Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 332: Millions of Troops Gather at the Prajna Monastery
Congratulations?

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Those civil officials were stunned for a moment and looked up unconsciously.

Those honored with military honors grinned.

Congratulations for what?
Isn’t it clear to everyone?
The eldest prince raised the corner of his mouth slightly, then lowered his head slightly.

Zhang Qingyang showed no mercy, from directly provoking a national war to killing people with a palm knife.

Even among the famous military heroes in the hall, few can act so decisively.

This is not just courage, it is determination.

As a general, being able to make such a decisive decision has already surpassed countless people of the same level.

"Duke Chengguo is right. It's easy to get thousands of soldiers, but it's hard to get a good general." An old man in black armor spoke softly not far away.

"That's right, a kind person cannot command an army. I didn't have such decisiveness when I was young." Another tall and powerful marquis of military honors spoke.

Those military heroes were beaming with joy, while the Minister of War Guo Ming, who was standing beside them, had a tense expression and said nothing.

However, the Minister Zhou Chang behind him looked calm.

Everyone could see that Zhang Yuan had great military skills, remained calm in times of crisis, and acted decisively.

In the eyes of military generals, such a person is a rare and good general.

But when this news got back, both the Censorate and the Ministry of Rites, including other ministers in the imperial court, had to report it.

As a civil official, he has the responsibility to restrain and supervise military generals.

Zhang Qingyang killed over a hundred people, and no civil servant can pretend to be blind to this crime.

But no one is stupid, this is just a formality.

The Qin Dynasty was founded on military power and governed by culture, and its foundation was still military bravery.

No matter who you ask, Zhang Qingyang's actions are not considered to be a big mistake.

I'm afraid that in the eyes of the emperor, this is not a fault, but rather a demonstration of his military command ability.

"Duke Dingguo, you disregarded the laws of the land and shielded your subordinates—"

"Duke Dingguo, you are such a bloodthirsty person, yet you actually say congratulations to His Majesty! You are lying with your eyes open!"

Two voices rang out, and two civil servants in red robes stepped forward, glaring at Lu Jun.

Su Jing took a step forward and blocked the two men.

It was not because he was afraid that these old civil servants would harm Duke Dingguo, but because he was afraid that the two of them would harm Duke Dingguo.

What those old fellows like most is to wave their arms as thin as bamboo poles and fists as strong as garlic, and fight with martial arts masters who are at the innate realm or even the grandmaster realm in the imperial palace.

As a result, Wu Xun naturally had to pay for the medical expenses.

"Imperial Censor Qin, Scholar Sun, you seem to have misunderstood something, or perhaps, you have rather filthy thoughts."

In front, Duke Dingguo turned his head to take a look, then bowed and clasped his hands towards Emperor Yuankang who was sitting at the top.

"Your Majesty, the congratulations I'm talking about are because the Earl of Qingyang has already led his army towards the Prajna Monastery. One hundred thousand Red Scale soldiers and two hundred thousand garrison troops have already entered the Liangyuan Territory."

"Black Ice Terrace has reported that at least twenty temples have secretly allied themselves with the Qin Empire, some even pledging their allegiance."

"In the current situation, as long as the Qingyang Earl leads his army to defeat the Prajna Monastery, our Great Qin can make all parties in the Liangyuan Territory sign the contract of compensation and territorial cession."

"Expanding territory and plundering resources—isn't this auspicious event worthy of congratulations?"

Duke Dingguo turned around and looked at everyone in the hall.

Yes, that's what you're talking about?
Isn’t it about Zhang Qingyang killing someone?
The expressions of the two red-robed civil servants who stood out changed.

In the hall, others looked at each other.

The military heroes smiled happily and bowed to the emperor, while the civil officials kept their heads down and remained silent.

Expand territory.

Even though Liangyuanyu is not a good place, Daqin was right from the beginning to the end in this matter.

Great Qin, it is rare to send troops with reason.

"Well, it's too early to celebrate at this point."

At the top, the emperor's voice finally sounded.

Congratulations are premature.

This statement needs analysis...

But the tone has been set, and it is worth congratulating.

"But this also needs to be prepared in advance."

"Qin Mu, Sun Botang, you draft a contract and send it to Liangyuan after the Ministry of Rites has discussed it." The voice of Emperor Yuankang came slowly.

The two red-robed civil servants standing in the hall twitched their eyes and slowly bowed.

This job was simply humiliating to them, but they couldn't refuse.

After all the ministers left, Emperor Yuankang turned to look at the eldest prince standing beside him.

"Rong'er, I heard that you recently collected some good paintings?"

The eldest prince nodded and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I did receive a few, but I'm unsure of the authenticity of the calligraphy. I've sent them to the Western Garden for Concubine Qi to authenticate."

The emperor nodded and said no more.

Outside the hall, the Minister of Personnel Sima Qingguang looked at Duke Cheng Lu Jun who was walking beside him.

