"You can't be an undercover agent without dedication!"
Emperor Shitian's heroic sacrifice gave Huang Shang some barely important news.
Except for the Night King, four gods and demons headed by Teng Ling have united.
Even the target of the divine descent has changed. In the report before the descent, Penglai Yiqi Immortal Yu Yuan was not among the targets.
This is not considered a violation of the contract. After all, God's descent depends on the right time and place. If something goes wrong along the way, it is reasonable to choose another target.
But now judging from this trend, these guys are obviously prepared and want to oust him.
Ignoring him doesn't mean that you want the mission to fail, it just means that you want to be passive and slow down, not contributing at all, let alone taking risks.
The undercover profession requires a spirit of self-sacrifice. Reincarnators are accustomed to being selfish and have little sense of identity with the main temple. They cannot be undercover, let alone cooperate with each other.
Moreover, Yue Guan, the "Intelligence Station Chief", is still a high-star member with no deterrent power in the Gods and Demons Zone. What about the adjudicators? If they don't directly confront each other, it's not enough to act in a secretive manner. Can these "intelligence agents" be obedient?
That's weird.
Huang Shang didn't care about this.
Just kill a few more gods and demons.
Little things.
The big thing for him now is the commotion in front of him.
"Stop it all!"
Yu Yuan realized that he had killed the wrong person, glanced around fearfully, and ran away, even ignoring his cheap apprentice Yu Hua. Wen Zhong captured Yu Hua in mid-air, fell back to the ground and looked at Emperor Shitian's body, and then looked at
Seeing Huang Shang being protected by Western Taoists, he was a little puzzled.
What's going on?
"Master, capture all these thieves!"
King Shou shouted, his eyes lit up with blazing flames, and he looked at the seven tribesmen.
He hated Western religion very much.
Yu Hua was not 100% sure about taking action in the first place. He finally went according to plan, but it was these guys who made him miss the opportunity. If he didn't take advantage of the opportunity to kill them all this time, how long would it take?
Wen Zhong was not stupid. Although he also hated the foreign barbarism of the Western religion, after thinking about it carefully, he vaguely realized the truth of the matter. He opened the vertical eyes on his forehead and stared deeply at King Shou.
King Shou was shocked, felt weak in his heart, and could no longer speak.
Wen Zhong stopped looking at him, snorted coldly, and said to Xiang Xiang: "You have done a good job in escorting me, so you will be exempted from punishment this time. Let's take that man's body away!"
The seven tribesmen were distraught, suppressed their hatred, and hurriedly disappeared with Emperor Shitian's body, while Wen Zhong stood beside Huang Shang to protect him.
Seeing this scene, King Shou felt as if he had been struck by thunder, and a great panic arose in his heart: "Is the Grand Master also going to leave me alone?"
Wen Zhong was a veteran of the two dynasties. He was superior to Shang Rong and Bigan in terms of reputation, status and ability. His intentions could be said to represent the decisions of most of the courtiers. It was precisely because of Wen Zhong's support that King Shou's
The position is stable.
King Shou has never been stupid, but he is not very smart. With this kind of situation that uses all parties, even the top wise men dare not say that he can control everything in the palm of his hand. However, he thought that he was different, but the reality gave him a
hand.
The slap made him panic, and the black bird image above his head shrank again.
As time passed, the balance once again tilted towards Huang Shang.
Of course, Wen Zhong might just be angry for a moment and no longer willing to let his brothers close the wall and kill each other, so he acted to protect the eldest prince. There is still a chance to redeem himself.
However, when the chaos completely subsided, Di Yi, who came down from the altar, walked over shakily, looked at his two sons with extremely complicated eyes, and suddenly fell back.
"His Majesty!!!"
…
"Can my illness still be cured?"
Deep in the palace, Emperor Yi was lying on the couch, his plump cheeks shriveled up, gray air shrouded his brows, and he asked in a low voice.
In less than ten days, he was completely different from the high-spirited emperor at the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony.
"Your Majesty still has a thousand years to live, please cherish the dragon body and never say this again!"
Wen Zhong, Bigan, Shang Rong and Huang Feihu, who had been named King Wucheng, were four civil and military officials who knelt in front of the couch and said in unison.
The priest who was also the doctor had just come to diagnose Emperor Yi. Judging from his reaction, he probably didn't have much time left.
If it was a temporary outburst of anger, it would be fine, and he could always recover. However, in his early years, Emperor Yi fought with the Quanrong Nine Barbarians and suffered hidden injuries, and his body was already worn down by the pain.
After finally praying to heaven to cheer up his spirit, he was overwhelmed with joy and sorrow by a chaos, and naturally he came to the end of his life.
