Chapter 286: Chapter 205: Winds and Clouds Surging (Part 2)
"What!?" Liu Xian’s eyes widened instantly, unable to maintain his composure, he stood up from his seat immediately.
This news shocked him immensely.
How could it be possible? How did information about my rebellious intentions get out?
And the most terrifying part is, the armies he secretly raised were indeed hidden in the mountains near Yangzhou Prefecture, which had always been a secret of Liu Zhizhang.
However, now this secret is no longer a secret.
In Liu Wei’s gaze, he saw his father was trembling all over, shivering nonstop.
He had never seen Liu Xian like this, completely in disarray.
Tong Yan was also shocked; such a secret was akin to a death warrant, and once it was exposed to others, it signaled that a sword was already hanging over the entire Liu family. If this sword were to fall, the whole Liu family would be executed, and their nine clans would be implicated.
Rebellion, this is a grave crime.
"My lord..." Tong Yan asked in a hoarse voice.
Liu Xian remained silent for a long time, and the atmosphere in the room instantly fell into a quiet stillness, as chilling as a winter’s cold.
After an unknown amount of time, Liu Xian reluctantly spat out a few words: "Mobilize all the troops, from today, I, the Inspector of Yangzhou Liu Xian, will rebel!"
...
Not only Liu Xian, but similar incidents happened across the north and south of the river; any local high-ranking officials with rebellious intentions who had boldly started preparing uprisings in secret were suddenly exposed and became targets from every side overnight.
The eyes of the whole world were upon them.
Though the court had not reacted, everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm.
These rebel officials, whose secrets were leaked by unknown means, were trapped in a dilemma where admitting guilt meant death, and rebellion also led to death.
Admitting guilt, the court would naturally not forgive those who dared to privately recruit soldiers.
Rebellion, if suppressed by the court’s army, the outcome is naturally self-evident.
Faced with the dual-choice dilemma, numerous local officials with considerable ranks all rebelled, causing a pandemonium as the nine provinces were ravaged and divided, with the smoke of war subtly rising.
This added additional suffering to the people already plagued by natural and man-made disasters, causing many to secretly lament in misery.
Several days later.
A teahouse in Cyan Yang City.
Qin Yuesheng sat in a corner eating pastries and drinking tea while listening to a storyteller narrate the current situation of the world.
After occupying the Twelve Linked Rings, he stationed there for a few days, waiting for Du Xiaoqing and the four battalion leaders to completely control the Twelve Linked Rings before he took a boat back to Cyan Yang City.
When he left the Twelve Linked Rings, he had intended to visit Yangzhou Prefecture, but at that time, Liu Xian had already rebelled, and the entire Yangzhou Prefecture was tightly controlled by his troops, imperable. Although Qin Yuesheng was unafraid, he abandoned the thought of returning and changed his destination, directly returning to his hometown.
Although Liu Xian was the Inspector of Yangzhou Prefecture, his private army did not have the capability to occupy the entire Jiangnan in just a few days, let alone he had to first spend efforts to subdue a portion of the Great Tang’s troops in Yangzhou Prefecture.
As a result, Cyan Yang City remained very secure, unaffected for the moment, although it was uncertain how long it would stay that way.
If Liu Xian rebels, he will surely first sweep through Jiangnan, annexing each major city and incorporating their troops to bolster his strength, thereby confronting the court.
Given Cyan Yang City’s proximity to Yangzhou Prefecture, its future situation is predictable.
"Everyone, within three days alone, thirty-six people have raised troops in rebellion across the nine provinces, an unprecedented spectacle in a millennium, arguably you are experiencing the greatest upheaval in the nine provinces in a thousand years." The storyteller slammed a wooden block on the table forcefully, the sound resonated throughout the hall, capturing everyone’s attention.
The storyteller appeared with slick, jet-black hair, radiating a spirited demeanor, clearly not an ordinary person.
"Thirty-six people? So many, is it possible that this greatest rebellion in a millennium could change rulers across the world?" A man carrying a sheathed sword asked in a resonant voice.
Actually, discussing such matters openly in crowded places is very dangerous, but this man was clearly a chivalrous wanderer. As the saying goes, defying authority with martial prowess, these wanderers fear the court far less than ordinary citizens.
Upon hearing the man’s question, the storyteller smiled, "Who can say for sure, I’m not a fortune teller, but if you wish to know the current situation in the nine provinces, I can speak about it."
"Then tell us." The man tossed a cloth bag towards the storyteller’s table, accompanied by the jingling of copper coins inside.
"This hero is straightforward." The storyteller accepted the bag: "Among the thirty-six people, one is Liu Xian, Inspector of our Yangzhou Prefecture. This man had hidden deeply, and for many years no one noticed any signs. Had it not been for this unexpected leak, he would not have been exposed so soon."
Qin Yuesheng popped a rose pastry into his mouth; Liu Xian’s intention to rebel was already known to him, which wasn’t surprising.
"How capable is Liu Xian? Can he maintain his footing in Jiangnan?" the man asked.
"The Inspector Liu’s years of preparation need no elaboration; once he subdues the soldiers within Yangzhou Prefecture, commanding an army of ten thousand will be no issue." The storyteller shook his fan: "Though two other officials and soldiers in Jiangnan have rebelled, their influence is far inferior to Inspector Liu’s grandeur. Presumably, within the year, Inspector Liu will become Jiangnan’s foremost hegemon."
A man in plain clothes abruptly asked, "Can Inspector Liu really last till then? Won’t the court send troops to attack him?"
The storyteller chuckled lightly: "If only one person rebels, the court would easily deal with him, pinching him to death like a bug. But you must know, right now, thirty-six people are rebelling simultaneously. The pressure from Chang’an is immense; any action against one will prompt the remaining thirty-five to immediately begin annexing Great Tang’s territory, strengthening themselves while advancing towards Chang’an. Despite Great Tang’s might, once divided, it cannot simultaneously contend with so many armies."
Qin Yuesheng nodded; for the thirty-six rebellious officials, the primary target for elimination was undoubtedly the court. Once Great Tang falls, they could then peacefully commence a battle for kingship, determining the ultimate victor.
As long as Great Tang exists for a day, these people will always have a common enemy.
Unlike ordinary persons, Qin Yuesheng pondered deeper matters; specifically, whether powerful Martial Artists exist, such as himself with current strength sufficient to solo defeat an army. Even as Great Tang weakens, surely it possesses top-tier talents.
Based on Qin Yuesheng’s limited knowledge, the Inspector of the Seventh Star oversees monitoring and is a prince of the Great Tang royal family, also an elite Inner Power Realm Tenth Layer Martial Artist.
If such formidable individuals were dispatched for assassination, Liu Xian and others, even if commanding a million troops, might not manage to shake Great Tang’s foundation in any way.
The same thoughts Qin Yuesheng had, naturally those in Chang’an wouldn’t miss either.
Many days passed, yet these thirty-six individuals were still thriving, seemingly unaffected by any assassination whatsoever.
This implies only one possibility, which is that equally powerful Martial Artists are secretly protecting these thirty-six, thus preventing Chang’an from removing these rebellious officials bloodlessly.
"This upheaval in the nine provinces is no simple affair; likely many martial sects are secretly involved behind the scenes," Qin Yuesheng mused.
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