After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

If one person starts a rebellion, another will follow. Now that the emperor has died, all the princes are in danger. They dare not raise the banner of rebellion themselves, so they secretly fan the flames. As long as they send troops to suppress the rebellion, they can continue to control the military and even use it to strengthen their own military power.

After the battle of the capital, many princes probably took the opportunity to flee. There was no news that Prince Xin, that bastard, had died, so he is probably still alive.

Li Bai shook his head and said, "The people suffer when the country prospers, and they suffer when the country falls. Your Majesty's plan has harmed the people of the world."

"Don't be ridiculous. Even without me, the Crown Prince wouldn't be able to hold onto power."

Chen Futu was telling the truth.

The crown prince's prestige was insufficient to subdue everyone, especially his brothers, who were ruthless and oppressive, and this was the root of the rebellion.

The biggest difference between Chen Futu and the Crown Prince of Daqian is that the Northern Frontier is a small area where people's livelihoods can be improved step by step and effectively managed. In addition, the army is well-disciplined, the administration is clean and honest, and the subordinates are all loyal ministers who can be used as easily as an extension of one's own limbs. There is no need to worry about internal troubles.

To put it bluntly, the prince took too big a step and messed it up.

As for not killing the crown prince while he was in the palace, the outcome was already predetermined whether he was killed or not: the Great Qian Dynasty would inevitably descend into chaos.

Keeping the crown prince is a way to preserve the imperial banner, preventing the people from becoming completely confused and falling into the chaos of the Ten Kingdoms, where they risk being wiped out.

As long as the imperial power exists, the primary goal of all rebel groups is to unite and overthrow the imperial power. They also need the help of the people, even if it's just for show, so that the people's lives won't end up so miserable. This is the glimmer of hope that Chen Futu left for the people of Daqian.

Of course, if people can't make a living in Daqian, they can come to the northern frontier.

The northern border region is vast and sparsely populated, and it needs to vigorously develop commerce and trade, which requires a massive influx of people. As long as the people are willing to come, he can make clear arrangements for them.

Liu Longyue suddenly said, "Previously, the Beixing Mountains were targeted by the imperial court because of the migration of people from Chuzhou. Now that there is a popular uprising, do you think the imperial court will abandon the Beixing Mountains and turn them into an outpost to resist our northern frontier?"

"It's possible."

Chen Futu frowned. "We need to get to Zhongnan Mountain as soon as possible, and after we resolve this, we should immediately return to the Northern Frontier to take charge of the overall situation."

After a satisfying meal, just as the group was about to continue their journey, Liu Longyue suddenly exclaimed, "My purse!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw a thief far away manipulating his inner energy to snatch her purse, then leaping away and disappearing without a trace.

"Ake, bring him to me."

Chen Futu gave the order with a dark expression.

Ake nodded and turned away, disappearing from sight. A few breaths later, a figure screamed as it fell from the sky and crashed heavily at Liu Longyue's feet.

Liu Longyue gritted her teeth and stomped on the other person's face, rubbing it against the ground. "You petty thief, are you tired of living? You dare to steal my things?"

"Grandma, please don't hit me! I was wrong!"

The other person lay on the ground, pleading desperately with their hands raised above their head.

Chen Futu became interested and asked, "You're a martial artist, so your ability to retrieve objects from a distance is quite impressive."

The other party glanced at Chen Futu's handsome face, and when he saw Ake standing to the side, he shivered and hurriedly said obsequiously, "I was blind and ignorant. Please forgive me, sir."

"It's a bit like a star-plucking hand."

Li Taibai shook his wine gourd and said.

The other party nodded repeatedly, "Your Excellency has a discerning eye; he is indeed a star-plucking hand."

"Give me the manual." Chen Futu decisively reached out for the manual. "If you don't give it to me, I'll take you to the authorities."

"Here, here, I'll give it to you! Just please don't send me to the authorities."

As the man spoke, he pulled out a crumpled little book from his pocket. Chen Futu took it and looked at it. It really was a martial arts manual. It was a secret technique that thieves liked to use. It required a strength of the eighth rank, which meant that this little thief was at least an eighth-rank master.

With his strength and the Star-Picking Hand technique, he must be rich, right?

Chen Futu's eyes were full of doubt.

The man's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "I was just a little tempted by this lady's beauty, so I..."

"court death!"

Enraged, Liu Longyue drew her sword to cut off his hand.

Chen Futu stopped her, "Don't move yet, I have something to ask him."

Next, Ake carried the man to a secluded room.

The man was frightened and knelt down timidly, stammering to Chen Futu, "This humble man pays his respects to the King of the Northern Frontier."

"So you knew me after all. Tell me, what exactly happened?" Chen Futu sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and waited for the answer with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I accepted the bounty from Red Moon Tower, recognized you, and wanted to steal a token to exchange for some good things, but I failed."

The man sighed as he spoke.

"What reward?"

"Red Moon Pavilion is offering a million gold coins as a reward for your head, and of course, it also includes those around you, such as this Princess Beiwu. I want to steal her purse, so I'll pretend I injured her and get a reward."

The man looked fearfully at Liu Longyue, who was as beautiful as an angel.

Liu Longyue rebuked, "How much is my head worth?"

"The dead will be paid 50,000 gold coins, the living 100,000."

As soon as the man finished speaking, Liu Longyue kicked him to the ground.

Liu Longyue was furious. "This is disrespecting me!"

"How many people accepted the bounty? And how many people know our whereabouts?" Chen Futu asked the crucial question.

The man dared not hide the truth, "I only recognized it by chance when I saw the portrait, I know nothing else."

How much do you know about what happened in Zhongnan Mountain?

“Zhongnan Mountain? You mean that Heartless Fairy? Red Moon Tower heard that she was severely injured by Wugensheng and the Dharma King from the Western Regions, so they sent out many top-level assassins, claiming they would capture her alive and then hold a demon-slaying conference in the martial arts world.”

The man told everything he knew.

Chen Futu was immediately amused. "Exterminate demons? Damn it, have the higher-ups at Red Moon Tower gone mad with chuunibyou? How did Qingyi become a demon?"

The man shook his head and said, "The Heartless Fairy is too bloodthirsty. It is said that she has killed many powerful people, so many people want her dead."

"Take me to Zhongnan Mountain, and I will spare your life."

Chen Futu made a decision immediately, and the man nodded as if pondering, "I am willing to serve. My name is Dou Dou."

"Beans? Hmph, I like to hit beans when I have nothing else to do."

"what?"

"Get on the road."

And so, Chen Futu and his group continued their journey toward Zhongnan Mountain.

With DouDou leading the way, they avoided many detours. However, they also received a lot of news along the way, saying that several powerful forces, under the call of the Red Moon Pavilion, launched a massive attack on Zhongnan Mountain, causing heavy casualties among the disciples under the Green Robe Sect. Moreover, Wugensheng and the Dharma King had not yet left.

The Western Region Dharma King even boasted that if he caught one alive, he would want to have a taste of it.

"Your Majesty, is that it? Watch me teach you a lesson with this burst of bullets!"

Chen Futu gripped the Soul Hunter tightly, a strong killing intent surging within him.

If nothing unexpected happens, this Dharma King should be the Dharma King of the Western Regions, one of the two great masters mentioned by Qingyi earlier, the Dharma King of the Guardian and the Saintess of the Black Desert.

And that bastard Wugenshui, as a person from the Central Plains, under the guise of sparring, colluded with the Dharma King to ambush Qingyi and steal the Heavenly Ruler. He was utterly despicable!