Chapter 568: Attacking Mingdu of This Realm!

Not long after Duan Zhengchun, the Prince of Zhennan of the Great Li Kingdom, expressed his intent to form an alliance with the Emperor of the Great Ming, another national envoy arrived—and this person was the Golden Wheel Dharma King of Tibet!

The Golden Wheel Dharma King strode arrogantly into the Fengtian Hall. Because he was a martial arts master, the Ming guards did not dare to attempt any obstruction upon seeing him.

And so, the Golden Wheel Dharma King appeared directly within the grand hall.

At this moment, all the officials of the Great Ming were struck with sudden shock upon witnessing this scene!

Especially Cao Zhengchun!

Without a moment's hesitation, Cao Zhengchun rushed immediately to the front of the Ming Emperor, shouting loudly, "Protect the Emperor!"

"Quickly, protect the Emperor!"

"Golden Wheel Dharma King, you dare to intrude into the imperial palace of my Great Ming! What are your true intentions!"

Cao Zhengchun naturally recognized the Golden Wheel Dharma King; thus, when the latter appeared in the Fengtian Hall, Cao Zhengchun's heart was filled with intense agitation and tension!

At the same time, Cao Zhengchun immediately mobilized the true qi within his body, deciding to engage the Golden Wheel Dharma King in combat.

However, at this time, the Golden Wheel Dharma King instead offered a respectful salute toward the Ming Emperor seated upon the dragon throne.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, may he live for ten thousand years!"

Once the Golden Wheel Dharma King finished his salutation, Zhu Houzhao spoke to Cao Zhengchun: "Eunuch Cao, step back."

"This Golden Wheel Dharma King will not harm me!"

Clearly, Zhu Houzhao had already guessed the purpose of the Golden Wheel Dharma King's visit. Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun remained uneasy!

Cao Zhengchun took the initiative to speak again: "Your Majesty, this Golden Wheel Dharma King has intruded into the Fengtian Hall without prior notice. His arrival is absoluteley ill-intentioned!"

"I implore Your Majesty to be cautious!"

At this moment, the Golden Wheel Dharma King spoke directly: "Eunuch Cao, you have likely misunderstood this King. I have come this time seeking an alliance with the Great Ming!"

"I wonder if your country's Emperor will agree!"

Hearing the Golden Wheel Dharma King's words, Cao Zhengchun immediately fixed his gaze on Zhu Houzhao. Zhu Houzhao, however, spoke unhurriedly: "An alliance?"

"If I remember correctly, there are no mutual interests between the Great Ming and Tibet. Why would you wish to ally with my Great Ming?"

As Zhu Houzhao's voice fell, the Golden Wheel Dharma King did not hesitate for a moment. He immediately said, "Your Majesty, currently, the Great Ming Empire has consecutively defeated the Jin Kingdom and the Song Kingdom!"

"Furthermore, the martial arts experts within the Jin and Song Kingdoms have all been slain by the rumored Imperial Grandson of the Great Ming!"

"If I am not mistaken, the armies of the Great Ming are about to march into your capital!"

Having finished, the Golden Wheel Dharma King turned his gaze back to Zhu Houzhao. Upon hearing these words, the Ming Emperor's face momentarily revealed a hint of embarrassment.

Immediately, the Golden Wheel Dharma King continued, "Tibet is well aware that if your country is defeated by the Great Ming Empire, then the Great Ming Empire will surely invade Tibet in the future!"

"Therefore, this King has come hoping to reach an alliance with your country! I wonder if Your Majesty is willing?"

Clearly, the Golden Wheel Dharma King had laid out the situation very plainly.

Although Zhu Houzhao had always felt a lingering dread regarding Tibet, he was also very aware that, by now, the Great Ming Kingdom had no way out.

Moreover, from the current perspective, the Great Ming Kingdom's greatest opponent was the Great Ming Empire, not Tibet!

Thus, the Ming Emperor did not think too much and said directly: "Since your country wishes to ally with me, I naturally agree!"

"However, I wonder if your country can provide military assistance?"

As Zhu Houzhao's voice fell, the Golden Wheel Dharma King did not hesitate. He spoke with absolute confidence: "That is a given!"

"Just as I am arriving, Tibet has already dispatched an army of fifty thousand into the territory of the Great Ming Empire!"

"And it is being personally led by Kumārajīva!"

Clearly, when the Golden Wheel Dharma King finished speaking, all the Ming officials within the Fengtian Hall were struck with shock.

Especially the Iron-Fisted Marquis, Zhu Wushi!

He never imagined that tiny Tibet would actually dare to launch a direct attack on the Great Ming Empire!

"Are you mad?"

"Fifty thousand troops want to attack the Great Ming Empire! Are you not afraid of the retribution of the Great Ming Imperial Grandson?"

