24: Straight to the heart of the enemy

"Old Ancestor, if someone from the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty comes, what should we do?"

Xu Fengnian was slightly worried.

After all, the distance from the Fierce Blade Dynasty to their Dayan Dynasty was long. If the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty suddenly attacked, they would likely have died several times over before the Fierce Blade Dynasty arrived.

Xu Fengyuan considered it and felt it made sense.

"Since that is the case, then release the news, publicizing that our Dayan Dynasty has become a vassal of the Fierce Blade Dynasty."

"This way, as long as the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty does not wish to confront the Fierce Blade Dynasty, they absolutely will not dare to attack our Dayan Dynasty again."

"But Old Ancestor, if we release the news, won't our Dayan Dynasty lose all face among the surrounding Imperial Dynasties?"

Xu Fengnian hesitated slightly.

As the ruler of the Imperial Dynasty, he naturally cared greatly about the dynasty's reputation.

Hearing this, Xu Fengyuan looked at Xu Fengnian with disappointment and sighed.

"Fengnian, you still don't understand."

"In the face of life and death, reputation counts for nothing."

"Furthermore, becoming a vassal of the Fierce Blade Dynasty is not something that brings great shame."

"Old Ancestor, I understand."

After the Old Ancestor explained, Xu Fengnian understood and quickly went down to spread the news.

Next, they just had to wait for the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty to receive the news.

Ancient Heavenly Capital.

"My two beloved ministers, is this what you have produced?"

Gu Jixiao looked at the memorials regarding the Department of Integrity and Governance and the Department of Public Opinion in his hand, a hint of dissatisfaction showing in his brow.

The two did not say a word and immediately knelt down, their voices filled with terror.

"Your Majesty, please forgive us. Your servant has already done his best."

Seeing their appearance, Gu Jixiao couldn't help but sigh and put away the memorials.

"I am not blaming you. You have done very well, but I feel there are still areas for improvement."

Saying this, Gu Jixiao explained his thoughts.

It wasn't that what the two had done was inadequate, but rather too soft; the punishments for officials were too light.

Strict punishment yields honest officials.

Listening to Gu Jixiao's words, the faces of the two Prime Ministers showed hesitation.

"Your Majesty, wouldn't such measures be a bit too harsh?"

"Harsh? My two beloved ministers must understand, water can carry a boat but can also capsize it; the common people are the foundation of the Imperial Dynasty."

"If the common people are living in deep distress, how many years can my Ancient Heavenly Dynasty last?"

"Moreover, the salaries of officials come from the taxes collected from the people."

"In other words, we serve the people. If they dare to oppress the populace, what does it matter if the punishment is heavier?"

Gu Jixiao's words struck them like thunder, stirring up immense waves in the hearts of Li Xuan and Chen Guchuan.

After a long while, Li Xuan's brow became serious, and his tone was earnest.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. We understand. We will immediately go down and redraft the laws for the Department of Integrity and Governance and the Department of Public Opinion."

After speaking, Li Xuan and Chen Guchuan hastily retreated to revise the laws for the Department of Integrity and Governance and the Department of Public Opinion.

After they left, Gu Jixiao let out a long breath.

Currently, he could already harvest over five hundred million prestige value. If the revised Department of Integrity and Governance and Department of Public Opinion were implemented, it would likely make nearly all the citizens of the entire Imperial Dynasty submit to him.

"Right, what about the Dayan Dynasty? Why has there been no news for so long?"

After dealing with the Department of Integrity and Governance and the Department of Public Opinion, Gu Jixiao finally remembered the matter of the Dayan Dynasty.

After all, the population of the Dayan Dynasty was not much smaller than that of his Ancient Heavenly Dynasty, and annexing it would provide him with significant momentum.

Just as he thought of it, it happened.

A Eunuch rushed in from outside.

"Your Majesty, this is bad."

"What is it? Speak slowly."

Gu Jixiao waved his hand lightly, calming the Eunuch down.

