Seeing this report, Gao Jiancheng finally understood. That person from Thatched Cottage Villa was not a kind person. The three major sects had already appeared, but he still dared to come. He was very daring. Shang Jianxiong was asking for trouble by offending that person.
From another point of view, it was also the embodiment of ability and confidence. In this way, Gao Jiancheng heaved a sigh of relief.
It was easy for smart people to deal with smart people, but he was afraid of encountering an idiot. If he was really defeated by the Imperial Court in a few moves, then he would be dragged down to death. The things he did in the dark would be exposed sooner or later.
Xue Xiao would definitely be the scapegoat for the war. Shang Jianxiong was angry, but he had no other choice.
There was no use in issuing a decree. The Southern State army was still holding onto the matter of Shang Chaozong's woman being stolen. They wanted the Imperial Court to kill Xue Xiao to give them an explanation. Shang Jianxiong could let Xue Xiao be the scapegoat, but he couldn't kill Xue Xiao, at least not in the near future.
At least, he couldn't be killed because of Southern State's request. Otherwise, not only would the Imperial Court lose face, but it would also chill the hearts of all the officials. Once people lost their will and made their own plans, the threat would be the stability of Shang Jianxiong's throne. So this time, Shang Jianxiong had to protect Xue Xiao no matter what.
Without a choice, Shang Jianxiong could only ask the three major sects to help.
When the news spread to the three major sects, Long Xiu was furious. Niu Youdao dared to do this to him, how could he not be angry?
The three major sects sent a message to Great Zen Mountain, ordering them to retreat.
Great Zen Mountain was in a dilemma. Retreat my ass, Shang Chaozong's people didn't retreat no matter what. I can't just kill them and cause chaos in Southern State. Great Zen Mountain's benefits would be lost, who would be responsible? Who didn't know how to say something easy? Did the three major sects dare to cause chaos in Southern State?
Great Zen Mountain could only pretend to be confused. Anyways, Niu Youdao had already said that they could push the responsibility onto him.
Since there was an agreement, Great Zen Mountain didn't hold back and pushed all the responsibility to Niu Youdao. They told the three sects that the Shang faction was in cahoots with Niu Youdao and it was useless even if they put a knife on their necks!
At the same time, Niu Youdao also received news of the retreat from the three main sects.
Niu Youdao's reason was even more extreme. It was not that he did not want to retire, but that he wanted to postpone it.
The first reason was that the Southern State troops were still searching for the remains of the fallen soldiers, so they needed time.
The second reason was that Nanzhou's troops had accused Xue Xiao's troops of capturing a portion of their soldiers. They wanted Xue Xiao to hand over the captives so that they could speed up their retreat.
The first reason was easy to deal with. At worst, he could just wait.
The second reason was really inexplicable. How could there be no deaths in war? If people died, then there would be no evidence. They drew up a list of the dead and insisted that they were captured by Xue Xiao. They wanted Xue Xiao to hand over the captives. Where would Xue Xiao hand over the captives?
It was useless for Xue Xiao to say that he didn't capture them. The Nanzhou people insisted that they were captured by Xue Xiao and wanted the three major sects to uphold justice. Since the war had stopped and he wanted them to retreat, why didn't Xue Xiao release the captives?
This was called having a strategy from above and a countermeasure from below.
Of course, there was another reason. Niu Youdao said that he had a large number of witnesses in his hand. It was indeed the imperial court that sent people to attack Thatched Cottage Villa. The garrison troops and cultivators were killed or injured over ten thousand people. He asked the three major sects if they would just let it go and if they deserved to die.
What was going on? The two sect leaders of Purple Golden Cave and Spirit Sword Mountain immediately rushed to Xiao Yao Palace.
Of course, the two sect leaders wanted to find Long Xiu. It was Long Xiu who took the initiative to go to Thatched Cottage Villa to settle the matter. This was settled by Long Xiu?
