Star Gate

Chapter 946: The World Changes Master (III)

Chen Zhongtian suddenly recalled when the nine old ministers gathered together eighty years ago. A scholarly air had wrapped around Zhao Tianyang then while he denounced the incompetence of the Skystar royal family. Qi Pingjiang induced solemn respect as he expended the family fortune to raise funds for an army to charge into Skystar...

Chen Zhongtian’s thoughts wandered back to those people and the great matters they’d accomplished together, and how he’d cheekily called them big brother and second brother. He might’ve had some personal motives in mind then, but he was also so daring and motivated with the rest of them. He wanted nothing more than to change the world, overthrow the dynasty, and build a utopia.

What a pity, what a tragedy it had all come to this!

“Commander...” Chen Zhongtian inclined his body. “The Zhao family has lost Zhao Tianyang and Zhao Huaimin. These two were their heart and soul. The Chens... are wiling to be the guarantor for the rest of the Zhao family. My family will bear the price if any uprising starts from them...”

“Do you know that a wildfire will spring back to life if it is not fully extinguished?” Li Hao said after a drawn-out silence.

“Commander, I...”

“It’s fine, take them!” Li Hao suddenly smiled at the man. “You are in charge of the Zhao remnants! And not just them, but you can take anyone of the nine families if they have not committed wrongdoing.”

Chen Zhongtian was rather surprised by the young man’s generosity.

“How am I to start a new age if I’m wary of even these people and seek to execute them to the last?” Li Hao continued calmly. “Killing the new and old ministers of the other eight ministries was necessary! When it comes to the rest, release them if they are innocent. Execute them if they are guilty!”

He’d wanted to kill the ministers before because the land would not know peace if these people were still alive. There would always be someone who wanted to take advantage of the situation or think there was a chance for their own plans.

Li Hao did not wish for such a development to occur. Unless they were like the Chens who’d sworn fealty to him beforehand, the young man wasn’t going to show mercy to the rest of them. At the same time, he didn’t care about anyone other than the old and new ministers. He was hardly inclined to slaughter them down to the last.

Such was the martial world. Even one who’d offended as many as Yuan Shuo ultimately did not see that many actually knock on his door for revenge. If he insisted on killing all of his opponents, half of the martial world would be dead and their sects eradicated.

“Bury Zhao Huaimin well!”

Zhao Huaimin had set foot into five elements, but didn’t resist in the end and chose to end his own life. Thus, Li Hao treated him well after his final moments.

Chen Zhongtian nodded and didn’t say a word.

“Seal off the Ministry of Administration and don’t let anyone in or out!”

“Understood, sir!” A runner quickly went off to carry out his his words.

Li Hao stepped forward and headed to the next ministry—Armed Forces.

......

Kong Jie and Chen Yao were in residence here. Minister Qi Dinghai watched as Li Hao and Chen Zhongtian approached at the head of a group. Li Hao’s group realized something when they saw Chen Zhongtian—he was supposed to be keeping Administration under control, he should not be here instead!

No fool could make it to the position of minister; Qi Dinghai smiled when he saw Li Hao’s group. “Commander Li, Uncle Chen, come in and have a seat!”

Li Hao walked straight in. Qi Dinghai headed for the head seat; he regarded Li Hao when he sat down. “Has Brother Huaimin died?”

“Yes.”

“What a pity!” Qi Dinghai sighed softly. “Then... my father is dead too, right?”

“Correct.” Li Hao inclined his head.

Qi Dinghai was a bit anguished, but quickly laughed, “That’s just as well. He often said that the true Qi Pingjiang died eighty years ago! These recent years have been marked with disorder in the army, insufficiencies in various local troops, killing the innocent to exchange for military merit, collusion with bandits and pirates, and sometimes the government being less than robbers.

“Brother Huaimin died a bit of a wronged death, but my Qi family died a deserved one! Brother Huaimin was a good talent for administering the world. If the commander had been willing to accept him... But of course, that is all the past and further discussion is not beneficial!

“When it comes to my family, I do deserve my death! The disintegration of military discipline began with me. It didn’t have much to do with my father.” Qi Dinghai smiled. “Will the commander kill me now, or wait?”

“What do you want to wait for ?” Li Hao looked at him.

“For the armies to be gathered and a public execution in front of them?” He shook his head after the question. “Forget it, I have been so conspicuous my entire life that such an ignoble death... I would ask the commander to permit a spar with Yuan Shuo. Life or death do not matter—I would like to witness the might of the Five Styles. Perhaps my father died to him?”

Qi Dinghai looked at Yuan Shuo. “What do you think, Old Demon Yuan?”

“I killed your father on the spot despite him being of seven elements.” Yuan Shuo looked coldly at him. “You wish to try fighting me?”

“Let’s!” Qi Dinghai smiled. “There’s more dignity dying to you than to other alternatives!”

“How fares the military?” asked Li Hao.

“Not well,” laughed Qi Dinghai. “There are roughly thirty million troops in Skystar Dynasty. I cannot command them all. There are seven million stationed in the central region and approximately two million answer to me. You can take over with this command token!