Zhu Wushi questioned the Golden Wheel Dharma King with a look of utter incomprehension.

Seeing this, the latter swept a disdainful glance over Zhu Wushi, and then the Golden Wheel Dharma King spoke eloquently: "Though there are only fifty thousand Tibetan troops, all fifty thousand are elites!"

"Coupled with the leadership of Kumārajīva, they can naturally deal a heavy blow to the Great Ming Empire!"

"Furthermore, if this King is not mistaken, the current focus of the Great Ming Empire is entirely on attacking your country. A sudden strike on the capital of the Great Ming Empire will naturally achieve the element of surprise!"

Upon the dragon throne, Zhu Houzhao was naturally overjoyed to hear the Golden Wheel Dharma King's words!

Zhu Houzhao praised repeatedly: "Excellent, excellent! To this day, no country has dared to take the initiative to attack the Great Ming Empire."

"Now that Tibet has set a precedent, I believe this battle will surely result in victory."

After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, he simply stepped down from the dragon throne.

He walked slowly to the front of the Golden Wheel Dharma King, patted the latter's shoulder, and said: "If this Tibetan offensive truly achieves results, I shall certainly not be stingy!!"

The Golden Wheel Dharma King said with a smile: "Actually, for Tibet, we do not seek any rewards. This King simply cannot stand the Great Ming Empire."

"A tiny Great Ming Empire being so arrogant—it is simply showing us no respect. Now that Tibet and the Ming Kingdom have formed an alliance, we will surely deal a heavy blow to the Great Ming Empire."

Clearly, the Golden Wheel Dharma King did not yet realize how terrifying the strength of the Great Ming Empire truly was.

He did not know that Zhu Ying had already broken through to the Gangqi Realm.

Thus, the Golden Wheel Dharma King held overly beautiful aspirations for this alliance with the Ming Kingdom.

Little did he know, Tibet was currently throwing eggs against stone.

***

Meanwhile, in the north of the Ming Kingdom.

Zhu Ying was riding a Pteranodon, observing the current battle situation.

Currently, the three routes of the Great Ming Empire's armies were advancing with an irresistible force, winning victory after victory.

The Ming Kingdom's armies had absolutely no capacity to resist.

Wherever the Great Ming Empire's armies went, the Ming soldiers would surely flee in panic.

Of course, the Great Ming Empire's armies were not engaging in indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent.

They even performed certain basic construction work on the cities they had already conquered.

Therefore, regarding the people of the Ming Kingdom, they actually held an extremely favorable view of the Great Ming Empire's army.

Just then, Liu Lei, serving as the Commander of the Royal Guards, appeared before Zhu Ying riding a Pteranodon.

Liu Lei spoke to Zhu Ying in a hurried tone: "Reporting to the Imperial Grandson, the latest battle report: Tibet has mobilized its troops."

To be honest, when Zhu Ying heard the news of Tibet's mobilization, his face first showed surprise, but he quickly revealed a hint of disdain.

"Tibet mobilized? Hmph! Do you mean to say Tibet has sent troops to attack the Great Ming Empire?" Zhu Ying pressed Liu Lei with a serious expression.

The latter did not dare to hesitate and immediately replied: "Reporting to the Imperial Grandson, that is correct."

"According to the latest news, the King of Tibet, Kumārajīva, is personally leading 50,000 elite troops, charging into the territory of the Great Ming Empire."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ying's face still showed no emotional change, because he knew very well that these 50,000 Tibetan elites were merely walking to their deaths.

"Immediately order Xu Huizu to lead the army to intercept them. We must show Tibet what's what."

"As you command," replied Liu Lei, the Commander of the Tiger Guards.

Afterward, Zhu Ying mobilized his true qi and shouted toward the Great Ming Empire's army below: "All troops, accelerate! We must reach the capital of the Ming Kingdom by tomorrow!"

Soon, Zhu Ying's words reached the ears of every soldier, and the Great Ming Empire's army immediately began to accelerate its advance.

***

At this moment, within the capital of the Great Ming Empire.

Zhu Yuanzhang also received the battle reports from the front lines.

A member of the Jinyiwei spoke with a slightly panicked tone: "Reporting to the Emperor, the western side of Song Province has encountered an invasion by Tibetan troops."

"What? An invasion by Tibetan troops?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was also somewhat shocked. His thoughts were the same as Zhu Ying's; he had not expected that tiny Tibet would dare to attack the Great Ming Empire.

Tibet was simply seeking death.

Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily, "Does Xiong Ying know of this?"

"Reporting to the Emperor, the Imperial Grandson has already been informed and has currently dispatched Grand General Xu Huizu to lead the army to resist."

The Crown Prince, Zhu Biao, who was beside him, also said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, since Xiong Ying has already sent Xu Huizu to battle, this Tibetan offensive will surely end in failure."

