Chapter 505: Chapter 502: Prevention

“`html

Everyone is certain that the imperial throne is theirs.

But there are no absolutes in the world.

Before things conclude, any change could happen.

The throne seems within reach, but it’s far from simple.

Not to mention when the Emperor will abdicate, even the challenge of the Emperor’s Sword recognizing its master is not easily overcome.

He also suspects that Prince Ying, Chu Mingrui, has been suppressing his own realm to command the troops without advancing to Great Grandmaster.

But what if one day he tires of commanding troops and stops suppressing, stepping directly into Great Grandmaster?

There are also other Imperial Uncles, some concealing their true strengths, others having unique encounters.

Until the day one truly sits on the throne, one cannot assert the throne is theirs.

Chu Yi laughed, “Alright, Brother, you are cautious, but overly cautious… Brother, you must at least first go through the Six Ministries, and it’s best to see below.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at her.

Chu Yi smiled, “I heard from Sister Li that other places in Da Jing are entirely different from our Yujing City, vastly different.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

In any dynasty, the Emperor is far from the heavens, and the court’s power rarely reaches the countryside, usually only to the prefecture level.

Yujing City and other places are indeed two worlds.

If one tried to extend Yujing City to other prefectures, it would be the biggest joke.

Bai Ningshuang asked, “Won’t you have to go outside Yujing City to take office?”

Chu Yi said, “If Imperial Grandfather wants to cultivate Brother, he definitely has to go to the provinces.”

Bai Ningshuang furrowed her delicate eyebrows.

The thought of Chu Zhiyuan not being by her side made her nervous.

In Yujing, even if he doesn’t come back for meals, it doesn’t matter much.

But not being in Yujing, that’s entirely different.

Chu Yi laughed, “Mother, if you don’t go to the provinces, how can you know how the officials below govern, you have to go.”

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, “It’s baseless.”

Chu Yi snorted, “Anyway, I think, first the Six Ministries, then the provinces, that’s how it will go.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and looked at Chu Minghou, “Father, is the court telling me to restrain myself?”

Chu Minghou remained silent.

He sighed inwardly, truly worthy of being Yuan’er, so keen.

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, “So, the court is not unaware of the rise of the Evil Sect, not unaware of how many innocent people the Evil Sect has harmed.”

Chu Yi’s bright eyes blinked in confusion, “Brother, what does this mean?”

Chu Zhiyuan let out a cold laugh, “They don’t want me to continue killing the Evil Sect.”

Chu Yi’s bright eyes flickered, she thought for a moment, then pondered and said, “Why don’t they want you to continue killing the Evil Sect demon people? … Is it for the Military Suppression Department? That’s impossible, they don’t care for the Military Suppression Department… Then is it to cover up their mistakes? … Or is there something else?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, “Father, why does the court so ignore the threat of the Evil Sect?”

“It’s not ignoring, the Military Suppression Department also cleared them several times, even joining forces with the Martial Arts sects to clear the Yuding Sect.”

“Only the Yuding Sect.” Chu Zhiyuan said, “They haven’t even fully succeeded.”

“Some things are not that simple.” Chu Minghou shook his head, “It’s not something that can be explained in a short time.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, “Uncle will come tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll ask Uncle.”

“… Actually, this involves some secrets of the court.” Chu Minghou sighed.

Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Yi both assumed a listening pose.

“The Evil Sect’s stronghold is mostly in the Southern Border.”

“Yes.”

“The Southern Border, the court doesn’t really care about it, actually, it can’t care, unruly and disobedient.” Chu Minghou said, “The court wishes for the Southern Border to be weak so they can’t cause trouble.”

Chu Zhiyuan was deep in thought.

The mountains of the Southern Border are dense, filled with miasma, making military movement extremely difficult.

Therefore, the Southern Border has never truly been conquered.

Nominally part of Da Jing, it is equivalent to being independent.

They disregard the court’s policies and orders, act as they wish.

In the eyes of Da Jing’s people, hardly anyone lives in the Southern Border.

But in the court’s eyes, the Southern Border is a significant threat, an extremely unstable factor.

If the court were at war, and the Southern Border suddenly rebelled, it would indeed shake Da Jing’s foundation.

How can the threat of the Southern Border be minimized? By weakening the Southern Border.

How to weaken it?

These disciples of the Evil Sect can achieve that.

And no matter how strong they are, they cannot form a disciplined army, they are vulnerable before the military.

Chu Yi’s bright eyes blinked as she quickly pursued the question.

Chu Zhiyuan then explained these inside stories to her.

Chu Yi was extremely interested in these matters, her insight often sharp and piercing.

So, Chu Zhiyuan satisfied her curiosity.

Chu Yi snorted, “So, the growth of these Evil Sects is also the result of the court’s indulgence?”

“Don’t say such things, these words must never be spread.” Chu Minghou said.

Chu Yi said, “Father, even if it’s spread, so what.”

Chu Zhiyuan agreed.

The people of Da Jing don’t have a good impression of the Southern Border, knowing these inside details may not necessarily blame the court, they might even feel the court’s actions are justified.

This indeed reduces the threat of the Southern Border at the lowest cost, maintaining peace in the Southern Border.

If the Southern Border becomes strong, it will certainly cause trouble, and if it escalates, all the people of Da Jing will suffer.

“If you truly destroyed the Evil Sect’s stronghold, annihilated them entirely…” Chu Minghou shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, “What if I don’t stop?”

Chu Minghou frowned, “If you don’t stop, they will truly transfer you to the provinces.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, “Transferring out of Yujing is indeed a root-cutting method.”

Chu Minghou looked at him helplessly, “Yuan’er, you are a Great Grandmaster and a Princely Heir, but no matter how strong, you are just one person, you cannot fight the entire court.”

Asking him to stop is not a decision of any single official, but the consensus of the entire court.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, “These demon people of the Evil Sect don’t deserve to live.”

Chu Minghou said, “They certainly deserve to die, but for now…”

Chu Zhiyuan said, “These officials should know, the Evil Sect doesn’t only operate in the Southern Border.”

“You’ve killed so many in the Eastern Territory that the courtiers are already dissatisfied, impeachment memorials are flying all over, now causing this ruckus in Yujing, even Father can’t stop it.”

“Then let Imperial Grandfather issue a decree.” Chu Zhiyuan said, “If there’s no decree, I’ll pretend I don’t know.”

Chu Minghou shook his head helplessly, looking at Bai Ningshuang.

Bai Ningshuang said, “Don’t look at me, this stubbornness is inherited from you.”

“I’m not that stubborn.”

“Neither am I!”

Chu Yi softly said, “Brother, do you really want to oppose all the court officials?”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, “I’m not against them; I’m fighting the demon people of the Evil Sect.”

“Then that’s opposing them,” Chu Yi said, “but it’s not very wise.”

Even the Emperor cannot oppose all the courtiers, no matter how powerful the Emperor’s Sword is, it cannot kill all the courtiers.

Chu Zhiyuan said, “If I give up now, my mind won’t be clear, and it will be difficult to advance in cultivation.”

So I’ve hardly been involved in government affairs.

The path of cultivation and the path of officialdom are completely different, one seeks the straight, the other seeks the curve.

Getting too involved in government affairs taints the mental state.

He figured this is why the Emperor always tolerates his holding office without working.

“Hmm…” Chu Yi tilted her head thoughtfully, “Is there a way to have the best of both worlds?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, “Then only let them fight among themselves.”

If they fight among themselves, his Bright Moon Saber God cannot grow strong taking advantage of the situation.

Thus, the final step hasn’t been taken.

Looking now, it’s time to proceed with the third step.

“`