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

Zhao Heng didn't even glance at Qi Mu.

What time is it? What nonsense are you spouting about hat demons?

If that traitor Zhou Feng really leads his men into the capital, I won't be able to be the emperor anymore. What do I care about your so-called upright officials or factional disputes?

His gaze towards Qi Mu carried a hint of pity, as if he were looking at a fool.

How could I have appointed such a person to such a high position?

Qi Mu realized something was wrong and quickly retreated to the side, looking embarrassed.

Since Qi Mu was no good, Zhao Heng decided to take over himself and stood at the window again.

At this moment, Zhou Feng was standing in the spotlight of all the car lights, his hands casually in his pockets, with Chen Xiao and Tie Jianguo flanking him from behind, just as he had when he came to the palace to pay his respects.

Zhao Heng's eyes were filled with regret. The evil Taoist priest had brought disaster to the country!

If he had killed this evil Taoist priest the first time they met, wouldn't this whole thing have been different? He wouldn't be in this predicament now, having to bargain with the traitors below.

After hesitating for a long time, Zhao Heng finally said loudly, "Xiao Qinyan, what exactly do you want? You can state it, I..."

"Your Majesty!"

Even though he sensed Zhao Hengyu's intention to back down, Xiao Qinyan still interrupted him directly.

Things have progressed to this point; they have followed Zhou Feng and are now at the gates of the imperial city.

No matter what concessions Zhao Heng makes, he will never agree!

Xiao Qinyan was determined to claim the credit for supporting the emperor!

"I'm asking Zhou Feng behind you, are you capable of making that decision?"

Seeing that Xiao Qinyan was not taking the bait and was even quite resistant, Zhao Heng changed his approach and turned his attention to Zhou Feng.

The latter did not speak, but nodded when Xiao Qinyan turned around and looked at him. Xiao Qinyan immediately understood and felt relieved.

Fortunately, our lord was not misled by the officials, otherwise things would have been much worse.

That makes sense. Just look at how our lord treats the Liao emperor and empress dowager; you'll know he'll never submit to anyone!

With Zhou Feng's approval, Xiao Qinyan felt more confident and looked directly at the city gate: "My Celestial Master is an Immortal Envoy of Penglai and does not wish to commit too much bloodshed in the mortal realm. Therefore, you should not haggle, but open the city gate immediately. Future matters can be discussed, otherwise..."

Before Xiao Qinyan could finish speaking, a rumbling sound suddenly came from behind him.

The sound drew everyone's attention.

From the south side of Suzaku Avenue, a dark mass of people was surging towards them, the sounds of footsteps and armor clashing mingling together, growing ever closer.

At least 2 imperial guards were transferred by Zhao Yuanyan from the western camp and marched here at breakneck speed.

Flags fluttered and spears stretched as far as the eye could see in the twilight.

"These are the Imperial Guards? Didn't Qin Ming and his men already capture the four city gates? How did they get them into the city?!"

Chen Xiao's expression changed. Although Qin Ming's side only had a few hundred men, they were all fully equipped. How could they have been taken down so quickly without even firing a single shot!

Zhou Feng seemed to hear Chen Xiao's thoughts and patted him on the shoulder: "Qin Ming just reported to me that I ordered him to open the city gates and let these imperial guards into the city."

Meeting the slightly questioning gazes of Chen Xiao and Tie Jianguo, Zhou Feng's lips curled into a slight smile: "Whenever a dynasty changes, bloodshed and sacrifice are inevitable. Especially the civil officials of this Song Dynasty, who are greedy to the core. If we don't make an example of them to scare the rest, are we just going to let them trip us up and cause trouble for our next move?"

Upon hearing Chen Xiao's words, the two instantly understood his meaning, but their expressions were somewhat complicated.

The tactic of "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" doesn't necessarily require soldiers; scholar-officials could also be used.

However, some scholar-officials followed Xiao Qinyan in surrendering to him, and most of the scholar-officials who were loyal to the Song Dynasty were capable. It would take time and effort to distinguish them.

Therefore, Zhou Feng fixed his gaze on this group of people.

However, the complicated look in Chen Xiao's eyes lasted only a few seconds before returning to normal.

Strictly speaking, this is already another world, and these people are not citizens of the Dragon Kingdom; they just have similar skin colors.

For the sake of my mission, I had nothing to be reluctant about.

Upon seeing the Imperial Guards arrive from afar, everyone on the city wall breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Heng gave Zhou Feng and the others a deep look, then immediately closed the window tightly and returned to sit upright on the inside.

What if this group, caught between the Imperial Guards and the Imperial City, launches a frenzied all-out attack on this side, trying to kill him?

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, and naturally, an emperor would not stand under one either!

At this moment, the commander of the more than 10,000 imperial guards who had rushed over was Zhao Yuanyan.

As they drew closer to the palace, and the figures of Zhou Feng and his men beneath the imperial city became clearer, Zhao Yuanyan, with a hint of confidence on his face, waved to the general beside him: "Raise your shields."

"yes!"

Although they didn't know why the Eighth Prince had given such an order, they still obeyed and prepared the giant shields used for city defense.

Upon receiving the order, several shields pulled by horse-drawn carriages were carried off the crowd by soldiers one by one.

Immediately afterwards, the three selected strongmen formed a group, erected the heavy wooden shield, and walked side by side at the front.

"Your Highness, if you want to defend against arrows, this shield is too thick and heavy; its effectiveness may not be good."

A general from the Imperial Guards, with a complicated expression, stepped forward and offered a word of advice.

According to their logic of warfare, simply placing shields in front of everyone is useless, because arrows can be launched.

Zhao Yuanyan acted as if he hadn't heard anything, his gaze fixed on Zhou Feng and the others ahead.

These shields were brought specifically to counter the weapons in Zhou Feng's hands!

According to what that old guy Lei Jing said, Zhou Feng and the others' weapons seem to only be able to fire in a straight line, so these heavy shields are extremely useful!

He specifically ordered someone to install a handle on the back of the shield so that it could be lifted and moved, just to make it impossible for Zhou Feng to use his weapon!

Watching these people slowly advance while carrying their shields, Zhou Feng couldn't help but smile. He then signaled to Lin Yin in his earpiece that they could get ready.

Just as these imperial guards were about to get close, several streaks of fire descended from the sky, and missiles from the drones poured out towards the enemy, heading straight for the giant shields that were blocking the way.

In an instant, the sound of explosions echoed throughout the entire street. How could those wooden shields withstand such an attack? They were all blown to pieces.

Even the strongmen and backup replacements who followed behind with shields rarely survived.

The Imperial Guard's front lines were decimated by the series of explosions.

Aside from the billowing smoke and flying blood and flesh, all that remained on the field were the constant wails of the wounded!

"Damn it! That was a lightning-summoning technique! The Emperor has been fooled!"

Zhao Yuanyan, standing in the Imperial Guard formation, stared with rage, pointing at Zhou Feng ahead, his hand trembling slightly.

Zhao Yuanran was also present when Zhao Heng was performing the spell in the Imperial Garden with Zhou Feng.

Whether it was then or later when the two discussed it, Zhao Heng believed that only he could announce this magic to heaven and earth so that Zhou Feng could use it.

I never imagined that even such a solemn declaration to Heaven and Earth was fabricated!

They are utterly unworthy of being called cultivators!