MMORPG: War God, You are Invincible Again-Chapter 1361 - 337: He Tongzhang’s Resolve
And so, the two of them stayed in this area, with Qin Hong believing the other party hadn’t returned to report yet. After some time, the Feng Family would undoubtedly send people again to investigate if anything had happened.
But Lu Hong felt that the other party wouldn’t come back, and if they didn’t capture the Jin Family’s Titan soon, the Titan would catch wind and flee.
However, this Da Qin belonged to Qin Hong, and Lu Hong just casually suggested it without caring much about who held the reins.
Qin Hong remained confident in his hypothesis, so he continued staying nearby with Lu Hong.
Yet, for half a month, not even the trace of the Feng Family’s Titan was seen.
"Master, it seems I guessed incorrectly," Qin Hong apologized to Lu Hong apologetically.
"It’s fine, let’s go check out Beishan Province first. It wasn’t your fault; you killed that Titan too quickly, without uncovering secrets like spatial crossing," Lu Hong complained slightly.
Qin Hong nodded, "It’s my fault, it really is."
The two chatted along the way and headed towards Beishan Province.
Beishan Province is the neutral faction among the three provinces of the Tianlang Domain. If there’s a place whose people are most friendly towards Da Qin, it’s undoubtedly Baihe Province; and if there’s a place where people hate Da Qin the most, it must be the Icefield Province, where nine out of ten rooms are empty.
As for this Beishan Province, being in the middle, it must be said that when Qin Hong divided three provinces back then, he did conduct some investigations before dividing them.
Upon entering Beishan Province, Lu Hong and Qin Hong saw several Ancestor Titans that were already similar in height to Qin Hong along the way.
This made their moods quite speechless.
If you’re going to breed private soldiers and plot against Da Qin, do you have to be so blatant?
Are Da Qin’s Hidden Guards just sitting idle?
"Let’s go to the Hidden Guard headquarters first."
Initially, Qin Hong intended to find the Provincial Governor of Beishan Province directly. But upon seeing these enormous Titans, enhanced by Titan Essence Blood, freely roaming and recruiting ordinary people without any scruples, Qin Hong felt there seemed to be a flavor of complete betrayal from Beishan Province, so he wanted to directly seek out the Hidden Guard for information.
Soon, the two arrived at a hidden valley. After Qin Hong sent out a smoke signal, shortly thereafter, two Hidden Guards hurried over.
Without waiting for Qin Hong to show his Black Dragon Token, the two Hidden Guards quickly knelt and bowed: "Your Majesty!"
Qin Hong was not surprised by this. Normally, all Hidden Guards undergo a process of familiarization with him before taking office. For the Hidden Guards, it’s to become familiar with his face, whereas for Qin Hong, it’s for easier control.
Every Hidden Guard has the privilege to face the emperor directly, which also adds a layer of protection and restraint over their heads.
Every Hidden Guard has the independent right to report directly to the emperor. Thus, even if the Commander of the Hidden Guards wanted to cover up the sky, it would be impossible. If any Hidden Guard wanted to falsify intelligence, they’d have to prepare for consequences such as being reported by colleagues.
"Take me to your Hidden Guard headquarters."
The two Hidden Guards immediately led the way without hesitation.
Arriving at the Hidden Guard headquarters in Shanbei Province, the leader of the Hidden Guards had long received the notice and awaited Qin Hong’s arrival.
"Daqin Dark Guard Third Camp, Fifth Squad Captain Li Jiangchu, greets Your Majesty!"
"Rise and speak," Qin Hong said, "Has anything unusual occurred in Shanbei Province recently?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, there have been multiple appearances of Ancient Titans in Shanbei Province, and they have had close interactions with the Provincial Governor, He Tongzhang."
Upon hearing Li Jiangchu’s answer, Qin Hong squinted his eyes slightly: "When did this happen?"
"Half a month ago, they began frequent interactions."
Qin Hong calculated the time. Half a month ago, he himself was still squatting in the mountains and hadn’t received Hidden Guard intelligence, which was understandable.
"Has the intelligence been reported?" Qin Hong asked next.
Li Jiangchu shook his head, "We intended to report, but were stopped by He Tongzhang."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hong frowned: "What do you mean? The Hidden Guard and local officials do not share any hierarchical relationship. Even though He Tongzhang is the Governor of Three Provinces, he has no authority to issue commands to the Hidden Guard, and you do not need to listen to his orders. Why did you agree to conceal it?"
