If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

The night was as dark as ink, swallowing up Qinggang City.

Several dark figures quietly climbed out of the inn's window, landing silently like cats, and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the streets and alleys.

Shortly after they parted, the shadows on several rooftops shifted, and several figures dressed in the same night clothes appeared.

They exchanged glances without speaking, made a few simple hand gestures, and then each chose a direction, hanging far behind the inspectors.

The entire process was carried out silently, and the inspection team members at the front were completely unaware of it.

.........

Inside a secluded courtyard.

Li Wen, the illegitimate son of the Li family who commanded a hundred soldiers, was wiping his sword under the lamp.

Three very soft knocks came from the window.

He gripped the knife hilt tightly, his voice low. "Who?"

"By order of His Majesty, I have come to pay a visit." A similarly deep voice came from outside the window.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Wen got up and opened the window.

A young man in black jumped in, his movements clean and efficient.

The young man glanced around the simple room and cut to the chase. "I, Qiu Ping, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, have come on orders to ask you only one question: are you willing to serve the Emperor?"

Li Wen's heart skipped a beat.

The inspectors were secretly recruiting them for the emperor!

This is an incredible opportunity!

Before they had the right to recruit soldiers, they were just laborers in their families, doing all the dirty and hard work. They never even got to see anyone with any power.

But now, an incredible opportunity has fallen into his lap, perhaps allowing him to rise to the top in one step!

His breathing became rapid, and his knuckles turned white from gripping the knife so tightly.

But the clan rules flashed through his mind, and that burning passion was instantly extinguished.

He dejectedly loosened the hilt of his sword, shook his head, and said in a hoarse voice, "...Thank you for your high regard, sir, but I dare not accept it."

The boy didn't try to persuade him any further. He just frowned, gave him a deep look, turned around, jumped out of the window, and disappeared into the night.

Such dialogues took place in the residences of several illegitimate sons in Qinggang City.

Some were tempted, some struggled, but in the end, the vast majority chose to refuse under the pressure of clan rules.

An hour later, the members of the inspection team returned to the inn one after another.

Everyone took off their masks, and their faces all looked grim.

"Only three succeeded, and they were all minor figures with less than a hundred troops under their command," a team member said dejectedly.

"This is far from what we expected."

"What should we do? Maybe we should try to persuade the others again tomorrow?" someone suggested.

"No!" the team leader immediately objected. "Lord Qiu Ping has given strict orders that safety is the top priority. Only one visit is permitted, and no repeats are allowed to avoid increasing the risk of exposure."

A moment of silence fell over everyone; the atmosphere in the room was incredibly oppressive.

This mission can almost be described as a failure.

They were unaware that their every move tonight had already been observed by others.

....................

The study in the prefectural government residence was brightly lit.

Li Gang sat upright in the main seat, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

Several highly skilled worshippers stood below the hall, reporting on everything they had seen and heard that night without missing a single word.

When Li Gang heard that only three of his illegitimate sons, who commanded less than a hundred soldiers, had agreed, he was taken aback.

He then burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the empty study.

"Hahaha! Good! What a whimsical little emperor!"

Upon seeing this, the crowd immediately surrounded him, showering him with compliments.

"The city lord is incredibly astute; he saw through their tricks long ago!"

"Yes, if the city lord hadn't taken precautions in advance, we would still be in the dark."

"With the city lord here, when you take over as family head, my Li family will surely rise to even greater heights!"

Li Gang waved his hand, feigning modesty.

"It was also thanks to the high level of cultivation of several uncles in the clan that they were able to see through the young emperor's schemes."

Several retainers bowed quickly. "We dare not accept such praise; it is all thanks to the city lord's excellent command."

Li Gang stopped being modest and sat back in the main seat, his face full of undisguised sarcasm.

With a flick of his right sleeve, he said with great spirit:

"That young emperor thinks he can turn my illegitimate son into a rebellion by offering some benefits? How laughable."

"He simply doesn't understand that the world of Great Liang no longer belongs to the Zhao family, but to us aristocratic families."

