Chapter 330: The General's Old Age Was Ominous

The old general was meditating in the shogunate when the sound of fierce fighting rang out.

Suddenly, a bannerman came to report anxiously:
"Oh no, General! There are traitors causing trouble!"

Lin Liu looked calm:

"Is he my disciple?"

According to the prior plan, the monkey should be the first to launch the mutiny, and it should also be the monkey who chopped off his head, because this was the way out he found for his apprentice.

But... the anxious bannerman shook his head:
"Not the Ape Flag Master..."

Ok?
Lin Liu frowned:

"Could it be Taibai Xingjun?"

Li Ziliang was also someone he had arranged a long time ago. If it was Li Ziliang who brought people here, it would be normal...

"It's not..."

Lin Liu straightened up and asked doubtfully:

"Who is that?"

Could it be that this was really a strong man emerging from among the cattle and horses?
It's impossible. I have been in control of these people's clique-forming behavior from the beginning. I have never heard of any cows and horses who are good at leading a team. Besides, I have been mixing sand in the middle for a long time. It can't be cows and horses...

"It's Flag Master Ding!"

Lin Liu was shocked by what the bannerman said:

How could it be him?
[The battle between the rebels and the Eight Banners was not particularly fierce.]

[Because of your perverse actions, the Eight Banners are also worried about being expelled from the banner, so they are not very willing to fight for you, and their fighting will is not strong. ]

[Plus, anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Eight Banners are at an absolute disadvantage in this battle. If they continue to fight hard, they will definitely not end up well...]

[What do you want to do by joining the Eight Banners? Isn't it to live a good life? If you really want to fight to the death, how can you live freely? ]

[As the fighting went on, the Eight Banners were defeated again and again. Most of them only put up a symbolic resistance for a while before switching sides and joining the rebels...]

[Strong winds reveal strong grass, and turbulent times reveal loyal ministers! ]

[At this critical moment, there were still people who were determined to defend Yu Ni. Facing the defection of their allies and the offensive of the rebels, nearly 200 people refused to surrender.]

[While cursing the enemy as ungrateful traitors who rebelled against the imperial court, he fought and retreated, gradually retreating into the general's mansion, and tightly protected you inside...]

【Thus, this rebellion was basically declared over. 】

[Surrounded by nearly 3,000 people, you and your loyal guards of less than 200 people are doomed to fail.]

[The war has come to this point, and there is basically no need to fight any further. ]

[At this time, a person you are very familiar with walks out from among the rebels with a complicated expression...]

[“Xiao Ding…”]

[You look at the calm leader, feeling mixed emotions: "I really didn't expect it to be you."]

[“General, I never thought there would be such a day…”]

【He sighs.】

[This person is one of the seven most core flag masters under your command. His surname is Ding. He is the first Shinto monk to join your command. You once went out with Monkey and saved him when he was supposed to die.]

[In order to repay your kindness, he not only joined your team, but also helped you to recruit the other five flag owners. The seven people and the monkey formed the earliest eight flags...]

[But now, he is standing opposite you. ]

[When facing him, you should have scolded him for betraying his master, but considering that the current situation was caused by you, you said nothing...]

[“Where is my apprentice?”]

[You asked him about the whereabouts of the monkey. After all, it was supposed to lead the attack, but now it is the Ding Banner Master... This has to make you concerned.]

【"I have no idea."】

[Captain Ding shook his head: I decided to take the monkey's place because the monkey was not here.]

[After learning this, you feel relieved: at least this means that the monkey was not harmed by them...]

[“General!”]

[He suddenly said seriously: "We will always remember your kindness, and we will never repay you... Even if you make such a mistake, we don't want to embarrass you."]

[“As long as you immediately issue an edict to restore everyone’s banner status, re-employ monks to serve as heavenly officials, and restrict population growth... I can guarantee that you will still be the supreme shogun! All of us are your loyal warriors!”]

[“As long as you speak, today’s rebellion will not be a rebellion, but just a military remonstrance!”]

[He bowed to you sincerely, and the anger on the faces of the rebels faded. Everyone looked at you expectantly again, and some even bowed to you spontaneously! ]

【Because they will never forget your kindness. 】

[In their eyes, you have never been a bad person, you have always been a benefactor. Each of them longs for you to be their general forever, and they are willing to be your vassal.]

[You just did some bad things, but these bad things do not mean that you have lost their loyalty, as long as you speak up! As long as you can change! ]

[Rebellion can also turn into military remonstrance! 】

[However, you still disappointed them in the end...]

[Faced with everyone's expectations, you shook your head: "I have made up my mind, no need to say more!"]

[Everyone's faces froze.]

【…】

[This rebellion ended with your complete failure. Nearly 200 of your loyal officials were imprisoned in the Tianlao by Ding Qizhu, and you yourself were placed under house arrest in the shogunate.]

[You are still the Shogun.] [However, the supreme power has shifted...]

