Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 471: Or Shall We Rebel? _1

The news of the twelve Golden Orders urgently summoning Wang Linchi back to the Capital spread swiftly across the length and breadth of the land, causing a stir everywhere.

Wang Linchi had swept across the world, seemingly on the verge of achieving a grand unification, yet Emperor Jing astonishingly commanded him to return to court. This action was met with widespread opposition, from the common folk to the court officials.

However, Emperor Jing proceeded in his usual fashion, absolutely unbothered...not really.

In reality, Emperor Jing was on pins and needles, his weight constantly soaring due to worry, not stopping for a moment.

Everyone was saying that he did not act like a rightful monarch, and Wang Linchi’s silence gave him chills. He feared that when Wang Linchi returned after winning his battles, Wang Linchi would directly depose him.

Given the current situation, Wang Linchi didn’t even need to outright express his opinion. If he merely accepted the response of the majority, public sentiment alone could push him off the throne.

Hence, he was quite understandably scared out of his wits.

"What should be done now?" Emperor Jing asked his trusted aide, his own reputation as a clown only boosting Wang Linchi’s prestige.

"Fear not, Your Majesty, this is all part of the plan," said the aide with a casual smile, as if everything was under his control.

"Do you have a solution?" Emperor Jing promptly asked, knowing full well that his reputation was tarnished.

"The world will eventually be Your Majesty’s world. We merely need to employ a small stratagem and turn the tide in our favor."

"After killing King Heaven Equivalent, Your Majesty may offer me as a scapegoat to appease the public uproar. This would surely win back their hearts." The aide willingly offered himself, appearing ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Emperor Jing was deeply moved by these words, "Indeed, you are a true loyal servant!"

Refusal was out of the question. Between power and his subordinate, he was bound to choose power.

"Your Majesty’s kindness and appreciation are unforgettable!" said the aide. He had previously established his persona as a loyal and patriotic subject. Otherwise, how could he have become Emperor Jing’s trusted confidant, yet also the hidden cause of his greatest anxieties?

"So what should we do next?" Emperor Jing asked.

"There are two strategies," the aide responded, pointing at a map. "We estimate that King Heaven Equivalent will complete the unification by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. If Your Majesty wishes to prevent further complications, it would be prudent to observe the changes quietly."

"Or, if you want to push your advantage even further, it would be best to issue another decree, so as to reinforce his traitor status."

"This... is another decree necessary?" Emperor Jing hesitated, feeling like he was hurtling towards his own doom.

Emperor Jing was still discerning enough. If he pushed Wang Linchi too far and incited a rebellion, then what would they do?

The question then would not be whether to resist, but how to avoid being captured and offered up as a tribute.

"One must break to build, Your Majesty. Those destined for greatness don’t sweat the small stuff! For Dajing’s empire, we must be a bit ruthless." The aide pressed, striking while the iron was hot.

However, Emperor Jing failed to realize that this was not a minor matter, nor could a little ruthlessness suffice. All he could see was his own execution if he acted upon it.

What? Retire and live out his old age peacefully? Is it that easy to quell public outrage?

"I need to think about this. If..."

"Your Majesty, there is no ’if’. Once you lose, you will be a puppet in the hands of King Heaven Equivalent for the rest of your life," the aide said, immediately interrupting Emperor Jing.

The word ’puppet’ sent a jolt through Emperor Jing’s nerves.

"Issue it!" A ruthless glint emerged in Emperor Jing’s eyes. All his forbearance, even his disastrous blunders, had been for the sole purpose of seizing power for himself.

He also realized that if he lost this time, not only would he continue to be a puppet, but he would also bear the name of a foolish monarch for life.

If that were the case, he might as well take a gamble. Under the instigation of his aide, he finally understood that he had no way out. Either fight it out or stay a puppet.

Therefore, he chose the former.

Soon, the aide fetched paper, inkstone, brush, seal, and other essentials. Emperor Jing penned the decree himself.

Word by word, sentence by sentence, he pondered and deliberated, spending an hour to compose this decree.

"Go, deliver this to the hands of King Heaven Equivalent," Emperor Jing said, sounding somewhat weary.

Seeing this, the aide carefully packed the decree and left. Delivering this message was not a task fit for Emperor Jing.

If Emperor Jing were to go himself, he might be directly detained. Then, he would be completely at their mercy.

"I don’t know if this was the right or wrong decision." Emperor Jing sighed.

When the aide left the Imperial Study Room with the decree, regret surged in Emperor Jing’s heart.

