Chapter 1058: Chapter 687: Rescue the Military Minister, Eliminate Traitors!
Heavenly Mechanism Army. Command ship.
Lu Yu sat on the deck basking in the sun, leisurely sipping afternoon tea. The tea was top-grade Da Hong Pao, and the refreshments were lamb and scallion buns and chive boxes...
Very Chinese.
No choice, habits formed on the Old Land, just love to eat such greasy and meaty foods...
If he had to eat those sweet and pretty desserts, he really wouldn’t be able to stomach it.
Lu Yan watched Lu Yu with his mouth full of oil and reported aloud, "Second Uncle, we have just taken Yunhe Fortress and annihilated one of their brigades... What do we do next?"
"What do we do? Of course, we continue fighting, the fiercer the better." Lu Yu took a bite of the chive box, crispy outside, tender inside, the eggs and chives mixed together had a peculiar aroma, leaving a delightful aftertaste.
Watching on, Lu Yan couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, suddenly feeling a bit hungry.
"Should we notify the allied forces?" Lu Yan asked aloud.
They, along with the Flame-Bathed Legion and Thunder God Fleet, formed a U-shaped encirclement to besiege Qi Mountain, and the three parties reached a strategic consensus. Their side achieved a major military victory, and it was necessary to communicate with allies about the next phase of the advance plan.
"We can notify them, just say I said it, fight as far as we can, as hard as we can. If we can hit Qi Mountain’s lair, even better, I’ll treat them to old wine."
"Shen Wuxiang is nowhere to be found, Qi Mountain is leaderless. We should strike while they’re vulnerable and finish them off."
"The harder we fight, the bigger the chance your dad has to break out... Once they recall the troops set up in the Barren Land and Zhaoling Region to save themselves, our game truly comes alive..."
"Yes, I understand." Lu Yan agreed, preparing to turn and pass on Lu Yu’s orders.
"Wait." Lu Yu called out.
Lu Yan turned, puzzled, and asked, "Second Uncle, is there anything else to instruct?"
Lu Yu tossed a chive box over and said, "Take a bite, fill your belly and you’ll have the strength to work."
Lu Yan caught it with one hand, even though he was covered in oil, he didn’t mind and said with a smile, "Thank you, Second Uncle."
"Go on." Lu Yu waved his hand, burying his head back into devouring lamb buns.
------
Qi Mountain.
Staff Headquarters.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy, a few chain smokers were shamelessly blowing out smoke.
Su Tonghe watched this scene and just sighed deeply in his heart.
If the Military Minister was here, who would dare smoke in front of him?
Even farting would require tightening their buttocks, fearing the sound might disturb the Military Minister’s speech.
Although he was the Chief of Staff and the second figure of the Qishan Army, suppressing this group of arrogant veterans wasn’t an easy matter.
Everyone was clear that the Qishan Group had only one core, and that was Shen Wuxiang.
Su Tonghe cleared his throat, reminding everyone he was about to speak: "I gathered everyone today because the situation is too critical."
"Everyone knows, the Flame-Bathed Legion, Lu Clan’s Tianji Army, and the Aus Empire coalition are fiercely bombarding our Mountain Qi Camp from three directions."
"And reliable information collected by intelligence states that the Zhaoling Region controlled by the Qin Family and the Barren Land occupied by the Lu Clan are also gathering forces, trying to break through our army’s blockade..."
"If we let them escape restraint, they could join with the bandit army, forming a vast military might from spot to surface."
"Even if they don’t unite, focusing attacks from various directions one region at a time on our military bases, besieging cities, and capturing fortresses is a loss we can’t bear."
"The Aus Empire has already intervened, King Lionheart harbors ambitions to devour our lands... If indeed they tear us to shreds, the Kaman Federation won’t miss such a good opportunity either..."
"A thousand-mile dyke collapsed by an anthill. What we’re facing is far more than an anthill—it’s rats, earthworms... formidable enemies that could stir up seismic waves and upheaval."
"Gentlemen, we are colleagues fighting side by side, more so battle comrades sharing fortunes and losses, now, with national distress upon us, we need to unite, think together, exert strength together."
"Only then will we not let down the Military Minister’s trust in us, not let down the people’s expectation of us, and not forfeit the hard-earned excellent situation..."
"Once the matter is accomplished, the Military Minister will certainly reward appropriately, appoint to high office, advise on military strategy, isn’t this natural?"
"That’s all well and good," Deputy Chief of Staff Lu Jingyao flicked his cigarette ash, glanced at Su Tonghe with a gloomy look, and said aloud, "but we need to clarify who exactly we are risking our lives for."
"If it’s for the Military Minister, I’ve no objections... Wherever I’m told to fight, I’ll fight. Risking life and limb, I’ve done all of that..."
"But if it’s for others...then I have to weigh it carefully."
"Yes, Chief of Staff, brothers aren’t afraid to bleed or get injured, but we need to know who exactly we’re giving our lives for. It’s a persistent rumor outside that the Military Minister is under house arrest..." Southern General Chen Qingzhi also voiced support.
"Just count how long has it been since the Military Minister showed up? And Xing Lan also disappeared... is it like the outside rumors say, someone is scheming?" Senior Staff Wang Chenglong voiced doubts.
"We’re fighting tooth and nail with the enemy at the front, let’s make sure those civil officials don’t take all the credit... Those people’s only talent is scheming, heart black as night..."
"Saying the Military Minister is secluded practicing, who believes such gobbledygook? What time is it now? We all know the situation is critical, does the Military Minister not know? Would he retreat into seclusion at this moment?"
