Chapter 565: An Alliance of Nations?

After Cao Zhengchun finished speaking, the face of the Emperor of Ming immediately contorted with dissatisfaction and fury!

The Emperor of Ming stared at Cao Zhengchun and spoke almost in a roar, "Useless! I gave you glory and wealth, I gave you such a high position, and I never expected you to be so incompetent!"

"What use are you to me?"

Clearly, the Emperor of Ming was extremely angry. After all, the Great Ming Empire had already split its forces into three routes to invade the Ming Kingdom, and the Ming Kingdom had now reached a moment of life and death.

Therefore, the priority for the Emperor of Ming was to seek fortune through danger; he directly ordered Cao Zhengchun to assassinate Zhu Ying. Unfortunately, the current Cao Zhengchun was merely an expert of the Grandmaster Realm. If Cao Zhengchun were to clash with Zhu Ying, there would be only one result: a death without a burial place!

Cao Zhengchun was naturally well aware of this. Thus, once the Emperor of Ming finished speaking, Cao Zhengchun knelt directly before him.

With tears and snot streaming down his face, he said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, even ten of this servant are no match for the Imperial Grandson of Great Ming! Your Majesty, please, I beg you to bypass this servant!"

To be honest, when the Emperor of Ming heard these words, he became even more enraged!

The Emperor of Ming roared directly, "Simply ridiculous!"

"If I let you go, who will let me go!"

Having said that, the Emperor of Ming slumped into his dragon throne. At this moment, despair and resentment appeared on Zhu Houzhao's face.

To be fair, in the depths of Zhu Houzhao's heart, he was also quite terrified of Zhu Ying.

But by now, the three armies of the Great Ming Empire had their blades pointed directly at the Ming Kingdom. For this Emperor of Ming, there were no longer any choices left.

Since things had come to this, he could only clash head-on with Zhu Ying.

Zhu Houzhao let out a sigh and glanced at the kneeling Cao Zhengchun, saying, "I actually do not wish for you to die, but currently, I truly cannot find a second candidate."

"Within my court, you are the only person I trust."

Zhu Houzhao knew he had no way out, so he could only speak his true heart to Cao Zhengchun.

Upon hearing this, the latter immediately spoke up, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant has a candidate."

"That person is the Iron-Fisted Divine Marquis, Zhu Wushi."

"Zhu Wushi is a member of the imperial clan and possesses the Dragon Protection Villa. Furthermore, his cultivation has reached the peak of the Supernatural Realm. If the Divine Marquis is sent, he will surely be able to kill the Imperial Grandson of Great Ming."

However, once Zhu Wushi's name fell, the Emperor of Ming instead let out bursts of cold laughter.

The Emperor of Ming then said, "Cao Zhengchun, do you not know? My Imperial Uncle is scared to death the moment he hears the name of that Imperial Grandson of Great Ming."

"Sending Zhu Wushi to assassinate the Imperial Grandson is simply impossible."

"I even suspect that Zhu Wushi has long since secretly colluded with the Great Ming Empire."

Zhu Houzhao was, after all, a clever man. Although the national strength of the Great Ming Empire under his governance was mediocre, his intelligence was extremely high. He had already vaguely sensed that something was amiss with Zhu Wushi.

As Zhu Houzhao's words fell, a look of panic immediately appeared on Cao Zhengchun's face.

He had never imagined that the famous Iron-Fisted Divine Marquis would defect to the Great Ming Empire.

At this time, Zhu Houzhao spoke to Cao Zhengchun again, "Stop the nonsense. Pack your things immediately. You must kill the Imperial Grandson of Great Ming. Once the deed is done, I will certainly not mistreat you."

Clearly, for Zhu Houzhao, there were no other methods left; he could only pin all his hopes on Cao Zhengchun.

However, as the number one expert of the Imperial Palace, Cao Zhengchun still chose to refuse upon hearing Zhu Houzhao's words.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant will absolutely not go to assassinate the Imperial Grandson of Great Ming. If this servant goes, death is certain, and it will also result in the loss of the Ming Kingdom's strength."

To be honest, once Cao Zhengchun finished this sentence, killing intent already flowed in the eyes of the Emperor of Ming.

In this Emperor's view, Cao Zhengchun had already developed a heart of rebellion.

Just as Zhu Houzhao was about to fly into a rage, Cao Zhengchun knelt on the ground and hurriedly spoke, "Your Majesty, this servant is not afraid of being killed by the Imperial Grandson, but rather believes there is a better way."

"A better way?" After repeating Cao Zhengchun's words, the Emperor of Ming seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

The Emperor of Ming immediately pressed, "Cao Zhengchun, tell me quickly, what is your good method?"

Cao Zhengchun did not dare to hesitate and immediately said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the reason the Great Ming Empire was able to so easily destroy the Jin Kingdom and the Song Kingdom is primarily because the Imperial Grandson of Great Ming is a martial arts expert."

