Chapter 164: Chapter 143: The Great Tree of Southern Chen

In the General’s Mansion in the capital city of Jiankang, Grand General Wang Tong was frowning as he looked at the stack of battle reports in his hand.

Rather than a stack of battle reports, it was more like a list. All those rebels that had emerged in Da Chen recently were listed on it—anyone who could make it onto this list, without exception, was an expert capable of releasing Evil Qi.

"Cai Yuankui, a cultivator from Yazhou, rose to power with three sacred texts, self-titled as Savior Celestial Venerable, practicing demonic Secret Techniques."

"Yan Sanhu, a bandit from Mianzhou, known as Iron-faced Asura, wielding a steel whip that has slaughtered through the Three-State Governor’s Mansion, bringing chaos to the entire Shu Road."

"Ma Xian, the leader of the Grand Spear Society in Rongzhou, challenged and defeated five military experts, and even harshly demanded an explanation from the court for Rongzhou."

"And there’s Li Nanfeng, a low-ranking official from Yangzhou, the only one who has perfected the Mystical Technique..."

"And Yizhou... Who is from Yizhou? Why is there nothing written?"

The further down he read, the more Wang Tong frowned. To be able to release Evil Qi already set these people far apart from ordinary individuals. These formidable warriors, who could become stronger the more they killed, were more than capable of wreaking havoc on a province.

In the past, figures of this kind might not emerge even once a year. Even if one occasionally appeared, they would swiftly be assimilated into the military. Certainly, there were those who resisted assimilation, but once dealt with, they remained within manageable limits.

But now, more than sixty such figures seemed to appear all at once.

Should we say that Da Chen is teeming with talents? In the past, only a few experts might be seen in a year, yet now they were appearing in large numbers, but this is clearly not a good sign for Da Chen—at least not in the eyes of Grand General Wang Tong. Even if he personally took action, slaying them one by one, he would still be helpless against such an overwhelming rebellion.

"Could it be... have I truly made a mistake?"

Even Wang Tong, whose heart was as hard as iron, couldn’t help but feel slightly lost at this moment.

He heard some of the curses spreading among the people, who were filled with resentment about the northern provisions, their words pointing directly at Wang Tong, the Grand General himself—once the pillar of the nation, loyal and courageous, now rumored to be nothing more than a cowardly and selfish individual. The anxiety over waiting for military provisions had turned into evidence of cowardice.

You, Grand General Wang Tong, are so skilled in battle, why do you need provisions? Why not go to the front lines yourself and kill all the rebels and nomads?

"Huff..."

Recalling those doubts and curses, Wang Tong exhaled a long breath.

Others might not know, but he did. The former Grand General of the North, Long Yan, had indeed used such tactics. His figure riding light cavalry into danger was certainly valiant—but such bravado was meaningless. Long Yan ultimately perished amidst the chaotic army, and the entire northern land fell into the hands of the nomads following that reckless assault.

In the end, as Grand General, his concern was never about winning beautifully, but about actually winning.

True experts have no spectacular achievements. If one thought only of winning each battle, then comprehensive preparation was required.

Yet, this process of preparation was somewhat lacking in satisfaction.

No wonder people thought this way, for until the decisive heavy blow was struck, his behavior indeed appeared passive, like a turtle withdrawn into its shell, reluctant to move. In fact, he had already heard that people were calling him "Wang Ba," suggesting he was sitting idle, mere deadweight, and that another might perform better.

Wang Tong treated these insults as if he hadn’t heard them.

No one could handle things more prudently than he; he was well aware that everything he did was the most appropriate choice. Indeed, he hadn’t won yet, but at least Da Chen hadn’t lost either.

Therefore, Wang Tong once again solidified his resolve.

He hadn’t made a mistake; it was the right decision. Faced with this mess in Da Chen, he had made the most suitable judgment as much as possible. However, given the current deteriorated state of Da Chen, the time he would lead his troops north had to be advanced. At the very least, he needed to quickly achieve some success and do something to show the people, to slightly quell the discontent in Da Chen and allow it to endure.

But before heading north, there was one last thing he had to do.

"Why has Grand General come to visit in the dead of night?"

In the courtyard of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Prime Minister Jia Wen sipped his tea while watching Grand General Wang Tong enter.

"Why do you still carry a sword? Surely it isn’t to kill me?"

"You know what you’ve done."

Grand General Wang Tong narrowed his eyes.

"Today, I will execute the traitor to the state for Da Chen!"

With those words, Wang Tong raised his bloodstained sword, aiming to cleave Prime Minister Jia Wen in two!

Yet the raised sword was suspended in mid-air.

For, at the moment he raised it, a Nine-Section Long Whip had already locked onto his wrist.

"Wh-..."

Wang Tong’s eyes widened in anger, but with all his strength, he found himself unable to break free!

The opponent also wielded Evil Qi! And their strength even surpassed his own!

But why were such individuals appearing in the Prime Minister’s Mansion?

And there was more than one.

A burly monk wielded the Nine-Section Long Whip that locked his wrist. An agile figure brandishing a curved saber rushed toward him, while a strong man wielding a battle rake blocked his path. A short man bearing a large shield had already positioned himself to protect Jia Wen.

And in the distant darkness, even more menacing auras rushed toward him.

Hidden within the Prime Minister’s Mansion were so many experts! And each was stronger than him!

"It’s not that they’re stronger than you, it’s that you’ve grown weaker... since you started to doubt yourself."

Prime Minister Jia Wen shook his head with a smile.

"Don’t look at me like that. This isn’t some Mind Reading Technique... It’s easy to guess these things, as you warriors often wear your thoughts on your faces. Oh yes, it’s called conviction or something, isn’t it?"

At this point, Prime Minister Jia Wen sighed deeply.

"So, I would say, don’t be too stubborn, for stubbornness can kill you."

"You!"

Grand General Wang Tong’s teeth gnashed in fury.

He had only suspected before that Jia Wen had incited public resentment with ulterior motives, but who could have imagined this was a strategy to strike at his heart!

All this chaos was to shake his loyal heart, to make him doubt his actions.

Once the sword harbors doubt, it cannot strike.

This malicious tactic of manipulating the human heart...

"You are of the fallen reign!"

Grand General Wang Tong roared in rage.

"A remnant of the previous dynasty! How dare you..."

"Why speak so harshly? I’m merely a scholar."

With that, Jia Wen poured the tea in his hand onto the ground.

"Let’s go."

As Jia Wen turned to leave, the nine experts capable of releasing Evil Qi swiftly dismembered Grand General Wang Tong with their blades.