“It is up to the commander whether you wish to disband them or whatever else you’d like to do. Military discipline is lax and beyond repair. The situation is better in the central region, but military discipline exists in name only in the four continents. Putting military affairs back in order may be one of the greatest problems facing the commander. I hope you do not find it irksome!”

Qi Dinghai tossed a token onto a table. “This is what will give you command over two million—they should listen to you. As for the rest... good luck. I cannot direct them either.”

Li Hao didn’t say a word after taking the token. A surge of power circulated the surroundings with a wave of his hand. Qi Dinghai immediately summoned a spear and charged Yuan Shuo. He was of five elements, not yet six, and particularly ferocious!

His formidable spear method blazed with immense killing intent. Unfortunately for him, his opponent was Yuan Shuo.

Yuan Shuo brought out the Tiger Fist and no other methods. After exchanging three blows, his fourth broke Qi Dinghai’s throat!

Qi Dinghai stabbed his spear into the ground and stared at Yuan Shuo. He exhaled his last breath while on his feet. It’d only taken four blows for Yuan Shuo to kill him.

“The Qis have strong bones!” Yuan Shuo breathed out. “But it’s also the Qi father and son that lacked managerial capability. The thirty million troops in the world nominally answer to Armed Forces, but in reality, not even the troops of Silver Moon obey their orders. Military discipline is indeed in disorder!”

Chen Zhongtian heaved a long sigh as he looked at Qi Dinghai. When he turned to Li Hao, the young man inclined his head. Qi Dinghai sighed again and set foot forward to collect his other nephew’s body.

Those who entered behind them were shocked to near insensibility. Chen Yao looked at his father; Chen Zhongtian didn’t make a sound.

The Ministry of Armed Forces and Administration were in the bag and further attention didn’t need to be devoted to Examinations and Foreign Affairs. Their old and current ministers were dead. The Inspectorate had sworn fealty and Judiciary was no more.

That left only Internal Affairs and Finance to wrap up.

On the Commerce side, the old minister was dead and the current minister was not the most competent. It was plain that this ministry wouldn’t be able to raise much of a fuss. Given the scope of its jurisdiction, it didn’t matter if it fell into disarray. Finance was the key.

“We go to the Ministry of Finance!” Li Hao commanded. This was the first ministry he’d offended after entering the capital, and they were the ones who relinquished the ruins of Evenround to him.

......

The Ministry of Finance.

Liu Yunqing suddenly felt ill at ease. His father glanced at Zhou Chuan—the Silver Moon deputy had just walked out of the ruins and no longer sealed off the entrance.

The old minister frowned. This was not a good sign!

“Deputy Zhou, is Commander Li... about to come?” asked the old man.

“Why do you ask?” blinked an affable Zhou Chuan.

The old man smiled in return and looked outside. Seeing that Li Hao was yet to arrive, he took a deep breath and said, “The Liu family is willing to pledge our allegiance to the Skystar Commander Office. We will dispense the family fortune and ensure that Skystar’s financial system continues to operate smoothly. We will oversee a smooth handover to Silver Moon!

“After the transition is complete, we ask for nothing but a small island somewhere among the four seas where the family can live out the rest of our lives. Any wrongdoers in the family will be given over to the Skystar Commander Office!

“This old man neglected to properly teach and discipline the family before, leading to some erroneous actions being taken. I am willing to assume all responsibility, just let Yunqing leave with the family...”

Deputy Zhou raised an eyebrow while color drained from Liu Yunqing’s face. Why was... his father suddenly saying these words?? It could only be because... but that was impossible! There were so many powerhouses in the ruins, had they all been defeated?!

That was impossible.

But apart from that, why would his extremely shrewd father suddenly choose to surrender? He was even willing to sacrifice himself to save the rest of the family!

“The old minister is astute and keen of judgment,” Li Hao’s voice sounded in everyone’s ears. “But I am not interested in killing everyone. The Zhaos and Qis see father and son keeping each other company on their next journey. Everyone else in those families will be sentenced according to the law!”

The old minister heaved a long sigh and bent at the waist. “Sinner Liu Fu greets the commander!”

Liu Yunqing’s face was stark white as he bowed alongside his father. They’d lost! Although this result had been expected, he hadn’t thought that it would occur so quickly.

In Liu Yunqing’s eyes, perhaps only Li Hao or Ying Hongyue would be able to conquer the world. He hadn’t thought that the young man would defeat the nine ministries and royal family so swiftly and complete his conquest!

Li Hao strode into the hall. It was unacceptable at present for the entire financial system to fall apart. The military was already disorderly. It was fine if it grew a bit more out of hand. When it came to administration, the various provinces already operated independently, so that wasn’t a concern either.

Only when it came to finance was future operations a concern. The Liu family controlled the dynasty’s banks, taxes, creation of star coins. There was upheaval in the world now, but star coins still possessed great purchasing power.

If that crashed as well, it would lead to tremendous disaster.