"In that case, as long as we summon all the martial arts experts within our Ming Kingdom to fight the Imperial Grandson, we can achieve victory."

Originally, Zhu Houzhao thought Cao Zhengchun had a better method, but upon hearing what he said, a hint of disappointment appeared on his face.

"This is your method?" Zhu Houzhao said with eyes full of disdain.

Instead, Cao Zhengchun spoke with a firm tone, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the only way. Although the Imperial Grandson's strength is unfathomable—he can even kill Bodhidharma and the Sweeping Monk—our Ming Kingdom is not a weakling either."

"This servant believes that as long as Your Majesty issues widespread Hero Invitations to summon great experts to the capital to defend Your Majesty, many martial arts experts will surely come."

"When the time comes, if the armies of the Great Ming Empire truly attack the capital, our Ming Kingdom will have a way to respond."

This was the only method Cao Zhengchun could think of to resist the impact of the Great Ming Empire.

After hearing this, Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Since things have come to this, it can only be done this way."

Zhu Houzhao understood that even if he sent Cao Zhengchun to assassinate the Imperial Grandson, the ultimate result would only be Cao Zhengchun's death. This could not change the fate of the Ming Kingdom's destruction.

Since that was the case, it was better to take another path: rely on the power of the Ming Kingdom's martial arts experts, gather them all together, and strike back against the Great Ming Empire's army and the Imperial Grandson.

Immediately after,

Zhu Houzhao personally helped Cao Zhengchun up, patted his shoulder, and said with a serious face, "Eunuch Cao, whether my empire and its people can be preserved depends entirely on you."

"From this moment on, immediately send people to contact the martial arts experts within our Ming Kingdom and have them rush to the capital. Any martial arts expert who helps me resist the Great Ming Empire will receive great rewards from me."

"This servant obeys your command." Seeing that Zhu Houzhao had agreed to his proposal, Cao Zhengchun finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

After all, this way, Cao Zhengchun had avoided the mission to assassinate Zhu Ying.

After bidding farewell to the Emperor of Ming, Cao Zhengchun immediately utilized the connections and intelligence of the Eastern Depot to actively contact the martial arts experts of the Ming Kingdom.

However, it did not take long.

Cao Zhengchun's actions were discovered by the people of the Dragon Protection Villa.

Especially by Duan Tianya, who served as the number one secret agent.

When Duan Tianya learned that Cao Zhengchun was actively contacting the martial arts experts of the Ming Kingdom, he did not dare to hesitate and immediately passed the news to the Iron-Fisted Divine Marquis, Zhu Wushi.

At this moment, inside the Dragon Protection Villa.

Duan Tianya walked quickly to Zhu Wushi's side.

"Reporting to the Divine Marquis, your subordinate has just received news. Eunuch Cao of the Eastern Depot has begun contacting the martial arts experts of the Ming Kingdom. Currently, many Grandmaster-level experts are rushing toward the capital."

Without a doubt, when Zhu Wushi heard the intelligence brought by Duan Tianya, a hint of panic actually appeared on his face.

"What? Cao Zhengchun is actually contacting the martial arts experts of the Ming Kingdom to have them enter the capital to protect the Emperor?"

"Cao Zhengchun really thought of that!"

But soon, Zhu Wushi regained his composure.

Because he had long known that Zhu Ying had successfully ascended to the Astral Qi Realm.

In Zhu Wushi's view, even if all the martial arts experts of the Ming Kingdom gathered in the capital, they would not be a match for Zhu Ying.

Thus, Zhu Wushi said in a cold tone, "Simply a mob of rabble."

"The Imperial Grandson's realm has long since broken through the Astral Qi Realm. No one under heaven is his match, yet Cao Zhengchun actually deludes himself into thinking he can use the entire Ming Kingdom's martial arts experts to oppose the Imperial Grandson."

"It is utterly ridiculous!"

Seeing Zhu Wushi's reaction, Duan Tianya felt a sense of disappointment in his heart.

After all, Duan Tianya also wanted to join Cao Zhengchun's camp to fight Zhu Ying.

The main reason Duan Tianya had such thoughts was that Cheng Shifei had been killed by Zhu Ying. Duan Tianya's relationship with Cheng Shifei was naturally quite good; to avenge Cheng Shifei and to protect the Ming Kingdom, it was only right for Duan Tianya to clash with Zhu Ying.

Consequently,

Duan Tianya directly advised Zhu Wushi, "Divine Marquis, since Eunuch Cao is summoning the heroes and braves of the world to deal with the Great Ming Empire together, why shouldn't our Dragon Protection Villa take action as well?"

"In fact, your subordinate believes we could cooperate with Eunuch Cao to resist the foreign enemy together."