[After the rebellion was successful, Ding Qizhu had in fact become the one holding the power. Therefore, in order to justify the rebellion, he immediately issued an imperial decree on behalf of the shogun! ]

[From today on, General Lin’s suicidal decree will be abolished, the burden of cattle and horses will be taken off the True God, and then placed back on the monks. ]

[Under the threat of the mighty power of the True God, the monks had no choice but to accept this burden, no matter how unwilling they were...]

[Then, Banner Lord Ding issued a population restriction order to stop unlimited births.]

[Mortals didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, so they all praised it…]

【Then, he restored the true gods who had been demoted to cattle and horses to their banners, and stipulated that all true gods did not have to undertake any work! 】

【Then, the true gods also cheered! 】

[Mortals and true gods are very satisfied, and the monks have no objections. ]

【Monk: Yes, I have no objection.】

[In short, Banner Lord Ding's reforms have won praise from all over the world and completely changed the decadence and contradictions during your reign...]

[The prosperous era continued just like this. ]

[After all these changes are completed, it’s finally time to give you the final word! ]

【So, the Ding Banner Master, who was the focus of everyone's attention, issued a declaration titled "About General Lin."】

[In the declaration, he fully affirmed your important historical role in the establishment and prosperity of the new dynasty, and believed that you are the greatest and most outstanding person since the beginning of the world. You have surpassed all the ancient sages and wise kings and are a true saint! ]

[Although your later years were unlucky and you made some minor mistakes, it did not affect your historical status. Overall, your merits outweighed your flaws...]

[This evaluation was unanimously recognized by everyone: The general's greatness needs no further explanation! ]

【mistake?】

[That's not a big deal. After all, the general has owed me a lot of favor. As long as the general is willing, he can be restored to his position immediately! ]

[But amidst everyone's expectant gazes, you still chose to shake your head...]

【…】

[After dealing with these historical issues, it’s time for the most exciting moment! ]

[“Now that General Lin is unable to govern, and Ding Qizhu is both accomplished in literature and martial arts, why not let Ding Qizhu succeed to the position of Shogun?”]

[After their hopes of your restoration were dashed, some people could not help but start persuading you to come in. ]

[But Banner Master Ding shook his head and repeated your famous quote...]

[“Even if the destiny is in my hands, I am only willing to be a flag master!”]

【His modesty won everyone's applause: Good job! Not losing face! 】

[But after all, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, so everyone thought of another person...]

[“Li Ziliang, the Star Lord of Taibai, should be the Emperor of Heaven!”]

[Someone made a shocking statement: The general abolished the Dashun Emperor and conquered the Heavenly Palace, only then did he gain the legitimacy. Now the general is unable to govern, and the world is without a ruler... This is God's will, and he wants us to "restore the monarchy", "return power to the emperor", "respect the emperor and punish the traitors"...]

[“Taibai Xingjun is the Great Shun Ancestor of the human world. He has been benevolent to the Southern Continent for 120 years, and the people still praise his name today.”]

[“And he is the only survivor in heaven. Such a god who is one with heaven and man and has infinite merits deserves to ascend to the throne of the Emperor of Heaven! In the future, the Emperor of Heaven will sit back and let Ding Qizhu govern the world on his behalf. Isn’t that wonderful?”]

[At first glance, this statement seems to be helping Li Ziliang gain the throne, but in fact, everyone knows: how can an airborne emperor have real power? ]

[This is just to use him as a puppet in order to allow Ding Qizhu to rule legally. After all, the general was overthrown by everyone, so naturally it is embarrassing to use the general's legitimacy. The whole tool, the Emperor of Heaven, is really useful...]

[But after hearing this "good news", Li Ziliang just waved his hands and shouted: "Don't harm me! Don't harm me!"]

[Who wants to be a puppet? Besides, Li Ziliang actually stood on your side in this coup, and he even injured a few soldiers with his own hands...]

[Anyway, he doesn’t want to.]

[Everyone wanted to force him to agree, but Ding Qizhu finally stopped everyone, so everyone had to maintain the status quo. ]

[After the coup, the Xin Dynasty actually changed the dynasty. Although the shogun was still in office, the real power had fallen into the hands of Ding Qizhu, and a new shogunate regime was formed.]

[At this moment, Li Ziliang, who had just escaped, quietly found you and brought you a message...]

In the deserted shogunate, Lin Liu, who was in an ominous state in his later years, sat on a mat, looking at the old man opposite him, and couldn't help but said helplessly:

"You really are... Didn't I ask you to defect? ​​Now you're..."

This old Deng actually stood on my side during the rebellion the day before yesterday. I don’t know whether I should scold him or praise him...

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, I just want to be a free and easy person!"

He waved his hand and said seriously:

"What I am going to say next is what your apprentice asked me to tell you before he left. You must listen carefully!"

Hearing that it was a message left by the missing monkey, Lin Liu was startled:
"I'm listening."

Li Ziliang said slowly:

"Master, I hope you can endure the humiliation for a few days. I, your disciple, hope that the country will be safe again and the sun and moon will be bright again..."

Lin Liu shuddered:
"It... Where is it?!"

"It says Lingtai Fangcun Mountain."

……

(End of this chapter)