"Indeed, first stabilize the homeland before external chaos... I think, our primary task is to rescue the Military Minister..."
"Director of Security Bureau Bai Xingjian has already openly questioned, even saying he’ll personally lead people to the Government Affairs Office to demand answers... I hear the Phoenix Dance Army sent a regiment to guard the Government Affairs Office..."
"Chief of Staff, our Mountain Qi Camp belongs to the Military Minister’s main forces, shouldn’t we also stand up and voice our stance?"
"Yes, save the Military Minister, eliminate traitors..."
------
The crowd was seething with anger.
Su Tonghe, watching this scene, felt a sense of physical and mental exhaustion, he exhausted himself trying to gather cohesion and reverse the downward trend, but these people wouldn’t heed his call.
Even worse, he couldn’t even speak on behalf of Shen Jianping...
Because this would make them mistakenly think that they and Shen Jianping are colluding, secretly siding with them.
If there is internal turmoil in the Qishan Group, it would be adding fuel to the fire, and the situation would become even more precarious.
The only way to break the deadlock now is for the Military Minister to stand out unharmed, or for Shen Xinglan to step forward and say something...
After all, it is widely known that Shen Xinglan is the Crown Prince cultivated by the Shen Family, and he cannot possibly stand against himself on Shen Jianping’s side.
But where exactly has the Military Minister gone?
A living person should be visible and... a dead person should have a body seen too.
"What’s the commotion?"
At this moment, a dignified and steady voice was heard.
Clattering...
Everyone pushed their chairs away and stood up, many hurriedly snuffing out their cigarettes.
"Military Minister!"
------
Brocade City. City Lord Mansion.
In the yard, a barbecue grill was set up, and Little Fatty was applying secret marinade to a lamb with alternating layers of fat and lean.
Tang Fei and Sheng Jing sat together drinking tea, while Phoenix and Sheng Xinhua held wine glasses, appreciating Little Fatty’s lamb roasting.
Because Tang Fei had just recovered from serious injuries, Little Fatty took on the responsibility of roasting lamb.
Since the time in the Old Land, he had watched Tang Fei roast lamb countless times and had simulated the process in his mind countless times. He was confident he could roast a good lamb.
Today was an important moment for him to showcase his culinary skills, so Little Fatty was particularly focused and serious, his chubby face full of attention and caution.
It seemed as though he was undertaking something very significant.
Indeed, in his heart, eating ranked quite highly in importance.
Sheng Jing held a teacup and looked at Tang Fei, asking, "Is your body still okay?"
"Much better now." Tang Fei smiled and said, "I’ve troubled Uncle during this period."
During this time when Tang Fei was hospitalized due to serious injuries, Phoenix was the busiest person, as she had to replace Tang Fei in coordinating the overall situation, while Sheng Jing was also entangled with matters, overseeing the group’s economic and financial work, akin to a country’s finance minister, developing his own economy on one hand and also striking the Empire’s economy and finance through the stock market on the other.
The financial system of the Phoenix Empire was built by him, and destroying it with his own hands was a painful experience.
But he understood well that to truly dismantle the Shen Family’s control over the Empire, he had to break it from within.
Therefore, when prosperous, the people suffer. When perishing, the people suffer.
Someone always has to foot the bill for the war.
"I just did what I should be doing." Sheng Jing said expressionlessly, glancing towards Sheng Xinhua, thinking, despite the old father’s efforts, he wondered how much it helped the daughter.
The relationship issues of young people are indeed complex, reminiscent of the time when he and Mei Yuyin met through matchmaking, fell for each other at the first meeting, and supported each other to where they are now.
Do their modes of interaction not seem awkward?
Even as an outsider, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"An elder in the house is like a treasure. With you assisting, Phoenix can handle various matters." Tang Fei praised.
Sheng Jing did not follow up, and when the leader says you’re working hard, you shouldn’t actually claim you’re very tired. Instead, with a slightly furrowed brow, he asked, "The army is besieging the Mountain Qi Camp, the Empire is in panic internally... The Shen Family’s influence has run its course. When do you plan to end all this?"
Tang Fei pondered for a moment, then replied, "I’m waiting for someone."
"Shen Wuxiang?"
"Shen Wuxiang."
"Are you prepared?"
"I wish I could wait ten more years, if Shen Wuxiang agrees." Tang Fei smiled wryly, saying, "I have a premonition, he’ll soon come knocking."
"Just as I want to eliminate him, he equally wants to eliminate me... What’s that saying again? If we can’t solve the problem, solve the people who create it."
Clearly, Tang Fei is the one creating the problem.
Sheng Jing remained silent.
He knew that Shen Wuxiang, with profound cultivation, is one of the Empire’s few Great Grandmasters.
A true Great Grandmaster, not the diluted kind like Shen Xinglan.
If he hides in the shadows wanting to deliver a mortal blow to Tang Fei, it is an exceptionally dangerous and terrifying situation.
It’s unavoidable, unstoppable.
Tang Fei is the absolute core of the Rebel Army Group, and if Shen Wuxiang does indeed kill Tang Fei, then due to him, the gathered team would collapse instantly.
Phoenix wouldn’t be able to hold it together, and neither Shen Qingping nor Qin Jianyi could, nor anyone else would have that appeal.
The grand game would be revived by Shen Wuxiang.
If he were Shen Wuxiang, Tang Fei must certainly be killed.
Sheng Jing couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity and compassion for Tang Fei, this young person truly bears far too much.
At this moment, Bai Wuxin walked briskly over and whispered a few sentences in Tang Fei’s ear.
Tang Fei’s expression changed dramatically, he asked urgently, "Really?"