If initially, I had not directly confronted King Heaven Equivalent and honored my late father’s will, what would the situation be now? This thought arose in Emperor Jing’s heart.

However, he quickly dismissed this thought. It simply wasn’t possible. From the beginning, his goal had been very simple.

Power!

Nothing else mattered to him as long as he had control over power. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Being a puppet emperor was not as good as being the Princely Heir, waiting for his chance to succeed the Vassal King and live a more comfortable and carefree life.

So if he desired power, he would aim for the best.

...

"Look, the Twelve Golden Orders. His Majesty wants to corner you into a hopeless situation." Li Zheng expressed his dissatisfaction.

In previous battles, it was the Great Family who had been the hindrance.

Given the vested interests of the Great Family, it was understandable for them to hold back. But why would Emperor Jing do this? The grand unification seemed within grasp, but he insisted on making such irrational decisions.

Even if he was at odds with King Heaven Equivalent, such friction should not be made public at the national level.

"I know. He always believes I robbed him of his power." Wang Linchi, looking at the Twelve Golden Orders, felt no anger. He was quite happy about it secretly.

These were valuable assets indeed.

Moreover, his aide successfully manipulated the situation. Next would be the ’return of power’ and the ’fabricated accusations’ incident.

Given the current plot, the plan was likely to succeed. At the very least, Emperor Jing had been successfully misled by him. He knew there were problems with this matter but would carry it out anyway.

Li Zheng fell silent after hearing Wang Linchi’s words.

Wang Linchi did indeed wield the power, causing Emperor Jing to fade into the background. However, everyone could plainly see the national strength of Dajing growing under him.

The people were now prosperous, the world was at peace, and even the Great Family was acting like humble gentlemen. Were there any periods in Dajing’s history that could compare?

"My King, should we... rebel?" Li Zheng suggested boldly and without hesitation, "After we defeat the Suzhi Kingdom, we could wage a lightning war with our airships. Given your reputation, as long as our troops are at the city gates, both the defenders and ministers in the Capital would surely welcome us."

"Absolutely not. That would be gravely rebellious." Wang Linchi declined.

Why would he need to rebel?

As Li Zheng said, if Wang Linchi were to rebel, they wouldn’t even need to fight. Just spreading the word would lead to Emperor Jing abdicating in his favor.

His ability to bring benefits to all would be enough for a regime change in Dajing.

But this would still be a pitfall and inconsistent with the image he wanted to construct for himself. He wanted to emulate Guan Gong, follow the path of Saint Emperor Guan, incorporate elements of Yue Wumu’s story, and ultimately become a popular icon.

Rebellion would shatter this image.

So he definitely could not agree to it.

"This..." Li Zheng was uncertain about Wang Linchi’s decision. He assumed Wang Linchi would agree.

Is he truly a loyal minister?

Li Zheng found this thought rather absurd.

If that’s the case, it’s a case of extreme loyalty seeming like treachery... Li Zheng had always seen Wang Linchi as a treacherous official controlling the government. But now, that didn’t seem to be the case.

"Alright. If worst comes to worst, I’ll return and plead guilty. What’s the harm in that?" Wang Linchi appeared unfazed.

"If My King begs for mercy, His Majesty will surely not reprimand you severely." Li Zheng could only agree with Wang Linchi’s views. As for whether Emperor Jing would agree, that was another matter altogether.

"The next move for the Suzhi Kingdom should be..." Wang Linchi was about to speak when a herald brought in a report from outside.

"News! The Suzhi Kingdom’s monarch has surrendered with the National Seal and has come to pay his respects to King Heaven Equivalent!" The herald started announcing from the camp entrance and continued until he reached Wang Linchi’s tent.

Upon entering the tent, the herald dutifully placed the National Seal that was on his tray onto the table in front of Wang Linchi.

Both Wang Linchi and Li Zheng looked at each other in surprise. They had just arrived and had barely set up camp when the other side had already come to surrender.

Their only explanation was Wang Linchi’s formidable reputation. But a part of this was also due to the inevitable course of events. After all, the other states had already been destroyed, leaving only the Suzhi Kingdom. Given the current situation, if they didn’t surrender, they might face complete annihilation.

Anyway, Dajing’s proclamation was that any tribe or state assimilated into Dajing would become part of Dajing. If they surrendered, joined, and accepted naturalization, they would be considered their own people.

And with Wang Linchi present, life after surrender could be even better. Therefore, regardless of whether the monarch of the Suzhi Kingdom was willing to surrender, his subordinates would ensure he ’voluntarily’ did so.