"Please do not worry, Father."

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke in a cold tone: "I never worry about the Tibetan army. What angers me is that a tiny Tibet dares to attack our Great Ming Empire."

"They are simply seeking death."

"Immediately inform Xu Huizu that he must annihilate the entire Tibetan army. Furthermore, launch a direct attack on Tibet. I want these Tibetans to understand the consequence of opposing the Great Ming Empire."

"As you command," the Jinyiwei member replied immediately.

***

One day later, in the western part of Song Province of the Great Ming Empire.

Xu Huizu led an army of ten thousand in a grand procession, charging toward the Tibetan troops.

At this moment, Kumārajīva, the King of Tibet, showed no panic upon seeing the arrival of the Great Ming Empire's army.

Kumārajīva roared at the Great Ming Empire's army with a strained voice: "Withdraw immediately!"

"If you dare to engage in battle with my Tibet, you shall all die without a place to be buried!"

The reason Kumārajīva was so confident was primarily because he was a top-tier expert.

Essentially, Kumārajīva's strength had reached the Grandmaster level.

Therefore, when he saw that the Great Ming Empire's army did not contain any martial arts experts, it gave Kumārajīva a sense of confidence.

Little did he know that before long, Kumārajīva would fall into despair.

As a general of the Great Ming Empire, Xu Huizu could not help but let out a cold sneer upon hearing Kumārajīva's words.

This monk was simply ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth.

"All troops, listen to my command! Prepare the Red-Coated Cannons!"

As Xu Huizu's voice fell, the Great Ming Empire's army drew out the Red-Coated Cannons one after another, aiming them at the Tibetan troops.

"Fire!"

At Xu Huizu's command, hundreds of Red-Coated Cannons immediately discharged their shells.

For a moment, the entire sky echoed with successive cannon blasts.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The shells fired by the Red-Coated Cannons possessed immense lethality and an extremely long range; in an instant, the entire Tibetan army fell into total chaos.

A large number of Tibetan soldiers were crushed into ash by the shells fired from the Red-Coated Cannons.

Seeing this, Kumārajīva also panicked.

"How is this possible?"

"How can the Great Ming Empire possess such powerful firearms?"

Panic was visibly written on Kumārajīva's face.

Without any hesitation, he charged directly toward the Great Ming Empire's army, attempting to rely on his true qi to inflict casualties upon them.

Unfortunately, by this time, the Great Ming Empire's soldiers were already equipped with various types of submachine guns.

As Kumārajīva charged, the soldiers immediately pulled their triggers, and several bullets flew directly toward him.

In that flash of lightning, Kumārajīva's mental state completely shattered; he could feel how terrifying the lethality of the bullets was.

Thus, Kumārajīva immediately mobilized the true qi in his body, attempting to block the impact of the bullets.

But his speed was still too slow.

In an instant, several bullets struck his body, and Kumārajīva collapsed to the ground in an instant.

Although Kumārajīva was at the Grandmaster level, he still had no power to fight back in the face of advanced weaponry.

And the strength of the Great Ming Empire went far beyond this.

Suddenly, a series of neighs and roars erupted from not far away.

The Dinosaur Legion of the Great Ming Empire had arrived.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex Legion directly crushed the entire Tibetan army, and countless Tibetan soldiers were bitten to death by the Tyrannosaurus Rexes.

Seeing this, Kumārajīva knew the tide had turned, so he hurriedly ordered his army to retreat.

But just then, hundreds of shells from the Red-Coated Cannons smashed into the Tibetan army once more.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Even Kumārajīva himself was struck by a shell.

In less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, the Tibetan army had completely become a pack of stray dogs.

Even Kumārajīva, as the King of Tibet, could only flee in panic.

***

Meanwhile, fifty miles outside the capital of the Ming Kingdom.

The Great Ming Empire's army, led by Lan Yu, Guo Zhen, Mu Ying, and others, was advancing at full speed with the speed of a thunderbolt.

Inside the Imperial Palace.

Upon learning that the Great Ming Empire's army was about to arrive, Zhu Houzhao was instantly terrified out of his wits.

Originally, Zhu Houzhao thought the Great Ming Empire's army would arrive at the capital in at least two days.

But now, the three routes of the Great Ming Empire's army were about to reach the Ming Kingdom's capital.

This undoubtedly caused Zhu Houzhao to lose his composure.

In his desperation, Zhu Houzhao immediately dispatched the Iron-Fisted Marquis, Zhu Wushi, ordering him to lead the experts of Dragon Protection Villa to meet the enemy.

However, although Zhu Wushi accepted the decree, he did not personally take the field; instead, he sent the disciples of Dragon Protection Villa to resist.

The result was predictable.

All the disciples of Dragon Protection Villa were killed by the Great Ming Empire's army.

Not a single person survived. (End of Chapter)