Seven Seas City, City Lord's Mansion.
There were only three days left until the Spring Plowing Festival. According to tradition, this was the day when all the major vassals of the Seven Seas Province would have an audience with Tang Lan. Although Tang Lan was in Lanyan City, all the vassals had received invitations and rushed over from all over. Warhorses and carriages streamed into the Duke's Mansion in an endless stream, and as one of the commanders of the Tang family, Tang Xu, was in charge of all matters.
The banquet was arranged in the mansion's main hall. Tang Lan had always lived a simple life, but only this main hall was magnificently decorated. A total of 17 vassals entered the main hall, and the attendants began to busy themselves with wine and dishes. In the blink of an eye, the banquet was filled with the aroma of food and wine, and everyone took their seats.
Tang Xu cupped his fists and said, "There are matters to be discussed in the main hall, so I would like to invite all the lords' guards and womenfolk to the side hall for a meal. I hope everyone will be magnanimous enough to forgive any inconveniences."
Everyone was stunned. Among them, Count of Heavenly Secrets Lu Zhong said to his two sons beside him, "Chong 'er, Shan' er, you two go to the side hall for a meal. Father will be staying here."
"Yes, father!"
The group of guards and servants dispersed, and in the blink of an eye, there were only 17 people and Tang Xu left in the main hall. However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that behind Tang Xu was a group of Seven Seas City Iron Guards. This group of people was clad in full armor, with swords hanging from their waists, and their eyes shone with faint killing intent under their helmets.
For a moment, all the vassals felt somewhat uneasy, and one after another, they took their seats.
Tang Xu loudly said, "Close the door."
"Creak …"
The door to the main hall slowly closed, and even bolted it.
"Commander Tang Xu, why is this?" Among the crowd, an old man asked.
"Reporting to Old General Zhou Chong, because there are some matters that need to be kept secret." Tang Xu smiled faintly and said, "Men, invite the young lord."
"Young lord!?" Zhou Chong, Lu Zhong and the rest were all startled. Everyone knew that the Seven Seas City Tang Family had no more descendants. The last two direct descendants, Tang Lu and Tang Tian, had been assassinated. Almost everyone thought that Tang Lan would choose a successor from Tang Xu, Tang Xi and Tang Zhen. Where did the Young Master come from?
The side door of the hall slowly opened, and a person completely covered in a black cloak was carried in by two guards. He lifted the cloak, revealing a terrifying face that had been burned. He said with a slight smile, "What? Could it be that Sirs don't recognize me, Tang Lu?"
Zhou Chong was stunned. He hurriedly knelt down and cupped his fists. "Young Master didn't die … That's great, the Tang Family has a successor!"
Tang Lu said indifferently, "Many thanks to Old General Zhou Chong. I'm indeed not dead. Lin Muyu wants to harm me, and the Empress Qin Yin wants to harm me. But I won't die so easily. Our Tang Family is tenacious and unyielding, so how could we submit to them!?"
Lu Zhong's sword-like brows were tightly locked together as he listened to Tang Lu's words without saying a word.
"Sirs, please take your seats."
Tang Lu said, "Just like in the past, eat and drink to your heart's content first, then we'll discuss the important matters of the Seven Seas Province."
Everyone didn't dare to disobey. One by one, they cupped their fists respectfully and started to eat and drink. But the main door was locked, and Tang Lu had appeared in the main hall in an extremely strange manner, causing everyone to unconsciously feel their hair stand on end. This meal was bound to be a bad one.
After three rounds of wine, Tang Lu raised his voice and said, "Sirs, please listen to me, Tang Lu."
Everyone said, "Please speak, Young Master."
Tang Lu said, "You are all loyal vassals of my Tang Family and have enjoyed the Tang Family's fief for many years. As you can see, the Seven Seas Province is rich and populous, nurturing countless talents. We have already recruited 400,000 soldiers, and nearly 300,000 of these soldiers are in your hands. Originally … the Tang Family serving the Empire and the Qin Family was a matter of heaven and earth. However, we were suspected and hated by others, and grandfather was bullied and humiliated in Lanyan City. It was to the extent that the person sitting on the throne wanted to obliterate my Tang Family, and even sent trusted generals to assassinate my younger brother Tang Tian and I. Fortunately, I was spared from death, but little brother Tian has already died tragically in the North Ridge Province. My Tang Family's loyalty can be seen by the heavens and earth, yet we have received such a result.
All the vassals were silent, and no one dared to express their opinion. All of them were waiting for Tang Lu's next words.
"So …"
Tang Lu smiled and said, "I have prepared a blood covenant flag for the lords. Men, bring it over."
Two guards walked over with a war flag. The flag had the emblem of the Tang Sect on it, an extremely beautiful seven-cored begonia.
Tang Lu said, "As long as you write your name on this blood covenant flag with blood, you will be loyal to my Tang Family. Everyone, the Empire is vast and boundless, but there is no longer a place for my Seven Seas Tang Sect. If we do not protect ourselves, we will be wiped from the Empire's map by Qin Yin."
Lu Zhong's face was ashen as he said, "Young master, this … is he going to form his own sect?"
"That's right."
Tang Lu smiled and said, "Uncle Tianji can see through fire. Since Qin Yin is heartless, we cannot sit and wait for death. Lords, the Tang Family prospers, you will prosper. If the Tang Family is defeated, you will be defeated. After writing your name on the blood covenant flag, the alliance will take effect. If Qin Yin moves against our Seven Seas Province, we will fight to the death!"