Once calm, the Eunuch quickly spoke up.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived: the Dayan Dynasty has become a vassal of the Fierce Blade Dynasty."

"The Fierce Blade Dynasty?"

Hearing of the Fierce Blade Dynasty, information about it surfaced in Gu Jixiao's mind.

A Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasty, stabilized by two Peak Saint Kings, possessing a total of thirteen Saint Kings, and over a hundred Saints.

Hearing this, Gu Jixiao sneered.

"A bit interesting. They actually think they can seek refuge with the Fierce Blade Dynasty to escape annihilation by my Ancient Heavenly Dynasty?"

After speaking, Gu Jixiao took out a sound transmission jade talisman, injected spiritual energy into it, and the talisman transmitted Lin Zilong's voice.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

In the Northern Territory, Lin Zilong looked solemn. He quickly learned the whole story from Gu Jixiao.

At this time, he had already achieved a Breakthrough to the Saint Realm with the guidance and help of Gu Hu.

"So, what does Your Majesty wish this humble general to do?"

"Lead the army directly and strike straight for the Yellow Dragon! Leave no one from the Dayan Imperial Family alive!"

Hearing Gu Jixiao's cold words, Lin Zilong's tone showed slight hesitation.

"Your Majesty, this might be somewhat difficult, as the Tiannan Supreme established the rule that Saints are not allowed to intervene."

"Moreover, the Fierce Blade Dynasty is a top existence among Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasties. Offending them might bring us more loss than gain."

"So, are you teaching this Emperor how to do things?"

Gu Jixiao's tone was somewhat calm, but it filled Lin Zilong with immense fear, causing him to immediately kneel.

"This humble general dares not."

"General Lin, you may act boldly. Gu Long and Gu Hu are Peak Saint Kings; with them present, there is nothing to worry about."

"Furthermore, I do not take the mere Tiannan Supreme to heart. If he dares to provoke me, I will kill him along with the rest."

"I order you to annihilate the entire Dayan Imperial Family within seven days. If any survivors are left, you know the consequences."

These few short sentences brought immense shock to Lin Zilong's heart.

Were the two Seniors, Gu Long and Gu Hu, Peak Saint Kings?

Did Your Majesty not even hold the Tiannan Supreme in high regard?

"General Lin, I am speaking to you, did you hear me?"

Gu Jixiao's voice sounded again.

Lin Zilong finally reacted, took a deep breath to calm himself, and his tone became extremely serious.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This humble general will definitely annihilate the entire Dayan Imperial Family within seven days!"

After putting away the sound transmission jade talisman, Lin Zilong's expression was grave. With a wave of his hand, he summoned Song Tianan and Zhao Wuyu to his side.

"General Lin, what are your orders?"

They had also received guidance from Gu Hu, but unfortunately, they had not achieved a Breakthrough to the Saint Realm, though they were very close.

Soon, the two learned of Gu Jixiao's order to strike directly at the Yellow Dragon and wipe out the entire Dayan Imperial Family.

They then learned from Lin Zilong that Gu Long and Gu Hu were Peak Saint Kings, and that His Majesty feared neither the Tiannan Supreme.

"General Lin, do you think His Majesty might be deceiving us? That is the Tiannan Supreme, a powerful Late-stage Supreme expert."

Zhao Wuyu was slightly skeptical.

After all, His Majesty was only thirty years old; how could he possess so many trump cards?

Hearing this, Lin Zilong shook his head, his tone serious.

"Zhao Wuyu, you must remember that we are merely subjects. We can only follow whatever His Majesty orders."

"Moreover, everything His Majesty has shown already indicates that he is unfathomably profound, and everything is likely within his grasp."

"We only need to follow orders."

Seeing that General Lin had said this, Zhao Wuyu could only suppress the doubts in his heart.

"In that case, issue my command: the entire army is to prepare. We depart in half an hour. Target: Dayan Imperial Capital!"