Non-my family, its heart must be different.

Throughout the entire Great Yong Dynasty, even the barbarian tribes of the Eight Wilderness, who were also human, regarded them as "different," despising their origins and contemptuous of their background.

Not to mention these non-human demon races!
Now, Emperor Ji Yin, the current ruler, has actually invited a wolf into his house and actively chosen to collude with it. Isn't that absurd?
If this matter gets out, not only will the world be in an uproar, but the three holy lands will also likely be unable to sit still.

So they couldn't understand where Ji Yin got the audacity to defy the world like this.

Unfortunately, no matter how many doubts they have, they cannot change the situation today.

Seeing that things were hopeless, the Shangguan family's relatives and cronies who rushed to the rescue, apart from those who were caught off guard and killed on the spot, all chose to protect themselves.

They came and went in such a hurry.

In just a moment, the area outside the Prime Minister's residence seemed as if nothing had happened.

Thus, the once magnificent and prestigious Prime Minister's Mansion was transformed into a cruel and bloody hell.

……

One day, two days.

The two-day-long purge and massacre of the Shangguan clan finally came to an end.

When the massive array that sealed off heaven and earth was opened, what came into view was that the once magnificent and majestic palace had collapsed into ruins.

The truckloads of corpses pulled out included the elderly and children, men and women, and even infants...

The cruelty and tragedy of this scene are beyond description.

Everyone who witnessed this scene had the same thought in their mind.

The Shangguan family is finished.

The Shangguan family will never exist again!
Even if a few scattered talents remain, they will probably not dare to use the surname Shangguan in the world after today.

Gazing at the trail of blood that flowed from the Prime Minister's residence all the way to the end of Zhuque Street, a resident of the capital city let out a long sigh.

"The once noblest race has fallen to this state in a single day..."

He uttered these sentiments, but deep down he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction that he dared not express to others.

After all, the reason why the powerful and wealthy are powerful and wealthy is because they trample on and dominate ordinary people like them.

Is that the end of the story?
Oh, how is that possible!

The day after the Shangguan clan was dealt with, the red-clad guards and the Imperial Guards of the Capital City moved again.

But this time the commotion was even more terrifying!
As the heavy, chilling hooves of horses once again thundered across the Heavenly Street, the nobles of the capital, still horrified and furious at the tragic end of the Shangguan family, were secretly plotting their alliance when they opened their eyes to find their secret location exposed and them surrounded.

'Oh no! We've fallen for their trap!'

Clearly, the reason that brat Ji Yin temporarily suspended his attack on them was to give them a chance to gather together so that he could wipe them all out in one fell swoop!
Especially when they saw the group of people at this secret meeting, they suddenly stood up and walked to the opposite side in silence when the red-clad guards arrived.

Given this situation, what else could they not understand?
All of them, including Shangguan Ding who had already died in the Weiyang Palace, underestimated that cowardly emperor!

His cunning, shrewdness, and ruthlessness far surpassed those of his father, Emperor Taikang!
But now they are... doomed!
Now they only have two paths before them.

One option is to fight to the bitter end, to fight to the death, and to fight to the bitter end.

The other one is—

"Could you please convey to Your Majesty that we are willing to abandon darkness and embrace light, and from now on assist Your Majesty in restoring the Great Yong Dynasty? We beg Your Majesty to grant us a way out..."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the other officials present changed for a moment, but they ultimately chose to agree.

“In the past, the rebellious minister Shangguan Ding was very powerful, which is why we had no choice but to be coerced by him.”

"Now, Your Majesty has executed the rebellious prime minister Shangguan Ding, demonstrating both the power to regain control of the world and the will to reverse its course."

"We will certainly do our utmost to serve Your Majesty and the Great Yong Dynasty, and we only ask that Your Majesty benevolent and allow us to repent and reform..."

In his words, he dismissed the past entirely.

Anyway, Shangguan Ding is now dead, and the entire Shangguan clan has vanished.

They've pinned all the blame on Shangguan Ding; does he think he can just jump out of the Netherworld and defend himself?

