Chen Zhennan led his army into the border of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it was as if a whirlwind had swept through, making the resistance along the way seem insignificant.
The army advanced swiftly and ruthlessly, like tigers descending a mountain, until it reached the territory of the Great Zhou.
At this moment, Chen Zhennan was secretly pleased with himself and was preparing to lead his army deep into the heart of the Great Zhou, but he was stunned by what he saw.
On the wide streets, countless people knelt down in worship, holding aloft a flag with a six-pointed star on it.
Sunlight streamed through the clouds, and the flags fluttered gently in the breeze, as if telling him something.
Chen Zhennan frowned, vaguely feeling that the flag looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where it came from.
He shook his head, thinking it was just a totem of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and didn't take it to heart.
...
Meanwhile, the political landscape within the Great Zhou court was in turmoil, with arguments erupting everywhere.
The confrontation between the pro-war and pro-surrender factions was like two turbulent currents, colliding and irreconcilable.
Li Guangyi stood in the center of the court, his face solemn and his brows furrowed.
His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the representative of the pro-surrender faction.
"If we do not avenge Her Majesty, how can we be worthy of her sacrifice?"
"Marshal Li, if this drags on any longer, the Great Zhou Dynasty may perish!" A pro-surrender official's voice was hoarse, his face full of anxiety, as if he were worried about the future of the country.
"The fall of a nation? My Great Zhou has well-trained soldiers and ample provisions. Are you willing to submit to the enemy?"
Li Guangyi was burning with rage. His voice, like thunder, shook the entire court. He clenched his fist and pointed out the window, as if he wanted to crush the enemy a thousand miles away in one fell swoop.
Just then, one of Li Guangyi's subordinates suddenly stepped forward, his voice strong and clear: "Marshal Li, why not ascend the throne? Your military achievements are outstanding, your status is noble, and you are the hope of the Great Zhou!"
This statement was like a bombshell, instantly igniting a debate in the imperial court.
Opposition voices surged like a tidal wave, but Li Guangyi's heart was like a stormy tempest, ripples spreading through his mind.
He knew that if he ascended the throne, the burden on his shoulders would be even heavier, and there would be even more opponents; he absolutely could not do it.
"Marshal Li, have you considered how many opposing voices there will be in the court if you were to act rashly?" another minister asked gravely, trying to dissuade him.
"I only want revenge for the Great Zhou!"
Li Guangyi's voice was like a roaring lion, intimidating everyone present.
The atmosphere in the Great Zhou court grew increasingly tense, with ministers arguing incessantly, their voices rising and falling like thunder.
Just then, Zhou Ji, the Minister of Rites, slowly walked into the main hall, followed by a man dressed in black and wearing a black hat.
He had a thick beard, bulging brown eyes as sharp as a hawk's, and a high nose bridge, which seemed to exude a mysterious aura.
"Everyone, please be quiet!"
Zhou Ji spoke loudly, trying to quell the commotion in the court.
Zhou Ji pointed to the man behind him and solemnly introduced him: "This man is Greenberg, a missionary from the West. He has come today to save the people of our Great Zhou from their suffering!"
Upon hearing this, the officials in the court all turned to look at Greenberg, their eyes filled with curiosity and doubt.
Li Guangyi frowned, secretly on guard. He slowly stepped forward, looked directly at Greenberg, and asked, "Missionary, what exactly is your so-called method of salvation?"
Greenberg smiled slightly and said in broken Chinese, "Your Excellency, I represent the will of God. As long as the people of Great Zhou have faith in God, abide by the Law of Moses, value family, and pursue justice and charity, they can usher in a bright future under God's guidance!"
Upon hearing this, Li Guangyi felt a surge of disdain, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips: "What absurd nonsense are you spouting? Do you want the people to abandon their faith and follow the gods you speak of?"
At this moment, something unexpected happened: someone in the court actually stood up to support Greenberg's views, claiming that they were willing to believe in God.
The man exclaimed excitedly, "I have heard of God's greatness and am willing to follow God's guidance to be reborn!"
Seeing this, Li Guangyi was enraged and suddenly drew his sword, its blade flashing as he pointed it directly at Greenberg.
"You outsider, how dare you spread fallacies in my Great Zhou! You are truly audacious!"
Upon seeing this, Zhou Ji felt a pang of anxiety and hurriedly stepped forward to stop Li Guangyi.
"Marshal, don't be anxious. Perhaps we can go out of the city to investigate and understand the people's longing for God."
Li Guangyi's anger had not subsided, but he finally sheathed his sword and said coldly, "Fine, since you insist, I will go out of the city with you."
The group then left the palace together. As they walked out of the palace, they were greeted by a bright and sunny scene. However, despite the sunshine, Li Guangyi's mood was as gloomy as a dark cloud.
He led the crowd down the street, and the people around seemed to be drawn by a mysterious force, their eyes glazed over, as if hypnotized, as they gathered together to listen to a group of foreigners who looked remarkably like Greenberg chanting sutras.
"What...what's going on?"
Li Guangyi was shocked, and his expression became increasingly solemn. Could these outsiders really have such charisma that they could easily manipulate the thoughts of the people?
Marun, standing to the side, looked uneasy and said in a low voice, "It seems that the people's yearning for God has become so strong that if it is not stopped, it may cause unrest."
Li Guangyi took a deep breath. No matter what, I absolutely cannot allow these outsiders to run rampant in my Great Zhou!
At this moment, Greenberg observed quietly from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if he had expected all of this.
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