However, once Duan Tianya finished speaking, a look of impatience immediately appeared on Zhu Wushi's face.

Zhu Wushi stared intently at Duan Tianya with a cold gaze, then said, "Although you are the head of the four great secret agents, you should know very well that I am the one you should be loyal to."

"This King will remind you one last time: if you ever attempt to go to war with the Great Ming Empire again, I will certainly kill you."

"Now, get out."

For Zhu Wushi, since he had secretly defected to the Great Ming Empire, he naturally would not allow his subordinates to fight against it.

Therefore, when Zhu Wushi heard what Duan Tianya said, he immediately flew into a rage.

Seeing this, Duan Tianya could only hurriedly withdraw!

However, Duan Tianya did not give up on his idea. He secretly contacted Guihai Yidao and Shangguan Haitang, deciding to join Cao Zhengchun.

To fight the Great Ming Empire together.

...

Meanwhile, in the southern Dali Kingdom.

Duan Zhengming, the King of Dali, also received intelligence regarding the Great Ming Empire's attack on the Ming Kingdom.

Immediately, Duan Zhengming told his younger brother, the Prince of Zhennan, Duan Zhengchun, about the matter.

"Your Majesty, your brother believes that since the Great Ming Empire has declared war on the Ming Kingdom, our Dali Kingdom absolutely cannot sit idly by."

"The Ming Kingdom and the Dali Kingdom share a relationship of 'lips and teeth.' If the Ming Kingdom is defeated by the Great Ming Empire, our Dali Kingdom will naturally be unable to escape the consequences!"

Duan Zhengchun's logic was very simple. In his view, the Great Ming Empire led by Zhu Ying had already successively conquered the Jin Kingdom and the Song Kingdom, and was now attacking the Ming Kingdom.

In terms of strength, the Great Ming Empire was like the State of Qin during the Warring States period—unstoppable!

If the Dali Kingdom wanted to remain unscathed in this chaotic world, it could only form an alliance.

Furthermore, Duan Zhengchun had also received news from the martial arts world that the Imperial Grandson of Great Ming had consecutively killed the founders of Shaolin, Bodhidharma and the Sweeping Monk.

This undoubtedly made Duan Zhengchun even more wary of this so-called Imperial Grandson.

Therefore, for both public and private reasons, Prince Duan Zhengchun hoped to form an alliance between the Ming Kingdom and the Dali Kingdom to jointly attack the so-called Great Ming Empire.

Upon the dragon throne,

After hearing his brother's thoughts, Duan Zhengming naturally gave his full support.

"In that case, please, brother, go to the Ming Kingdom immediately to form an alliance with them."

Duan Zhengchun immediately accepted the command, "Your brother obeys."

In fact, it wasn't just the Dali Kingdom that had learned of the Great Ming Empire's attack on the Ming Kingdom. In the royal palace of the Tubo Kingdom in the southwest, the Golden Wheel Dharma King and Kumoji also received this intelligence.

"What? This Great Ming Empire is truly too arrogant, actually splitting its army into three routes to attack the Ming Kingdom. This Imperial Grandson of Great Ming simply does not respect the Ming Kingdom at all!"

The Golden Wheel Dharma King said with a look of disdain, "Although the Ming Kingdom's military strength is mediocre, there are many martial arts experts within it. It is said that Cao Zhengchun has already begun contacting various experts."

"In my view, this time the Great Ming Empire attacks the Ming Kingdom, they will definitely hit a snag."

However, once the Golden Wheel Dharma King finished speaking, Kumoji, who was beside him, shook his head and said, "I do not think so. Have you not heard? This Imperial Grandson of Great Ming, Zhu Ying, killed Bodhidharma and the Sweeping Monk."

"Who were Bodhidharma and the Sweeping Monk?"

"They were the top-tier martial arts powerhouses of the Song Kingdom; in fact, both of them had already reached the half-step Astral Qi Realm."

"Yet, this Imperial Grandson of Great Ming killed them both with ease."

"One can imagine just how terrifying this Imperial Grandson is."

Kumoji was naturally quite familiar with the strength of the Sweeping Monk and Bodhidharma. Therefore, upon hearing this, he concluded that no one under heaven was a match for Zhu Ying!

"What? This Imperial Grandson can actually kill Bodhidharma and the Sweeping Monk? How is that possible?"

Sure enough, when the Golden Wheel Dharma King heard Kumoji's words, he was momentarily stunned.

In the Golden Wheel Dharma King's view, no one was a match for Bodhidharma or the Sweeping Monk, let alone being able to kill them both!

This undoubtedly gave the Golden Wheel Dharma King a massive shock!

"If the Great Ming Empire truly destroys the Ming Kingdom, then our Tubo will also not be safe! Since things have come to this, we can only form an alliance with the Ming Kingdom!"