318: My battlefield

Becoming the so-called Acting Sage was not very significant for Qin Yang.

In fact, it was less useful than performing a Sage's Manifestation in front of people in the Thousand-Person Conference Hall.

This stage-specific victory was mainly about "the hearts of the world turning to him."

Now, apart from the Eight Great Families, various smaller forces had extended olive branches to the Qin Family.

During this period, the Qin Family's residence, the Saint Si's residence... and even the Chu Family's mansion in Jingming City, had their doorsteps worn out by officials and nobles.

People sending money, resources, and equipment came in an endless stream.

Qin Yang's suggestion was to accept everything except for women.

Isn't it normal for subjects to pay tribute to the Emperor?

But sending women was different; that was taking advantage.

Of course, Qin Yang also had the Imperial Guards secretly observing.

If there truly were women of exceptional beauty, he wasn't entirely against considering them.

After all, an increase in imperial relatives would also strengthen the Imperial Family.

Qin Family residence, backyard.

Qin Yang, Si Zhenfeng, and Zhang Liang had a brief chat in the pavilion.

"Sage Yang, the Li Family and the Ye Family have already sent me secret letters. They both expressed their willingness to switch to our side," Si Zhenfeng said, handing two letters to Qin Yang.

Qin Yang didn't even look at them, placing them directly to the side.

The surrender of the Ye Family and Li Family was entirely expected.

What he wanted to know now was why the Xiao Family had made no move.

The Xiao Family's territory was in Yunzhou in the north.

That was a very large area of land.

Moreover, the Xiao Family also had quite a few large armies.

If they didn't surrender, it would be a bit troublesome for Qin Yang to deal with them.

Qin Yang asked Zhang Liang, "What is the current situation with the Xiao Family?"

Zhang Liang bowed, smiled, and said, "Your Majesty, the Xiao Family is a militarily managed Family, very focused on rules and reputation. To make them surrender, there is still one step to take."

Qin Yang asked, "What step?"

Zhang Liang said, "We need to have Zhan Tianxiong and the Empress Dowager go in person."

"The Empress Dowager still needs to get involved?" Qin Yang frowned.

The Xiao Family had formed an Alliance with the Eight Great Families earlier.

Those in the military valued their reputation the most.

For Xiao Hongyu to tear up the Alliance and betray the other Families, she couldn't overcome that mental hurdle.

Zhan Tianxiong was her former superior, and Lin Xiaoer was her former best friend.

These two indeed had the possibility of persuading her to surrender.

It's just... what level was Xiao Hongyu that she still needed the Empress Dowager to persuade her?

Qin Yang said, "No need to trouble the Empress Dowager; just have Zhan Tianxiong go."

At this point, he looked at Zhang Liang and said, "I need to go on a long journey soon and won't be back for half a year. During this time, can you deal with the Eight Great Families?"

Qin Yang's tone was somewhat firm.

According to Si Zhenfeng, even after he performed the Sage's Manifestation in the Thousand-Person Conference Hall, it didn't make the other Families submit.

They had realized Qin Yang's power, but their survival instinct made them erupt with even stronger resistance.

The higher one climbs, the harder one falls.

The Families had been tyrannical and oppressive for so many years, accumulating no shortage of Hatred.

The reason no one dared to touch them was because they were strong enough to suppress those seeds of Hatred.

But once Qin Yang "reduced their power," the core members of the Families would surely Face reckoning from various forces.

Since death was inevitable either way, they decided to go all out and resist to the end.

Qin Yang found this somewhat annoying.

After being watched by the gods, his enemies were no longer humans, and he truly didn't want to spend more thought on the Eight Great Families.

It would be best if Zhang Liang could deal with the Eight Great Families.

If not, he would have to resort to stronger measures.

Seeing Qin Yang's somewhat stern wording, Zhang Liang immediately stood up and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have already devised a plan. Within half a year, the so-called Alliance of the Eight Great Families will surely collapse."

"Granted, you may proceed with it," Qin Yang nodded.

As the saying goes, the highest strategy is to attack schemes.

If the Families could collapse on their own, he was too lazy to unleash a massacre.

At this moment, Si Zhenfeng suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I've noticed that Qiu Yan's behavior has also been very strange recently."

"I know what you're going to say," Qin Yang nodded.

Qiu Yan, this enemy unit, had always been under his surveillance.

Recently, he had also been holed up, not only refusing contact with the Eight Great Families but also remaining silent at home.

Presumably, the inauguration ceremony had a great impact on him.

Qin Yang was happy to see this.

Qiu Yan was not bad in essence; it was just that his Dao was different from Qin Yang's.

His intelligence and emotional intelligence were both above Si Zhenfeng's.

As long as he could let go of wealth and power, he wasn't beyond saving.

Qin Yang said to Si Zhenfeng, "Qiu Yan is wavering. Go talk to him; this person can still be saved."

"Understood," Si Zhenfeng was momentarily stunned; this was exactly what he wanted to say.

For many years, he and Qiu Yan had been rivals, and though they were opponents, they also respected each other.

If he could be won over, His Majesty would gain another reliable helper.

Thinking of this, Si Zhenfeng couldn't help but secretly admire.

Nothing escaped Qin Yang's Dharma Eye.

His control over people's hearts had reached an extraordinary level.

His arrival in Jiuzhou meant that the Empire's destiny had arrived!

Si Zhenfeng looked around the Qin Family courtyard and said, "Your Majesty, you are now the Sage of Jiuzhou. You should move from Hongwu City to Shangjing City as soon as possible. I have already allocated a plot of land in Shangjing City for you to build the Sage Yang's residence."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yang immediately waved his hand and said, "I am currently only an Acting Sage, so there's no need for extensive construction. Save that effort for building the Imperial Palace later."

"Huh?" Si Zhenfeng was almost thrown off by this sudden turn.

He had thought Qin Yang was truly considerate of the common people.

It turned out he had a bolder idea.

Indeed... after the inauguration ceremony, this Sage Yang's intentions were already "common knowledge."

But out of concern for managing public opinion, Si Zhenfeng had suppressed this information.

However, foreign media wouldn't give him that Face.

Currently, the top headlines on foreign websites were all about Qin Yang.

"Empire Dawn Has Arrived, Jiuzhou Welcomes Its Most Ambitious Politician!"

"Will Jiuzhou Be Renamed Shenzhou? A Unified Eastern Great Power Will Be More Threatening!"

Currently, foreign websites were flooded with various articles and editorials.

The eyes of the entire world were focused on Jiuzhou.

Everyone believed that the Jiuzhou Federation would be renamed the Shenzhou Empire within the next year or two.

Globally, this was considered a great change unseen in a century.

In terms of military and diplomacy, Jiuzhou had to be exceptionally careful with every step it took.

In the previous period, Si Zhenfeng had grown accustomed to Qin Yang's guidance from behind the scenes.

That feeling of not having to think was simply too wonderful.

But now, Qin Yang was going to disappear for half a year, which made Si Zhenfeng feel a lack of confidence.

He asked Qin Yang, "Your Majesty, you have just been promoted to Sage; are you going to leave for half a year?"

Qin Yang nodded and said, "Yes, I am going to the true battlefield."

Si Zhenfeng asked, "Where is that?"

Qin Yang looked up at the sky and said, "The Divine Realm."