No one expected that the Red Shirt Army, which appeared out of nowhere, would grow and expand at such an astonishing speed.
Their every action appeared orderly and without any chaos, even revealing an extraordinary level of discipline and cohesion.
Clearly, this is something a mob could not accomplish.
The conclusion reached after in-depth analysis was shocking—it was all a meticulously planned conspiracy, and the target was Jing Yuan!
This discovery startled Emperor Wenyuan. He had thought he had focused his attention on the Red Lotus Sect, but now he realized that the real threat was hidden in a place he had never paid attention to.
If Li Xi is correct, the leader of the Red Lotus Sect might be a descendant of the Jiang family from the previous dynasty.
So these Red Shirt Army members must also be descendants of the Jiang family!
The most important thing now is to defeat the Red Shirts and retake the occupied cities.
Du Huai led 20,000 elite troops to besiege the Red Shirt Army in Yancheng, but unexpectedly, they were routed by the Red Shirt Army reinforcements that arrived and suffered a series of defeats.
This series of setbacks plunged Emperor Wenyuan into despair.
The retired emperor never expected things to develop to this point.
Although the cult leader has not been found, many of the scourge's hideouts have been eliminated, which at least curbs their arrogance and prevents them from causing too much unrest among the people.
However, this series of setbacks was like a heavy hammer blow, shattering their plans.
The priority now is to quell the rebellion.
Emperor Wenyuan slowly began to speak: "In the end, I underestimated the Red Lotus Sect..."
His voice revealed deep self-blame and helplessness.
The retired emperor stood silently to the side, his face equally solemn, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
The Red Lotus Cult only emerged shortly after his abdication.
The situation has clearly developed beyond their initial expectations, and the circumstances are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to handle.
They originally thought they could easily suppress the Red Lotus Cult, but now they are in an unprecedented crisis. The priority now is to quell the rebellion.
The Red Lotus Cult was so powerful that it secretly cultivated the Red Shirt Army, which suddenly appeared when the Red Lotus Cult was least prepared.
The Emperor Emeritus turned to look out the window. “Remember, the support of the people is the foundation of a nation’s rise and fall. The Red Lotus Sect is able to bewitch people because they harbor resentment. What we need to do is not only quell the rebellion, but also fundamentally solve the people’s livelihood problems, so that they can live and work in peace and expose the hypocritical mask of the Red Lotus Sect.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wenyuan felt enlightened and nodded emphatically, saying, "Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered by your son."
Subsequently, Emperor Wenyuan and the retired emperor entered the imperial study together and summoned the cabinet ministers and the six ministers for an emergency meeting.
Now, only Chu Liang, disguised as Sui Feng, remains by Li Xi's side.
She hadn't received any information lately, so she could only secretly ask him, "Suifeng, hasn't Brother Feng replied yet?"
Sui Feng: "The lord is still in Beiji. The situation in Xiaocheng is quite troublesome, so he can't leave for the time being."
Upon hearing this, Li Xi's brows furrowed with worry. "Is the situation in Beiji really that dire? Will Brother Feng... encounter any danger?"
Sui Feng's eyes flashed with a complex emotion, but he quickly regained his usual composure and calmness. "Holy Maiden, rest assured, the Master is highly skilled in martial arts and possesses exceptional wisdom. He will surely turn danger into safety. Moreover, he has many brothers by his side to assist him, so he is safe. However, this matter is indeed somewhat complicated and requires his personal handling."
"I understand." Li Xi is now in a dilemma.
Bearing the title of "Holy Maiden," she was treated like a mascot within the Red Lotus Sect, and her reputation was promoted everywhere.
But if she leaves directly, all the effort she has put in over the past year will be wasted, and it will also alert the enemy.
Two days later, just as Li Xi was preparing to rest, Old Master Sun suddenly appeared.
Upon seeing Elder Sun, Li Xi immediately sat up in bed and asked impatiently, "Master, is there any news?"
Old Sun nodded slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and then said softly, "Things are much more complicated than we imagined. The Red Shirt Army is indeed a plan that the leader has been planning for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Li Xi's heart sank; she knew what it meant. Since the cult leader had orchestrated such a conspiracy long ago, the danger they faced would be even greater.
Li Xi took a deep breath to calm herself down, and then asked, "Master, what should we do next?"
Old Sun was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "We don't yet have enough evidence to expose the cult leader's conspiracy, but I have already sent people to investigate. At the same time, we must also prepare for any unforeseen circumstances."
Li Xi nodded, indicating that she understood.
The current situation is tense, and any mistake could have serious consequences.
The emperor did not show any suspicion or dissatisfaction towards her for not receiving the "big fish" at the last sacrificial ceremony, which made her feel somewhat at ease.
They launched a thorough investigation among the major families in Kyoto, attempting to find anyone who might be connected to the Crimson Lotus Cult Leader's son.
However, the matter remained unresolved.
When King Liang learned that the Red Shirt Army was the work of the cult leader, he felt a chill run down his spine. He realized that he might have fallen into a trap from which he could not escape.
They began to regret their gullibility and folly, but it was too late.
He never imagined that he would be so thoroughly outmaneuvered by the cult leader.
Originally, King Liang thought that he and the leader of the sect had some kind of tacit understanding, and that they could use each other and get what they needed.
But now it seems that it was all a complete scam.
At this moment, King Liang finally understood that he was nothing more than a pawn in the hands of the cult leader, who could be discarded or sacrificed at any time.
But he was completely oblivious, and was still presumptuously offering advice to the cult leader.
It turns out that the Red Lotus Cult Leader wanted their entire Jingyuan empire!
Although the King of Liang wanted to ascend to the throne, the current situation made him realize that he was too naive.
Forget about the throne; if the Red Shirt Army were to enter the capital, he would probably be the first person the sect leader would sacrifice to the heavens.
But it was too late for him to regret it. Now the Red Shirt Army had captured several cities, and there were countless potential Red Shirt Army members in Jingyuan who could rise up at any time.
He glared at the cult leader, furious. "You used me?"
The cult leader chuckled a few times: "It's your own fault for being so stupid. However, if you surrender to me, I might spare your life once I rise to a high position, allowing you to live a carefree life as a prince and enjoy all the riches and honors."
The cult leader's eyes gleamed with cunning and confidence, as if he had everything under control.
"Surrender? You want me to surrender to a monster like you?" He laughed in fury, his eyes flashing with resentment and determination. "I am of royal blood, how can I bow down to a traitor like you! I swear to protect the peace of Jingyuan with my life, even if it means my death and the annihilation of my soul, I will never compromise!"
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