However, faced with their 'sudden awakening,' the red-clad guards opposite them all turned their gazes toward Zhao Chefu, the Chief of the Imperial Stud.

"hehe--"

A familiar soft laugh came from Zhao Chefu.

This caused the assembled officials to change color abruptly.

Because this laughter should not belong to the 'Zhao Che Mansion', but to Princess Yin of Xingping.

Supernatural powers, the ability to transform into other forms at will!

The assembled officials were filled with dread.

No one expected that the very person they were cursing and mocking had always been right beside them.

In an instant, some felt embarrassed, some felt awkward, and some were furious...

Especially the sentence Ji Yin uttered after that light laugh.

"Repent and start anew? So... you all know you were wrong?"

Upon hearing this, the assembled officials fell silent.

Over the years, they have been arrogant and unruly; when have they ever admitted their mistakes?
This was true even during the reign of the late Emperor Taikang.

But times have changed, and when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.

"His Majesty……"

Zhao Chefu smiled and waved his hand.

"Alright, no need to put on an act in front of me."

"You don't know you're wrong, you're just afraid of dying."

humiliation.

A merciless humiliation.

The faces of all the officials present turned ashen.

At this moment, Zhao Chefu seemed to have thought of something, and a playful look suddenly appeared on his face.

"I'll ask you a question. If you answer correctly, I'll let you go. How about it?"

The officials present were taken aback and did not want to respond.

But after glancing at the sealing formations already set up around them, they still had no choice but to bite the bullet and say it.

"Your Majesty, please ask."

Ji Yin smiled with satisfaction and then said, "Zhao Chefu is also known as Zhao Chefu."

"You say you want to serve me and do your utmost for the Great Yong Dynasty, then I ask you..."

Ji Yin paused, looking at the assembled nobles with a mocking expression. "Tell me, are you more important to me, or is the Great Yong Empire more important?"

The assembled officials were somewhat taken aback by this question.

After a moment, a high-ranking official finally let out a long sigh and answered.

"Your Majesty harbors the ambition to revitalize the Great Yong Dynasty, which makes the Great Yong empire even more important to you."

Upon hearing this, the remaining officials and nobles couldn't help but change their expressions.

They were afraid that Ji Yin's next words would be, "Since that's the case, then I have no choice but to kill you all for the sake of the world."

To their surprise, Ji Yin shook his head immediately upon hearing this.

"wrong."

wrong?

The tense atmosphere among the assembled nobles instantly dissipated, followed by expressions of joy.

If His Majesty is considering the bigger picture!
Right!

Now that the world is in chaos and powerful figures are rising up everywhere, without these important ministers, how can Ji Yin govern, pacify the world, and revive the Great Yong Dynasty?
Presumably, today's action was merely to intimidate them, hoping to make them devote themselves to state affairs from now on, rather than disregarding everything and killing them outright.

With their minds made up, some even showed relaxed smiles.

"Since it's not the whole country, then it's us old ministers."

As he spoke, he quickly bowed to Ji Yin.

Just as he was about to say some flattering words, he saw Ji Yin shake his head again.

"Wrong again."

Wrong again?
The officials present froze, their faces showing confusion.

Aren't there only two answers?
At this moment, Ji Yin's face showed a hint of smugness as he smiled and announced the answer.

"Actually, neither you nor the Great Yong Dynasty are important."

"It is you who are important to me."

Looking at those bewildered and terrified old faces, Ji Yin couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Without giving the assembled officials a chance to react, he casually unleashed a torrent of supernatural powers and spells.

Listening to the old men's desperate curses and pleas for mercy, Ji Yin laughed even harder, thoroughly enjoying himself.

In fact, hatred can make people lose their minds.

But the extended time and the great distance between them can gradually bring people to their senses.

So despite Ji Yin's deep hatred for Han Shao and his verbal attacks, no one in the world was more concerned about the movements of that man in Liaodong than Ji Yin.

So much so that she studied him every day and even subconsciously imitated his every move.

Han Shao was in the border region, far from the heart of the capital, so he went to the equally wild and desolate Nanhai County.

