Chapter 285 - Zhu Houzhao's Rejection and Purpose, the Schemes of Ying Zheng and Li Shimin, the Long-Awaited Chance for Revenge Has Finally Come

Ming Imperial Harem.

Zhu Houzhao was leisurely enjoying the fruits handed to him by Zhao Min.

Pleasant songs rang in his ears.

Ever since he had helped rescue Prince Ruyang, Zhao Min's attitude had changed dramatically.

She even started taking the initiative.

These past few days have been quite relaxing for him.

And he was thoroughly enjoying it.

"Your Majesty, we've just received a secret report!"

"Oh?"

Zhu Houzhao immediately took the report and scanned it quickly.

Interesting. As expected, chaos had erupted.

"Tolui actually rebelled just like that?"

"What happened to Temujin? He just watched Tolui escape without doing anything to stop it?"

"Your Majesty, this Prince Tolui is no ordinary figure. The people he has gathered in secret are beyond imagination."

"Compared to Ogedei, he's even more formidable."

"He received the news right away and, with the help of many, successfully escaped."

"Of course, there were also a few battles along the way."

"But Tolui's side won each of them."

"Temujin is laughable. He can't even handle a mere rebellion by his son."

"Temujin has grown old!"

"He's no longer the formidable opponent I once feared."

"I overestimated him. After suffering two crushing defeats at the hands of the Southern Song Dynasty, his spirit, along with his age, has sunk into the dust."

"Your Majesty, should we now target the forces of Tolui and the other three Princes, or Temujin himself?"

"Of course Temujin."

"His threat, even if old and weakened, is still enormous."

"The weaker his forces, the more at ease I'll be!"

Although Ogedei and Tolui, the sons of Temujin, were impressive in their own right.

They were still far too inexperienced.

Completely incomparable to Temujin.

Moreover.

Who could say for sure if Temujin was only pretending to be weak?

The achievements of the once peerless Genghis Khan in his previous life had left a deep impression on him.

Someone like that could never be underestimated.

Those who truly looked down on him would surely meet a tragic end.

"Your Majesty, since Temujin is still such a great threat, why don't I personally go and strike him down in one blow? Eliminate this greatest threat once and for all!"

Dark One immediately suggested.

Zhu Houzhao was moved for a moment.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

This was the battle for the Nine Provinces, not some assassination mission or Martial World skirmish.

Moreover, to devour the National Fortune of the Yuan Dynasty, it had to be done through proper warfare. Only by destroying the nation through open war could he maximize the benefits.

If he resorted to assassination.

Even if he won.

He would lose most of the National Fortune. That was not the outcome he wanted.

Only after recently studying the National Fortune of the Qing Dynasty and Southern Song Dynasty in depth did he uncover this characteristic.

A war of annihilation had to be open and aboveboard.

That was the only way to feel satisfied.

Assassination may be quicker, but the benefits would be far fewer.

It was not something he would accept.

In any case, he had the confidence and capability to achieve this.

He wanted to claim the entire National Fortune.

And the Yuan Dynasty had to be annihilated.

He wanted both.

"No need. Immediately notify the Azure Dragon Association and have them dispatch more Heavenly Human Realm cultivators and Mythical Realm cultivators to the Yuan Dynasty."

"Eliminate the Tantric monks who are collaborating with Temujin."

"The main objective of this campaign is to weaken the national strength of the Yuan Dynasty and cause internal division."

"Let them consume each other and fight amongst themselves."

"The more intense, the better."

"As for the lives of Temujin and the Four Princes, let fate decide. There's no need to deal with them now."

"Once the final battle between the Ming Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty comes, we'll settle all accounts then."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will issue the orders immediately."

==========

Qin Imperial Palace.

"Your Majesty, I've just received a secret report. The Yuan Dynasty has fallen into total chaos."

"All Four Princes have rebelled, and Temujin's fighting spirit is completely lost."

"He is no longer the once peerless cultivator he used to be."

"From what I estimate, if the Ming Emperor were to launch a war of annihilation now, there's over a 50% chance he could succeed in one battle."