"You don't need to comfort me anymore."
Emperor Yi knew what he was doing, he sighed deeply, stood up with all his strength, and waved to the four ministers.
The four ministers came forward and heard Emperor Yi say: "Nine barbarians have sealed the mountains, and the dogs and soldiers are harassing the environment. After all, it will not be enough to threaten the foundation of our great merchants. However, those eight hundred princes and ambitious people may become a big problem.
!”
The expressions of the four ministers changed one after another, including Wen Zhong.
"These words can come out of my mouth and enter your ears, and no one else will know!"
At the last moment of his life, Emperor Yi had no scruples in speaking: "Which of the eight hundred princes do you think is the most threatening?"
Wen Zhong's face regained his composure and he said: "The eight hundred princes have different strengths and weaknesses. If anyone can pose a threat to the great merchants, it is naturally the four great princes..."
"The four great princes! Hey, the four great princes!"
Di Yi murmured, his tone full of unwillingness.
In the past, Chengtang took over the Xia Dynasty and proclaimed himself emperor with the recommendation of three thousand princes. It seemed that he was in favor of the public, but in fact it was just an exchange of interests.
The emperors of the Great Shang Dynasty were constrained by the princes and fought openly and secretly with each other. On the surface, they governed the world with benevolence and conquered the world with virtue. In fact, they secretly stirred up divisions and allowed the princes to constantly fight and annex to expand their influence.
So far in the thirty generations of Shang Dynasty, the princes have been reduced from three thousand to eight hundred, but four great princes have also been born.
These four princes are not only powerful in their own vassal states, but also surrounded by a group of allies, who are extremely powerful. The reason why Jiuyi and Quanrong can threaten the great merchants is that the four princes are also suspected of raising bandits to respect themselves.
It's a pity that Zhi Gui Zhi knows that this is a shortcoming of the fundamental system and cannot be solved for a while. Emperor Yi also knew it very well and coughed heavily: "It takes more than one generation to remove the four major princes. They must be coaxed and suppressed, divided and conquered. After I leave,
The four beloved ministers must assist the new king and beware of Xibohou Jichang!"
Huang Feihu was startled and felt very strange.
Jichang, the Marquis of Xibo, was diligent in politics and loved talents, was kind and virtuous, and evolved the Book of Changes. He was known as a saint.
Jiang Huanchu must be obedient.
In comparison, the most domineering one was Beibohou Chonghou Hu, who ran rampant in the fiefdom. In the fish and meat village, when Chao Ge ordered him to mobilize his troops, he delayed it again and again.
As a result, Emperor Yi was most afraid of Xiqi.
The other three veterans knew well that Ji Chang's father, Ji Li, the previous generation of Xibohou, was imprisoned and killed by the previous generation of Shang Jun. The reason was that he was afraid of Xiqi's power.
The two parties are also related. Ji Chang's mother is the sister of Emperor Yi. They married in the Weishui River and it became a good story. Later, Ji Chang was just born. The previous Shang Dynasty king wanted to see his grandson, so he asked Ji Li to take the infant Ji Chang into the palace.
Beijing, and then arrested Ji Li and imprisoned him on the groundless charge of treason, and killed him soon after.
Is it useful?
It’s useless!
Later, it was proved that this approach was extremely stupid. Not only could it not eliminate the threat, but it also made Dashang fall into an unjust and passive state. When his son Ji Chang grew up, he worked hard to govern Xiqi, not weak but strong.
This is the consequence of not cutting the weeds and eradicating the roots. But how easy is it to cut the weeds and eradicate the roots?
It is common for princes to marry each other. Not to mention concubines, there are many direct children. Xibohou Jichang now has more than seventy children. Even at an old age, he is still working hard, making Emperor Yi envious. In ten years,
, he might even be able to raise a hundred sons.
Since the death of Ji Li caused a deep feud between the two parties, the more famous Ji Changxian became and the more obedient he became, the more afraid Emperor Yi became. He believed that although other princes had ambitions, they were at best expanding their vassal states and hoping to consolidate their power forever.
Ji Chang may threaten central power.
But when he thought of what his father had done, he warned again: "Since Ji Chang has already established a reputation as a virtuous person, he should not be killed easily. You must advise the new emperor to be patient and patient...ahem!"
Halfway through his words, he thought of King Shou's bravery and willful temper, and couldn't help but cough violently again.
After his breathing calmed down, Emperor Yi looked at Wen Zhong and said, "Grand Master, go ask Shoude and Ziqi. During the enthronement ceremony, eight hundred princes will come to the capital. How are they going to respond?"
"yes!"