"Even if the illegitimate sons stay in the clan, they can still live a life of luxury, with plenty of food and clothing. If they dare to betray the clan, they will immediately become homeless and destitute. I believe no illegitimate son has ever imagined such a life."

"Therefore, they dare not, and would never, betray us!"

"The city lord is right!" a direct descendant echoed. "That young emperor's methods are not even a fraction as good as yours, city lord!"

"Exactly, that's pure fantasy!"

The study was filled with a cheerful atmosphere, and everyone was extremely sarcastic.

Suddenly, Li Gang's smile vanished, and his face darkened.

The noisy study fell silent instantly.

"However, to ensure everything goes perfectly, there are two things that must be done immediately."

Everyone fell silent.

"First, immediately send a message to Father and the clan elders, instructing them to publicly reprimand all the illegitimate sons tomorrow, warning them not to have any wicked thoughts, lest any fools be turned against them."

"yes!"

Li Gang tapped his knuckles on the table again, making a "thud" sound.

"The second thing..." He paused, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

Three days later, when the inspection team left the city, all the illegitimate sons were summoned to the city gate to "see them off".

"Then, in front of everyone, bring those three traitors who agreed to defect forward and execute them!"

Kill the chicken and the monkey!

Upon hearing this, the crowd not only did not find it cruel, but instead all showed excitement.

"The city lord is wise!"

"That's how it should be! A bunch of lowly illegitimate sons dare to harbor disloyal thoughts. Let them see the consequences of betraying the family!"

Some even suggested, "Lord City Lord, why not hang their corpses on the city gates for three days as a warning? That would be even more effective!"

Li Gang grinned maliciously. "Granted."

A storm was quickly brewing against the inspection team.

...............

Three days later, at the north gate of Qinggang City.

The inspectors' carriages were ready, and they were prepared to depart for the capital.

Li Gang, accompanied by a group of his family members, came to "see them off," their faces beaming with warm smiles.

"Gentlemen, you have had a long journey. My Li family has nothing to offer in return."

He suddenly blocked the way of the inspection team leader.

"My Li family has been honest and upright for generations, and loyal to the country. Although you gentlemen have not found anything, my Li family has still responded to His Majesty's call and conducted a self-examination."

"You don't know until you investigate, and what you find are a few useless, unproductive, and delusional people."

"Today, before all of you esteemed officials, I will clean house of our family to demonstrate the Li family's loyalty to His Majesty!"

Before the words were even finished, and before the inspector general could react, several vicious servants brought in three illegitimate sons who were bound hand and foot.

With rags stuffed in their mouths, they looked at the inspection team and could only make whimpering cries for help.

The inspector's captain's expression changed drastically. These three people were the very ones who had agreed to surrender to the imperial court that night!

"Lord Li, what do you mean by this!" he shouted sternly, reaching out to stop him.

Li Gang gave him no chance at all and suddenly waved his hand.

"Execute!"

"Pfft!"

Three executioners swiftly brought their blades down, and three heads rolled to the ground, blood splattering several feet and staining the bluestone slabs at the city gate red.

The crowd that had come to see them off was immediately thrown into uproar and retreated in fright.

Among the crowd, the Li family's illegitimate sons who had been summoned all had pale faces and lowered their heads.

Many of them had once considered surrendering to the imperial court, but at this moment, that thought was completely crushed by the bloody scene before them, leaving only a deep-seated fear.

but!

Driven by fear, a strange hatred for the direct descendants began to fester.

The inspection team leader's face turned ashen as he looked at Li Gang, who was wearing a smug smile, and his fists clenched unconsciously.

They all knew that this was not a response to a call to action, but a powerful counterattack against the Emperor's decree to supervise the administration!

He even slapped the emperor in the face in front of the people!

He snorted coldly, said no more, and turned his horse around.

"Let's go!"

The group rode away.

Li Gang watched their disheveled departure, then glanced at the trembling illegitimate sons below, and laughed triumphantly.

In his view, all the potential problems have been perfectly resolved.