"Duke Chengguo, why did you suppress the matter of Earl Qingyang just now? If you had resolved it right away, you wouldn't have to argue with those guys later." Sima Qingguang looked at Lu Jun and spoke softly. Lu Jun shook his head and said with a smile, "Sima, you are in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. Are you testing me on how to appoint officials?"

"Zhang Qingyang started the national war this time and achieved such great achievements. According to his merits, he should at least be awarded a title of nobility. However, given his age and experience, it is not a good thing to be awarded a title of nobility at such a young age. He needs more training."

Sima Qingguang chuckled and looked forward: "Duke Cheng has good intentions..."

------------------

Liangyuan area.

The army led by Zhang Yuan traveled 1,200 miles in five days, with 300 miles covered on the fourth and fifth days.

The army's faster marching speed means it is becoming more organized and operating more smoothly.

Although the array of 60,000 troops lacked blood and murderous aura, the solemn scene and the formation stretching for ten miles were still heart-pounding.

Ahead, two thousand cavalrymen advanced slowly.

Ten miles away is a stretch of temples.

Gutai Temple.

He controls an area of ​​100,000 miles and governs 500,000 people. There are 10,000 monk soldiers and 2,000 warrior monks in the temple. The presiding Buddha Yao Shen's cultivation level is only in the middle stage of the Innate Realm.

Such temples are the majority in Liangyuan area.

Where can there be so many powerful temples?

At this time, the black cavalry advanced, and the army formations in the rear pressed down one after another, making the monks stationed on the top of the temple city wall turn pale.

The Qin army formation.

"Master Buddha, what should we do?"

On the top of the city wall, a monk in the Xiantian realm put his hands together and looked at the tall old monk beside him who was wearing a yellow robe and holding a rosary.

This tall old monk is the Buddha Yao Shen.

Yao Shen Buddha sighed softly, gritted his teeth, and said in a deep voice: "We have to fight. Otherwise, even if we admit defeat, I'm afraid others won't even give us face."

Everyone else around him nodded.

Everyone knows that they are no match for the Qin army.

Everyone knows that if they fight, they will lose.

But relying on the city, with more than 10,000 monks and conscripted civilians, they could defend the city walls for a day or two, withstand one or two sieges, and then talk about surrender. This would give an explanation to both face and other parties in Liangyuan territory.

No matter how powerful the Qin people are, they can't easily capture the temple city that has been run by Gutai Temple for thousands of years, right?
"Woo——"

Outside the Gutai Temple, a horn sounded.

The solemn war cavalry, the long military formation, and the faint aura of blood and murder moved forward step by step.

When the warriors were five miles away, a faint black shadow of the Qiongqi war beast appeared above the heads of the two thousand black riders.

The body is a hundred feet long and looks ferocious and fierce.

"Daqin——"

"mighty--"

"Daqin——"

"mighty--"

The shouts were so loud that they shook the heavens and the earth. The Qin army was full of momentum and advanced like a tide.

"Or, Master Buddha, let's, let's just surrender..." On the top of the city wall, beside Master Buddha Yao Shen, someone spoke with a pale face.

On and below the city walls, other people also looked pale and their legs were trembling.

Yao Shen Buddha turned his head to look, clasped his hands together, and whispered: "Hey, Ming Wang, the guardian of the world, this Buddha is merciful and cannot bear to see the people under his rule suffer. Just, just surrender."

……

Within ten days, the Qin cavalry conquered thirteen temples in succession, subdued the monks and 230,000 monk soldiers, and distributed supplies and food to the surrounding people, equivalent to 10 million taels of silver.

Mountains of gold and silver were scattered, countless people knelt down, and countless young people spontaneously picked up sticks, swords and guns and followed the Qin army.

The Qin army captured a temple and distributed gold and silver as per custom.

Then many people discovered that the Qin army distributed gold and silver to everyone they met, regardless of whether you were a local or an outsider.

Many people followed the army and received gold and silver three or four times, at least seven or eight taels.

For the people in Liangyuan, this scene can be described in one sentence.

Stupid people, lots of money, come quickly.

Half a month later, behind the 300,000 Qin soldiers, 500,000 civilians followed, armed with hoes and sticks.

The mob is not to be feared.

But a mob of nearly a million people would be terrifying.

Cao Xuan turned his head and looked at the endless army behind him, which stretched for nearly a hundred miles, with an expression of emotion on his face.

"Commander-in-Chief, in less than a month, you've gathered a million troops. This is truly unheard of..."

The others looked at each other and nodded seriously.

Zhang Yuan's face was calm as he looked at the blood, smoke and dust rising into the sky in front of him.

Ahead is the Prajna Zen Forest headquarters.

"Send a message to the commander of the Red Scale Army, Yuchi Feng. Within three days, 300,000 Great Qin soldiers must arrive at the Prajna Zen Monastery. Those who fail to do so will be punished by military law."

(End of this chapter)