Nine Yang Alchemy Emperor-Chapter 395 - 405: Overconfidence

"Master, why not let me charge into the enemy ranks and slaughter that worthless Prince Jianyun!" Poison Eye Dragon King transmitted his voice to Chu Feng.

"No need! Let this trash live a few more days!"

If Chu Feng wanted to kill Prince Jianyun, he could have taken his life at the Ten Thousand Sword Sect that very day. There was a deeper meaning behind letting Prince Jianyun live like a dog.

After Chu Feng’s forces routed the army of Prince Jianyun, he issued three military orders.

Along the way, no harassment of civilians, no indiscriminate killing, and no trampling on the crops planted by the people was allowed.

These three orders received firm support from the three old marshals.

They even praised Chu Feng for his magnanimous heart, saying he was a benevolent and righteous king rarely seen through the ages.

With this move, Chu Feng greatly won over the hearts of the people.

Forming a stark contrast with Prince Jianyun.

Because Prince Jianyun had no choice but to increase taxes to ensure the supply of his army. War is definitely a money-burning endeavor.

In addition, the soldiers on Prince Jianyun’s side suffered heavy casualties.

In order to replenish the exhausted forces, he resolutely levied troops against their will. Everywhere he passed, the civilians were in endless misery.

Is civilian wealth so easily plundered? Every family is struggling, and forced taxation is more than they can bear. Selling children, struggling for three meals a day, it’s a wonder if they don’t hate you.

Forcible conscription only caused panic.

The young and strong labor force of each family is invaluable, each being the mainstay and hope of their home.

Being conscripted and then considering Prince Jianyun’s military talent is not even fit to hold Chu Feng’s shoes, not to mention Prince Jianyun’s lack of care for his soldiers.

This resulted in a large number of soldiers losing their lives.

This also gave rise to resentment and panic throughout the army. If it weren’t for the worry of implicating their families, many forcibly conscripted soldiers would have run away long ago.

Those old soldiers, even more so, were hoping that Prince Jianyun would be cut down by Chu Feng sooner rather than later.

It is precisely these two suicidal actions of Prince Jianyun that gave Chu Feng an opportunity to criticize the Jianyun Dynasty.

Chu Feng took advantage of the situation and ordered the spreading of rumors, branding Prince Jianyun as a tyrant, a jackal in the Eastern Palace. The people also secretly cursed Prince Jianyun as a monarch more ferocious than tigers and wolves.

Rumors spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, becoming more and more turbulent.

In the end, it even spread that Prince Jianyun was a cannibal. Some said that Prince Jianyun specifically ate boys and girls, while others said that Prince Jianyun intentionally sent his soldiers to their deaths to harvest their hearts for his consumption.

The rumors spread with vivid detail, very lifelike.

The good reputation that Prince Jianyun had built over many years was thoroughly ruined, and unknowingly, he had been branded by the people of the world as evil.

Chu Feng, with the help of his father’s old subordinates, commanded an army of three hundred thousand.

Combined with his reputation for benevolence, which continued to spread, and with the remaining power of Prince Jian, his army kept growing stronger. Along the way, more and more people came to join him.

Chu Feng noticed that the destiny of the world was converging on him at an even more terrifying speed.

"With the power of the Ancestor’s Cave, coupled with my own efforts, the destiny of a new generation of Emperors is forming. Meanwhile, the fortune of the Jianyun Dynasty is rapidly collapsing!" Chu Feng could feel the True Dragon Destiny forming quickly above his head.

He couldn’t exactly say why, but he felt as though power was focusing on him, his status and fate becoming more noble.

Vaguely, it seemed as if the whole world was within his grasp.

No matter what he did, he was supported by countless people and followed by generals.

"No wonder so many people are enamored with becoming an Emperor. The taste of controlling millions and reigning supreme over a nation is truly delightful!" Chu Feng sat inside the carriage, leading a vast army, storming along the way and advancing directly towards the Royal Capital.

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Prince Jianyun fled like a dog that had lost its home, panicked and desperate. Chu Feng’s massive army closely pursued without relent.

On the way, one of the three strategic passes opened its gates, defecting from darkness to light, granting Chu Feng a convenient path. Another put up only a symbolic resistance before abandoning their post and fleeing.

The commander guarding the last pass was Prince Jianyun’s maternal uncle, a member of the Imperial Relatives.

Although not particularly close, it was enough to compel this person to fight to the death for Prince Jianyun.

Moreover, having always been haughty and overbearing, he didn’t take Chu Feng seriously at all. Standing atop the pass, he pointed at Chu Feng and cursed angrily.

Calling him all sorts of mongrels, bastards... he just didn’t stop.

As a result, he was directly slain by a single sword strike from Qiu Tai, a True Disciple at Chu Feng’s side.

It is known that Qiu Tai’s strength is extremely formidable; even among Sword Saints, he is an outstanding figure. To kill an Early Stage Great Sword Master like the garrison commander was like blowing off dust.

Having so many powerful individuals by his side, it was only fitting that the garrison commander, who was so blind and stubbornly ignorant of the times, met his death.

One could guess that, relying on his status as an Imperial Relative, this person must not have refrained from committing evil deeds in his time.

One might say it was killing a scourge for the people.

Prince Jianyun had originally hoped that the three mighty passes could halt Chu Feng’s pursuit. Unexpectedly, they were so easily overcome, allowing Chu Feng to advance triumphantly and bear down on the Royal Capital.

Chu Feng led the massive army in pursuit from behind, like a cat toying with a mouse.

Neither hurried nor slow.

Prince Jianyun fled back to the Royal Capital in a pathetic state. Chu Feng’s army surrounded the Royal Capital from outside, widely distributed manifestos, enumerating the crimes of the Jianyun Emperor and Prince Jianyun.

He vowed to seek justice for the deceased Prince Jian and his mother.

"Your Highness, that Chu Feng is really powerful and unstoppable. Now that he has surrounded the Royal Capital with his army, what should we do?" Inside the Imperial Palace, the Civil and Military Officials were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, running around frantically.

The faint-hearted ones were shaking like chaff, unable to stand firm.

"Issue a decree summoning, command the military and civilians from across the land to come to the Royal Capital in loyalty to rescue the Emperor! I refuse to believe that his mere army of three hundred thousand can contend with the entire Jianyun Dynasty," said the Emperor.

"With the hundred million citizens of the Jianyun Dynasty, if each region sends ten thousand troops, we can muster a force of millions. To extinguish Chu Feng would be but a flick of the finger."

Having returned to the Royal Capital, the confidence and self-assurance of Prince Jianyun were restored.

"I will hold firm in the Royal Capital, with its high walls and strong defenses, broad moat, and the support of eighty thousand Forbidden Army members and two hundred thousand elite soldiers. No matter how strong Chu Feng is, he wouldn’t even think of breaching it."

"When the armies loyal to the Emperor from all quarters arrive, Chu Feng and his band of rebels will be utterly obliterated," said Prince Jianyun with great confidence, talking expansively about the current situation.

An aged adviser stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, that was then, this is now. Your recent military campaign has been marked by oppressive conscription and heavy levies, stirring great dissatisfaction among the people. The soldiers also harbor defections at heart."

"The present situation is truly not grounds for optimism. It may prove difficult to summon reinforcements loyal to the Emperor..."

As an adviser, the primary duty is to bravely stand up and correct the Monarch when he is wrong.

The old Emperor was already ill, and having been attacked by the Thirteenth Prince, he was said to be seriously injured and unable to manage state affairs.

All governmental affairs, both big and small, were handled by Prince Jianyun.

Thus, he could only offer advice to Prince Jianyun.

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