Chapter 1711 — A Treacherous Minister Lurks at the Emperor's Side
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
"Why does Your Majesty speak such words?"
Aboard the golden ship that faced the Heavenly Emperor Hao, Shen Mu's gaze was earnest and his tone sincere as he declared in a ringing voice: "Your Majesty must know that my Shen family has been loyal and good for generation upon generation, plain and honest folk, with no thought of rebellion. Jingping has for generations been a realm subordinate to the Heavenly Court, and it too has no thought of rebellion. To this day, neither my Shen family nor Jingping has ever rebelled against the Heavenly Court! It is Your Majesty!"
His voice abruptly turned impassioned, fierce and laced with wrath: "It is Your Majesty who has been blinded by treacherous ministers, who believe my Shen family means to rebel, who believe Jingping means to rebel! Your Majesty, beguiled by sycophants, has led the Heavenly Court's countless millions here to punish us, granting no chance to me, to Jingping, to Carefree Village, to speak! The reason we resist is not rebellion, but to correct Your Majesty's error!"
His voice grew ever louder, carrying into the ears of the Heavenly Court's innumerable hosts: "There are treacherous ministers at Your Majesty's side!"
Those words, once spoken, cut like a knife, and every heart shuddered!
Shen Mu's voice echoed back and forth between the cliffs, clanging and forceful: "Your Majesty has been blinded by a treacherous minister, and that treacherous minister sows discord and stirs up trouble! Every one of you is a righteous man loyal to his sovereign and his realm; you ought to join me in clearing the sovereign's side, in rooting out the vile and the petty, restoring peace to the world, restoring a bright and clear order to all under heaven!"
Whether Carefree Village or the Heavenly Court's hosts, all was silent; millions of troops made not a sound.
Far off, Taishi cast him a look of admiration, thinking: "Lord Mu is already invincible!"
Heavenly Lord Hao gaped, eyes wide, and for a time could not recover his senses.
Taichu coughed once and was about to speak when Shen Mu suddenly raised a hand, pointed at him, and shouted: "You! Yes, you! Taichu, you are the treacherous minister at His Majesty's side! You beguiled His Majesty into striking at the loyal and righteous of Jingping and Carefree Village! You purge all who differ from you, you plot restoration, and you think no one under heaven knows!"
Taichu clenched his fist, then slowly released it, and gave a snort: "Lord Mu, I will not argue with you."
Shen Mu roared: "Your Majesty, kill this treacherous minister, and I will withdraw my troops!"
The Heavenly Emperor Hao finally came to his senses and said with a half-smile: "The greatest villain wears the mask of loyalty. Lord Mu's face, truly, even a divine weapon become Dao could not pierce. Lord Mu, you rebel and raise chaos..."
"I have not rebelled. Why should I rebel?"
Shen Mu laughed heartily, hands clasped behind his back: "This world is the Heaven Alliance's world. Even Your Majesty is an elder of the Heaven Alliance; your throne as Heavenly Emperor was given by the Heaven Alliance. I am the Alliance Lord of the Heaven Alliance. The Heaven Alliance belongs to you, and it belongs to us — but in the end..."
His face went indifferent: "It is mine. Why should I rebel against myself?"
The mockery on his face vanished; his gaze settled upon the Heavenly Emperor Hao, and he said calmly: "Heavenly Lord Hao, you were born fair — why take the side of bandits? Why do you rebel against me? Why do you rebel against the Heaven Alliance?"
The Heavenly Emperor Hao laughed aloud: "You have shown your hand at last! Lord Mu, my army presses upon your borders. If you surrender at once and give up resistance, then the people of Jingping and Carefree Village may still have a path to live. If you cling to your delusion, then wherever my finger points, all shall be reduced to ashes!"