After crossing, I surrounded the capital from the countryside

Although many of them are not good people, at least they still have some attachment to the country where they grew up.

I didn't expect that someone would start to take sides so quickly...

The emperor's expression eased after hearing this. He pondered for a moment and said, "Your Excellency's words make sense. I will immediately order a thorough investigation of this matter and send capable officials to the northern border to appease the people. As for those who secretly colluded with the rebels and intended to overthrow the government, I will punish them severely!"

As the emperor's expression relaxed slightly, the atmosphere in the hall finally eased a little.

After the court session, the solemnity and bustle of the palace gradually faded away, but the waves in the court surged like an undercurrent to every corner outside the imperial city.

Those officials and families who usually had rebellious ambitions or had keen insights into future situations began to take action, and their eyes were all focused on Prince An.

Prince An, Zhou Shiyuan, was a prince known for his idleness. He did not seem to have made many achievements in the court, but at this moment, he became a popular figure in the eyes of the public because of his unique identity - the only legitimate bloodline of the Great Zhou royal family. Rumors spread quietly in private, and various speculations about the succession to the throne pushed Prince An to the forefront.

Some official families, either for the sake of self-protection or out of ambition, began to secretly send people to try to contact King An.

In the eyes of these officials, joining Prince An and assisting him in ascending the throne would not only fulfill their loyalty to the Great Zhou, but would also allow them to take advantage of the opportunity to soar to the sky and gain unprecedented power and status.

No matter how turbulent the situation in Kyoto was at this time, Xu Qingqing still proceeded steadily.

The first ray of sunlight in the morning penetrated the mist and gently sprinkled in front of the main hall of Xiaoyao Sect.

Xu Qingqing was standing on the steps of the hall at this moment, looking firmly at the people gathered below.

In her hand, she tightly held a flag embroidered with the word "justice". It was the belief in her heart and also the flag of the journey she was about to lead everyone on.

"Everyone, today I, Xu Qingqing, have a favor to ask of you!" Her voice was soft, but it resounded in everyone's heart like a huge bell. Upon hearing this, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the leader who had supported them.

"We, the Xiaoyao Sect, have been adhering to the motto of 'living freely in the world, with the world in our hearts' since its founding. However, the world has been in chaos recently, people are living in poverty, the court is corrupt, and the people are suffering. Even the one sitting on the dragon throne is of northern barbarian blood. How can we sit back and do nothing?" Xu Qingqing's words were heavy, and her eyes swept across everyone's face.

"Master, what do you say we should do? We'll listen to you!" A young man was the first to speak out. His voice was a little childish, but also full of determination.

"Yes, we in Xiaoyao Sect, although we are just ordinary people, we are never the cowards!" The people in the patrol team also echoed.

Xu Qingqing felt a warm current in her heart when she saw this. She raised the flag high and announced loudly: "Today, in the name of Xiaoyao Sect, I call on everyone to plead for the people and seek justice for all the people in the world!"

Following Xu Qingqing's order, the Xiaoyao Sect was immediately in an uproar. Everyone put down their belongings, some snatched a weapon from the patrol, raised it above their heads, and shouted, "Follow the Sect Master until death!"

"Give justice to all people in the world!"

Under the leadership of Xu Qingqing, an uprising army consisting of a well-trained and highly skilled civilian army trained by Lu Zhenting, doctors proficient in medicine led by the genius doctor Li Xian, and sorcerers skilled in Qimen Dunjia sent by Xiao Yuheng to teach was quickly assembled.

Among them, there are old veterans over fifty years old and there are also young men who are just starting out, but at this moment, they all have only one common goal - to overthrow the tyranny and restore peace to the people.

The news of the uprising spread quickly like a spring breeze. When those families who had received favors from the Xiaoyao Sect learned the news, their hearts were filled with excitement and their blood was boiling.

In a small village not far from Xiaoyao Sect, Old Man Li was sitting in front of his house, holding a bowl of hot tea in his hand, but he could not hide the joy on his face.

His grandson Xiao Li was seriously ill not long ago, and it was the doctors of Xiaoyao Sect who took great pains to come and treat him, and he recovered. At this moment, hearing the news that Xiaoyao Sect was going to revolt, Old Man Li's eyes suddenly became thoughtful.

"My dear, come on! Let's sharpen the hoe at home. I also want to join the rebel army!" Old man Li said to his wife excitedly.

"Old man, are you...are you okay?" His wife looked at him worriedly.

"I can do it! For our grandson and for the villagers, I, Old Man Li, will do my part even if it costs me my old bones!" Before Old Man Li finished speaking, he hurried into the house and began to get ready.

There are many families like Old Man Li's around. Some of them are patients who have been treated by Xiaoyao Sect disciples, some are civilians who have been protected by Xiaoyao Sect in times of crisis, and some are ordinary people who deeply admire Xiaoyao Sect's noble character.

When the news of the uprising came, they put down their farm tools without hesitation, picked up simple weapons, and either took to the streets shoulder to shoulder or gathered from all directions to join the uprising army led by Xu Qingqing.

The tide is surging and the ambition is high.

As time went by, the rebel forces grew stronger and stronger like the tide.

Among them, there are ragged farmers, gorgeously dressed businessmen, and neatly dressed scholars... They come from all over and have different identities, but at this moment, they all gather together for the same goal.

"Brothers, sisters, we are not fighting for personal grudges, we are fighting for the happiness of all people in the world!" Xu Qingqing stood on a high place, looking at the ocean in front of her formed by countless hearts, her voice was full of strength and encouragement.

"For justice! For freedom! For our families and friends!" Everyone in the rebel army shouted loudly, and their voices gathered into an unstoppable torrent, hitting the shackles of this era.

The emperor sat high in the imperial study, with urgent war reports piled up on his desk, each one containing news about the rebels.

In just a few days, the uprising army led by Xu Qingqing spread rapidly from the northern border like wildfire. Its momentum was so huge that the entire court felt unprecedented pressure.

The emperor frowned and looked back and forth on the map. The red dots representing the rebel forces were spreading rapidly like a plague. If they were not suppressed in time, they would engulf the entire empire in a short time.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out of it.