ãMeng Shifangâs words directly placed Sun Longhai at the center of controversy.ã
ãThe civil and military officials present cast deep, scrutinizing looks at the Prime Minister.ã
ãOver a hundred years ago, could you already see Huangfu Baizhiâs wolfish ambition?ã
ãOr was her rebellion a result of the suppression by you and Grand Marshal Meng Shifang?ã
ãThis is definitely a question worth pondering.ã
ãSitting on the dragon throne, Ye Yu looked puzzled.ã
ãHe asked who Huangfu Baizhi was and why there was a need to target her.ã
ãSun Longhai was utterly dismayed.ã
ãHe knelt on the ground and recounted the events from over a hundred years ago, when they attacked the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty.ã
ãAfter recounting the story, Sun Longhai repeatedly emphasized that the term âpay more attentionâ was meant to have Meng Shifang take better care of Huangfu Baizhi.ã
ãIt was never meant to target her.ã
ãAfter all, she was a woman whom His Majesty had looked at twice.ã
ãUpon hearing this, Meng Shifang was speechless and said, Prime Minister, since that was your intention, why didnât you clarify it back then?ã
ãSun Longhai immediately began to refute, Are you too pig-brained to understand and now trying to blame me?ã
ãThe two menâs conversation turned sour, and a fierce argument broke out in the court.ã
ãSun Longhai, who was a boxer in the imperial court, began to throw punches after a few words.ã
ãIf words failed, he would curse; if cursing failed, he would fight.ã
ãThis was Sun Longhaiâs tried-and-true method, always effective.ã
ãAlthough Meng Shifang was quite capable, when it came to physical confrontation with the Prime Minister, he dared not use spiritual power or fight back.ã
ãHe could only endure the beating.ã
ãThe court officials were not surprised and immediately cleared a large area for their brawl.ã
ãIt was rare to see a direct confrontation between a civil leader and a military grand marshal, so it was quite a spectacle!ã
ãYe Yu snorted coldly.ã
ãHe ordered the imperial guards to give both men fifty lashes each.ã
ãSun Longhai and Meng Shifang gladly accepted this punishment.ã
ãEnduring the beating was better than losing their official positions, and that was the best outcome.ã
ãYe Yu shook his head with resignation.ã
ãHe never expected that the reward for the army a hundred years ago would cause something like this, just because he had looked at Huangfu Baizhi a few more times.ã
ãSigh, itâs all because the subordinates have too many ideas.ã
ãBut it wasnât necessarily a bad thing; it at least gave him another chance to splurge.ã
ãThis time, Ye Yu planned something big!ã
ãFinance Minister, prepare one hundred million taels of silver; I will personally use the money to crush these rebels into submission.ã
ãUpon hearing this, the Finance Minister clutched his chest, deeply pained, and said, Your Majesty, why not just dispatch troops to quell the rebellion? Why use money to crush the rebels?ã
ãThis⦠it seems beneath the dignity of our great nation!ã
ãYe Yu smiled calmly, For those who betray me, I give one hundred million taels. For those who remain loyal, how could I not reward them with a billion?ã
ãThe civil and military officials were stunned by this theory.ã
ãWhy did it feel like they wanted to applaud?ã
ãTen days later.ã
ãIgnoring the opposition of everyone, Ye Yu resolutely set out alone with eighty million taels of silver for the far northern lands.ã
ãAt this moment, Huangfu Baizhi, leading the rebels, had arrived at the northern frontier, about to launch an attack.ã@@novelbin@@
ãBut when they saw the dragon-shaped cloud in the sky pulling the dragon carriage roaring towards them, all the rebels felt at a loss.ã
ãThe dragon carriage was the emperorâs exclusive vehicle.ã
ãOver the years, Ye Yu had never been stingy with rewards for the army.ã
ãHe often organized a grand show of generosity.ã
ãSome even jokingly called Ye Yu the âGreat Money-Sprinkling Emperor of All Time.âã
