Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Just as Zhou Feng and his group were preparing to head to the palace, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar. He looked up and saw two fast horses galloping towards them from the south. The one in the lead wore a scarlet official robe, and the one behind him was also dressed in black armor.

The visitors were Xiao Qinyan and Gao Hu.

The two men dismounted and quickly walked up to Zhou Feng.

Xiao Qinyan bowed first, wiping the thin layer of sweat from his forehead: "Master Celestial, I received orders that you..."

He glanced at the flag on the city wall, then at the military trucks lined up and the infantry fighting vehicles approaching from outside the city. He swallowed hard and swallowed back what he was about to say, replacing it with a more direct statement: "I have already sent my men to contact the civil officials, and we can at least stabilize the situation by 50% to 60%."

Gao Hu quickly followed, saying, "I have a few commanders I'm on good terms with regarding the Imperial Guards; they should be able to hold their positions. After we succeed, I'll appease the other generals and make sure they don't cause you any trouble."

After making his stance clear, Gao Hu glanced at the slowly approaching tank out of the corner of his eye and involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.

Those steel behemoths, once they're on the battlefield, how could the Imperial Guards possibly win by just hitting them with their heads?

"Alright, you two have arrived just in time. The weapons and equipment we've been waiting for have also arrived. Let's go together."

As he spoke, Zhou Feng turned and walked toward the weapons carrier that was coming from the city gate. A heavy machine gun was mounted on it, and small missile launchers and ammunition boxes were also loaded in the back compartment.

Tie Jianguo switched places with the driver and sat in the driver's seat, while Zhou Feng stepped on the pedal and got into the passenger seat.

Chen Xiao led the rest of the group directly onto a military truck behind them.

Xiao Qinyan and Gao Hu glanced enviously at the weapons transport vehicle Zhou Feng was riding in, but silently climbed into the truck and sat down with Zhou Feng's men.

The convoy slowly started, forming a long line, and drove into the streets of Tokyo.

The weapon carriers ahead were fine, but once the tanks entered the city, the sound of their tracks rolling over the cobblestones and the collisions between the walls of the houses on both sides even caused some flimsy houses to shake.

"The earth dragon has turned over!"

"Run! The earth dragon has turned over!"

The houses along the tremoring street began to stir, but when the residents who ran out of their rooms saw the massive vehicles passing by, they were all stunned.

This isn't an earth dragon turning over; it's clearly those metal behemoths moving around!

As the tank tracks rolled across the ground, the metal body still gleaming with a cold gray luster, the residents who had come out turned pale and ran back inside.

Regardless of whether it's an earthquake or not, even if the house collapses, at most you'll just get hit and won't necessarily die.

But those iron things are so imposing and ferocious that if you get targeted by them, you're sure to die a horrible death!

"What's wrong? Wasn't the earth dragon supposed to rise from the ground? Why is it back again?"

"Shut up, shut the hell up, and hide!"

...

Listening to the chaotic sounds coming from the houses on both sides, Zhou Feng shook his head helplessly.

Making such a big commotion will definitely cause panic among the people. But that's alright, once the plan is completed, there will be plenty of time to appease the public.

The convoy headed south, passed through Zhuque Avenue, circled the southeast corner of the imperial city, and finally stopped at the main gate of the imperial city.

The city gate is about three zhang high, and copper nails are embedded in the vermilion door panels.

It was already evening, and several lanterns were lit on the gate tower, revealing shadowy figures and swaying spears and halberds behind the battlements.

The city gates were tightly shut, but the faint sounds of armor clashing and deep commands could be heard from inside, indicating that they had received the news and were beginning to deploy defenses.

Zhou Feng and his group stopped a hundred paces in front of the city gate. More than twenty trucks were lined up in a row, their headlights shining brightly on the city gate, illuminating that section of the city wall.

The tanks were parked at the very front of the convoy, their cannons slightly raised, pointing directly at the city gate tower.

Zhou Feng jumped off the car, straightened his robes, stood at the front of the convoy, and looked up at the city gate.

Chen Xiao and Tie Jianguo followed behind him on either side, while Xiao Qinyan and Gao Hu jumped off the truck in the distance and quickly walked up to him.

After taking a deep breath, Xiao Qinyan took two steps forward, cleared his throat, and shouted towards the city wall: "Listen up, everyone on the city wall! Lord Zhou Feng, the Protector of the Nation, has been ordered by Heaven to punish the disloyal. Open the city gates immediately and disarm yourselves or you will be killed!"

Gao Hu sighed with some regret. He actually wanted to take the stage when he could get some exposure.

However, when it comes to witty banter, he is no match for Xiao Qinyan, so he can only watch from the sidelines.

Since we're already rebels against the Zhao family dynasty, how can we expect to catch Zhou Feng's eye if we don't go all out?

Xiao Qinyan's voice echoed across the square for a few breaths, and the city tower fell silent for a moment.

Then the carved wooden window on the gate tower was suddenly pushed open from the inside, and Zhao Heng's figure appeared in the window.

At this moment, he was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, his face was ashen, and one hand was on the window frame, his fingers clenched so tightly they turned white.

"Xiao Qinyan! I have always treated you well, even appointing you as Grand Chancellor. How dare you join the rebel army to storm the palace gates? Do you have even a shred of loyalty as a subject?"

Xiao Qinyan met Zhao Heng's gaze, but stood up straight and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "Your Majesty, a wise bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Zhou Tianshi is a celestial messenger from Penglai, who has entered the world to save the people. This is the mandate of Heaven. I am merely following the trend. I hope Your Majesty can do the same, so as not to cause too many deaths."

"presumptuous!"

Zhao Heng's voice trembled with anger, and his hand pointing at Xiao Qinyan shook.

But he was not in a hurry. After Zhou Feng's carriage entered the Celestial Master's Mansion, he sent someone to the outside of the city to notify the rest of the Imperial Guards to enter the city.

Meanwhile, in this city of Tokyo, the Imperial Guards and Zhou Feng's men were engaged in street fighting.

Although the opponent's weapons are extremely powerful, victory is not guaranteed.

It's just a matter of more casualties. As long as we can wear down Zhou Feng's thousand-plus men, the enemy will be helpless.

"The Imperial Guards will be here soon. My esteemed ministers, please buy me some time."

Zhao Heng's gaze swept over the people around him. He originally wanted to gather his subordinates to discuss this matter, but he did not expect Zhou Feng to act even faster than him, trapping everyone in the imperial city.

"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

Qi Mu bowed to Zhao Heng, then stood at the window, pointed at Xiao Qinyan below the city, and sternly rebuked him: "Xiao Qinyan, as the head of the civil officials, you do not think of serving the country, but instead help the traitors. You are simply a disgrace to the literati!"

"Oh? Isn't this Lord Qi?"

Xiao Qinyan looked up at him, then suddenly smiled: "You, a supposedly refined scholar, have the nerve to call me a scoundrel? Should I explain for you in front of everyone? A while ago, you pulled some kind of hat-wielding trick in the capital, scaring the people so much they couldn't sleep at night. Is this what you call refinement? I've certainly seen something more!"

He spoke loudly, his voice so loud that Qi Mu's expression changed abruptly, and he turned sharply to Zhao Heng: "Your Majesty, he's making baseless accusations!"