Chapter 305 - Cooperation and Conspiracy?! A Chance Encounter with the Three Brothers, Ranking Updated

"Bad Marshal, why don't the two of us cooperate this time?"

Wei Liao suddenly thought of something and smiled slightly.

"You want to join forces with me to deal with the Vast Sea Dynasty?"

"At least in the current Northern Song Dynasty situation, let's eliminate the Vast Sea Dynasty first."

"As for the Ming Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty, we'll reconsider after that."

"From what I've investigated recently, the benefits of the Northern Song Dynasty are beyond imagination."

"If the two of us take it, the foundations of the Qin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty will certainly ascend to a higher level."

"That would just solve the deficiency in the Tang Dynasty's foundation."

"So, what do you say?"

Bad Marshal was moved.

"How do we deal with them? With Jia Xu's cunning, it's nearly impossible to outwit him."

"If we fail, we'll end up being the ones outplayed. The consequences are unthinkable."

"Hehe, ever since I learned of the Northern Song Dynasty's conquest of Great Li Kingdom, I've already started laying out a strategy."

"By then, all I need is for you to cooperate with me."

Wei Liao looked relaxed.

Bad Marshal, Yuan Tiangang, had a deep and thoughtful gaze.

He looked deeply at Wei Liao and fell silent for a while.

Then nodded, "Alright, I'll cooperate with you this once. Don't let me down."

"Whenever it's time to act, have someone notify me at once."

"You should know where I am."

As soon as Yuan Tiangang finished speaking, he didn't linger.

He grabbed the unconscious Duan Siping and flew off into the distance.

Watching the retreating Bad Marshal, Wei Liao smiled with interest, "Yuan Tiangang, Bad Marshal, is indeed a talent. For Li Shimin to have such a subject is a stroke of fortune."

"What a pity. In the end, he cannot be used by my Qin Dynasty."

Though his words sounded regretful, there wasn't the slightest trace of sorrow in his tone.

"However, now is not the time to deal with the Tang Dynasty and Yuan Tiangang."

"The Qin Dynasty's greatest enemies are the Ming Dynasty and the Vast Sea Dynasty."

"Only after eliminating these two dynasties can we target the Tang Dynasty next."

"Yuan Tiangang is also the best chess piece to deal with those two dynasties."

"For now, he cannot be discarded."

"Once the Ming Dynasty and Vast Sea Dynasty are destroyed, the Tang Dynasty and Yuan Tiangang must not be spared."

"Hmm, I need to plan this carefully. One misstep and it'll all fall apart."

"Destroying the great dynasties of the Nine Provinces is far harder than unifying the Six Kingdoms."

==========

Qin Imperial Palace.

Ying Zheng pursed his lips and tightly gripped the Heaven Questioning Sword at his waist.

Wei Liao making it onto the Advisor Ranking made him unsure whether to be pleased or frustrated.

Only Rank 4?

How could that be possible?

Wei Liao's immense talent didn't even make the top three.

Impossible.

Although Rank 4 wasn't bad, compared to the top three, it still fell short.

Ying Zheng was somewhat displeased, but the officials below, Shang Yang and Li Si, were filled with excitement.

Wei Liao being ranked meant the Qin Dynasty's National Fortune had improved once again.

That was the greatest gain of all.

Future operations would also go more smoothly.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. With this, our Qin Dynasty's hope of unifying the Nine Provinces has risen yet again."

"Moreover, with Wei Liao receiving a Heaven Dao Reward, he will surely gain much from this journey to the Northern Song Dynasty."

"He has never disappointed us."

"Not in the past, not now, and never will in the future."

Back during the Qin Dynasty's unification of the Six Kingdoms.

Wei Liao helped Ying Zheng overcome countless challenges.

Any issue that arose was resolved immediately by him.

Nothing had ever stumped him.

Not during the war to unify the Six Kingdoms.

And not in the future, when the Qin Dynasty seeks to unify the Nine Provinces.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, someone from the Black Ice Platform is requesting an audience outside the hall."

"A secret message from Lord Wei Liao has been delivered."

Soon, a member of the Black Ice Platform entered the hall and handed a well-hidden secret letter to Ying Zheng on the dragon throne.

Ying Zheng remained silent for quite a while.

Only after a long pause did he speak in a heavy tone, "This seems to be the first time Wei Liao has requested reinforcements from me."

"It appears that the situation within the Northern Song Dynasty is more serious than expected."