The old general Zhou Chong couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air and said, "Young master, we are rebelling against our superiors! The Tang Family has been loyal to the Empire for a hundred years. How can it be destroyed in our hands!? "
"Old general!"
The corners of Tang Lu's mouth curled up. "Aren't you being too soft-hearted? In ancient times, it was said that an unbenevolent ruler can be replaced by an official. Presently, Qin Yin dotes on Lin Muyu, Feng Jixing, Zhen Yifan, and the others. They disdain our Tang Family and make things difficult for us in all aspects. They even harm the descendants of our Tang Sect. If we don't take the initiative to attack, then it is equivalent to waiting for death. Do you want a lifetime of glory, or do you want your heads to roll?"
A young general in the crowd stood up and cupped his fists. "Young master, I, Dong Chan, have received the grace of the Emperor for generations. When the late Emperor Qin Jin was alive, he even rewarded my father many times. Now that my father has passed away, Dong Chan is absolutely not willing to do anything disloyal and unjust. If Young Master wants to rebel against Qin, then I, Dong Chan, am not willing to join you."
As he spoke, Dong Chan stood up and left in a huff.
"You're courting death!"
Tang Lu raised his palm, and the God Condensation Seal of a Heavenly King tore through the sky and smashed onto Dong Chan's back with a bang. Dong Chan didn't even have the chance to let out a shrill cry before he fell against the wall and died. A large charred hole had been burned into his back, and the state of his death was extremely horrifying.
"Is there anyone else who isn't willing to submit to my Tang Clan?"
Tang Lu gazed indifferently at the crowd and said, "Is there anyone who isn't willing to submit? Feel free to stand up."
Everyone was horrified. Tang Lu actually killed a vassal in public. How audacious and presumptuous of him!
In the crowd, Lu Zhong cupped his fists while trembling. "Old General Lu Zhong is willing to follow Young Master. Since the Qin Clan isn't benevolent, then we won't be benevolent as well. The population of the Seven Seas Province is in the tens of millions. If Qin Yin isn't benevolent, then we can split the land and confer the title of King. There's no need to follow the orders of others!"
Tang Lu couldn't help but laugh. "Uncle Tianji really is a wise man who submits to circumstances. Come, divide the Dong Clan's territory to Uncle Tianji, and hand over all the military power of the Dong Clan to Uncle Tianji."
Lu Zhong walked forward, bit open his index finger, and wrote his name on the war flag.
Subsequently, the second and third people wrote their names in succession. Who wouldn't be afraid of death? After all, everyone lived to seek glory, splendor, and wealth, and the so-called loyalty was sometimes just empty words.
Zhou Chong was the last old general to write his name. When he finished writing his name while trembling, he couldn't help but sigh. "From today onward, I'm afraid there's no turning back."
Tang Lu sneered. "Old General, why do you say that? Could it be that Old General has already determined that my Tang Clan won't be able to succeed?"
Zhou Chong didn't say anything, and he just walked back to his seat dejectedly and drank cup after cup of wine.
…
Tang Lu placed his hands on the table and slowly stood up. "Generals of the Tang Clan, listen up!"
Everyone left their seats and knelt down.
Boundless rage and unwillingness surged into Tang Lu's eyes as he said, "The Qin Clan is heartless, so we can only be unjust. From today onward, seal off the Seven Seas and prohibit all trade with the North Ridge Province. Everyone, hurry back to your fief tomorrow morning and complete a task for my Tang Lu. First, kill all the Magistrates of the provinces and counties within the fief, then destroy the Sage Temple and take all the troops gathered within the Sage Temple as our own. Those who don't obey will be killed without mercy!"
Everyone was terrified, and they responded with uneven voices. "Yes …"
Tang Lu narrowed his eyes as he looked at everyone. "In half a month, lead all the troops within the fief to the Seven Seas City for a meeting. All the troops within the Seven Seas Province will be trained and resupplied. Besides that, send more people to forge the Tang Clan's Begonia Flower war flag and emblem, and pluck the Purple Blossom Flower. Every single one of our 300,000 troops must wear a Begonia Flower military emblem."
"Yes!"
Lu Zhong immediately raised his hand and plucked the golden Purple Blossom Flower from his collar, and his eyes revealed a cold smile as he said, "The Qin Clan's era of ruling the continent is completely over!"
…
Lanyan City, Seven Seas Palace.
In the middle of the night, in a courtyard deep within the Seven Seas Palace, Tang Lan suddenly woke up from a nightmare. He was panting heavily, and his face was somewhat pale. In his dream, he saw Tang Lu covered in blood shouting, "Grandpa, save me!" as if it had really happened.
"Someone come."
"Your Highness." Outside the door, an old general pushed open the door and entered. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Is there any news from the Seven Seas City?"
"Not yet. What's wrong, Your Highness?"
"I suddenly felt uneasy. I'm afraid something is about to happen. Immediately write a letter and send it to the Seven Seas City. Tell Tang Lu not to act blindly without thinking. Now is not the time. Wait for my orders before acting."
"Yes!"
The old general paused and said, "Your Highness, have you really decided?"
Tang Lan was dejected, and he looked extremely old. He said, "No matter what, I must think for my descendants, so I'm afraid this matter must be carried out. What's the situation over at the Earth Star Province? How's the recruitment going? "
"Commander Tang Xi is recruiting soldiers day and night, but how can the population of the Earth Star Province be so poor? I'm afraid the total number of soldiers won't exceed 150,000."
"150,000 …" Tang Lan muttered to himself.
"550,000 people … It's comparable to the number of soldiers the Yihe Kingdom had besieged Lanyan City …"
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