I Possess a Scroll of Demon-Subduing Records

Just then, her parents-in-law fell ill, and the family had no money. Her mother tried to earn money by doing needlework, but was forcibly taken by a local bully.

When Xiao Yue got to this part, the soldiers in the Hanzhong military camp were already on the verge of losing their composure.

Of these tens of thousands of soldiers, there must be some who have parents, wives and children in their hometowns. Xiao Yue's words made it easy for them to relate to the story.

They also worry that their parents, wives, and children will be bullied at home.

Sure enough, the story Xiao Yue told next was extremely heartbreaking. The little girl's mother was harmed and she endured humiliation to take care of her family, but her parents-in-law died in anger. The little girl's brother tried to seek justice for his mother but was beaten to death by a bully.

In the end, the little girl's mother went mad, and she was sold to Hanzhong County to be food for demons.

The story is led to the demons and Hanzhong Prefecture at the end, of course, to increase its credibility.

There was a demon auction in Hanzhong County, and Xiao Yue didn't believe that these soldiers really knew nothing about it.

She never underestimated the intelligence of ordinary people. Just like in the palace, you might think that ordinary people know nothing, but in fact, they are the most well-informed.

It's impossible to hide it forever.

Xiao Yue created a fictional little girl, which caused the Hanzhong army to collectively break down their defenses.

They were listening to other people's stories, but they couldn't help but wonder if their own wives, children, and elderly parents would also encounter such a thing.

Taking advantage of their heightened emotions, Xiao Yue loudly questioned them whether they still wanted to serve the Liang King, who colluded with demons. The answer was obvious.

When the soldiers' roars echoed throughout the camp, it no longer mattered whether the four captains could be persuaded to surrender.

This is the biggest fraud case in this dynasty.

Under the influence of public opinion, Xiao Yue also gained the loyalty of four captains.

Xiao Yue's companions were stunned, but they didn't think she was lying. They just felt that Xiao Yue was shining with a light, a light that they called destiny!

Xiao Yue did not stop, but immediately led her men to march into the city.

The lies will be exposed sooner or later, but once the Hanzhong army has declared its betrayal, they will be stuck with the enemy.

Xiao Yue's visit was both to declare her control over the Hanzhong army, leaving them with no way to retreat, and to win over Liu Jian's forces.

The sudden appearance of soldiers from other prefectures here could only mean they are rebels.

Even among rebels, there are differences between those with impeccable revolutionary credentials and those who are unofficial rebels.

Xiao Yue wanted to recruit them into the government.

She has made up her mind that, starting from this small Hanzhong County, she will take one step at a time to grow the team bigger and stronger and create a glorious future!

written request for leave

My girlfriend's grandfather is seriously ill, so I'm taking her out for a run, and I'll try to squeeze in some time to write in the evenings.

Chapter 366 Three Stars Devour the Master

Jiankang, the imperial palace.

Having just finished dealing with government affairs, Xiao Zhao looked at the empty palace and couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness.

With the new dynasty newly established and everything in need of rebuilding, it was a busy time for government affairs.

Unfortunately, the national treasury was empty, and Xiao Qian also took all the money from the imperial treasury. He seized the throne, but all he got was a mess.

Enraged, Xiao Zhao disregarded his reputation and sold off all of Xiao Qian's concubines and princesses.

He had to get his revenge on Xiao Qian somewhere else.

Unsurprisingly, this move was met with opposition from many. While the victors have always had the right to control everything of the losers, there has never been such disrespect for the families of the losers.

Moreover, Xiao Qian was an emperor and Xiao Zhao's brother.

Xiao Zhao's behavior was truly outrageous in this country that values ​​benevolence and morality.

However, Xiao Zhao didn't care about any of this. Whoever opposed him, his property would be confiscated. After all, he only had eight years left on the throne, and he no longer cared about his reputation.

Since ascending the throne, he has had many nightmares, dreaming that he is being pulled down from the emperor's throne.

Every time I dream about someone, it's Lin Yi.

It's probably because the psychological trauma Lin Yi left on him was too deep that he couldn't feel at ease for so long.

The immense pressure made Xiao Zhao's heart even more tyrannical.

If he had more time, he might have used a more conciliatory approach and proceeded gradually, but now a sword hanging over his head is driving him mad.

But in the stillness of the night, he couldn't help but sigh and reflect, questioning his own heart.

He gave up so much, just for this throne, was it really worth it?

Looking back on his life, the happiest time was probably when he didn't hold a large army, but was just a brave and skilled young general.

There were no prophecies of internal strife arising from within. The emperor trusted him, the soldiers loved him, and he harbored lofty ambitions, wielding a three-foot sword to achieve unparalleled feats.

