Chapter 62: Forcing the Goddess to Abdicate and Pleading for Her Permission!
Military camp.
Cheng Hui relayed the information he received from the intelligence department to Hu Dazhu and the others.
He frowned. "The army from Jinzhou is heading towards Anling. They will reach the border of Anling in six or seven days."
Hu Dazhu asked in surprise, "So fast?"
Cheng Hui explained, "It's not the army from Jinzhou, but the army from Yuanxi County, which is separated from Anling by Sifang County."
"Yuanxi County." Fang Qin's mind flashed across the map. "We must quickly send troops to ambush the enemy in Sifang County and drive them back!"
He laughed and said, "We can't let these guys enter Anling's territory and stop us from holding the finals of the Autumn Games!"
Hu Dazhu laughed upon hearing this, “That’s right, I’m really looking forward to the strawberries and lychees that the Goddess will give as prizes in the finals.”
He licked his lips. "I've never eaten a lychee in my life!"
I'd never even heard of strawberries.
He rallied his spirits, "Gather the troops immediately, let's rout them!"
The army in Jinzhou couldn't do anything to us, let alone the army in Yuanxi County!
"Wait a minute," Xiang Yuesheng suddenly spoke up, seemingly lost in thought. "Don't you guys think something's a little off?"
Something's not right? Ning Huai'an closed his eyes. "Since Hu Lin can mobilize the garrison of Yuanxi County to fight us, why doesn't he just mobilize the troops of Sifang County?"
Fang Qin's mind flashed through the map again, and he was suddenly startled. "If we send the army of Sifang County directly, no matter how fast we counterattack, we will be fighting the enemy on our own Anling County territory."
Xiang Yuesheng said, "But if we send the Yuanxi County army, our battle will most likely take place in the Sifang County."
Hu Dazhu understood, and his face darkened. "You mean Hu Lin doesn't really want to fight us, but just wants us to leave Anling County?"
Ning Huai'an frowned. "What is Hu Lin trying to do?"
Cheng Hui said, "Let's go see the goddess and report this matter to her first."
However, they all knew very well that no matter what Hu Lin's purpose was, since the Yuanxi County army had already come to Anling, they had to attack and defeat the enemy outside Anling County.
Hu Dazhu and Cheng Hui went to see He Qinglan to report.
He Qinglan's lips curled up slightly. "It's alright. You can lead your troops there. Repel the enemy as soon as possible and come back to hold the sports meet."
Hu Dazhu was still worried. "But what if they have some other purpose and threaten the people of Anling County? Wouldn't that be..."
He suddenly thought of something and said, "Goddess, why don't Huai'an lead the army out of Sifang County to meet the enemy this time, while I stay behind with the men to guard Anling and protect the Goddess and the people!"
Cheng Hui nodded in agreement, "That's good. Huang Dade hasn't come back yet, so it's good that Hu Dazhu is staying."
He Qinglan said, "No need. You can fight as you please. I'll continue as usual here."
Cheng Hui and Hu Dazhu exchanged a glance, then looked up at He Qinglan.
Hu Dazhu was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. He tentatively asked, "Do you already know Hu Lin's purpose?"
Cheng Hui's eyes flickered slightly. "Could it be related to that matter? You... are you going fishing?"
Fishing? Hu Dazhu's pupils contracted.
He Qinglan said indifferently, "Go."
Cheng Hui cupped his hands in greeting, "Yes."
Hu Dazhu: "..." He also bowed to the goddess, "Yes."
After the two left the Goddess's Palace, Hu Dazhu hurriedly asked Cheng Hui, "Old Cheng, you said the Goddess was fishing..."
Cheng Hui nodded, "Yes, fishing." We've been turning a blind eye all this time because the goddess wants to go fishing.
Hu Dazhu said anxiously, "...But since we know there will be danger, how can we do nothing? What if the goddess gets hurt because of this..."
Cheng Hui said, "Don't worry, I'll go to the city guard team to see Zhang Shouliang and Feng Yao right away and have them increase patrols."
Huang Dade was not there, but the rest of the city guards were there, as were most of the guards.
The army immediately mustered its troops, equipped them, and made a solemn oath before leaving Anling County, heading towards Sifang County.
The people were not too worried, as long as the army could defeat the enemy in Sifang County, the flames of war would not reach them.
It's just that I can't help feeling anxious: we're about to have the finals of the sports meet, and the people from Yuanxi County are really annoying!
The publicity department continued preparations for the sports meet.
Contestants from various regions who were going to participate in the finals set off for Anneung County to prepare for the competition.
Unbeknownst to the common people, a coup attempt had occurred within the county at that time.
The night after the army set off, the group secretly assembled and headed straight for the Goddess's Palace with their weapons.
Leading the way were Chen Changhai and Jiang Feng, who remained at the military camp.
Chen Changhai was originally from Yunhe County. He was among the first batch of guards in Yunhe County. He fought several battles to defend Yunhe with Hu Dazhu and also followed Hu Dazhu to conquer other counties, displaying great bravery.
After the army was established, he was appointed as a centurion.
Later, he distinguished himself in the attack on Anling County and was appointed as a captain of the infantry battalion by Hu Dazhu.
Jiang Feng was originally a minor officer in the garrison of Tianshui County. After the army from Yunhe County captured Tianshui County, he was forced to defect to Yunhe.
After the army was established, he was incorporated into the cavalry battalion.
He trained diligently and fought bravely, which caught Ning Huai'an's eye, leading to his promotion to centurion.
After being contacted by the envoy from Maozhou, the two men developed other ideas.
Seeing this, the envoy added fuel to the fire, "With your abilities, if you could follow my lord to conquer the world, you would surely be appointed as a Grand General in the future when your merits are rewarded!"