"The Ming Dynasty, Vast Sea Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Sui Dynasty, and even a deeply hidden Han Dynasty have all begun to implement their plans in the Northern Song Dynasty Territory."

"Except for the Yuan Dynasty, still mired in internal chaos, it seems every other dynasty is involved."

"The Qin Dynasty's victory is not all that certain."

"Immediately summon the Black Ice Platform Vice-Leader and order him to dispatch a thousand elite agents to secretly enter the Northern Song Dynasty Territory in waves."

"They are to report directly to Wei Liao and follow his every instruction."

"Also, send forces from both the Shadow Secret Guard and the Net Trap to support him. They must follow Wei Liao's orders without question."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Even Shang Yang and Li Si were visibly surprised.

So many reinforcements?

Could the Northern Song Dynasty's situation really be that dire?

However, Ying Zheng gave no further explanation.

The matter was too significant to be revealed lightly.

==========

Former Southern Song Dynasty.

Now Vast Sea Dynasty Territory.

At this moment, Duan Yu, Xu Zhu, and Xiao Feng were traveling through the region, observing the rapid changes within the former Southern Song Dynasty lands.

They couldn't help but be shocked.

In just a few short months.

The people who had once lived under the Southern Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty now found themselves ruled by the Vast Sea Dynasty.

Yet their lives had improved tenfold, no, a hundredfold.

At the very least, in the past, countless civilians starved to death.

Natural and man-made disasters were endless.

But now?

Though they had not yet reached the point of full sustenance, at least people no longer died so easily.

In fact, even if someone found life unbearable.

They could actively seek out government officials.

The officials would personally assign them work.

They might not live a luxurious life.

But at least they could survive.

They could eat their fill each day, and even earn a few copper coins a month as extra income.

Even Xiao Feng, accustomed to life and death, was moved by the Vast Sea Dynasty's benevolent rule.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, I've decided to join the Vast Sea Dynasty and do something for the people of the world!"

At that moment, Xiao Feng seemed to have come to a realization. A wave of heroic spirit surged within his heart.

He turned to Xu Zhu and Duan Yu beside him.

These days, Xiao Feng had felt a deep frustration.

Even a sense of confusion.

He didn't know what he was living for.

Within the Song Dynasty, he was caught between Northern Song Dynasty and Liao Kingdom, torn between two sides.

Now that the Song Dynasty and Liao Kingdom were at war, he didn't even know which side to support.

They were all mortal enemies.

He himself likely had no place in either nation.

In this vast world, he found he had nowhere to go.

Yet upon arriving in the Vast Sea Dynasty, and seeing how differently the people lived compared to other nations.

A thought flashed through his mind.

Join the Vast Sea Dynasty.

Maybe here, he could find the meaning of his life.

"Big Brother, I support you!"

"Yeah, Big Brother, I support you too!"

"If the Song Dynasty cannot accept you, then make a name for yourself in the Vast Sea Dynasty."

"But with my current status, I don't know if the Vast Sea Dynasty would even accept me."

Encouraged by his two brothers, Xiao Feng was inexplicably stirred.

But then, he became a bit troubled.

His identity was unique. Even the Vast Sea Dynasty might not be able to accept him.

After all, in the eyes of the world, he was still seen as a complete villain.

"Oh? Brother, you wish to join the Vast Sea Dynasty?"

Just then.

Two figures approached from not far away.

One wore a blue robe, looked like a refined gentleman, and held a folding fan with an elegant demeanor.

The other wore a scholar's robe, held a feather fan, and his eyes gleamed with intelligence.

Seeing their extraordinary appearance and aura.

The three brothers immediately developed a favorable impression.

"I am Xiao Feng (Xu Zhu, Duan Yu). Greetings to both gentlemen!"

"Hahaha, so it's the famous Gang Master of the Beggar Gang. A pleasure to meet you!"

"I am Mu Yi. This is my good friend, Kongming."

"Greetings, friends!"

"Since fate has brought us together, why don't I treat you three to a drink?"

The three brothers looked at each other and were about to nod in agreement.

Suddenly.

A golden glow radiated from the sky.

"Eh? What a coincidence!"

"A new ranking is about to appear!"

"Come, let's find a tavern, have a drink, and chat!"

With that, the two led the three brothers toward the nearest restaurant.

At the same time.

One by one, the characters on the Golden Ranking board in the sky began to appear.