Wen Zhong knew that this was the final test, and His Majesty also had some doubts about King Shou's succession, otherwise there would be no need to ask.
It was also King Shou's recent performance that was so unbearable, coupled with the chaos at the ceremony, that Emperor Yi had to think too much.
His father was seriously ill, so as a son, he naturally waited outside the main hall.
They were also standing side by side, not far apart. This time King Shou's eyes were fixed on his toes, his face was slightly pale, and he didn't even dare to look at Huang Shang.
Until Wen Zhong came to the front and repeated Di Yi's question.
"What arrangements will be made for the eight hundred princes?"
King Shou was startled. If it had been in the past, with his temper, he would definitely have been defeated by Shunchang. No matter who the four princes are, they will be killed if they don't obey.
But he had just made a mistake. When he heard this sensitive issue, he immediately said against his will: "Guzi should unite the eight hundred princes, and let the four major princes each lead two hundred princes, so that the world will be peaceful and the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe."
Wen Zhong was silent for a moment and said slowly: "This is what His Highness Prince Shou said, have you thought clearly?"
This is a hint that although Wen Zhong is disappointed with King Shou, after all, he has taught him for so many years, not only as a monarch but also as a teacher and student. In terms of personal feelings, his bias is obvious.
But King Shou was already in disarray at this time, so he couldn't think too much. Hearing this, he nodded: "That's exactly what it should be!"
Wen Zhong looked at Huang Shang: "Where is His Highness Ziqi?"
Huang Shang shut his mouth and did not answer.
Wen Zhong was a little strange, so he asked again, only to see him shaking his head slightly and saying: "I don't know how to manage the eight hundred princes. I should obey the emperor's orders, serve the country and the people, dedicate myself to death, and die!"
King Shou was startled and looked over. Wen Zhong was even more moved: "Your Highness!"
This answer is really indisputable.
Wen Zhong originally did not believe that the eldest prince would not give up the throne of the emperor. He only thought that it was a strategy of retreating in order to win the favor of the ministers. This son was deeply scheming and far superior to King Shou.
Unexpectedly, he actually judged the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain!
When Wen Zhong turned around and left, returning to the palace to report to Emperor Yi, King Shou looked over in surprise and said in a low voice: "What do you want?"
Huang Shang sighed, with a hint of sadness that was not understood: "Gu Zhai has said that Wei Ziqi doesn't like to be an emperor and is not interested in the position of emperor. Why don't you believe it!"
King Shou felt very ridiculous, and then he felt an unprecedented anger: "I just don't believe it, no one wants the throne!"
He refused to believe that the thing he dreamed of was abandoned by another person. The key point was that if it really happened, wouldn't his efforts during this period be a joke?
Huang Shangdao: "Shou De, do you think you will be a good emperor?"
King Shou said without hesitation: "Of course!"
He wasn't lying, he really thought so.
It's just that there is a slight difference between what is good in his heart and what is generally known as good.
Huang Shangdao: "Are you willing to swear an oath to heaven? If you can become a good emperor, I will assist you wholeheartedly!"
"When Gu becomes emperor, I will kill you first!"
King Shou gritted his teeth in his heart, but put a smile on his face and stared at him: "After hearing what my brother said, I really blamed you wrongly. I am willing to swear to God to become a good emperor!"
Huang Shang smiled and looked at each other: "I will ensure that your vow becomes a reality!"
The two looked at each other, and King Shou's eyes suddenly froze, because he was horrified to feel that there were two whirlpools in the other's eyes, sucking him deeply into them.
"Come on! Come on!"
"No!!!"
Above the heads of both sides, black birds flapped their wings and competed with each other.
The original gap was huge, and with ten times the suppression, there was no possibility of counterattack.
However, due to several recent blows, the eldest prince is at the peak of his power, and King Shou is deteriorating.
At this moment, counter-pressure finally formed for the first time.
Even if it is only a temporary suppression, it determines everything.
Huang Shang used the Six Paths of Reincarnation to transform his body while keeping Wei Ziqi's skin unchanged.
"The second skin, King Zhou!"
"Come!!!"
…
When Wen Zhong reported to Emperor Yi and returned, he saw that in the main hall, Wei Ziqi had not changed, and he still looked like a virtuous king.
The key is King Shou. I don't know what the two said, but his face turned rosy again, and he became even more confident.
His eyes were clear and his demeanor was completely different. He had a feeling of enlightenment overnight. The way he looked at Wei Ziqi was like Emperor Yi looking at Bigan, revealing his sincere closeness and trust.
Wen Zhong couldn't believe his eyes, but after thinking of Emperor Yi's training, he was finally convinced. He stroked his beard and praised: "God bless the great merchant! God bless the great merchant!"