Rebel: The Inheritance System

Chapter 69 - Plans, Schemes and Politics

While Steward Mo is leading Shang Shi and the rest to meet the governor, a soldier knocks on the door of General Ling's study.

"Come in." the General says and the soldier enters the room.

"Sir, I received a report that Shang Shi, the governor's son has entered the city and is on his way to meet the governor right now!" the soldier reports.

"Shang Shi? Hmmm. Oh! I remember now, he is the person whom the crown prince said to dispose of! I had nearly forgotten about his existence thanks to this damned church." General Ling exclaims.

"General, it might be dangerous to show your support for the crown prince so soon. We are not sure if he will eventually wear the crown of the emperor or decide to join one of the immortal sects." One of the general's aides respectfully informs General Ling.

"Chen Bei, you're always like this. Why do you have to think thrice every time before you act? If I didn't know you well enough, I would have thought that you were a coward. You are right, however, as the succession this time might be different, as the emperor is worried about the words that the Grand Astrologer said years ago. The emperor often asks the Grand Astrologer if the Emperor's star has regained its light, but the answer is always a disappointing no. "

"It is unsure if the emperor will change his mind about following the tradition of passing the throne to the most untalented person in the royal family as he feels like the Empire is in danger. Regardless, history has shown that even the most untalented wastrel that the royal family produces is still a dragon among men."

"The crown prince seems to want the throne for some odd reason and convinced the emperor to make him the crown prince. The crown prince infuriated the emperor so much that the emperor forgot that he had a useless thirteen prince who only wants to eat, drink and sleep all day long!" General Ling says as he sorts out of his thoughts.

"Anyway, Shang Shi is a useless person and Shang Jian Rui's mind sea has been shattered. That moron has spent all his time investigating the Crying God Church and now he has almost lost all of his influence over the soldiers. It will not be difficult to make my soldiers see him as a brainwashed member of the church now." General Ling says confidently as he tells his aides the plan he has been carrying out.

"General...You mean to completely destroy the church?" one of the aides who have a shocked expression asks.

"Yes...They need to pay for embarrassing me. How many I supposed to inspire and lead my soldiers when word spread that I was caught crying as I ran in the streets?!" General Ling says angrily.

"The only problem...is that Xin family..."

"I don't have a good reason to kill them and make the Quan Zhen act stop their Elder from seeking revenge..." General Ling says weakly and sighs.

"Why not just leave them alone?" Yap Chen Bei suggests.

"They are friends with Shang Jian Rui, do you think they will just watch as we make Shang Jian Rui a rebel?" General Ling asks.

"General, you should not destroy the entire town and there is no need for you to burn the entire town down."

"I understand that the general hates the underhanded actions that Lu Wang city did to make itself the entrance of the Spirit Forest and destroyed the commercial value of He Jin city, but right now, almost ninety five per cent of Lu Wang city are already members of the Crying God Church."

"Once we kill everyone associated with the church, the city will probably have lesser people than a village! Lu Wang city will be unable to function as a city anymore! Your family in He Jin city has also been informed to start taking over the properties and wealth of the executed families and they will aggressively expand!" Yap Chen Bei confidently suggests to the general.

"What you say sounds nice but you still have not told me how to deal with the Xin family once they decide to protect Shang Jian Rui. Once we kill the useless son, his father will definitely go crazy. Even with his mind sea shattered, he is still powerful enough to fight me and might even push me back! It has been years since he was injured so his injuries should have stabilized. Taking into his cultivation before he was crippled, it will require the entire corps to take him down!"

"There will be enough time for the Xin family to provide him with backup and we cannot afford to become enemies with the Xin family since the Quan Zhen sect will come after us!" General Ling says with a frown.

Yap Chen Bei lets out an evil grin and says "General, I have a plan that will allow you to solve your problems easily, but there is a catch..."

"Just say it. We are all friends here." General Ling says softly.

"When Shang Jian Rui told us about how the Crying God Church makes people cry, I started investigating them on my own and I found out that they are from the Agostic continent." Yap Chen Bei says softly but General Ling exclaims in shock "The Agostic continent?"

"How did they infiltrate the capital province without anyone knowing?!" General Ling says in shock.

"I don't know but I only found out by chance. I captured one of the priests a few days ago and tortured him until he started cursing and swearing in the Agostic language. That was how I found out that he was from the Agostic continent." Yap Chen Bei says.

"If they are people from the Agostic continent, they should have some poison stocked somewhere since they are all herbalists. Once we find the poison, we can either use it on the Xin family or Shang Jian Rui and it will be easy to finish what we started. Also since the Church is from the Agostic continent, they are all enemies of the Empire and should be eradicated!" Yap Chen Bei fiercely says.

"From now on, tell all our men to be on level three alert. Also send some new spies to search the church for all kinds of poisons and concoctions that the Agostic people have crafted." General Ling gives out orders.

...

At the dining hall during dinner, my father finally returns and I greet him as soon as I see him.

"Father!" I say loudly so he hears me.

"Oh Shi er, it has been a long time since I last you haha! You seem to have grown taller and got darker. Your mother will complain about how you didn't take care of your skin when she sees you." My father says happily as he rubs my hair and messes it up in the process.

"Governor Shang!" the rest of the judges and guards greet the governor.

"Mmm, good job so far and I thank everyone for taking care of my son. He must have been a handful." Governor Shang praises the judges and the guards.

"I have heard about everything from Liu Kang, and you are not to speak of it ever again. Understand?" Governor Shang gives an order in a serious tone.

"Yes governor!" everyone says except for me, who am just watching. My father glances at me but does not say anything.

"Liu Kang, join your friends. There's no need for you to be my guard anymore. The riding circuit will end for now and you will accompany me on this operation from now on. Shi er, this operation will be good for you. You will help me look through the evidence that is submitted to me once we move to the next city. Ding Sha, you will resume your post as my guard. That's all for now, let us eat!" Governor Shang quickly answers the questions that everyone has on their minds and gives us a peace of mind while we have dinner together.

Reunited at last, with my father and Liu Kang.