30: Chapter 30 Public Execution

The Marquis of Zhennan, Chu Yannian, did not choose to resist.

Because he knew better than anyone that in front of several experts of the Celestial Realm, any resistance was merely a futile, dying struggle.

It would even serve to anger the other party.

If they were truly angered, it would certainly lead to even crueler punishments descending upon their Family.

At this moment, he was like a puppet that had lost its Soul.

He allowed the Embroidered Uniform Guard to tie him up securely.

Seal his cultivation!

Not long after.

With three Old Ancestors of the Imperial Dynasty overseeing, and under the thunderous operation of hundreds of elite Embroidered Uniform Guard, all of the Chu Family's direct relatives, trusted advisors, and those Advanced generals of the Zhennan Army in the council hall were all dragged out one by one.

Cries, curses, and pleas for mercy rose and fell one after another.

No matter how imposing they usually were, when faced with life and death, not everyone could face it calmly.

Of course.

For the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they had seen this situation many times.

It was simply nothing at all...

However.

In the eyes of Ji Gang, the greatest hidden danger was not these people inside the Zhennan Marquis Mansion, but the Zhennan Army stationed outside the city, numbering up to one million!

This army nominally belonged to the Imperial Dynasty, but in reality, it had long been managed by Chu Yannian as his own private troops.

The generals at all levels had basically been replaced by his trusted aides.

However, Ji Gang had long made arrangements for this situation.

After controlling the Zhennan Marquis Mansion.

He immediately had the three Old Ancestors of the Imperial Dynasty, carrying the Imperial Decree and the military tally confiscated from Chu Yannian, go personally to the military camp outside the city!

Ji Gang knew deeply that the "rebellion" of the Marquis of Zhennan was the fault of the top-level generals and had little to do with the mid-to-lower-level officers and ordinary soldiers.

The vast majority were just following orders and had no choice in the matter.

As for the situation of the world and the disingenuous relationship between the Marquis of Zhennan and the Imperial Dynasty, everyone in the world knew it, and naturally, all the members of the Zhennan Army knew it too.

But so what?

The original intention of ordinary soldiers joining the army was mostly to resist Yao Beasts and defend their homes and country; they had no deep obsession with whether to be loyal to the Marquis of Zhennan or the Imperial Dynasty.

And the reason those Advanced generals were willing to follow Chu Yannian wholeheartedly was nothing more than being bound by interests and having profits to be made.

But what about the ordinary soldiers?

To put it bluntly, they didn't even have the qualifications to express their opinions.

With that little military pay, was there any need to agonize over it?

Just following orders was enough.

Whether it was the Imperial Dynasty or the Marquis of Zhennan, for these soldiers, following orders was never wrong.

Facts proved it.

The situation of the Zhennan Army was about the same as what Ji Gang had guessed!

When the three Old Ancestors of the Celestial Realm descended upon the sky above the military camp like gods, unfolded the Imperial Decree, announced with supreme pressure the Imperial Dynasty's punishment for Chu Yannian and his core cronies, and showed the military tally and seal, announcing that Ancestor Wang Xuan would temporarily take over the position of commander and reorganize the army.

The million-strong Zhennan Army was indeed plunged into huge shock and commotion at first.

But very quickly.

The commotion subsided.

The reason was simple.

First, absolute suppression by strength.

The three Old Ancestors of the Celestial Realm hovered in the sky, their pressure causing all thoughts of questioning or resisting to die in the cradle.

The Celestial Realm was originally a legendary existence in their hearts; now that three had arrived at once, and they represented the "orthodox" Imperial Dynasty, who dared to act presumptuously?

Second, the high-level officials were absent, leaving them leaderless.

All Advanced generals had been rounded up at the Zhennan Marquis Mansion; the remaining mid-to-lower-level officers were mostly just executors of orders, lacking the prestige and courage to incite the army to resist.

Third, the justification of righteousness.

The Imperial Decree listed Chu Yannian's crimes, defined him as a "rebel," and declared the Imperial Dynasty's takeover as restoring order.

