Chapter 2785 - 2784: Four Uprisings in Great Songg

Chapter 2785: Chapter 2784: Four Uprisings in Great Songg

The Human Realm Heavenly Court’s occupation of the Immortal Realm Celestial Court quickly spread across Four Directions Earth Immortal Continent.

Upon receiving the news, the Ancient Demon Clan cursed loudly in Peacock Valley.

They had barely warmed the Celestial Court’s seat before being driven away by the court’s army.

The Witch Tribe in Northern Jambu Continent was equally dissatisfied.

They were organizing troops, ready to wage war against the heavens and annihilate demons.

Who would have thought that the Celestial Court would change hands, with the Jade Emperor himself announcing abdication?

This ruler of the Human Realm Heavenly Court appears to be a fierce character, having chased off the Ancient Demon Clan upon arrival.

Even if they reoccupy the Celestial Court now, they won’t have the same power to command vassals as before.

Both sides, one in Western Cow Hee Continent, the other in Northern Jambu Continent, have temporarily ceased action, conserving strength and waiting for the opportune moment.

The previously turbulent Celestial Court has finally encountered a period of stability.

The Celestial Court is now peaceful, but the Earth Immortal Realm has encountered significant issues.

Huizong is muddleheaded and unprincipled, trusting treacherous ministers.

Righteous armies have arisen in the southeastern provinces, with the strongest rebel king, Fang La, even proclaiming himself emperor in South Yangtze Province.

The slightly weaker rebel king, Wang Qing, occupies half of Huai Province.

The Northern Barbarian King of the northern grassland tribes has also rebelled, pressing heavily on Yan Yun Sixteen Provinces, capturing cities and villages along the way, causing countless casualties among the Great Songg Dynasty’s citizens under the Northern Barbarian Country’s iron cavalry and butcher knives.

As government forces fled, the rebel Tian Hu in Yan Province took the opportunity to raise the flag in revolt.

Duke Chao Gai also rallied a team of troops, capturing the entire Lu State territory within a month.

The other rebels do not concern Huizong; the Northern Barbarian Country’s barbaric and untrainable nature has always been a northern border plague for the Great Songg.

Fang La, Wang Qing, Tian Hu, and the like are all just civilian rebels.

But the rebellion of Duke Chao Gai enraged Huizong.

The Chao Gai family held Lu State hereditary title.

Receiving the emperor’s rewards yet committing acts of rebellion.

Lu State lies north of the Capital City, past Yang Valley Pass they can drive straight into the Imperial Capital area.

He will not allow others to sleep soundly beside his pillow.

Huizong thundered in the court, ordering Privy Council Envoy Tong Guan to immediately deploy forces to eliminate Chao Gai within a month.

Tong Guan, upon receiving the command, delegated the task to Grand Commandant Gao Qiu, with a half-month deadline.

Gao Qiu was deeply troubled, as rebel kings rose everywhere, and the court’s forces were already stretched thin.

Among the eighty thousand Imperial Army, ten thousand under Marquis Wu Lin Chong were dispatched to the southeast to suppress Wang Qing and Fang La.

Of the remaining seventy thousand Imperial Army, twenty thousand defended the north against the Feral People.

Only fifty thousand remained, needing to protect the Imperial Capital’s area.

He had no available Imperial Army to mobilize, having to rely on garrison troops near Lu State.

The Great Songg Dynasty possesses four types of armed forces: Imperial Army, Garrison Troops, Militia, and Feudal Troops.

The Imperial Army is the most elite in equipment and the most formidable fighting force in the Great Songg.

Garrison Troops are stationed locally, funded by local finances, and recruited and trained by local officials.

Their combat capability is slightly inferior.

Militia and Feudal Troops are even less dependable, one being a civilian force, the other a feudal kingdom’s army; they exist merely as supplementary forces in peacetime.

Upon receiving Tong Guan’s order, Gao Qiu feigned illness, wanting Tong Guan to send someone else.

Tong Guan, learning of this, sent an Imperial Physician along with supplements and even a headless chicken.

The implication was clear: if Gao Qiu continued delaying, he would make an example by executing him.

Gao Qiu had no choice but to call on his staff officer for advice.

One advised, "Grand Commandant, there is currently one person who could eliminate Chao Gai’s bandits."