Han Shao was born into a humble family and rose to power overnight with the help of Gongsun from Liaodong.

He also chose to secretly make peace with his mother's clan, the South China Sea Merfolk, and the Crimson Dragon Clan.

Han Shao had six doors.

He also had Red-Clad Guards.

Han Shao was able to endure ten years in the harsh and cold land of Liaodong.

He is also capable of patience!
Han Shao commanded hundreds of thousands of fierce and ruthless soldiers to suppress Liaodong, which enabled him to sweep away all obstacles.

Therefore, in recent years, apart from managing affairs in the South China Sea, he has focused his main efforts on the Imperial Guards of the Capital, which are on the verge of the struggle between Shangguan Ding and Emperor Taikang.

Even the conversation where he teased those old guys was a complete replica of the scene where Han Shao tricked and killed bandits on the grasslands back then.

Despite all this, Ji Yin was not ashamed of being a clumsy imitator; in fact, he was quite pleased with himself.

Because as he becomes more and more like that person, and eventually he kills him with his own hands and takes everything from him, then there will only be one 'Han Shao' in the world.

"As long as Mulan is happy, with my ability of [Transformation at Will], what harm is there in being her 'Han Lang' for the rest of my life?"

On this battlefield where supernatural powers and spells were being unleashed, no one heard Ji Yin's mutterings, nor could they see the madness and longing that appeared on his face.

In fact, he did not lie just now.

The Great Yong Dynasty was indeed not that important to him.

He just wanted to keep a promise.

That is to have that woman named Mulan sit with him on a high platform.

To be the mother of the nation, to be the most noble woman in the world!
As for the so-called "Revitalization of the Great Yong Dynasty," it is merely a promise to fulfill this promise.

After all, he couldn't very well let her sit in that position and then let the country perish, could he?

……

no doubt.

Ji Yin's methods were ruthless and decisive.

After massacring and killing a group of nobles, his elite cavalry swept through the area like a whirlwind, attacking the families and mansions behind those nobles and causing a bloodbath.

One by one, Shangguan Ding's cronies, who once held sway in the imperial court, were uprooted and their entire families were exterminated!

For a time, the once powerful and wealthy Zhuque Heavenly Street was filled with constant wailing and screams, day and night.

Not only were the main branches of the family purged, but even the collateral branches were implicated.

However, Ji Yin ultimately chose to give these branches and collateral branches a break.

The man was conscripted into the army as a suicide squad.

The women's situation was even more tragic.

These once high-ranking noblewomen now faced only the tragic fate of becoming slaves and prostitutes.

cruel?

But power struggles have always been like this.

There was no pity or compassion whatsoever.

All that remains is the coldest reality.

……

August of the first year of Xingping of the Dayong era.

The month-long bloody massacre has finally come to a slow end.

After all, although Ji Yin was mad, he was never stupid.

Indiscriminate killing may solve some problems, but it cannot solve the fundamental ones.

Now that he has killed enough people and achieved his goal, continuing to kill would only make him feel bored and dull.

As the thick blood-red cloud that had been hanging over the capital gradually dissipated, Ji Yin, who had once again returned to the court, sat high on the golden throne, looking down at the temple halls that were mostly empty, and revealed a satisfied smile.

"Who is willing to be loyal to me?"

The hall was deathly silent.

Everywhere I looked, there was only fear and dread.

So Ji Yin simply changed his wording.

Who is willing to assist me?

Upon hearing this, the court officials, who had just been trembling with fear, suddenly raised their heads, their eyes filled with greed and longing.

With the phase in front, the desires of the human heart are enough to offset fear.

Ji Yin smiled.

look.

Managing subordinates is actually like raising dogs.

One hand holds the butcher's knife, the other holds meat.

Looking around, all I see are loyal dogs.

It's a pity that his father was timid and hesitant his whole life, and never understood this principle until his death.

How pathetic! How laughable! How pitiful!
Ji Yin sat high on the imperial throne, his gaze sweeping across the crowd below, finally pointing to one person at random.

"Just you."

……

(End of this chapter)