"So the intelligence we have on the Japanese pirates was actually fabricated by the Emperor?" He Ao asked, his eyes wide.
Zhang Yang nodded.
"That's right. I was quite vigilant when I went there, but I gradually realized that our understanding of the Ming King's descendants was completely wrong."
"This intelligence was what the Emperor wanted us to know. He wanted to tarnish the image of the Ming King's descendants. This way, if the Ming King's descendants were to counterattack in the future, all of us forces would wholeheartedly support the Emperor."
Everyone nodded in realization. So that was how it was!
"Actually, there's another benefit to the Emperor doing this. It prevents the Ming King's descendants from infiltrating us in advance."
"His intentions are truly profound!" Huo Zhu added.
The Emperor's scheming far surpassed their imagination!
And this was just the beginning.
Zhang Yang then dropped another bombshell.
"What if I told you that the Emperor was also involved behind the demise of the Five Dragons of Huaxia?"
What!
Huo Zhu and the others stood up abruptly!
Their eyes blazed with anger!
"Zhang Yang, is what you're saying true?" Huo Zhu's expression changed drastically!
"It's true. The five ministers told me themselves. The reason they went to the territory of the Ming King's successor back then was, to put it plainly, based on information provided by the Emperor. At that time..."
Zhang Yang recounted everything Zhang Yingxiong had told him to Huo Zhu and the others.
After listening.
A raging fire ignited in the hearts of Huo Zhu and the others!
They never expected the Emperor to be involved in this matter!
No wonder the Emperor had remained indifferent to the affairs of the Five Dragons of Huaxia all these years.
Otherwise, with the Emperor's help, the Five Dragons of Huaxia would not have fallen into such a dire state!
If not for Zhang Yang raising the banner later, the Five Dragons of Huaxia might have been wiped out.
At this moment.
Everyone hated the Emperor to the core.
"Zhang Yang, this means the Emperor no longer trusts you. Coupled with what he did to the Five Dragons of Huaxia in the past, our current situation is very dangerous. Do you have any solutions?" Huo Zhu asked gravely.
"I haven't thought of a solution for now," Zhang Yang shook his head.
"However, our current situation isn't entirely perilous. The Emperor's suspicion of me doesn't have concrete evidence. Today, I gave him a satisfactory answer to his probing, though there was a bit of grumbling at the end."
"But the grumbling was necessary. If I hadn't grumbled and pretended to be oblivious, it would have aroused suspicion."
"If nothing unexpected happens, the Emperor should make his next move against me, so we are safe for the time being."
After a moment of thought.
Zhang Yang realized that this situation could not continue indefinitely and said,
"Let's observe the situation for now. If there's no other way, we'll retreat! We'll move to Linhai City!"
Linhai City?
Upon hearing this, Huo Zhu and the others also found it reasonable.
"Indeed, Linhai City would be relatively safer. And you have good relations with the people of the Ming King's descendants. Moving there would be a good choice."
"But if it comes to that, it would be equivalent to declaring war on the Emperor," He Ao frowned.
"Our current strength is nowhere near enough to contend with the Emperor!"
Zhang Yang smiled.
"We may not have the strength, but the Ming King's descendants do. Although they are currently confined to an island, their foundation is extremely deep."
"However, we haven't reached the point of tearing our faces apart yet, so there's no need for that."
"After all, I'm also very curious about what the Emperor is trying to achieve. Is he simply suspecting that I've been bought, or does he have other ulterior motives?"
This point.
Zhang Yang had pondered for a long time, but he couldn't figure it out.
If the Emperor didn't trust him, there would have been no need to save him today.
He could have let the Zhenxi Beast King kill him, and then sent the Zhanwang Army to kill the Zhenxi Beast King, wouldn't that have been enough?
And if he trusted him, why would he test him like this, making him fight the Zhenxi Beast King?
It was obvious.
There was a big secret hidden here.
A secret known to very few!
"Alright, everyone keep what we discussed tonight a secret. No one is to speak of it."
After Zhang Yang gave his instructions, he got up and left.
Having gone through a series of battles today,
He had also expended a considerable amount of energy and needed to rest well.
...
At the same time.
In the Imperial City.
After listening to the reports from the Second Prince and others, the Emperor's expression was grim.
His deep eyes revealed a meaningful gaze, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
"You may withdraw now."
"Yes."
The Second Prince and the others quickly withdrew.
However, the two old ancestors who had gone to Jiangnan City remained.
"Your Majesty, we did not find anyone else on this trip, only Zhang Yang."
"We did not find the ministers of the Five Dragons of Huaxia that you mentioned."
It turned out.
The two ancestors had also gone to Jiangnan City on a secret mission.
That mission was to find the five ministers of the Five Dragons of Huaxia!
"Hmm? None of them are here? Then where did they go?" the Emperor frowned.
According to the intelligence from the Far West.
Zhang Yingxiong and the others had escaped.
If they hadn't returned to the base of the Five Dragons of Huaxia, where else would they have gone?
"Wolf King, Dragon King, have you received any news from the people I sent to search?" the Emperor asked.
The Northern Wolf King and the Eastern River Dragon King both shook their heads.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is still no news."
The Emperor's heart sank.
The five ministers of the Five Dragons of Huaxia were all top-tier experts.
The fact that these five people had left the Far West and did not return to Jiangnan City was rather intriguing.
Had they guessed his intentions from back then?
Or had they discovered something?
But Zhang Yingxiong had already reached an agreement with him before heading to the Far West.
Why hadn't he informed him upon his return?
"Investigate!"
"Continue sending people to search. No matter what, we must ascertain their whereabouts!" the Emperor said sternly.
"Yes, we obey!"
Everyone quickly left.
Following the Emperor's orders, they intensified their search for the five ministers of the Five Dragons of Huaxia.
Watching them leave, the Emperor's furrowed brow never relaxed.
He harbored a secret in his heart.
A secret that no one knew. Could it be that Zhang Yingxiong and the others had discovered it?
If that were the case, it would be terrible. The empire he had finally obtained might slip away!
"Damn it! It's all because of Zhang Yang, this uncertain factor. Otherwise, my empire would be within my grasp!" the Emperor said angrily.
"And that Zhenxi Beast King, when the opportunity arises, I will surely kill you!"
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!
Just as the Emperor was cursing the Zhenxi Beast King, the Zhenxi Beast King, who had fled back to Xijiang overnight, arrived at the Imperial City.
He came to beg for punishment!
The Second Prince and the others, who had just left, encountered the Zhenxi Beast King on the road.
Seeing him arrive at the Imperial City, covered in wounds and alone, they were immediately startled.
Was the Zhenxi Beast King intending to walk into a trap?
With curiosity, they followed the Zhenxi Beast King into the Imperial City Hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Your humble servant has come to beg for forgiveness!"
Upon entering the Imperial City Hall.
The Zhenxi Beast King prostrated himself before the Emperor.
The Emperor was greatly surprised!
How dared the Zhenxi Beast King come?
Was he not afraid of being killed by the Emperor?
"Hmph! You still dare to come? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" the Emperor said sternly.
An extremely powerful pressure was released, immediately engulfing the wounded Zhenxi Beast King.