The two sect leaders definitely wanted to find Long Xiu and ask him clearly.
After Long Xiu's anger subsided, he calmed down. He had to calm down. He had seen with his own eyes how Niu Youdao and the people of High Heaven Pavilion and Fairy Sect became sworn brothers. If he really forced the Nanzhou to rebel, the entire Yan Sect would not be able to bear it.
Niu Youdao agreed to the truce to give face to the three major sects. However, he refused to withdraw his troops because he wanted an explanation from the three major sects.
At that time, Niu Youdao had already made it very clear that the imperial court had repeatedly attacked him and repeatedly tried to kill him. How could he just let it go like that? Was it wrong to look for the three major sects to uphold justice? If he just let it go like that, then it would be like what Niu Youdao said. Was it not giving him a way out?
Was there a need to say what the consequences would be if Niu Youdao didn't give him a way out?
As for how Long Xiu would give an explanation to the Purple Golden Cave and Spirit Sword Mountain, Niu Youdao had already told him that Shang Jianxiong had indeed gone too far. He had repeatedly acted behind the back of the three major sects. He seemed to have forgotten that this world belonged to cultivators. It was time to teach him a lesson.
Moreover, did they really want to force the Nanzhou to rebel?
The imperial court was in the wrong first, so it was reasonable for them to ask for an explanation. However, how to give this explanation was a problem.
It was not appropriate to punish Shang Jianxiong. After much discussion, the three Sect Leaders could only give Shang Jianxiong a lesson and give the three counties of the Dingzhou to the Nanzhou.
It was conceivable that this matter would inevitably cause a violent backlash from Shang Jianxiong.
Therefore, the Sect Leader of Xiao Yao Palace, the Sect Leader of Purple Golden Cave, Gong Lince, and the Sect Leader of Spirit Sword Mountain, Meng Xuan, came together to the Imperial Palace of the Yan Sect.
After learning about the decision of the three major sects, Shang Jianxiong was shocked. How could he agree to such a condition?
No matter who was the scapegoat, he and everyone else clearly knew who caused this. If he agreed to this humiliating condition, where would his dignity as the Emperor go? It was easy to imagine how many people would poke, ridicule, or sneer at him behind his back.
Inside the Main Hall, facing the three Sect Leaders, Shang Jianxiong tightened his jaw and said word by word, "I can't agree to this condition!"
Gong Lince and Meng Xuan's eyes suddenly turned cold as they coldly stared at Shang Jianxiong.
Silence. Tian Yu and the others, who were standing with their hands behind their back, were silent. They could feel the suddenly oppressive atmosphere in the Main Hall.
"What did you say?" Long Xiu slowly stepped forward and faced him face to face.
Tian Yu and the other eunuchs were startled. Including Gamiao Shui, they quickly stepped behind Shang Jianxiong and stared at Long Xiu, maintaining a high degree of vigilance.
A group of cultivators in the Imperial Palace immediately stepped forward, pointed at Tian Yu and the others, and sternly scolded, "Presumptuous, step down!"
Tian Yu and the others were indifferent. Shang Jianxiong turned his head and waved his hand. "All of you, step down."
He knew clearly that if they really fought, Tian Yu and the others would not be able to protect him.
Tian Yu and the others could only slowly step back with solemn expressions.
Long Xiu stared at Shang Jianxiong and said word by word, "What if we insist on making you agree?"
Shang Jianxiong said, "I will never agree to making concessions to rebellious subjects. If you want me to agree, you might as well kill me!"