Gao Qiu asked, "Who?"

This person responded, "Duke of Qi, Song Gongming!"

"Him?"

Gao Qiu’s expression instantly darkened, saying, "This person seeks fame, has retainers all over the country, and befriends heroes and warriors across the land, surpassing Chao Gai by threefold. If released, wouldn’t that be releasing a tiger back into the mountain?"

The staff officer said, "However, at the moment, the only one who can subdue Chao Gai is Song Gongming. If he doesn’t emerge, the Privy Council Envoy will certainly hold the Grand Commandant accountable."

Gao Qiu rubbed his head and said, "This Song Jiang, in the past, offended Chancellor Cai to protect King of Western Xia. If I release him, the Prime Minister will certainly blame me. What should I do?"

The staff officer said, "As for the Prime Minister, it’s a simple issue. Song Gongming has no conflict of interest with the Prime Minister. As long as Song Gongming is willing to work for us, the Prime Minister won’t give him too much trouble."

"Enough, for the sake of my head, I will pay a visit to the Prime Minister’s Mansion!"

Gao Qiu sighed, stood up, and ordered his men to prepare a carriage and horses to head to Cai Jing’s residence.

Meanwhile, he ordered his men to bring generous gifts, enough to fill an entire cart.

The Prime Minister, holding high authority, has embezzled an unknown amount of wealth from the government, yet remains insatiable like Gluttony.

As long as it’s gold, silver, or jewels, there is nothing the Prime Minister doesn’t like.

Upon arriving at the Prime Minister’s Residence, he presented his plaque to the gatekeepers and had some leisurely tea in the guest hall.

The mansion’s steward greeted him and led Gao Qiu to the inner hall to meet Cai Jing.

As soon as Gao Qiu saw Cai Jing, he knelt on the ground, covered his face, and tearfully implored, "Prime Minister, save me!"

Cai Jing, sipping his tea, inquired, "Grand Commandant Gao, what is the meaning of this?"

Gao Qiu complained, "Chao Gai has rebelled, and Your Majesty is furious, ordering the Privy Council Envoy to crush Chao Gai’s rebels within a month. The Privy Council Envoy has commanded me to lead the forces immediately, granting me merely a fortnight. As the Prime Minister is aware, great forces are deployed everywhere, and I have not a single soldier under my command. To quell Chao Gai’s rebellion, I boldly request the Prime Minister to employ one person."

Cai Jing curiously asked, "Who is it? Who holds such importance to warrant your attention, Grand Commandant Gao?"

Gao Qiu, with a firm heart, reported, "Duke of Qi, Song Gongming!"

"Audacious!"

Cai Jing indeed became angry, slapped the table, and rose, saying, "Well, Grand Commandant Gao, have you no regard for me?"

Gao Qiu continuously kowtowed, saying, "What does the Prime Minister mean? I have always treated the Prime Minister with the utmost respect, like a father; how could I dare to offend the Prime Minister!"

Cai Jing chuckled, "It’s laughable that you say such a thing. You know well that Song Gongming has always been my mortal enemy. Should I release this tiger back into the mountain, allowing him to stifle rebels and gain merit, how could I still have peace within the court?"

Gao Qiu’s forehead began to sweat, and he continually bowed, saying, "I deserve death! I was only concerned with myself and forgot the Prime Minister’s predicament. I am guilty, and request punishment from the Prime Minister."

Cai Jing waved his sleeve, saying, "You are a dignified Grand Commandant, not some house servant of mine. Such behavior is simply unbecoming. Since you’ve acknowledged your mistake, withdraw now. If you mention this again, I definitely won’t let you off lightly."

Gao Qiu breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and quickly withdrew.

He was deeply troubled, nearly wishing to return and beat his staff officer.

But upon reflection, this Cai Jing truly is unreasonable.

He has served Cai Jing diligently for years, nearly like a dog, yet now faced with calamity, the old man shows no leniency.

Gao Qiu solidified his resolve; it didn’t matter if he offended Cai Jing or not, death awaited either way.

He didn’t return to his residence, instead directing his carriage towards Privy Council Envoy Tong Guan’s mansion.

This superior, having ordered him to lead forces, must at least provide him some benefits.

If you want a horse to run fast, you must feed it grass; where in the world would such a thing as this exist where you don’t reward a horse for its speed?