ãAnd it was indeed true.ã
ãEven among these rebels, not a single one had not received Ye Yuâs favor.ã
ãWhile they might harbor boundless murderous intent towards the direct troops of the Great Yong Dynasty, they could not muster any hostility against Ye Yu.ã
ãSo, upon seeing the great money-sprinkling emperor himself arriving, the momentum they had previously built up instantly dissipated without a trace.ã
ãOne by one, they lowered their heads, like children who had done something wrong!ã
ãThe proverb âTake a hand, lose a handâ was vividly illustrated in their case.ã
ãWhen they saw Ye Yu alone stepping down from the dragon carriage, everyone was even more astonished.ã
ãEveryone in the Great Yong Dynasty knew that Ye Yu, the money-sprinkling emperor, seemed to have no cultivation.ã
ãHow could he dare to come alone?ã
ãWas he really fearless of death, or did he trust them not to act against him?ã
ãIn an instant, the rebelsâ feelings of guilt deepened even more.ã
ãHuangfu Baizhi was also at a loss for what to do.ã
ãIn fact, the reason Ye Yu dared to come alone was that he had complete confidence.ã
ãAfter over a hundred years of extravagant spending, he had successfully reached the early stage of Ascension.ã
ãMoreover, he had perfected the Great Yong Dynastyâs imperial technique, the Azure Dragon Art, to its peak.ã
ãThe Azure Dragon Art, the founding technique of the Great Yong Dynasty, was a Heaven grade technique. Upon reaching the perfection stage, it not only allowed one to transform into an Azure Dragon, but also to draw upon the nationâs fortune to enhance oneself.ã
ãWith Ye Yuâs current strength, even if he faced someone at the later stage of Ascension, he would not be the least bit afraid.ã
ãIf it werenât for this, how would he dare to venture alone into such danger?ã
ãSeeing the surrounding rebels all bowing their heads, Ye Yu used his money-sprinkling ability once again!ã
ãWith a wave of his sleeve, thousands of boxes filled with silver appeared.ã
ãYe Yu said solemnly, Soldiers, stationed at the border, you have worked hard.ã
ãNo matter what you do next, these are what you deserve.ã
ãCome and take them!ã
ãThese words dealt a fatal blow to the rebels.ã
ãA general threw away his long knife, knelt on the ground, and sobbed, Your Majesty, I know you have been good to us.ã
ãWe had no intention of rebelling, but some ministers have been too harsh. We really feel wronged.ã
ãWith his lead, countless others followed suit. They all threw down their weapons.ã
ãSeeing this, Huangfu Baizhi knew the situation was hopeless. She sighed helplessly.ã
ãSeeing everyone around kneeling and no one taking the silver, Ye Yu was enraged.ã
ãHow could he fail to squander money?ã
ãIf he didnât squander, how could he increase his cultivation?ã
ãIf he didnât increase his cultivation, how could he ascend to the heavens?ã
ãYou all, do not think you can obstruct my determination to advance!ã
ãYe Yuâs expression hardened.ã
ãHe said sternly, If you still recognize me as your emperor, then all of you come over and take the money.ã
ãWhat I promised is yours; it is yours. Not a single silver coin less!ã
ãThe generals cried even more mournfully!ã
ãThey scrambled to line up and take the silver.ã
ãSeeing this, Ye Yu finally smiled again.ã
ãThen he asked, Where is Huangfu Baizhi?ã
ãAt these words, everyone present felt a tremor in their hearts.ã
ãAs the saying goes, The law does not punish the many.ã
ãBut it is also said that killing a chicken to scare a monkey will serve as a warning to others!ã
ãAs the leader of the rebels, Huangfu Baizhi could not escape punishment.ã
ãThe rebels knelt down and pleaded.ã
ãPlease, Your Majesty, spare General Huangfu. She, like us, had no intention to rebel against you.ã
ãIt was clear that Huangfu Baizhi held great prestige among the troops.ã
ãFaced with this situation, before Ye Yu could speak, a steady voice sounded.ã
ãThe guilty Huangfu Baizhi pays her respects to Your Majesty!ã