Many soldiers still had a deep-rooted concept of "orthodoxy" toward the Imperial Dynasty in their hearts, and seeing the Imperial Dynasty display powerful strength at this moment, it was psychologically easier to accept.

Fourth, a clear path forward.

The Imperial Decree stated that it would only pursue the chief culprits and key accomplices, would not pursue ordinary soldiers, and promised that the military system and military pay would remain unchanged for the time being. With the Ancestor of the Imperial Dynasty personally overseeing and the duty to resist Yao Beasts remaining unchanged, this dispelled the doubts and panic of the vast majority of ordinary soldiers.

Therefore.

Although there were ripples in the takeover process, it was far smoother than expected.

Under the might of the three Old Ancestors and the coordination of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who arrived subsequently, the million-strong Zhennan Army soon initially stabilized and temporarily accepted the reality of being directly taken over by the Imperial Dynasty.

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon the next day.

Outside the Zhennan Marquis Mansion, on the vast open ground originally used for the assembly of the army, overnight, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had erected a huge execution platform three zhang high.

The platform was wide, and in the center stood a thick, large black iron execution pillar, shimmering with a cold, dark light under the sunlight.

At this moment.

Around the execution platform, it was already a sea of people!

A rough estimate was that at least hundreds of thousands of people had gathered here!

A dense crowd of heads moved, stretching to the end of the line of sight.

Among them.

There were ordinary people from nearby towns who had been specially "notified" to come and watch the execution, and there were representatives and spies sent by various Sects and Families who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

There were also many Loose Cultivators and passersby who were purely there to watch the excitement...

However.

Despite the large number of people, the atmosphere at the scene was eerily silent.

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered, yet no one spoke loudly; even whispering was kept to a minimal volume, their eyes filled with awe, curiosity, fear, and complex emotions.

Everyone's gaze would occasionally glance toward the surroundings of the execution platform, at those figures standing as straight as javelins, expressionless, with their flying fish uniforms swaying slightly in the wind!

The Imperial Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard!!!

Their identities were no longer a secret.

The news of yesterday's upheaval at the Zhennan Marquis Mansion and today's public execution was spread by these Embroidered Uniform Guard without any concealment.

They didn't even change their clothes; they just maintained order openly and honestly, their cold gazes scanning the crowd, as if silently proclaiming.

The majesty and power of the Imperial Dynasty lay right here!

The Xuantian Holy Land was destroyed by us, the Marquis of Zhennan was captured by us, and today, it is also us who will execute the judgment!

This naked, intimidating display.

Was more shocking than any behavior of hiding one's tracks.

"Is that the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Such heavy Evil Qi..."

"I heard it was them; they leveled the Xuantian Holy Land within an hour!"

"Four experts of the Celestial Realm... too terrifying."

"The Marquis of Zhennan has completely fallen this time; colluding with the Holy Land and intending to rebel—this is a crime punishable by the extermination of the nine clans!"

"The Imperial Dynasty is going for real this time, killing the chicken to warn the monkey; I don't know whose turn it will be next..."

"Keep your voice down! Don't let them hear you!"

Whispers flowed through the oppressive atmosphere.

The third quarter of the noon hour.

When the Yang Qi was at its strongest, which was also the traditional time for executing major criminals.

"Dong—!"

A dull drum sound broke the silence of the scene.

Everyone's heartstrings tightened instantly, and their gazes were cast in unison toward one side of the execution platform.

Just saw that direction.

A team of Embroidered Uniform Guard was escorting nearly a hundred prisoners wearing prison uniforms, with disheveled hair, and expressions ranging from numb to desperate, slowly walking out.

The person in the lead was none other than the Marquis of Zhennan, Chu Yannian, who had been awe-inspiring in the Southern Frontier just yesterday!

At this moment, his face was ashen, his eyes hollow, and his gait staggered; he no longer possessed his former heroic bearing.

Behind him were all his direct blood relatives, as well as several core generals who had been captured in the Zhennan Marquis Mansion...

Taking a day off tomorrow, will continue working the day after tomorrow...