At noon, Shen Zhao summoned Xu Ning to the Supreme Palace and began to inquire about news concerning the Nine Netherworlds of the Sacred Realm.
Bai Qi, Mu Qiuyao, Ji Bingyan, and Liang Hao were also present in the audience.
As for Su Yunying, she really exhausted herself last night and hasn't recovered her energy yet. She's still lying in bed with her eyelids still closed, and Shen Zhao made sure no one disturbed her.
"Elder Shen, my Xu family of the Northern Region has always had business dealings with the Holy Domain. I feel it is necessary to mention to you what has happened in the Holy Domain recently."
Upon hearing this, Mu Qiuyao frowned immediately: "Very well, as the Empress of the Northern Region..."
"I had no idea your Xu family had business dealings with the Holy Domain. That's impressive, truly impressive, hmph..."
Xu Ning shuddered in fright and immediately replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Those are all smuggling businesses, which are not respectable."
"Smuggling? Hmm..."
Mu Qiuyao gave a soft snort and closed her eyes. Li Chu gave an ambiguous smile, which frightened Xu Ning so much that he broke out in a cold sweat and almost knelt down before her.
I heard that the last time I saw Mu Qiuyao laugh like that, the two colleagues whose families were amused by her were all laughing at her.
Shen Zhao interrupted, asking, "Enough with the nonsense. If you don't want the Song of the Nine Clans to be played in your house, tell us what's going on with the Nine Netherworlds."
Xu Ning nodded: "Okay."
He stood up and bowed respectfully to Mu Qiuyao, trying his best to put on a flattering smile so as not to anger the emperor.
Mu Qiuyao didn't even lift her eyelids. She just crossed her legs, leaned to the side of the main chair, and tapped the armrest of the chair rhythmically with her fingertips.
Xu Ning could only helplessly continue, "Based on Her Majesty the Empress's description on the notice board, I can be basically certain that the Nine Netherworld's forces have infiltrated the Holy Domain."
They controlled all sectors of the Holy Domain and had an inseparable connection with the Bashu Prince's Mansion.
Mu Qiuyao suddenly asked, "I've heard that entering and leaving the Holy Domain requires specific passes, and people from other realms can't just come and go as they please. Is that true?"
Xu Ning: "Your Majesty, it is indeed true. This is due to the centuries-old grudges and conflicts between the Great Wilderness and the Holy Domain..."
Therefore, hundreds of years ago, the Holy Domain invited Wu Wangzi, who was proficient in magic.
Barriers were set up at each entrance to the sanctuary to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
Only at the entrance to the Loulan Ancient Path, the only permitted passage,
Only those holding the imperial decree may enter or exit directly.
Shen Zhao: "Then the question arises, since the barrier was set up hundreds of years ago,..."
But the last large-scale conflict between the Holy Land and the Great Wilderness, as I recall, was about thirty years ago, wasn't it?
Xu Ning replied, "There are two external passages to the Great Wilderness, one is on the Loulan Ancient Path, and the other is in Xiliang."
The barrier along the ancient Loulan path has now been set up, except for the Western Liang region, because King Dong Zhongying of Western Liang has a close relationship with the Great Wilderness.
Furthermore, with 200,000 Xiliang cavalry under his command, even Xu Rong, the Prince of Bashu, treated him with respect. Therefore, the Great Feng Dynasty dared not establish a passage barrier to Xiliang.
Mu Qiuyao laughed upon hearing this: "I say, the Great Feng Dynasty is really in a miserable state, plagued by internal strife and war, and threatened by barbarians from the outside."
"Staying alive by setting up a few barriers and closing the country off is worse than changing dynasties sooner."
Xu Ning immediately began to flatter: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. The Great Feng Dynasty is no longer what it used to be."
Today, the court is corrupt, filled with incompetent officials who hold positions without doing any work.
Besides lining their own pockets and exploiting the people, these officials do absolutely nothing else.
Furthermore, the monarch was incompetent and power slipped away, with the Xu family of Western Shu controlling all military and state affairs.
With just a single order from Xu Rong, hundreds of thousands of elite troops from Sichuan and Liangzhou would march south to the capital, Huayang. A change of dynasty would occur in the blink of an eye, requiring absolutely no effort.
Bai Qi lamented, "How many once-powerful empires have collapsed overnight, all due to the neglect of state affairs and the incompetence of their rulers."
His words were pointed, naturally referring to the fate of the previous Yintian Dynasty after Shen Zhao's death.
After a long silence, Shen Zhao continued to ask, "Do you have any more specific information about the Nine Netherworlds you mentioned?"
Xu Ning: "Not many, but the only thing that's certain is..."
It seems that Jiuyou has a close relationship with the Xu family, and it was under Xu Rong's leadership that Jiuyou was able to successfully infiltrate various industries in the Holy Domain.
In short, within the Holy Domain, at least 80% of the trade in essential goods such as medicinal herbs, salt, iron, and silk is controlled by the Nine Netherworlds and the Xu family.
The Great Feng court was merely an empty shell, utterly incapable of restraining Xu Rong's infiltration of the entire Great Feng.
"Ha, I don't know what the Great Feng royal family is thinking." Mu Qiuyao was speechless. "They don't even have control over such important public supplies."
To allow a group of outsiders to monopolize this market—if this doesn't lead to the downfall of the nation, it would be an absolute injustice.
Bai Qi suggested, "Commander Shen, I think we should just storm into the Holy Domain. While sweeping through the Nine Netherworlds, we can also save the people there."
Ji Bingyan shook her head upon hearing this: "What you say is easy, but the problem is how the Demon Realm army will enter the Holy Realm."
There are also many restrictions within the Demon Realm, making it impossible for large armies to leave its territory. The only passage is through the Dao Domain.
Are we supposed to ask Luo Pianhong for passage? That woman is the type who won't act without a sure thing; she won't let you off the hook without ripping you off.
Even if she agrees to let us pass, there's still the Great Wilderness blocking our way. Should we just take the opportunity to destroy the Great Wilderness as well?
Once the Great Wilderness is destroyed, how many more will the demon army lose? Such a counterproductive operation is simply too much of a loss.
Not to mention the provisions, medicines, and other supplies needed for a large army's expedition. Just as Commander Shen said, war is all about logistics and supply.
As the commander-in-chief of the three armies, don't you know this simple truth?
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