"But if the goddess has no interest in the world, what future do you have to offer?"
Shining gold and silver jewelry, and promises of high-ranking official positions and generous salaries.
They were tempted.
What Sun Yannan wanted was the goddess and the entire Anling.
Chen Changhai and Jiang Feng, as the leaders of this coup, led the hundreds of people they had persuaded and bribed from Maozhou, and while Hu Dazhu and Ning Huai'an's army was engaged in battle, they rushed straight towards the Goddess's Mansion.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky.
They killed the fiercely resisting guards of the Goddess's Palace, took control of the other guards, and then broke down the gate. Half of them rushed in, carrying torches.
"Subdue the goddess first; we can't let her leave the goddess's residence," Chen Changhai said in a deep voice.
The subordinate replied, "Yes."
Chen Changhai paused slightly, then said, "Be careful, don't hurt the goddess!"
Subordinate: "...Yes!"
Jiang Feng led his men straight into the study, but no one was there.
The bedroom was empty.
The reception room was empty.
They looked at each other. "Could it be that the goddess has gone out?"
"No, the goddess did not go out today."
Where did the goddess go?
"That little girl Qiutang isn't here either!"
"Did she know about us, so she came ahead of time...?"
"No...no way..."
"Find the goddess quickly!"
"We must not let the goddess go out."
Their goal was to quickly subdue the goddess before the main army returned.
When the city guards arrive, they will have no choice but to act cautiously.
However, if the goddess leaves the goddess's palace and alarms the people of the city, they will find it very difficult to capture the goddess from the people's encirclement and protection.
That would be troublesome; they would only be able to kill more people.
Are you looking for me?
The goddess's indifferent voice suddenly came from above, causing everyone to look up.
Under the moonlight, the goddess sat on the roof of the study, calmly looking down at them.
Qiu Tang stood behind her, her small face full of anger, glaring at them furiously.
Everyone was startled.
They had been eager to find the goddess, but now that they had actually seen her, some of them felt a little guilty and subconsciously dared not look at her.
Chen Changhai and Jiang Feng exchanged a glance, then stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
Chen Changhai: "Please forgive us, Goddess, we have something to discuss with you!"
Jiang Feng: "Please, Goddess, hear us out."
No matter how determined they were, now that they were face to face with He Qinglan, they still didn't dare to use knives and guns directly.
If only we could directly persuade the goddess...
He Qinglan's eyes shone brightly in the moonlight.
She said, "Go ahead and speak."
"We implore the goddess, for the sake of the people of Anling County, to agree to cooperate with the governor of Maozhou!"
Chen Changhai knelt on the ground, speaking respectfully as he made his request, but his eyes were fixed on He Qinglan, his gaze flickering with a mixture of expectation and complexity.
To his surprise, the goddess remained seated high above, her cold face showing no emotion whatsoever.
She looked at them calmly and listened to their pleas.
Did the goddess not know that she was being forced to abdicate, or did she simply not care?
Chen Changhai's heart skipped a beat.
But from the moment he accepted the olive branch extended by Maozhou, it was destined that he would lead his people to turn against He Qinglan.
They must force the goddess to agree before Hu Dazhu and Ning Huai'an return.
Chen Changhai bowed again, “Goddess, the world is in chaos today. The governors of each state must seize the opportunity to secure their future! If our Anling County can cooperate with Sun Yannan and assist him in gaining the world, we will be the founding heroes!”
"Only by actively participating can everyone in Anling County avoid becoming someone else's prey!"
"If you're willing to take care of us, giving us food and shelter, please also consider our future! Let us find a way out!"
Sun Yannan's envoy is right. Anling County is developing very well now, with both money and troops!
The goddess, however, chose to remain in her secluded corner and rejected Sun Yannan.
What about their future? Are they just going to stand by and watch others conquer the world? They could very well have gotten a share of the spoils in this chaotic world!
Kneeling beside Chen Changhai, Jiang Feng couldn't help but say, "Isn't the Goddess the kindest of all? If you're willing to bless us, why not bless us to the very end?"
His voice was filled with intense resentment: "We are all commoners, our fathers were commoners, and our descendants are commoners. We are born to be oppressed by those nobles and high-ranking officials! Now, an opportunity to change our fate is right in front of us. Once we seize this opportunity, we can realize our ambitions in the future!"
"We might just be able to be ennobled and appointed as prime ministers!"
Yes, everyone who stands against the goddess at this moment has sufficient reason:
I did this for the people of Anling County, so that everyone could have a better future.
For my family, for my descendants.
Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny? People from other states can do it, so why can't I?
Isn't it true that if a person doesn't look out for themselves, they'll be punished by heaven and earth?
They convinced themselves with various reasons that it wasn't that they wanted to betray the goddess, but that the goddess wouldn't allow them to participate in the great struggle.
Moreover, we are not doing anything to betray the goddess. What's wrong with cooperating with Sun Yannan?
From then on, the goddess was able to protect the people of Maozhou and Liangzhou, ensuring that the people of these two places could have enough to eat!
Isn't the goddess supposed to have compassion for all living beings? She can't possibly only have compassion for the people of Anling County, can she?
Their eyes were fixed intently on the goddess, and Chen Changhai's tone was firm and resolute, "We humbly request the goddess's permission!"
He Qinglan looked at them and suddenly said, "When you can't survive, just thinking about being alive is good enough; when there's no food to eat, just thinking about having a bite to eat is good enough; when you're wandering around, just thinking about having a home is good enough."
"When you have enough food and a place to live, you start to want money, power, and to sit on top of others and be the one who oppresses them."
She sighed, "Human nature..."
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Author's Note: I haven't felt like writing at night lately, I'm so frustrated! I managed to finish this chapter this morning despite the pain. [crying emoji]
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