Long Xiu sneered. "Now that you know you're going to die, why didn't you say this when you were sneaking behind our backs? Why didn't you say this when you begged us to make peace? Now that the Yan Kingdom is surrounded by enemies, you, as the Emperor, are not thinking of repelling them, but are busy creating internal strife. What are you trying to do? "
Shang Jianxiong said, "What sneaking? Someone maliciously framed me. How can Palace Lord believe it so easily? If it's about the Thatched Cottage Villa, I know nothing about it! This has nothing to do with me. If Palace Lord wants an explanation, I will definitely find out the truth and give the three major Sects an explanation! "
"You want someone to take the blame?" Long Xiu sneered and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve. It was the explanation Shang Jianxiong had written for the three major Sects. "Some things don't need evidence. Everyone knows who did it. Don't try to fool me with these things. Today, you have to agree. If you don't, you'll be the Emperor! "
Slap! Long Xiu smashed the paper in his hand on Shang Jianxiong's face.
Shang Jianxiong stood there indifferently. Slowly, he said, "I've ruled the Yan Kingdom for nearly twenty years. If you kill me, the Yan Kingdom will be in chaos and in danger!" This was also a warning to the three major Sects.
"You dare to threaten me?" Long Xiu sneered. He tilted his head and ordered, "His Majesty is ready to abdicate. Go and invite the Crown Prince to take over my father's position. He will officially rule the Yan Kingdom and command the officials to stabilize the court! I don't believe the court can be in chaos with the help of the three major Sects! "
The words "Crown Prince to take over the throne" hit Shang Jianxiong's soft spot, causing his face to twitch violently.
This was one of the reasons why the Emperor of Qi, Hao Yunsheng, was reluctant to appoint a Crown Prince.
In the end, facing the three major Sects, Shang Jianxiong gave in.
It was Tian Yu who knew what he was thinking. She judged the situation and appeared at the right time. She knelt in front of Shang Jianxiong and begged, begging him to cede three counties to Nanzhou.
The storm that was about to rise was instantly suppressed. From beginning to end, Gong Lince and Meng Xuan basically didn't say anything. It was Long Xiu who didn't clean up the mess, so it was Long Xiu who appeared to be the bad guy.
Fortunately, the leaders of the three major Sects came together and had full authority to make decisions on behalf of the three major Sects. Otherwise, others wouldn't have been able to suppress Shang Jianxiong. Shang Jianxiong had been in the Yan Kingdom for many years and wasn't someone to be trifled with.
After Shang Jianxiong agreed, Tian Yu begged the three major Sects to compromise and save some face for the Yan Emperor.
The matter of ceding three counties was not made public. It was secretly informed to Xue Xiao of Dingzhou and Nanzhou to silently guard the area under the control of the two armies.
Just as the golden wings were released to pass the message to Dingzhou, a disciple of the Purple Golden Cave ran in from outside the hall.
A secret letter was handed to the Sect Leader. After reading it, Gong Lince's face slightly changed and he frowned.
Almost at the same time, a eunuch walked in from outside the hall and handed an urgent report to Tian Yu.
After reading it, Tian Yu said to the ashen-faced Shang Jianxiong, "Your Majesty, urgent report from Cangzhou. Cangzhou Provincial Governor Wu Gongshan suddenly died of a serious illness!"
Shang Jianxiong glanced at Gong Lince and lightly said, "Traitor, it's good that he died!"
The Sect Leader of Spirit Sword Mountain, Meng Xuan, looked back at Gong Lince and asked, "There are so many cultivators around Wu Gongshan to help him recuperate, how could he suddenly die of illness?"
"I'm afraid something is going to happen in Cangzhou." Gong Lince looked serious and handed the letter to Meng Xuan.
Hearing that something was going to happen, Long Xiu immediately came forward and read it side by side. The content of the letter made the two of them scared.
The Sect Leader of Tong Immortal Pavilion, Qu Yunkong, was assassinated!
Tong Immortal Pavilion was the Immortal Cultivation force that guarded Cangzhou.
Almost at the same time, the Cangzhou Provincial Governor Wu Gongshan died of illness, and the Sect Leader of the Celestial Pavilion was assassinated. The leaders of the Cangzhou cultivation world and the secular world died almost at the same time. How could there be such a coincidence, especially when Qu Yunkong was assassinated?
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