Chapter 766: Chapter 483: A Court Meeting in the Capital
"So, are we heading back to the capital to stabilize the situation next?"
In the courtyard, a breeze fluttered through the large sheets hanging on the clothesline, Zhao Douan sat on a stone stool and raised an eyebrow.
Xu Zhenguan sat opposite him, her slender fingers lowered the teacup and nodded, "This is the best outcome."
Zhao Douan was not surprised, because the current situation was somewhat within his expectations.
According to the original plan, if the Empress successfully sealed, she could calmly deal with the "martial arts contest" expected to happen "next year."
Furthermore, she could intimidate the Eight Princes, likely leading them to abandon resistance, accept the reduction of their domains, and resolve hidden threats through a gentle approach.
But the sealing failed, the Eight Princes competed for power, the supposed transition to a new Chapter with the pursuit of a new Emperor, the Divine Dragon Temple also successfully laid out its plans.
Unexpectedly, the Empress ascended unnaturally again to Heavenly Human status, causing a series of chain reactions.
Now, many of the masters under Xuan Yin have been lost, and the main altar of the Divine Dragon Temple is facing imminent destruction, leaving the Eight Princes in a difficult position, forcing them to continue their rebellion without a retreat.
For Xu Zhenguan, although he succeeded in advancing, raising his eyes, smoke and flames arise everywhere, and the situation is chaotic.
One could say that on this board of Yu Country, no party has achieved its goal, and there is no retreat, only a path to follow to the end, vying for victory or defeat in a fragile balance.
"With Your Majesty’s current cultivation, stabilizing the situation upon return to the capital is not difficult. The Eight Princes’ original plan to compete to advance into the capital has failed, it is highly possible that they will instead form alliances and switch to a new local division strategy." Zhao Douan calmly analyzed.
With Zhenbao stationed in the capital, whichever of the Eight Princes attacks the capital, it spells death.
After all, when it comes to a matter of life and death, so-called agreements naturally do not count.
Therefore, the best strategy for the Eight Princes is to "surround but not attack," form alliances, and first swallow the various territories of Yu Country, each carving and ruling their own domains.
When the court is left with a single isolated piece of land, it only takes joint efforts to block material entry and exit, and the capital falls without being attacked.
At that point, the Empress exists in name only.
Perhaps, without the need for combat, internally the court may experience a loss of morale, up and down losing the will to resist, similar to the Three Kingdoms period, the last Emperor of Eastern Han, Han Xian Emperor.
In that situation, Zhenbao might not withstand the pressure of ministers, and might proactively abdicate to let a wise person take over.
Or they might be stalemated, the throne existing in name only, to an extent, it would still be a victory for the Eight Princes.
Similarly, Zhao Douan suspected, if in the upcoming war, the court successfully defeats the various rebel armies, and completely decides the outcome, Xuan Yin, the old bald man, might still tear up the agreement.
Yet at least for now, when both sides have the chance of winning, no one wants to directly overturn the board...because that would purely be a lose-lose situation.
"Yes, so the urgent task is to first return to the capital and stabilize the situation, only with me still here, will the local areas have the thought of resistance. Currently, all regions surrender at the slightest wind, largely because in the capital there is no central leadership."
Xu Zhenguan nodded, his tone serious, turning to worry:
"Moreover, I suspect that after so long, there may have already been changes in the capital."
Changes? Indeed, many times, a city is often not broken from the outside, but collapses from within.
With the military strength of the capital, it’s impossible for the rebel army to breach it in a short time, but if there is an issue internally, then it’s hard to say.
"In that case, there’s no need to waste time, we should set off immediately." Zhao Douan stood up, then tapped his head and said:
"There are some trophies here, my painting scroll can’t contain them all, Your Majesty please help store some."
As he spoke, he pulled out a cloth bag nearby, inside were various weapons, Magic Artifacts...all of which he acquired from corpses.
This was quite the haul!
Xu Zhenguan raised her eyebrows, smiled slightly, "You like these?"
With that, her fair hand lightly brushed the ground, a flash of light followed, and more Magic Artifacts, weapons, Pills, talisman papers appeared on the ground...
Wow...are these all newly captured? Were there still so many enemies blocked by the disciples of the Heavenly Master Mansion outside?
Speaking of which...after returning to the capital, I must personally thank Zhang, basic etiquette cannot be neglected...
Also, is Zhang so considerate? Specifically sending people to help me, it feels like there’s a motive...Zhao Douan was both surprised and happy, rubbing his hands like a fly.
Xu Zhenguan glanced at the "Imperial Consort," who seemed inexperienced with the world, reminding:
"If you want these, you can have them all. But let me remind you, be careful not to be greedy. You don’t currently need too many miscellaneous Magic Artifacts, martial arts skills, Magic techniques, the correct thinking is focusing intensely on a singular path."
Zhao Douan immediately calmed down and nodded earnestly:
"Your Majesty is right."
Previously, when he fought Tianhai, he defeated him with ease, seemingly effortlessly, but in fact, the short period simultaneously supported both himself and Pei Niannu, greatly depleting his Inner Strength.
In other words, his current strength lies in his Dual Cultivation of techniques and martial arts, with an astonishing short-term burst of strength exceeding that of the same rank.
The drawback is it doesn’t last, unable to fight a prolonged battle.
"With Pei Niannu present, I need only collect Suppressing Objects for her use, focusing on martial arts myself, but each time I use Pei Niannu, my body gets drained..."
Zhao Douan pondered:
"Therefore, what I should pursue is short-term burst power, rather than mastering more techniques, Zhenbao reminds me to avoid being greedy and distracted, focusing intensely on a singular path, which is the reasoning."
Seeing him lost in thought, Xu Zhenguan continued:
"Once we return to the capital and stabilize the situation, I’ll take you to see the next scroll of the Martial God Map, ’Human World.’"
The third scroll following "Martial God Map," ’Six Chapters Scripture’? Zhao Douan curiously asked: "What is it?"
Xu Zhenguan rarely fell silent for a moment and then shook her head:
"I can’t say for sure, each person sees differently. I once speculated it might be another world."