"Any other critical information?"

"All the spies we had planted in the Yuan Capital have been eradicated."

"I need to send in more people to infiltrate the Yuan Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, should we take action against the Yuan Dynasty and claim a share of the spoils?"

The head of the Black Ice Platform reported to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"No, in fact, just the opposite."

"We must help the Yuan Dynasty. Ideally, we should help Temujin suppress the rebellion of the Four Princes."

"As long as Temujin reunifies the dynasty, he will become a deadly threat to the Ming Dynasty."

To Ying Zheng, the threat posed by Temujin could not compare to that of Zhu Houzhao.

Using Temujin to check Zhu Houzhao.

Using the Yuan Dynasty to check the Ming Dynasty, why not?

If they wiped out the Yuan Dynasty just for a bit of profit and strengthened the Ming Dynasty instead.

Wouldn't that be a huge loss?

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will immediately dispatch another group from the Black Ice Platform."

"Let's cause more trouble for the Ming Dynasty."

"Also, we can form secret alliances with the other dynasties to weaken the Ming Dynasty's national strength together."

"You take charge of this. I only care about the outcome."

==========

Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

"Despicable! That wretched Temujin actually slaughtered all the spies I had placed in the Yuan Dynasty!"

Li Shimin glared at the secret report with a dark expression.

"Your Majesty, do we need to send more spies?"

"Mm, there's no rush for that just yet."

After hearing Yuan Tiangang's words, Li Shimin instead calmed down.

A contemplative look appeared on his face.

After a long silence, he spoke words that shocked Bu Liangshuai.

"No, I've changed my mind."

"This time, we will no longer target the Yuan Dynasty or Temujin, but the Ming Dynasty!"

"We will help the Yuan Dynasty eliminate the spies from the Ming Dynasty."

"We will help Temujin crush the rebellion of the Four Princes and reunify the Yuan Dynasty."

"Only a strong Yuan Dynasty can bring more trouble to the Ming Dynasty."

"Every bit that weakens the Ming Dynasty brings countless benefits to our Tang Dynasty."

"Master Yuan, send more powerful cultivators there."

"We don't need to clash directly with the Ming Dynasty. Let the Yuan Dynasty take care of that."

"The more brutal the war between Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, the better it is for the Tang Dynasty!"

==========

Northern Song Imperial Palace.

"Your Majesty, I've just received news. Internal strife in the Yuan Dynasty is growing more intense."

"Hahaha! Excellent! Temujin finally has his day!"

"He used to be so arrogant, even made me lose face many times. Now that he's fallen this low, it's truly satisfying."

"Your Majesty, although our Song Dynasty is enemies with the Yuan Dynasty."

"Right now, we must not let them be destroyed."

"If the Yuan Dynasty falls, the one to benefit most would be the Ming Dynasty."

"Compared to the Yuan Dynasty, the threat from the Ming Dynasty is far greater."

"This time, we will send powerful cultivators to the Yuan Dynasty. On the surface, it's to weaken them."

"But in secret, we must help Temujin reunify the Yuan Dynasty."

"Only if he becomes strong again will he have the strength to resist the Ming Dynasty."

"This will also buy us more time."

Huang Shang quickly advised.

"What? Help that barbarian Temujin?"

"Impossible. The humiliation he gave me, I wish nothing more than to kill him with my own hands. How could I help him?"

"Minister Huang, do not speak of this again."

Just as Huang Shang was about to continue persuading him, Zhao Ji's face darkened.

He immediately roared in anger.

Rejecting Huang Shang's proposal outright.

In the past, Temujin's diplomatic envoys had humiliated Zhao Ji time and time again, causing him to lose face.

This made Zhao Ji hold deep resentment toward Temujin.

Now, finally presented with a chance for revenge, how could he let it go?

As for the benefits Huang Shang mentioned, he understood them.

But whenever he thought of the disgrace brought by Temujin, he could not bear it.

If he didn't vent his anger, he felt like he would go mad.

In that instant.

Zhao Ji chose a path completely opposite from that of Ying Zheng and Li Shimin.