I never had to worry about anything, nor did I ever suffer any injustice.

It's a pity that good luck tricks people.

He fell in love with a woman, and because of this woman, he experienced all the humiliations of being a man.

Only then did he realize that all beautiful fantasies are castles in the air. If you don't have enough power, beauty, authority, or even face, you are not qualified to possess them.

Perhaps, that's when he died.

All he wanted to do while he was alive was climb to the top step by step, so that no one would ever make him suffer again!

Even now, with great power in his hands, Xiao Zhao finds himself still being toyed with by fate.

He is no longer able to have children and has lost the simplest pleasures of manhood.

His only biological child was hopeless, and he even wished he could kill his only bloodline.

He became emperor, but his courtiers were only outwardly compliant, not inwardly convinced. He was left with a huge mess, which exhausted him.

He seemed to have gained something, yet he also seemed to have gained nothing.

"Is this my destiny? I will never admit defeat!"

The melancholy and sorrow in Xiao Zhao's eyes vanished instantly. He had already come this far, and there was no turning back.

Either he defies fate, or he destroys the world along with it!

"Your Majesty, the Director of the Imperial Observatory requests an audience!"

Just as Xiao Zhao made up his mind, a palace servant came to report.

Upon hearing the words "Imperial Observatory," Xiao Zhao's face darkened.

He used to hate the Imperial Astronomical Bureau the most because his suffering all started with the Bureau's prophecies.

However, once he actually ascended to the throne and became emperor, he discovered that the Imperial Observatory was indeed quite capable.

Therefore, his feelings towards the Imperial Observatory were somewhat complicated.

On the one hand, they loathe and hate them, and on the other hand, they want to take advantage of them.

Although the Imperial Observatory was a government agency, it was basically on the periphery of the court. People wouldn't think of the Imperial Observatory unless there was something going on, and the Imperial Observatory rarely made a fuss.

The fact that you suddenly request an audience tonight must mean something is up.

Xiao Zhao's face darkened, and he said, "Summon them."

Before long, the eunuch led in a man with graying temples and a wrinkled face.

"Your humble servant Zheng Zheng greets Your Majesty."

"Be flat!"

Xiao Zhao spoke casually, but suddenly felt something was amiss.

He had met the Director of the Imperial Observatory before; the one who presided over his coronation ceremony was Zheng Zheng.

He's not even thirty years old, how did he suddenly become like this?

"Are you Zheng Zheng?"

Zheng Zheng looked up, and Xiao Zhao then confirmed that his appearance hadn't changed much, except that he looked decades older.

"How did you become like this, my dear minister?"

Zheng Zheng said solemnly, "This is the consequence of my presumptuous attempt to fathom the will of Heaven. Your Majesty need not worry."

What did you see?

Xiao Zhao's expression was quite solemn.

The duty of the Imperial Observatory was to observe celestial phenomena. As officials appointed by the imperial court, they would not suffer any repercussions for observing celestial phenomena.

However, there are exceptions.

The last time Xiao Zhao encountered this situation was more than ten years ago.

That prophecy of brothers turning against each other was made by the Imperial Observatory, whose director died not long afterward.

He died young.

Generally speaking, the Imperial Observatory wouldn't suffer such a backlash unless it had glimpsed celestial phenomena that concerned the fate of the nation.

How could Xiao Zhao not be flustered at this moment?

His prediction was correct; what Zheng Zheng saw was indeed a change in the nation's destiny.

"The three stars move together to devour Ziwei, the imperial star dims and the morning star hangs low, Mars shines brightly and the world is in chaos, five years of achievements have turned to ashes."

Instead of directly stating what he saw, Zheng Zheng uttered four proverbs.

Although Xiao Zhao was not knowledgeable in astrology, these four lines alone gave off an ominous feeling.

His biggest concern right now was his fate, and he grabbed Zheng Zheng's arm like a madman, shouting, "What does this mean!"

Zheng Zheng was already weak, and being grabbed like that made him feel even more uncomfortable all over, as if his bones were about to break. He managed to say with difficulty, "This humble subject does not know everything. These are a few words left by my master, Elder Feng, before his death. I have only scratched the surface of what he said."

In fact, the person presiding over the stargazing tonight was not Zheng Zheng, but his master Feng Wang. In the Imperial Observatory, the highest-ranking official was the Director, but the most prestigious were the renowned scholars who only loved to look at the stars.

Tonight, Zheng Zheng was merely assisting Feng Wang in stargazing. He stole a glance while Feng Wang was observing the stars and ended up in this predicament. Feng Wang, on the other hand, died on the spot, leaving behind only four pieces of wisdom before passing away.

Clearly, what he saw this time was more taboo and more dangerous.