Qin Hong was puzzled but did not get angry because the Hidden Guard was his most loyal force, so he thought there might be a reason for agreeing to He Tongzhang’s request.
Seeing that Qin Hong wasn’t immediately furious, Li Jiangchu sighed in relief, and then explained, "Because once Your Majesty finds out, I believe you’d act directly against these Ancient Titans, but He Tongzhang has a different view."
"What view?"
"He Tongzhang detailed the requirements and support that the Jin Family’s Ancient Titans could provide, and He Tongzhang was willing to bear the infamy, even life and death, to swallow this large resource for Da Qin and spawn a large number of Martial Emperor soldiers." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
As soon as Li Jiangchu spoke, Qin Hong understood instantly.
He then sighed, "Pretending to cooperate with the Ancient Titans requires a price!"
"I have advised him similarly, but He Tongzhang feels this is worth doing and hopes I can secure more time for him to obtain more resources from the Ancient Titans. When the time is ripe, report to Your Majesty, deal with the Ancient Titans, and meanwhile, take away a useful army from Shanbei Province."
"I understand," Qin Hong nodded, then turned to leave.
It seems Qin Hong plans to go directly to find He Tongzhang.
In less than half a day, the two were already a hundred miles outside Shanbei City, with the Hidden Guard responsible for entering the city to send word to He Tongzhang.
After a few hours, He Tongzhang hurriedly arrived and knelt before Qin Hong: "Minister He Tongzhang, greets Your Majesty!"
"He Tongzhang, I know what you have done, but...," Qin Hong didn’t finish. The Ancient Titans weren’t fools; a mere verbal agreement wouldn’t suffice. They must use some kind of life-and-death binding contract.
So once the Jin Family’s Titan realized He Tongzhang betrayed them, they’d definitely activate the contract’s secret technique to kill him.
"Your Majesty, it’s worth exchanging my life for Da Qin’s prosperity," He Tongzhang bowed his head: "I only hope Your Majesty can protect my foreign clan after I’m gone."
"Foreign clan," here usually refers to the matrilineal line of the Family Head’s family.
Upon hearing this, Qin Hong asked, "How are they controlling your life and death?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s a mixture of a strange power in the Titan Essence Blood that requires my whole clan to drink it. So the entire He Family drank this Titan Essence Blood, which has boosted their strength. But if they don’t obtain the antidote provided by them within the specified time, they’d surely bleed from seven orifices and die."
After hearing He Tongzhang’s answer, Lu Hong stepped forward, "Open your mind, don’t resist."
At this moment, He Tongzhang already possessed Martial God level strength, so if he resisted, Lu Hong would really have difficulty probing the detailed conditions inside him.
He Tongzhang had attended the Grand Council before, so he naturally recognized the Emperor Master, nodded, and then opened his mind.
A moment later, Lu Hong opened his eyes slightly and shook his head, "You are indeed poisoned, with some kind of ancient Xiong shou poison. Only their provided antidote can relieve it, and I have no solution."
To this, He Tongzhang felt indifferent, saying, "I’ll use the lives of my entire clan to exchange for Da Qin’s universal peace, and I think it’s worth it!"
"He Tongzhang, I am moved by your sacrifice for Da Qin, but I will not praise or reward you. I hope you understand," Qin Hong took a deep breath, appreciating He Tongzhang greatly but knowing such actions aren’t worth publicizing or commemorating He Tongzhang in history.
If this were publicized, to outsiders, it may seem that Da Qin encourages sacrificing even a clan for it, right?
There’s always a point of conflict between family and country, and few people’s sentiments are noble, nor is there a need for such twisted nobility.
"He Tongzhang, do you have any wishes? If possible, I will grant them."
Regardless, He Tongzhang was going to sacrifice his entire clan, so Qin Hong wanted to offer some compensation.
"I still request Your Majesty to look after my foreign clan and ask for more time to obtain more resources from Jin Family. Now, in Shanbei Province, with Jin Family’s support, I have expanded and built a fifty-thousand-man army, each possessing Martial Emperor level strength, currently in training. Initially, I planned to wait until this army is slightly trained before sending them to the Imperial Capital for the Emperor Master to cultivate. But since both the Emperor Master and Your Majesty are here today, then take this army with you and leave!"
